SewGreen News, September 9, 2008 www.sew-green.org SewGreen is a not-for-profit program that encourages sustainable use of fabric, fiber, and fashion through consumer education, community sewing and reuse classes, and a reuse program.
CONTENTS Kick the Plastic Bag Habit Classic Sewing Machine Sale Ray White Sewing Machine Repair Course Volunteers: Come Sew with Us! Preview: Fabric Sale, ReCraft Fair Sunday Open Sews SCROLL DOWN FOR SewGreen Fall Classes KICK THE PLASTIC BAG HABIT Plastic bags are considered a "serious environmental concern" by the EPA and other agencies around the world, where they are increasingly banned or taxed. Plastic bags, which invade the average American household at a reported rate of 60 per week, contribute to biologically harmful litter on land and in the seas. Have you noticed they're also ugly? SewGreen favors a switch to fabric and its superior esthetic. Fabric bags are nice to touch, they fold neatly, don't stick together, cushion contents, last a long time, and can very attractive. Visit the SewGreen booth September 26 and 27 at downtown Ithaca's APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL for reusable bags that will brighten any shopping trip. Got a favorite reusable bag? Show us and get a free apple! CLASSIC SEWING MACHINE SALE SewGreen will hold a benefit sale of more than 30 restored sewing machines, cleaned, lubricated, and ready to sew. Sewing machine technician Dianne Black, a retired environmental scientist with a flair for mechanics, will be on hand to explain each machine's best features and help you choose one that suits your sewing needs. Older sewing machines were built to last for generations, and many of these all-metal-parts machines will sew through canvas, leather, or several layers of denim. Proceeds from the sale go toward SewGreen's sewing machine repair program. 11 am to 2 pm, Saturday, September 20, Women's Community Building, 100 West Seneca Street, downtown Ithaca. SEWING MACHINE REPAIR COURSE SewGreen is hosting nationally-known instructor Ray White (www.whitesewingcenter.com) for an intensive course in basic and advanced repair of sewing machines of all makes and ages. In the basic class, 9 am to 5 pm, November 3, 4, and 5, each student will learn essential "tricks of the trade" and will diagnose and repair three to five malfunctioning machines. The advanced class, 9 am to 5 pm, November 7, 8, and 9, will go into more complicated repairs. General sewing machine repair is in danger of becoming a lost profession, and this unique course, which is appropriate for passionate amateurs or those interested in a vocation, is unlikely to be repeated in our area. Contact Wendy, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 607-277-7611 for more information and to pre-register. VOLUNTEERS: COME SEW WITH US! The SewGreen classroom will be open Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the next three weeks. We'll be making reusable bags in apple themes for the Apple Harvest Festival and working on our HOSPICARE* project (see below). Drop by for a visit and to ~ SEW ~ ! From 4 to 8 pm, September 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and 25. Women's Community Building, 100 West Seneca Street. PREVIEW: ANNUAL FABRIC SALE, RECRAFT FAIR Mark your calendar for SewGreen's annual reuse sale of fabric, yarn, and sewing supplies, 11 am to 3 pm, Saturday, October 18, at the Women's Community Building. On Saturday, December 13, from 10 am to 4 pm, also at the Women's Community Building, Ithaca's first-ever ReCraft Fair will offer beautiful, original holiday gifts that have minimal environmental impact. Vendors, artists, and makers of gifts, apparel, home furnishings etc. created in our region from all reused materials and that involve no toxic processes are invited to apply for a booth. For more information and an application form, contact Wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED], 607-277-7611. SUNDAY OPEN SEWS The SewGreen classroom will be available for use (no instruction provided) from noon to 4 pm every other Sunday, starting September 28. Bring your own machine or use one of ours. The SewGreen classroom is bright and clean, full of shared supplies and equipment, and set up for cutting, ironing, and sewing projects of all types. Donations requested. FREE to anyone who sews a reusable bag for us, or who volunteers time to SewGreen. * * * * * * * * * * * * * SEWGREEN FALL CLASSES ---------------------------------- BEGINNING CLASSES ---------------------------------- ~~~ Beginning Machine Sewing: This one-session class teaches you how to use a sewing machine and make a simple reuse project. $15 per class. Offered four times: 2 to 4 pm, Saturday, September 27 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, October 9 2 to 4 pm, Saturday, October 11 6 to 8 pm, Wednesday, November 12. ~~~ Teen Sewing Vacation Day: No school! Learn to use a sewing machine or improve your skills, make a hobo bag, drawstring backpack, or other project. For ages 13 - 18. $25. 10 am to 4 pm, Friday, October 10. ~~~ Sew for Your Dog: Learn to use a sewing machine, make a bed and a warm jacket for your favorite canine friend in this two-session class. $30. 6 to 8 pm, Tuesdays, October 14 and 21. ~~~ Halloween Costumes from Sweatsuits Save money and shopping stress! Transform a reused sweatsuit into an animal, super hero, or "whatever" costume for a big person or a little one. $15 per class; $25 for both. Offered twice: 6 to 8 pm, Thursday, October 23; and 2 to 4 pm, Saturday, October 25. ~~~ Rug-a-Rama For those who make, or want to learn to make, a rag or braided rug from reused materials. Bring your project and be ready to explain how to make it, or just come to learn. FREE. Noon to 3 pm, Saturday, November 1. ~~~ Felting Workshop with Lynn Leopold and Valorie Rockney Learn how to use felted wool, a beautiful material made from shrunken wool sweaters, for a project of your choice. FREE. 2 to 4 pm, Saturday, November 15. ~~~ Make a Gift Our holiday shopping-craze antidote: Make a cool gift, gift bag, or ornament at a laid-back "Black Friday" reuse workshop. Morning and afternoon, Friday, November 28. FREE. Kids, age 8 and up, 10 am to noon. Teens and adults, 1 - 3 pm. ---------------------------------------- INTERMEDIATE CLASSES ---------------------------------------- ~~~ Make a Scrap Quilt Learn to plan and piece together a beautiful quilt with pieces you never thought you'd use. Bring your own cotton scraps or use ours. Intermediate or advanced sewing skills required but no prior quilting experience is needed. $90. Six sessions, 10 am to 1 pm, every other Saturday starting September 27. ~~~ Zippers and Buttonholes Become zipper-proficient and master the buttonhole in this one-session intermediate class. $15. 6 to 8 pm, Wednesday, October 15. ~~~ How to Sew Using a Pattern The essentials of reading, laying out, and sewing from a simple pattern. A three-session intermediate class. $45. 6 to 8 pm, three Thursdays, November 6, 13, and 20. ENROLL TODAY! All classes are held at the SewGreen classroom, Women's Community Building, 100 West Seneca Street, Ithaca. Pre-registration is required. Scholarships are available. All materials (reused, or course) are supplied. Unless otherwise indicated, all classes are for adults and teens, of both genders. Two blocks from the Seneca Street and Green Street TCAT bus stops. Free parking in the lot after 5:30. ADA accessible. Contact Wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED], 607-277-7611 to sign up. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To be added or removed from this newsletter distribution list, send an e-mail to Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * Hospicare has asked SewGreen to provide cloth bags and totes for families to collect the personal possessions of loved ones who have died. We would like to meet this request, with the help of volunteers who like to sew or want to learn. _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
