The Sewing Room

May GreenUps is being held at The Fashion & Textile Gallery. GreenUps is for people with an interest , passion or concern for the environment and sustainability. No matter what your profession. GreenUps is about creating connections across a range of different sectors. Whether you work in business, science, education, design, the media, the arts, the law, government, NGO’s, IT, you name it. We’d like to hear over a beer what you’re doing. Or what you think should be happening in Sydney or in your area of work when it comes to sustainability. update! This time round we’re drinking and thinking about what you’re wearing – with a clothing exchange and some excellent speakers on sustainable clothing and fashion.
The speakers at this Tuesday’s event are:

- Kirsten Fredericks and Suzi Edmonds from The Clothing Exchange
- Paula Rogers from the Fair Trading Co.
- Samorn Sanixay from Eastern Weft Weaving Collective
- Bronwyn Darlington from Minimal Footprint
- Penelope Leonard from The Sewing Room
With only 5 minutes each the speeches are short and snappy.
The schedule

Best to arrive between 5.30 and 6.15pm. Check in 4 items of quality clothes. You’ll receive a button for each item which will be your currency to swap for a quality garment from another GreenUpper.
Whilst our friends from The Clothing Exchange are doing the sorting, have a drink in the forecourt or sneak up and have a look at the Fashion Gallery on Level 7.
Talks are at 6.30pm. The Clothing Exchange then starts at 7pm on Level 1 in ‘The Sewing Room’.
The entry fee

It’s $10 per person.
The fee gives you the opportunity to participate in the exchange, plus a beer or wine on entry, as well as finger food through the night.
About the Clothing Exchange
What is it?
A wardrobe update that won’t burn a hole in your pockets! Bring along your quality (not grotty) oldies for someone else’s newies. T-shirts, jackets, jeans, skirts, shoes … bring ‘em along.
Not only will you breathe life into your wardrobe, you’ll be doing your little bit for the Earth by not sending your old threads to landfill.
How does it work?

Drop off your clothes and receive a button – this is your currency in the land of The Exchange.
The Exchange team then check out the clothes. (Poor quality isn’t accepted, so you’re better off relegating unwearable items to a Vinnies run or the rags basket.) Go get yourself a drink while the clothes are being sorted.
Then … you enter the Exchange abyss; with racks full of wonderful vintage gems, perfect pair of jeans, dresses, t-shirts and more. Sift through, pick the ones you like and ‘purchase’ them for a button and a smile – bargain!
Why it’s good

Australians spend billions of dollars on clothes each year. Is a lot of it wasted? Ah, yep, could be. The Clothing Exchange is a form of environmental activism that’s lively, fun and gets people going through the simple act of sharing.

We refashion all sorts of things at this class, students brought with them everything from skirts, dresses, a pair of jeans to a denim jacket. Armed with a pair of scissors and loads of confidence we cut inches of fabric off hems, made garments smaller, shortened straps, unpicked waisted bands and even used the cheese grater to make the denim look woren on the demin jacket.

Astell sewing her way to a whole new level of chic.

Prue made this Jigsaw dress shorter and smaller , doesn’t she look fantastic!

Tessa cut about 10cm of this demin jacket and frayed the edge with a comb. Then cheese grated the sleeves and back to give a more lived in look to her denim jacket, before appliqueing these gorgeous little birds on the back and sewing on beads for their eyes.

As you can see we are very relaxed at The Sewing Room and it is lots of fun.

This simple and fun project had everyone creating their very own soft toy companion in no time at all. We provided everything the children needed to make a weird or whimsical creature at the holiday program at the Sewing Room this week. The Sewing Room has created an exciting range of felt softies to sewing by hand. It is such a great way to introduce children to design, by creating their own unique creature. We use brightly coloured materials that enhance the enjoyment of working with them.

 

Milly looks absolutely beautiful with her newly created Penny Wren bag, as you can see Milly also came to our owl T-shirt class. She is looking very coordinated wearing her owl t-shirt and sporting her new bag. I was so impressed with Milly’s sewing skill very stitch was perfectly formed.

Annie is concentrating very hard and doing a beautiful job.

Friends Annie and Molly (only 6 years old) made matching bags at the Sewing room on Friday morning. Don’t they look gorgeous!

　　　

Even the boys go into the act with the fun felties this week.　

 It was a pleasure having Grace at the Sewing Room. This was the first time Grace picked up a neeble and thread, and she was fatastic.

The three wise owls (Andrew, Jemilah & Lolu) made beautiful owls.

As you can see we make such beautful things at The Sewing Room and it is lots of fun.

Awards founder and organiser Liz Foster has helped hundreds of budding designers through the competition. As a woolgrower Mrs Foster also wanted to encourage and educate younger people about the natural fibre so important to many country areas.

“Merino wool makes such beautiful fabric and it is great to see what these young minds are capable of doing with the new wool textiles available today. To see these country students come to the city and be involved in this way continues to be amazing for me,”

Based at Armidale on the fine wool growing New England Tablelands in NSW, the awards have evolved into one of Australia’s most enduring and challenging fashion competitions with hundreds of entries across many categories.

Over 300 invited guests, entrants, industry leaders and VIPs packed the Fashion & Style Pavilion at the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Wednesday evening to celebrate the latest innovations in Australian Merino Wool, with the showing of The Australian Wool Fashion Awards collection.

100 finalist entries in eleven categories including Secondary School Student, Tertiary Student, Knitwear, Woven, Women’s Ready To Wear, Recycled Wool, Childrens wear, Wearable Art, Evening and Bridal Wear in front a large media contingent.

We are awarded three medalloins.

Lucy’s attention to detail was fantastic and her Japanese inspired bag was simply beautiful. 

 

  

 Angela is doing a brilliant job stitching around her wise old owl’s eyes.

 

 

A good time was had by all, we had a few Mum’s with the children 8 years & under. So it was lovely to be able to enjoy their company as well.

All sewing equipment and materials was supplied so all you have to do is turn up and have fun.

　

Dead Sexy Sue created this most exquisite bag in a fabulous fabric from Tessuti’s on Commonwealth Street Surry Hills. It was such a hit that she has had orders from friends and family. I want one too, Sue choice of fabric, lining and accessaries are just Dead Set Sexy. Her sewing is absolutely amazing. Watchout for her range of aprons and beautiful things coming soon from the Dead Sexy Sue.

Jemma have taken to the sewing machine like a natural, it must be all that hand stitching practice she has done in emergence at Royal Princes Albert Hospital. Jemma used a beautiful Japanese fabric and her sewing is beautiful.

So yes, thank you my Monday night Ladies it is so much fun teaching you all to sew.

Teens 12+
The Sewing Room is offering a great range of classes for teenagers, to suit both beginners and those wanting to undertake more challenging projects. Develop skills with textiles, add to your folio, or just make something completely unique. Classes are run in the bright and busy Sewing Room and are led by friendly and experienced Sewing Room instructors.Teens are also encouraged to join in on our range of regularly scheduled open age classes.

Children’s Classes 5+
The Sewing Room offers fun, educational and inspiring classes for Chrildren aged five years and up. Children can simply have fun, create something of which they can be proud, or learn skills that will last a lifetime. Classes are run by friendly and experienced Sewing Room instructors.

“Sew” join one of our fantastic classes spanning many different areas of interest:

Beautiful bird brooch / Buttons hair pins 6+
Tuesday 6th April 10am to 12pm
Sew your own beautitful bird brooch to dress up any outfit. Ages 6+
Please note: Parental supervision for children 8 years & under is required.
1 x 2 hour session
$40
All sewing equipment and all materials will be supplied.

Wise old owl (girls) and monsters (boys) t-shirt 6+
Wednesday 7th April 10am to 12pm
We will appliqué a wise old owl or a monster on a cool organic T-shirt. Using simple techniques for a fantastic effect.We are going to cut, paint, fold, sew and applique’ your way to an in terribly cute new t-shirt. This is loads of fun. Ages 6+ Please note: Parental supervision for children 8 years & under is required.
1 x 2 hour session
$55
Arm yourself with a apron.
All sewing equipment and all materials will be supplied. Just tell us what size t-shirt when you book please.

A5 Journal Cover
Thursday 8th April 10am to 12pm
In this three hour class you can construct an attractive cover for a A5 Journal that will last for years.
Personalise it with the fabric of your choice and re-use the pattern to cover anything you want! Ages 6+
Please note: Parental supervision for children 8 years & under is required.
1 x 2 hour session
$40
All sewing equipment and all materials will be supplied.

Felt Softies 6+
Friday 9th April 10am to 12pm
This simple and fun project will have you creating your very own soft toy companion. We will provide everything you need to make a weird or whimsical creature of your own imagination. Ages 6+
Please note: Parental supervision for children 8 years & under is required,
1 x 2 hour session
All sewing equipment and all materials will be supplied.

Teens Learn to Sew: Basic Sewing Module 1
Tuesday 6th April 2pm to 5pm
For those who are completely new to sewing. This class will be led in a simple and easy to follow format. First you will be acquainted with the sewing machine and its features, dials and buttons. You will learn to confidently set up the machine for sewing, how to insert a needle, thread the machine, and wind and load a bobbin. In the three half of the class you will make your own sewing satchel, whilst learning handy construction tips.
1 x 3 hour class (Please bring a snack and drink for a short break during the class).
$60
 BYO: 1.2 mtrs fabric (non-stretch), matching thread and 1 button (max 2cm diameter).

Teens Sewing Basics Module 2: 3hour Zips & Buttonholes
Wednesday 7th April 2pm to 5pm
Learn to finish your garments with working and professional looking closures. This class will give you the information you need to confidently sew in zippers and buttonholes. You will leave with great pencil case incorporating all these wonderful new techniques. After this class, there’ll be no stopping you!
1 x 3 hour class $60
All materials supplied by The Sewing Room.

 Teens Chic T-shirt Manipulations
Thursday 8th April 2pm to 5pm
Surface manipulations in fashion this workshop exploration in appliqué, pintucking & ruching, modern day smocking & shirring etc. We will look at techniques and methods used in current fashion trends and use these to inspirer and demonstrate the potential of the techniques. Arm yourself with a pair of scissors and loads of confidence, You’re going to cut, fold, sew and applique’ your way to a whole new level of everyday chic that will be applied to a t-shirt.
1 x 3 hour session
$85
All materials supplied by The Sewing Room.
Just tell us if you would like one of our cool organic T-shirt when you book please.

Refashion a vintage pair of jeans from the op-shop.
Friday 9th April 2pm to 5pm
We are going to refashion a pair of jeans or garment from the op-shop armed with a pair of scissors and loads of confidence. You’re going to cut, fold, sew and applique’ your way to a whole new level of everyday chic.
1 x 3 hour session
$85
Bring with you: A pair of jean or simple garment from you local op-shop. Sewing equipment and all materials will be supplied.

For more information regarding classes you can call Penelope on 0432 688 536 or email info@thesewingroom.com.au or see our blog www.thesewingroom.net.au.