We’ll keep our achives up here for a bit longer (dont worry, we’ve brought all our great tutorials, projects and tips to our new home), but all the action will be happening at lovesewing.com/blog!

Happy Sewing!
xo
The Studio Girls

Luckily we’ve got a bunch of classes starting in the new year! We’ve got a new round of Introductory Sewing classes beginning the week of January 18th. Our January schedule also includes a Serger Basics workshop and tons of Ready to Wear and Sewing PLUS courses. We will be taking online registrations over the break.

And dont forget, we’ve got gift certificates for the sewer (or soon-to-be-sewer) on your list!

We cant wait to see you in the new year!

We’ve got two ways for you to get in on all the fashion and sewing. The best part: WE’RE GIVING AWAY PRIZES EACH MONTH!

The Sewing Studio Online Video Contest
Okay, seamstars, this is your chance to shine. Each month we will be giving you a new sewing challenge. You’ll submit a video response. The winning entry will win a prize worth $100

This month’s challenge: show us the coolest thing you’ve done with a t-shirt. Show us, in a video, and you could win a beauty basket of Bioré and John Frieda products and have your video on the new TSSO launch!

Here’s how to enter: upload your video (include your first and last name in the video title and make sure the file is no more than 50MBs) to lovesewing.com/upload before December 20. Then send an email with your full name and contact phone number to videocontest@lovesewing.com. We’ll post a winner in the early days of 2010!

LoveSewing Magazine Ask & Win Contest
Send us your sewing queries. Ask us anything! Each month we’ll feature the response to one chosen question in LoveSewing Magazine. If your question is featured, you’ll win a prize valued at $100.

Here’s how to enter: email your sewing question to ask@lovesewing.com. The winning question will win a $100 gift certificate at www.pinkpandafabrics.ca and your response will be featured in an upcoming issue of LoveSewing Magazine!

Happy sewing!
xo
The Studio Girls

Also, this week we are announcing a contest!! Polish up your sewing skills and get your creativity flowing, there are prizes to be won. We’ll post full details in the coming days!

Happy sewing!
xo
The Studio Girls

from HGTV.ca

The holiday season is upon us. Keep checking back, or subscribe, for tons of fabulous holiday gift ideas from TSS. But in the meantime, check out this super-cute apron that Denise made for HGTV.

What you’ll need:
- Ruler
- Fabric marker or tailor’s chalk
- Fabric
- Scissors
- An iron

1. Find the bias of your fabric. The bias runs diagonal across the fabric, a 45° angle from the selvage. Place the ruler along this diagonal.

2. Draw a line along one edge of the ruler the length that you estimate you will need for your bias tape. Then draw a line parallel to the one you just drew.
*For a double fold bias tape with a finished width of about 6mm draw the lines 3.5cm apart. When you’ve got the method mastered you can calculate other measurements for the various finished widths you’ll need.

3. Cut out the rectangle you’ve just drawn.

4. For single-fold bias tape all you need to do is fold both edges lengthwise until they meet at the center and press.

3. For double fold bias tape you need to fold the strip in half lengthwise first and press.

4. Then unfold the strip and fold the two edges lengthwise until they meet at the newly pressed fold line and press.
*It might be easier to press one side at a time

5. When both sides are pressed, fold the strip in half again and re-press, leaving the edges to the inside.

6. You’ve got bias tape! Stitch together the lengths of your bias tape (while they are unfolded) to get a strip that is as long as you need for your project.

A fashion lover's dream!

If you are at all interested in Quebec fashion and its designers, attending La Grande Braderie de Mode Québécoise is the place to start. The semi-annual event brings together 35 to 40 Montreal-based fashion designers and companies to sell surplus inventory or one-of-a-kind samples that were never reproduced. Normally, the event runs for three days and follows Montreal Fashion Week. And to top it off, clothing is normally marked down by 50 to 80%! Can you say Christmas Shopping!

To get the most out of this fashion adventure I have a few suggestions and experiences to share. The first time I entered the venue I took one look around and thought, “I can see why this is so popular!” Tables and racks overflowing with marked down fashion and Montreal designers present to mingle with. Fur, hats, dresses, coats, and everything else you can imagine all under one roof for a limited time, but come prepared.

I suggest, when beginning your search, doing a sweep of the booths to see which designers suit your tastes. If you have the time, research the designers attending so you know where to head as soon as you enter the door. Let’s be honest, there is no time to waste when it comes to sample sales! Get there early on in the sale. Your size can get picked over quickly and frustration inevitably sets in. Also, don’t let yourself become overwhelmed by the number of people and amount of clothing to look through, hence the need to research. And my last tip is don’t attend thinking you will be given excellent service – expect to be fending for yourself!

Following these tips will certainly result in success (at any sample sale!) and it’s all about being in the right mindset. However, even going for a walk through of event is lovely if you are not looking to buy. Just seeing the clothing and soaking up the atmosphere is fun.

Marché Bonsecours

This sample sale takes place in the Old Port makes the event unique as well. The Marché Bonsecours (pictured below) is a beautiful heritage building and the atmosphere of the Old Port is like a blast from the past. Overall, the experience is unique and very Montreal!

- Jacqueline R

This week we’ve been finishing up a another session of IS. Next week we have another round of classes starting (check out the schedule for dates and times). Register online for any of our classes, and in a few weeks we’ll be posting your work here!

Have you taken a class with us? Two things: first, dont forget about about Free Studio Time each Wednesday and Sunday from 2-6; second, send us a photo of your IS skirt, or any other project you’ve completed. We’d love to know what you’ve been up to!

xo
The Studio Girls

It’s that time of year again. The Sewing Studio is gearing up for the holidays! And what better way to celebrate than to share our joy and warm spirits with others?

This year, we’ve decided to take part in Operation Christmas Child, an organization that sends personalized holiday gifts to deserving children around the world.

How can you help? Fill a box with treasures!

- Come by The Sewing Studio’s Summerhill location (1225 Yonge Street)
- Pick up a special Operation Christmas Child shoe box* (there are instructions and specifics inside each box)
- Fill the box at home with goodies for a deserving child
- Bring the box back to The Sewing Studio before 6pm on November 18th

*Please note, each box requires a $7 donation, which Operation Christmas Child uses to pay for the delivery of the box to other countries.

The Sewing Studio’s hours for pick-up and drop-off are:
Sundays and Wednesdays from 2-6pm until November 18th.

While you’re picking up or dropping off your box for Operation Christmas Child, or if you’re looking for another way to share joy around the world, bring in new or used (but washed, of course) T-shirts for our second charity mission to West Africa. We’re collecting T-shirts again to give to village children in the country of Ghana. Collection boxes will be at all locations of The Sewing Studio until the end of January. Last year, we collected 177 shirts in only 2 weeks. This year we’re aiming to collect over 2000 in 3 months! Help us warm a child’s heart.

Much love!

Denise and Jennife Valentyne on Breakfast Television

Check out TSS on Breakfast Television’s Live Eye segment! We spent the morning with Jennifer Valentyne and her lovely Live Eye team. Watch our instructor Becky make a pair of jeans. Tamara teaches our popular Alterations Workshop and Katherine works with some TSS kids and teens. The whole BT crew (and their guests!) had sewing fever! Check out the full video here.