Blog Update

November 5, 2026

Good morning everyone! Long time since I have posted and I have updates!
Every other week i have been teaching at Under One Roof and have found it to be exciting for both students and me as well! This week i was offered a sewing slot every week - the students are happy and I am happy.
Also, I am able to share some of my advanced sewing skills ordinarily not taught in beginner classes, like reading and using patterns, garments, alterations, making patterns from ready-to-wear, etc. Also included will be embellishments, fitting, etc.
And as you may remember Sew We Work has as part of its mission statement - to encourage students to learn sewing, work to achieve successful sewing makes, and to earn income. In the past there were students successful at achieving this goal. Yesterday I learned that two of my newest students who are learning garment making with the intention of starting a sewing business. I am over the moon!
Plus, they are a nonprofit - so I am able to share some of my donations with them.
I continue to provide mending at Listening House, a drop-in day shelter - as well as sewing duffel bags, ditty bags, hats, scarves, and now, because of wonderful donar, i can make reflective arm bands for guests to ear on the outside of their jackets. As you know, we are entering winter and it is much darker now, and earlier. These bands will come in handy to keep them save. I use 3" wide reflective 3M tape and 3" wide velcro to hold the bands in place. When i offered them last Thursday, they were gone in a hot minute!
And, I continue to assist friends with their sewing needs. A bunch of us met at First Lutheran this past Saturday and had a joyful and food-filled gathering - and I was able to teach blind hemming! I love this bunch of folks who come - and one husband is in the kitchen providing food and beverages for us hungry crafters!

July 17, 2026

Good morning, here in Minnesota and beyond! Am posting today updates on using bags that were bought using bird seed, dog food and outer plastic packaging for fabric. One pic is of Linda who sewed a dog food bag into a side-stradle bag, showing inside and out. The bird seed and packaging bags are sewn by me - all were given to Listening House of St. Paul for people who may need them. They were gone, just like that!

Regarding PPL, two students who are excitedly learning how to sew different items. The first week, we sewed a pillow sham, the second, a bed pillow case, and next time, pj bottoms - learning how to sew casing for elastic, curves in the crotch, etc. Hems in the legs. They are excited to learn!

Volunteers are needed at Listening House for cooking, closet, etc. We would love to have you as yesterday I came with the early shift, then two more came later, some of those folks left and then Claudia came. We made quesadillas, PBJ's, pasta with sauted zuccini with garlic and fresh garden herbs - thank you Linda - one of the sewing ladies. 

Thank you for reading! You're the best!

Previous post:

Goody, goody! I'm back at PPL: Project for Pride in Living. I currently have one student who wants fervently to learn to sew! And, he is a stellar student - he wants to learn how to mend clothing so he can charge for alterations! Wow! A guy after my owb heart!

And, another previous student at PPL has asked for more sewing lessons. So, putting these two together will be amazing and fruitful!

The picture is my next project bag for Listening House: it is a Canvas Crossbody Bucket Bag pattern from Sew4Home. And, it is a *free*; i like free; pattern!