Hi folks,
Some of you who have been around for a while may recall the Boston area sewing "crawls" I used to throw, at which we'd get together at a fabric store, proceed to a nearby restaurant for a social lunch, and then shop our way through other local fabric stores.
Lately, I've been feeling like I should organize something again. So, I've started an online group through which you can sign up to be notified of upcoming events:
The other type of event will be community-service oriented. We'll get together for a "crafting party" to create things which will be donated to charity. These crafting parties can be lots of fun, and we can also have a potluck luncheon at the same time. I'll design a few patterns we can use for some of the projects, and I'll make sure they're suitable for everyone regardless of sewing skill level. I'll also provide a location where we can set up our sewing machines and lay out fabric for selection and cutting.
Charitable crafting parties I'm planning include:
- Make turbans and hats for women with breast cancer! I've done this in the past, and it was both easy and fun. The process can be anything from "zip a quick hat through the sewing machine in 15 minutes" to "spend hours embroidering and embellishing an extravagant turban". Either way, you know your creation will bring warmth and comfort to a woman facing one of the most difficult times in her life.
- Make duffel bags for children in foster care! Children in foster care often have few to no possessions of their own. Charitable organization "Children To Children" tries to provide each child with a duffel bag, a stuffed animal, and a note to remind them they're loved. Duffel bags are easy to make, I have a source of wholesale zippers for the closure, and we can use practically any fabric as long as it's reasonably durable. I've contacted the charity and received their specifications for what size bags they want, and I am designing a pattern to suit.
- Make various sewn and/or quilted objects to donate to the WGBH auction to raise funds for public television! Last year I made a baby quilt using only of materials and completed in only four hours, and it raised for WGBH. I'll happily teach basic quilting methods to beginners so we can repeat this feat. Other appropriate objects we could make for the auction could include scarves, hats, pullover shirts, mittens, slippers, shorts... practically anything we can simplify for group production in quantity.
Again, that URL to sign up for these events in the Boston area is:
Tom Farrell