Birmingham Smocking Arts Guild of America

Cindy Foose Seminar

January 23-25, 2014

“Spit Polish Your Smocking”     Thursday, January 23, 2014, 6-9 pm. This is a three hour notebook class, for beginner to intermediate level of expertise, designed to enhance and improve stitching techniques with tips, tools and tricks for the preparation of a smocked piece, armhole guide treatments, neat knots, stitch placement, new stitch ideas coupled with variation of familiar standards, backsmocking, technique review of stitch formation, thread handling and selection, needle manipulation and project finishing.  The hands-on activities in this class are guaranteed to improve the overall look of any smocked project.

Supplies needed:  pen or pencil, embroidery scissors.  Kit:  The kit provided contains diagrammed instructional booklet, needles, threads and prepared materials.  Pleated insert provided.

Cost: $60.00 (Kit fee is included in price).

“Construction and Finishing Techniques for the Smocked Yoke Dress.”  Friday, January 24, 2014, 9-4 pm.  This is a six hour notebook class for all levels of expertise, although a working knowledge of construction terms required.  This comprehensive class covers all aspects of the construction of a smocked Yoke dress from body measurements, and pattern adjustments through a foolproof sewing scheme of carefully planned interlocking parts.  Most home seamstresses are not only enthusiastic needle artisans, but busy homemakers, mothers and wives with precious little time to waste.  The class will enlighten as to the rhyme and reason of each construction step and technique.  By understanding the concepts of construction, one can clearly recognize possible pitfalls and pattern discrepancies, saving time and costly errors.  The demonstration, hands-on format is designed to give you the techniques to make each of your garments shine!   Supplies needed:  pen or pencil, ruler at least 12” long, transparent tape, favorite yoke dress pattern for evaluation and notation (optional), paper cutting and embroidery scissors.

Kit provided:  Detailed, diagramed 35+ page spiral bound instruction booklet, patterns designed for class use, prepared materials, and items necessary to complete class activities.

“Details Count!” Saturday, January 25, 2014, 9-4 pm.   This is a six hour machine class, for all levels of expertise, although students should be familiar with the operation of their sewing machine.  This class presents fresh approaches to many of the pitfalls of construction.  Guided by a lecture/ demonstration format and hands-on class work, students will develop a sample book of construction techniques and tricks from positioning and making buttonholes, proper method of sewing on a button, hemming techniques and hints, perfect closure applications, heirloom and general gathering, quick perfect tucks, pleats and their problems, to pressing pointers.  The focus is on fine-tuning important details.  You will leave the class with a personal resource book for future reference.  Even those who have been sewing for years will find the techniques developed for this class will indeed enhance their sewing skills. 

Supplies:  zigzag sewing machine in good working order, transparent tape, sewing machine manual, basic sewing supplies (fabric, paper and sharp pointed embroidery scissors, pins, washable fabric marker, tape measure, pen/ pencil, seam ripper, etc.), clear ruler at least 12”, general purpose, zipper and buttonhole feet, and if you have them, open toe embroidery and straight stitch feet.  (If not too much trouble, bring ALL of your sewing machine feet).  Bring a spool of #50 and #60 weight machine thread, additional light if needed along with extension cord.

Kit provided:  Instruction booklet, all prepared materials, needles, additional threads used to complete the activities.  (Note:  Universal Schmetz needles will be included in the class materials.  If a machine will not accept this brand of needle, please let us know).

Cost:  $200.00 for Friday and Saturday class.  (Lunch and kit fees for both days are included in the price).

All classes will be held at the North Shelby County Library.  For information, contact Karen Duncan at kdun17@charter.net or (205) 532-3856

Non-refundable deposit of $130.00 due by January 3, 2014, with remainder due by workshop date of January 23, 2014.