Posts
I joined the American Sewing Guild last week. I have been hesitating for a long time, because the local neighborhood group meets in the middle of a weekday (apparently most of the members are retired?) and the closest full-fledged chapter is about an hour away. I did ask for advice on Pattern Review and got mostly encouragement. It does sound like some chapters are more active and rewarding than others...
So, how about you? Are you or have you ever been a member of ASG? How about any other face-to-face sewing groups? What is your experience and opinion on this (or similar) organization(s)?
16 comments:
Yes, I do belong to ASG. I find that you do need to search out groups to find one that fits. My local neighborhood group is not very active and has gone the way of quilting. Grrrr! I travel a long way to go to a group that is garment-oriented. I love seiwng groups, and belong to many. Don't forget to use your 10% discount where applicable. It does add up and I find that the 10% more than pays for the yearly membership.
I joined the ASG this year as well. My group is 200 miles away and there is not one closer. I sure would like to get one started in my home town. I just don't know anyone here that likes to sew like I do. I spent 7 hours at a fabric store yesterday!
I've belonged to ASG for 3 or 4 years. We are a mixed bag as far as sewing; some sew clothing, some quilt. I really enjoy the ladies. My advice is to start your own group...put an ad in the paper and "they will come".
I did think about joining once, but did not follow through.
i do not belong to ASG, the group here meets on saturday mornings and i just cannot make it with the kids' activities (plus it's like a 45 minute drive to get there). it's a good group, however, quite garment oriented last time i went.
i was a member of an independent pattern club for a few years, and that was wonderful. we'd pick an indie pattern for each month and a few of us would make it up (hopefully) and then review it, talk about the line, etc. it (the club) gradually fell apart, and now there are a few of us that 'meet' on facebook. the core group meets in real life too, but i just can't do that type of thing right now with my son's gymnastics schedule. maybe in a few years.
I belong to ASG but I don't meet with my local group that often. This year the local group had some great meeting topics and I attended only two due to schedule conflicts. I'm going to try and do better next year.
As an ASG member, I get 10% discount at JoAnn's and Gail K's which is a wonderful local fabric store in Atlanta. The discount to Gail K's alone is worth the ASG membership fee.
CarlaF-in Atlanta
I do belong to ASG, renewed my membership late but still renewed. I don't go to the meetings very much, there always seems to be a conflict. But when I do go, it is very fun. I like the discount at Joann's and a few other retailers, check their ads in the Threads ads.
I only belong to my local quilt guild and they meet at a time when I have church and can't go at all to the meetings! I think I'd like to belong to an ASG group, but not sure how it would fit into my already busy schedule.
I belong and when I got frustrated with all the quilts for the "show and share" part of the meeting, I started my own neighborhood group for clothing only. Women who "have crossed over to the dark side" as in quilting have found their way back to making clothes by attending monthly meetings about pattern fitting and sewing feet and all sorts of techniques. We have over 12 neighborhood groups in the Southern Oregon chapter and growing to almost 300 members. Granted most of them quilt but have gradually been tempted back to making well fitting clothes.With your membership you can visit any group in the nation if you travel.Most of our groups are during the day since the average member is 69 and joined for a social aspect. We have a teen group that meets once a month too and now their mothers have become mentors and joined as well.
I don't belong to a sewing group. Somehow I get the feeling that most people around here think sewing is an old fashioned kind of thing to do. And to be honest, most people I know who sew around here are years and years older than I am.
I would love to be able to be part of a sewing group though. I guess it would be lots of fun to talk about fabrics, patterns and sewing in general. Maybe I should start a group of my own. But then again: I first should find sewing people to form a group with!
I've been thinking about it for several years but haven't done it as yet. Maybe I'll do it for the discounts.
Groups here in SoFlo are a funny thing. I have a Meetup group of 78 members. I do free events all the time and can't get people to show up. There are a couple of ASG groups down here. I'm not sure about their meetings. Something to find out and maybe do get involved.
Gwen - did you get my email I sent you yesterday? I have an idea for you.
I too belong to ASG and am an active member. I was Leader of a Neighborhood Group for quite a long while (something like 6 years). I attend our sewing retreats, education events and annual meeting.
I think it's fabulous. g
Yes, I'm an ASG member. When I lived in SW Florida, I was involved in the startup of that chapter. A word of advice: never leave the room when they are looking for officers, volunteers, etc. :-) At the time, we met once a month as a group. When I moved to NC, there were two chapters (Raleigh and Charlotte). I live halfway in between. I picked Raleigh. They have many neighborhood groups, including Couture, daytime and evening. Eventually, a NG was started in my area. I was the first leader (see note above about volunteering). I enjoy going to the main group, since they have a couple of national or regional speakers once or twice a year. The discounts are great and basically pay for the membership.
I have been a member for about 2 years now. For many years I visited around to NGs and found most of them to be older women with very different interests (both sewing and non-sewing) than me. About 2 years ago a friend invited me to come visit her NG - she told me it was a great group of women. She is right, I have enjoyed the camaraderie of this group very much. So I echo what others have said earlier - take some time to visit and find a NG that suits you.
Lois K
Yes, I belong to ASG - have for years. Unfortunately I have never attended a neighborhood group. There isn't one in my area - and the next closest one meets on the one day of the week I can not attend. Sigh...I've often thought of starting a neighborhood group, but I would want the focus on clothing and accessories versus quilts and crafts.
I tried for 2 years to get my local ASG ladies to call me (I lived less then a mile from one, and tried 6 groups in total) and never got a return call or email. I mentioned it on Pattern Review and there ARE some nice ladies doing it. None of where I live, and until I move to Maryland, Maine or Mass. it will never happen.
I had such a bad experience with it, I won't ever join ASG, since there was more that happened other then no calls, of which I won't bother to go into. Top it off with quilting and forget it. Now I live where I'm at least 2 hours from one.
I do need to get off my duff and do more with the Burda club tho. Not a fan, and while I won't actively tell folks not to join ASG I tend to walk away from a conversation about starting one here.
Post a Comment