May 2020: Zoom Meeting with Special Guest!

Due to the social distancing in effect right now, we've decided to throw together a quick sew & tell meeting on Zoom on Tues May 12, 2020 -- our regular meeting night -- at 7 pm. This month we have a special guest, Emilie from Jalie! She'll be talking a bit about Jalie and their new patterns too.

The information on how to join the meeting is on our private Facebook page and has also been emailed directly to all members who've signed up with your email.

If you haven't received the information in either of these places, please feel free to send a quick email to thestratfordgarmentguild@gmail.com and we'll reply with the meeting invite. If you haven't used Zoom before, don't worry, it's very easy and we'll send all the info you need.

Hope to see you there!

April 2020: a Zoom Meeting!

Due to the social distancing in effect right now, we've decided to throw together a quick sew & tell meeting on Zoom on Tues April 21, 2020 -- our regular meeting night -- at 7 pm.

The information on how to join the meeting is on our private Facebook page and has also been emailed directly to all members who've signed up with your email.

If you haven't received the information in either of these places, please feel free to send a quick email to thestratfordgarmentguild@gmail.com and we'll reply with the meeting invite. If you haven't used Zoom before, don't worry, it's very easy and we'll send all the info you need.

Hope to see you there!

April Meeting CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and the need to both stay home and comply with social distancing requirements, the April meeting of the Stratford Garment Guild is cancelled.

We will be evaluating future meetings as they come closer and we see where things are at with these unprecedented times.

March #SGGPOM Challenge

Something easy and freestyle for this month's POM Challenge! We are asking you to make a skirt. That's right, any skirt! Knit, woven, lined, maxi -- whatever floats your boat.

Use an Indie pattern or a Big Four one, draft your own, whatever you like. Just be ready to share it on March 10!

Here are some ideas for free skirt patterns in case you'd like to try something new.

Itch to Stitch Lindy Petal Skirt 

Simple elastic waist skirt tutorial

By Hand London's Circle Skirt Calculator

Megan Nielsen's Veronika Skirt (free with newsletter subscription)

Pleated A Line Skirt from So Sew Easy (lots of pop-ups on this site but safe)

Wendy Ward basic a line with pockets (free with a free registration)

Elbe Textiles Lawley Skirt

Ready to Sew Justine Skirt

Justine Skirt

And don't forget, you can always check out the free resources at the Stratford Public Library, like perhaps this book, The Essential A-Line

March Meeting: Fast Fashion & Trashion Week

March 10, 2020   7 - 9 pm, St James Anglican Church, Stratford ON
Non-members welcome; $5 at the door


March's meeting is an exciting presentation about Fast Fashion, Sustainability, and Stratford's own Trashion Week! Founder Jessica Guy will share information about how and why she was inspired to create a Trashion Week right here in Stratford, and what the ideas behind it are. A designer from the ReFashion Competition in 2019 will accompany her to talk about her experience entering the ReFashion runway show.

If you're interested in taking a look at the various events (including the ReFashion Show) ahead of time, check out the Trashion Week website for lots of info on the 2020 events as well as images of past years. (ps - check out the 2018 ReFashion show pics, too!)

February Fitting!

February's meeting is coming up quickly! Learn all about how to gauge patterns, assess for fit and make your changes properly, from an expert sewist.

February's #SGGPOM challenge

February is on its way! We've chosen our POM Challenge this month in honour of Valentine's Day -- we are challenging you to make some lingerie.

We are working with a loose definition of lingerie -- if that means you'll finally tackle some bra making or maybe undies from knit scraps, or try some nightwear or a slip, whatever counts as lingerie to you counts as a part of our challenge.

We encourage you to bring your #SGGPOM item to show off at the February meeting, but no in person modelling required -- or desired! ;)

Here are a few patterns to inspire you:

Bras -- All Ontario, all the time:

Beverly Johnson's Bra Makers Supply has SO MANY patterns!

Emerald Erin's Jordy Bralette

Ooh LuLu's Romy Soft Bra


Undies

Acacia Undies by Megan Nielsen

Colette Madeleine Mini Bloomers

Muna & Broad Plus Size Undies

Slips/Camis

'Patterns by Gertie' Butterick 6031 Slip & Camisole set

Ogden Cami by True Bias

Ella Cami Set by Designer Stitch (free)


Nightwear 

Carolyn Pajamas by Closet Case Files

Suki Robe by Helen's Closet

Melanie Kimono by Jalie

There are also a variety of free patterns in all these categories at Mood Sewciety


Or, take a look at this extensive list of free lingerie/nightwear patterns on Hello Sewing (some links may be out of date)