SEWGREEN NEWS, September 14, 2009 www.sew-green.org SewGreen is an inclusive not-for-profit community program that promotes sustainability in everyday life. We offer classes in creative sewing and fashion for all ages; train youth apprentices; operate a reuse program for textiles and sewing machines; and encourage earth-friendly consumer habits. Come visit our fabulous classroom in the Women's Community Building, 100 W Seneca Street, downtown Ithaca. It's here for you!
CONTENTS ~~ Fall Hours ~~ September-October Classes Now Online ~~ Youth Apprenticeship & Jobs Program ~~ New Teachers Welcome ~~ Machine Fix-it Days ~~ SewGreen at Finger Lakes Bioneers - Free Ticket ~~ Sewing Machine Sale ~~ Masquerade Ball Fundraiser ~~ Fashion Drawing, CSMA ~~ The Most Earth-friendly Fabric ~~ SewGreen's "Rescued for Reuse" Program ~~ Class Summary FALL HOURS In addition to scheduled class times, SewGreen's classroom at the Women's Community Building will be staffed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturday mornings from 9 am to 1 pm, starting September 23. Visitors and volunteers, as well as anyone dropping off a donation of fabric or a sewing machine, are welcome during these hours. Free OPEN SEWS will be held on the last Sunday of each month, from 1 to 4 pm. SEWGREEN CLASSES The September-October class schedule is now posted on the SewGreen website, www.sew-green.org, and a summary is listed below. Highlights of the Fall season include after-school classes for children, Saturday workshops in pattern making and refashioning, our popular learn-to-sew, next-step, and skill-builder classes for teens and adults. Classes are held at the SewGreen classroom in the Women's Community Building in downtown Ithaca. All supplies are provided. Pre-registration is required. Scholarships and discounts are available to anyone for whom cost is a barrier. For more information, contact Wendy, [email protected] or 607-277-7611. YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP & JOBS PROGRAM Teens with an interest in sewing and fashion design are invited to apply for SewGreen youth apprenticeships. Apprenticeship sessions will be held Tuesday and Thursday of each week, 4 to 5:30 pm, starting September 22. Apprenticeship training is free, in exchange for occasional volunteer service. Apprentices will learn all about sewing, refashioning, and apparel construction, and may explore fashion illustration, pattern-making, and draping as tools for original design. Leadership, inclusion, and workplace responsibilities are an integral part of the program. Teens may train for after-school and weekend jobs. For more information, contact Wendy, [email protected], 607-277-7611. NEW TEACHERS WELCOME SewGreen is always looking for volunteer teachers and classroom assistants. We provide training and an optional stipend. Lifetime sewing enthusiasts or professionals, college students, and responsible teens are invited to apply. Contact Wendy, [email protected] or 607-277-7611. MACHINE FIX-IT DAYS On two Saturdays, Sept 26 and Oct 10, we're holding all-day sessions devoted to sewing machine repair. From 10 am to noon, attend a free "Fix & Stitch" class. Bring in your classic or older sewing machine and learn to clean and oil it -- and try it out on a simple project. From 1 to 5 pm, help SewGreen refurbish its stock of donated machines for classroom use or resale. Volunteers, from beginner to expert, are welcome. Bring your own tools or borrow ours. SEWGREEN AT FINGER LAKES BIONEERS, OCT 17 -- FREE TICKET FOR YOUR HELP SewGreen will have a booth in the Sustainability Marketplace at the Finger Lakes Bioneers Conference on Saturday, October 17, at Ithaca College. Bioneers is a national organization celebrating its 20th year of global environmental gatherings with a focus on social justice and sustainability. Finger Lakes Bioneers runs October 16 - 18, and combines local events and speakers with a satellite-beamed connection to the main conference in California. For a look, go to www.wemakeourfuture.org. One FREE TICKET for Saturday's Bioneers conference, which includes lunch, is available in return for helping set up and staff SewGreen's booth. Send a note explaining why you would like to attend to Wendy, [email protected]. SEWING MACHINE SALE, SATURDAY, OCT 24 Choose from among dozens of fine older sewing machines -- cleaned, oiled, and in good working order -- at SewGreen's annual sewing machine sale, 10 am to 2 pm, Saturday, October 24, at the Women's Community Building. Most of the machines are portable table models, dating from 1930 to 1980. A few "as-is" cabinet machines and treadles will also be offered, all at affordable prices. Proceeds benefit SewGreen's youth programs. MASQUERADE BALL FUNDRAISER, FRIDAY, OCT 30 Plan on an evening of costumed mystery and fun at SewGreen's Halloween Masquerade Ball, hosted by SewGreen teens and volunteers. Dance to DJ music, from oldies to the latest hits; win prizes in the Best Recycled Costume contest; and enjoy the Murder by Chocolate goodie bar; plus games, a break dance show, and scary movie clips. For all ages, non-alcoholic, 8 pm to midnight, Women's Community Building auditorium. Start making your costume now! FASHION DRAWING CLASS, CSMA Figure Drawing for Fashion, a six-week course in fashion illustration, is being offered again at the Community School of Music & Arts, in downtown Ithaca, starting Tuesday evening, Sept 29. Students will learn to express the movement and key landmarks of the human figure while developing their own creative approach to fashion drawing. A great chance to sketch live, costumed models in an upbeat, fun environment. For teens, college-age, and adults. Contact CSMA, www.csma-ithaca.org to register. THE MOST EARTH-FRIENDLY FABRIC How does a thoughtful consumer decide what kind of fabric to choose for clothing or sewing? Cotton is comfortable and "natural," but its production requires huge amounts of chemicals, toxins, and water. Synthetics are durable but many are made from petroleum and are non-biodegradable. Eco-fabrics such as bamboo, organic cotton, or fleece made from recycled plastic may be good choices if you know exactly how they are being produced. Add in the possibility of dubious worker conditions, the use of energy for long-distance transportation, and the decision becomes even more difficult. The Union of Concerned Scientists, in The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, offers a solution: " . . . purchase vintage clothes and avoid unnecessary clothing purchases . . . ." In everyday life, this could mean: Shopping at the ever-increasing variety of second-hand clothing outlets; buying high-quality items in classic styles; simplifying your wardrobe to pieces you really enjoy wearing; and having garments altered to fit. If you sew, you could aim to use up existing fabric from your own stash, having fabric exchanges, or buying fabric from second-hand sources. RESCUED FOR REUSE SewGreen operates a reuse program for textiles, sewing supplies, sewing machines, yarn, and needlecraft supplies. We accept donations of materials at two drop-off locations: 1.) Tuff Soul, an all sustainable-style clothing store at 516 W State Street, Ithaca, open Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, noon to 4; and 2.) Women's Community Building, 100 W Seneca Street, Ithaca, weekdays from 10 to 4 pm. Please follow our donation guidelines, posted at www.sew-green.org. The limit for a single donation is three bags or boxes. For larger amounts, cabinet sewing machines, or other bulky items, please contact us for other arrangements. Donated materials are reused in our classroom, redistributed to other charitable programs, or resold to raise revenue for SewGreen's programming. Visit our resale display at Tuff Soul for a selection of vintage and virgin fabrics for fashion or quilting. FALL CLASS SUMMARY Details at www.sew-green ADULTS & TEENS Beginning Sewing I: 6 to 8 pm, Sept 22, 24, 30; Oct 7, 14, 27 Beginning Sewing II: 6 to 8 pm, Sept 23; Oct 8, 13, 22 Fix & Stitch: 10 am to noon, Sept 26; Oct 10 Machine Repair Sessions: 1 to 5 pm, Sept 26; Oct 10 Open Sew: 1 to 4 pm, Sept 27; Oct 25 Next Steps in Sewing>Apron: 6 to 8:30 pm, Oct 1, 20 Next Steps in Sewing>Handbag: 6 to 8:30 pm, Oct 6, 15 Next Steps in Sewing>PJ Pants or Boxers: 6 to 8:30 pm, Oct 21 and 28 Skill Builders>Finished Seams: 6 to 8 pm, Sept 28 Skill Builders>Zippers: 6 to 8 pm, Oct 5 Skill Builders>Darts and Princess Seams: 6 to 8 pm, Oct 19 Intro to Pattern Making: 1 to 4 pm, Oct 3 ReFashioning: 1 to 4 pm, Oct 17 FOR TEENS ONLY Teen Sew: 10 am to 4 pm, Oct 9 (school holiday) KIDS 8 - 12 After-school classes - Oct 2, 16, 23; Nov 6, 13, 23 Kids' All-Day Sew - Nov 11 (school holiday) COMING IN NOVEMBER Rug Braiding - 1 to 4 pm, Nov 14 Embellishment/Embroidery - 10 to noon, Nov 21 Doll Making - 1 to 4 pm, Nov 21 Gifts & Crafts Family Workshop - 1 to 4 pm, Nov 27 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To be added or subtracted from the SewGreen newsletter distribution list, contact Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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 Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
