Buttons

I was going through my stash/collection of buttons the other day and sorting thought them. Of course I have more than I will ever use in my lifetime! Many of them I have acquired at vintage textile shows or in thrift shops. Good buttons for smocking and heirloom garments are hard to find in my area. The modern ones have no character and plastic doesn't always look right. So I buy vintage mother-of-pearl buttons when I see them. Of course, I need shank buttons and buttons with two or four holes in them and I need different sizes. So my stash, or rather collection, has grown over the years. It was time to organize them again and remind myself just what I do have, which might stop my buying more! (who am I kidding!).

While I was going through the collection I found many still on the original button cards. These cards are all very pretty and many are helpful too. Button cards today state the price and makers name but little else. Some of the vintage button cards state manufacturer, country of origin and button size. They also have lovely pictures on the cards of decoration. Much more fun!

Do you have a button stash, sorry collection?

SAGA Discussion Facebook Page

There is a new SAGA Facebook page -SAGA Discussion. 

This page is the page to go to with any questions and discussions regarding smocking, heirloom sewing and embroidery.

This page will mean that the discussions on the SAGA Smock Along page are just about the current project and make it easier for people to follow the threads.

So come and join the new group!

                                https://www.facebook.com/groups/153190182020422/.

Cute Baby Doll Pattern

I found this sweet baby doll clothing pattern in a local antique store. It had no price and turns out it was free!

The pattern has been used, but all pieces are there-not bad as it dates from 1939!

The transfers in the pattern have never been used. They have the dots for smocking as well as the embroidery designs.

I thought it was interesting that it used smocking and heirloom sewing techniques and I might see if it makes a size suitable for Wee Care.

Heirloom Sewing on a Singer Featherweight

When I was given my Featherweight sewing machine I was very interested in the detailed instruction book that came with it. The book is 55 pages of how to use the machine and the attachments. Of course it covers the basics like threading it and winding a bobbin and setting the needle in place, along with detailed instructions on setting the tension and lubricating, but it was the instructions for using the attachments that really caught my eye.

The machine has a hemmer foot and as well as details on how to make a narrow hem with this foot, there are instructions on hemming and sewing on lace in one operation.

Then there is the multiple slotted binder foot that allows you to attach  unfolded bias binding and pre-folded bias binding. Directions are given on making a piped edge and also piping and binding an edge in one operation!

The edge stitcher foot is shown sewing two pieces of lace together and also making a French seam and pin tucks!

The gathering food is shown making shirring but also making puffing strips. The directions also suggest using a coloured thread in the bobbin so that the shirring resembles 'smocking' when used on a collar or cuffs.

The really complicated looking ruffler attachment can be used to make gathers on a single piece of fabric or ruffle and stitch the piece to a garment in one operation. The ruffler can also be set to make pleats in even sizes.

Now I know that many of todays machines also have these feet and capabilities, but it was interesting to see that a simple straight stitch sewing machine that is over 70 years old could also do these heirloom sewing techniques. And the fact that it is heirloom techniques that are featured in the manual for the machine.

Batiste

Batiste ,as most of us know, is a lightweight, semi-sheer cotton fabric perfect for heirloom sewing. The fabric is a favourite for heirloom garments as it is easy to machine and hand-sew, and is great for smocking and embroidery projects. I am sure everyone has some of it in their stash or has used it at some point for a sewing project. I know I have.

But have you seen and used this Batiste?

I spotted this in my local supermarket when buying some shampoo.  Like the fabric, it would appear this product has a sheen and comes in different colours!

Who is going to Las Vegas?

I am!

I have booked:

My flights-yeah for air miles!

My hotel room and I have a room mate to share it with.

My classes-yes this time I am taking classes!

So Las Vegas here I come!

Will I see you there? I hope so.

Visit the SAGA website to find out more about the Las Vegas Retreat and everything to do with smocking, heirloom embroidery and more! www.smocking.org

These are the two classes I am taking with Brenda Shade.

 

Teacher Interview-Carol Ahles

Today we learn about teacher Carol Ahles. Carol took time out of her busy teaching and family schedule to answer some of my interview questions. Carol is a well known teacher and her book, Fine Machine Sewing has been revised and reprinted. Carol is also a contributor to Threads magazine.

Who taught you needlework skills and when did you first start learning?   

My Grandmother Emmy, who grew up in Lebanon, did beautiful handwork.   She taught me hand hemstitching and how to make needle lace.   I was the oldest of 8 children (Two girls, 6 boys).   My Mom didn't sew, but I had a neighbor who was a wonderful mentor.  She encouraged me to play on her sewing machine and typewriter. Garment sewing began at age 11 when I took a Singer kids' course.  I got into smocking and heirloom sewing in 1979 when my close friend Lydia and I, both mothers of toddler girls, found the original Buttons 'n' Bows in Houston.  From 1981 - 1988 we owned Buttons 'n' Bows.  (It's had two more owners since then.)  I taught the machine classes and knew our customers shared our taste for handsewn-looking finishing and embellishing. That's when I first developed many of the hemstitching, fagoting, and heirloom techniques we use today.   In 1986, I became a SAGA teacher.

 

Are you married? Children? Pets?

Married to college sweetheart Ron for 44 years.  Son Daniel and daughter Emily.  Four grandchildren pictured with us below.  Teacup Yorkie - "Tater Tot."

                                                                       Carol and Ron with Grandkids -
Grant (7 - born during first Saga Anaheim Convention!), Georgia (almost 5), Sydney (4), Anna Grace (3 1/2) 
 

What other hobbies/interests do you have?

We love Modern Square Dancing!  (Modern as in we dance to modern music - only occasionally to country music.)   Our club has 144 couples and we have made many great friends through this hobby.   We have found that square dancers are generally as nice as sewers!  No, I don't wear those short puffy petticoats and skirts! (Although I did buy one outfit with tacky lace and wide gold rickrack that you would not believe I would ever wear!   Remember, it's a costume!)  I usually wear peasant skirts.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud when I see how thrilled people in my classes are when they first learn to successfully use a narrow hemmer, stitch a perfect blind hem, are confident adjusting machine tension,  get beautiful hemstitching or fagoted seams, etc.!   I hear back from many of them over and over and it always makes my day!   

 

 

You can take classes with Carol at the SAGA Las Vegas Retreat, February 26-March 1, 2015.

Visit www.smocking.org for more information on all classes and how to register.

 

You can learn more about Carol on her website www.carolahles.com

 

 

 

 

What's in a Name?

I live in Connecticut, the Constitution State. There are no heirloom sewing shops nearby, just JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. We do have a few quilt fabric, needlepoint and knitting stores, but these are few and far between.

But we do have the Thimble Islands!

The Thimble Islands is an archipelago consisting of small islands in Long Island Sound, located in and around the harbor of Stony Creek in the southeast corner of Branford, Connecticut.

 

The archipelago of islands made up of Stony Creek pink granite bedrock were once the tops of hills prior to the last ice age. As a result, the Thimble Islands are much more stable than most other islands in Long Island Sound, which are terminal moraines of rubble deposited by retreating glaciers

Known to the Mattabeseck Indians as Kuttomquosh, "the beautiful sea rocks,

 

The first European to discover the islands was Adrian Block in 1614. Legend says that Captain Kidd buried his treasure here, causing intermittent interest among treasure hunters who believe they have unearthed a clue to its location, although more interest is generally paid to Gardiners Island, 30 miles away.

Although they are said to be named for the thimbleberry, a relative of the black raspberry, that plant is seldom seen in the area, and is more frequent in northern New England. Other species of blackberry and raspberry, however, are sometimes referred to by residents of the area as thimbleberries.

And I belong to Thimbleberry Chapter of SAGA, which is named for the thimbleberry bush.

Do you know how your chapter name came about? It is a fun thing to research-let me know what you discover!

www.saganews@smocking.org

SAGANews Volume 35 Issue 4

I am getting close to my next deadline-October 15. That deadline is the last date I can receive anything for publication in the next issue of SAGANews. This issue has a winter/holiday look to it-why not it will soon be that time of year!

 

Yes, my mug says "What's a Deadline"

 

So, do you have anything you want to submit?
 Has your chapter done something special? That would go in Chapter Chatter.
 Has your chapter hosted a teacher-write about it to encourage others to host a workshop-that too is Chapter Chatter.
 Have you made something special? That would be a Member Showcase item- always nice to see someones pretty creations!
 Have you smocked outside the box using the Stitch Games? Email a photo!

Do you have any ideas or projects to submit for a future issue? It is really easy-just send an email to saganews@smocking.org outlining your design, item or project and before you know it it might be in print!

Don't forget it isn't just smocking- we need heirloom sewing items, Wee Care designs, embroidery projects-just one stipulation they must be original.

I look forward to hearing from some of you soon!

Meet Wes

Hello my name is Wes!

I plan to take part in the Smock Across America challenge and will have my photo taken wherever I happen to be with my smocking! I hope that you are going to rise to the challenge too? Let us see how many towns, cities, states (and countries) we can cover between us!

Just have your photo taken with your smocking or heirloom sewing and if you can get the Smock Across America logo in there somewhere all the better! Then email the photos to saganews@smocking .org .They will be then be posted on one of the SAGA social media sites.

Of course, it would also be wonderful if you were teaching someone to smock in the photo!

I look forward to my smocking adventures and I hope to hear about yours too!

PS Yes, I am a boy bear, but boys can sew too!

One month to Convention

Yes, it really is only one month before SAGA National Convention in Anaheim, California! So that means four weeks to get things ready. What things do you need to get ready?

Well, besides the obvious change of clothes and toiliteries, maybe you entered the Design Show and/or Wee Care Contest? So there are you entries to complete.

Then there is your chapter basket. Please include a list of contents and a contact address.

Don't forget to have your kit fees in envelopes ready for the Teachers Angel to collect (cash or cheque made payable to the teacher).

Remember some name and address labels for all of those raffle tickets you are going to buy.

If you have any Wee Care donations, Robin Hart will be displaying them in Hospitaility.

A shopping list for supplies you need to buy at Market on Friday and the money to purchase them with. Shopping bags might be usefull too (I have seen some people with shopping baskets on wheels!).

What about a business type card with your contact details to give to all those new friends you will be making?

Very important items- your basic sewing supplies and any special supplies required for your classes (see the class descriptions in the Convention Brochure). If you are bringing a machine, don't foget the basics such as presser feet, power cords, foot pedal.

Most importantly of all, bring yourself and the love of smocking, heirloom sewing and see you in Anaheim soon.

[If you are unable to take any of these items in person to California, please consult the Convention Brouchure (SAGANews Vol 32 Issue #1) for the mailing addresses for Design Show entries, Wee Care and Chapter baskets].

SAGANews Volume 32 #2 in the mail

Another issue of SAGANews is in the mail. This is a special 'Lace' issue and also contains the Buyers Guide for 2011.

The Buyers Guide lists all of the SAGA business members; how to contact them and what they specialise in selling. So please when you need smocking or heirloom sewing supplies, look at one of these businesses first. Most have websites so you can see what they stock and each one of them would be happy to help you.

This issue also has some very important SAGA items, so please take time to read them.

Now I am working on the next issue. I wonder what that will feature.......