Woman hopes to organize chapter of ASG

Whether you are a budding teenage designer with dreams of runway shows, a do-it-yourself decorator ready to tackle those bare windows, a parent making a prom dress, or a grandmother making Halloween costumes for your grandchildren, you are part of the sewing revolution that is sweeping the nation.

With crafters and do-it-yourselfers driving the demand, North Idaho fabric stores are bursting with an array of fabrics, notions and patterns and other sewing-related goods.

Local sewing teacher and enthusiast Ariel Gimlin, has watched this growth during the past five years and believes it’s time to organize a local chapter of the American Sewing Guild.

“The organization would have an emphasis on education, but would also provide creative events and a much-needed networking system for the sewing community,” she said.

The American Sewing Guild is a national nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote sewing through encouragement, education and support. Members host social events such as fashion shows and sewing fairs that offer sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels the chance to share their love of sewing with others who enjoy the craft. Many of the 130 chapters across the nation contribute to their communities through sewing projects.

Gimlin currently teaches five sewing classes at Hancock Fabrics in the Prairie Shopping Center in Hayden, including: Beginning Sewing: A “Mommy and Me” class for children and parents; Novice Sewing: Learn intermediate sewing skills; Beginning Sewing and Fashion Design: Learn garment construction; Serging: Learn how to use a serger; and Heirloom Sewing: Learn French sewing techniques.

Gimlin has plans to add another class, but with the renewed interest in sewing, her classes fill quickly and most have a waiting list. She believes there are many older women in our community who know how to sew and would be willing to share their knowledge if they were given the opportunity; and she sees the ASG as a tool that could bring the two together.

“I know there is probably a wealth of knowledge from older women who have sewn for years that could come alongside a youngster in 4-H or in the schools and share that knowledge so that the art form doesn’t die out,” she said. “I think a community is drawn together when you connect them that way.”

Gimlin credits the revival in interest in sewing to the improvements in sewing techniques and the fact that “people like the do-it-yourself aspects of sewing today. They are beginning to see sewing not just as a hobby, but as an art form.

“The majority of my students are either young adults or women who never learned to sew, but now that they have children, they want to learn how,” she said. “And then I have some students like me, who learned how to sew when they were young, forgot everything they knew, or at least think they did, and now want to learn the new, quick techniques that make sewing today a little easier.”

Gimlin’s classes run for 12 weeks and each student provides their own sewing machine. “We have a set project that is designed to teach each skill to mastery.” she said. “It is very important to me that by the time students have completed the course, they will know how to sew any straight seam, read any pattern or do a simple lining, etc.”

It is her hope that an American Sewing Guild chapter would provide these students additional opportunities to improve their skills, such as contests, style shows and workshops. She believes the group would also benefit youngsters who learn to sew through 4-H or “Teen Living” courses in school. Presently, there are few advanced classes or sewing events available to those who develop an interest in sewing.

Other fabric stores offer an assortment of classes for quilters of all skill levels. But, as Gimlin pointed out, few, if any, offer classes in basic sewing skills, garment construction or home decorating. The same is true for Community Education Courses at NIC. Students can take beginning knitting, crocheting and weaving, but no basic sewing classes are offered.

Gimlin believes an American Sewing Guild chapter would solve these problems and she’s looking for the 15 people she needs to form the group. She has ordered the organization information and is ready to go.