What is ASG?
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The "American Sewing Guild" or "ASG" is a network of chapters that meet in cities from coast to coast, offering educational, social and philanthropic programs.
"Madison Area Sewing Guild" or "MASG" is one of three Wisconsin chapters. You can read more about the American Sewing Guild at ASG.org. |
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MASG Today
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The Madison Area Sewing Guild is a group of sewing friends with monthly meetings. For 30 years, the goals of our organization have stayed much the same.
We are dedicated to sharing ideas and accomplishments, providing educational opportunities for developing members’ skills, advocating sewing as a profession or hobby, serving the greater Madison area with a variety of community service projects, and of course having fun! We welcome sewing enthusiasts of all ages, genders, and levels of experience to learn and grow together with us. |
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History of MASG
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The originally named “Madison Sewing Guild” was established on September 9th, 1989, by founding member and first president, Donna Bemis. The first meeting was held at Madison Area Technical College. The following summer, the Guild started publishing its newsletter “Calico Country.” The Guild provided as much sewing information in the newsletter as possible and hosted meetings.
The Guild’s membership started to grow in 1991 as connections were made through locally based Nancy’s Notions. East and West Madison groups met two times per month, and later an additional Neighborhood group “Hildale” (central Madison) was created. Educational tours brought members to Chicago, Eau Claire, and UW Stout in Menomonee. Although the group voted to leave ASG from 1991 to 2007, the members were still committed to advancing sewing as an art and life skill and carried on with planning events. An annual fashion show ran for a number of years. Charity sewing was organized, providing preemie gowns for St. Mary’s Hospital, Dori Bears to HospiceCare, and items to the Ronald McDonald House. Inspiring leaders from the sewing community, have been invited to speak on a regular basis, including nationally known Nancy Erickson, Nancy Nix-Rice, Sandra Betzina, and Pamela Leggett. In 1994, our newsletter changed from “Calico Country” to “Stitchin’ Times.” In 2017, ASG gave our newsletter top honors at the national conference. |
Our members hail from all over central and south-central Wisconsin, as well as northern Illinois.
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