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We are always on the look out for quality fabric donations, camp prizes and supplies so please contact us today if you can lend a helping hand or provide a donation. 

Teach Another Generation! (T.A.G.)

This year's 4-H Sewing Camp was our 9th summer of partnership with 4-H. We had fun teaching and the kids had fun learning how to sew. The following was written by our President, Lou:

Our 9^th Annual Sew 4 Fun Sewing Camp was held June 11-15 in the Manatee 4-H Classroom at the Manatee fairgrounds. Dr. Diana Smith, Manatee County-Extension Agent, provides the space, coordinates the enrollment, provides snacks, works with parents and our chapter to facilitate the camp. Each year 20 children ages 8 to 16 have enjoyed learning to sew under the guidance of our SGCASG Chapter volunteers. This year was no exception!  With the leadership of Donna Verstrate and Lou Burns, 10 of our members spent 5 days sharing our talents and love of sewing with these eager to learn campers.  The campers were divided into three teams: Red Team led by Kathy Pell and Karen France, Blue Team led by Barbara Van Buren and Lorraine Potter, and the Blue Team led by Donna Verstrate and Lou Burns.  Kathy Pell has been a volunteer every year for the 9 years of its existence.  Other members that volunteered were Jackie Pettit, Paulette Braga, Debbie Chegwidden, and Terri Petti.  Hannah Dodson a 4-H camp participant of sew camp for several years also volunteered as an aide.  Many thanks to those volunteers! We couldn’t do this camp without everyone’s time, talent and support.

Some of the many projects campers learned to make this year included, tissue holders, tote bags, tulip gift pouches, cross body purses, shorts, knit skirts, drawstring back packs with an applique pocket, and origami boxes. Our Community service project was Christmas Stockings for Soldiers.  The campers sewed 39 stockings in less than 2 hours.  Each received a gridded pattern to take home to make stockings for their families. A special thanks to Quilter’s Stash for donating two bolts of Christmas fabric for this project.

The curriculum also included distinguishing from woven and knit fabrics, various types of threads, reading the end of the fabric bolts, and sewing on buttons. The campers enjoyed a field trip to Quilter’s Haven in Palmetto, where many selected sewing items and were treated to a special discount on purchases.

This was my 6 year of volunteering, and I will return! The rewards are many for me, but the greatest is seeing children learning to enjoy sewing and receiving such pleasure and pride from the projects that they make. When one of the campers learned to sew 6” squares together for a quilt top, she returned to camp the next day with a quilt that she had made overnight. We both were so excited!  Paying it forward- the love of sewing is Sew Worth It!

Our Chapter partnered with 4-H in Palmetto to teach Youth Sewing Camp in June 2017. We had five groups from novice to expert and our last day of camp was devoted to our Community Service project.

Jan Loy's, Sew Chic NG  is helping Girl Scouts earn their Sewing Badge

Twenty-two members of Girl Scout BrownieTroop #138 in Venice are earning their sewing badges in early 2017 with the help of several ASG members from the Sew Chic Neighborhood Group. Jenny Brannon, the Venice troop's leader had requested some help with this badge. The troop meets twice monthly at the Venice Bible Church.

To meet the sewing badge requirements, the scouts will be making seaside door hangers out of felt, travel tissue holders and sewing card samplers with a variety of hand stitches and a quilted potholder project. The scouts are ages 7, 8 and 9 years old.

Sharon B is heading this project with the help of Jeanie C, Debi E, Irene F, Joanne E, Barb A, Bonnie D, Peggy M, Marti P and Jan, who are lending their time, skills and supplies to help all the girls succeed.

The sewing badges will be earned before the Girl Scout cookie sales begin in March!

Lou Burns, NG Leader of Anything Sews submitted these photos offered by Marie. They show her making a tissue holder at the Manatee Fair. She had a terrific time and even asked about when she can start learning to sew more!

 Lou Burns, NG Leader of Anything Sews taught 4th graders ages 7 to 9 year at the Rowlett Academy in 2016 (Odyssey of the Mind). They learned to thread a needle, sew on buttons, use a running stitch and make a shirt pattern. The children went on to create their own costumes for a skit. 

Our Chapter partnered with 4-H in Palmetto to teach Youth Sewing Camp in June 2016. We had five groups from novice to expert and our last day of camp was devoted to our Community Service project.

Creative Sassy Sewers and Pins & Needle Members guided youth in making tissue holders at the Manatee County Fair in 2016

Photos above are from the Bradenton Herald article telling about our sewing camp kids working on a community service project- making Conkerr Cancer pillowcases for a local pediatric oncology unit. 

We want to thank Baby Lock USA for their generous donation of 21 sewing machines to promote ASG's mission of "Advancing Sewing as an Art and Life Skill."