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?

Woodbridge Sewcial Club July Meeting: "THRIFTING 101"

 

If you are new to upcycling or if you've never thrifted before, this meeting is for you! 

The Woodbridge Sewcial Club (WSB) will first meet at the Goodwill Thrift Store located at 9769 Liberia Ave, Manassas, VA 20110 at 10:30am on Saturday, July 8th. 

We will tour the store as I explain:

• The various sections of the store;
• The method I use for thrifting and what to look for; and
• Tips and tricks for finding the perfect thrifted item

Ideally, my hope is that everyone will find (and purchase!) that one perfect item on this trip!

We will stay at the thrift store for as long as we like, purchase any items we just cannot leave behind 😍, then head over to the Central Library at 8601 Mathis Ave, Manassas, VA, afterward to show off our thrifted finds and the next steps in turning this item into a new upcycled creation!

THRIFTING 101:

The Thrifting 101 series will continue over the next several meetings, and will include education and presentations on:

• How to clean or pre-wash your item (and any future thrifted items once you're hooked on upcycling---which I think you will be!) 💞
• How to envision what your item will become in its new life, considering its fabric content, any directional prints or nap, etc., and how to pick a pattern that suits your vision;
• How to deconstruct your item;
• How to lay out your pattern to maximize the "yardage" and/or deconstructed pieces you have to work with; and
• Maybe some open sew sessions for us to upcycle together!

If you haven't RSVP'd for the meeting, please message me asap at asgwoodbridge@yahoo.com. I'm only asking for rsvp's so that I know:

1. Who is coming and delay the start of the tour, if needed, if anyone is running late, and

2. Have enough handouts for everyone

I think this field trip will make for a really fun meeting and I hope you can make it!

My hope is that this crash course in upcycling will set us up for a more in-depth upcycle challenge in 2024 AND . . . if completed before the Quilt and Sewing Expo in Fredericksburg, VA, in September, you can walk the ASG Fashion Show in your upcycled garment!

Join us for Northern Virginia's Annual Spring Fling "Showing Off Our Best" on Saturday, April 13, 2019, from noon to 3pm at the Springfield Country Club, located at 8301 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, VA 22152.

Our Guest Speaker is Austin McDonald, of the Fabric Place Basement.

Bring your "Sew and Tell" for the Fashion Show!

Bring your fabric, patterns, and notions for the swap table!

Get ready for "Jacket Attack" -- The 2019 Northern Virginia Chapter Challenge!

Cost:
$25.00 ASG members
$30.00 non-members

Your registration and payment covers:

Cup of Tomato Red Pepper Soup, warm rolls, and butter, coffee, and hot tea with your choice of:

• Marinated Steak Salad. Salad greens with cucumbers, bell peppers, red onions, and carrots, topped with thinly sliced steak and served with Greek Feta Dressing; or
• Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad with garlic croutons and parmesan cheese; or
• Pasta Primavera: Gemelli pasta served with vegetables roasted in olive oil and garlic and topped with parmesan cheese (Vegetarian Option)

A cash bar is available for fruit juices, sodas, wine, and beer.

Registration due by March 25, 2019.
Registration form available here:

ASGNOVA Spring Fling 2019

Happy Sew Year! Are You Ready for The Make Nine Challenge?

The Make Nine photo collage is an Instagram phenomenon which posted users' "Best Nine" photos that received responses on Instagram. A group of yarn and fabric bloggers spearheaded by Rochelle of Home Row Fiber adapted this to become the "Make Nine Challenge" in 2016. 

The intent of the "Make Nine Challenge" is to move you to complete projects over an entire year. The Make Nine Challenge officially begins on January 1, 2019! 

Rochelle has some good advice for you:

This is a gentle challenge. It’s not one that you can fail. It’s meant to be flexible, a tool you can use to evaluate your motivations and needs for working towards specific things as the year goes on. This is meant to be a challenge focused on learning more about yourself and your making habits while achieving goals. Work at your own pace and join in at any time. – That’s it!

Questions to consider when you choose your projects: 

1. What do you want or need? Be forgiving about pattern choice, but get specific about what you want or need to make this year.
2. What is important to you on this sewing journey? There are many ways to categorize your nine projects: specific patterns from your stash; techniques you want to practice or incorporate into your projects; Craftsy classes you've purchased but haven't watched, let alone do sew-alongs; maybe even new sewing books you haven't read....This can be an adventure or it can be something more practical. It's all up to you. 
3. What do you love making? What do you hate making? There's no point in creating something that doesn't give you pleasure (even if it's a #failure in the end----it's still learning!).   
4.  Is there a technique, sewing niche, or style you'd like to explore? If you have the time and patience to explore, knowing it may not be something you like or wear in the end, this is a wonderful opportunity to grow and improve.

If you're up for this challenge, which begins officially on January 1, 2019, tag Rochelle on Instagram (@makeninechallenge) and remember your hashtag: #MakeNine so we can see all the wonderful projects everyone is working on!