WE'VE BEEN HERE...MAKING MASKS!


OK, so you've not heard from us in many weeks.  We've all been following the directives to stay home, stay safe, and learn the correct way to wash our hands.  And members of the Hudson Valley NY Chapter of the American Sewing Guild have been doing just that.  But not just that......We've been here all along doing what we can to support all those folks who are working so hard to help get us through these crazy times. 

Many of us have been making face masks. Lots and lots of masks
in many different styles, for lots and lots of folks.  In fact, 40-50 of our chapter members and other sewing friends have made well over 1,000 fabric (aka washable) masks since mid-March. Only the difficulty of finding in-stock elastic slowed the process down a little last month.

And just so you know, we made them not just for ourselves, but we made them for our families (here in NY State, Florida, South Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Minnesota), for our neighbors, and for anyone that asked. Specifically the following:

Vassar Brothers Hospital
Northern Dutchess Hospital
Westchester Senior Center
Harvard Medical Center
Orange County
The Fountains of Millbrook
Orange County 
North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps
doctors' offices in Rhinebeck
Salvation Army in Beacon
Stony Brook Hospital
Hudson Valley Hospice 
Danbury Hospital in Connecticut
Various area nursing homes
Bon Secour in Port Jervis
Rockland County hospitals
Numerous local grocery stores 
.............and many more.

Our many thanks to the mask makers.  Job well done!

Our deepest gratitude to all those folks out there doing their very best to get us successfully through today's challenges.  

Thank you!!

THE WORKSHOP 

our new and exciting pop-up group!

There's a new group at HV NY ASG and it's called The Workshop.  Meetings take place every other month on the second Saturday from 10AM - 1PM at the East Fishkill Library.   Each session will focus on a different topic that we hope will interest members and non-members alike. 

Our first workshop took place this past Saturday, February 8 and featured Sashiko and Mending.  Have you ever heard of something called Sashiko (sash-ee-ko)?  

It is an historic Japanese form of hand stitching, and the word means "little stab".  Originally used by Japanese peasants to mend their work clothes, over time it has become decorative as well as utilitarian. 

Danielle Rudi shared with us her journey into exploring the background of Sashiko as well as trying out some of the many stitch variations to mend some of her favorite jeans.  Follow us in the photos below to see how Danielle has given new life to not-so-new garments.  Also enjoy pics of some attendees' samples.  
 

Sashiko sample, several different designs (on paper) skeins of sashiko thread

 

Cross pattern used to darn

 Top sample is a patch on the inside, whip stitched along cut edge, and straight horizontal stitches to hold patch in place.


Bottom sample is patched on the outside using straight and cross stitches.

 These were Danielle's favorite jeans and the first project she worked in Sashiko mending.  Because of the stressful location, she used the cross stitches in the area of the raw edges to help reinforce the mend.  But the final outcome doesn't look like a mend!

So, did you know you don't have to mend to make a statement?  Here, Danielle played with adding some cute little patches to the edge of your raw-edged cuffs.  How fun is that?





 

Great books for reference

 Check out this jacket that Terry made from a blanket.  It was already stitched in Sashiko style and she cut it like fabric to make the garment.  What is hard to see is there are columns of purple color thread running vertically between the columns of cream thread.

 Peggy brought some samples she made at a class from 2019.(Right)

Below, she is mending her jeans. She removed one side of the pocket stitching and will replace it when the mending is completed.

Patch samples from the workshop highlighting some very basic stitches...
are you loving the color thread introductions?  Sashiko is traditionally done in white thread.

Mary decided to cover a bleach spot with some printed denim.  Her stitching is minimal but gives her jeans lots of character.






 
Florence has collected a variety of patches to create something called Boro.  As peasant clothes wore over and over, the old patches remained in place and new ones were attached.  The result was called Boro. Florence plans to make a tote bag with hers.




 Our next Workshop is scheduled for April 11 from 10AM to 1PM,
featuring serger machines.  This session is an opportunity for serger owners who may not feel comfortable with their machine, or have questions about them, to bring them in and ask those questions to our ASG members.  Hope to see you there!

July - Sew Much Fun

The ladies in Sew Much Fun are working a bunch of projects.  Check out just a sampling....some are finished and some are still "Under Construction".

 Pat M is busy on her latest handwork project.

Andrea's latest quilt is still under construction.

Terry ordered this special tool for her Jelly Roll rug

 

Terry has also been working on some paper piecing.  

 Check out this paper pieced beauty!

 Mary F is also working on her Jelly Roll rug.  So pretty!
         

July Charity Chics

The Charity Chics took time at this meeting to make fabric flower pins that will be attached to the fleece hats they are planning to make later this year.  They also took a break from sewing to hold their annual indoor "picnic".  Everyone brought a dish to share and a fabulous time was had by all.  

They often receive  correspondence from recipients of their projects.  Here are two such letters:

Florence made a set of 4 placemats using the Jelly Roll Rug technique.  Her tip is to "press the heck out of it" to get keep the strips from rolling. :-)

 Kathy E. created multi-sized mitten patterns and samples for future Charity Chics' fleece sewing projects

 Mary made this large tote bag and matching zippy bag using the Jelly Roll technique (even on the side seams).  The top of the bag and straps were made using bias tapes.  The bag closes with a large zipper.

 Do you love these bags?  They are actually one of those freebies
with some modifications.  Did you ever make a quilt block just for fun, but didn't want to make the whole quilt and didn't know what to do with the block?  Mary took a couple of those quilt blocks and made pockets.  The fun part is you get to enjoy the quilt block and it covers the logo on the bag.
If the bag is super big, adding a zipper may be helpful.

Already have enough tote bags?
How about sharing them with family, friends or donating one of these beauties to your local family shelter.  

This crocheted scarf was originally only cream color.  Mary had some multi-colored yarn the worked just perfectly as accents down the sides, in the centers and in the fringe.  Isn't it so cute?