Our Biweekly Newsletter - 28 March 2019 |
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Lots of Activity at SewGreen! |
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SewGreen has been abuzz with activity lately. Our classes have been full of enthusiastic participants, Open Sewing and Family Sewing times have been excitingly busy and we've sold a lot of sewing machines lately. It is so much fun to see everyone in the shop, chatting, learning, exploring our inventory and most of all, becoming part of our SewGreen Community. This edition of our newsletter will highlight some of the projects, big and small, that our community has created. We also have an overview of knitting techniques that might get you excited to take our class in "Continental Knitting" offered on April 13. I hope you enjoy this edition of "Notions". Visit our website at sewgreenrochester.org for more detailed information on our shop. Our May Calendar will be posted to our website very soon. |
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In this newsletter you will find: - Announcement: QuiltFest 2019
- Knitting Techniques
- People taking Classes
- Projects from our Community
- A Preview of Classes to come in April and May
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SewGreen will be at the Genesee Valley QuiltFest |
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SewGreen will be at the 2019 Genesee Valley QuiltFest. This QuiltFest takes place every other year and includes 70,000 square feet of quilt display, quilt exhibits, and vendors! SewGreen will be there with two treadle sewing machines. Visit the QuiltFest website for more info: geneseevalleyquiltfest.com |
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The art of hand knitting is popular around the world even though most of today's knitted fabric is produced by machine. Most knitters use one style of knitting, the one they were originally taught. There is nothing wrong with this, however, knitters are encouraged to learn more than one style of knitting as some styles are better for certain types of stitches, and some styles might be easier than others due to injury or dexterity of left or right hand. This article is not a tutorial on how to knit, but rather an overview on the different techniques of knitting, and a bit of history. First, a few facts: - Knitting is the process of creating and joining loops of 'yarn' to create fabric.
- The word 'knit' is derived from the word 'knot'.
- Knitting fiber into fabric stemmed from the need for comfortable and protective clothing
- The earliest known articles of knitted clothing were socks made in the 11th century.
- The discovery of fragments of knitted items in tombs lead us to believe that knitting was known many centuries earlier than the 11th century
As people around the world began to look for ways to construct fabric for clothing, they developed the process knitting. The awareness of knitted fabric spread from one region to another by way of traded goods, and travel. People adapted their understanding of how this fabric was created by using two needles, and a continuous 'yarn' of fiber in mostly similar ways, but the exact technique differed by region. Many of these techniques are still known by the region of the world that made them popular. Below is a short description of four well known knitting techniques, the Portuguese method, the Shetland method, the English Method, and the Continental Method. If you know anything at all about knitting you have probably heard of the basic stitches of 'knit' and 'purl'. These and other stitches are the same no matter which knitting technique you use. |
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Portuguese knitting is also called "around the neck" knitting, as well as Incan and Andean knitting as it is very popular in South America. You tension the thread by wrapping it around your neck and you 'flick' the thread over the needle with your left thumb. This method uses less hand movement, and might be good for someone with an injury or pain in one of their hands. A Portuguese knitting pin attached to your shirt can be used for tensioning the thread instead of wrapping it around the neck. |
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In the Shetland Islands people use to knit as they walk. This method required knitters to keep one hand free, so they tucked one knitting needle under their arm, usually their right arm as the other hand manipulated the yarn. A device called a Knitting Belt was created for the same purpose of holding the needle in place. The knitting belt (shown below on the right in the pink circle) is made of leather and has many holes in which to poke the end of the needle to get just the right setting. The knitting belt helped to stabilize the needle. |
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English knitting is also called right-hand knitting, or throwing. The working yarn is held in the 'dominant' hand, and this was considered the 'right' hand for the English speaking world. The right hand does a lot of work in this technique, as it picks up the yarn and 'throws' it over the needle. |
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Continental Style Knitting is also called German knitting, European Knitting, left-hand knitting or picking. The tip of the needle hooks the yarn and pulls it through the loop. If you know how to crochet, but not to knit, this method of learning to knit may be easier for you than the English method. Stranded knitting, or using two colors in the same row is easier using the Continental method. The name "left-handed" knitting only refers to the hand in which you hold the yarn, not to left handedness. |
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There are other knitting techniques such as Russian Speed Knitting, Irish Cottage Knitting, Combined Knitting and more. If you are interested in a more in-depth study of knitting you might enjoy the book titled "The Principles of Knitting", by June Hemmons Hiatt. Information about this book is at the website: principlesofknitting.com |
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Learn to Crochet with Jane |
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On the left, Jane is holding a Learn to Crochet class. Deb, one of the participants, went home and made a dish cloth after learning to crochet with Jane. She also mentioned that Jane is a very patient teacher. |
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Sheldon came and worked on a vest to coordinate with his new shirt! He has become quite the SewGreen celebrity! Linda finished the decorative pillows for her bed, and she learned to hand sew the blind stitch. Heather hung out at the table and did some counted cross stitch. Linda’s neighbor, Cassie, came back with her and started making a blanket for her baby doll. Mads, a SewGreen volunteer, is helping Cassie. |
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Anabelle came back! Pam, a SewGreen volunteer, is working with Anabelle. She started to make pillow cases from a king size flat sheet. She brought her son Moises with her who made a pillow. Paula, another SewGreen volunteer, helped Moises. Anabelle also bought one of the portable Kenmore sewing machines. Now she can sew at home too. |
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We are seeing a rising number of couples coming to the Sewing Machine 101 class learning to sew together. Mike and Julie came to last Saturday's Sewing Machine 101 class. Two others came to the class also, but we didn't have a chance to take their pic in between helping and customers. |
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Projects by our SewGreen Community |
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Jane, our ‘Learn to Crochet with Jane” teacher, made this matzah cover from fabric she purchased at SewGreen. The cover is showing the 10 plagues of the Egyptians: rivers turning to blood, frogs, lice, boils, disease of livestock, wild animals, lice, darkness, hail, and death of firstborn. |
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Maryanne made this beautiful crocheted tree skirt from yarn she purchased at SewGreen. Her husband made this Anime girl Halloween costume, modeled by her daughter. All the fabric is from SewGreen! |
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Doris and Charl do charity Quilts. Here is a quilt top they just completed with 90% of the fabrics purchased from SewGreen. Most were fat quarters and the white was yardage. They would like to encourage folks to do charity quilts, the need is great |
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SEND US YOUR PHOTOS We'd love to see what you've been working on and what you're making with supplies from our shop. Please share a photo or two with us. Email photos with a brief description to: sewgreenrochester@gmail.com You might see your project in our next newsletter! |
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Quilt Block of the Month April 6th 2:00 - 4:00PM In the April class you will learn how to create a quilt block by first creating strips of fabric. We will work on the versatile and traditional "Log Cabin" block. Of course, measuring and cutting fabric will be reviewed. You will also be given the instructions to complete the log cabin block in many different ways. |
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Finger Knitting with Laura Saturday April 6th 11:00PM - 1:00PM Free Demo Learn to finger knit, yes, that means no knitting needles. Knit with your fingers to make a necklace or bracelet. |
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Hand Puppet Workshop April 15 - 18 10:00AM - 1:00PM This workshop will focus on creating Hand Puppets of Historical Figures. Learn to design and create puppets that resemble a famous person of historical significance. |
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Continental Knitting Saturday April 13th 2:00PM - 4:00PM Continental Knitting was named for continental Europe, where it originated. This style of knitting calls for the knitter to hold the yarn in the non-dominant hand (considered the left hand). Where as "English Knitting" calls for holding the yarn in the dominant hand (considered to be the right hand). Learning Continental Knitting can benefit |
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Pillows with Josefina Thursday April 11th Thursday April 18th Thursday April 25th 4:00pm - 6:00pm Improve your sewing skills, or just come for the fun of making a fancy or fun pillow with plenty of flair! |
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Make a Mug Caddy with Deb Saturday April 20th 2:00pm - 4:00pm Do you have an extra coffee mug hanging around? Make it into a 'catch all' for sewing tools, kids coloring pencils and crayons, or just about anything you want to store and organize. This mug caddy is easy to make with just two pieces of fabric and a little bit of machine sewing. |
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A complete list of Classes is on our Calendar, click the Calendar button below |
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Remember... Every Saturday is Scrappy Saturday! Our small scrappy bags stuffed with scraps and rolls of fabric and/or unmarked balls of yarn are only $1 all day (regularly $3 on weekdays). Bring your own grocery-sized tote and stuff it full for only $5 (regularly $10). Stop by and fill a bag with scrappy treasures this Saturday, and every Saturday! |
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Thank you for your generous donations! We accept donation deliveries on the following days and times: Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fridays 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
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Unless otherwise noted, our two-hour classes are $10. Sign up for our classes in advance, call 585-328-2642 or email info@sewgreenrochester.org to register. ----------- Scholarships are always available for each of our classes! |
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Severe Weather Alert! It is Spring now, Hopefully there won't be another snow storm but you never know. Please watch our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts for announcements of shop closures. When in doubt? Please, choose to be safe! Thanks! |
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Unless otherwise noted above, our shop is open Mon-Thurs, 11 a.m - 6 p.m. & Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
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