The American Sewing Guild (ASG) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to people who believe sewing is a rewarding and creative activity and advance sewing as an art and life skill. We hope to encourage and inspire people to sew. The Raleigh, NC chapter has about 200 members who attend Neighborhood Group meetings in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Angier, Durham/Carrboro, Greenville and Louisburg. The officers and leaders are all volunteers. ASG members are welcome to attend any or all Neighborhood Group meetings throughout the USA. Non-members may attend TWO meetings; thereafter ASG membership is required. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in sewing, machine embroidery, etc. There are many benefits associated with being a member of the ASG, such as resources available through the ASG.org website, including information, inspiration and education; special members-only events, i.e., Stitch Camps by the Sea (an escape to Myrtle Beach with sewing friends for a fun-filled long weekend in November and January); scheduled seminars and workshops by nationally and locally known speakers; special offers and discounts at local sewing shops but the most important benefit is meeting others who are willing to share information, friendship, and other ways to learn about sewing themes. Community Service is also a part of Neighborhood Group activities where members use their sewing skills to help those less fortunate.

Choose to attend either the Friday or Saturday class. This will be a lecture based instructional class. We will walk you through all the steps to create a beautiful project. You will get your files and instructions on the USB drive you must bring to class. We will have an optional kit available for purchase. Remember those paint by number coloring pictures you may have done as a child? All you had to do was follow the directions, coloring or painting each shape a specific color, and before you knew it, you created a fun mystery picture! The piecing projects you’ll find in such projects like the “Machine Embroider by Number™” or zipper pouches, works the same way, but with fabric piecing on the embroidery machine—and we promise it’s still just as easy! Don’t be overwhelmed by the number of steps in each design. They are each small steps that are easy to follow along. We will review each step with you and you will have full color instructions to follow at home. And although there are a number of color changes in the design, that is only meant to “tell the machine to stop” between steps. Usually only 1 or 2 thread changes are needed. If you lose track of which step you are on, your step by step directions include an icon indicating which step from the embroidery design corresponds with that specific step in the directions. May: Join us for this ever so cute home wall hanging that can can a delicate table stand

Each month let us walk you through creating another wonderful design from Pickle Pie. For this lecture based class, you will not need to bring your machine, just pad and paper and we will provide you the software and instructions for you to take home. We will walk you through step by step on how to create the project and there will be a fabric kit available for you to purchase. May: Join us as we walk you through creating cup cozies for all sizes of cups, including travel cups. You will be able to personalize them them with Tea, Coffee,Hot Cocoa. As well, you will be able to make mug rugs for all your friends and family.