By Janell Davis

The American Sewing Guild (ASG) is an organization of sewing enthusiasts who connect at local, national, and online levels for activities, communication, and networking.
The ASG is made up of chapters, neighborhood groups, and members at large. People of all levels of sewing experience are welcome and can expect benefits locally or nationally.
The ASG’s Syracuse Chapter is called the Nosy Snippers.
“We’re a group of women and men who enjoy sewing,” Kathy Karandy, president of the Syracuse chapter, said. “We get together once a month to sew for different community service projects in our area. We love doing this as a way of giving back to our community. It’s a lot of fun and we’d love to have more people join us who enjoy sewing.”
Some projects the Nosy Snippers have donated to include efforts like quilts for the Ryan McMahon Children’s Advocacy, pillowcases for Golisano’s Children’s Hospital, and adult clothing protectors for local nursing homes.
Nina Dukette, who is in charge of membership for the local group, pointed to one project that has been special to work on.
“An ongoing project that we are proud of is sewing book bags for Book Van-Go,” she said.
Book Van-Go is a summer reading program for kids where the van visits numerous parks throughout the summer providing books and reading opportunities for kids.
“In one sitting, we’ve made over 60 book bags,” Dukette said. “We continue to make them and drop them off as we go.”
Members also enjoy field trips at least once a year.
Last June, members of the group visited the Auburn Agricultural Museum to see an exhibit on costuming.
Getting together to meet new people and socialize while working towards a common charitable goal is valuable. It is a way to express creativity while also easing stress, according to group members.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewer, there is a place for you in the ASG.
In addition to the learning opportunities they provide in the form of videos, online classes, and seminars, you can also learn from each other.
“You don’t need to know how to sew to join the Nosy Snippers,” Karandy said. “There are different roles people take on. Some people help with ironing and some people do the cutting. You can learn with us and can take on any role you’d like.”
People of all ages and experience levels are involved in the ASG to enjoy the many benefits and rewards.
The American Sewing Guild’s main group holds a chapter meeting on the second Saturday of each month. The Nosy Snippers meets for sewing activities on the first Monday of the month at the Town of Clay Senior Center.
If you are interested in joining the local chapter of the American Sewing Guild or would like more information, email [email protected].
To connect or make fabric donations, you can visit the Nosy Snippers Facebook page.