What a wonderful way to spend Saturday afternoon!

With treats from an earlier library event to sustain us and the air-conditioning to cool us, we were off to a promising start!

Our FOML, expert in all things fabric (and a lot more besides), led the way as she cut out these very cute looking owls who are going to transform themselves into oven mitts and then fly their way all over the world as Christmas presents!  As it's our last SSS for 2014, we won't get to see the final product unfortunately. We do know there are going to be some very lucky folk who receive these beautiful handmade gifts!

Our chronic cutter-outerer fooled us all this Saturday as she worked industriously on converting a shop-bought pair of pants into something designed especially for her! There was much discussion as to the best way to do this. As cloth and patterns are so expensive, sometimes it makes economic sense to buy something ready-made that has potential and then use your sewing skills to adapt it so that it fits and suits you perfectly. It works very well when you pick up an item at a bargain basement price. It's a lovely way to combine the best of both ready-made and hand-sewn options.

One of our participants is very productive every time she comes. Having young children at home and being accustomed to the interruptions that they bring, she positively flies through her projects at SSS when she has a straight run. This Saturday she put the finishing touches to a lovely pink outfit for a very lucky baby! Then with a flourish, out onto the lovely big tables that we have in the Community Meeting Room, she spread a beautiful emerald-seagreen fabric. Armed with plates from the kitchenette to hold the pattern pieces in place (pins are so passe), she swiftly cut out pieces to make herself a dress. A quick change of thread on her sewing machine, and she was zooming away sewing the pieces together. The dress was half way to completion when we finished SSS, not too bad for an afternoon's effort.

Over a coffee this resourceful sewer told us about the wealth of sewing assistance there is on the internet. As a relatively new sewer, she has found the assistance from sewing bloggers all over the world invaluable. She has found cyber-sewers to be very friendly and eager to share their skills with those who are seeking assistance. Free patterns are even available! It certainly adds another social dimension to what can often be a solitary craft.

Another keen sewer had been inspired to emulate a gingham tablecloth she had found, so she was industriously cross-stitching away on her own hand-made tablecloth. As she was using a different sized gingham square to the original item she was a bit disappointed in her efforts but it certainly looked great to us. (We are often our own worst critics. I guess the disappointment kicks in when the reality of the project doesn't fit the vision we had of it and then we have to make that mental shift in appreciating the beauty of what we have created.)

Recently, another Saturday social sewer had popped on this simple shift she had bought and worn in winter with a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath to find that in summer, things looked a little different without the T-shirt. With a bit of assistance from our FOML expert in all things sewing, the shoulders were taken up (very hard to pin one's own shoulder seams so another great reason for a solitary sewer to attend SSS!) and the shoulder seams re-stitched, so hopefully now the dress can be worn in summer as well as winter.

This was our last Social Sewing Saturday for 2014 but we will back in action, starting Saturday 31 January 2015. Looking forward to hearing about what you have created over the Christmas break and even more interested in hearing your plans for all things sewing in 2015!

Do you feel like sewing socially this Saturday?

Hi folks!

Time to gather all your sewing goodies together and come along to sew and socialise at the Gordon White Library Commmunity Meeting Room on Saturday 29 November at 1.00 pm.

It'll be the last SSS for 2014 so if you keep intending to come along, this Saturday is your last chance for 2014! Just bring along any sewing project you are currently working on and take the opportunity to talk about all things 'sewing' to other folks who share your interest!

See you at the Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room at 1.00 pm on Saturday, 29 November!

Sewing and socialising on this Saturday!

What a way to spend the second last day of winter - working on a project along with others who share a similar interest! Bring along whatever you need to start, continue or even finish your current pet project!

Once spring has sprung the creativity really starts pumping so looking forward to the projects that emerge!

See you on Saturday at 1.00pm at Gordon White Library's Community Meeting Room all set for socialising and sewing!

Well, what a social, sewing Saturday!

At 1.00pm I was sitting all alone with my knitting this time - we use the term 'sewing' in a very flexible manner - it incorporates a thread-like material so it counts! I knew our resident expert in all things textile, fabric, sewing and so on had sent her apologies and was off gallivanting again so I was starting to contemplate a rather unsocial Saturday when our cutter-outer extraordinaire breezed in complete with cutting board (of course), scissors and fabric, so immediately things looked brighter and far more social of course!

Then our purse-maker arrived complete with attempt number one of a purse that she was not happy with. After much social input, she embarked on a fatter version of purse number one. The pattern was adjusted, the fabric was cut and version number two stitching was commenced. We were all curious about how the 'closer' was going to be attached so the craft magazine was browsed, commented upon and construction continued.

Next to arrive was our youngest yet - seven-weeks old! - mum came too of course. A colourful child's quilt accompanied them which mum endeavoured to stitch in between catering to bub's needs. Our cutter-outerer transformed into baby-minder par excellence so that mum could sneak a few extra stitches in. Mum assured us she was getting far more achieved on the sewing front at SSS than at home as at SSS she was toddler-free.

A couple of trips from the car brought in a sewing machine and overlocker and then social sewer number five had arrived all prepared to work on the next pretty little girl's outfit that she had designed. She proudly showed us a photo of the completed version of the project she was working on at last SSS. It certainly looked fantastic and all were impressed. We were not able to view the actual product as her lucky niece had already received it as a present!

After a trip into the library to sort her latest selection of library borrowings our next social sewer arrived ready to continue with her crocheted granny squares which are going to be used to complete a rug for charity. Seating arrangements were adjusted and SSS was now very social indeed!

Unfortunately we had to finish earlier than usual as I had to catch a flight so reluctantly we packed up our projects.

We smile, socialise and sew next on Saturday 30 August at 1.00pm at Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room!

Happy stitching and looking forward to seeing how the projects are progressing next SSS!

We're sewing this Saturday at Gordon White Library at 1PM!!

Just a quick reminder that it's this Saturday!

Bring along your project and all the bibs and bobs that you need to continue on with it!

If you're not sure what you want to work on, there are plenty of craft books and magazines for various crafts to inspire you and to help get you started!

See you there with your stitching!

The chill inspires!

Well so much for the fun foray into all things digital and technological! Despite best laid plans the podcast never made it to air this Saturday! We were just all so busy having fun! It would have seemed churlish to interrupt the flow of creative ideas!

One of our regulars decided to cut out yet another project! We're going to have to check what she is doing with all of these cut-outs! This time she was using an actual pattern not a much loved item from her wardrobe! She utilises a delightful technique of placing plates upside down on her pattern to keep it in place on her fabric rather than pinning. It is certainly much quicker but I don't trust myself to be able to cut out the patterns without the pieces moving! Maybe I just need sharper scissors! Looking forward to how these pieces come together!

I was delighted when a newcomer announced she had been following our progress all year on our blog! (It makes one feel a bit warm and fuzzy to know that folk are following our progress and I'm not just talking to myself in blogland!! Please feel free to add your thoughts so we know you are there!) Finally the stars aligned and she was able to join us in person not just spirit! A couple of trips to the car and the sewing machine, overlocker and associated accessories were in place ready for action! As our tables are a great size and on castors so that they can be placed in the best lighting, they are ideal for for cutting out and sewing up projects. There's plenty of room to have the sewing machine and overlocker out ready for action. For a self-confessed beginner she produced a delightful little skirt for some lucky little girl.

Our crotchet expert continued to work on squares which are destined for a quilt for some charity organisation - I've forgotten the details - will try to write them down next time! It's a great way to share one's skills with others who are not having such a great life experience at present! Apparently this social sewer is interested in crazy quilting too. One of the library books on this topic could help stir the creative pot!

Our 'FOML expert in all things fabric', thought she'd get some time to work on her digital scrapbook as her deadline for this project is fast approaching! However.... our regular cross-stitcher decided to walk on the wild side and buy a beginners????? quilt project kit. She has always had a yen to try a quilt and somewhat naively thought a kit might a good starting point! For someone who has sewn most of her life this was a foray into a surprisingly completely alien world! Thank heavens for our 'FOML expert in all things fabric'!

The kit was rather full of surprises! The fabric was not cut into the required pieces! The instructions for cutting the pieces was written in 'quiltese'! Shock! Horror! Quilts are worked in imperial measurements - such things as inches, quarter inches, eighths of inches  - not a decimal in sight! The list of necessities that were not included in the kit was a source of dismay. 'FOML expert in all things fabric' now morphs into 'knight in shining armour' and makes mercy dash home to her quilt factory and brings back such necessities as an iron, a cutting board, a cutting wheel, a tape measure to mention a few.

'FOML expert in all things fabric' now translates the 'beginner' quilt instructions. Cross-stitcher now quite cross-eyed and completely beyond working in imperial measurements! Quite dismayed to learn that quilting requires precision!  Cross-stitcher now needing to channel Peter Brock's advice - 'always bite off more than you can chew and then chew like mad!' Eventually after some therapeutic ironing and some origami style folding by 'FOML expert quilter', cross-stitcher calmed and set on track to start cutting six-inch squares the quilter's way - a seriously sharp wheel not scissors! Apprentice quilter now applying much grunt and carefully cutting first strips and then squares. Concentrating....concentrating... oops! loss of mental application and off the cutting wheel skews! Now definitely not a square! 'FOML expert in all things fabric' now 'expert in all things psychological'! Apparently this is not the end of the world and there is still the definite possibility of a quilt at the end of these squares, not-so-squares and strips!

OMG! It's past 4 o'clock! Do we really have to pack up?

Certainly looking forward to the next instalment in what appears to be the beginning of a quilt-making saga! It was so much fun to be part of such productive and creative socialising on Saturday!  If you'd like to join us - we meet next at Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room at 1pm on Saturday 26 July. Just bring your project along or bring your library card and borrow some of the great craft resources to get you started.

I might just borrow a couple of 'Handmade' magazines just to keep the inspiration flowing!

Make the most of this amazing weather and keep on stitching!

Last Saturday of the month means it's Social Sewing Saturday!

Why is it that as the weather cools one wants to get sewing! The chill seems to bring the creative juices to the surface! The mind begins to whirr and the fingers begin to itch for a needle and thread!

I heard a great show on By Design on Radio National back on 31 May and am hoping to share it with you all tomorrow! It's all about downloading your paper patterns and printing them at home!

It will require some technological dexterity and that will be a monumental challenge but nothing ventured nothing gained! I do have some of the paper patterns that were prepared earlier!

In case you can't get to Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room, tomorrow at 1 pm here is a preview.


Looking forward to seeing what projects are going to pop up for viewing and discussion!

See you all tomorrow!

Just itchin' to do some stitchin'!

May's second Social Sewing Saturday

There were a few projects on the go on Saturday. We had a follow-up on one of the projects from our early May meeting. Unfortunately the wonderfully made-over skirt did not meet with daughter's style-guide so mother is now engaged in therapeutic unpicking which despite utilising a quick-unpick is never quick! Discussion among fellow sewers brought up a few solutions to the problem so we look forward  to viewing  the next model.

Another favourite blouse is waiting in the wings to be replicated. The much-loved top was pulled this way and that in an effort to flatten it and draw an outline onto some pattern paper which hopefully heralds the beginning of a new 'favourite' blouse.

There was much envious discussion about a member's visit to a delightful fabric store on the Sunshine Coast. This sewer's heaven often features in Dressmaking with Stitches magazine so there was a distinct green tone to the discussion.

A newcomer was hard-pressed to believe that enthusiastic sewers cart their sewing machines along on SSS to continue working on their projects.We assured that this certainly was the case. To tide her over, she had brought along some knitting and some crochet and worked between the two projects as her fancy took her.

Another newcomer thought she'd sample the social part of SSS first and came along to socialise and thus become inspired. I'm not sure whether it's a reflection of our group or not but she seemed to think that a crazy patchwork project to use up some of her scraps might be a good starting point.

Our resident cross-stitcher soldiers on with the outlining of her project. As regards time consumption the kit has certainly been a worthwhile investment. It looks set to occupy her for some time yet. SSS seems to be the only gap in her timetable when progress on the project can be made.

I heard a great program on Radio National on Saturday morning discussing downloading and printing patterns from the internet. Unfortunately I reached my destination before the program finished so I'm investigating whether there is a possible podcast of the program which we could listen to at our next 'sewcialise'.

Our next opportunity to sew and socialise is at 1pm on Saturday 28 June at Gordon White Library's Community Meeting Room.

Happy sewing or unpicking - both are great for the soul!??

Second SSS for May this Saturday at Gordon White Library!

Doesn't this glorious weather churn the creative juices and  awaken the need to sew?  Looking forward to seeing and chatting about what this dip in temperature has inspired you to stitch.

Our resident expert FOML is off gallivanting at present so we'll have to sort our own sewing dilemmas this Saturday. Sometimes even talking out loud about a sewing hiccough can create a solution and I'm sure we'll manage somehow.

If you're keen on sewing and you haven't been to SSS, just bring your project and the necessary equipment along and join in. We have good lighting, a selection of power points and a number of good-sized tables if you are only at the cutting out stage of your project. If you need some inspiration the library has a great selection of craft and sewing magazines to browse through as well as a great selection of craft books to help generate ideas or develop skills.

Looking forward to seeing you sewing on Saturday 31 May, at 1 pm at the Community Meeting Room at Gordon White Library.

Nothing quite like stitching one's way to happiness.......

Social Sewing Saturday 3 May 2014

Well, some mothers do have 'em....

It seemed that daughters had their orders in as to what they wanted Mum to sew for them this weekend. One mum has a daughter who is an avid op-shopper and then it's mum's job to transform the 'trash' into 'treasure'. So mum came along with her black fabric and pretty new tea towel (from op-shop) which had to be combined and converted into a wrap-around skirt. Much thought and discussion about what bit was having to go with what other bit and so on. After the mental gymnastics it was onto some embroidery to enjoy some quiet reflection.

Another mum was cutting out a pattern for a skirt for her daughter. After that was all sorted, it was on to cutting out a pattern developed last SSS from a favourite top. Sewer was still feeling a bit ambivalent about the possible outcome so that project has been allocated to stall mode at present.

One of our sewers whos seems to cut out pieces a lot at SSS, brought along some of her completed projects just to prove that they don't always remain as just 'pieces'. She had a couple of wonderfully colour co-ordinated baby blankets for the new additions to her family which impressed everyone.

Our resident cross-stitcher has finally moved on beyond the shoes after several confused counts and pull-backs until eventually, that section was finished to her satisfaction. She is now attempting to outline the clothes, but the reading glasses are not making things quite as clear as they ought to be. A magnifyng glass will probably be a clever accessory to bring along to our next session. Maybe the lighting was different in the small meeting room compared the usual larger Community Meeting Room.

We'll have another SSS in May on Saturday 29 in the Community Meeting Room at Gordon White Library at 1 pm. Bring along your project or take the time to browse either the craft book section or the magazine corner in the library to gain some inspiration. This cooler weather certainly stirs the craft genes!

Happy sewing and see you at SSS soon!

Heat plays havoc with sewers socialising

We had a couple of enthusiastic sewers turn up. What we lacked in numbers we made up for in enthusiasm.

Heaps of colour-co-ordinated shapes were cut out in preparation for converting to a future quilt.We look forward to watching this project progress.

A much loved blouse was carefully placed on bleached calico, outlined and then cut so that a pattern was made. We look forward to seeing the next version of this favourite garment arise from the ashes so to speak.

There was discussion as to what colour would work best with a patterned fabric piece. It can be quite difficult to get the right colour match to enhance the original  material especially if you want to move beyond the obvious. It's usually best to keep an open mind on this as often you get your heart set on one particular colour match and then you find it can't actually be found. It's amazing how highlighting a particular colour in a patterned fabric can change its whole look and flavour.

The cross stitch project continues to take shape slowly. At least one shoe has now been outlined and the next one is starting to look more shoe-ish. It's obviously a long term project.

After much discussion, we decided that as the last weekend of April was a long weekend we would meet the following weekend. Unfortunately the Community Meeting Room is booked that Saturday, but after some creative thinking it was decided we would be able to work in the small meeting room, using the table in there for cutting projects and machine sewing and if necessary spill out into the media lounge for handsewing projects. It has coffee making facilities so that important aspect is catered for.

So May will be a bonus month for Social Sewing Saturday as we will have two meetings: the first on Saturday 3 May in the small meeting room and the second on 31 May in Community Meeting Room as usual.

Looking forward to seeing how the projects progress and seeing what other clever ideas our social sewers can come up with.

Happy stitching!

Cooler weather increases creativity?

This weekend is the last weekend in March already so we'll be enjoying some social sewing this Saturday at 1 pm at the Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room.

If you haven't been before just bring along everything you need for your project including your sewing machine if it's necessary for your project. (Don't forget thread, pins, scissors, needles, tape measure, pattern and anything else your project requires.) If you need inspiration beforehand pop into any of our library branches and check out our sewing and craft books and magazines.

While our attendees help each other out and our talented, experienced Library Friend is willing to offer advice, this is not a sewing class but more a sharing of ideas and techniqes amongst folk who enjoy sewing in a social environment.

You do need to be a library member to attend our Social Sewing Saturdays so if you are not a library member yet, bring along proof of your Mackay residential address (your driver's licence is fine) and pop into the main library to join up and get your library membership card beforehand.

Looking forward to seeing you stitching and socialising this Saturday at 1 pm at Gordon White Library.

Social Sewing Saturdays back on schedule

Our 2014 SSS started off slightly slowly. The heat is obviously playing havoc with our creative capacity. Working on our projects in the delightful air-conditioned cool of the Gordon White Library Community Meeting Room certainly made sewing much more fun.

Our faithful FOML was there to show us how therapeutic pulling out can be and how even the most experienced sewers have to rethink and redesign their projects so that they achieve something they are happy with.

One of our regulars came complete with several projects on the go. Paper patterns for a future project were trimmed to the correct size, some fabric was sorted and a blouse alteration project  was advanced, all while participating in the fruitful exchange of information and ideas. 

Another of our regulars came as always with sewing machine and fabrics in hand and left with one  toddler's dress nearly complete and another begun. It is amazing how much can be achieved when there is so little interruption.

Another regular's cross-stitch project has now reached the outlining stage. It's amazing how a simple black line can give so much definition to a shape.

If you're itching to get stitching but not quite sure what project you'd like to work on, come in to our libraries and be inspired by our craft and sewing magazines or the many books which are full of ideas, illustrations and techniques.

Our next Social Sewing Saturday is on Saturday 29 March at Gordon White Library at 1 pm. See you there with your stitching!

2014 Social Sewing Saturday starts this Saturday

Hello there,

Our Social Sewing Saturdays start at 1 pm this Saturday at Gordon White Library! Bring everything you need to work on your project: thread, scissors, sewing machine, needles, patterns, fabric, tape measure, pins, dressmaker's pencils and anything else you use on your projects!

Looking forward to seeing what you have been working on over the break!

See you with your sewing, on Saturday at Gordon White Library from 1 pm till 4pm!