[SustainableTompkins] SewGreen News 2-10-08: Sewing classes offered this month

[Wendy Skinner]

------- SewGreen News, 2-10-08 ---------

SUMMARY
Introductory Sewing Classes Start February 19
Still Time to Enter Green T Contest 
Volunteer with SewGreen
Join the SewGreen Group at Yahoo
Donations Welcome
SewGreen Needs . . . 

REGISTER NOW FOR BASIC SEWING CLASSES
SewGreen is offering four evenings of introductory sewing classes in February. Each class is a stand-alone session for adults and teens to learn the basics of how to use a sewing machine and complete a small project. Machines and supplies are provided. The classes will be held from 6 - 8 pm, February 19, 21, 26, and 28. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. The cost is $10 per class, and you can sign up for more than one session. Scholarships are available. Call Wendy at 277-7611 to register. 

BETTER GET BUSY: GREEN T CONTEST ENDS MARCH 1
Hopefuls in a fashion design contest that promotes reuse of cotton have until March 1 to complete their entries. The Green T Reuse Design Contest invites entrants of all ages and skill levels to design, make, and refashion clothing or household items from unwanted cotton t-shirts, jeans, or other cotton material. Contest categories include evening and party wear, children's clothing, men's wear, teen fashions, and items ranging from the practical to flights of fancy. 

The contest's focus on cotton calls attention to the amount of chemicals used in growing the conventional cotton crop. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cotton requires the use of more pesticides and herbicides than any other fiber crop. The Green T contest promotes creative reuse of existing cotton in the form of second-hand, unwanted, or repurposed clothing and material, as well as organic cotton which is grown without toxins. The grand prize is $200, and many other prizes will be awarded. Winning designers will be invited to participate in fashion shows around town. Entry forms are available online at www.sew-green.org; at the SewGreen Studio at Tuff Soul, 516 West State Street, Ithaca; or send an e-mail to coord at sew-green.org. 

VOLUNTEER WITH SEWGREEN
Most Friday and Sunday afternoons, we will be at the SewGreen Studio at Tuff Soul, sorting fabric and yarn or tending to other tasks such as addressing thank-you cards, precutting materials for class projects, planning programming and events -- why, maybe even sewing! Come down to help, talk, and lend your expertise. Fridays, 1 - 5 pm, and Sundays, 1 - 4 pm,  516 West State Street, Ithaca, between Corn and Meadow (Route 13 N). Other volunteer opportunities are available.

JOIN THE E-MAIL GROUP
If you'd like to be part of an ongoing conversation about reuse sewing and needlecrafts, you are invited to join the SewGreen e-mail group at Yahoo. It's an unmoderated, open-membership list for the sustainable sewing community in and around Ithaca and Tompkins County, NY -- and beyond. To join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SewGreen/ . Click on the blue "Join This Group" button at the upper right and follow the directions. See you there!

DONATIONS WELCOME
SewGreen welcomes donations of clean, folded fabric; yarn; sewing and needlecraft notions; and sewing machines. We resell some of the materials to support sewing classes and programming, use some in classes, and redistribute the rest to other reuse programs, schools, or charities. Nothing goes to waste, and everything goes to others who love sewing and needlecrafts. You may drop off donations that aren't excessively heavy or bulky at the SewGreen Studio at Tuff Soul, 11 - 7, Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 - 4 Sunday. For large or heavy donations, contact coord at sew-green.org for other arrangements. Thank you to everyone who has donated such wonderful materials.

SEWGREEN WISH LIST
SewGreen needs a sturdy metal cart to store sewing machines. We still need good sewing machines for classes and to donate to other programs. We can always use large storage bins. We need clean, soft fabric -- pieces that are two full yards or more -- for a pajama pants project for future sewing classes. Washed flannel or worn-in cotton would be great. We could also use large pieces of felt for pj-pants patterns. Reused or second hand please; nothing purchased new. The big wish? A clean, dry facility for our fabric reuse project, where we can accept, sort, and store donations for redistribution or sale. *** Thank you to the angel who donated 14 folding chairs! ***

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To be added to (or removed from) the SewGreen News distribution list, send an e-mail to Wendy at coord at sew-green.org.