Kansas City Art Institute
A message from Kim Eichler-Messmer, Kansas City Art Institute :

I am writing to you as a representative of the Kansas City Art Institute Fiber Department. In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we are working to prepare for the fall semester and the possibility of teaching classes online. We are looking for donations of sewing machines in good working order. We have many students that rely on our shared departmental sewing machines to create their work. This fall semester we have three classes that will be relying on sewing: I'm teaching a quilting class, local artist Hadley Clark is teaching an introduction to sewing class, and Associate Professor Marie Bannerot McInerney is teaching our Junior major studio class that will be covering three-dimensional sewing techniques for texture and sculptural forms. 

Should we have to move to online teaching we will not have enough sewing machines to provide each student with their own to take home for the semester. Any sewing machine would be welcome, no matter what brand or age, as long as it runs. KCAI is a nonprofit institution of higher education and can provide documentation to make any donation tax-deductible. 
 
 ScrapsKC
 
A message from Rebecca Fulton, ScrapsKC:

I am the textile manager at Scraps KC, a non-profit creative reuse center here in Kansas City. We have a huge textile department and get some really great new and vintage donations.

We rely on volunteers to help sort and measure fabric, notions, yarn, etc. Please let me know if you have some members who have a few hours a week to volunteer. Volunteers receive a 20% discount on days they volunteer!

We are specifically looking for up to 4 volunteers each day Mon, Tue, Thurs, or Fri from 12-2 or 2-4 (or 12-4).

Chapter Events and Neighborhood Groups Meetings
At this time, the National ASG has suggested that chapters suspend chapter and neighborhood group meetings until it is safe for individuals to gather in groups again.

Chapter Events

Should it be necessary to cancel upcoming chapter events/workshops we will notify enrolled participants and provide refunds.


Neighborhood Groups
The chapter website has been updated with planned monthly programming information provided by the Neighorhood Group leaders.    


Community Service Project - Face Masks
Kansas City ASG member Phyllis Carlyle put together the following information for those interested in making face masks for local hospitals.    Please click here to access the PDF Phyllis created which has been posted on the chapter website.
You are welcome to use this handout and pass it on. It is all about shareware provided through generosity for charity only, so please do not sell it or the items you make. Some of you may have seen these links and others. I’ve concentrated on:
    -articles that answer my concerns about what to sew with and that DIY masks are not perfect but are better than nothing
    -links to patterns and videos that I feel are concise and have good instructions
    -paper patterns you can print and cut out. (Thanks, Wild Ginger software)
As a retired graphic designer with Adobe software, I created this using InDesign and have it available in universal PDF format, including links to the Internet.
Sewing friends, here's a chance to turn your stash into good. And heads up, I hear elastic is already getting hard to buy. I suggest that if you use bias ties or even ribbon, to make a version that ties at the back of the head instead of using ear loops.
Sanitizer, toilet paper, elastic. Who knew?
Phyllis Carlyle

Thursday, March 12, 2020 10:30 AM
4949 Cherry 
Kansas City, MO

Please join us as we meet with the out of town designers while fittings are completed, tour the costume department, backstage area, set, styling and set department at the KC Rep. The show the Rep. will be working on is "Noises Off".  The tour will last approximately one hour. Meet in the lobby of the theater.  The tour is FREE.  Please email Karin to give us a count. 

Saturday April 4, 2020 2 PM
4949 Cherry 
Kansas City, MO

To go along with the tour we have reserved a block of tickets for the performance of "Noises Off" on Saturday, April 4 at 2 PM at the KC Rep.  It's always fun to see the costumes, set etc. after a tour!  The tickets will be purchased by you by calling Andrew Cotlar at 816-235-6122.   Mention you are with the ASG group and tickets are $35.00 for the premium seats. This is half off the original price.  The tickets will be together. The block will be held until March 20, 2020 so do not delay!!

When:  May 16, 2020 – 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where:  Fabric Chic Sewing Lounge, Parkville, MO
Cost of Class:  $60

This pattern is a great way to learn the basics of bag making in a fun format. This bag is the perfect way to learn techniques that will be used in making a lot of bag patterns in an easy to sew format that yields a great basic bag in a day. Three sizes are included in the pattern. The original is the size of those famous blue bags from Ikea. The medium is a middle-sized bag that is great every day size bag. The small is perfect for corralling all the little things we need to tote around… and two of them fit splendidly side by side inside the original sized bag. Any of the three sizes can be made in a day… and with a little experience, they can be made in an afternoon!
Supplies Required:

• Each person will need their own copy of the pattern (available at www.itsjustsew.com , in PDF format or a physical copy) and all items listed on the pattern

• Sewing machine and supplies
• Bring your own lunch, or enjoy any of the many restaurants in Parkville

Optional Purchase:  NYBBB Starter Kit (NYBBB Pattern, Soft and Stable, 64 inches leather strap for handles, 8 Chicago rivets and screws) - $45.00

The second annual Kansas City ASG Sew-In is almost here!    Sign up for this fun weekend of sewing with friends.    There may even be a field trip to a local boutique fabric store.

The Kansas City ASG CAB is hosting a Celebration for Linda Lee on Sunday, October 20, 2019 from 1 - 3 pm at Karin Kraft-Stuppy's home located at 11118 Belleview Ave Kansas City MO.
 
Please join us in celebrating Linda Lee's years of service to the sewing community.   

If you would like to read more about Linda Lee and her induction into the ASG Hall of Fame, please follow this link:  Linda Lee ASG Hall of Fame

     I hope you all are enjoying your spring sewing.  Spring sewing can be so much fun.  The fabrics and patterns are usually a little lighter and more colorful.  Some people are sewing for special occasions like graduations or weddings.  It is so nice to be able to make a truly one-of-a-kind garment or gift for your friends or family.  There are so many places to get ideas for your projects online and in magazines.  Our ASG chapter is a great place to get inspiration and learn new techniques.  In April we hosted, Eric Drexler from Sulky of America.  Eric packed two days full of projects and information that demonstrated new uses for some luscious Sulky threads and a variety of stabilizers.  At the end of the weekend we left with lots of new knowledge and ideas to use in our own sewing room. 
     If you were not able to make it to the Sulky event, our Chapter has several more opportunities for you this year. We are planning a trip to the Sewing Workshop for a day of sewing with Linda Lee, a fall sew-in at the Fabric Chic facility in Parkville, and an opportunity to join us for a charity sewing events.  For more details see page 2-5 and 8 in this newsletter and on the chapter website.
     It’s a little early to talk about our annual meeting on November 2nd, but we are doing things a little bit differently this year and you may want to make your plans. The annual meeting will be held at Unity Village.  To encourage anyone who would like to attend, the annual meeting, where we discuss chapter business and hold an election of chapter officers, will take place between 9:00 and 10 a.m.  We will have some great door prizes and have another pin cushion exchange.  The cost for the annual meeting will be $5.  After the annual meeting there will be an optional all-day presentation by Nancy Nix Rice that you can sign up for.  By holding the meeting and the presentation separately you can choose one or both.  So start thinking about a pin cushion to bring for the exchange and keep watching the website for an opportunity to sign-up.
     Our chapter neighborhood or special interest groups are places where you can meet friends that are on similar sewing journeys.  Make a point to check on the website to find a group meeting that looks interesting.  You will likely learn something and make some new friends.
 
Happy Sewing,
Robin

The Winter 2019 edition of the chapter newsletter - Stitch'n Times - is now available on the members page.