september classes

lena has posted her september classes, including a sewing workshop taught by me, in which we'll make the dress above. that's lena's dress that she made last time i taught this project. isn't it lovely?

brooklyn general has also posted their fall schedule, and i'll be teaching patternmaking there once a month. here are the specifics:

PATTERNMAKING WORKSHOP
Design and make your own clothes! In this 2-hour class you will learn the basic principles of making your own sewing patterns, and make a pattern for either an A-line skirt or a T-Shirt that fits your own unique body. With this foundation you'll be able to sew the projects you envision! Basic sewing experience is helpful to get the most from this class.
Session A: Sunday September 20 @ 10am-12pm (Skirt)
Session B: Sunday October 25 @ 10am-12pm (T-Shirt)
Session C: Sunday November 15 @ 10am-12pm (Skirt)
Session D: Sunday December 13 @ 10am-12pm (T-shirt)
$50/workshop

and you can see the complete schedule here. call the shop at 718-237-7753 or stop in to register.

sayonara

i just finished a new batch of smock dresses which are on their way to japan as we speak. they are going to my friend-and-fellow-recent-nyc-to-upstate-transplant hanna's store in tokyo, which is called HaNNa. i love that the website calls it a 'gentle arts store' which is 'closed irregularly'. i had fun making each one extra-special with crochet, embroidery, or doily stencilling. more like these are in the works for fall!

tute, tute!

even though craft stylish had to lay off all of us weekly bloggers back in may (thanks to the screwy economy), i am still writing one or two project tutorials a month for them. i'm kind of into my newest one, for a braided leather headband, and want to make a whole bunch of these if i can just get my hands on some nice leather scraps somewhere! you can always find all of my articles here, and even subscribe to my RSS feed if you like.

i also swapped interviews with my crafty friend kayte of love forever. you can read my queries for kayte and hers for me.

what are you doing this weekend?

there are still a few spaces left in the sewing workshop at lena's and the t-shirt patternmaking class at home ec. (i think the skirt patternmaking class at brooklyn general is sold out, but you can check or get on the waiting list for next time.) so if you have any free time and would like to learn something new this weekend, come and join us! (well, please register first...)

new sewing class at lena's

i have been loving teaching at lena's studio in fort greene. her space is lovely and very functional (those cutting tables are a dream!) and the best part is the beautiful vegetarian lunch she prepares for us to eat mid-way through the class. amy's dress turned out great; she went for the simpler elastic neckline. lena took some better photos.

we have a new class lined up for saturday july 18, using this pattern, which is for knits. here are all the details...

classes this week!

i just want to remind you that i am teaching a whole buncha classes while i'm here in brooklyn this week, and there are still some spaces available: crochet is thursday, sew a top or dress saturday, embroider saturday evening, or sew a t-shirt sunday. act now and learn something new!

mark your calendars, peeps!

i'll be back in town june 6-7 for the FIFTH ANNUAL RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR in McCarren Park in scenic williamsburg, brooklyn. please come and say hello! it's really the craftiest event of the year, and my personal favorite. you won't be disappointed, i promise. i mean, if nothing else, the Treats Truck is there, c'mon!

then i'm staying through the following weekend and teaching FIVE FANTASTIC CLASSES, all in brooklyn. spaces are limited, so sign up now!

skirt patternmaking workshop @ home ec
wednesday june 10 6:30-8:30pm $50
learn how to draft your own pattern for an A-line skirt with darts!

crochet away @ treehouse
thursday june 11 6:30-8:30pm $50 (includes all materials!)
it's a crash course in the basics of crochet, not just for winter anymore...

top/dress sewing workshop @ lena corwin's studio
saturday june 13 11am-4pm $125 (includes lunch!)
we'll use Built by You #3835 (pictured above) in this intermediate sewing intensive.

embroidery workshop @ treehouse
saturday june 13 6-8pm $50
make a sampler of 12 key stitches, and you'll be stitching on everything you own!

t-shirt sewing @ home ec
sunday june 14 11am-2pm $50
make your own t's! i'll show you how to sew with knits; it's not as hard as you think.

for details, full descriptions, supplies needed and to register, click on the links to each individual venue. hope to see y'all in class!

and don't forget: to keep your finger on the pulse of indie, DIY and crafty events all over the country, be sure to peek at the SAPLINGS blog every now and again...

sneak peek

i've been busily stitching and hooking for spring... we tried to have a photo shoot today but it was just a bit too cold and windy. i can't wait to get it in the shop!

poet tunic

you may not know that there is an actual printed on paper and available on newsstands version of CraftStylish too, but there is! i have a project in the current issue that i really love: this sweet poet's tunic made from a big ol' ugly T. i wish i could get the sample back because it's a lovely shade of green and i'd really like to wear it, but alas, i'll just have to make my own. the whole issue is about restyling what you already have. look for it at your local newsstand or bookstore because this one's not available online! you can, however, order the magazine here.

my pet projects

it's pets month over at craftstylish! so far i've done tutorials for recycled dog sweater and crochet pet bed projects, and i've got one for kitties in the works for next week. and even though last month was the 'green crafting' theme, both of these happen to be *upcycled* so they don't cost anything to make. i just love using up materials that i already have on hand!

ruffly re-style

would you believe you can go from this to this with just a few simple snips and stitches? this is a very easy project that won't cost a penny, and scores high on the eco-points! win win! it seems to be very popular over on CraftStylish; i think this one's got more comments than any of my previous tutes...

sewing kit

doesn't everyone need a sewing kit? i keep one in my bag so i have it wherever i go. it's so easy to make your own, customised to suit your own needs and color palette. i can show you how!

totally tubular

my latest project for CraftStylish is the simple, snuggly cowl. they're so easy that you can whip up a bunch as last-minute gifts, or just make yourself a variety, in an hour or so. cowls are great for using up your knit scraps! i'm looking for ways to stay warm on my winter farm adventure, so i plan to make one in every color.

get fleeced

last week was 'Guy Week' on CraftStylish, and we were supposed to do projects that would be good gifts for guys. this was due to the most common gifting crisis amongst crafters polled to be: what to make for men. at the very last minute i came up with this simple hoodie, which i'm kinda proud of because i've always felt i could never make clothes that a guy would actually WEAR. i had to show it to the recipient, in order to have him model it for the photo (on my dress form it doesn't look very manly!) and he pretty much hasn't taken it off since.

make a recycled sweater hat

as part of the Dare to Make It series on CraftStylish (daring you to make ALL of your holiday gifts!) i did this hat project out of recycled sweaters. it's super easy and works for man, woman or child. i want to make a few out of some cashmere sweaters i have... hopefully i'll have them at the Craftacular on sunday. you are coming, aren't you? see all the cool vendors here to whet your whistle!

more tutorials

as usual, i have fallen behind on keeping you updated with my latest tutorials for CraftStylish, so you might want to take a look at these last three if you haven't yet: tiered tea dress restyle (a super-cute way to transform old T's into sweet dresses), bias tape facing (perfect finish for skirt waists, armholes and necklines on wovens), and fold-over elastic (an excellent way to treat necklines and cuffs on your knit tops). also, you can always see the complete, up-to-the-minute list of my tutes here. and i'm working on a project for the print magazine too, for early spring. happy sewing!