Free fabric, anyone?

Did I get your attention???

Now, before you get too excited, here's the deal:

I am looking for a few good "sewists."

I would love to have some new samples made up for the shop, but us gals are (happily) sooo busy that I am reaching out to our customers to make these samples up for me.

Here's how it will work and how you can get your free fabric:

1) Send me an e-mail at rhea@alewivesfabrics.com (if you are not a local) or visit me at the shop (if you are a local).

2) Let me know which sample you would like to sew for me.

3) I provide you with the pattern and supplies, including my choice of fabrics. It's for the store, you see, so I have to get the most mileage out of these samples and therefore have to put a lot of thought into which fabrics get used (And you thought it was all fun and games!).

4) You sew the sample for me and keep track of your hours.

5) When the sample is completed, fill out a questionnaire for me (including questions such as what you liked/disliked about the pattern, modifications you made, errors you discovered, trouble-shooting and overall impression/rating of the pattern).

6) Return the questionnaire to me, along with the finished sample and the pattern.

7) I will compensate you for the cost of shipping (if necessary) and for your time spent making the sample with a gift certificate to the store at a rate of $10 an hour. For example, if you spend 10 hours working on a sample, you will get a $100 gift cetificate.

8) The gift certificate can be used in our online store and in the "real" shop, but can only be used towards fabric. To sweeten the pot, you will also get 10% off your fabric, so your gift certificate will get you 10% further than cold hard cash would. Aaand, you get to keep all of the scraps! Everybody wins, n'est-ce pas?

Sound like something you want to do?

Here are some of the samples I need sewn up (click on their links to see a description of each project):

















The Liverpool Dress (our shop mannequin was just telling me the other day how she has nothing to wear, so I thought we might whip this up for her. Intermediate level. Skills needed include covering buttons and making buttonholes, sewing curves, etc.)


















The Sweet Harmony Handbag and Tote (She needs a bag, too. Can't say that I blame her. Intermediate level. Skills needed include sewing gentle curves and covering/inserting piping, which is actually very easy and fun.)


















The Weekender Travel Bag (Yes, we already have two of these at the shop, but after telling people about a jillion times a day that we no longer have the fabric they were made from, it occurred to me that it might be time for a new one. Plus then I get to take the old ones home! This one is best suited to advanced levels, I would say. Skills needed include inserting a zipper, covering/inserting piping, patience...)



















Sewing Basket and Cover (Great for anyone who likes working with Bali Pops... and this is a no-sewing project! Good for any skill level)


















Anna Maria Horner's Multi Tasker Tote ( I saw this one on her blog made up in laminates, and we have some kick-butt laminates at the shop now, so that is probably what I will have this one made up in. Intermediate level. Skills needed will include sewing a curve, gathering, and probably working with laminate.).



















Heather Bailey's Happy Stacker Ring Toy ( I cannot believe how many of these patterns we have sold withOUT a sample. Just think how many we will sell with a sample: mwa ha ha... Intermediate level. Skills needed will include sewing a curve. I think this project is realatively easy and could probably even be done without a machine by hand, if you felt so inclined.)














Henrietta Turtle ( I would want four or five or these made up: a "herd" of turtles, if you will, and I have the feeling that they go together pretty quickly... intermediate level. Skills needed will include sewing a curve, and this may be a good candidate for anyone who likes to sew by hand as well.)

There are more samples I would like sewn up, but we will start with these for now and I will see how the response is.

Once again, if you would like to take me up on this offer, send me an e-mail (rhea@alewivesfabrics.com), let me know which project you would like to take on, and we will take it from there.

Hope to hear from you soon!

XO,

Rhea at Alewives