September is National Sewing Month!! It started in 1982 in recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.
How many of you are saying you used to sew and just have not been able to get back to it, the sewing machine is buried or you do not have a spot to set it up, you have always wanted to sew but just did not ever take the time to learn or, the one I hear the most often, my mom made me sew and I hated it? If you really want to get back into sewing or want to learn, make it happen in September. Even if it is in the next few months, no one is going to know if you do not tell them.
Sewing can be done by hand or by machine. It does not have to spending a lot of money on a new machine or tools. One company that I have discovered that makes a majority of their amazing garments by hand is Alabama Chanin. Check them out at alabamachanin.com.
To keep costs low, ask your family and friends to borrow sewing tools or even a machine. And, I even bet they will offer you fabric too! Yard sales and want ads are also ways to find reasonably priced items. I would suggest requesting to test the sewing machine before paying for it and finding out it has some major problems. Take someone who has sewing experience with you to provide advice and help make the decision.
If you are looking for free projects, sewing trends or any related additional sewing resources, the American Sewing Guild (www.asg.org) is excellent. Threads Magazine (www.threadsmagazine.com) is another favorite of mine.
If you are wanting to learn how to sew on a machine, I will be starting some classes through the Big Sandy Adult Education program. They will be held on September 18, 25 and October 2 from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Big Sandy School. Topics will cover the parts of a sewing machine, sewing tools, fabric information and sewing simple projects. Details will be posted by the Big Sandy Adult Education program or you are welcome to contact me.
Follow us on Facebook @ChouteauCountyExtension to keep up to date on what is happening in Chouteau County Extension and 4-H.
Additional information is available by contacting Janell at the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3036, janellb@montana.edu or in the Chouteau County Courthouse at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton.
Montana State University, US Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
