Praise for Lisa Silveira

Sharon,

I just completed the Learn to Sew series, under Lisa's instruction. It was

such a wonderful and satisfying experience (even the frustrating bits).

Lisa was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and patient. Lisa seem to have a

knack of providing excellent instruction while still allowing us to make

our beginner mistakes (and then patiently helping us fix them).

While I would like to believe that her attention was specific to me, I

noticed that she offered the same level of attention to everyone in the

class.

I really enjoyed her class and feel lucky to have received such great

instruction.

-- Cheryl

How to de-wrinkle tulle + latest projects

Q. Can you tell me how I can iron tulle if it's all wrinkled? Can I just use a pressing cloth & low

heat? I have never used it in a sewing project before, but I would like to try using it.

A. You are right to be cautious. Tulle can be made from primarily silk, polyester or nylon. If it is a 1/8' mesh and is inexpensive, it's likely to be nylon. And if it's nylon, an iron can melt it. So yes, you can use low heat and a press cloth. But better yet, hang it on a shower curtain in a steamy bathroom or use a steamer.

And now, here are the latest products from some of our students at Portland Sewing:

Margie Yap shows her finished Dietrich dress in rayon knit. She made it in two sessions during Intermediate Sewing: Knits using a Portland Sewing pattern.

Keely DiPietro shows off the back of a jacket she designed (thanks to Fashion Design

class), patterned (in Pattern 3 class) and made (she's in Tailoring now) using fabric consigned from Janeane Marie (former student and Project Runway contestant).

Janet Rivera is proud of the apron she made in Learn to Sew level 1. Students in LTS learn basic survival stitches while making their aprons. They also learn techniques used in the apparel industry while they become friends with fabric, commercial patterns and their sewing machines.

Fun at Portland Sewing

Just took some snapshots the other day with my I-Phone of folks at Portland Sewing. It was Monday night, so it was the final session of Lisa’s level 1 Learn to Sew class. Students were completing their aprons. Some had never sewn before. Here are some shots of Zachary Michaud and Jessie Weitzel.

Then Melinda Conway sent me these photos of her kids wearing the kid-sized apron she made for them. She sewed this one because she had made one for herself in a summer class and they said it was the “most beautifulest thing they had ever seen.” Here’s Tristan and Sequoia. Melinda also blogged about her experiences. Here is the link to her site: http://timecapsuleeighties.blogspot.com/2010/09/ beginner-sewing-and-knitting-taking.html

In my room, we had a fitting. Then the Pattern 1 group started altering their torso slopers based on the changes we found in the fittings.. The torso sloper is the base for making such things as a blouse, dress, jacket or coat. Keely, from the morning group, had set to work immediately on making a blouse. Here are shots from the evening group.

From left to right: Annick Blomdahl, Emily Lippman, Karen Davis and Cindy Persson (love that tat!).

Thought you’d like to see what we’re up to on a typical Monday night. Enjoy!