The Lancaster Area Sewing Network (LASN) will meet on Monday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Nationally-known sewing educator Mary Ray will give an hourlong presentation titled "Overview of Sustainability in the World of Sewing." Ray will share what sustainability is, why it matters, and how people can incorporate it into their creative lives.

For more than 40 years, Ray has made a career out of sewing and inspiring others to sew. She has been a manager and buyer for an independent fabric retailer, a representative for a wholesale fabric importer, a designer and maker of custom bridal items, and an associate editor and frequent contributor at Threads Magazine. She has presented programs and workshops for groups and at conferences and, before her recent retirement, was an instructor for 13 years in the Applied Design Department at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., where she developed a studio class called Sustainability in the Apparel Industry. She also has a class on Craftsy called The Fashionably Quilted Jacket, as well as a Design Your Own Wardrobe e-learning course on http://www.threadsmagazine.com.

LASN's 2025 theme for its meetings is "Sustainability." All monthly meetings will touch on an aspect of this topic. The January meeting is meant to be an overview and discussion of the importance of sustainability.

The event is free of charge for LASN members, with a fee for nonmembers. To register by Monday, Jan. 20, contact Linda at lancastersews@gmail.com. More information is also available by sending an email to the aforementioned address.

The Lancaster Area Sewing Network is a group for people who love to sew. Its members range from people who have not sewed much before to intermediate hobbyists to professional dressmakers. The group's main focus is fitting and construction skills related primarily to garment sewing, although occasionally embroidery, quilting or bag-making are shown by members. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of most months. During winter months, the meetings are conducted via Zoom. During the rest of the year, in-person programs are held at the Lancaster Friends Meetinghouse, 110 Tulane Terrace, Lancaster. A yearly overnight retreat, a one-day retreat, service projects, and a fabric swap are optional activities. For more details, contact the membership chair at the aforementioned email address.