StitchCraft - embroidery

Ready for Spring Reading?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:45:25-0700

We just got some AWESOME books in the shop. Here's the review:

Weaving Made Easy is a must have for beginning weavers that are using the Rigid Heddle Loom. This book provides great instruction with great photography. It's like taking a beginning weaving class. Alabama Studio Style is another great stitching book by Natalie Chanin. You can make everything in this beautiful book by hand. No sewing machine necessary. 60 Quick Knits is just what the title says, but it's all made out of one of our favorites - Cascade 220.

The lace book you've been waiting for The Haapsalu Shawl, a book filled with knitting history and information on the masters that knit the garments. There are a ton of charted Estonian lace patterns as well. Crochet in Color has some of the most interesting colorwork for crochet that I've seen. This isn't your grandmothers crochet poodle-toilet-paper-cover book. Itty-bitty toys is an AWESOME book of toys! She even has five reversible toy patterns in this book. If you liked Itty-bitty hats and Itty-bitty nursery you're gonna love Susan B. Anderson's new book.

Knitwear Design Workshop is a comprehensive guide to handknits by designer Shirley Paden. There's lots about math in here and a lot of detailed explanation on the design process. Embroidered Effects is the latest book out by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching. Not exactly new, but restocked, How to Crochet is a really great guide to beginning crochet. For those of you that like to teach yourself your needlework skills, this is a good place to start for crochet.

The Summer Class Schedule Is Up!

Sun, 17 May 2009 20:02:09-0700

There's a great summer line up waiting for your perusal on the Class tab of the website. Download your copy today. And this is a gentle reminder to start your holiday projects so you're not chomping on the holiday crunch bar.

We have two new instructors. Let me introduce Amy and Jean and give you a brief description of what's available this summer.

Amy Pope is a knitting enthusiast and is broadening her knitting repertoire through teaching. Amy likes a challenge and is up for anyone that wants to learn to knit - man, woman, crocheters, right handed, left handed. You can do it! Amy's also teaching an intermediate class on reading ball bands and yarn substitution.

Jean Drevdahl-Orchard is our new needlework instructor with over 20 years of experience in many needlearts forms. She is teaching a needlepunch centerpiece for Independence Day, a embroidered needle book and beginning cross stitch.

Leah Moog is teaching a summer baby series. Do you have a special baby or baby-on-the-way in your life? You can make toe-up baby socks, a baby bib and a baby sweater. If you want to learn how to make a sweater a baby sweater is a good place to start. It's small and quick and you learn a lot of sweater techniques in the process.

Christa Kangas teaches beginning crochet. This is a good refresher course if you've had crochet before. Oh, and Christa just started her own bird babysitting company, so if you are going on vacation this summer, Christa can watch your bird.

Charlene Sabin is teaching two intermediate techniques in color. Mosaic knitting is an easy way to incorporate color in your knitting using slip stitches. Double knitting allows you to create a double-sided, reversibly colored fabric.

Tish Chacon is teaching two different handpieced quilt blocks. One for July and one for August.

Carol Combelic teaches beginning spinning. We have two sessions this summer because this class is so popular. Carol's class is fun. You get loads of information on preparing fiber for spinning, different fiber choices and, of course, you learn to spin and you'll play with Carol's spinning toys.

Let's talk about fine needlework shall we?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:11:40-0700

Exciting news in the shop. We're expanding our stitching corner to include new patterns and threads. Even if you don't stitch, but do like to embellish, you won't be able to resist the hand dyed embroidery floss just in from Weeks Dye Works. A lot of our patterns require the dimensional quality that a hand dyed floss can only give. Here is a picture of the lovely colors - there are 184 of them!

And, I just got word from our beloved Presencia today that they're adding 9 new metallic and 34 new solids to their already fabulous embroidery floss line. That will be 288 colors not including the new metallic and their variegated floss. We will receive that batch this June.

Below are some new items for stitching. Double zip pouches from Walker Bags. They're see through, so you can see all your goodies inside. Perfect for a small cross-stitch or needlepunch project. Below right is the Handy Caddy. It stands up on the table and has many pockets to store your needles, scissors and floss. And...we just got the cutest little scissors - many are airline travel approved.

And here is just a tiny look at the new cross stitch, embroidery and punchneedle patterns we have in stock. Below left is a spring theme biscornu (objet d'art). Below right is the summer theme. Gotta love the crab smiling at you.

Below is a lovely spring pillow embroidery pattern from Crabapple Hill.

Below left is a gardening-themed punchneedle pattern from our favorite Lizzie Kate and below right is our Valdani Threads three-strand hand overdyed embroidery floss perfect for punching with your three stranded needle.

And on another note...

The Punta del Este arrived today - beautiful!!! Pics of that to come.