Sewin’ Sisters Sowing model their work after Dorcas, one of only
a few women named in the Bible. Dorcas was a seamstress who ministered
through charity to those in need.
Dorcas (also known as Tabitha) was a disciple who lived in Joppa, referenced in the Book of Acts 9:36-42 of the Bible. Acts recounts that when she died, she was mourned by "all the widows...crying and showing (Peter) the robes and the other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." The disciples present called upon Peter who came from nearby Lydda to the place where her wake was being held and raised her from the dead.
Sewin’ Sisters Sowing
A sewing circle dedicated to sowing kindness.
In May of 2006, Marcellene Currens, a sewing instructor and ordained minister, founded the Sewin’ Sisters Sowing at the request of her sewing students and friends. Meeting the 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month from 11:00 am to 3:00 PM (USUALLY!) in Marcellene’s home, we spend the time sewing and praying for the needy in Greater Harrisburg.
Each sewer is provided with donated fabric, notions, and instructions. Sewing machines are available to participate in group sewing. We are completely self supported. If you’d like to help, we always need your prayers. We also need nylon zippers (18" or longer), postage stamps, rent for our storage unit, and more sewists and cutters!
If you know of a group or individual who meets the needs of our disadvantaged neighbors in the Greater Harrisburg Area who could benefit from our sewing skills, please contact Marcellene at 717-561-9964.
If you would like to sew with us, or sew in your own home and drop your projects off, please call Marcellene at 717-561-9964 so we can put you on our mailing list to receive instructions for our projects.
OUR RULES: Do not use straight pins, ever. No exceptions. Use clothespins or small craft clothes pins. ALL fabric must be washed and dried prior to sewing. ALL items must have clean finished edges. Attractive selvage edges are fine, ugly selvage edges must be cut off and clean finished. All bags must be double stitched, and handles of grocery bags and walker bags must be triple stitched onto the bags. All threads must be trimmed. Thank you! ©
What We Do
- Our local charities have textile needs that we can meet through our sewing talents, which in turn, frees up their money for other things. After the charities tell us what they need, we create a prototype of the item, including patterns and dimensions.
- Since our group is made up of sewers with all skill levels, we only accept projects that can be completed within two hours by beginners. The more experienced sewers work closely with the beginners, teaching and encouraging them as their skills grow. We operate with a spirit of cooperation, and reject competition, so that we freely share new and different ways of doing things.
- We host an annual event called SEW MUCH FOR CHARITY, which is held the 3rd Saturday in March and October. The mission for this event is to give us the opportunity to share information about the many charity needle arts groups in the Greater Harrisburg Area, collect a contact list for the various crocheting, knitting, or sewing circles, while creating our own group projects to benefit our community. It is an opportunity to see what the needle arts community is doing in Central PA to help our region, and learn how we might be able to help each other.
- In combination with the Sew Much for Charity event, we offer fabric that has been donated to us but is not appropriate for our projects, free to the public. This event helps all of the charity needle arts groups replenish the supplies they need to keep on sewing even in difficult financial times.
- We provide FREE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS for children & adults to experience the joy of sewing by teaching them to use a sewing machine and sew a small item that they can take home. We also teach folks how to mend which increases their self esteem, as well as giving them a skill they will use for the rest of their lives. It’s good for their wardrobe, too!
Sewin’ Sisters Sowing
A sewing circle dedicated to sowing kindness.
We are a group of women from ages 6 to 78, who are dedicated to loving the Lord Our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. We strive to love our neighbor as our self, though this is a work in progress! We believe we are our brother’s keeper, which means we begin our charity sewing for our own families. When those needs are satisfied, we expand our reach to our own community. We have learned that there is enough need in our own region to be kept busy the rest of our lives.
Our core group is comprised of about 8 women -- some work full time, some are retired, and some are raising young families. Our religious beliefs represent many different denominations; we all believe that we are called to serve God through the sewing talents. Our sewing experience ranges from those who are beginners to those with 50 years of experience.
- Each sewer is responsible for their own piece from start to finish, and to pray for the recipient of that piece that God would show them mercy, bless them with peace, and a better life.
- The quality of our work is extremely important to us. Every piece is clean finished (no raw edges!) and most pieces are double stitched to extend the life of the item.
We have made aprons, baby blankets, bedspreads, clothes for all ages, grocery totes, household items, lap blankets, smocks, tote bags, walker bags, winter outerwear, and much more.
- We are completely self supported, and depend upon donations of fabric, notions, and your prayers, to continue our work.
What we are working on now
COTTON OR COTTON BLEND LAP BLANKETS:
Two pieces 54” long x 45” to 60” wide. Lay right sides together, sew all 4 sides leaving an opening to turn right side out. Turn right side out and sew opening closed, stitch a few stitches in the middle of the blanket to prevent shifting during laundering. Add Sewin’ Sisters label. (For all charities).
WOOL TODDLER THROUGH ADULT BLANKETS:
70” long x width of fabric for adults, and no less than one yard by width of fabric for toddlers. Single layer. Finish selvage edge if needed. Then turn down top and bottom edges about ½”. Turn down again about 1 ½” and stitch to form hem.
If fabric is too thick to hem as above, clean finish edges using zig-zag set as follows: stitch length 2.5, stitch width set at your widest setting. Over cast to clean finish. Then turn down edges about 1 ½”. If the wool is scratchy, add a backing with a nice hand by stitching right sides together leaving an opening, turn, and stitch opening closed. Add a few stitches in the middle to prevent shifting during laundering. Add Sewin’ Sisters label.
GROCERY BAGS:
Two 20” x 20” squares, two 3” x 20” handles. Any sturdy print or solid color fabric strong enough to hold several big jars of Prego. Clean finish all edges, sew side and bottom seams, sew side and bottom seams again directly on top of original stitching, 3” box on corners, turn down casing 1 1/4” and stitch hem. For handles, turn raw edges towards middle, then fold sides together. Stitch open sides and then top stitch folded side, and restitch open side again so it is double stitched on the open side. Align side seams of bag together to find center of front & back of bag. Mark center. Then mark 2 ½” on left and right of center. This is where handles are to be attached on front and back of bag. Place handle on left mark and stitch at top of hem back and forth 5 times, sew down to bottom of handle, and repeat for bottom of handle. Sew back up to the top of handle and lock stitch. Top stitch along top of the hem, stitching through the handles. If using neckties for handles, stitch triangular edge outside the bag, and cut edge inside the bag. Add Sewin’ Sisters label. (For local non-food bank distributed by City of Refuge Evangelism).
PERSONAL CARE BAGS:
Two pieces 8” x 8” minimum up to 10” x 10”. Any fabric you want to work with. Clean finish edges if the fabric frays excessively. Single stitch side and bottom of bag. Turn down 1” to form casing at top of bag and sew closed with a small zigzag stitch. Open casing at both side seams and insert double. To make a bag with a zipper instead of drawstrings, go to youtube, in their search bar type in Charity Gift Bag Sewing Day 2008. Follow their instructions. No Sewin’ Sisters label. (Filled with hotel-sized soaps, shampoos, etc. for Light House Ministries).
PACK ‘N’ PLAY SHEETS:
Cut two pieces 46” x 30” baby friendly fabric. Using ½” seams, sew side and bottom seams. Turn down top edge by rolling. No Sewin’ Sisters label. (for YWCA Women’s Shelter).
Marcellene Currens, Founder
106 Park Terrace, Harrisburg PA 17111
717-561-9964
macurrens@comcast.net