Sewphisticuts Stitch Challenge

The snowy weather abated enough to allow the Sewphisticuts to meet last evening.  The topic was a Stitch Challenge:  to learn a new stitch from your machine or to use one in a new way for you.  Three out of seven brought along samples.  

Judy's twin-needle results

Judy experimented with embroidery stitches on her machine but with a double needle.  She got some interesting effects but in the process broke several needles.  The problem she found was that with her machine, many embroidery stitches move the needle too far to one side to be able to accommodate a twin needle




Peggy tried various embroidery stitches on her machine to applique designs.  In one case she accidentally combined several settings and wound up with an unexpected stitch, but liked the look of it anyway.  As the painter Bob Ross would say, there are no mistakes, just happy accidents!

Embroidery stitches attach applique

Embroidery stitch used to for blind hem on right.

Buttonhole with tapered satin stitches

Decorative stitch for top-stitching

Maura also used her machine's embroidery stitches, one for top-stitching a pocket edge, another for adding emphasis to buttonholes, and a third could be used as a blind-hem stitch.

There was show and tell - photos are included below.  Next month's topic is Fabric Manipulation, which could include felting, pleating, tucking, fabric embellishment, etc.  Ronnie wants to experiment with pin-tucking and smocking and she will try to bring samples of that.  If anyone else wants to claim a particular technique to demonstrate with samples, please let the group know.

Judy's blouse

Peggy's sweater

Judy's trousers

Maura's jeans

Fleecy baby blanket in the works

Pocket detail - decorative top-stitching

"This year, I resolve....."

Once again, the Sewphisticuts took on the new year by making their version of New Year resolutions in the form of sewing goals.  We revisited our goals from last January to see how we did.  The best any of us did was meeting about half of our goals.  Some of us realized we had been a tad too ambitious!  And quite a few of us, although not fulfilling the particular goals we had set, nevertheless had a successful year of sewing new things, learning new techniques and enjoying the creative process.

A common theme for many of us was organization and reduction of our fabric stash / collection.  I guess to be a sewist is akin to being a hoarder, as far as fabric and sewing supplies are concerned.  Another goal mentioned by many of us was to finish certain projects.  This led Pat to observe that lots of us apparently have several projects going at once, whereas she sews serially, finishing one project before starting another.

In other news, we learned that the Fishkill Town Hall will no longer be available for ASG group meetings, so for Garment Gals, Quilt Rulers and Charity Chics, check with the group leader about where the next meeting will be held.

The topic for the next Sewphisticuts' meeting is a Stitch Challenge:  do you know what all the stitches on your machine can do?  Try learning a new one that you haven't tried yet, or use one in a new way.  Bring along your samples to show, or if you feel like doing a demo, bring your machine.  Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get to those projects I vowed to finish this year!

Photos from the Annual Meeting

Photos from the Annual Meeting on November 2nd at Arbor Ridge. 

Planning for the new year

Ok, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, much less New Year's time, but November is our time to plan the upcoming year's schedule.  So we talked about what we didn't get to from the past year, and what we'd still like to do, and figured out a schedule more or less, for the next year.  And here it is:

January - revisit our New Year's (sewing) resolutions from last year and see how we did; make new ones
February - Stitch challenge:  Learn to use a machine stitch in a new way (new to you)
March - Fabric manipulation:  pleating, tucking, wrinkling, etc.
April - Stained Glass quilt techniques
May - open
June - Annual Sewing Room tour and potluck dinner
July - Lapped zipper
August - vacation - no meeting
September - Make A Difference Day preparation
October - Make A Difference Day preparation
November - Free-motion embroidery; planning for next year
December - holiday dinner out

After roughing out the schedule, we shared samples or patterns for holiday gift items that we  1) have made  2) will make or 3) hope to make someday, along with any show and tell items we brought.

Advent calendar

Ribbon candy placemats

Paper-pieced Christmas ornament

Pillowcase with car motif

Mini-purse

Humbug bag

Triangular pyramid bag

Slot top bag

Dancing dress from vintage silk

Santa made by machine embroidery

Holiday pot-holder

Skirt with unusual seaming

Tea time placemats

Tissue box covers for every occasion

Comfy yoga pants

Hanukkah mat

Holiday table runners

Someone is getting a beautiful quilt for Xmas