Kristl Pelz: September 2011 Archives
National Sewing Month ends this week and we have two charities to feature. We have videos of our Sewcial Circle in action making the projects we feature in the blog today.
People around the world were touched by the loyalty and resolve of the Search and Rescue Dogs who worked tirelessly to recover victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. In the aftermath of the attacks, the American Kennel Club coordinated efforts to assist the Search and Rescue handlers and dogs at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In a continuing commemoration of the heroism of those Search and Rescue teams, the AKC established The American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery Corporation Canine Support and Relief Fund, a charitable fund to support professional and volunteer canine search and rescue organizations throughout the United States. The fund was launched with DOGNY, America's Tribute to Search and Rescue Dogs, a hugely successful public art initiative. We encourage you to explore these pages to learn more about DOGNY and the dogs and handlers it honors.
The Sewcial Circle here at fabric.com created dog beds to donate to our local shelter. The small pet pillows can be made from fleece, cotton, or corduroy which is what we used. We stuffed them with shredded foam to be soft and durable.
Our final charity shout-out for National Sewing Month is ConnKerr Cancer.
A Case for Smiles, was created after Cindy Kerr's son was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. She made colorful pillowcases to brighten his hospital room and make him smile. Then she made cases for all the children in the Oncology Unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where her son was being treated. Since then, ConnKerr Cancer has provided over 400,000 cases throughout North America and South Africa through thousands of volunteer sewers.
Our Sewcial Circle created adorable pillowcases from colorful cotton prints using the sausage method. It is quite simple to create a beautifully finished pillowcase with French seams and a knife edge detail once you understand the pinning method. You can get all the instructions for making these pillowcases and how to donate and volunteer your time at connkerr.com/help.
This week we are spotlighting sewing for our armed forces and verterans charities. The one we are spotlighting this week is Soldier's Angels .
Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, Soldiers' Angels is a nonprofit organization with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families. Their motto is ''May No Soldier Go Unloved," and this statement encapsulates the motivation behind Soldiers' Angels. They have provided the wounded with over 25,000 of our First Response Backpacks directly at the Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan and the major military hospital in Germany; emergency aid to military families in need; and flights to soldiers on leave or in emergency situations, and to their families wanting to be with them upon return from overseas.
Our sewing sewcitiety here at fabric.com put together some ''cool wrap'' neck scarves based on the instructions at soldiersangels.org. They are quite simple to make. We used broadcloth and filled them with a teaspoon of water absorbing crystals used to hold moisture in soil. You just soak them in cool water for 30 minutes before using. Tie the scarf around your neck, and the water evaporating keeps you cooler. We create a video to show you how we made them and a little more about the organization. To find out more about Soldiers' Angels and the projects they do go to soldiersangels.org.
As I have mentioned before, I am addicted to magazines. This time of year, I buy anything that says ''New Fall Fashion.'' The Vogue magazine is as big as a telephone book, and I devour every page including the ads. I was thrilled when I saw the poncho trend re-emerging. They are the perfect accessory and practical, too. What could be better? As it turns out, we also have a terrific collection of sweater knits thanks to our Apparel Buyer, Elizabeth. That's what this poncho is made from. You could also used solid knits, lace or any fabric that has a little stretch and looks the same on both sides. I've created simple Back of the Envelope instructions to create a Square Poncho likedy-split!
