scrappy chrysanthemums

my latest tutorial for Craft Stylish is how to make sweet fabric flowers from scraps. so easy and hardly any sewing! find it here.


and in case you missed last week's post (because i forgot to mention it), it is on making inset pockets, which i want to add to everything i wear. for the record, my projects go live every tuesday at noon, through the end of october (and possibly beyond).

i've been finding lots of other cool stuff on the site, like these crochet patterns, kayte's adorable bird mobile, how to sew zippers, perk up your knee socks, emboss metal candy tins... really, i could go on an on...

playing the building

i know i didn't post a whole lot this summer, because i've been working on a very important, and BIG, Secret Project. more on that later. but i did have a few noteworthy adventures. i took mr. smith on a surprise outing to visit David Byrne's beautiful installation, Playing the Building, at the Battery Maritime Building. i love old, decrepit buildings, and this one isn't normally open to the public. we had to sign a waiver saying we wouldn't sue if anything injured us! mr. Byrne rigged up an organ so that each key was connected by wire to a specific part of the building, and by pressing the key you could 'play' the building. don't i look like a vruoso up there? it was especially cool after having seen this awesome (and unrelated, but totally connected) documentary about the extremely inspiring Evelyn Glennie.

***late breaking news***

Fashion Week has ended, and the report is just in: neon is the new black. the fashion world is very fast-paced, so please forgive the blurry shots!

sewing 102 pushed back

sewing 102 @ brooklyn general

a quick update to the schedule at Brooklyn General: my Sewing 102 class (in which you make the All-Day Tote from Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing) has been pushed back a week, so it now starts next tuesday, 9/16.

this is the perfect class if you're not an absolute beginner, but want to brush up on your skills, and Lotta's book is chock-full of gorgeous projects for the beginning-to-intermediate sewer. take a peek at the gallery of projects people have made!

give the store a call at 718-237-7753 to register.

sewing at the Etsy Labs

there's still time to sign up for my Beginner Sewing: Design Your Own Tote class at the Etsy Labs! it starts this saturday, 9/13 and runs for 3 weeks, from 2:30-4:30pm. look at all these great bags from the class i taught in july! we covered linings, pockets, piecing, straps and topstitching, and i think this was the best batch of totes yet.

also, if you've been wanting to learn to crochet, i'll be teaching that at the Labs later this month, starting 9/29.

crochet edging tutorial

my second post for Craft Stylish goes live today! it's a step-by-step primer on how to add a crochet edge to nearly any sewn garment, whether a neckline, cuff or hem. this is a great way to finish off your own projects, or to customize old clothes and give them a new life. i love how it gives a vintagey, handmade touch to even a plain old T-shirt. please let me know if you try it, and i'd love to see your versions!

and if you missed the first one (how to sew a classic T-shirt neckband) you can find it here.

new wraps in the shop

i've been adding some new wraps in the shop, and more are on their way. these are all the lighter-weight cotton ones (plus one rayon/lycra, which is super soft and luxe! it's the cocoa-colored one at the top), but the woolly ones are coming later this month.

also, i'm still adding to the SALE category, clearing out old stock. i've got some sweatshirts in there too, so it's not all summer stuff. take a peek!

finally, a word about this model i've been using a lot lately: please don't be too hard on her! she's not my first choice, by any means. but her rate can't be beat, and she's always available at a moment's notice, so for now, you'll be seeing a lot of her ;n)
i always wonder which of my favorite Etsy and eBay shops' models are really the sellers!

altered states @ Home Ec

i'll be teaching another round of Altered States at the fabulous Home Ec, beginning this thursday 9/11. if you've always wanted to tailor your own clothes, i'll show you how to hem, take in side seams, change neck and waistlines, and more! often a nip here and tuck there are all that's needed to give old clothes a new life.

patti and seryn have really done a beautiful job making this vast space (it doubles as their friend cecilia's trapeze studio!) cozy and full of character. i love the sewing stations, each with its own vintage sewing box. all the details on this and other classes at Home Ec can be found here.

Altered States: How to Tailor Your Own Clothes
$125 + supplies (see list below)
thursdays, september 11, 18 & 25 from 6:30-9pm
at Home Ec, 303 3rd Avenue between Carroll and 1st Streets, Brooklyn
to sign up for classes call 718-852-2889

supplies: garments to alter (i.e. pants to be hemmed, skirts/shirts/dresses to be taken in, etc.), all-purpose thread to match your projects.

back to school!

oh yes, you know what happens after Labor Day! the new Fall 2008 class schedule (now through december) is posted at Brooklyn General, and they're already filling up! several start this week, so register now (call 718-237-7753) if you want to learn how to sew, crochet, embroider, applique or make patterns with me!





Sewing 102 (Beginner/Intermediate) $150 (four 2-hour classes)
***starts this tuesday, 9/9!***

Step up your stitching skills with this very practical “All-Day Tote” bag from Lotta Jansdotter's book, Simple Sewing. You'll learn how to do pockets, linings, topstitching and straps, and become much more confident with your sewing. Beginner sewing skills required.

Materials: 1 yard medium- to heavy-weight fabric for bag, 1 yard medium-weight fabric for lining, 1/2 yard of twill tape (1" wide), thread to match. Optional: quick-release metal key clip. Basic sewing supplies (see Sewing 101)

Session A: Tues 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 9/9, 16, 23, 30
Session B: Saturday 11 am to 1 pm, 10/11, 18, 25, 11/8





Beginner Crochet $125 (three 2 hour classes)
***starts this wednesday, 9/10!***

Learn all the basics of crocheting (chain, single, double and triple crochet stitches) and how to use them to whip up hats, scarves, amigurumi toys and more! Shaping and circular crocheting are introduced, as well as stitch pattern like meshes, scallops and bobbles. Begin a scarf in the first class and continue on to either a hat or shawl by the end of the session.

Materials: one skein of smooth yarn in a light or bright color (easier to see your stitches) in either worsted or bulky size. For worsted bring a size G or H crochet hook, for bulky a J or K.

Session A: Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 9/10, 17, 24



Sewing 101 (Beginner) $150 (four 2 hour classes)
***starts this saturday, 9/13!***

This class will teach you all the basics: how a sewing machine works, cutting from a pattern, and how to sew a simple wrap skirt. With these techniques, you’ll be on your way to stitching up all kinds of projects!

Materials: 2 yards light- to medium-weight woven fabric, 1 pkg extra-wide, double fold bias tape to match, thread to match, scissors, pins and pincushion, seam ripper, tailor's chalk.

Session A: Saturday 11 am to 1 pm, 9/13, 20, 27, 10/4
Session B: Tues, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 10/7, 14, 21, 11/4
Session C: Saturday 11 am to 1 pm, 11/15, 22, 12/6, 13



Embroidery Workshop $80 (two 2-hour classes)

There are so many uses for embroidery; you'll wonder how you survived without it! It's a perfect way to customize items for gifts, for you, or for sale. It's also a great compliment to knitting or crocheting. Create a sampler of a dozen basic stitches, learn how to transfer designs, and begin your first embroidered project: the classic tea towel.

Materials: one fat quarter (18"x18") of gingham, one or more skeins of embroidery floss, embroidery needle (look for a larger eye), scissors, embroidery transfers, and a tea towel.

Session A: Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 10/1, 8
Session B: Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 11/19, 12/3