Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Simcoe Branch NCPL, Large Board Room, Lower Level
Come for the day, or drop in anytime! The doors will open at 10 a.m., and we won’t pack up until 3 p.m. when the library closes. The easiest way to the room is to use the library door that faces the mall, and to come down those stairs right there. If you are bringing your machine, the elevator is just behind the big staircase, on the right side. This event is FREE to all members and there is no signup required. Just come anytime between 10 and 3! And bring a mug as we will have coffee and tea! And we will supply some Holiday treats!
Sew your Own Project
The large room has lots of space to set up your sewing machine. We will set up tables for anyone who wants to bring their machine and sew for the day. There will be some extension cords, but please bring your own if you have one. We’ll have one ironing board and iron to share.
Bring some handwork to socialize and chat while you make progress on your projects.
Felt Snowmen and Mittens
Join Lana for some hand stitching; no sewing machine is required! Drop in anytime; each ornament takes a couple of hours to complete.
Patterns, felt, threads and stuffing are provided, but bring your embroidery needle!
Prairie Point Demos
The demos will take place throughout the day, including making continuous prairie points from wide and medium strips of fabric and individual prairie points from cut squares and rectangles (sewn).
There will be some fabrics for sharing so you can try some techniques! Please bring your machine and the usual kit if you want to sew along.
Think Quick Gifts
Towels
You’ll need washed and dried towels (some shrink a lot!), coordinating focal fabric and scraps for prairie points, and thread for topstitching to spruce up some ready-made tea towels.
Depending on the style of prairie points, you will need a strip of fabric at least 3 ½” wide and the same width as the towel plus 2”. For two colours, you can use two strips of fabric OR be scrappy with multiple colours.
The top of the prairie points must be covered in some way. In the samples, I used fabric strips and woven trim. These should be the width of the towel plus 2”. If your towel is dark or has dark stripes, you may need a light-coloured fabric under the strip. I needed to do that with the red and white striped sample. The wintery background is light, and the red stripes show through it.
Snappy Pouch
To make a snappy pouch, you’ll need fabric, batting, medium, fusible interfacing for the outside of the bag, a coordinating fabric for the lining and top casing, a highlight fabric for the prairie points and thread for topstitching. Measuring tape, sacrifice scissors and duct tape will be provided.
I’ve found that the no raw edge technique for these snap bags means it’s difficult to top stitch if the bag is less than 6” wide. I’ve had luck with snappy closures up to 11” wide.
For this technique, the lining piece is sewn over the outer fabric by approximately 1½”. It’s best to allow extra length for the lining and trim it to size before the bag is sewn together. If you want to use an orphan block or a fussy-cut motif, make sure to add 1½” of extra batting or fabric to the top of the block.
In some of the samples, I added a D-ring for a handle or accessory and two D-rings to one of the bags for a strap. These pouches can be finished with a boxed or straight bottom.
Rope Bowl Demo
After 12 noon, Melanie D will also be there to demonstrate how to sew “Cotton Pottery” with clothesline rope. She will have a variety of bowls and baskets she has made for gifts. And the beginning of the base can be used to make some easy coasters! In this sample, she added a few fabric strips to add colour. Melanie will show both round and oval bowls.
Twilight Quilters' Guild of Norfolk County 