Lancaster Area Sewing Network will meet via Zoom on Monday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. As part of the organization's ongoing exploration of sustainable sewing, Debby Spence will present "Zero-Waste Garments." Spence will share historical and modern-day examples of zero-waste garments, as well as ways of creating them.

Spence is a custom dressmaker and designer living in Lancaster. She received a Bachelor of science in clothing and textiles in business and industry from the University of Delaware. She is a member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP), holding numerous leadership positions in the Baltimore Chapter. As an ASDP/Threads Challenge finalist 11 times, she has received eight awards, including three awards for Best Overall. In the Zero-Waste Challenge she won Best Column Made From a Tube. She has contributed several articles to Threads magazine on sewing techniques and has taught numerous classes on various sewing techniques, including alterations, fitting techniques, and design principles and elements. Her custom dressmaking and design business continues to evolve, and her focus for the future is on sustainable sewing, re-styling, upcycling, altering garments to fit a new body shape, and creative repairing.

There is a fee for nonmembers. To register by Monday, Feb. 17, contact Linda at lancastersews@gmail.com.

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.