Donna Lucidi is passionate about sewing, and she is eager to help others develop their skills.
"Sewing was one of my fortes," she said, reminiscing about her career as a family and consumer science teacher at high schools in Cambria and Lancaster counties. Lucidi also taught sewing classes for Penn State Extension and at quilting and fabric stores in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. She is a founding member of the Red Rose Quilters Guild.
"People feel better about themselves when they can make something," Lucidi remarked. "The idea (behind my classes) is to show people it's fun to do these things."
Lucidi will teach three classes for the Manheim Township Recreation and Park Planning Department. Participation is open to everyone, not just Manheim Township residents. A class on sewing a jelly roll pillow will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Feb. 13 and 20. This class is ideal for homeschooled students, as it is a project she taught in high schools, Lucidi said. Incidentally, "jelly roll" has nothing to do with cake and preserved fruit. Rather, it is the term used to describe a collection of 2.5-inch-wide strips of coordinated fabric. Students will be taught to create their own from fabric scraps, or jelly rolls may be purchased at practically any fabric store. Some sewing at home will be required.
"Sewing Quilt Endings" will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays, March 6 and 13. A sample book with a variety of borders and bindings will be completed in this class. The book can be used as a reference for flat borders, bias and straight-grain binding, miters, and bindings for curved edges. An introduction to quilting, in which participants will sew a quilted nine-patch table runner, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, March 19 and 26 and April 2 and 16. All classes will be held in the blue room of Stauffer Mansion, 1241 Lititz Pike, Lancaster.
Lucidi remembers taking needlework classes at Stauffer Mansion in her youth, so she finds it special to now be a teacher there. Her classes are offered during daylight hours to accommodate retirees, she said, adding that sewing skills can be used to make gifts for loved ones or charitable causes. Additionally, she noted, the camaraderie developed in classes and in the sewing community at large is a valuable benefit.
"(The classes are) a good beginning or to get back into sewing," Lucidi said.
While students do not need to know all of the ins and outs of sewing, they will need to know how to thread their sewing machine, fill its bobbins, and conduct basic operations like straight and zigzag stitches. Students must provide their own sewing machines in good working order, including power cords and foot pedals, bobbins, and thread, as well as extension cords and the owner's manuals, if available. Many manuals are accessible via the internet. Sewing tools such as a scissors; a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler; and extra machine needles will also be required for the classes. Lucidi will send a supply list to enrolled students before each class begins.
There is a cost to participate in the classes, and each class has a small additional fee for materials. Lucidi requested that students register no later than four days before the first day of each class, although she said she would accept registrations for the jelly roll pillow class as late as Tuesday, Feb. 11.
For pricing and registration, readers may visit http://www.manheimtownship.org/253/Recreation-and-Park-Planning or contact Manheim Township Recreation and Park Planning Department adult and family program manager Harry Norton at 717-290-7180, ext. 3103, or hnorton@manheimtownship.org.
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