Do You Know Where Your Meeting Is?

 Due to the elections, many of our regular meeting locations have changed for October. Please see the list below for details:

FAIRFAX SEAMS SEW FUN

Friday, October 4, 1-2:30pm
PLEASE NOTE MEETING LOCATION CHANGE!

Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA
Presentation: Shari Emery will be giving a presentation on packing for travel. Group sharing is encouraged.

WOODBRIDGE SEWCIAL CLUB

Saturday, October 5, 10am-3pm
First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, Woodbridge, VA
Presentation: Sew-In!
Get together and sew with some wonderful companionship and ready advice from your fellow sewists.
As always, RSVPs are appreciated so I can anticipate group size and seating/electrical outlet capacity.

• Do we want to do a program in November? 
• A holiday lunch/2025 planning session in December? 
• Do we want to get back to doing a few programs in the year or do you prefer the sew-ins?

If there is something you'd like to do or learn, let me know. I'm working on a few fun things for 2025, including a bag series, a spring thrift store day, and a chapter-wide trip to NYC in May 

If you'd like to do a couple of upcycle project classes next year, such as a mini skirt tote, a canvas art upcycle, a bling or line drawing beading class (part of my Fashion Graffiti class), a full deconstruction type upcycle, or any other project, let me know! These are just some of the things in my own personal queue. We can do pretty much anything you can imagine!
Please RSVP for Saturday so I know whether or not there will be sufficient turnout.

STERLING SEW-N-SEWS

Wednesday, October 9, 10am-12pm

Eastern Loudoun Sheriff Station
46620 E Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA
BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON?
Presentation: Buttons: Unique Buttons, Unusual Use of Buttons, and Unconventional Buttonholes.
So, start rounding up your favorite buttons for our collaborative meeting!

ANNUAL MEETING

Saturday, October 12, 10am-2pm
Vienna Community Center
120 Cherry St SE, Vienna, VA
Voting: You should have received the monthly email newsletter and an email with the voting link. Ballots will also be available onsite if you forget. 

Challenge: This year’s challenge is Zipper/Flower/Button!  Bring anything that you have made that shows off your skills and creativity that incorporates zippers, flowers, and/or buttons.  

Potluck: This year potluck assignments are by last name:  

A-D – Drinks 

E-K – Side dish

L-T – Main dish/Entree 

U-Z – Dessert

SPRINGFIELD SHARING THREADS
Wednesday, October 16, 10am-?
PLEASE NOTE MEETING LOCATION CHANGE! 

We will be fitting our blouse muslins at a private residence. 

RSVP for meeting address.
Presentation: Using your sloper, template, or measurements, you will have altered your blouse pattern prior to constructing your muslin. Ideally, you have gotten your commercial pattern closer to your body type.

Muslin construction requirements will make the tweaking easier to do and easier to transfer to your pattern.

Even if you have not made a muslin, you will see and learn the fitting process by reading wrinkles and folds. Plus, the more eyes and assistants, the better.

The program will end once everyone has been fitted.

KINGSTOWNE CLOTHIERS  
Saturday, October 19, 10:30am-1:00pm
PLEASE NOTE MEETING LOCATION CHANGE!
Fabric Place Basement, 6660 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306 
Presentation: Do you know what necklines are most flattering to you?

There are 23 unique necklines! That's a lot to consider when sewing a new dress or shirt. You've got to think about the silhouette, the fabric, and the print (or lack thereof). But you may also want to keep neckline types in mind to ensure you sew garments that are flattering and appropriate for the occasion.
If you're unfamiliar with the different necklines available, or if you're unsure which types are best for you, you've come to the right place! From necklines for broad shoulders to necklines for every bust size and body shape, we're covering it all.

You'll come away from this interactive presentation with a better understanding of what looks good on you, and you'll have the opportunity to take photos for your sewing files!

ALEXANDRIA SEAMSTERS

Monday, October 21, 7-8pm
PLEASE NOTE MEETING LOCATION CHANGE!
Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA
Presentation: Chelsea will present a program on Applique Techniques. Applique is not just for quilting anymore! Although some of us do like to quilt...We can use it in fashion details, mending, home decorating, and crafts. Join us to learn some techniques or brush up on your skills.
Bring your show-n-tell, too!

SHENANDOAH VALLEY GIRLS
Wednesday, October 23, 10am-12pm

VFW Post 9760, 425 S Buckmarsh St, Berryville, VA
Presentation: Holiday and gift giving ideas. We'll be sharing our ideas so bring your plans, patterns, projects, or finished items!

WEARABLE ARTS
Wednesday, October 23, 1pm-?

DAR Museum, 1776 D Street, Washington, DC

Presentation: FIELD TRIP!
We'll be viewing the exhibit, "Sewn in America," at the DAR Museum.

Set Time Aside for DAR Symposium on "Making - Meaning - Memory: Sewn in America"

 If you love the history and details behind garments or sewing of any kind, the upcoming symposium at the DAR Museum may hit all your interests! This event promises to dig deep into the rich tapestry of textile history, showcasing intricate techniques and the evolution of fashion. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore rare and exquisite pieces from the museum's collection, participate in hands-on workshops, and engage with experts in the field. Whether you're a seasoned sewist, or simply someone with a passion for the craft, this symposium offers a unique chance to deepen your knowledge and appreciation for the art of sewing. 

Link to Registration and Tickets.

The DAR Museum has a number of programs for the crafter, including creating fabric flowers, finishing UFOs, and a special Halloween event. 

The current exhibit will be available until December 31, 2024.

Kingstowne Clothiers August Meeting Recap #TDCO

The Kingstowne Clothiers had a great turnout for our meeting on the Top-Down-Center-Out technique for pants fitting. Attendees were given information from Threads Summer 2022 issue and Crooked Hem's YouTube video series to provide background and prep for the meetings. 

Everyone had worked on their waistband, which is a key component of the TDCO technique. Everything hangs from the waistband, so having it marked, interfaced, and fitted for where the wearer wanted it on their body was critical. We also brought one leg so we could check for overall fit before building the rest of our trousers.

I think everyone was happy with the outcome. As one member remarked, "It's a lot more fun to do fitting in a group than by oneself", and I agree. It's also a lot less tedious.

We have several lessons learned from this exercise.

1. Mark all seam allowances, especially center front and center back seam allowances. Do this for both the pant legs and the waistband.
2. Mark grain lines. 
3. Draw horizontal balance lines.
4. If you have standard alterations you make to your patterns, such as shortening for petite sizes, make those changes. 
5. Staystitch the waist and crotch seams. This enables clipping without distortion when fitting.
6. Add extra allowance (1-2 inches) to cutting lines in case more volume is needed when fitting.

It'll be great to see the next iteration of toiles and possibly finished pants!

Show and Tell

Here are the notes from our Show and Tell.

Sandra modeled the Geneva Blouse from Liesl + Co. She made it out of Liberty Fabric and deemed it a wearable muslin. She is still refining shoulder fit. 

She had an interesting observation on order of sewing and how it might affect the final fitting. Sandra used paper bodices to check order for shoulder slope, forward shoulder, and broad/narrow shoulder. This was an excellent discussion and might be a great topic for a future presentation!

Resources discussed included techniques on "pivot and slide" and Nancy Zieman's book "The Busy Woman's Fitting Book" provides the best descriptions of how to do this. 

Joyce discussed her "Magic Box," a clear plastic tackle box that contained all her sewing supplies. 

Marjorie demonstrated the Chakoner, a Japanese chalk pencil that will delight sewists and ASMR enthusiasts! It makes a nice line and easily brushes away.  Sandra pulled out a chalk pencil from Lidl which was also a cool tool. Unfortunately, it's hard to know when or if Lidl's chalk pencil, which was part of a sewing kit, is still available.

Brenda and Marjorie are working on sleeve slopers and will have a compendium of what works and doesn't work with sleeves. They described draping a sleeve using a corded armscye from Threads. 

Bonnie added information about a rolling ruler to measure the armscye. Sewists can also make an arm for their dress form. Use a ham to steam the seam allowance and set the sleeve. Be aware that different armscyes should be used for patterns that feature variations for sleeveless and sleeves.

Susan showed how she kept her thread and bobbins together. 

Bonnie showed her Classmate Bag from Kathy Saladino's Workshop. 

We also talked about the book, "Fitting and Pattern Alteration," by Elizabeth Liechty, Della Pottberg, and Judith Rasband. The fourth edition was published this year, but there's no need to buy a new edition if you have an earlier edition----especially since the latest edition is rather pricey and doesn't seem to add much new information, except for a discussion on sustainability. We also discussed ASG's "University of Fashion" subscription, one of the benefits of membership. Keep an eye on your ASG email newsletters for the next opportunity to enroll. Subscriptions run through October 31 each year. 

At our next meeting on Saturday, September 21, at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, we'll check the status of our pants fitting and we might even have some pants completed for Show and Tell!

Alexandria Seamsters Monthly Neighborhood Group Meeting for July 2024

The Seamsters' next meeting will be Mon, July 15 at 7 pm at our usual location, Franconia Government Center, 6121 Franconia Rd.  Alexandria, VA.  Our program, “Techniques for Sewing with Sheer Fabric”, will be led by Lisa and Diana.  We will have some sheer fabric items for you to cut and stitch during the evening.   This should be a lot of fun!

If you can, please bring:

• a pair of fabric cutting scissors
• pins to use when pinning and cutting a small pattern piece
• hand sewing needle(s) - preferably a thin needle

And, of course, bring your show-and-tells!

An Intro to American Designer Anne Fogarty

I picked up an interesting vintage sewing pattern, Advance 7914, by Anne Fogarty. A native of Philadelphia, she designed clothing that was fashionable, affordable, and practical. She is known for her signature look: full-skirted dresses with petticoats worn beneath. 

Advance 7914

As Lizzie Adams Bramlett states in her blog, "For the first time since the Edwardian era, adult women were putting on a petticoat--a necessity to achieve the desired tiny waisted, full-skirted silhouette." Fogarty altered her skirt silhouette for a narrower, longer look after 1956. 

The Met has several photos of her completed designs, mainly 1960's. I encourage you to take a look at their site as pictures cannot be downloaded, enlarged, or viewed at full screen. There is a beautiful red wool and silk coat embellished with couture cording! The coat has a matching sleeveless dress that can be worn with a black fitted turtleneck sweater. For more on surface cording, you can watch this YouTube video  

This site features many movie stars and models wearing her designs. The dress is from the February 1952 issue of Vogue Magazine. You can find the pattern for this in several online stores, just search for Advance 6160. As you can see from the photos, velveteen was a favorite fabric!

In 1957, Fogarty wrote a book, "Wife Dressing: The Fine Art of Being a Well-Dressed Wife." 

In 1962, Fogarty opened her own design house, Anne Fogarty, Inc. She retired in 1974 and continued to do freelance work with Shariella Fashion until her death in 1980.  

This pattern from 1959, Simplicity 3152 is suitable for everyday wear and comes highly recommended from Sew Retro: Sheath!

It appears that Anne Fogarty's design aesthetic is paid homage in the Anne Fogarty Boutique. 

Addendum to #MeMadeMay and Other Inspirations

 Although most of the Neighborhood Groups in the Northern Virginia Chapter are devoted to garment sewing, there are techniques that can be used from other specialty sewing groups, such as quilters (hello, little French jacket). One exhibit in the DMV can employ simple clothing designs as a foundation for creativity, such as crazy quilt techniques. 

The Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) is featuring an exhibit "Material & Memories: Elizabeth Talford Scott and the Crazy Quilt Tradition" featuring the works of Elizabeth Talford Scott through December 2024. Talford Scott's work uses scraps of family members' clothing and decorative household fabrics embellished with topstitching, ribbons, buttons, and stones to create meditative works of art. 

Even better, the exhibit Claire / McCardell is on display through November 2024! Viewing her designs with modern eyes, they don't seem that radical, but "spaghetti straps, the ballet flat, and pockets and zippers on dresses were all McCardell innovations" (The 50-Year-Old Fashion Book That Still Feels Radical Today (harpersbazaar.com)). 

Another innovative designer featured in an exhibit this summer until October 11, 2024, is Mary McFadden. Drexel University's exhibit, "Modern Ritual: The Art of Mary McFadden - Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection (drexel.edu) highlights her signature techniques, "including Marii pleating, one-of-a-kind hand-painted textiles, and opulent beading and embellishment." In a New York Times article, McFadden said, "The effect I'm searching for is to have the fabric fall like liquid gold against the body." Approximately 40 mannequins will be on view, donning some of McFadden’s most intricately crafted gowns, coats and separates, alongside a rich array of ephemera, including design drawings and personal papers.

Looking for a link between song and style? Check out "Instrumental Fashions: Attire and Song," on view through November 14, 2024 at the Shippensburg Fashion Archives and Museum, Pennsylvania. Dr. Karin J. Bohleke, FA&M director, says, “Music and fashion have more in common than one might think. Like fashion, musical genres have their moment of prominence, only to have another style emerge to replace them as newcomers on the scene attempt to differentiate themselves from the current trends. In addition, musicians incorporate keen observations on contemporary society. Naturally, fashions—from the elegant to the absurd—find themselves immortalized in catchy lyrics.” 

Visitors will enjoy seeing historical boots and whether they really were “Made for Walking,” as well as the “Lady in Red,” the “Devil with a Blue Dress On,” a selection of “Sharp Dressed Men", and many other examples of fashions explored in pop songs. But sadly, unless someone has one to donate, the permanent collection has no yellow polka dot bikinis from the 1950s.

Schedule a road trip soon to Columbia, SC, because this exhibit closes on July 7. Sergio Hudson is famous for dressing style icons, and his design philosophy is that fashion should be for everyone and include everyone. He designs to empower the wearer and often includes a nod to the ’90s of his youth. See eight signature garments from key moments in his revolutionary career alongside more than 20 sketches and drawings exploring his career from the early days winning Bravo’s Styled to Rock in 2013 up through the present day.

Continue your trek through the south with an exhibit at the Frist Museum of Art in Nashville, TN. Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous offers a rare glimpse into the life and mind of McQueen and introduces French photographer Ann Ray to audiences in the United States. With a partnership built on friendship and trust, Ray was provided unfettered access to McQueen’s world and captured everything from contemplative moments in the design studio to models posing backstage. In total, she shot forty-three collections over the course of thirteen years, creating a massive body of work and an indelible record of McQueen’s creative process at his namesake label and during his tenure as creative director at Givenchy. This exhibit ends on August 25, 2024.

You can end your summer US tour with a stop in Oklahoma City where the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is featuring will feature 70 costumes that capture the height of designer Edith Head’s career and were worn by stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Shirley MacLaine, Veronica Lake, Barbara Stanwyck, and Kim Novak. 

“Head was famous for wearing sunglasses, but most people don’t realize there’s a reason behind the shades,” said Catherine Shotick, guest curator for Edith Head. “Her trademark glasses had custom, blue-tinted lenses, which allowed her to see how the costumes photographed in black and white: a trick used by costume designers during the Golden Age of Hollywood.”

Are you planning any road trips this summer? If you're near any of these exhibits, let us know what you saw and how you were inspired!

Me-Made May, Museums, and Homemade Inspiration

 Well, we're halfway through #MeMadeMay! How are you doing? We'd love to see your photos and read your comments!

It's also time to make summer plans. When the weather is awful or uncertain, museums are a great antidote for heat, humidity, and rain. If you're in the DC area, we have a lot of exhibits related to sewing, so take advantage of these opportunities! Even if you don't live near Washington, DC, many of the exhibits offer virtual tours and even lectures. 

The DMV:

• Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat. Through June 8 at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. 
• Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction. Through July 28 at the National Gallery of Art. 
• Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women. Through August 24 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. You still have time to register for the lecture on May 23!
• Sewn in America: Making, Meaning, Memory. Through December 31 at the DAR Museum. They're also offering Unfinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circles. Check the site for dates and to sign up. 
• UFO Craft Circles (in-person at 3pm) and Tuesday Talks (available via Zoom or in-person at noon EST). Check out the schedule here. 

Beyond DC:

• Weaving Abstraction in Ancient and Modern Art. Through June 16 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
• Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams. Through July 14 at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
• Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. Through September 2 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Dress Up. Through September 2 at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Hallyu! The Korean Wave is also on exhibit here through July 28. 
• Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style. Through July 8 at the de Young/Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA. 
• Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution. Through October 13 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. 
• The Museum at FIT always has exhibits. Check this link for current and upcoming offerings. 

Passport Needed (or just membership):

• From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana. Through July 31 at the Palazzo Reale.  
• The Biba Story, 1965-1975. Through September 8 at the Fashion & Textiles Museum, London, UK. If you sew with vintage patterns, you might have one of hers in your stash. 
• NAOMI: In Fashion. Opens June 22 through April 6, 2025, at the Victoria & Albert Museum, South Kensington, UK. Free virtual talks are scheduled for members. Incidentally, there is a 3-day workshop on creating a couture cocktail dress in quarter-scale. This would be SO MUCH FUN!
• Barbie: The Exhibition. Opens July 5 through February 23, 2025, at The Design Museum, London, UK. 

Neighborhood Group Inspiration:

Check out Shenandoah Valley Girls in Berryville on Wednesday, May 22, as they offer a 1/2 day workshop on the All Dunn Designs Strip & Serge Top! This workshop was taught at

 the last two ASG Conferences and ASG members get a 15% discount on the pattern. 

The Springfield Sharing Threads and Kingstowne Clothiers have focused their sewing plans on fitting. If you're interested in learning more about fit and desire a supportive and encouraging community of sewists at all levels, join us at our monthly meetings! 

Our newest group, the Woodbridge Sewcial Club, alternates its offerings at the maker space in their local public library. Every other month, they will hold a sit-and-sew (or sew-in) where sewists can bring their machines and projects and get expert assistance. The alternate meetings will feature a presentation on some sewing related topic. 

Bothered by distractions? Need to get away to sew? Check out our upcoming "Taste of Retreat" scheduled for August 24-25 at the Hyatt House, Dulles, Sterling, VA. This mini retreat is modeled after our popular Winter Retreat every January in Winchester, VA. The cost is only $100 for this two-day retreat and you can stay overnight with hotel rooms that begin at $99. Overnight parking is $10, but there are no parking fees for daily attendance. Attendees are responsible for their own meals and drinks.  

Contact information for Neighborhood Groups.

Current meeting locations and agendas for Neighborhood Group Meetings may be found here (email contact information above if no group is listed). ASG members have access to GroupWorks where additional details may be found.