If you have taken our popular Master Pattern 2- Day Workshop, you may be thinking, " I've got a Block, now what?"

Well, I had just that discussion with Martha West, one of new instructors for 2020.  We both agree that providing next steps is important for making the workshop a keystone to your garment sewing journey.  
You leave from the Master Pattern Workshop with a bodice and skirt flat pattern that is a personal fit for you.......but what does that really give you?   
    - It gives you the ability to evaluate other commercial patterns to determine fit and design ease.  
    - It gives you the ability to start creating your own patterns.  This takes some effort and patience, but is very doable.

So to that end, we added the first class dedicated to drafting patterns: Drafting A Dress Pattern from Your Block, April 23, from 9-1pm, or 4-8pm.  This class will be drafting either a simple A-line Shift, or a one piece Sheath dress, including facings.  We will not be sewing the dress, just creating the pattern.
This class is open only to those that have taken our Master Pattern Workshop.  Only two students per class time.

The next classes will be on drafting sleeve options, then drafting collars. No times/dates set for these yet, but we're shooting for May.

If you have taken a block class from another source and would like to take this class, please email me at studio@sewinghive.com.  

It has been sunny and in the 50's here in Utah, but it's not been all hiking and biking.  I have been visiting sewing shops in the area.  So far, Clover Patch Quilt Shop in Santa Clara.  Lots of quilting fabrics with patterns different than in Columbus, larger, more vibrant.  And the Sewing&Quilting Center in St. George.  Very little fabric, but lots of machines and classes on quilting. One of the owners and I had a good talk about buttonhole makers on sewing machines.  General opinion is that it is better to have bottom plate that holds the fabric between the buttonholer and the faceplate.  Something to keep in mind when you are looking at a new machine.

 I have one shop more to visit. Not much going on here in garment making.  

One last bit of news, we have one opening left for the Machine Clinic this Thursday from 5-7pm. If you would like to learn how to really get the most from your machine, keeping it working at it’ s best, and letting you sew great projects, then this is the class for you.  Instructor is Jackie Farbeann.

Best, 
Gail

Sewing related Vendors you want to know about

Along with sewing machines shops, fabric shops, and pattern companies, there are still a few other vendors you will want to know. This is not an entire listing, but here are three of my favorites:

ARC Document Solutions -you may remember we tried to have a huge printer in the Studio to print PDF patterns when first opened. We just could not get the hang of all the different settings needed, and, actually, after two visits from a specialist from Kentucky, Arc let us out of the lease.

Good news is that ARC is really easy to get to from any part of town, and they know who we are and what PDF patterns should look like, no explaining needed. Just order your pattern and email to columbus.digital@e-arc.com. When the large paper sheets are ready for pick up, they will advise you by email. Cost is around $3/per 3’X4’ sheet, which is nice study paper. NO MORE TAPING.

The Finest Edge - Mobile Sharpening - Lou, the owner, was here for our grand opening last year and we found out that if it cuts, he can sharpen it. If you are finding that you have to use some force to cut, then your scissors need sharped. Go to Lou’s website to find out where his truck will be next.

www.finestedgesharpening.com .

WithOut A Trace - Unfortunately, this company is not local, they are based in Chicago and very easy to work with. I was so lucky to find them when a stray ash fell on a beautiful new pair of wool gaberdine slacks and left a hole. I roamed the web looking for youtube videos, and then stumbled on Without A Trace. One of their services is reweaving: finding some threads within the original garment to reweave the hole. Their work is unbelievable. They put a pin where the hole was, or you can’t find the hole. I have sent them sweaters, and recently a pretty new jumper that I sliced open with a seam ripper….ugh. I’ll show you the After when I get it back. Now, since a TV show started with the same name, you need to add reweaving to the search or you will get lots of scrolling about the TV show. Here is there website:

www.withoutatrace.com.

If you have a favorite vendor that makes your sewing easier, let us know about them via email and we will collect and do another blog in the future……best.

Gail

Holiday Gift Tutorial:

Rope Bowls

Ages: 9 and up. Parents may want to supervise, due to little fingers having to be so close to the needle and presser foot in the first steps.

Supplies: 
At least 18 yards of cotton blend closeline rope can make a 4” tall with 10” diameter bowl.
I found mine at Meijer in the laundry basket supply section of the store.
All-purpose thread in any color or combination of colors
Sewing machine that does zig-zag stitches
A pencil or chopstick for starting out, so your fingers won’t get in the way
*Optional, pompoms acrylic craft paint or ½” wide strips of woven light-medium weight fabric and various thread colors. Mix it up and have fun!

Instructions:
Set your machine to the widest zig-zag setting. 
Coil one end of the rope clockwise, until it’s about the same size as a quarter. 
Sew across the diameter of the coil and use a tool to help push it along, so your fingers don’t get in the way. Raise the presser foot lever with the needle down and adjust the coil, so you can sew across in another direction. Repeat this until it feels like it’s going to stay together. 

Begin rotating the coil as you sew, making sure the needle goes through the sewn rope and the rope being coiled around. If you miss a couple of spots, you can go back after it’s done and sew over any unsewn sections. 
When the coil comes near the edge of the sewing machine, tilt it upward with a sharp angle so the sides of the bowl start to take shape. 

After you get to the end of the rope, backstitch and forward stitch about 3 times to secure the end. 

*So many options!
If you want to do some scrap-busting, wrap strips of fabric around the rope just before you sew it. Send Jamie an email to sewinghive@gmail.com and she’ll send you a video of that. 
You can also paint right on the bowl with acrylic craft paint.
Another thing you can do is tie on some tassels or pom-poms.

Holiday Gift Tutorial:

Since it’s Gift Making Season, we thought we’d give you some simple gift tutorials to try.

Cell Phone Charger Holder

by Jamie Hevener

Skill Level: Adult Beginner with knowledge of how to use a sewing machine and a steam iron
Kids may need to have an adult help along the way, especially with the steaming iron
Make sure you read over the instructions, check out the illustrations and if you have any questions, please email Jamie at sewinghive@gmail.com, so we can help. 

Use a ½” seam allowance

Supplies:
Sewing machine that can do a straight and zig-zag stitch 
All-purpose thread
Heavy-duty hand-sewing needle
Fabric Scissors
Straight Pins
Ruler
Iron with water for steam setting
Cell phone and wall-charger
Pen or tailors marker
2 Fat Quarters
¼ yard 808 Craft Pellon for interfacing to back of fabrics for stability
Sheet of writing or drawing paper
*Optional decorative ribbon, buttons, etc for the front of the pocket

INSTRUCTIONS
Draft Your Pattern:

Measure your phone’s width and height.
Draw a rectangle = phone width + 1 ½ “ x phone height + 4” for the back panel template.
Draw a rectangle = phone width + 2 ½ “ x phone height for the pocket template.
Trim right and left sides of pocket template with the top being the widest as sides taper to the bottom edge being = width of back panel. It will resemble a trapezoid shape.

Prepare Fabrics:

Cut 2 fabric and 3 interfacing using back panel template. 
Cut 2 fabric and 1 interfacing using pocket template.
Steam press 2 stacked interfacings to one back panel, 1 interfacing to the second back panel and one interfacing to the pocket front.
*Sew any decorative notions you like to the front pocket piece now.

Sew Front Together: 

Sew pocket pieces at the top edge with fabrics facing.
Turn right-side-out and press. Topstitch top edge.
Stack and align bottom edges of pocket and the back panel (the one with 2 interfacings). Sew in place across the bottom.
Adjust the right edge of the pocket to align with the right edge of the back panel and sew in place. Repeat this for the left side of pocket and back panel.

Sew Front and Back Together:

Place the other back panel piece face down on the face of pocketed back panel. Pin and sew, remembering to backstitch at beginning and end, pivoting at corners, but leave about 2 ½” unsewn at bottom. This will let you turn right-side-out. 
Clip corners and turn right-side-out. You will want to use the bottom of your pen to push out sides and corners. Press the whole cell phone holder, since it will be wrinkled from being pushed around. 
Hand sew the opening closed, using a ladder-stitch (as shown) or whip-stitch.

Create The Charger Opening:

Lay holder upside-down and center your charger about 1” below the top edge of holder. Draw around it. Stitch just to the outside of the lines you drew. Cut the opening on the lines you drew. (Fold in the middle of the shape and snip the center to get started cutting.)

Set your machine to a wide zig-zag stitch and adjust the width to a short stitch length. (Test on a scrap of fabric until you like the look of the stitch.) Sew around this opening right on the raw edges. I repeated this zig-zag stitch 3 times, so it would look more “finished” on the opening.

You did it!
Wrap the charger cord around the phone and put the charger through the hole into your designated phone charging wall outlet. 

If you missed the Field Trip to OSU's Campbell Hall this week, you still need to go!

Jackie Farbeann, one of our great instructors here at the Studio, gave our group a private tour of an exhibit, “ 150 years of College Style.” Not only did we hear about the work done to conserve and restore some of the exhibit garments, but we had a behind the scene look at all the garments, hats and shoes they store for future exhibits and training.

Good news is that this exhibit will be up until March 2020! If you like vintage clothes, you will like this exhibit. And it is free. Parking was a bear, but we found parking in the South Union lot. Some took a bus, or an Uber to get there. The address for the building is 1787 Neil Ave and is part of the Historic Costume and Textile Collection.

Jackie is a proud graduate of the Ohio State University with a B.A. in theatre and holds a Certificate in Textile Conservation from the International Preservation Studies Center (formerly the Campbell Center). Among her many activities, Jackie is also a volunteer for the Historic Costume and Textile Collection.

Exercises for Sewing!

Looks like the kids are back in school and everyone is ready for some sewing time. We are seeing a lot more people stopping in and signing up for classes, or participating in Tuesday night Sew-Ins.
Along with spending more time sewing, comes the minor sore shoulders, necks, and even fingers.
Well, let me introduce you to Michelle Ladd from The Human Form Fitness in the Grandview area…

Mission Statement: "We don't just change the scale, we change lives". The Human Form exists for one reason -- To provide a safe environment for our members t...

She has created this video just for us to help you be able to sew for longer periods, feel stronger, and banish some of the fatigue associated with sewing. Michelle and her husband, Steven, have a wonderful health and fitness facility that I have used for several years and know the benefits first hand of working with professionals that are aware of how the body functions.

If you have questions, you are welcome to contact Michelle at Michelle@humanformfitness.com.

It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor if you have concerns doing any exercises, and never force your body to do any exercise that hurts.

Limber up…….

Gail