December 2021 Meeting Summary

 

December 2021 Meeting Summary If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a recap: Updates Meetings will remain virtual in January and February. Fabric Sale raised $710 for the Ottawa Foodbank. We raised $710 for the Ottawa Foodbank! Sew-ins will be scheduled again in January, so look our for a sign-up e-mail! Julie Grenier (@julie.grenier.inuit.artist) talked to us about her beading art! You can see her work on exhibit in the Museum of Man in Paris and at the Winnipeg Art Gallery! Collaborated Victoria Okpik on the dress for Her Excellency, the Governor General, Mary Simon's Installation ceremony outfit. Other creators to follow: Heather Dickson (dicksonfashiondesigns.ca), Kaylyn Baker (unorthodoxyukon.com). Sewing SOS: Trouble with encasing all the parts of a collar. Suggested grading the seam allowance or using wondertape. Understiching and basting Alder shirt sew-along has tips Pattern Sew and Tell! (#oggpom):  Thank you all for sharing your winter sewing projects! Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show! You can also share pictures in the Facebook group to be included at the end of the meetings You can find December's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for December: December's OGGPOM is all about Planning!  Take a break from sewing and start planning for 2022. Make Nine https://homerowfiber.co/the-make-nine-challenge/ https://homerowfiber.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/MakeNineWorksheet.pdf Sewing plans for your stash Planning a capsule wardrobe Draw with a croqui like with MyBodyModel  Use a Bullet Journal Pick a skill to focus on like buttonholesDon't forget you an post about things you've already made to share too! No need to make new when sharing OGGPOMs. Remember to post your plans in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

November 2021 Meeting Summary

 

November 2021 Meeting Summary If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a recap: Updates Frocktails planning has started,  Email us if you are interested in helping out. Hoping for a late Spring event. Stay tuned! Fabric Fundraiser Sale went live on November 12 on our Facebook group Closed on November 18, pickup will be at your chosen location on the 20th. Upcoming sew-ins Will be sending out a sign up for December! Thursdays and Sundays in December Erica Schmitz (@bodymodel) talked to us all about creating croquis with your own measurements! The slides will be available here can use your croqui to plan your sewing makes! You can make grown up paper dolls, use in bullet journalling etc. Free to try out the software and preview your croquis measurement guide and hair templates! gave tips on best markers and paper Classes available for those who feel they can't draw Gave a drawing demo with tips! Digital drawing possible too! Sewing SOS: Issues with basic rectangular waistbands on skirts Suggestions included: trying a curved waistband from another pattern, wider the waistband, more likely you'll need a contour, to look at where the skirt sits. Suggestion to look at Inside the Hem on YouTube for a video on this topic.  Issue with the rise and crotch curve on the Pietra pants.  Not clear, why, suggestion to double check pattern. Tips for using horse hair lining Suggestions included: using pinking shears to grade the horsehair, store rolled!, stitch to underling, use anywhere you want more body, use cotton instead of canvas for your interlining. This Months #OGGPOM is: Winter Sewing! Pattern of the Month (#oggpom):  Thank you all for sharing your pattern hacks! Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show! You can also share pictures in the Facebook group to be included at the end of the meetings You can find November's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for November: For November, OGGPOM is all about Winter Sewing! Make anything that you might wear, use in the winter!  Mittens, coats, fuzzy tights, cozy pj's, anything! Don't forget you an post about things you've already made to share too! No need to make new when sharing OGGPOMs. You can find some patterns and inspiration on our November Pinterest board! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

October 2021

 

October 2021 Meeting Summary If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a recap: Updates Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show!  Use #oggsos and #oggsossolved as well when posting about SOS projects! We have a local resource/shop list coming out! Stay tuned to our main website Sponsorships/advertising will be limited to special events  Coat Sewing Support Group Details shared with members by e-mail  Four meetings through October and November, share your results at our December meeting. Choose your own coat adventure!  Any type, any pattern, any fabric! Shared tips on pretreating boiled wool: Soak in a bathtub of hot water roll in towels to squeeze our tater or transfer to machine for spin cycle only quick temperature changes and to much agitation are not good for wool Pretreat fabric how you are planning on continuing with the garment after it is sewn. Upcoming sew-ins Will still be all virtual for the foreseeable future Email has gone out with sign-up details Thursdays Oct 21, Nov 04, 18 Sundays: Oct 24, Nov 07, 28 Fabric Fundraising Sale November 1-7 for fabric drop-off Will send drop off locations will be sent to members via e-mail Please label fabric with as much information as possible Content, length if possible (no cuts under 1m please) Price is more important Uncut patterns are acceptable Hoping for an in person sale in spring Proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank Jill Bond (@apostrophe.patterns) talked to us all about her patterns and design process The slides are available here Patterns are generated based on measurements  Patterns right now for leggings, underwear, t-shrt, sports bra, joggers plus three calculators for hacks. Sewing SOS: Armcyes is too big Suggestions included: pivot darts or adding darts to the side seam. How to finish sleeves on a nightgown Suggestions included: taper sleeves to reduce cuff, adding cuff facing This Months #OGGPOM is: Pattern hacking! Pattern of the Month (#oggpom):  Thank you all for sharing your layering pieces! Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show! You can also share pictures in the Facebook group to be included at the end of the meetings You can find October's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for October: For October, OGGPOM is all about pattern hacking! Add elements to an existing pattern, e.g. adding a placket, adding ruffles, mashing together two patterns etc. Love to Sew had a podcast which launched the #YouCanHackIt tag. You can find some patterns and inspiration on our October Pinterest board! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

September 2021 Meeting Summary

 

September 2021 Meeting Summary If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a recap: Welcome and meet our new executive! Plans for the 2021/2022 Season Fall meetings will be online, will reassess in January.  Any meetings in person will have a virtual component. Coat Sewing Support Group! More details to follow. Looking for mentors to help - email Johanna or Leah. Upcoming sew-ins More details to follow Will be a mix of weekend and weekdays Fabric Fundraising Sale November 1-7 for fabric drop-off Start looking at your stash now! Please label as much as you can (measurement, content, price) Proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank More details to follow Christina Anastassopoulos (@fetchandbloomstudio) talked to us all about textile surface design and block printing The slides are available here Sewing SOS:  How to repair a ripped dress slit. Suggestions included incasing it in bias binding, closing the slit, adding ribbon/trim. This Months #OGGPOM is: Layering and transitioning to Fall! Pattern of the Month (#oggpom):  Thank you all for sharing your #OGGPOMafteritwasOGGPOM ! Don't forget to use #oggpom for your OGGPOMs and #oggsewandtell on Instagram for other projects you would like to show! You can also share pictures in the Facebook group to be included at the end of the meetings! We encouraged members to recognize, reflect and take action as we observe September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  Also recognized as Orange Shirt Day Information on Orange Shirt Day can be found here: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/  And about Truth and Reconciliation Week here: https://nctr.ca/ You can find September's slides (and all of our past meetings) here!

Pattern of the Month for September: For September, OGGPOM is all about LAYERING! Sew up that transitional layer to help bring your summer wardrobe into the fall!   You can find some patterns and inspiration on our Sept Pinterest board! You are welcome to sew for yourself, a family member, a friend, or whoever you would like!  Remember to post your makes in our Facebook group, or on Instagram using #OGGPOM so we can see what you're up to!

2021-2022 Elections: Meet Your Candidates!

Elections are coming up soon! Watch your email for a survey link. Voting will be open from Thursday, May 20, 2021, to Thursday, June 3, 2021. Meet the candidates for President, Vice President, and Sew-ins and Workshops Coordinator below!

Candidate for President: Johanna Persohn

Hi everyone! I’m Johanna, (Instagram knows me as @yellowdoormakes)  I’ve been sewing since I was a kid, taught by my mom mainly (she sewed a lot of our clothes!), and I'm excited to hopefully continue to be part of the Guild!  I love how it has grown to share our joy of garment sewing with so many!  

Why am I running for President this time? I’ve enjoyed the last year as VP!  It has been a great group to work with and in particular I was excited to be able to bring speakers in from elsewhere. So I’d like to continue my work and keep helping the guild evolve! Next year will be a challenge.  We don’t know yet what it will look like, but for the guild I think this could mean looking at ways to have hybrid meetings and keep those that can’t always make it to in-person events engaged and involved, and hopefully, just hopefully something in person.  I love finding solutions to unique problems (my day job is as a researcher/analyst and figuring out approaches to things all day!), and I think next year will be one!

While my life is pretty busy and this last year has been an interesting one on many fronts, I always look forward to guild things. It’s a great opportunity to carve out some time for just me, even though I love spending all day every day with my two boys (8 and 11) and my husband, the guild is a great outlet!  I have also chaired a committee for my local community association (in heritage conservation, one of my other passions is old buildings) for a number of years and having been a team manager in my work life, so I think/hope I’m pretty ok taking a leadership role and am ready and excited to do so!

Thanks and I look forward to what the next year brings and continuing to see all your fabulous faces!

Candidate for Vice-President: Claire Kerry

I’m Claire Kerry aka @Brit_Can_Sew on instagram.

I’ve been a member of the Garment Guild since the inception of the Guild, and have been a member of the Executive for the last two seasons, in the role of Workshop and Sew-in coordinator. In this role I have organized a variety of in- person workshops and sew-ins, and in the current season, have set up and hosted several virtual sew-ins.

The Garment Guild has played a big part in enhancing my sewing hobby, I have expanded my social circles, and my sewing skills have vastly improved over the past four years. I’m a particular fan of the #OGGPOM, loving that it pushes you out of your comfort zone, encouraging more varied projects to undertake.

I thoroughly have enjoyed being part of the Garment Guild board, over the past two years, contributing to ideas and working through the issues that the pandemic year has brought to the Guild. I’m running for the position of Vice President, as I would like to continue as a member on board, building up on previous experience on this board and other boards, I am School Council secretary at my kids school, and have been on boards at both my kids nursery schools. 

Some of the ideas I have for programming would be to maximize the opportunities whilst still on zoom for speakers from outside of Ottawa, introduce a Member spotlight - learn more about members and their sewing experiences, tips/tricks and their sewing spaces! Include practical sessions - measurements, sketching, pattern adjustments, pattern hacking.

I’d also be keen to help the Guild build on the virtual aspect of the meeting to be able to appeal to those who would like to continue to access meetings virtually. And develop the member  idea of a Tool Library

As I’ve mentioned before I LOVE #OGGPOM so will happily spend time researching pattern ideas etc on Instagram/Pinterest!

Hopefully you feel my skills and passion match the requirements for the role of VP for the 2021/22 season. Thanks :) 

Candidate for Sew-ins and Workshops Coordinator: Laura-Lee MacDonald

Hello everybody! I am Laura-Lee MacDonald (@pippiannshirley) and I am running for Sew-In and Workshop Coordinator. I am a real joiner, as this is how I make friends as an adult, and I’ve run Girl Guide units, Parent Councils, grassroots environmental campaigns, and workshop series for fellow social workers. I came back to sewing after a long hiatus (1988 - Grade 8 sewing class - to about 2010) to help my kids realize their nerdy cosplay dreams. With sewing my own clothes, I have been able to combine my commitment to reducing my personal environmental footprint with my dedication to stop relying on the inhumane worker conditions around most RTW brands. The Ottawa Garment Guild has given me a space to commune with others who share my local and global anti-racist, pro-environmental values, and help me look better as I sew the wardrobe I want. I am ready to give back to this community who has served me so well.

21/22 OGG Executive Committee Elections

As you're already aware, we're looking for some fresh faces to join our Executive Committee! Do you have ideas about how the Ottawa Garment Guild should be run? Want to get involved for the 2021/2022 Season? If you've been looking for a way to get involved with the Ottawa sewing community, we think this is a great opportunity to do so! We need volunteers like YOU to keep the OGG running!

No experience is necessary, and you don't need to be an expert sewist! Nominations are open to all OGG Members. Nominations will close on Thursday April 29th at 11:59pm. Nominees will be asked to briefly introduce themselves at our Online Meeting on Thursday May 13th.
 

Open Positions as follows:

• President
• Vice President
• Sew-In and Workshop Coordinator

You can find full position descriptions Here or in our Constitution.  Email us with your questions, or to nominate yourself. We look forward to hearing from you, and seeing some fresh faces on the Exec Committee next year!!

February and March Sew-ins

Hi everyone!

Join us to socialize with fellow sewists from your home sewing space. These will be free for members to participate in! 

We have scheduled sew-ins via Zoom on:

February 21, 2-4 pm

March 7, 2-4 pm

March 21, 2-4 pm

The registration form is available here:

https://forms.gle/qwEsG1zWsKuef7ZEA 

There are sew-ins scheduled for February 23 and March 9 from 7-9 pm. You can register here: https://forms.gle/TGVQNQYdwi21Xej27

Happy sewing!