ASG Northern Virginia and Community Service Sewing

As a chapter of the American Sewing Guild, we have always supported sewing for community service. Each year, the ASG Northern Virginia Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) would select a charity, and every neighborhood group would contribute time, sewing, and resources toward this chapter project. A few years ago, the CAB empowered neighborhood groups to select the charity they wanted to support. This change not only energized our members but also gave each group the freedom to reflect their distinct character and passions through service work.

Our Neighborhood Groups support such charities as Quilts of Valor, Ryan's Case for Smiles, Dress a Girl Around the World, and Little Dresses for Africa. Individuals within the chapter also contribute their time and sewing expertise to personal charity sewing organizations, such as Dolls for Appalachia and Beyond, NICU Helping Hands, Virginia Green Baggers, and Hand to Hold. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, when Sew Friendly! is in session, you’ll often find our members lending a hand in the Pohick Library Maker Space. They assist patrons with sewing machines, troubleshoot issues, and offer guidance. After a year of meeting weekly with Sew Friendly experts, one patron progressed from having no sewing experience to creating her own winter coat—complete with expertly crafted welt pockets.

Sometimes, we serve as matchmakers for individuals who want to donate sewing machines, textiles, fabric, and notions. We are happy to connect donors with non-profit and community organizations who could benefit from this generosity. Additionally, our members may be available to support community events that require sewing expertise—whether it's hands-on help, demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes prep.

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. 

Halloween Costume Consulting Service - Sunday, September 9 at the Pohick Regional Public Library

The Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild is partnering with the Fairfax County Public Library for National Sewing Month! 

*** Halloween Costume Consulting Service ***

Have a great idea for a costume but need help sewing it?
Learn basic stitches that take you from concept to reality!

Have a costume but it doesn't fit?
Learn how to lengthen or shorten sleeves, pants, or dresses.

Have a costume, but it needs embellishment to bring it back to life?
Learn how to securely sew on decorations with minimal effort and maximum effect!

The expert sewists of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild are ready to help you have a ghoulishly good time practicing sewing skills to take your costume from an ordinary get-up to sartorial splendor suitable for any Halloween Ball!

BONUS! You'll learn techniques that will last longer than the Halloween candy in your secret stash.

Details: Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 1-5pm at the Pohick Regional Public Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Rd, Burke, VA

What to bring: Your costumes or even regular garments that need hemming, buttons, or repairs! If you have sewing tools or notions, please feel free to bring them and we'll help you learn to use them better.

2017 Community Service Project

Our chapter has decided to make the 'Wish pillows' for our charity project.

Give Kids the World Village is a non-profit resort that provides cost-free, week-long vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Approximately 21,000 Wish pillows are given away each year to visiting children.

• Pillow Project Instructions
• Downloadable PDF of the Video Presentation

There will be three opportunities for you to participate and meet other ASGers:

1.  Suzie's Quilt Shop,10404 Portsmouth RD,(Westgate) Manassas,VA
July 8, 2017 10:30 There will be sewing machine work stations already set up OR bring your own machine. If you can bring 1 yd. of flannel and 1/2yd quilting fabric that will make 4 pillows.

2. At the Salem Church Library, 2607 Salem Church Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
July 8th, 2017 9:00-11:30 They will be making the pillows too. Bring your machines and fabrics

3. Shenandoah Valley Girls will also being doing a Charity sew event on Sept 23, 2017 from 10 am to 4pm, Berryville VFW Post 9760, 425 Buckmarsh Street, Berryville, VA 22611

Charity Sewing Project - Clothing for Children in Appalachia

by Martha Walker

In June ASG NoVa donated 95 dresses, 12 slips, eight nightgowns, and 25 tote bags! Another seven dresses, six slips, and 40 tote bags have been donated.
Tender Loving Care Ministries, ministering to the clothing needs of underprivileged children of the Appalachian Mountains, has merged with Prayers to Action in Kentucky. They service Kentucky, West Vir- ginia and parts of Virginia.
Poverty in Appalachia is extreme. Many children live in conditions that border on those of Third World countries. As a result, many children are socially and academically behind by the time they enter school. Between 75 and 80% of the children at these schools live in homes where the income is below the poverty level.
Things you can sew or make: Sizes 4 - 14 are the requested sizes
For dresses, jumper & blouse sets, pajamas, slips and sweat- ers, you may use any pattern suitable for young children. Designs and fabric must be appropriate for young children. Tights or socks, undies, hair bows, bracelets, and barrettes can be purchased to complete the outfits.
Pajamas for boys and nightgowns for girls are also useful.
ALL garments must be labeled with size. Labels should be made of fabric that can withstand laundering and permanently secured to the garment; if you cannot attach a fabric label please pin a paper label with the size on the front of the garment. Please clip all threads.
Deadline:
Christmas Distribution is November 15 – long sleeves only on garments.
Garments will be collected at Sharing Threads meetings the third Wednesday each month. The last day to
turn in garments is Saturday, October 22 at the Annual Meeting.

Shenandoah Valley Girls Community Service – Doll Clothes

For the past couple of years members of the Shenandoah Valley Girls Neighborhood Group have been involved in making clothing for the 18” American Girl doll and/or dressing and donating a doll for the auction fundraiser held by the Henry & William Evans Home for Children of Winchester, VA.  All proceeds from the annual event go back to the Home, which provides an alternative environment for children who cannot live with their families and who would not thrive in a foster or adoptive family.

Members of Shenandoah Valley Girls, Sharing Threads and the Couture neighborhood groups contributed dolls and custom outfits to the recent auction held in December. These items raised $1,645 of the $10,000+ total and rated a mention of ASG in the local newspaper. The Evans Home Board sends a heartfelt thank you to all who made and donated the doll clothing.

Special mention goes to Anda Lind who provided a case containing an antique doll and wardrobe that sold for $110 and won 2nd place in her category; to Sheila Bohannon and Michelle Parker, who dressed a Hermione doll from Harry Potter that sold for $120 and won 2nd place in their category; and to Linda Wyman who made a trio of “Frozen” outfits that started a bidding war before selling for $275.

The 2015 auction will be held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester and will be included in the museum’s fall calendar of everts. This should generate lots of additional publicity and attendees as well as a need for more items to auction.

Our annual doll clothing “sew in” will be held on Wednesday, June 24th at the Clarke County Memorial VFW in Berryville, VA. Please join us for a day of sewing and lunch. We’re collecting your donations for the auction until the first of November, but we would like to have them sooner than that if possible.

If you have any questions please contact Linda Wyman or Nancy Melkerson.