The American Sewing Guild has a special discounted membership for our Junior members.
- Junior: $25 /1 yr
Through age 17 and extending up to age 22 for registered college students.
Why join? Learning to sew is both an Art and a Skill. Our national website www.ASG.org has online projects exclusively for our junior members, but any member can access these projects as well.
Our chapter also has an active T.A.G class program, scheduled monthly on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Plano Sewing Center allows us to use their classroom space for our T.A.G. classes. We thank them for this, and it is a great place to purchase your first (or second or more) sewing machine. Our teachers are adult volunteers from our guild. We thank them for sharing their knowledge and skill. This class is targeted to youth aged 8 to 15 years old.
This was program was very popular in 2014, so going into 2015 we are looking at having a step 1 and step 2 T.A.G classes. Step 1 is for brand new sewers. While you don’t have to bring a sewing machine your first couple of times, the numbers of volunteer provided machines are limited. We recommend you have a sewing machine in good working order. And that it be a “real” sewing machine, not a toy, and you will have fewer frustrations if you don’t purchase a big box discount model. We also ask that our junior members put together a basic sewing kit. Scissors, pins, a pin cushion, a seam ripper, a seam gauge, empty bobbins, sewing machine needles, hand sewing needles and a box or kit of some sort to carry the tools to class.
Our program has been structured to provide a kit for a simple project that can be completed during the 1 1/2 hour class time. There is a small kit fee, usually $5.00, but no additional class fee for our junior members. There is an additional fee for non-members. The first class session a parent or guardian will fill out and sign our registration and release forms. Our class space and our volunteers are limited. Because of this, our class size will be limited to 12. Registration will open the month prior to the class and close the Monday before the Saturday class time or at the point that the class fills. We ask that you contact us as soon as possible if you find you cannot attend a class for which you have registered. Find the registration page here
At step 2, when our sewists can thread their own machine, have their own sewing tools, and can sew both straight lines and slight curves with confidence, they are ready to work on more complex projects. Our plan is to have projects that will span several sessions. This new step 2 class will be phased in during 2015.
We also have a Tiny T.A.G. class for youth ages 6 – 8 who have a real interest in sewing, have the ability to listen and follow directions and can maintain focus and interest for the 1 – 1 1/2 hour class time. This class has features simple projects that will be completed in class. Parent or Mentor participation is encouraged. There are a limited number of machines available for use, we love it when participants bring their own machine. This class is on the 3rd Saturday and is held in McKinney. Find the registration page here.
We also invite our junior members to attend any of our regular neighborhood group meetings, however, for youth under 16, we ask that they be accompanied by an adult member.
For those youth interested in sewing or for special programs like scouts please contact Markita at President@planoasgsews.org.
For youth that are 16 and above, we recommend one of our “boot camp” beginning sewing classes.
This class is great for young girls. The teachers are all very patient and helpful. The projects are easy and fun. Can’t wait for the next class!