April 2010
Dear friends,
The June Sewing School is just around the corner. We hope the photos and descriptions whet you appetite. Sonya and I are so excited to have Claudia Newton with us for the coming school.
Claudia Newton is from Huntsville, Alabama, where she works as an independent instructor and designer. Having sewn and embroidered since the age of 10, she is primarily self-taught but has completed formal classes at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion, Japanese Embroidery Center in Atlanta, and Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court; she is a member of SAGA and EGA. Claudia has been teaching since 1990; she currently focuses on SAGA workshops and designing. She has taught at SAGA National Conventions since 2005. Her primary areas of interest are fine hand embroidery and the construction of heirloom garments, with a special love for whitework and drawn-thread techniques. She was employed by Martha Pullen Company for several years, most notably as the editor of Fancywork magazine; she also served as embroidery/smocking editor for Sew Beautiful magazine, and has recently contributed articles for publication in Sew Beautiful. Her passion for embroidery and teaching led her to give up full-time employment in order to devote more time to developing and teaching new classes.
Contact us soon with your class choices. The price of the June School is $225. The deposit of $75 is due at registration. The balance of $150 will be due on May 10th. You will receive a letter with kit prices and class supply lists in May.
God Bless
Sonya and Susan
With spring upon us and summer on the way, this dress is sure to please. The beautiful floral fabric just makes you feel good. The dress has a bodice overlay which has Madeira appliquéd flowers that are accented with easy hand embroidery stitches. The bodice, sweetheart neckline, and armhole edges, are accented with corded piping. The skirt has three inverted pleats in the front and back, which opens up the opportunity to learn how to do a placket under a pleat for the back closure. This dress is available in sizes 5 – 12.
Thursday June 17
Fluted Double-Ruffle Knit Dress
Instructor: Lezette Thomason
Little girls love wearing knit as it is oh, so comfy. Mothers love it for ease of care. Let Lezette teach you how to turn Kinsey into this sweet twirl dress with a little drafting using the Kinsey pattern. Then using machine or serger or a combination of both, we will make this dress. This is one you will make again and again. You will have your choice of two knits in sizes 3-10.
A “Louise” sundress made up in white linen provides the perfect palette for a traditional whitework design. Framed under an arc of blanket stitch scallops, the floral and ribbon motif sits above the waistline of the dress; the gathered skirt is embellished with folded tucks. Stem stitch, granitos, eyelets and padded satin stitch make up the embroidered motif and will be taught in class, along with design options to save a little time. Suitable for a multitude of occasions, this is the perfect equivalent of the “little black dress” for the younger set!
Lawn Peasant Dress
Instructor: Lezette Thomason 
This precious
dress is so up-to-date with little cap sleeves. Elastic at neckline, under arms
and above the waist make it so easy to pull over the head. Lezette will teach
you to redraft a Kinsey in sizes 2-10. You are going to love the drafting and
easy construction. Don’t miss a chance to learn this pattern that you will make
many times.
Kathy’s
Faggoted Collar
Instructor: Claudia Newton
The “Kathy” pleated dress is made even more classic with the addition of faggoting. The blue print dress features short puffed sleeves and a white linen bertha collar bordered with blue; delicate hand-stitched faggoting attaches the border to the collar. Class instruction includes how to modify a collar for the addition of faggoting, preparing the bias tubing for the border, basting the collar and border for stitching, and the execution of the faggoting stitch. This is a simple technique that adds a lot of character.
Scalloped Splendor
Instructor: Trisha Smith
Sugar and Spice and everything nice is what she will look like wearing this two piece outfit. It’s sweetness and a little bit sassy at the same time. The top is cool and comfortable with its cut in shoulders and slightly flared bottom edge. The top has a scalloped collar and then the theme is continued with the scalloped panel that accents the center front length. All scallops are edged with corded piping. The matching scalloped hem skirt has a smooth front waistband and back waistband with elastic. This two-piece outfit is available in sizes 5 – 12.