ASG Conference 2015 Recap

ASG_2015_lgIn July, I had the privilege of attending the annual Conference representing our chapter. Over the five days, I listened to reports, took classes, participated in workshops, and shopped for supplies and fabrics. The whole thing was a wonderful experience.

On the first day, the annual meeting of ASG was held and we heard reports from staff and board members. It was announced that the theme for National Sewing Month in September would be “Sew for the Charity of All.” Chapters and Neighborhood Groups are encouraged to participate in projects for others during this month. In 2014 a challenge was issued to create a video about What ASG Means to Me. Based on the number of hits to there online videos, the winners of the challenge were Southern Oregon and Buffalo chapters.

Then I was free to attend workshops and classes. I took a hands-on class on making a ribbon rose. Although I completed one rose, this was not a skill my fingers would be willing to duplicate. Next was a seminar on Sewing with Silk by Katerina Walker. In this seminar we made a notebook of samples of silk types and various seams sewn on silk. One tip that was especially helpful was the importance of sewing on silk with silk thread. I learned a great deal and really enjoyed the instructor.

Judy Kessinger taught the Perfect Fitting Tee. She had lots of good ideas on fabrics to make her pattern for a “perfect fitting tee.” After the class she measured each of us to enable us to use her master pattern to make our own tee. Judy also shared lots of ways to change a basic tee pattern to make other garments including dresses and jackets.

Our own Marla Kazell presented a seminar on Perfect Seams which taught me about “taut sewing” and clipping the edges of an enclosed seam to make a smooth curve. To keep these curved edges smooth with no angles, clip the inside seam allowances on the diagonal and not directly opposite each other. Careful grading also helps. Another local celebrity whose classes I was not able to take was Marsha McClintock whose trunk show in the exhibit hall was amazing in its variety of beautiful garments.

The last class I took was Fun with Decorative Stitches with Kandi Christian. In this class we made a darling lavender sachet. The sachet was designed to display decorative stitches that are found on even the most basic machines. It was loads of fun to make.

Each day at lunch we were entertained by speakers and fashions. During the main fashion show, we saw some amazing fashions made by ASG members. The most memorable to me and winner of “People’s Choice” was a cocktail dress made entirely of 35mm film. It was not only unique, but very attractive.

After all this fun, I went with 150 of my closest friends and fabric lovers to Michael Levine’s huge fabric store in the Los Angeles fabric district. It was the biggest fabric store I’d ever seen—full of gorgeous garment and quilting fabrics at wonderful prices. The store treated us all very well and I was able to ship back a nice box of my favorite fabrics.

Patricia Robertson
Treasurer

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