SPRING 2016 A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN SEWING GUILD VOL.XXI, NO.2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 National Notes 3 Sponsor Spotlight 4 Chapter News and Views Se w... You’re Traveling! 16 re there travel plans in your future? Maybe it’s a voyage to a dream destinatio n... Sew ‘n Tell: How to Organize an Out-of- A a family reunio n... a road trip to visit college campuse s... or you are attending Control Fabric Stash ASG Conference 2016 in Indianapoli s... or participating in one of ASG’s Sew Much Fun 18 Tours. No matter what is on your travel agenda, you’ll probably be packing a suitcase. Sew ‘n Share: Surprise! No one’s idea of a good time involves dragging around excess luggage or paying airlines’ You May Be a Petite extra baggage fees. So, to smooth your way, here are some expert tips on travel wardrobes 22 and accessories. Marsha McClintock is the travel and packing expert, having shepherded Sew ‘n Share: You Can many ASG members on her special sewing excursions, including the ASG Sew Much Fun Sew Activwear Tours to New York City. Cheri Dowd is a sewing teacher who has been exploring the cre - ative possibilities of reversible clothing. She can guide you to a different way of thinking 24 about your wardrobe options. Both of these talented ladies will be teaching at ASG Sew Young Conference 2016. 26 Sew for the Gold PLANNING A TRAVEL WARDROBE CREATING REVERSIBLE GARMENTS 28 by Marsha McClintock by Cheri Dowd Book Beat Preplanning your travel wardrobe makes When assembling a travel wardrobe, one 29 packing simple and your journey more possibility is frequently overlooked— Book Briefs enjoyable. It removes the guess work as reversible clothing! A reversible garment 31 you know exactly what goes into the suit - takes the space of one item in your luggage DVD Corner case. But how do you decide what to take and offers twice the wearability. In this era and what to leave home? of carry-ons, why not take something that 33 First, identify where you are going, the will do double duty? You’ll have more Product Previews length of your trip, the climate, your activ - choices when it’s time to select an outfit 34 ities, and your figure type. This list will dic - and if you have to do laundry, there will be Industry Insider tate what kind of less of that—which is always a bonus. One of the best things about doing (continued on reversibles is working through the 41 page 36) Chapter Calendar step-by-step procedures which will 43 vary from normal pattern sewing Advertiser Index directions. It’s good for the brain and makes you a more flexible sewer! 44 ASG Conference 2016 Choosing a Pattern Highlights Simple shapes with moderately straight seams work best. For your first venture, 46 you might consider a pattern specifically ASG Conference 2016 Calendar designed as a reversible garment. Saf-T- Pockets patterns offers several, including 48 Members Only (continued on page 37) Planning a Travel Wardrobe can be a beautiful scarf or necklace. Best Travel Fabrics (continued from page 1) Scarves are great as they take very lit - Here are my recommendations for tle space in a suitcase and can be fabrics that will travel well. No matter wardrobe you will need. A trip to worn many ways. Saf-T-Pocket’s Sew which ones you choose, be sure to Rome for a month will require a dif - Accessorized pattern features four preshrink before construction. ferent wardrobe than a snorkeling easy-to-make scarves plus a Vest-S- Cottons. This fiber breathes, so it’s trip to the Bahamas. Next, you need Cape (right) that can be good in warmer weather, but wrin - to decide which garments you worn as a vest, cape, or kling can be a problem. Blending already have and which you’ll need scarf. These items with polyester or spandex to make or purchase. Spend your time come in very handy lessens wrinkling and adds to making items where fit is an issue or for changing up the garment’s comfort. that are more expensive to purchase, your look when Knits. There are many such as pants and jackets. A pur - traveling. I always wonderful knits available. chased T-shirt or top will usually fill throw in a few extra Rayon/spandex, cotton/span - the bill unless color matching a partic - accessories as they dex, ITY (which stands for ular outfit is a consideration. take so little space. If Interlock Twist Yarn—a method traveling for one or of putting a twist in yarn used for Your Color Palette two weeks, I pack a knit fabrics resulting in a more It’s easiest if you pick two base colors pair of panties for natural elasticity and a soft feel for your wardrobe. Darker colors each day and two inside), polyester, or blends. work best as they don’t show dirt. bras. Put them in They are comfortable and wear You want garments that don’t soil one-gallon plastic bags, squeeze out well for travel. Choose single knit jer - easily as you will be wearing the gar - the air, and seal. This gets placed in sey for tops and double knit ponte for ments numerous times. Colors like the bottom of the suitcase along with jackets, skirts, and pants. black, brown, navy, taupe, or charcoal my pajamas or nightie. Linens. There are many washable work well in the U.S., but are espe - By packing two outfits (two jackets, linens and linen blends that are soft, cially good choices when traveling vests, or cardigans and two matching comfortable, and keep wrinkling to a abroad. In the world we live in, it’s pants or skirts), five tops, and two minimum. Because linen breathes, it best to blend in and not draw atten - accessories, you can mix and match to is excellent for warm weather. tion to yourself. When traveling in the achieve 30 different looks and it can Wools. Great for cooler weather U.S., I like to make one of my outfits all be easily packed into a 22" roll- made into jackets, vests, or pants. from a fun color. Plan to use a color aboard suitcase. Be sure the outfit you Rayons and Tencel. These fibers that makes you look and feel great. If wear while traveling will also tie into create fabrics that are soft, drapable, you choose a darker color, you can your color plan and this will expand and comfortable to wear. Pick fabric add color through tops or accessories. the wardrobe considerably. And if with texture to help hide wrinkles. If some of these garments are reversible, you want the look of denim, a Tencel The Essential Garments you’ve automatically increased the denim is lighter weight than cotton Plan the wardrobe around two outfits number of looks without packing denim, which makes packing easier. that consist of a jacket, vest, or cardi - more garments. One last but very Silks. There are many crinkled and gan sweater, and a matching pant or important thing to think about when distressed silks that make great tops. skirt. They can be made from the traveling is footwear. Always wear Raw or matka silk can make lovely same fabric or fabrics in the same your heaviest and most comfortable pants or jackets. Underline with silk color family. Next add five tops that shoes the day you are in transit and organza and wrinkling is cut to a min - go with either of your outfits. Solid pack two more pairs in the suitcase imum. colors are most practical but I like to that will go with your outfits. Don’t Microfibers (Polyester). Very little make two of my tops prints. Prints bring new shoes; bring ones you wrinkling but not great for warm don’t show spots and, if they both know you can wear all day. There is weather. Better for spring or fall. have your base colors included in the nothing worse than aching feet when print, they will go with either outfit. you are touring around. Bonus pieces Travel Tips Select tops made from wovens or could be a skirt that goes with each Put your clothes on plastic hangers knits, with different sleeve lengths so jacket or a swimsuit (for warm cli - before packing them in the suitcase. you have options if temperatures rise mates). Any bonus pieces you tuck When you arrive at the hotel just pull or drop. into your suitcase only enhance the them out and hang them right in the Next add two neck accessories. This number of looks you can achieve. closet. 36 ASG Notions • Spring 2016 To prevent wrinkling, place a plas - Creating Reversible Garments that gives it a denim appear - tic dry cleaner bag over the garment (continued from page 1) ance. It's a great travel jack - before packing. et because it is dressy on Add hidden pockets in your jackets #2013—Cheri's Reversible the embroi - or pants to keep money, credit cards, Jacket, which I designed. dered side and cell phone safely tucked away. and perfect Saf-T-Pockets offers a selection of gar - Choosing Fabric with jeans ments that include from three to 11 Sewers have a great and a T- pockets. advantage when it shirt on Photocopy the opening pages of comes to getting the right the matte your passport that show your name reversible. We don’t have side— and number. It will make replacement to rely on designers and instant easier, if you lose your passport.