Contest Ideas for Neighborhood Groups

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Generated with AI ∙ November 9, 2023 at 12:18 PM

One of the ways to engage sewing groups is to create a challenge! Sewing challenges spur risk-taking because it's a low-risk exercise with the potential for a fantastic payoff! After all, these are learning opportunities. 

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Use the same pattern selected by the challenger to create a project. Marvel at the different variations sewists can create! An alternative to this is to use the same fabric. 
• Everyone writes down a project (aka UFO) that is lingering in their time-out bin or stash. A deadline is agreed upon and everyone reports the status at the end of the challenge period. This written commitment provides accountability that can move a project forward.
• Issue a "zero-waste" challenge and review the final projects
• Upcycle or alter a garment you never wear but don't want to discard. Make it better, however you define "better."
• Quilters must use a garment technique and garment sewists must use a quilting technique in a challenge.
• Propose a technique challenge. Sewing books that demonstrate couture techniques, sashiko, quilting, and embroidery lend themselves well to this challenge. Sewists may also find inspiration from YouTube videos, Instagram, and blog posts. 
• Identify the oldest pattern, notion, or fabric in your stash and make something with it.
• White Elephant Challenge: Everyone brings a predetermined amount of fabric in a bag and bags are exchanged. (No peeking!) This could extend to trims, buttons, notions---the possibilities are endless!
• Identify a "Christmas in August" recipient (could be an individual or a facility). Everyone is challenged to create a sewing donation for the recipient. This could be hats, adult bibs, walker/wheelchair totes, scarves, etc.

What ideas have you used for sewing challenges? What was your favorite challenge?

What Are Your New Year's Sewing Resolutions?

 

What are your New Year sewing resolutions?

Common sewing resolutions include, but are not limited to:

• Altering and adjusting patterns for a personalized fit
• Learning tailoring techniques
• Practicing couture finishes
• Optimizing sewing time  
• Experimenting with various specialty stitches and presser feet 
• Using sewing tools such as hams, irons, and notions more effectively
• Sewing down a stash
• Creating a sewing plan

The Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild reached out to its members for ideas on what they'd like to learn in 2021.  Members of our various Neighborhood Groups voted on broad categories, including;

• Quilting and Ruler Work
• Accessories and Crafts (includes bags, purses, and aprons)
• Machine Embroidery
• Sergers
• Cutting Machines, such as Cricut
• Upcycling
• Home Décor
• Art Quilts
• Cosplay

Because we also do charity sewing, we discussed sewing projects that would  benefit our communities. Such sewing activities include creating fidget blankets, dignity scarves, wheelchair or walker caddies, and holiday-themed placemats and napkins for Meals on Wheels.

One of the strengths of Neighborhood Groups is the availability of hands-on expertise or access to subject matter experts to solve sewing problems, whether it's a fitting issue, an opinion, or a recommendation. Membership in the Guild builds relationships and connections to others with similar interests. Our Neighborhood Groups use Zoom to create virtual meetings where members present tutorials on select topics and share their sewing knowledge, so wasted time and driving are minimized. We do hope, at some point, to be able to meet again in person, and one of our Neighborhood Groups is doing hybrid meetings to meet the needs of its members.

If taking your sewing to the next level is one of your New Year's resolutions, consider attending one or two meetings. Or maybe your New Year's resolution is to meet new people safely----we're here for you!

What are your New Year sewing resolutions?

We'd love to hear what your sewing plans are for 2021!

Please comment below! 

Neighborhood Group Meetings Are Held on Zoom!

 

Are you worried about possible exposure to COVID-19, but still want to connect with your sewing buddies? We have the answer, and it's ZOOM!

All of our Neighborhood Groups are meeting virtually to share our love of sewing, no matter what form that might take---embroidery, quilting, crafting, and garment sewing. We are also still meeting at the same Neighborhood Group meeting times listed on our site, and we have sought out subject matter experts to do special event presentations on what we call "Fourth Saturdays!"

We have found that Zoom meetings have increased attendance as driving, distance, and traffic frequently present barriers to gathering. Zoom is an app that can be easily mastered and there are plenty of tutorials to help you adjust to this new normal. 

If you're not on our list to receive information about our Zoom meetings, contact one of the Neighborhood Group leaders on our site. We also post our meetings and reminders on Groupworks.

If you're sewing masks, we'd love to know how many you've sewn so we can add that to our tally. This helps us support our charitable organization status as a chapter of the American Sewing Guild. 

Spring Fling 2020: "Sew Your Own Path" on March 14, 2020!

Join us on Saturday, March 14, 2020, to hear Michelle Umlauf share her story on how she went "against the grain" to pursue a career in the sewing industry!

Michelle graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and spent nearly 20 years working for the federal government. With her husband’s encouragement and support, she made a major career change and is now pursuing her dream of teaching others how to sew, quilt and embellish. Michelle is a member of the American Sewing Guild. In 2014, she became the president of the Maryland ASG Chapter.

Michelle enjoys all types of sewing and likes to challenge herself with incorporating new techniques in her projects. She is partial to free-motion sewing, and using Sulky products has helped her learn and gain confidence in this skill. Michelle says that the book, Embellish Your Life with Sulky, is right up her alley. She hopes to inspire you at our annual Spring Fling!

In case you haven’t yet signed up for our March 14th Spring Fling or the workshop the day before, please remember to send your registration soon.
More things to do at the Spring Fling:

• Swap fabric or sewing supplies on our Swap Table  
• Participate in our fashion show 
• Channel your inner kindergartner and enjoy "show and tell"

You will have a great time & a chance to catch up with your sewing friends!  

The Registration Form is attached.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fez96nZgkqgWRyWxEk6BaCJ0h_vYG1AY
The deadline is March 2, 2020.
Mail your Registration Forms soon!

Northern Virginia Chapter Annual Meeting: Desserts, Social Media, Jacket Attack, and Show & Tell!

Presentations, Show and Tell, Trades, Voting, Drinks and Desserts at our Annual American Sewing Guild Northern Virginia Chapter meeting!

About this Event 

Join us on Saturday, October 19, from 1:30-3:30 pm for desserts and drinks (coffee and tea) at the ASGNOVA Annual Chapter Meeting.

We will be meeting at the First Presbyterian Church in Arlington. If you attended the annual meeting a few years ago, this is the same location.

Please bring your smart phones and your tablets or laptops! This is going to be an interactive session as we learn how to navigate Groupworks and Instagram! A subject matter expert will help you learn how to take photos, write captions, and hashtag your sewing projects so virtual and IRL (in real life) sewing buddies will ooh and aah over your beautiful creations!

You’ll learn how to follow others on Instagram, “like” and bookmark photos, use filters, and gain inspiration from fellow sewists through the Explore Tab.

There are some great and useful sewing videos on Instagram. Instagram is where the young and up-and-coming sewists are hanging out.

There are a couple of reasons why it’s important to document our sewing projects. First, if you’ve seen the sewing projects posted by inexperienced sewists, you know they are hungry for advanced sewing, quilting and embroidery techniques that will take their skills to the next level. Second, you know we HAVE those advanced sewing, quilting and embroidery techniques that we’d love to share with them---if they only knew we existed! That’s how we can transition their sewing from a solitary activity to one filled with a supportive network of sewists. This is where we have to be to grow our membership.

Stand by for the Jacket Attack! Not only will we learn technical skills, but we’ll have the opportunity to view—up close and personal—the beautiful jackets sewn over the past year in the various neighborhood groups. These range from the classic French–style jacket ala Chanel to the casual restyling and upcycling of sweatshirts plus everything in between.

Bring your show and tells, your items for trade, and things you want to give away! You’ll be able to pick the brains of members who attended the Sewing and Quilt Expo and those who were able to attend the ASG Conference in Boston! There will be lots to catch up on!

Here is another reason why you should attend the Annual Chapter Meeting. This is where we vote on the new leadership for the chapter and ensure we’re moving forward as an organization AND in support of our mission to recognize sewing as an art and life skill. “Many hands make light work,” “it takes a village to raise a child,” and “it takes two to tango,” all mean the same thing: we can’t do it alone. So, if you’ve been on the fence about serving in a leadership role (or leading in a servant role!), here’s your opportunity to throw your hat in the ring. You can vote at the meeting as an INFORMED CONSUMER because everyone there will let you ask any questions you need about the chapter positions. (If you can't attend the meeting, look for a ballot to come your way.)

Please RSVP so we’re prepared with plenty of desserts!

Croosh Deets:
What: ASGNOVA Annual Chapter Meeting
When: Saturday, October 19, from 1:30-3:30 pm
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 601 N. Vermont Ave, Arlington, VA (Ballston area) Enter the building from the parking lot entrance under the covered walkway. Go down the stairs to the Social Hall. If needed, an elevator is available from the entrance on the Carlyn Springs Drive end of the parking lot near the handicapped parking spaces.



What to Bring:
• Your smart phones (fully charged) and/or your laptops or tablets
• Your neighborhood group projects for the Jacket Attack
• Your show-and-tell items
• Things you no longer want (patterns, fabric, notions, and/or tools)
• Cool things you got or learned at the Sewing Expo or the ASG Conference

Before the Meeting: Download the Instagram app to your phone or tablet before the meeting so you can get started right away (Look for Instagram in the iTunes or Google Play Store)! You won’t want to miss this meeting!

Upcoming Sewing Events in NoVA!

 SPRING FLING. Save the date Saturday, April 13.
 This event will be held mid-day at the Springfield Golf and Country Club.  More details will be shared in a flyer soon.   

• FIFTH SATURDAY. Saturday, March 30. Couture Embroidered Buttons.
  Adrienne Bennett will share ideas for making couture embroidered buttons using hand embroidery with a covered button kit. This is a follow-up from the annual meeting last fall.
  Time and Location: 2-4 pm, Montclair Library 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries.  More details in the upcoming NOVA ASG newsletter. 

• GROUPWORKS/MYGROVE.
  
  If you are not receiving emails from GroupWorks, it may be because your preferences are set to receive notifications on M, W, F only. Currently, there are programming issues with this setting, so change your preferences to Daily or Weekly. 

28 Days of Threaduary!

For you needle artists out there, Marna Lunt (Thread Therapy) in northern UK created a unique challenge for the month of February. #Threaduary was created because February, for her, has traditionally been a difficult month to get through. By focusing on a project each day during what is historically a dreary month (at least in the Western Hemisphere), she has sustained her emotional well-being and resilience. She writes, "The message of making to help ease mental health is very important to me. It has been my savior on many occasions."

The first year, Marna created a series of embroidered flowers. This year, she has chosen to complete a mini portrait of a great writer each day. As this is a visual endeavor, use the hashtag #threaduary on Instagram to view and support the thread artists, to "encourage each other and send lovely positive vibes out into the world."

If you have no experience in hand embroidery, Marna offers a free 30-day online embroidery course if you sign up for her newsletters. She also offers sewing retreats and workshops. She holds an exquisite collage lampshade course!

Thread artist, Elizabeth, "Sew In Love Stitch Art," has some recommendations for those eager to create: "You don’t have to be highly gifted or talented in design to be able to produce worthwhile stitched projects and you don’t need any special abilities or ‘leanings’.  Anyone with the manual dexterity to hold a needle can embroider, but it does make sense to start small and simple.  Try a few stitches on some scrap fabric, a small kit or a taught workshop.  Have a look in your local library for books and online for other sources of basic information.  By all means visit any specialist shops or retail shows you can get to, but don’t invest a lot of money in expensive materials and equipment until you’re sure this is an art form for you."

What you need to do to survive February:

1. Follow #threaduary on Instagram
2. Commit to a regular creative practice (I love this one!)
3. Try a few stitches on some scrap fabric
4. Enroll in an online stitch course or workshop
5. Check out embroidery or stitch books in your public library
6. Investigate and visit local specialty shops where you live
7. Attend a neighborhood group and discuss your ideas and show off your creations!

Embroidery Group New Meeting Time!

Life in the Hoop, the embroidery machine neighborhood group has moved to a new time. We will still be meeting on the 4th Tuesday of each month but from 1:00-3:00 pm. Each month we try to do a new project and explore a different topic concerning the embroidery machine. Last month we made tissue box covers. They had designs on one side and monograms on the other. Next week we will be starting free standing lace jewelry. Specifically earrings and a necklace project. We meet at the Hancocks fabric store on Mathis Ave. in Manassas VA. If you want more information you can call Adrienne at 703 868 7011.