GREAT SEWING PARTNERS
January • February • March 2022
Volume 13 • Issue 1
News From Your President
I believe spring has finally arrived. Hopefully the Covid way of life is getting behind us and we are finding our way out of the house more. Our in person neighborhood groups (Simpsonville, Asheville, and Greenville) are meeting and the attendance is growing. It is so good to see all the familiar faces and some new ones. The Greer group meetings plan to return in April.
The guild has started our year off with a bang. Thanks to those who have contributed to completing many community service items. Packets of
community service items have been assembled to make it easier to contribute. More packets will be available at future meetings. Our Asheville group amazingly managed to make 48 cat beds so far
this year. I was also told of many bags being delivered to the cancer center by one of our members. There are so many ways to donate our time and use our gift of sewing. So proud to be a part of
some wonderful ladies with very generous hearts. Our guild has received three huge donations of fabric in these first two months. We will need some help getting those sewn and donated. My sewing
room looks like a fabric store.
Please consider being more active with us. There is a lot of talent among us and I find it fun to share ideas and to sew together. I learn something
new each time. Several class ideas are in the works. I look forward to this year together with you. Please do not hesitate to let me know your ideas. We are making plans for future classes and
activities. We are stronger when we work together.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Thank You to Those Who Have Renewed Their Membership
Is it Trash or is it Treasure?
By Doreen McDonald
In January a wonderful gift of fabric from Kim Bell of Prym Fabrics arrived at my door step. Kim had contacted Cindy Moore and that led to me. Kim said they were going to go to the trash and she thought about our guild. She had visited our guild and knew what great work we do for the community. She wanted our guild to have the fabric rather than going to the trash. This is PUL fabric which is used in baby items and other things that can take advantage of the waterproof attribute. This was perfect timing as National ASG had just put out a service project for April to make several baby items to be donated locally. We are forming a committee to get this done and decide who will get them. If you would like to be a part of this process please contact Doreen McDonald to be included. I shall keep you posted on the progress of this project.
Next came a donation of fabric from a deceased lady’s stash of around 18 bolts. From this fabric many surgical caps and many pillowcases were cut and packets were made up to be sewn. What a great save from being trashed. Many have commented that the packets have made it easier to contribute to the sewing projects of our community service items.
Next came a huge amount of fabric from the Bernina Store. They brought bags of fabric to my car and said these were donations. I believe it was from many donations brought to the store. Most of the fabric was of the Christmas theme. They were going to the trash if I did not want to take it. My sewing room now looks like a fabric store. I have been washing and sorting the fabric. There are some great collections in the bunch. Once again we need some help to make good use of this fabric saved from the trash. I would say we have been blessed with many treasures given to us to use for guild community service. Help us make this saved trash into treasures.
What's been happening in the neighborhoods?
The Feisty Stitchers of Asheville Are at Their Very Best!
By Dianne Sneath
We have triumphed through COVID and continue to work through the pandemic guidelines to find ourselves within, hopefully, a bit of a breakthrough! So many of
us have been working on personal projects and community service projects within this past quarter. The Feisties have been fortunate to hold two face-to-face meetings. In doing so, we have
experienced the wonderful talents within our membership! Over this past quarter, we have donated 48 kitty pillows and cushions to our favorite charity, the Asheville Humane Society — gradually
proceeding well above our donations of 128 for 2021.
We have shared many projects from home décor, garment design/jackets, embroidery, and quilts; and we are well prepared for an exciting summer program.
Recently, one member, Sue Miller, shared her inspiring story about a time when she had developed a strong linkage for sewing and fashion within the St. Augustine community. The pictures (below are an example of some of her sewing treasures.) If I may add, this coat is fine tailored, fully lined and hand embroidered.
It hardly goes without saying, our membership is enthusiastic and growing! And we have a deep compassion for each other’s talents.
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The Greer Sassy Sewers
By Marcia Baker
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Greenville Savvy Sewers
By Ande Jackson
We’ll hold the Greenville meeting on April 5 at Bernina — We’re in Stitches at 10:15.
Phyllis Costa will present Tips and Technique for using Stay Tapes
and Interfacings on Knits and Wovens.As always, bring your show and share.
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Simpsonville Sew It Alls
By Linda Patton
Carol Harvey will present a program on " Easy Zipper Pouches" at Marietta's on April 14 at 10 am.
Stitch 'n stitch
A Product Review by Jean Van Valen
I have tried a new product that I would like to share with you. I saw this mentioned on a YouTube video I watched last year and decided to order it. The product is called Stick 'n Stitch by Sulky. It comes with 12 sheets, 8 1/2 " X 11" that fit in a printer. You can print a design from a copy machine or a design that your computer sends to your ink-jet or bubble-jet printer. Print the design on the fabric side of the paper, peel off the release sheet and position it on your fabric. It is sticky, but can be repositioned if needed. Once your design is stitched, cut away any excess and remove the rest by submerging in warm water. It can be used for hand or machine embroidery, quilting, applique or punch needle.
The photo on the left shows two sides of my llama with the embroidery started on one, completed on the other, but both still have the sticky paper on them. The llama photo on the right shows both sides after rinsing and ready to sew together.
Memories of ASG from Kathy
Editor's Note: As you may know, Kathy has moved to Florida. She brought so much to our chapter so I asked her to share her memories. Many, many thanks.
I was asked to write a short article about my experiences as a member of ASG. I’ve been a member since 2014 and it took me a little while to get involved. My first position was CAB Secretary for
two years and that gave me the opportunity to learn about the workings of the guild and to get to know the members a little better. After that, I was a co-leader of a neighborhood group monthly
meeting and I was partly involved in helping to plan programs or demonstrations for the members at the meetings. I have also been on a committee for planning road trip outings and we had the fun
of touring the Anita Goodesign in Charlotte, and touring a display of Katherine Hepburn’s movie and personal clothing collections at the Upcountry History Museum. I’ve been co-chairperson of our
Sewing in the Mountains retreat and had a lot of fun planning it and being there! I’ve been the chairperson of four annual Beach Sewing Retreats in Myrtle Beach and I have loved every minute it
took to make those retreats happen!
A member of the CAB first approached me to ask if I would consider being the secretary. I immediately accepted. I think most anyone would like to be asked to take on something new and to be part of the guild. When I was in a women’s organization several years ago in Florida, I was asked to be president after only being there a year or so. I was apprehensive, but then she said….”you’ll be great and we won’t let you fail”. What she said stayed with me.
I would do it all over again and I know I will often think about the friends I’ve made being a part of ASG!
Kathy Grazio
Mark Twain and the Bra Strap
How Samuel Clemens contributed to the undergarments of today.
https://pieceworkmagazine.com/mark-twain-and-the-bra-strap/
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