Sewing Workshops

Thinking of hooking up some shiny electroluminescent wire to your top for a night out? Interested in Lilypads or other wearable tech, but don’t know how to get started? Maybe you’d just like to be able to make a simple skirt, repair your jeans, or even just finally figure out how to thread that sewing machine?

Well, we’ve got what you need; basic sewing classes, like they don’t teach outside of school. There will be two workshops, the first on Sunday, 24th January, which will focus on basic hand sewing techniques. You’ll learn a bit about fabrics, choosing threads, basic stitches, and what they’re called. If you bring some damaged clothes we’ll have a look at how to go about mending them. And finally, if you’re interested, a little bit about clothing construction, and how the pieces go together (helps you figure out how to put them back together). The idea is just to get you used to the basics, and ultimately help you understand all those books and tutorials that treat it like assumed knowledge.

Group size will be very small, limited to a maximum of 6, so that everyone will get the help they need. The whole workshop will be very informal, it’s all about a hands-on approach, and having things make sense to you. And just so you know, I’m not an expert by any means. I learned to sew originally in Home Ec, have done a course in pattern construction, and every year make my own Hallowe’en costumes. So, I’ll be able to help get you started, after that it’s your determination and imagination that will keep you going.

Cost: There will be a fee of €10 for non-TOG-members. Feel free to bring your own kit if you have one, otherwise one can be provided (that you get to keep) for cost.
Materials: Pack of hand-sewing needles, needle threader, wheel of pins, thread, etc.
Provided: (Although it’s okay if you bring your own.) Scissors (that need to be returned, sorry but they’re quite expensive). Fabric. Bits and bobs. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits.

Date: Sunday, 24th January.
Time: Between 2pm and 6pm.
Place: TOG space. See: http://www.tog.ie/location/

If the time doesn’t suit, don’t worry, if people are interested another set can be arranged.

Participants and visitors must be at least 18 years of age. It’s first come, first serve. Attendance at the two workshops are independent, you don’t have to go to both. And there are only a couple of places left for the basic hand sewing workshop! So if you’d like to attend please use the form below.

Workshop is full now. But if you would still like to attend another workshop some time in future feel free to use the form below to register your interest. Thanks guys, and I look forward to seeing you all.

Continue reading “Sewing Workshops”

Activities For January 2010

January 2010

All Group Night’s, Open Social Meeting’s, and Hackathon’s are free to attend and open to all members and all non-members. Classes and Workshop’s normally have a fee and require pre booking but are open to all members and all non-members.

Tuesday, 29th December

10:00 to late : Dragons Everywhere

Wednesday, 30th December

10:00 to late : Dragons Everywhere
19:00 : Open Social Meeting In The Space

Monday, 4th January

19:00 : Electronics and Micro Controller Group Night
19:30 : jQuery Class

Tuesday, 5th January

19:00 : Web Development Group Night

Wednesday, 6th January

19:00 : Computing/Programming/Networking Group Night

Monday, 11th January

19:00 : Electronics and Micro Controller Group Night
19:00 : Open Social Meeting In The Space
19:30 : jQuery Class

Tuesday, 12th January

19:00 : Web Development Group Night

Wednesday, 13th January

19:00 : Computing/Programming/Networking Group Night

Saturday/Sunday, 16th/17th January

12:00 to late : 3rd Synchronous Hackathon

Monday, 18th January

19:00 : Electronics and Micro Controller Group Night
19:30 : jQuery Class

Tuesday, 19th January

19:00 : Web Development Group Night

Wednesday, 20th January

19:00 : Computing/Programming/Networking Group Night

Monday, 25th January

19:00 : Electronics and Micro Controller Group Night

Tuesday, 26th January

19:00 : Web Development Group Night

Wednesday, 27th January

19:00 : Computing/Programming/Networking Group Night

Friday, 29th January

19:00 : TOG AGM
20:00 : Open Social Meeting (TOG’s First Birthday)

Other Unconfirmed Date/Time Activities:

Rumours are circulating about members starting a sewing/craft group maybe meeting semi-regularly on Sundays.

Future Activities:

We’re planning a lot of activities for Engineers Week (8th-13th February) pencil it into your diary.

Just f**king do IT!!

I’m just back from the space where we meet with Eric Michaud from Pumping Station: One in Chicago. He’s giving a talk to Skynet (the University of Limerick Computer Society) in Limerick on Saturday and stopped by to visit TOG.

We had a good laugh in the space and over food in Pifco’s, we also talked about the differences and similarities in the way we run our hackerspaces. One point Eric made is that we need to make a much bigger effort in trying to promote our space and the activities in it. An important philosophy we should follow is “Just f**king do IT!!”, don’t let the fear of embarrassment or failure hold you back, don’t waste time thinking about it, just do it.

During the discussion we also worked on a Lego prototype of our robot entry for the RobotChallenge in Vienna next year, we’re going to work on it more over the weekend during the Hackathon.