Holiday Sewing Class

Come join me at Whetstone Community Center for a sewing class for all levels of sewists.  You can make presents for the Holidays!!

You can bring your own projects or I can provide you with some ideas:  stockings, napkins, totes...

$40 for 3 classes:  Tuesdays - Dec. 3, 10 and 17.  Register online or call 614-645-3217
Ages 18+ and you can use our machines or bring your own! 

I hope to see you there!

new space

I have been inspired by all of the cool sewing rooms I have seen on Pinterest.  I decided to clean up my basement and make it a proper sewing space.  Here are some pictures: 

Why did they put fireplaces in basements in 1940?  I like it though...

 

I love this little ottoman.  The kids wrecked the top so I recovered it. 

Super cute now and has storage inside. 

 

Believe me...this is a vast improvement over what it was.  Still a work in progress but at least now having classes here is a possibility.  And yes, for those who have been here before - the Pepsi machine is still down here (boo!...don't read this Brant). 

 

Pumpkin!

Tis the season....

Make a large yo-yo.  I used a large dinner plate as my circle template.  Sew a gathering stitch around the edges...fill with some fluff.  Get a twig and some twine, hot glue it on.  Viola!  Make your own pumpkin patch with various fabrics.  So easy and fun!!

Gypsy Sling

This one is mine! 

 

I know...I didn't use Amy Butler fabric.  I had some stash I wanted to use up and black and white is always a good choice.  Plus, the pop of pin dot red on the liner is fun too.  Diapers fit great in these large pockets.  Now if I could just Sammy potty trained, I would have to tote those around anymore!!

Got kids?

Get some laminated cotton.  It wipes up well. 

Sewing with knits

I have always been scared to sew with knits.  But I once I changed my needles to ball point, lengthened my stitch a bit it, it "seamed" to work like a charm.  Funny, huh? 
I also have a walking foot that helps too but I don't always use it. 

Here are a Fall pair of leggings for Sarah:

My little Irish dancer with super strong legs!!

The ruffled bottoms are cute!

Now to make a coordinating tunic for her to go with the leggings.

Summer Classes

Hi All! 

I hope your spring has been great so far and I am really looking forward to summer.  Especially because I will be offering several kid’s sewing classes!  There are 2 locations to check out:  Sew to Speak on High St in Clintonville and not far down the road is the Whetstone Community Center (also on High in Clintonville). 

Sew to Speak Kid’s Summer Sewing Classes

These classes do not require the child to know how to operate the sewing machine. We will cover threading and basic operation in class. No Intro class is required.

1st Kids Summer Sewing Camp with Michelle Thomas This is a class for beginner sewers ages 8+. We will make 2 projects in this class: A headband and a drawstring bag. Supplies will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own fabric if you like. 2 Classes. Monday, June 18 & Tuesday, June 19, 9-11am. Cost $48

2nd Kids Summer Sewing Camp with Michelle Thomas
This class is for beginner sewers ages 8+. We will take an old tee shirt (adult size…the bigger the better) and transform it into a cute applique skirt. You will need to bring the tee shirt and I can provide the fabric scraps for the appliqué, but you can bring your own if you like. We will be machine and hand sewing in this class. 2 Classes. Monday, July 23 & Wednesday, July 25, 9-11am. Cost $48.

3rd Kids Summer Sewing Camp with Michelle Thomas
This class is for beginner sewers ages 8+. We will make a zipper pouch (could be used as a pencil case for school) and a simple envelope pillow – with or without letter applique. There will be some hand sewing in this class if you choose the appliqué for the pillow. 2 Classes. Monday August 13 & Wednesday, August 15, 9-11am. Cost $48

WHETSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER CLASSES

Summer 2012 Schedule

Sewing Camp for Kids: Hand Sewing – July 9 through July 12 (Mon-Thurs) from 10am-11am. Cost $35 limit 6 kids ages 8+. In this beginner class, your child will learn the basic hand sewing stitches. We will make yo-yo’s (not the toy…a gathered fabric circle) and then incorporate those into a final project that can be framed or hung. Your child will design the final project to take home using the stitches they learned! All materials will be provided.

Sewing Camp for Kids: Machine Sewing – July 16 through 19 (Mon-Thurs) from 10am-11am. Cost $35 limit 5 kids ages 8+. In this beginner class, your child will learn the basic operation of the sewing machine. If you have a sewing machine to bring, I encourage you to bring it. If you do not have a machine, there are some available at the center to share. We will make a skirt from an old tee shirt (the larger, the better) – please provide the tee shirt. Fabric for applique and elastic will be provided. The second project will be a pillow covering with an initial applique on it. If you would like to purchase fabric, you are welcome to…otherwise materials will be provided.

Adult classes will resume in the Fall...stay tuned!!

REGISTRATION BEGINS MAY 21, 2012.

Whetstone Community Center

3923 N. High St.

Columbus, OH 43214

 

Attention Adult Seamsters…I also offer private sewing lessons.  So if you have a party of 1-2 the cost is $25/hr and for parties of 3 or more is $30/hr.  You can split the cost with your friends and save!  So if you want to schedule something with me, please feel free to email or call 614-507-5849.  We can do the classes at my house or your house! 

 

Some projects that I have done private lessons for:  Roman shades, valances and purses and totes….  So if you have a project you have been putting off, schedule some time to get it done.

Thank you!!

 
Michelle

no more ears

For those who make pillows....a trick that I have stumbled across and wish I would have used sooner.  Trimming the "ears" off of your pillows.  Here is what you do (and I will be updating these instructions for my class as well). 

Cut your pillow panels the same measurement as your insert.  So if you have a 18" by 18" pillow, cut 2 at 18" by 18"....no extra for seam allowance.  I have found that the inserts usually run smaller than stated and/or are fuller in the middle and not flat.

Then fold and press the panels in half and then quarters.  Measuring 1/2" down from raw edge, draw a line to the press mark in the center and trim.  This allows the pillow to look full and not pointy with ears.  I will be using this REALLY soon to cover some pillows that have mysteriously been adorned with popsicle stains.

picture not to scale....just trying to illustrate the cut lines

A quilt for Bebop

Happy Birthday Bebop! 

Bebop = kids name for my Dad

the front

the back

the back has the kids handprints in the corners

Sam's handprint is so small!

My beautiful niece's hand

my favorite fabric is in the middle....a Parson Gray

Mine!

This was supposed to be done for Easter.  Better late than never. 

Freshen

Why is it someone has to be coming over before I freshen up stuff around the house?  Surely I am not the only one who does this.  I have a sewing class here at my house tonight.  My ironing board was looking sad.  So I made a cover.  Cheery!!

It was really easy.  I layed out some fabric on the floor.  Put the ironing board upside down on it and added 3" going around.  Cut it out.  Hemmed it with a 5/8" channel for cording to go through and an opening at the bottom.  Fished some nylon cord through it with a safety pin and put it on.  Very simple and satisfying.  Now if we could just haul all of my sewing stuff out of the basement and sew outside.  It is so pretty today!!

Some inspiration

So a stop at the library helped immensely....my afternoon will be spent drooling over the following: 

and here are some of Sam's choices: 

Lotta!

I love the new fabric line from Lotta Jansdotter.  She is fantastic!  So I had some leftover scraps from a pillowcase dress sample I made and I wanted to use every last bit of it because I liked it THAT MUCH.  So I have these old windows from when we remodeled and I have done a few things with them....but then I thought MOD PODGE.  Good stuff...

What to call it?

I have been teaching a basic tote bag class now for about 3 1/2 years and I have noticed the class wasn't filling up as often as it had in the past.  Time to change things up a bit...for me and for students.  I was going to call it a gathered tote but somehow that does not feel right.  It is a one shoulder strap bag with a round bottom and a drawstring top.  The bottom has a bit of cording around it and the ties have cute little "stops" so the ribbon doesn't come out of the channel very easily.  It reminds me of an old bag I used to carry to college classes that was very hippie.  This one is updated with pretty Amy Butler fabric from the Lark line and a fabric staple I love...full moon dot.   What about Hobo bag?   I kinda like that....

Classes will be at Sew to Speak: Wed, May 23 from 6-9pm and Sunday, June 24 from 9:30am-12:30pm.  Cost is $40 and you will learn how to make cording, straps, drawstrings and liners for bags. 

What I did when Sam slept...

Some new wallet samples for the Intro to Machine Sewing class at Sew to Speak.  Made from Amy Butler's Lark line.  Love these prints!

And here is Sam.  I don't know if you will be able to see him with all the camouflage going on but look hard!  He is so cute when he sleeps. 

Busy, busy, busy...

I have caught the sewing bug again.  For many, many months I have not wanted to sew very much. I must have been burnt out or something.  But I have made up for that this weekend. 

Some softies for an upcoming kids class.  This was a free pattern that found and tweaked:

A drawstring bag ...also for a class.  Fabric donated by a kind friend!  The kids will love to make this bag.  

And my favorite thing...a stroller blanket/quilt made from that charm pack from Moda I was talking about.  LOVE IT!  It has a rustic feel to it because of the handstitching around the edge and the light brown minky makes it so super soft.  I can't wait to give this to a new baby girl!

sigh.... it's good to make stuff.  :)

xoxo,
Michelle

Classes at Whetstone Community Center

So I am trying some new stuff this year... one is teaching sewing classes at a new location: Whetstone Community Center right here in Clintonville!  I am still teaching at Sew to Speak as well but thought I would branch out with some other options as well.  The second thing I will be diving into is learning Adobe Illustrator but more on that later... now the deets on sewing classes:

Winter 2012 Schedule

 

Note: An update has been made to the dates of these classes to account for MLK day (Jan 16...class now Tues, Jan 17) and President's day (Feb 20...class now Tues, Feb 21). 

 

Sewing for Kids: Ages 8+ $35 (Limit 6) This is a 3 week class (Jan 9, 17 and 23) from 6-7:30pm that will introduce your child to machine sewing. We will make 2 projects: A stuffed animal and a drawstring pouch. All materials are included. Class #9885

Beginning Sewing: Ages 18+ $35 (Limit 6) This is a 3 week class (Jan 30, Feb 6 and 13) from 6:30-8pm that will introduce you to machine sewing. You are encouraged to bring your own machine if you have one but if you do not there are some to share. We will make 2 projects: Envelope style pillow covers and a zipper pouch. Materials can be provided but if you would like to bring/choose your own fabrics please do so. Class #9887

Sewing 2: Ages 18+ $35 (Limit 6) This is a 3 week class (Feb 21, 27 and March 5) from 6:30-8pm that will teach you some techniques that will improve your skills beyond the beginner level. You must know how to thread and operate a sewing machine. We will go over zippers, gathering, sewing cording and sewing buttonholes. You will then design and make a project that incorporates one or more of these techniques. Class #9888

REGISTRATION BEGINS JAN 3, 2012.

Whetstone Community Center

3923 N. High St.

Columbus, OH 43214

614-645-3217

Is it October already?

Time to make Halloween costumes.  What should Sam be this year?  Sean wants to be Darth Vader and Sarah is going to be a witch.  Sam is too young to care what he is...now what do I want to make?  Hmm.... I will have to think on it.  But meanwhile, I found some great ideas for pumpkin carvings: 
Click here!

I love Halloween!!

My new portfolio bag

I needed a bigger bag to carry all the crap (ahem, excuse me)...stuff.... I need for classes and such.  I had been bring 2 smaller totes and that just wasn't working.  So I modified my regular tote and made this one bigger and gave it a curved bottom.  But what I am most excited about is my WELTED pocket.  They are easier than you think and are really finished looking. 

I can see this being a good pool bag too. 

Welted pocket

I must have adult ADD or something...

I know I have a list of things that I need to sew and complete... I know!  But then a new book came out this week and my attention was diverted.  Sewing for Boys is co-authored by Shelly Figueroa and Karen LePage and it is chock full of cute boy stuff! I have always enjoyed the Patterns by Figgy so of course I needed to make Sam something.  The Luka Hoodie!

I made size 2/3 and it is a bit big for Sam but he can grow into it.  And to be fair, Sam is a pip squeak and still fits into some 18 mos stuff. 

I love the lined hood the best...sock monkeys!

And a secret pocket...I bet he will like this best. 

I used a knit fabric (pique) for the exterior and most of the liner because it is what I had on hand.  When I make this again, I would choose a cotton quilting weight for the exterior and a softer knit for the interior (just like they suggest...cause they are good like that).  Love it ladies...good job!!