![]() President’s HighlightsJune, 2026 SUMMER TIME! SUMMER TIME! LEARN New Techniques Time! SUMMER WORKSHOPS** Please note a few changes and dates – Saturday, June 20 – Quilting Basics – taught by Tiffani Standridge and Sharon Merlo – $20 members/$50 nonmembers plus optional kit fee. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!! – Saturday, July 18 – Hand Embroidery Basics – POSTPONED – Friday, August 21 – * NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE* – Bag Making Basics – taught by Cathey Jordan – $20 members/$50 nonmembers, plus supplies- Saturday, September 26 – Umbrella Making Workshop – taught by Tammy Moberg and Roxanne Carder – $20 members/ $50 nonmembers, plus kit fee Tiffani and Sharon’s Love of Quilting!!! |
President’s Highlights – January 2026
Make new friends,
But Keep the Old,
One is Silver and the Other’s Gold
(My favorite Scouting Song)
So true for all our sewing friends – A chance to make new friends, a chance to savor the old friends, and a time to share all the secrets of sewing!!
There are so many pictures to share of all our social events the last couple of months.… Read the rest
Plano ASG Texas State Fair 2025 Winners
Our creativity has no bounds!!

Look at Mary Bensel’s work – She won first place State Fair in knitting – Poncho.

First Place – Wearable Art: Marie Barrese

First Place – State Fair Themed Doll: Jamie Roux

Second Place – In the Hoop Embroidery: Judy Nordseth

Third Place – Woven Articles: Margaret Montgomery

Honorable Mentions – Aprons: Tammy Moberg

Honorable Mention – Adult Apparel: Debby Bowles

Honorable Mention – Jewelry: Marie Barrese
Then we have winners of other competitions –
Look at Sandi Greigo’s quilt she entered and won first place at the Plano Quilt Guild Show.… Read the rest
How to Draft a Basic Bodice

Submitted by Debby Bowles, leader of Designing Divas Neighborhood Group
Do you need your top to fit? Do you always struggle with getting your patterns to fit? Do you keep making several muslins before you get that perfect fit?
I’m sure you’ve heard – You need a sloper. Yes, a sloper does help with the fitting issues, although it is not the end-all solution to all pattern fitting. … Read the rest
PLANO ASG VISITS Texas Fashion Collection at University of North Texas
By Debby Bowles

Tuesday, June 28, 2025. the Plano ASG Chapter had the unique opportunity to visit the Westheimer Gallery of the Texas Fashion Collection at University of North Texas. What an amazing opportunity.
The Texas Fashion Collection, housing fashion of top designers works, has over 18,000 items in their collection. … Read the rest
Slant Pocket with Zipper
Marie Barrese taught the Couture Neighborhood Group how to put a zipper in a pocket. She adapted steps from Power Sewing Step-by-Step by Sandra Betzina, page 67.
Zipper in slant pocket instead of side seam (pictures below)
Step 1 – Cut 1 side front from fashion fabric with the printed side of the pattern against the right side of the fabric. … Read the rest
Wool Denim? Yes!
Denim has long stood as a cornerstone of contemporary fashion, celebrated for its rugged charm and everyday versatility. Now, reimagined through the lens of textile innovation, wool-infused denim brings an elevated sensibility to this timeless staple.
Denim is traditionally made from dyed cotton warp yarn and undyed cotton weft yarn. Wool/cotton blends for denim historically involved blending the two fibres at the yarn stage, which is difficult to achieve due to wool/ cotton staple length and dyeing methodology.… Read the rest
Is Color Disappearing?
by Meg McElwee of www.sewliberated.com (edited for space)
I’ve been thinking a lot about color lately. Which is almost not worth stating because I am often thinking about color. But I’ve been thinking about how I wear color, how I see color, how color shows up, or doesn’t in the world.… Read the rest
Spring Fabric Sale!
The fabric sale held on Saturday, April 26, 2024, from 10am-2pm at the Willow Bend Mall Farmers Market in Plano was a huge success. Thank you to all who volunteered, who supported, and who purchased. This enables our chapter to give great benefits to our members.
For the latest news and information, click on President’s Highlights!… Read the rest
Make Your Own Custom Sneakers!
Have you seen some really interesting sneakers recently? Well, on May 17, 2025, Joann Jensen will be leading a class to help you make your own pair! You will need to order a shoe kit and do some preliminary work . So, there is no time to lose. See links below for two sources for the shoe kit. … Read the rest
SPRING IN-TOWN RETREAT
Held on Friday April 4, Saturday April 5 &
Sunday April 6
at the
Best Little Retreat Center in Texas
7089 Belt Line Rd, Dallas, TX 75248
Retreat center is open from 9-9 each day
469 708-2378
The recent in town retreat was a hit with our quilters and sewers. Here is a small sampling of their talent!… Read the rest
“Topstitch Like a Pro: Stitch Length, Tension & Thread Mastery”

Sally Ann Flak presented an informative program about Top Stitching to the Upping Your Game neighborhood group in March. She generously shares it with all of you.
1. Tension Troubles?
- If the top thread is too tight, loosen the upper thread tension slightly.
- If loops appear on the back, increase the upper tension gradually.


President’s Highlights
SUMMER WORKSHOPS**
Tiffani and Sharon’s Love of Quilting!!!