How to Be Online Fabric Shopping Savvy

The Plano ASG Chapter met on Saturday, Oct 27. If you missed the annual luncheon, you missed a wonderful event! We were fortunate to have Rosalind Gaither of Sew Much Fabric (www.smfabric.com,) Katy, Texas, as our speaker. She has been in business since 1987.

Rosalind shared four important things to know when “Online Fabric Shopping.”… Read the rest

Sheryl’s Creative Journey into the land of Koos

In 2017 I decided to set a goal of growing my creative skills.  These do not come naturally to me.  I am a process/rows-and-columns kind of thinker by nature.  As I set out to look for way to achieve that goal, I decided to sign up for Marla Kazell’s Koos coat workshop. … Read the rest

Fabric knowledge : Twills

What I learned today – contributed by Sheryl Belson 

There are many things I love about being a part of the American Sewing Guild.  I was reminded of one of them just today.  In the Sewing With a Plan meeting we focused on incorporating more denim into our wardrobe.  When it was my turn to show my project idea I told the group that I was having a horrible time trying to get the fabric on grain. … Read the rest

Sewing and Designing Resources

stack-clipart-cat-sleeping-on-stack-of-booksI just wanted to share  some of my favorite resources for fashion design and sewing.  I love books, maybe it is my age or desired learning style.

Books

Our local chapter has collected a great many books that are available to check out for a month at a time to any member of ASG.  … Read the rest

ASG National Conference Highlights

ASGConf16_logo-160pxAs your chapter President, I attended the 2016 national conference.  The first evening and 2nd day of the conference have separate track for Presidents or their delegates.  Thursday was the annual meeting of the corporate members.   Chapter awards were as follows:  Newsletter: Houston  Website: Indianapolis         Chapter Growth:  West Oakland Michigan .    … Read the rest

Interview Project Runway Junior Winner Maya Ramirez

 

Last yeProject+Runway+Juniorar we posted the request from Lifetime looking for young creative clothing designers for a new format of the Project Runway competition series.  This new format selected 12 designers from ages 13 to 17 to compete in weekly clothing design challenges.   While there were no contests from our local area, Maya Rameriz, the inaugural season winner’s aunt does live here.… Read the rest

Textile Conservation

TPST bannerWhat comes to mind when you think about preserving our history?

We’re familiar with preserving famous paintings, architecture, furniture, and historical documents, but where do textiles fit when you think of history?

Because textiles are thought of as utilitarian, they rank at the bottom when conserving history comes to mind.

But, how can you think about your personal history without including memories of your wedding dress or your child’s christening gown?… Read the rest

Travelogue of a Wandering Sewist – Inspiration Time with Diane Ericson

While on our road trip from Sonoma, CA to Seattle, WA I had the great privilege to make two “sewing nerd” stops.  I know you understand my enthusiasm because if you are reading this you are probably a sewing nerd too.  ASG is full of people like us!  Yea!

My first stop was in downtown Ashland, OR at Diane Ericson’s studio. … Read the rest

Pressing Matters

pressing rectangleThe one habit that can make or break the success of your creations is the proper pressing technique.

To begin with there is a difference in ironing and pressing.  When you iron a garment, you are smoothing out wrinkles with a gliding motion.  Pressing, on the other hand is lifting the iron up and down with the goal to meld the thread into the fabric, open the seams or shape the seam or other portions of the item into a curved shape.  … Read the rest

All about member Lu Peters

shear-accident-smallWe are proud to have the very talented Lu Peters as one of our members.   She is a frequent attendee of the Toujour Couture neighborhood group, that meets the first Thursday of the month at Fabrique! fabrics.  AND Lu will be teaching one of our workshop seminars at the upcoming “share fair” on September 27th.… Read the rest

Vintage, what is old is new again

simplicity halter

Have you notice the resurgence of vintage?  Simplicity and Vogue have been re releasing vintage patterns, Butterick has a line of retro inspired patterns with the designer Gertie of the blog “blogforbettersewing.com“.  Pattern review is running a vintage sewing contest.  I adore the 1950’s playsuit by Madssews.   http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/ContestGallery.pl?ContestID=208

I started sewing very early on, but in all the moves from high school to college, from this place to that place, I only kept one of my patterns from my high school sewing days.  … Read the rest