Southwest Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit agency serving communities in West Seattle and White Center is seeking applicants for a Sewing ESL instructor. Must be familiar with working with immigrant/refugee students, comfortable teaching ESL and comfortable working with a sewing class of around 6 women with varying levels of English proficiency. Knowledge of sewing and comfort instructing about sewing is required. A certificate in ESOL is desired.

Please contact Marjorie Richards at mrichards@swyfs.org to apply.

What can you do with your Small Stuff?
Do you know someone who works at a day care, preschool or school near you who would like tiny pieces for childrens' art work? The tiny scrap shapes can be fun to paste into pictures. Older students who are able to cut fabric might like a stash for collage work. All those pretty, bright, interesting pieces are begging for an artist.

Still some small fabric pieces left? You might use them to stuff a pillow, toy, etc. They can have just the right weight for some projects like a back pillow or decorative bolster, or draft stopper. Maybe your pet would like a toy to tussle with or a stuffed bed to sleep on?

Small stuff and larger scraps - Do you know someone who teaches fashion design or art classes? Or a student that would like some remnants to use in designs?

We'll keep working at connecting all the fabric, down to the last dot.

Dear fellow crafters,

Two years ago, you contributed to the blanket-raising project for Project Linus.
It was a success from your efforts and still brings in blankets all year to help local kids.

I'm back asking for your help in making a pair of mittens, hat, scarf, or blanket to help a knitting group I'm part of this summer. It's a bit of a plea.
All summer we've been working hard to provide 90 Head Start kids this fall on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota each:
a handmade blanket, scarf, mittens, and hat. Just as we were approaching our goal, we learned last week that there are now 220 kids enrolled!

The leader of our group is driving a u-haul of our goods to the Reservation at the beginning of September and now she cannot give each child that care package.

Would you like to help? These are for 4-5 year olds so items are small and quick. We hope to bring in 130 hats,130 scarves,130 mittens, and 130 blankets in the next 3 weeks.
The mittens will probably be the hardest item to get 130 pairs of, so for the ambitious we encourage that item, but all are needed. Blankets will be quickest to make sewing or quilting.

To learn details click here: www.schreivogl.com/PineRidge.html

The Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the most impoverished areas in our country, and they have some of the harshest winters.
Making even one of item will help us reach the goal swiftly and allow Dawn to deliver to all 220 kids in the Head Start program.

Due to the short notice, if you know someone who might be interested, please feel free to share this email with others.

Thank you for considering this.

-Anne Schreivogl
Anacortes, WA

-Together, great things can be accomplished.

Calling all sewers! If you like to sew and would enjoy helping sew reusable bags for our community bagshare project, we would love to have you come to a sewing bee. We hold sewing bees once a month in an informal setting. You can bring your own machine or use one of our machines. If you would prefer to make some bags at your own home instead, we would be pleased to provide you with the dimensions of our bags and some fabric.

New sewers are welcome. We would love to use this project as a way to show you how to sew!

We are also seeking donations of: thread, webbing, fabrics (slightly heavier fabrics such as broadcloth, canvas, heavier cottons, upholstery, etc), used tablecloths, old curtains, slip covers, duvet covers and similar. Basically, any items made out of large sections of fabric that would be suitable for cutting up into bag material.

This free class, offered by Southwest Youth and Family Services, meets twice a week to offer immigrant and refugee women a welcoming space to develop their sewing and English language skills, at once! Students learn to operate a sewing machine, measure and cut fabric, interpret and adjust patterns, create new patterns from their own clothes, and invent unique projects of their own. Many students use class time to mend clothing for themselves and their families or to make curtains, pillowcases and other fabric accessories for the home. The class serves students of all skill levels, from those who have never touched a sewing machine to those who have been sewing for years. Likewise, language instruction is tailored to the proficiency level of each student. Students are able to drop in as their schedule permits and free child care is provided.

We are in need of donations of fabric (especially large pieces suitable for long skirts and dresses), notions (e.g. elastic, buttons, zippers), thread, simple patterns, and gift cards to local fabric stores.

Southwest Youth and Family Services (SWYFS) has been providing services in the West Seattle area since 1979. Our mission is to empower youth and families through culturally relevant counseling, education and family support services in White Center, South Park, Delridge, West Seattle and other neighborhoods. SWYFS is a private non-profit, 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

Beginning and experienced sewers, designers, fashionistas, artists, hobbyists and tailors, picked up a kits at "Goods for the Planet", 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle.

Created coats.

We met at the SewUpSeattle truck with banner at 5 p.m. on July 28, 2010 for the Greenwood Seafair Parade and won 3rd prize in our category!

September 26 to 27, 2009

Kits were picked up,garments returned. Creations were modeled at the 4:15 p.m. Sunday Show, with hostess Robin Worley.

Check out this web site if you have some of these articles of clothing that you are tossing out. Maybe someone nearby would use them to make diapers.

This group sponsors free diaper making classes.