It is with infinite sadness to announce that Shirley Adams has passed away. Her gifts brought us great joy, and the industry a vehicle for the art of dressing well.

Shirley battled lymphoma since October of 2019. Ultimately the disease won, but not without a fight. Shirley was able to enjoy her “fourth” retirement which included gardening, her grandchildren, and Gallery on the Square.

If you have stories and memories, please share them. Shirley touched so many lives. I know she has gone to her Lord in peace, but we mourn her passing away from us.

Please visit https://www.lls.org/ for more information on this insidious killer. I must publicly thank Johnson and Johnson pharmaceuticals for their potent weapon that provided family and friends more quality time with Shirley. She doted on her kids, her grandkids, and was to be a great grandmother this October.

Shirley follows her husband, whom we lost in 2016. Shirl and Tut were glamorous and loving, devoted to each other, and generous to a fault. They built The Sewing Connection together, ran it together, “retired” it together! Three times! She is at peace and no longer in pain, safe in the loving arms of our Lord.

I will begin posting information again shortly. I, your humble admin, had the honor of being with Shirley these last several months, allowing her freedoms the stupid disease kept trying to take away, but I sadly neglected the “business” end of The Sewing Connection.

It was for all of you she started this crazy thing thirty years ago. There weren’t any programs promoting couture sewing, the “art of dressing well” kind of sewing. Her kids thought her mad, but her husband said “What the hell, let’s give it a try.” I’d say they did one heck of a good job.

 

 

Easily alter your pattern to add or delete for cup size. 

Amazon has decided to arbitrarily remove the half hour segments, but Youtube has not.

Watch 84 segments at https://www.youtube.com/user/SewingConnection

https://www.amazon.com/v/sewingconnection 

I understand Amazon is a business and they are removing costs based on return on investment. If more folks watched the videos on Amazon, maybe Amazon would quit removing them. I will not be loading any more to Amazon unless they can give me a reason for removing them.

 

Shirley has new PDF files for you to download and use at home or in the classroom. Click on the jackets below to see what you or your students might like. Easy to expert currently available.

 

We are adding new segments to YouTube and Amazon as time allows. Amazon is running behind by about 3 weeks so my latest videos in Series 14 are NOT yet available.

Youtube link at purse

 

 

Watch Celebration of Life on Amazon 

News

If you would like the updated versions of the available Sewing Connection workbooks, please use the Books page to order. My Author Page on Amazon is a bit messy as customer books are selling on Amazon and listed on the Author Page.

Kindle eBook

Print Edition

Program 1          Between The Seams  –  Add in-seam buttonholes and pockets to a pattern when other types seem inappropriate or a unique looks is desired.

Program 2          Hang in There -Skirts and pants balance on the body and fit perfectly when you make alterations to allow a perfect hang from the waistline. Curvy figures gain much insight here.       

Program 3          Waisting Away  -Some waistbands are more comfortable and more flattering than others. Your perfect waistband depends on your body shape. This program demonstrates how to choose from the many types, how to apply interfaced and elasticized waistbands.

Program 4          Tie One On   – Several types of tie collars are added to a jewel neckline. How to design, cut out, and apply appropriate to specific fabrics and desired look. These are all removable to change with fashion trends.

Program 5          Soft Touch    – Pillows are great fun to make and instantly rewarding as you create designer looks without high prices. Napkins are made into pillows enclosed by zippers or overlaps. Make Christmas stockings from quilted fabrics.              

Program 6          Velvets and Velours    – 25 Velvets have versatility to dress up or down, but require special precautions in cutting, construction, pressing. Pile fabrics like velour are just easy to handle knits and terrific for casual or sports clothing.

Program 7          Setting In Sleeves     – Set in your sleeves professionally. Learn the methods for a standard smooth cap, a gathered cap, and a dropped shoulder flat cap.          

Program 8          Sleeve Heads and Shoulder Pads     – Provide this structural framework, even after the sleeve is perfectly inserted, some character building may be necessary.

Program 9          Sheer Pleasure     – Thin, sometimes transparent fabrics are used as one layer clothing, or multi-layered, or simply underlined to produce garments which are a pleasure to wear.     

Program 10        Under It All      – Interfacing, facing, underlining, interlining, and linings are explained, demonstrated, and shown as they occur in garments promoting a professional end result..

Program 11        Lining A Coat    – A jacket lining covers up the construction details not meant to show, adding luxury and ease of use. How to cut, construct, insert, and finish.

Program 12        Block Party   – Color blocking is fun, fashionable, and can offer a functional solution to updating garments, increasing size, covering mishaps, or a lack of fabric..

Program 13        Stretch It Out    – Stretch at garment edges can be incorporated by various types and sized of elastic or by knit-ribbing. Six garments show are all variations of the same pattern with different finishes.