Tag Archives: Days for Girls International

Observations from the sewing room with Days for Girls International

6 Apr

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Color/pattern: My strategy for purchasing fabric has been to maximize variation in color and patterns within the Days for Girls guidelines. The goal is to keep it interesting for “me” as well as the recipients of the kits. I photographed three combinations from my latest work…

Apples paired with “quilt shop” prints for pockets
Southwest abstract with pockets that match colors

Contrast of “calico” print with boldness of “poppy” + a “batik” with “quilt” fabric in similar color tones.

By the yard disappointment:

This winter I chose to order flannel online to “save the wait at cutting table” and a trip to the fabric store. Presently there is no option to order fractions of a yard (for shrinkage allowance). As I work through my online purchase of four different cuts of flannel…I came up short each time expecting (16) 9″X9″ squares per yard.

My preference in store is to buy the end of bolt (when it is close). Strange, that feels like a “gain” rather than “loss”. If the shortage is at least 6″ wide it can be used. (I missed that 4 of 4 times ordering online.)

Bundle for chapter to assemble kits:

Supporting 30 kits at a time works well for my space. 30 kits contain 60 shields with wings + pockets plus 240 reversible tri-fold pads. Ah Ha. Rather than using 30 gallon bags plus shopping bags where the contents become topsy turvy or boxes that are never the best proportions…It occurred to me to try 13 gal drawstring kitchen bags. Works better! Delivery time.

Elfcroft completed work in process, ready for team assembly
Easier delivery, Denser storage

Tags: ,

Drum Roll

29 Dec

Seven years–>10,000 sewn @ home items–>have supported 1000 kits for Days for Girls International. I thought I may reach this milestone. I did not realize how close I was.

I started this journey with the goal of making the the entire kit as well as providing the purchased items of wash cloth plus two pairs of panties. The first run was for 45 kits. The attic space over our garage does not support “spreading” work out. One small table supports a serger plus another supports a standard sewing machine. My sewing cabinet with drop leaves spreads out to support cutting board. Ironing board is set up under the skylight. After developing layout for my workspace, I decided deliver tri-fold pads (8/kit) and shields with pockets and wings (2/kit) to accommodate packing individual kits.

My first shipments were to the headquarters in Washington State. Several years later, they suggested I ship to a local chapter in Iowa. Most recently I have had the opportunity to support a Days for Girls International Chapter in my home town in Indiana.

240 pads plus 60 shields
My goal: Maximize colors and patterns of each shield. Happy!
240 folded pads plus 60 shields

These boxes were picked up yesterday.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

The most recent DfGI newsletter told of a fabulous event in Kenya.

Bridgit and Alice reached 1,000 Maasai women and girls with 1,000 DfG Kits that day, and were warmly invited back to serve more villages in the region. In future distributions, they hope to train a Maasai woman ambassador to help break through taboo-based barriers in the community.
“Through volunteers, through enterprises, and through public and private partnerships, Days for Girls is working to shift how women and girls see themselves and are seen by their communities,” reflects Alice.

Tags: , ,

DfGI, latest from Elfcroft sewing room

31 Aug
Shields with pockets and wings (2 per) GO WITH tri-fold flannel pads (8 per) to complete kits supporting menstral hygiene around the world. Design and Quality Control of DfGI chapters around the world make kits that last 3 years and longer.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Last month I received a donation of “vintage” cotton print fabric from an estate. It appears the “stash” was approximately 20 years old. (upper left) Great opportunity for a great cause.

The finished shields showcase the prints that met DfGI guidelines for color, pattern and durability.

My goal is to maximize the number of colors and patterns of fabrics (meeting DfGI criteria) in each kit.

Why not maximize interest and joy? It makes sewing interesting and joyful, hopefully the recipient feels the same.

Tags: , , ,

DfGI Days for Girls International

30 Jul

WORK IN PROGRESS at the local level to prepare kits for distribution to women and girls globally.

LEFT: 60 shields with pockets, wings w/snaps and polyurethane liner. CENTER: Features color and patterns of flannel for trifold pad finished with serged edge. RIGHT: 240 pads folded and stacked in groups of eight to prepare 30 kits.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Tags: , ,

DfGI or Days for Girls International

29 Apr

Founded in 2008, DfGI is a global network connecting teams and chapters of volunteer sewists to provide feminine hygiene kits to women and girls around the world. I support the Avon IN team with reversible pads and liners. The photos below show part of the contents for 30 kits.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Lively colors and patterns for both sides of the pad.
Two liners with pockets and wings (with snap) are paired with eight of the pads (shown above) in a drawing string bag which include panties, soap, washcloth, etc.

Tags: , ,

Out for Local Delivery…again

6 Oct

Liners ready for snap
Tri-fold pads (six layers of flannel)

This is my 7th year sewing for Days for Girls International.  What a special year 2020 has been…with months of “Stay at Home” orders to slow the spread of Covid-19 virus.  The opportunity for me has been more time to sew!  As of this post showing 240 tri-fold flannel pads and 60 liners with pockets and wings due for installation of snaps…drum roll…

My total count since 2014 = 7,000 items _____ 5,600 pads plus 1,400 liners, which support 700 kits

Each kit which includes 2 pairs of panties, wash cloth, etc in a drawstring bag with instructions provided by our Avon, IN DfGI Team.  For more information:

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Kits are designed to last three years.  They have been delivered to girls in over 140 countries.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Stay at Home—Encore

3 Jun

Another three bags full for Days for Girls International

60 liners with snap, pockets and wings

240 tri-fold, reversible, serged, flannel pads

https://www.daysforgirls.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Three bags full…times TWO

24 Apr

Days for Girls International mission is to provide reusable feminine hygiene products to underserved women and girls around the world since 2008.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Unexpected opportunity to provide above Elfcroft’s normal capacity making trip-fold flannel pads and liners with PUL, pockets and wings….drum roll!  staying home during the coronavirus!  Made possible by JoAnn’s Fabrics staying open.  I did need to restock fabric, thread and PUL.

April 2020

Each of the 3 bags supports 10 kits with 8 flannel pads and 2 liners for 80 pads and 20 liners.

March 2020

What we are looking at here totals 480 pads and 120 liners supporting 60 kits.  The Avon DfGI Chapter completes the kit drawstring bag, panties, wash cloth, etc.

 

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Oh! Brother

27 Sep

Thanks to the expertise of Clifford Blodget, I successfully chose Brother 1034D Serger Sewing Machine to support Days for Girls International with the “serged” alternative to “Turn and Topstitch” reversible, tri-fold flannel pads.

The Serged flannel pad is a significant design change with the same size/proportions as “Turn and Topstitch” as well as six flannel layers for absorption.

 

Clifford is excellent simplifying and illustrating the serger sewing machine with 4 needles (2 upper and 2 lower).  I also appreciated the statement “Sergers DO NOT have REVERSE” and the discussion about the knife edge that trims the fabric as it moves toward the needles.  It is not intuitive that trimming is required for success.  The trimming function makes the edge very neat and flat.

This machine has 95% of the threading instructions exactly where you need them… on the machine!  Tweezers are required for the 4th spool feeding the 4th and lower needle.

The compact size fits well on sturdy folding table.

DfGI serged tri-fold flannel pads

Here I “sew” again…supporting Days for Girls International.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

PS  My Brother ADS-1500W portable scanner has served me well— saving 1000s of pages of former paper files.  🙂  I’m a fan!

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

*500*

26 May

Indianapolis has hosted the 500 mile Indy Car Race on Memorial Day weekend for over 100 years!

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500

Just as predictable as Race Day…are peonies in bloom on Race Day

I’m thinking of 500 for another reason….as I near completion of 5,000 items for Days for Girls International.

Each Days for Girls kit has 11 sewn items made by volunteers around the world.  Days for Girls delivers feminine hygiene kits globally.

I have volunteered since 2014.  After some months, I chose to concentrate on making the reversible trifold flannel pads and the top stitched shields with pockets, wings and PUL (polyurethane laminate).  (The drawstring bags, seen in most DfGI photos, make the 11th sewn item for each kit.)  Volunteer’s choice!

In my case, focusing on pads and shields…

4,000 pads (8/kit) and 1,000 shields (2/kit) means that I have supported 500 kits with 91% of the sewn content.

(Purchased items include panties, wash cloth, soap, ziplock freezer bags.)

Sewing includes purchasing your materials (some donated).

4,000 pads:  I get 10/yard.  Drum roll…400 yards of flannel

1,000 shields:  6.5/yard (front, back and 2 pockets)…150 yards of cotton print

1,000 shields also require lining (60″w)…40 yards of PUL

I have 54 empty spools that had 500 yds ea …27,000 yards of thread

It is a pleasure to support DfGI’s mission to support every girl PERIOD.

https://www.daysforgirls.org

Celebrate the variety of fabric colors and patterns

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries