December 2011

The Christmas Party for our members will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Kittie's house. Everyone brings a dish for our meal and a gift for our gift exchange. If you are unsure of what to bring, please contact me for suggestions.

There will not be a meeting at this event.

I wish all of you the most Blessed Christmas Ever!

November 2011

The next meeting of the Memphis Area Smocking Guild will be held on tuesday at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. We will meet casually for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Holiday Ham in Germantown. 

Please bring all Wee-Care gowns to the meeting! We need them all, finished or not! The committee needs to see exactly what is out there to plan for upcoming needs. You may then recheck a gown out if you need to finish it. 

Christmas Party
Our annual Christmas Party will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec.13 at Kittie's house. Maps to Kittie's house will be available at the meeting.

We will be signing up for food - everyone will bring a dish. We will also have a gift exchange, so try to find a great sewing-related item! This party is really the highlight of the year and tons of fun - don't miss it!

Dues
National dues for 2012 can be submitted online. We will collect local dues in January.

Program
Chris will be giving an overview of collars for your Basic Yoke Dress. Different styles will be discussed, so you will be able to choose one style for your own dress.

No supplies will be needed, except for note taking. As always, please bring your dress to the meeting.

In closing, here is a wonderful picture of George and Lydia, Debbie's grandchildren. They say "Roll Tide" to everyone!

Supply Lists for Gail Doane Classes Nov. 3-5

Beautiful Bias

Student Supply List:

·         Sewing machine in good working order - bring all accessory sewing machine feet.  Must have a foot suitable for making piping.  I prefer an open toe, center groove applique foot #042-941for Pfaff, #23 for Bernina or the new mini piping foot for Viking.  A five groove pintuck foot may also be suitable.

·         #70 sewing machine needle and white thread (DMC #50 or Mettler #60)

·         ¼” ‘Fasturn’ if you have one – they can be shared

·         Clear plastic ruler with 1/8” markings

·         Small blocking surface such as a June Tailor 12” by 12” Cut N’ Press

·         Basic sewing supplies

Buttons and Blossoms Baby Jacket

Student Supply List:

·         Sewing machine in good working order – bring all accessory sewing machine feet.

·         #70 sewing machine needle and white sewing machine thread (DMC #50 or Mettler #60)

·         Small awl or trolley needle

·         Fine point washout marker

·         #2 pencil

·         Clear plastic ruler with 1/8” markings

·         Paper scissors

·         Basic sewing supplies

 

Sunflower Wrap Skirt and Blouse

Student Supply List:

·         Sewing machine in good working order – bring all accessory sewing machine feet, must have a foot suitable for making piping such as an open toe, center groove applique foot (#23 for Bernina, #041-942 for Pfaff, or new mini piping foot for Viking).  A five groove pintuck foot may also be suitable.

·         #70 sewing machine needle and white thread (Mettler #60 or DMC #50)

·         Small awl or trolley needle

·         4” – 6” hand embroidery hoop

·         Small circle template (available at office supply stores)

·         Paper scissors

·         Fine point washout marker

·         Clear plastic ruler with 1/8” markings

·         Basic sewing supplies

October 2011

The next meeting of the Memphis Area Smocking Guild will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. We will meet for dinner at Holiday Ham in Germantown at 5:30 p.m.

Please bring your Wee Care Gowns! We have a big order to fill and need every gown out there!

If you have not started your Basic Yoke Dress for the Sew-Along, there is still time! Just let us know and we will help you get started.

Program 

We will be having a lesson on sleeve finishing and construction. Please bring your dress.

If you would like to sew along with the lesson, bring your machine. Bring scraps of fabric, piping and lace for practice pieces.

You can also bring a couple of cut-out sleeves in a small size to practice with. Or you can just sit, listen and take notes!

There is one more month this year that we need a refreshment volunteer! Please think about bringing treats in November.

September 2011

The next meeting of the Memphis Area Smocking Guild will be  at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. We will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Ham in Germantown.

September is National Sewing Month! I hope you are all busy celebrating by sewing all month long!

Program
Kittie will be giving the program on smocking. After the program, there will be individual help for everyone as you start smocking your yoke dress.
 

Cindy Foose has graciously given us permission to use her original smocking plate for our sew-along! This will be a wonderful choice for all, especially beginners. This design adapts to many color variations and many sizes. There will be teachers to help you use this plate on your skirt.

Supplies
Bring your yoke dress supplies and all notions needed to start smocking - floss, needles, embroidery scissors, etc. 

These are my grandchildren on their first day of Mother's Day Out and 3rd grade!
Maegan is wearing a smocked bishop. 

Emily Anne is wearing a knit skirt and top with a reverse applique.

August 2011

The next meeting of the Memphis Area Smocking Guild will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9. We will meet for dinner at the Holiday Ham in Germantown at 5:30 p.m. If you have any Wee-Care gowns, please bring them to the meeting.

We will continue to accept enrollment for classes by Gail Doane. In September, class registration will open to non-members.

Jeannie Baumeister will be here March 30-31, 2012.

Program 

We will be starting our Yoke dresses! We will tear our skirts, mark our armhole curves, pleat the skirts and learn how to block them.

Anything we do not finish this month will be continued into September. If you have a pleater and are comfortable pleating for people, please bring
your pleater and be ready to pleat. The more pleaters we have, the better.

Supplies
You will need to bring your Basic Yoke Dress pattern, fabric - pre-washed, dried and ironed, buttons, plate, floss, lace or trim you will be using.
 

You will need a finished dress length measurement. This meaurement is taken from the high point on the shoulder - where the neck meets the shoulder - to the length you want the dress to be. Do not add hem allowances, etc. to this measurement.

We will have a little Show & Share of everyone's choices before we start work.

July 2011

The next meeting of the Memphis Area Smocking Guild will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12. We will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Ham in Germantown. Judy will have additional AS&E back issues for sale at the July meeting. They are $10 per issue. The available issues are 49, 50, 51, 56, 59, 61, 66, 70, 71, 72, 75, 79, 82.

Program
We will be starting our Basic Yoke Dress sew-along. The program will include a lesson on fabrics suitable for a yoke dress and how different fabrics respond when pleated. Examples will be shown. Please bring the Basic Yoke Dress pattern that you will be using for the sew-along.

If you would like to be on the nominating committee, please send your name to DiAnne. If you are currently an office holder, it is time for you to decide if you want to continue in your office for another year. Please let DiAnne know. An office may be held for two years. If you would like to be an officer next year, or serve on a committee, please give that information to DiAnne as well.

We will begin accepting registration for the upcoming Gail Doane classes. Gail will be here on November 3-5. A check covering all fees will hold your place in class. Class information can be found at the end of this update.

We had  so many excellent entries in the Pillowcase Dress Challenge!

It was hard to choose a winner. So hard, in fact, that we had a tie! Here is a picture of our lucky winners Jane and Laura!

Gail Doane Classes

Beautiful Bias
6-9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3
(submitted for SAGA certification July 2010)

• Length: Three hours
• Area: Fine Machine Sewing
• Level: All
• Cost: $65 kit $12; non-member $75
  

Bias can be your best friend in the construction of smocked and heirloom sewn garments. Learn how to cut and apply a

French bias binding to straight and curved edges. Master applying a French bias binding ‘in the round’ to avoid bulky joins at the underarm seam lines. Learn a unique approach for finishing off the ends of the binding prior to attaching it to a bishop neckline. Practice making turned bias tubes with a ‘Fast Turn.' Sample the application of ¼” rickrack, cross

stitched entredeux and narrow Swiss edging trims to compliment your bias bindings.

Buttons & Blossoms Baby Jacket
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4
(SAGA Certified)

• Length: Six hours
• Area: Embroidery/Fine Machine
• Level: All
• Sewing
• Cost: $80 kit $35; non-member $90

This simple to construct, fully lined, swing style baby jacket is made from diamond quilted Dakota Pique. It is embellished in a bright color palette of hot pink, lime green, yellow and black. The design features a border of chain stitch hearts embellished with sprays of bullion roses. Tiny bright colored buttons connected by a running stitch border on the collar, sleeve edges and hemline. The jacket collar, sleeve edges and hemline are bound in black and white micro check pima cotton. Pattern in sizes 6 months to 3 years is provided in class. Your class kit will have materials to make up to the biggest size.
Note about the dress: If students are interested, coordinating dress fabric and dress button packs are available for purchase.

Sunflower Wrap Skirt and Blouse
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5
(SAGA Certified)

• Length: Six hours
• Area: Embroidery/Fine Machine
• Sewing
• Level: All
• Cost: $80 kit $60; non-member $90

This easy to wear set features a white birds eye pique wrap skirt paired with a black and white micro check short sleeve

blouse. The fully lined skirt and blouse are embellished with bullion stitch lady birds, cast-on stitch leaves, chain stitch stems and lazy daisy stitch sunflowers. Hand-dyed buttons border the skirt and collar edges connected with running stitches. Construction techniques include bright yellow piping and micro check French bias bound edges. The pattern is provided in class in sizes 4, 6, 8 and 10. The kit will make up to the largest size.

May 2011

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on May 10. We will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Ham in Germantown.

Program
Kittie will be teaching " Shadowwork - A Spring Bluebird." This class will give you the knowledge you need to stitch the most complicated shapes in Shadowwork! It will be big enough for you to use on a collar or daygown. Please bring small embroidery scissors, a 4 or 5-inch hoop and any handsewing supplies you may want.

Judy will have her collection of AS&E for sale! Each issue is $10. The available issues are: 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 59, 60, 61, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 87, 92, 93. Check your bookshelf to see which issues you need.

It is time to start sewing for the Pillowcase Dress Challenge! Items will be brought to the June meeting.

Our members have been busy creating beautiful Easter dresses! Jane dressed Louise and Ada in these fabulous Heirloom dresses.

And Laura made her daughter's smocked bishop! It is safe to say that baby Emily, who looks like a doll in her Easter finery, is not a friend of the Easter bunny!

April 2011

The April meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday , April 12. We will meet for dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Panera Bread in Germantown.

Please remember to bring your pictures or vivid descriptions of yourself for the prettiest or ugliest seamstress contest! The prizes are great! The contest is all in fun.

Sarah Jortner will be doing the program. No supplies are needed, just come ready to listen to what she has to say about lace.

Sarah and I will be telling you all about our upcoming challenge! It's fun and easy!

The workshop with Cindy Foose was a great learning opportunity. I learned so much and I know everyone else felt the same way. Leslie was the lucky winner of the signed copy of Martha Foose's cookbook that was donated by Cindy. Everyone wanted to take that home! Martha's new book will be out in April and she will be coming to Davis Kidd to autograph copies.
Here are a few pictures from the workshop.

Debbie's granddaughter Lydia is in print again! She is so cute, we all understand why and her Grandmother's fabulous dresses show her off to perfection! Look for her in the convention brochure in the latest edition of SAGA NEWS.

And last, a picture of my granddaughter Maegan in her first birthday dress. 

March 2011

The March meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8. We will be having dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Panera in Germantown before the meeting. Remember to pay your dues, if you have not done so already. Both local and National dues are due now.

Also, this will be the last meeting before our Workshop with Cindy Foose. So be prepared to sign up for classes. A check for the full amount holds your place in class. Also, be ready to order lunch for the workshop. Menus will be available at the meeting.

In the fall we will be hosting Gail Doane. You may look at a workshop being held at Lake Charles Sewing of some of Gail's classes. Let us know what you think. www.lakecharlessewing.com

Contest
From the Singer Sewing Manual 1949:
"Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do ...... never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are  difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing..... When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on.....if you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should."

Does that little paragraph describe you when you sew? Well, we are going to have a little fun contest to see who is the prettiest or the ugliest sewer! Bring a picture of yourself sewing to the next meeting! If you can't bring yourself to capture yourself on film, then write a description or even a sketch of yourself at your sewing best and/or worst. You may enter as the prettiest sewer, the ugliest or both! There will be prizes for the winners in both categories.

A message from Wee Care
Regina and I are so pleased to see so many gowns taken out at the last meeting. Please finish and return them as soon as possible to keep the good trend going. We need to replenish our stock of gowns before we get another request for them. We gave out most of the finished gowns we had on hand at the end of the year. Thanks to all who help to keep this greatly appreciated service going.
-Jane

Project
This month the project requires you to bring basic sewing supplies. Everything else you need will be provided.

February 2011

Here are some notes and information about upcoming meetings, dues and program.

The January meeting was canceled due to snow. The February meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8. Remember to join us for a casual dinner before the meeting at Holiday Ham in Germantown at 5:30 p.m. We will collect local dues of $15 at the meeting. Please remember to pay the National dues of $35 online at www.smocking.org.

Program
Kittie will be teaching a small floral embroidery design with various stitches.
Please bring the following supplies:

• 3-4" hoop
• #2 pencil
• small embroidery scissors
• extra light and magnification, if needed 

Be sure to check out the latest issue of AS&E (#93). Debbie's lovely granddaughter, Lydia, is featured wearing one of Debbie's creations. You can also read a letter written by Debbie. See the photos of Lydia below!