StitchCraft - sewing

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.

Book Reviews

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:17:02-0700

There are some great new pattern books in the shop. Here is a basic review of some of our favorites...

From left to right: Country Weekend Knits is a beautiful book that outlines traditional patterns that are timeless. There are four sections; one for Ganseys, Fair Isle, Aran and Shetland Lace. Hand Knitting New Directions is a book about knitting and how to knit, but with much more information and nicely presented. If you're a budding designer or like to change up your patterns, this is a really nice book explaining many techniques. Simple Style is the latest in the Interweave "Style" series. The patterns are simple in style and timeless. There's a sweater in here for everyone. 101 Luxury Yarn One - Skein Wonders is exactly as it's title and the patterns are really cute.

From left to right: Finishing Techniques for Crochet - finally! A book dedicated to those crochet details. Our crocheters love this book. Felted Knits is not a new book, but it is new to StitchCraft. Many of you have wanted more felting patterns and this is one of the classics. Material Obsession is a new quilt book with new patterns that are based in quilting tradition.

From left: Reader's Digest Sewing - new, updated volume. How many of us grew up with the Reader's Digest crafting "bibles?" This one is lovely with well-explained instructions, photographs and illustrations. Quilting by Hand is another quilting classic. Jinny Beyer's techniques are well-know in the quilting community and she has step by step instructions for making a quilt from start to finish all by hand (yes, all by hand). Seams to Me is Anna Marie Horner's first book with contemporary fashions and home dec patterns. We carry some of her home dec fabrics in the shop. There are beautiful illustrations and directions if you've never sewn before.

Please remember, that when you purchase books from StitchCraft, at their cover price, the authors of these books retain their full royalties from their publishers. When you buy them at a discount book seller, they do not get their full royalty. You vote and support these designers with your dollar!

New In The Shop!!!

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:04:22-0700

Here are some new patterns by Heather Bailey. Her fabrics are shipping as we speak! I absolutely love the pear pin cushion and the children's stacker - wish I had that pattern when the kids were little instead of the crummy store bought one I had. I think the lens is scratched on my camera, thus the light spot in the middle.

This is a great new book for sewing sweet things for the family. A lot of gift ideas in here.

And finally, a picture of our double-sided napkins!

New In The Shop!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:41:14-0700

A classic - Cascade 220 Heathers. Beautiful Peruvian wool in 20 gorgeous colors. Make a sweater for under $40. Details:

220 yards
Gauge = 5 stitches per inch on US 7 needles (worsted weight)
$6.85 per hank

And always remember that if you want a specific color, we do special orders.

AND

Rowan Big Wool. For that quick knit (get started on some Christmas presents) hat, scarf, big wooly mittens, giant stocking, etc.

AND

For you quilters, it's Christmas in July here. I've got Moda holiday prints. Check out Winter, Merry and Bright, and Candyland XMAS.