SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns
15942 SE Brooklyn Street
Portland OR 97236-2049
503-761-6460 (phone)
503-762-1617 (fax)
sales@saf-t-pockets.com
 
 
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THE INSIDE POCKETchronicles of an independent pattern company owner |
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Merry Christmas from SAF-T-POCKETS
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SAF-T-POCKETS Patterns would like to wish all of you Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Currently, here in Portland, Oregon, snow is falling and everyone is preparing for a few days of snow accumulation. Normally, we don't get much snow so everything pretty much will come to a stand still. Fortunately, I have all my holiday shopping and baking done so I'm going to try to tie myself to the sewing machine and get some projects completed.
Here is a picture of our little Sophie, 9 months, taking a look under her first Christmas tree.
Happy Holidays to all!
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posted by Marsha
on December 20, 2008
at 11:10
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New York Tours - Spring 2009
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At this time, I am organizing visits to different locations in New York for two tours this spring. One is April 18-24 for the American Sewing Expo organization and one is May 16-22 for the American Sewing Guild. Both tours will have similar itineraries, but each will vary by what exhibits and designers are available at that time. There is still room for you to join the fun on either tour. If you have never been to the city that never sleeps, now is the time to join us as we shop the fabric district, visit museums, have a private tour at FIT's costume collection, visit Simplicity Patterns, attend a Broadway musical, circle Manhattan by boat, tour the city by private bus, visit designer workrooms and much more. I will be the tour guide assisted by my friend Marla Kazell, a couture sewing teacher. Both of us have shown New York to many women and our goal is to help you see what you want to see and have a great time doing it. Check out the details under Sewing Tours. I'm looking forward to meeting you in New York!
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posted by Marsha
on December 14, 2008
at 09:45
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Detroit ASG classes
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I had the pleasure of teaching for the Detroit, MI chapter of the American Sewing Guild late this fall. It was a great group of women and I had a wonderful time. When I teach in other cities, I enjoy staying with one of the group's members. In Detroit, I stayed with the event coordinator, Laura Lauer, and her husband. They saw that anything I needed was provided and Laura ran one of the best orchestrated events I've experienced. After class, she even took me to two great fabrics stores in the area, The Material Girls and Haberman's Fabrics, for my fabric fix. I love to visit fabric stores that I've read about, sell patterns to, or have never visited. A person could get used to this royal treatment!
On Friday, 18 ladies joined me for a class on making the reversible Twice as Nice tank top. You can see some of them modeling here:
In the afternoon, we made four different pocket samples which they could then incorporate into their next sewing projects.
Saturday, the chapter held it's annual meeting, then I presented a class on planning and packing a travel wardrobe to the approximately 80 attendees. After a fantastic lunch, I gave a trunk show of the SAF-T-POCKETS Pattern line. I want to again thank the two ladies who helped man the sales table so I could answer questions. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day and I certainly had a good time. Laura helped me pack up everything, dropped boxes at Fed-Ex and delivered me to the airport for an evening flight. It was late when I arrived home, but I got to sleep in my own bed which is always the best.
Thank you Detroit for a wonderful experience!
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posted by Marsha
on December 7, 2008
at 08:35
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Fall 2008 Sew Inn Follow-Up
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This year's Fall Sew Inn was very successful. We had a group of 10 women sewing and making wonderful garments.
This time, each person was working on a different pattern. Everyone was able to learn by seeing what others were doing and demonstrations.
At the last minute, my friend, who normally prepares the meals, injured her wrist and was unable to do the cooking. Thanks to pre-planning, I was able to prepare much of the food in advance. Not much time was spent in the kitchen, but attendees still received good meals. One husband even joined us for dinner each night after spending the day sightseeing.
This year, Marla Kazell, a friend, teacher and custom clothier, assisted me in teaching. She is fabulous with fit, so participants were able to fit patterns for future projects along with their weekend project.
New friendships were made and lots of sewing, learning and fun was had by those who attended.
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posted by Marsha
on November 6, 2008
at 23:27
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Fall Sew Inn
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Right now I am preparing for our SAF-T-POCKETS Fall Sew Inn, which starts on Thursday. Even though we hold the Sew Inn at a great location with tables, chairs, pressing surfaces, good electrical outlets and even a view of the Pacific Ocean, there is always lots to bring along. My assistant and I are checking the packing list and preparing to pack it all into our two vehicles for the drive to the beach. Fall at the Oregon coast is a glorious time, so often my hardest job is to keep the women indoors to sew! Seriously, they really enjoy sewing and learning, but it's always nice to take a hike along the beach for some exercise and wonderful fresh air. Bringing enough food to feed 12 people for 3 days takes a good part of the space in the car, but is well worth the time and effort. All in all, it's always exhilarating to see so many SAF-T-POCKETS garments being created in one room and send everyone home with their own original creation. I will post some pictures when we get back.
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posted by Marsha
on October 14, 2008
at 07:26
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Fold over Elastic Contest
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This past weekend, I had a booth at the Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland, Oregon, and taught a class where I showed different things you can do with fold-over elastic. Currently, we are sponsoring a contest for all of you who have purchased this unique product. It's easy to use and we are excited to see all the creative ways you apply it. Set aside some time to send us a picture of your project so we can share it with our customers, and you may win one of our prizes!
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posted by Marsha
on September 30, 2008
at 19:18
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New Buttons For Sale
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I brought back some neat buttons from New York City, which are now online and ready for purchase. They are an assortment of well-made metal buttons at great prices. Any of them would make a fabulous statement on your next jacket or vest. Here's a sampling:
  
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posted by Marsha
on September 2, 2008
at 13:40
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Fold-Over Elastic
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Recently, I have been having a great time playing with new ways to use fold-over elastic. I started thinking, "Why not have a contest to see what other people might create?" Thus, the Fold-Over Elastic Contest was born. You only need to use 1 yard of the elastic and can enter several projects. Just send pictures by email or regular mail to enter. You have until November 1, 2008, and there will be prizes. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with this fun product.
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posted by Marsha
on August 22, 2008
at 07:39
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Summer Sewing
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Are you getting any sewing done this summer? I always have a hard time when the weather is warm and beautiful to get to my sewing. There seems to be flowers to be watered, weeding, vacationing relatives, picnics to attend or, frankly, whatever to distract me.
Right now, I am working on an update on the Shopper's Vest. This was our first pattern and currently goes from Small to XL. It's time once again to reprint patterns, so I decided to bite the bullet and regrade the pattern to include all sizes from XS to 3XL. Of course, while I'm at it, I figured I'd update the guide sheets so they read and look like our newer patterns. In other words, it's like creating a whole new pattern. It's almost done and I am about to make new samples in the additional sizes. That's what I'm doing with my summer. How about you?
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posted by Marsha
on August 11, 2008
at 08:20
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2008 American Sewing Guild National Conference
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I recently returned from the American Sewing Guild's National Conference in Chicago, Illinois. I taught classes and had a booth in the vendor marketplace. It is hard to believe "sewing is dead", as some say, when you see 900 women gathered together in a ballroom for lunch. What energy is in that room! Sewing is alive and thriving in ASG chapters all over the country. If you want information about the organization, go to www.asg.org to locate a chapter near you.
Each year that I go to this conference, I come home excited and ready to take on all challenges. The women are amazing and so talented. I never teach a class where I don't learn something from a student.
Marla Kazell, my friend and fellow teacher, and I shared a booth at the conference.
We are both wearing the Rochelle's Reversible. Marla's jacket is done using the Koos van den Akker techniques she teaches, and my jacket is made from double sided fabric we sell on the website.
Thanks to all of you who attended my classes and stopped by our booth.
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posted by Marsha
on July 29, 2008
at 11:44
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Visit to NY Fabric Flower Factory
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On our last day in NYC, we had the pleasure of visiting M&S Schmalberg, a company that makes hand-made flowers from fabric. They showed us a large, white and gold flower featured on Sarah Jessica Parker's dress in the new Sex in the City movie. For three generations, the company has produced beautiful fabric flowers of every size, color and shape.
There are many metal molds for shaping the petals then each flower is assembled by hand.
Many of us purchased flowers to adorn our wardrobes. They can also make flowers from your fabric for a one of a kind bloom. It was a real treat to see one of the few remaining companies doing this kind of work.
In the evening, we all gathered at a lovely restaurant for our farewell dinner. By that point, we were all good friends so it was fun to share a final meal together to finish up our magical New York City visit. Keep an eye out for information on two New York City trips we have scheduled for 2009.
I will be leaving in the morning to teach at the American Sewing Guild national conference. When I get back I'll share what I saw and did.
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posted by Marsha
on July 8, 2008
at 15:12
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Simplicity Patterns and Broadway Play
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We jumped on the subway and headed to Simplicity Patterns for our appointment. Our guide took us through the steps of producing a pattern for Simplicity. We saw the design room, guide sheet writing, illustrating the guide sheets and sample making of the designs. The actual patterns are printed in Michigan. The group was impressed with the process and said they now have a better understanding of why patterns cost what they do.
After a quick lunch, we headed down 6th Avenue to M&J Trims. This store is a feast for the eyes with all the trims and ribbons. We also stopped in several other trim stores along our way back up to 37th (between 7th & 8th Street) for more fabric shopping.
In the evening, we had orchestra seats at the musical Gypsy with Pattie LaPone. She did a fabulous job. There were many beautiful voices and lots of laughs.
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posted by Marsha
on July 7, 2008
at 12:41
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