• Session 15,  Sewing/Quilting,  Tool School Extra Credit

    Hand Sewing Needles Extra Credit

      Did you miss the hand sewing needles Tool School? Or maybe you just want more! Watch Tool School Extra Credit for some additional tips with Clover’s Hand Sewing Needles by the Shibaguyz.  To Watch Tool School an Overview of Hand Sewing Needles click here     Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby are the dynamic DIY duo known as the Shibaguyz, and the creative geniuses behind Shibaguyz Designz Studio.Their award winning crochet & knit designs have been featured in and on the covers of both US and international publications. Their craft, portrait,…

  • Session 15,  Sewing/Quilting

    Rotary Cutters

    What is it? -Everything we do in sewing starts with cutting larger pieces of fabric into smaller pieces of fabric before we can reassemble them into larger pieces of fabric fitting our creative design. Fashion, quilting, home decor and a whole host of accessories for all of them. It all starts with the cut. And it makes sense then that the more precise that cut, the more precise our finished project will be and the happier we are with what we’ve accomplished. So what do we use to make these…

  • Session 14,  Sewing/Quilting

    Hand Sewing Needles

      What is it? -No tools are more basic to sewing than needles are. They existed even before thread and fabric as our ancient ancestors used pointed objects to perforate hides so they could be laced together with leather cords. Centuries of technology later we have highly advanced, modern hand sewing needles that do basically the same thing. But they do it so much better now. Few tools are more useful. This primordial sewing tool has evolved into virtually every genre of sewing specialty including general sewing, appliqué, embroidery, ribbon…

  • Session 14,  Sewing/Quilting,  Tool School Extra Credit

    Scissors Extra Credit

        Extra credit with the Shibaguyz Scissors Both of our mother’s and grandmother’s were sewers. It was never a question of “if” something was handmade, but “what” was being made today? Every afternoon would find Jason’s mom in her sewing room making clothes for the family or dolls and toys to sell. And often Shannon’s grandmother and great aunts worked on fine garments or quilts. Even as adults a favorite Christmas memory for both of us was getting to open a package containing new boxer shorts from Jason’s mom……

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Session 12,  Sewing/Quilting

    Wonder Fuse

       What is it? – Welcome to the wonderful world of Wonder Fuse.  What is it?  It’s appliqué.  Well, more accurately, it’s how you do appliqué.  Why do we want to do appliqué?  Unlimited creative potential.  We can take any fabric, plain or with design, and cut it in any shape to represent pieces of any scene intended by the artist and then attach them all together permanently to embellish our finished project.  What genres does it apply to?  All of them.  This art form is used extensively in quilting,…

  • Session 11,  Sewing/Quilting

    Roll & Press

      What is it? – These are pressing issues.  Shakespeare might even ask, “To press or not to press, that is the question.”  Well, no matter who is asking the question, the answer is the same, a resounding yes to press.  Some very important things happen when we press each seam as we sew it and they make all the difference between something that looks “finished” and something that looks much more amateurish.  Pressing as you go allows your project to acquire the intended shape more quickly and allows you…

  • Session 11,  Sewing/Quilting

    Nancy Zieman Hobo Tote

      What is it? – For today’s active life styles a handy tote is a required accessory.  Satisfying requirements of both form and function they are both fashionable and useful.  Totes of one kind or another are available everywhere.  So many styles, so many colors, so embellishments.  But therein lies the problem.  Which one?  Choices, choices, choices.  Well, here’s another choice for you.  What if you could make your own tote?  Pick your own style, pick your own fabrics, pick your own embellishments.  And what if you could have more…