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.