Creativity palpable on young seamstress

I was cruising the aisles at a local fabric shop in March when I happened upon a twentysomething woman wearing a polar fleece poncho.

“Did you make that?” I asked, and she assured me that she had. She cut 12-inch squares of fleece in contrasting shades of pink and sewed them together to make a large square shape. She cut a neck hole in a diagonal seam and finished the edge by machine, although it could have been finished by hand. She created a fringe around the poncho edges by making cuts approximately 5 inches deep every half-inch.

The young woman tied several strands of fringe together around her wrists “to keep it from flapping in the wind,” she said. The poncho was the perfect garment for that not-quite-spring day, and the garment looked stylish and comfortable over a turtleneck and bluejeans.

The woman said the poncho was her own idea and design, and easy enough for anyone to make.

“Feel free to copy it,” she offered, exhibiting that attitude of sharing so common in those who sew.

Although the woman’s poncho was constructed of squares sewn together, a single large square of polar fleece could be used instead. The neck hole would need to be finished – that would be the only sewing required and could be done by hand. If one were inclined to embellish – and who wouldn’t be with that bare expanse of cloth just begging for decoration? – a whole new set of options open up. Think applique, beads, buttons, lace, ribbon or fabric yo-yos. The fringe edge could be decorated with machine embroidery. Pockets, big or small, would add a utilitarian touch. While she’s at it, the maker could build two ponchos: one to wear, and one to keep stashed in the car to have handy on a summer night turned suddenly cool. It also could double as a beach blanket.

Polar fleece is usually available year-round at fabric shops and departments. It comes in a multitude of colors and prints, usually under $10 a yard. It is available in several textures – smooth like velvet, or Berber, which is coarser but still soft.

It gives me hope for the future of sewing and needlework when I see a young woman wearing with pride something she has designed and created, despite the fact that many young women lead far busier lives than women of my generation did in our youth. They go to college full time and often have jobs and families, too. They have little time for practicing a skill requiring a sewing machine, which they may not be able to afford.

Obviously, someone is passing on the skill of sewing to a new generation eager to learn. Otherwise, I’d never have seen that wonderful poncho fluttering by like a breath of spring in the fabric shop aisle.

Snippets

. Speaking of ponchos, visit www.lionbrand.com for a free crochet pattern for the poncho J.Lo wore in the film “Monster-in-Law.” Lion Brand’s pattern for the poncho Martha Stewart wore on the day of her release from prison also is available at Lion Brand. It has been downloaded 1 million times so far, according to Web site information.

. During National Nursing Home Week, May 8-14, members of Coastal Quilters presented 19 “quillows” – lap quilts that fold into pillows – to Quarry Hill Retirement Community’s long-term nursing care residents in Camden.

The quillows took five months for the Coastal Quilters to make. Each one is unique and designed with colors, features and images specific to the likes of its recipient.

Coastal Quilters made the quillows to express appreciation to Quarry Hill for allowing the group to conduct its monthly meeting there. Coastal Quilters has more than 30 members, several of whom are Quarry Hill residents. To learn about the quilting group, call Leigh Smith at 230-6628.

. Christine Leith’s textile studio in Sedgwick is open until September. Visit www.mainecraftsguild.com/leith.html to learn more.

Ardeana Hamlin may be reached at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.