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Finger Presser / Hera Marker
Hera Markers and Finger Presser with instructor Steve Butler Class 135 What is it? – Hera Markers. Wow! Kind of a misnomer. Kind of not. Compared with other more traditional markers like pens and pencils that leave definitive lines, they’re not markers at all. If, however, you want a marker that leaves clear, easily identifiable lines to follow while applying your stitches without leaving any potentially “permanent” pencil or ink marks on your quilt, then the Hera Marker is the ultimate marker. Just like using a pen or pencil, you can inscribe either straight or…
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Fork Pins
Fork Pins with instructor Steve Butler Class 134 When we think about it, the pursuit of our creative sewing aspirations always seem to follow the same basic path regardless of genre. Quilting, fashion, home decor, heirloom or crafts. In each we cut large pieces of fabric into smaller pieces of fabric, reorganize them in some imagined design and then sew them back together into larger pieces of fabric. In that process we measure, mark, cut, pin and then sew. The more precise each step is, the more satisfaction we enjoy with our finished…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Curve Ruler
Curve Ruler with instructor Steve Butler Class 126 What is it? Is fashion important? Yes! Absolutely! Almost without exception, we feel better when we’re wearing something we consider fashionable. And what makes it fashionable? Style, fit, aesthetics and function. It looks good and we feel good in it. If it’s going to be something we make ourselves, it starts with an amazing pattern that we find. It’s important to realize though, that these patterns often indicate only general sizes that fit the average proportions for each size. But truth be told, no one is average. What that means to us…
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Extra Credit: Pillow Slipcover By the Shibaguyz
Pillow Slipcover By the Shibaguyz It’s inevitable, especially at this time of the year when we are spending so much of our time inside with our possessions. You start to notice all the small things: The pulled threads, the small stains, that slightly worn edge on the sofa pillow. Or maybe you are just really tired of looking at the same elephant staring at you from the pillow print. New Years is just around the corner, it’s time for an easy makeover. We suggest the humble Pillow Slipcover. The pillow…