March Meeting Summary

 Introduction

• Kallie is hosting the meeting tonight. She opened the meeting with a land acknowledgement.

Housekeeping

• Kallie provided a brief overview of the calendar of meetings.

• Next meeting April 10th, followed by May 8th and final meeting of the season, with a fabric, garment and pattern swap on June 12th.

Workshops

• April/May: Bodice Block Workshop 

• Wednesday Evenings: April 30, May 7, 14, 12  6-9pm

• Assela’s home studio in Barrhaven

• Registration is open on our Square Store. Members will have a few days to register before it opens up to non-members. 

• Assela provided an overview of what the workshop will cover. Participants will learn how to take their measurements to create their own block, which is the base to make patterns. The sessions will cover the front and back bodices and sleeve (skirt is a separate workshop). 

• Nancy and Erica, who took the first workshop, showed the bodices they made and recommended the workshop to members, noting it was a great hands-on workshop.  Erica noted that sewing was never her challenge, but fit was and learning the math and how to shift darts around were magic.

• May 17:  Moccasin Workshop w/ Colleen Nolan 

• 10am - 4pm

• St. Marks

• Registration is open on our Square Store

• An overview of recent workshops was provided. 

• Knit Garment Recreations w/ Coco Lang

• Mitten Workshop w/ Colleen Nolan

• Fitting Workshop w/ Paddye Mann

• Jean took a survey in the room and there was overwhelming majority of those present interested in taking a fitting workshop with Paddye. Jean also relayed Paddye’s offer to help Guild members for free with fitting challenges at her studio in Pakenham.

Sew-Ins & Events 

• The Hintonburg Fabric Flea market

• Event is on Saturday May 3, 9:30-3:00. Set up Friday 6-8pm & Sat 8-9am.

• Tables for OGG members have been reserved! Invoices for those participating will be sent out very soon.

• Billings Estate High Tea - OGG is looking to organize another iteration of one of our best attended events, a group booking at the Billing Estate high tea. 

• Looking at a Spring option. More details to follow.

• Billings can accommodate a number of dietary requirements and restrictions. 

• In person on April 19. Not on the square store yet. It is Easter weekend, so OGG Exec to confirm with members whether it will go forward that day.

• Zoom sew-in coming up on Sunday, March 23. Others likely but TBD.

Community Events

• Stitch, Hook & Knit social on Tuesdays, run by member River. 

• Link to register: www.ottawaeastcag.org/stitch-hook-knit-social 

• Art workshop - Cyano Type

• Where: The Grove 18 Louisa St. unit 280

• When: Tuesday, March 25 · 6 - 9pm

• How Much: Sliding Scale $25 and up.

• For more information check out TheGrove613.ca

Sewing SOS

• Kallie shared the questions asked and answered on Discord:

• Sewing classes for kids

• EcoEquitable has classes, sometimes Fabrications, Waves & Wild has new virtual classes, 

• Mad About Patchwork ran a March break camp. (Thanks for the recommendation, Lila! Leah’s kid went and LOVED it!)

• Assela also noted that she gives sewing classes for kids

• Richard Robinson also holds a summer camp geared toward teens

• Emily A asked about how to save disintegrating fabric on a favourite dress

• Recommended to try a big panel of black stretch iron on fusible interfacing.

• Jessica shared a link to a a cool method for finished facings

• If you’re not on Discord and would like to be please email us!

OGGPOM - It’s Spring…right? 

• The OGGPOM for March is spring sewing! Some examples were florals, skirts, dresses, layers. 

• Pattern suggestions included: Cashmerette Rosemount and RoseClair, Closet Core Kelly Anorak and Nicks dress, Friday Pattern Company’s Donny shirt, Ready to Sew overalls, Wiksten’s unfolding jacket (out of print) and McCall’s 7969.

Sew & Tell 

• Bonnie showed her Closet Core Chloe Jeans, the pattern of the month just released for its Crew line. Size 12, no modifications. She is very happy with them!

• Jessica showed her pants muslin from the Paddye Mann workshop and her sleeveless knit dress made at the Coco workshop.

February Meeting Summary

February 13, 2025 ZOOM

Introduction

• Leah opened the meeting with a land acknowledgement.

Housekeeping

• Leah provided a brief overview of the calendar of meetings, noting that next month’s meeting returns to in-person and hybrid (hopefully no snow storms!) and noting that March doesn’t follow the usual schedule and will be the third Thursday due to March break. 

Workshops

• Feb 15: Leather Mitt Workshop - full!

• Bring a thimble, and a pair of pliers if you have hand or mobility issues to get the needle through three layers of leather.

• March 15 - Free Free Fit workshop with Paddye Mann, local renowned sewing expert.

• Doing slacks sewing support group and third meeting will be the fitting session. 

• Start at 10am, everyone show up and can watch everyone else. She will stay however long it takes.

• Registration will open up and will send out via email. 

• Last call for Hintonburg Fabric Flea market. 

• Members can pay for full, half or third of a table. No finished products.

Sew-Ins & Events 

• In person on April 19. Not on the square store yet.

• Zoom coming up on Sunday (Feb 16) and another on March 23.

Community Events

• Stich, Hook & Knit social on Tuesdays, run by member River. Link to register: www.ottawaeastcag.org/stitch-hook-knit-social 

• Art social at the National Art Gallery

• Bring any type of art, fourth Sunday of every month

• Free childcare! Ages 18 months - 10 years 

Meeting - Hari Kuyo: A Practice of Gratitude

• Annual festival in Japan. A specific practice of gratitude for sewing.

• Today’s talk will look at the festival and also the core idea of gratitude.

• Four aspects of Hari Kuyo

• Honouring the broken needles: The festival pays homage to the sewing needles that broke during the past year, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the craft. With animism, needles are a being to thank.

• Praying for improvement. 

• Symbolic rituals. Broken needles placed in tofu where it is safe for the needle, not just for people. They have festivals in both big and small temples and personal altars.

• Ancient traditions and belief systems: Hari Kuyō reflects the animist tradition of attributing souls to objects, showcasing the deep-rooted cultural beliefs and practices of the region.

• The blessings from teh broken needle will go back to the person who used it.

• When you think more deeply of things you’re using it can bring a deeper level to your practice. 

• Honouring our tools provides a tangible outlet for your gratitude. To look at your own efforts or serendipity that it has brought to you, important for your mental health. 

• Thinking more carefully of what we are buying and how we are using it, we can take ourselves outside the capitalist mindset, realizing that you and your sewing needle are a team, being grateful that you know how to use it, you can replace it when you need to, dispose it safely,and pull together ideas to ground yourself in your practice. 

• So next time you break a needle trying to sew a zipper into jeans, taking time to acknowledge relationship in to your tools, not just getting angry, taking time to reflect can help our mental health.

• Personal rituals can be incorporated to practice gratitude for the tools we use, don’t need to wait for a festival. 

• In the chat, a member noted that they were SO happy to think and talk about my Sewing Machine this past weekend, and then to book an appointment for it to be.

• Laura-Lee puts stickers on her sewing machine. 

• In the chat others noted that it can be practiced through making sure scissors are sharpened, not cursing at* the machine, keeping tools in good shape, using the right tools for the job - e.g. hand sewing needles are important.

• Renee made a magnetic ceramic dish (by putting magnets in the clay) to collect old needles and then dispose in a sharps container. Another member used scotch tape and disposed of them in a can. 

• Leah noted that the Guild used to bring a sharps container to meetings. 

• Kim noted that you can put them in an old pill bottle and put them in the garbage. She also tapes half used needles with washi tape on the machine with what kind they are to use again. 

• Laura mentioned that most City of Ottawa facilities, like the library, have sharps disposals. However, Johanna noted that they don't like them in the biohazard sharp containers because those are disposed of in a particular way that I think is expensive and not necessary. You can put them in anything puncture proof and throw in the garbage.

• Another member uses a thrifted salt shaker that I put my broken needles and pins in. Eventually I'll seal the top and put the container in the trash.

Sewing SOS

• Breanna is making a midi-pencil skirt. Can’t find a pattern online, so is making her own. The back looks good but the front is puckering it. Darts? Making it out of a rigid cotton. 

• Laura-Lee made a Sew Over It Ultimate pencil skirt that was puckering even with darts. Turns out she needed to lengthen the darts. So play around with the placement and length of darts.

• France likes Burda patterns - instead of having vertical darts, it has a triangular piece so it will mold to the front better than vertically.

•  Breanna wonders if horizontal/triangular darts might work better than vertical.

• Discord. 

• Chloe asked about adjustments to pants riding down. The suggestions were adding a yoke or a full seat adjustment. There’s too much fabric - they ride down both standing and sitting. Went back to her tailor yesterday and will try her suggestions. Leah pointed out that Paddye would be a good resource. France noted that the crotch length is not related to height - so the pattern could be too short even if drafted for someone taller. Tailor suggested shortening the back crotch curve at the tip and too much fabric at the back, narrow thigh.

• Richard asked for ideas on keeping a button down shirt closed before buttons added. Suggestions included double-sided tape, safety pins and staples (but worries about creating runs in the fabric). Basting the placket closed is another option.

OGGPOM - Grateful for you!

• Make time to reflect on your tools, and thank them for their help. Organize, clean, and sharpen the tools you use and think about how different tools serve you in your sewing goals.

Sew & Tell 

• January OGGPOM - Hidden Treasure 

• River - colour blocked sleeves, used entirely from remnants in her stash.

• Aminime - test bathing suit, the Poppy by edgewater avenue with shelf bra. Without bra, it’s reversible. Used fabric from Kate’s stash.

• Jessica - copied a dress with Coco (take workshop! It was fantastic) but realized that the side panels are put on wrong when she went to hem. Left Hand side photo - the Tie dress with the sleeves. Reversible. 

• Margie - made at the Art Gallery event, drafted her own pair of underwear and used remnants from her stash.

• Chloé - pants. Latest on her same pattern. Wool with black and pink zigzag, a bit scratchy - needs an underlayer. From Atex fabric in Vancouver. Hidden button up fly. But a bit thick with all the layers of wool. Added triangles in side seams so fabric would collect at sides, so the back is smooth. 

Next meeting - March 20, 2025 (back to hybrid!)

January Meeting Summary

 If you weren't able to join us, please read on for a short recap. Members are welcome to request the full minutes by e-mail.

Workshops

• January 18th: recreate a ready-to-wear knit garment - Confirmed to Run!
• Jan/Feb bodice block making workshop at Assela’s home in Barrhaven - SOLD OUT
• Feb 15: Leather Mitt Workshop

Sew-Ins & Events

• In Person - Jan 18 - Confirmed to Run!
• Virtual - Jan 12, Feb 16
• Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CsQbMIYt4b0vViXN8VH61RCnknsjnias64BOJzwFlyA/edit?ts=67808da6
• Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market - May 3, email us you'd like to sell

Community Events

• Stitch, Hook & Knit Social - Tuesday evenings at Old Town Hall Community Center, 
• Mayfair Theatre Crafter’s Movie Afternoon - Feb 8
• Toronto Frocktails - April 26

Meeting - Sewing Space Tours

• This month we were invited into the homes of three members who gave us tours of the spaces they sew in. We learned about how they organize their supplies and work spaces, the challenges they face in their space and the creative solutions they’ve come up with to get the most out of the space they have. It was lovely to see the special moments like thoughtful gifts from family, a custom desk made by a father and artwork by beloved family members that make the spaces more than just functional.
  

Sewing SOS

• A member was looking for suggestions about how to get started on a new serger. The overwhelming suggestion was to take a class either by the retailer because some offer classes for free when you purchase a machine, or at one of our local fabric stores. 

OGGPOM - Hey, Look What I Found! 

• Take some time to tidy, re-assess, re-organize, or just admire your sewing space and see if you have any treasures waiting to be used in a project this month. Maybe you have a special set of buttons, a perfect lining fabric, a witty or heartwarming tag, a pattern you forgot you had, or fabric you really want to sew up!

Next meeting - online only February 13, 2025