Classes are busy, life is too :)
With the first week of the youth class, “Kids can Sew” approaching, I’m very busy. People are still calling and emailing requesting info on registration. It’s wonderful and as it’s late for most people to get payment to me, those willing to pay by paypal, may register until Friday evening at 5 pm. After that time, registration is closed for the class beginning Monday. For the 2nd and third session, registration will close 2 weeks prior to the first day of class. What does that mean for you? Register now, for whatever class you daugher/son will be taking.
In addition, all four classes nights at the Hobby Lobby stores have students in them. There are 3 beginners classes and 1 intermediate class. I am trying to put together an intermediate class for Sept. It will probably begin very late in the month. I’m sorry, but we take our annual vacation in Sept and that throws off the class schedule. Here’s what’s going on in the classes.
These first pictures are of students in a beginner’s class working on darts. As you can see, I teach the traditional method of tying off darts. 
In another class, you can see that in addition to teaching traditional techniques for sewing, I also teach students to trace their patterns. We don’t always need to trace, but if we want to keep our patterns available for peoples of various sizes, it’s a good idea. 
Here are some of the pattern layouts and a student appropriately tracing her pattern. Look, no pins. You’re right, we are using temporary spray adhesive and it eliminates pinning the pattern to the fabric when tracing/cutting out your pattern. 
And, of course, from the tracing and cutting out, we go on to sewing our garment together. Monday night, we installed zippers. Tonight, is actually a first night of class at the Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, so we will be looking at patterns, body measurements and how to choose your pattern size, fabric and materials for the sewing studio. We will also cover how to wind a bobbin, and to thread your machine. By the time students leave tonight, they will be sewing straight lines, or know what to practice at home this week, to become better at it. 
Each student in class, should complete a pencil skirt, including fitting it to herself, or his model.
The next session of beginner’s sewing begins on 7/8 at Short Pump, though that class was full, there was a cancellation, and has one opening. The Thursday evening beginner’s class at Short Pump will begin on 7/18 and there are definitely openings in that class. The 3rd session at the Chesterfield Hobby Lobby has openings also. Hope you will join us.
On a personal note. In my home, I’m working on some new, lined curtains. I’ll try to post pictures as they develop. They are my own design and represent an evolution of ideas. Watch for them in the coming weeks
Looking for something fun for the kids this summer? How about a sewing daycamp? I’ve been offering both children’s and adult’s sewing classes at Hobby Lobby for a couple of years now. We had a successful, though small sewing camp last summer and hope to offer this to a larger group of kids this summer. As a result, I’m teaching it at each location and once each month!
If you want to bring your child to the Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, classes are in the morning, from 9 am – noon. If you want to bring your child to the Glen Allen Hobby Lobby, I’m teaching there from 2-4 pm.
Dates are as follows:
June 24-28 9am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 2-5 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby Openings available, registering now
July 15-19 9 am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 2-5 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby Openings available, registering now
August 12-16 9 am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 2-5 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby Openings available, registering now
Cost is $210 for the week of day camp. Students should have a $35-50 gift card for Hobby Lobby, so they can pick out fabrics and other items (zippers, thread, etc) for their projects. Camp is booked in week-long sessions. No one-day registrations (sorry).
Sibling discount: First registrant, full price, sibling price is $50 less.
Maximum class size is 8 students, so your child will get the most out of the session. Projects will vary depending on the child’s interest. Students who take multiple sessions, will work with the instructor to create items that both pique their interest and match their growing skillset.
To register, contact me at:
teachu2sew@earthlink.net
804 615 2898
Registration/payment must be made by June 14 for the first session, June 30 for the second session and Aug 2 for the final session of the summer.Cherri Hankins, the instructor has been teaching and working with kids since her own high school days volunteering with TAG students, then raising her children, while teaching Sunday School, AWANA and teaching at art centers and universities. She loves to share her joy of sewingEach student should also have a $50 gift card to purchase supplies throughout the week.
As I mentioned in response to a comment, I’m adding my teaching schedule through the summer to the blog this evening. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I’ll add this to the “adult classes” and “kids” pages also.
Adult classes:
I am offering 2 summer sessions at Short Pump. The dates are:
Session 1 : 6/3, 10, 17, 24 and 7/1
Session 2: 7/8, 15, 22, 29 and 8/5
Dates for the Chesterfield classes are:
Session 1: 6/19, 26 & 7/3,10,17 Wednesday evenings
Session 2: 6/11, 18, 25, 7/2, & 9 Tuesday evenings
Session 3: 7/16, 23,30, 8/6 & 13 Tuesday evenings
All classes meet from 6-8:00 pm.
Registration is open for the class beginning 6/3 and the class is half filled.
Registration is open for the class beginning on 7/8 already and there are many openings yet.
I encourage you to sign up as early as you can commit, as the summer classes are usually popular.
Children
Kids can sew! is a progressive sewing class for children. Whether they have taken a beginner’s class before, or not, they will have a wonderful time improving their skills, or learning to sew.
First timers will learn to thread a machine and sew basic stitches, then how to use a sewing pattern and they will make PJ pants for themselves. Many students will finish these before class is complete and will enjoy another project, like making a zippered pillow.
This “camp” is offered 3 times during the summer and students are welcome to come to each session and build on their skills.
Returning students are encouraged to e-mail me and work out some plans for their class time, so the instructor is prepared to help the student make the most of their time in class.
If your child wants to learn to make clothes, decorator items, accessories, or doll clothes for her A/G doll, this is a great place to for them.
Cherri Hankins, the instructor has been teaching and working with kids since her own high school days volunteering with TAG students, then raising her children, while teaching Sunday School, AWANA and teaching at art centers and universities. She loves to share her joy of sewing.
Each student should also have a $50 gift card to purchase supplies throughout the week.
Cost: $210
Dates:
June 24-28
July 15-19
August: 12-16
Times: 9 am – noon at the Chesterfield, Hobby Lobby
1 pm – 4 pm at the Glen Allen (Short Pump) Hobby Lobby
Tracing and cutting your pattern and Blind hemming
We stay so busy in the sewing room, that I barely have time to post! Here are some pictures of one of the recent classes at Hobby Lobby in Richmond. 
Before we even begin tracing, we have to cut the pattern pieces apart. Then we press them! We use Dritz spray adhesive to stick the patterns to the fabric. NO, we don’t pin to the fabric unless it’s not a washable fabric, anyway. 
Then we began tracing. Each person had their own way to do this, I recommend using a surface low enough to stand over your pattern and lean into your work a little. Tracing paper doesn’t leave a strong image behind. 
We increased the size of some patterns 
And the job was nearly done by the end of this night of class. Some folks had more homework than others. That’s always the case. 
Sometimes tracing paper and chalk aren’t enough and a good fabric marker is also a good idea.
I still have openings in the Wednesday evening sewing series beginning this Wed night, 5/15, at the Hobby Lobby in Chesterfield. Cost is $150 and we meet from 6-8 pm, each week for 5 consecutive weeks. teachu2sew@earthlink.net
Kids sewing summer day camp in Richmond, VA 2013
Looking for something fun for the kids this summer? How about a sewing daycamp? I’ve been offering both children’s and adult’s sewing classes at Hobby Lobby for a couple of years now. We had a successful, though small sewing camp last summer and hope to offer this to a larger group of kids this summer. As a result, I’m teaching it at each location and once each month!
If you want to bring your child to the Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, classes are in the morning, from 9 am – noon. If you want to bring your child to an afternoon class, I’m teaching them at the Glen Allen/Short Pump location from 1-4 pm.
Dates are as follows:
June 24-28 9am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 1-4 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby
July 15-19 9 am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 1-4 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby
August 12-16 9 am – noon at Chesterfield Hobby Lobby, 1-4 pm at Short Pump Hobby Lobby
Cost is $210 for the week of day camp. Students should have a $35-50 gift card for Hobby Lobby, so they can pick out fabrics and other items (zippers, thread, etc) for their projects. Camp is booked in week-long sessions. No one-day registrations (sorry).
Maximum class size is 8 students, so your child will get the most out of the session. Projects will vary depending on the child’s interest. Students who take multiple sessions, will work with the instructor to create items that both pique their interest and match their growing skillset.
To register, contact me at:
teachu2sew@earthlink.net
804 615 2898
Registration/payment must be made by June 14 for the first session, June 30 for the second session and Aug 2 for the final session of the summer.
Projects we have made in previous camps have been pajama pants, skirts, purses, doll clothes (students repeating sessions ony), rag dolls (very similar to Raggedy Ann and Andy), drawstring backpacks, zippered pillows, quilts and in the winter hats and scarves.
Hope to see you in the sewing room!
Goings on in class
As we continue with the beginner sewing class at Hobby Lobby, you can see that we are progressing quickly. Here, one student is measuring the waist of her pajamas, to fold down and make a casing for the elastic.
I love this fabric. Another student is matching notches, to correctly assemble her pajamas. See how perfectly they match up? 
You can also see that we didn’t have a fabric marker with us, and had to resort to using a dry erase marker for our work tonight. The marks are not going to show, but we will find out something about dry erase markers also. Don’t try this at home, unless you absolutely can’t find a fabric marker, or chalk. There are still openings in the Monday night beginners class. The class that will begin on 4/29/2013 is at Hobby Lobby on Broad St, in Short Pump. Class fee is $150. That covers the 5 classes that meet from 6-8 pm on 4/29, 5/6,13,20 and 27. Hope you will join us in the studio.
Ok, my quilt is back from the long arm quilter!!!!! Here is a 
picture of it atop one of the beds:
And here are some pictures of progress in the Beginners class at Chesterfield:
A new beginner’s sewing class starts Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Short Pump Hobby Lobby. We meet from 6-8 pm and there are still a couple of openings. It’s a 5 week class, meeting on 4/29, 5/6,13,20,27. Cost is $150. Hope you will join us. Please check my contact page for info.
