Discuss Sewing Knits, Mini Fabric Swap & Pattern Giveaway at Sips N Sews

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Let's meetup at Sips N Sews (http://sipsnsews.com/) to discuss sewing knit fabrics and have a show and tell of finished projects and WIPs (works in progress)! We'll also have an informal mini fabric swap. Please bring scraps or one larger piece of fabric to share. (Our big fabric swap will be in October at the Berkeley Public Library.) Leftovers will be given to Sips N Sews, which may also donate some fabric to this mini swap. [Scroll down for indie pattern giveaway details!]

AGENDA

10:30 am to 10:50 am - Introductions, announcements, mini fabric swap
10:50 am to 11:30 am - discuss knits
11:30 am - indie pattern drawing
11:35 am to 12 pm - break into small groups for show and tell
Lunch Break (lots of restaurants in the area)
**UPDATE: 1:30 pm - Introductory lecture by Zila Brand

NOTE: RSVPs for this meetup close on Fri., Sept. 25 at 5 pm.

Sips N Sews (http://sipsnsews.com/) is a new sewing studio in San Francisco equipped with many machines (Janome, Singer, Bernina, Baby Lock, etc.) and cutting tables as well as an unlimited Tea Bar (sips!). While we're there we can check out the space and what they offer. For a monthly membership, you get access to the machines as well as free notions for members (threads, zippers, bias tape, etc.). I checked out the space in July and took these photos. Here's a glimpse of the wall of thread.

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If you want to stay and sew for the rest of the day, Sips N Sews (http://sipsnsews.com/) is offering us a great rate of $10 for the day. You just need to tell them you are staying and pay the fee.

(There are plenty of lunch places nearby so we can all grab a bit to eat after the meetup.)

Additionally, Sips N Sews (http://sipsnsews.com/) is offering all Bay Area Sewists members a discounted membership of $40 a month. NOTE: This offer will expire on Dec. 31, 2015. For more into on memberships, please visit this page (http://sipsnsews.com/membership-info/membership-benefits/). Thank you Sips N Sews!

***UPDATE: Sips N Sews owner Tammy Gustin has invited designer Zila Brand to present an introductory lecture on the advanced classes she'll be teaching there. Tammy says Zila was formally educated in Fashion Design in Israel and moved to California 30 years ago. She started working with San Francisco’s top interior decorators to create some of the most prestigious decor in San Francisco historical mansions and businesses. She has unique skills in fabric manipulation. Her classes will open your eyes to patterns, design elements and contrasts within one fabric design. The lecture will be about 45 minutes long, with time for questions after.

Tammy says, "I wanted to make sure all your members have the ability to experience something unique and fascinating. I think that her techniques will be of great interest to your members with their wide range of interests and talents. The amazing thing about Zila’s techniques, is they can be used on anything from bags to quilts, from scarves to formal wear and everything in between. Her portfolio will amaze even the most talented of sewists."

TWO indie pattern giveaways this month - the A-Frame Skirt (http://www.blueprintsforsewing.com/shop/a-frame-paper-pattern) - is from Blueprints for Sewing (http://www.blueprintsforsewing.com/), a Norfolk, Massachusetts company featuring "simple, flattering, comfortable, and classic with an artistic edge." Each pattern takes its inspiration from an architectural style. This skirt pattern is available as a printed pattern or as a PDF. We'll be giving away the printed version, which comes in a very nice package. (Check out Bluepint's shop here (http://www.blueprintsforsewing.com/shop/).)

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This cool skirt has great pocket details, two versions - a pencil skirt or an A-line skirt - and plenty of color-blocking options!

In honor of Sewing Indie Month, we're also giving away a copy of the Rose Hip Tights (http://seamsterpatterns.com/product/rose-hip-tights-9701/) by Seamster Patterns (http://seamsterpatterns.com/), an indie pattern company based in Chicago. The designer, Mari Miller, gave us a printed version of her pattern, which is available as a PDF pattern in her shop. You can buy it here (http://seamsterpatterns.com/product/rose-hip-tights-9701/).

Tights are great for fall weather. Below are photos of the Rose Hips Tights, which has a seam running up the back of your leg and features "separate pattern pieces for the foot and thigh cuff or waistbands, so you can have fun color blocking or can easily replace a worn sole." It looks like a really cool pattern. Thank you Mari for donating your pattern!

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Mari is also the founder of Sewing Indie Month (https://www.sewindependent.com/sewing-indie-month/), now hosted by Sew Independent (https://www.sewindependent.com/about-me-2/), which Mari is now overseeing. There are 21 different designers who are participating this year, sharing tutorials and info. And there are sewing contests and tons of prizes! So if you want to make something from one of the participating designers (including Blueprints for Sewing and Seamster Patterns), see the Sewing Indie Month Contest Rules (https://www.sewindependent.com/sewing-indie-month/sewing-indie-month-2015-contest-rules-entry-form/). Bay Area Sewist member Laura of Lilacs & Lace (http://www.lauramaedesigns.com/) is hosting the Dressed to the Nines contest. See her blog post (http://www.lauramaedesigns.com/2015/09/september-is-sewing-indie-month.html) for details.

Parking
There are quite a few parking lots nearby - one is on the corner of Larkin and Sutter and the other on Polk and Bush. Also, there are more lots on Post and Pine streets.

Public Transportation
If you take BART into SF, get off at the Montgomery stop and then take the 2 or 3 Muni bus on Sutter St. (at Sansome) and get off at Larkin. There's a stop at Larkin and Sips N Sews will be on your right, halfway down the street.

See you there!

~Chuleenan