Having our first Social Sewing Saturday on Queensland's election day was not great timing! However the lure of space, quiet and blissful cool proved too much for three stalwarts.
One of our regulars popped in to model a delightful summery dress that she had been sewing at SSS last year. It was great to see the wearable result after witnessing the planning, the cutting-out and then the start of the stitching. Some modifications she had incorporated were discussed and examined in fine detail. Wearing your own unique creation is such a source of satisfaction.
Another sewer is experiencing a baby boom among her friends so is busy sewing gifts for the mothers-to-be. Her daughter has created this wonderful reversable pattern for playsuits that make it easy for mothers to dress and undress their babies. They are simple to make and easy to wash, making them an ideal present for busy new mums. This clever sewer was selecting a variety of cheerful colour co-ordinated combinations that would look cute on any baby.
One of our long-ago regulars has a different schedule this year so was able to come along again. In her Christmas cleaning, a set of favourite curtains developed frayed tape so after much therapeutic unpicking, she had bought replacement tape but needed a big table and cool to sew such an awkward project. After several trips to the car, she was well-equipped and ready to sew. After a few minor hiccoughs she had a beautiful set of curtains ready for hanging. Apparently she'll have the next set ready for repair at our next SSS! The big tables and air-conditioning make sewing large projects in summer so much easier and more pleasant.
Our regular cross-stitcher was enjoying stitching some wording and after some meticulous counting reached a point where it was discovered that the whole process had started one square out! So, after a couple of deep breaths and a tiny bit of unsocial muttering, the meditative unpicking began! Eventually, she was back to where she started and after moving one minute square, the process began again. Sewing can be such a lesson in patience and mindfulness.
Hopefully your stitching projects continue to progress and see you all again in the quiet cool of GWL Community Meeting Room next month!
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Monday, 26 January 2015
Need a de-stress after voting?
Just a reminder that SSS for 2015 starts this Saturday at GWL Community Meeting Room at 1.00 pm. It looks like it could be rather quiet as many folks have contacted me to say they won't be able to make this Saturday!
However if you are looking for a quiet time in the cool of air-conditioning, don't forget to pack up your project and bring it in for a bit of un-interrupted progress.
Happy stitching!
However if you are looking for a quiet time in the cool of air-conditioning, don't forget to pack up your project and bring it in for a bit of un-interrupted progress.
Happy stitching!
Monday, 1 December 2014
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!
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!
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, 28 August 2014
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!
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!
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, 24 July 2014
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!
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!
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