WHAT:  Annual Picnic

WHEN: August 11, 2026,  1pm   

WHERE:  First Presbyterian Church,  405 M-37, Hastings MI.

ACTIVITIES:  

Our event projects include 3 types of baskets using your own fabrics (could be a good stash buster). Kits for wheelchair bags will be provided for those who are interested in making them for Hope Network.

Agenda

1:30 p.m. Set Up

2 p.m. Instructions / Demonstration

Sewing Projects (baskets and wheelchair bags)

5 p.m. Dinner - Table service & bottled water will be provided

Show & Tell

If you have not already RSVP'd. please do so soon.

RSVP @ https://bit.ly/3SGthUk

Please bring:

• Dish to pass for dinner
• Sewing machine and general sewing tools
• Buttons (some baskets take 2, some 4)
• Coordinating Thread
• Baskets require fusible fleece, if you don’t have any, we will have 3 yards available for you to cut from.
• Fabric Requirements:

Small basket (3 5/8” x 3 5/8” x 4 3/8”)

• 2 coordinating fabrics 10 ¾” x 10 ¾”
• Fusible Fleece 10” x 10”

Medium basket (6” x 6” x 3 ¼”)

• 2 coordinating fabrics 14 ¼” x 14 ¼”
• Fusible Fleece 13 ½” x 13 ½”

Large basket (6” x 6” x 6”)

• 2 coordinating fabrics 17 ¾” x 17 ¾”
• Fusible Fleece 17” x 17”

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WHAT:  SEWING RETREAT

WHEN:  Monday, September 28 thru Thursday, October 1, 2026

WHERE:  Camp Geneva in Holland Michigan on Lake Michigan

DETAILS:

Details available: on GRASG calendar   https://www.grasg.org/calendar/

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Jennifer Stern-Haseman, J. Stern Designs https://jsterndesigns.com/, taught a two-day workshop on how to make a pants pattern that will result in well fitting pants.  In The Whole Scoop~ Multi-Method Pants Fitting Class, we started with the basic framework of Top-Down Center Out (described by R. Collins in Threads magazine #218) by creating a fitted non-stretch waistband that is used to fit a single-leg muslin.  We proceeded to determine size and how much extra seam allowance to add to our patterns  the first time around.  We made one leg and were fitted .  With instructions after fitting the first leg, we drew a pattern for the second leg and cut it out.  Sewing was the easy part when we got to putting it all together for the second fitting.  

 Some of the things we learned were  things that were mowt likely to be adjusted, like the position of the crotch curve. She showed us how to get it in the right spot using a fit adjustment that does not affect other vertical dimensions of the pattern, like pulling it up at the waist or pleating out excess vertical length.

Some people also needed to play with the ease along the leg, by adjusting both the side and inseam. We learned to keep every adjustment marked on the pattern right away.   

What a great workshop!!!

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This challenge was open to ALL GRASG members and started in October 2024.

1. Look through your fabric stash and find a NICE piece of fabric,  between 2 and 4 yards, that no longer fits your sewing needs or wants but is just waiting for someone else to love it and turn it into something AMAZING! Come on. You know you’ve got at least one of these sitting around. The piece should be large enough to give the new recipient enough to work with –
2. Put this lovely fabric in a brown paper bag.  Turn down the top and staple or tape it closed. Put your name, email & phone number on the bottom of the bag.
3. Bring your challenge fabric to the October meeting when we will play a fun game, and you will go home with someone else’s once-loved fabric.
4. Between October and April, you are challenged to make anything from your new fabric: a garment, a quilt, a tote, a pillow… The options are unlimited.  The ONLY RULE is that you must use at least 50% of your gifted orphan fabric in your project. You can add any accenting trims and coordinating fabric you choose.

Take your time.  Let your ideas marinate. You have until our reveal party in April to finish. If you can’t be at the October meeting and still want to participate in this fun event, contact Nancy Prinzi, Nancy Bender, or Mary Stehouwer to exchange your orphan for another.

If you really want to challenge yourself, bring 2 or 3 orphans to exchange.

Please note: THIS IS NOT AN UGLY FABRIC CHALLENGE!!! The fabric you exchange should be something you would use; a nice piece but one that doesn’t work for you now.

UPDATE:

What an event this was.  The stories and projects were priceless.  It was especially interesting to see all the beautiful things our sewists made.  To hear the challenges along the way with patterns, fabrics and other sewing stories was great!!!

RESULTS:

To see the results of the Orphan Challenge, check out the Photos tab on this website.