Sewing and Craft Instruction

Last week I met with the Supervisor of Cultural Programs for the city where I live. We met to discuss the possibility of me becoming an instructor of sewing and other crafts to be held at various Parks and Recreation Centers locations within the city. She was very enthused when she saw some of my "samples" - various items that I have sewn and and some that I have knit. I was very proud of the garments I took to the meeting. She recognized my good craftsmanship in the items I displayed as she was familiar with sewn garments because her mother used to make most of the clothes that she and her sister wore while growing up.

We also discussed conducting one-day classes, and classes where there would be a series of sessions. I like both ideas very much because I have a lot of different subject matter that I could teach students who enroll in the classes. It seems that they have been looking for someone to teaching for a long time, and have no instructors willing or available, but citizens of the community have shown interest in wanting to learn to sew.

To start - I'd like to hold a Basic Introductory Sewing Class - where students would learn about fabrics, patterns, including how to determine the correct size pattern to purchase according to their body type and measurement. They would also learn the proper use of a few of the sewing supplies and notions available on the market.

The next idea would be a Basic Quilting Class - making a very basic quilt out of 9 or 12 squares (or rectangles) of 2 coordinating (or not coordinating) fabrics and a solid coordinating color for the backing. (My grand daughter doesn't know it yet, but I have 2 fabrics that we can use to teach her how to sew and she would have a nice quilt in her favorite colors.

Another class would be "Sewing with a Purpose" (SWAP) for a Spring and Summer wardrobe. The SWAP consists of usually at least 8 - 12 or more different garments that are interchangeable and coordinated. With that in mind one could have a wardrobe that would consist of 40 or more outfits. The garments to be made would at least be:

2 Jackets
3 pair of slacks pants (yes, there is a difference)
and possibly a pair or two of shorts
3 skirts
3 tops

With the fabric that is not used for the above garments you could probably get 2 or4 nice tote bags or purses, and a scarf or 2 - just to add to a little something to the wardrobe. Timmel Fabrics: www.timmelfabrics.com (NAYY)hosts SWAPs every year and the garments that participants create are quite extraordinary.

I will definitely keep you posted, so check back often to see the progress. I will also definitely take pictures of the students progress with their project(s) and post the pictures here.

While all this planning is going on and syllabus after syllabus is being prepared I am still waiting to get my hands on my birth certificate so that I can get going with teaching at Michaels Craft Store.

Note for the grammar police: Michaels Craft Store does not have an apostrophe, I checked, checked again, and even a 3rd time to be sure. The url for their website is www.michaelscraftstore.com. URLs do not allow apostrophes in the syntax.

Here's a scarf with matching beret that I made for my grandson (my daughter's son) Dominque. He played football for the past 2 years for the Baldwin Hills Bruins, and these are the team colors - the same as UCLA teams. By the way - he's a very good football player, and I love watching him play.

A basic picture of the scarf.

Close up of the scarf. I wanted to make a striped pattern, and this is what I came up with. Just off the top of my head and for some reason I like the brick pattern, I've made many scarves and headwear in this pattern.

Dominique modeling the ensemble in the next few picures where he's looking kind of serious. I think that's part of his new persona since he's 12 years old now he wants to be treated more "manly"...and I do quote him!!!

The Saga Continues, LOL

This is a scarf and beret that I made for my daughter. During the Labor Day Holiday I found out that her favorite color is crimson, cranberry, maroon or blood red. Whatever you want to call it. I had made a beret and scarf for my brother Maurice, but he doesn't like caps because they make him itch. I didn't think to mention that it wasn't made of wool. Anyway...my daughter kind of jumped right and said, "I'll take it, it's my favorite color". So...I had to make another scarf so that she'd have the matching ensemble. If you new my family you'd spoil them, too.




In the process of taking pictures of the scarf and beret I asked my daughter's daughter (my dear one and only grand daughter) to model the garments for me. She was more than happy to oblige. She's quite the model, too.
Just a note: These type items are for sell. Please email me (ladywhosews@gmail.com) and describe what you desire in the way of a knitted item, the type of fiber, size, etc., and I will get a quote to you post haste.

I couldn't resist this either!!!

So...I couldn't resist buying this: Vogue Knitting Winter 2007/2008 Issue. Beautiful knits, beautiful stitches....extremely beautiful yarns used in their displayed garments.

I like this one very much...it would be a challenge, and with long sleeves - but who doesn't need a challenge?



My daughter would love this one, and how about in an eyelash "mink" or erman-look eyelash or mohair yarn?

Scrap Quilts

Successful Scrap Quilts from Simple Rectangles (Paperback)
by Judy Turner and Margaret Rolfe
MORE INFO

Here's a wonderful quilt book that I saw on another blog. The blog owner is quite a quilt maker - she makes the most beautiful quilts and uses many patterns, I think in the past year or so she has made 15 - 20 quilts. she's such an inspiration. Here's the url for her blog: www.smallhand.blogspot.com, take a look at her beautiful quilts.

I like predominately black quilt shown here , but you all know I love orange and purple - so I think that would be nice. A quilt for a baby in beautiful soft, muted colors would be beautiful, too. There are so many possibilities.







It would be much better not to purchase any fabric for this quilt if I decide (better yet -find the time to sew it) because I know I have more than enough fabrics already to made probably 3 or 4 quilts from any pattern. Better yet, it would be better to use this book and quilt pattern for one of my classes, and kill 2 birds with 1 stone!