• Session 14,  Sewing/Quilting

    Scissors & Shears

      What is it? -Because of that they have enjoyed the natural evolution that comes with the application of developing technology. The scissors and shears we use today bear but a faint resemblance to those used by our ancestors. In high-quality scissors the blades are extremely sharp and are positioned to increase the cutting and shearing tension at the exact point where the blades meet and the fabric is cleanly cut. A true performance test of any scissor or shear necessarily focuses on how cleanly they cut both multiple layers…

  • Session 14,  Sewing/Quilting

    Curve Ruler

    What is it? -All right, we’ve decided to do a little fashion sewing.  Cool.  We’ve visited our local shop and poured over the pattern catalogs or perhaps searched favorite sites on the internet.  In either case we’ve found a pattern that’s just what we’re looking for.  We’ve reviewed the instructions on the back of the pattern envelope and acquired all of the required notions as well as the correct yardage of that killer fabric that will really make our project pop.  Keep in mind we’ll also want to make it…

  • Crafts,  Session 14

    Macramé Plant Hanger Gauge

    What is it? -When I ask anyone about macramé, no one ever mentions that it dates from the 13th century when it was an emerging art form produced by combining cords and knots to form intricate designs. Nor does anyone ever mention that its popularity peaked in 19th Century Victorian England when it was the “to die for” art form for all of the ladies of the age. You never hear any of that. But when anyone sees actual macramé up close they immediately start talking about the 70’s. Yea…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 14

    Bobbin Tatting Shuttles & Accessories

    What is it? -To assist you in your pursuit of all things tatting, Clover has developed an actual system of tatting products. Improving on the traditional tatting shuttle, Clover’s new Bobbin Tatting Shuttle allows you to wind your thread on a separate bobbin and then just insert it into the shuttle when needed. No longer do we need to wind our thread onto the shuttle itself. We can pre-wind as many bobbins as necessary in as many colors as necessary and all well in advance of beginning our project. And…

  • Session 13,  Sewing/Quilting

    I Sew For Fun

    What is it? – What would you do if you wanted to give someone the gift that is sewing?  You know, to enable an individual to achieve their creative expression through sewing, whether that be fashion, quilting, home décor or crafting.  Or, for that matter, any variation or combination of all of the above.  What’s important to have?  What’s necessary?  First of all for any project in any genre related to the use of fabric in sewing or crafts, the requirement for making accurate measurements is absolute.  Being able to precisely…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 13

    Knitting Bobbin Set

      What is it? – Knitting and crochet.  If you look at all of the fibers, textures, sizes and colors of yarns available to accomplish either we find that the potential for creative expression is virtually unlimited.  But wait, if it’s possible to go beyond unlimited we can certainly do so simply by adding multiple colors to the same project.  Adding schmancy to fancy if you will.  Think of basic color work techniques like Faire Isle, Scandinavian, intarsia, C2C graphghans or others.  Using these methods we can manipulate various colors…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 13

    Marking Pins

    https://youtu.be/FNI11PTK5hc   What is it? – Whether we’re into knitting or crochet we’re always making something, something made of individual pieces.  And that something usually means putting those component pieces together.  We all know there are several techniques for joining our knitted or crocheted pieces and that those techniques vary depending on our creative inspiration.  Do we want the seams to be invisible or not?  Perhaps we want them to be very visible and part of our decorative design as in, really standout.  Regardless there is one constant.  At some…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 12

    Circular Stitch Holder

      What is it? – Knitting is a method by which we manipulate a strand of yarn to create a textile or fabric of some sort.  This is done by forming loops of yarn, our stitches, on a knitting needle.  By transferring these active stitches between two or more knitting needles we form our fabric.  By manipulating these stitches we can form shapes or dimensions within that fabric.   Cool, but at this point Hamlet probably would have said, “ay, there lies the rub.”  Yes, exactly.  This is where the problem…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 12

    Yarn Guide

    What is it? – Stranded colowork is the technique.  Fair Isle knitting with its beautiful symmetrical geometric motifs in muted colors or Scandinavian knitting with its striking large asymmetrical motifs in bright contrasting colors or even your own dramatic multi-color creative invention is the result.  Each a piece of art.  Using two or more strands of yarn simultaneously allows us to create amazing designs in knitted fabric.  With a full pallet of colors, wide range of fibers and a limitless assortment of patterns available to us, the creative potential is…

  • Knitting/Crochet,  Session 12

    Pattern Chart Marker Set

      What is it? – Every now and then there is a tool that is so useful, so essential that we wonder how we ever got along without it.  But let’s consider, what is the real value of a tool?  The value in any tool is in what it accomplishes for us.  And in the case or our discussion today, that value is considerable.  It’s a challenge that we all face when working from detailed or complicated lines of instruction on charts.  Charts are graphic representations of knitting, embroidery or…