Christmas in July Serger Class

I field tested the Simplicity 9469 blouse on Friday and wore it to teach my Christmas in July serger class. The top performed beautifully. There was no tugging or adjusting and I could move freely in it. I’ve pulled out a few more blouse patterns to trace and frankenpattern, now that I have a solid base for hacking. And although I shouldn’t be, I am continually surprised at how much I have to lengthen the bodices. At least that is a consistent adjustment from pattern to pattern.

The serger class went well, mostly. I had one student with a new machine that was being temperamental. (The machine, not the student.) She was able to complete the first project but decided not to stay to the end of class because we couldn’t get her machine threaded. She’ll have to have the store’s sewing machine tech take a look at it. Her first project turned out beautifully, though:

We made folded Christmas tree napkins edged with 12wt decorative threads. I always love to see students’ fabric choices. Some choose glam, and some choose fun. Sue, who works at the store, made hers with these cute prints:

We also made cutlery holders with flatlock stitches woven through with 1/4” ribbon:

Coming up with suitable projects is the hardest part of class prep, I think. The goal is to have students create something practical while giving them an opportunity to learn the technique. At the same time, though, the project can’t be so complicated that it causes frustration. During class, we talk a lot about each technique and how it could be used in other ways.

My students were having so much fun that they didn’t want to leave. They didn’t want me to leave, either. The last project was a Christmas ornament decorated with trim made on the serger. (Gail Yellen has a video on her YouTube channel on how to make these.) This is an interesting technique because no fabric is involved in making the trim. The serger is threaded with four heavy threads and one serger thread, and then you just run out yards and yards of chain:

The chain will be added to these fabric-covered foam balls:

One of my students came to class a bit afraid of her BabyLock serger. By the end, she was changing needles and thread with confidence. Seeing that is, for me, the best part of teaching.

I am teaching a Bernina serger mastery class this week. Right after my class, the store owner’s son, a young guy who is the store’s machine tech, will be teaching a class on “sewing machine technical solutions.” I signed up for that one, both because I want to support him—this is his first class—and because I am sure I will learn things I don’t know. I also offered to take notes for him during class and write down any questions people have so he can incorporate that information into future classes.

[This quilt store has such good class offerings that a few of my students were joking about their “staycations” at the store last week. Krista Moser taught a quilting class Monday through Thursday, my class was on Friday, and several of them were coming back on Saturday for open sew. I sometimes think that a few people would be happy to live at the store if it offered dormitory and kitchen accommodations.]

My next class is an evening session on choosing the right sewing machine needle for a project. Getting the kits prepped is on the list for this week.

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The husband mucked out the chicken coop yesterday morning. I was at a meeting and came home just as he was finishing up. That is a thankless, dirty job. We use the ”deep litter” method, continually adding straw to the bedding on the floor of the coop, but every couple of months it all has to be cleaned out and put on the compost pile. The chickens got to feast on the mice that were living in the bedding. I didn’t see the snake, though.I did spot a garter snake out in the big garden a few days ago but it slithered away before I could get a picture.

Robin came by after lunch to cut lavender. She makes sachets to sell at the craft co-op sale and I told her she was welcome to whatever she wanted. We’ll have another wave of zucchini this week and the peas are ready. I’m expecting an avalanche of cucumbers in another week or so.