July and August are 2 of our Big Projects – Tote Bags & Pillowcases for Wheeler Mission! Please come and join us even if you don’t sew; there is something for everyone to do. I know the Summer can be busy, and we appreciate everyone who is able to participate! We will be meeting on July 11th for our Tote Bag Marathon, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Please bring your lunch, and all materials and supplies you will need.
The women at Wheeler were very excited with everything that you made for them last year! They had fun choosing their own Tote Bags, Pillowcases and Bookmarks!
For Tote Bags, look for medium to heavy weight fabrics, anything from denim, Cotton Duck, drapery or upholstery fabric, and there are many other choices out there. You are also welcome to try the Jeans Tote we did last month! As well as solids, the women were also looking for bright, fun prints, so many different kinds of fabrics would be great! They also wanted longer straps so they could put the bags over their shoulders, and both inside and outside pockets.
What you will need to bring:
* 1 yard fabric will make 2 or 3 totes, depending on the width of the fabric; if you get 2 coordinating or contrasting fabrics, then you can mix & match the tote body and pockets/straps.
* Tote Bag: cut two pieces 15″ x 18″; if you want to make one without a bottom seam, cut one piece 15″ x 36″
* Pockets: cut two pieces 8 1/2″ x 10″
* Straps: cut two pieces 4″ x 24″; you may use either coordinating or contrasting fabric for the pockets and straps
* Coordinating and/or contrasting thread
* Sewing machine* Scissors
*** We recommend having your Tote Bags, pockets and straps cut out and ready to sew when you come. We will have assorted pockets, so you can mix & match to find fun color combinations. If you would like, you may decorate the pockets with paint, applique, embroidery, or whatever you choose. These would be done before you start sewing the bag together.
Color, color everywhere!
This month, we are applying what we learned about color theory, and it is quite simple. We will be making a basic hat and scarf set using a variegated (multi-colored) yarn and two solid contrasting colors. Be sure all your yarns are worsted weight (Group 4).
Here is what you do: 1) go shopping for yarn (fun!); 2) choose the variegated/multi-colored yarn first; and 3) select two solid colors found in the variegated yarn to be the contrasting colors. For example, if your variegated yarn is in pinks and purples, choose a pink yarn and a purple yarn that match colors in the variegated.
What you need to bring:
* 21 oz. of worsted weight (Group 4) yarns: 7 oz. skein of the variegated; and 7 oz. skein of each contrasting solid color (total of 3 skeins)
* Size G/6, H/8, and I/9 crochet hooks
* Scissors
* Yarn needle
Our August Workshop
Please start shopping the sales for fun cottons for Pillowcases, both in prints and solids, as some of the women were requesting solids. Please remember, Wheeler has requested “tasteful, non-holiday” fabrics. You will need 1 1/4 yards of 2 fabrics to make 2 pillowcases.
Looking ahead to Fall
Are you making Hats & Scarves? We hope you are! We will need more Hats & Scarves when the cold Fall and Winter months get here! Last year, we donated them to several different schools and organizations, and would like to continue with that this year. Focus on school age children, especially elementary school ages. We will need a small number for adults, teens, and toddlers, but not as many. Please choose whether you knit, crochet, or sew them, and use lots of fun colors and patterns. Check out the Patterns page for ideas, or come up with your own.
