Common thread for new guild will be a love of sewing

Article Photos

For those who want to improve their sewing skills like others do their golf scores, a new sewing guild is forming in the area.

Cathy Sterns of Alpena and Mary Korpal of Lachine, both long-time seamstresses, have put a plan into action for starting the group. They are inviting anyone interested in such a guild to attend a charity sew-in and demonstration Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at Sandy Dee's Sewing on M-32 near Lachine.

Attendees will be making "fidget quilts" for Alzheimer's patients in the Alpena area. A demonstration also will be given on how to quickly and easily make a jacket entirely on a serger.

"This is an opportunity for people to find out about us," said Sterns, who before moving back to her hometown almost a year and a half ago, was quite active in a Lansing sewing guild. The Lansing guild has agreed to serve as the Alpena group's sponsor.

The new guild will allow those with similar interests to share their love of sewing, to improve or learn new skills, to attend conferences or training sessions and to do community service sewing projects.

"We're not sure what direction we are heading," said Sterns. "We want to form a group and get feedback on what direction people want to go."

The chapter will be associated with the American Sewing Guild that has been in existence since the 1970s.

Sterns has been sewing since she was in the eighth grade and used to make all of her own clothes. These days, she's grown more interested in home decorating sewing and loves to make window treatments, duvet covers, pillows, quilts and tote bags.

While Sterns previously was quite involved in the Lansing guild, Korpal takes part in one in Sun City, Ariz., where she and her husband currently spend their winters. Before moving to Lachine in 2002, Korpal also belonged to a guild in the Bay City area. She has been sewing ever since she first learned the skill as a fourth grader enrolled in 4-H. Her area of expertise is clothing construction and wearable art.

Korpal also has taken training to teach skills to others and she frequently teaches beginner's sewing classes at her guild in Arizona."I do a lot of beginner's sewing classes for people who are new to sewing or who just want a refresher class," Sterns said.

Sterns and Korpal both are members of the local Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild, which they joined shortly after moving to the area. While they enjoy their involvement in that group, they want to offer and promote other forms of sewing as well.

"We both belong to the quilt guild, but our interests are beyond quilting," Sterns said. "We want to complement the quilt guild and offer other opportunities for people."

As for the "fidget quilts," Sterns borrowed the idea from her guild in Lansing. Members there first made the placement-sized project for Alzheimer's patients experiencing pent up energy and frustrations.

When completed, the easily made "quilts" fit in a person's lap. The surface features many different colors, textures, beads, bells, trims and embellishments to be fussed and played with by the patient. This fidgeting expends energy that is often expressed in other more negative ways.

"They're fun, easy to do and fast," said Sterns. "Someone can come in and work on them and learn more about our group. It will be a social time, a time to interact with us and give us feedback. We can head in whatever direction the interest indicates."

All the necessary materials for Thursday's project will be provided free of charge on site.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the guild may contact Sterns at 595-2233 or Korpal at 379-8380.