-
Yarn Guide
Yarn Guide with instructor Steve Butler Class 133 What is it? A particularly enticing knitting technique is called stranded colorwork. Using two or more colors of yarn simultaneously allows us to create amazing designs in knitted fabric. With a full pallet of colors, a wide range of fibers and a limitless assortment of patterns available to us, the creative potential is unlimited. 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…
-
Interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hooks
Interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hooks with instructor Steve Butler Class 132 What is it? Remember the old Donnie and Marie song “A Little Bit Country – A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll”? The message of the song was that something special exists between the confluence these two musical genres that could not be enjoyed by either separately. Kind of like Tunisian crochet which, in addition to being a very cool niche of crochet, is also a very cool niche of knitting. That’s because Tunisian Crochet takes its DNA from both disciplines. It’s a little…
-
Extra Credit: Stitch Dome Tutorial
Stitch Dome Tutorial By the Shibaguyz Your favorite top. You know the one. It might be past it’s prime or maybe it’s brand new, but you love how it fits, you love how you look in it, and you look forward to wearing it again as soon as you take it off. Then, one day, as you eat your lunch, your pulled pork sandwich or your bowl of ramen decides to get a little out of control. Glop, blop, splash! Lunch attack!! Just that fast, your favorite top is in…
-
French Knitter & Wonder Knitter
French Knitter & Wonder Knitter with instructor Steve Butler Class 131 What is it? Think back for a moment. You’ve been on the cutting edge of creative expression for most of your life. Everything from home décor to fashion accessories to all types of craft applications. But when and how did that creative fervor start? For many of us it was with the encouragement of mom or grandma. Sewing, knitting, crochet and crafts. One of the “creative toys” my friends and I enjoyed at the time was a wooden spool that had four rounded metal pegs…
-
Stitch Dome
Stitch Dome with instructor Steve Butler Class 130 What is it? Embroidery hoops are familiar to all of us who do hand embroidery, applique or cross stitch. They’ve been around forever, are made from any number of materials from wood, plastic or even PVC pipe. They are also available in a wide assortment of sizes, each fitted with a separate mechanical device needed to adjust fabric tension. When we’re doing hand embroidery or applique, having our fabric held smooth and taut has definite advantages. The evenly tensioned fabric ensures neat stitches and consistent spaces…
-
Extra Credit: Curved Tailor’s Awl Overview
Curved Tailor’s Awl Overview By the Shibaguyz Almost as old as the needle itself, the awl has a long history in the sewing world. Originally used for punching holes in leather and fabric, the simple tool has so many more uses that make it one of our close-at-hand tools for all of our sewing on our machines and by hand. Here are a few of the reasons we reach for our Clover Curved Tailor’s Awl: View on our website To pull up the bobbin thread when quilting. To save yourself…
-
SWEET `N SHARP Macarons
Sweet ‘n Sharp Macarons with instructor Steve Butler Class 129 What is it? When we think of sewing, two things come to mind first. Needles and threads. They are just basic to everything we do in sewing. Historically speaking, the demands of both existing and emerging sewing technique have resulted in the development of an amazing array of modern, technologically advanced hand sewing needle styles. This basic sewing tool has evolved over the years to compliment virtually every genre of sewing specialty including general sewing, appliqué, embroidery, ribbon embroidery, quilting, upholstery, tapestry, basting, beading,…
-
Tailor’s AWL
Tailor’s Awls with instructor Steve Butler Class 128 What is it? Open any catalog of sewing notions and you’ll immediately be overwhelmed. There are so many specialty tools with each designed to assist us in an incredibly wide variety of specific sewing tasks. It’s often hard to keep track of them all. There are, however, some sewing tools found within those pages that are common, even necessary, to almost everything we do in sewing. And as expected, many of those tasks involve detail work. Quilting, fashion, home décor or crafts, all are made…
-
Extra Credit: Custom Fit T-SHIRTS
Custom Fit T-Shirt By the Shibaguyz Who doesn’t love a good T-shirt? They go with everything from jeans to modern business attire. We have them in various colors, with and without graphics. The one issue… the fit. T-shirts are made to fit a wide population, most of whom have unique sizing issues. Curvy? Broad chested and narrow waisted? Your new T right out of the package is going to hang awkwardly rather than compliment you. And buying “athletic fit” or “shaped” T’s can be quite expensive. What’s the solution? Custom…
-
Thimbles
Thimbles with instructor Steve Butler Class 127 What is it? You know what they say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In the case of thimbles it is certainly true. Thimbles in one form or another, have been around as long as needles have. Why? Well, whether you’re pushing a spike through animal hides in ancient times or a shiny new hand sewing needle through an expensive high thread count cotton fabric today, it still hurts your fingers. The other reason might even be more important, precision. Being able to position and insert the needle in…