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Mini Iron II: “The Adapter Set”
Mini Iron II: The Adapter Set with Instructor Steve Butler Class 152 View at our website What is it? First of all, why do we call it a “mini iron”? Because of its diminutive size? Yeah, pretty much. But that name is a true misnomer. Even though labeled as “mini”, the small size really packs a punch and makes it one of the most useful notions in any sewing or crafting studio. It’s simple, our pressing stations need to keep pace with the almost explosive growth of sewing and craft techniques and applications we see today. Let’s…
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Fabric Tube Maker
Fabric Tube Maker with Instructor Steve Butler Class 155 What is it? Jelly Roll™ projects of all types are more popular than ever. Home décor, fashion, fashion accessories, quilting, or any other application you can imagine. The three dimensional effect of the folded fabric tubes are particularly enticing. Add to that the unlimited selection of fabric colors, patterns and textures plus a vast array of thread colors and textures and the creativity quotient is off the charts. Okay, they’re great. We get it. So how do we make these fabric tube masterpieces? I Googled it. Let me…
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Extra Credit: Tracing Wheels
Tracing Wheels By Shannon and Jason Medieval torture devices? Baking for making those cool cuts in the top of your bread? What exactly are those strange looking wheelie-pokey-thing-a-ma-bob-tools that come in sewing tool kits and why should I learn to use them? If your first exposure to tracing wheels brought up these questions, you aren’t alone. Tracing wheels are for, just that, tracing pattern pieces. The pointy, sharp tracing wheel is perfect for outlining an existing pattern piece to create a duplicate. In our case, we use it to duplicate…
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Punch Needle & Hoop
Punch Needle and Hoop with instructor Steve Butler Class 154 What is it? – Punch needle embroidery, it’s all the rage. Everyone wants to do it. Punch needle is a hand application process that uses a hollow needle to create loops of yarn, floss or even ribbon on fabric giving us a textured pile surface. The result is nothing short of a stunning textile art form. For those of us who have a special sense for fibers and the beautiful textures they can create, we have found a new home. The creative…
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Cable Stitch Holders
Cable Stitch Holders with instructor Steve Butler Class 153 What is it? – To MacGyver or not to MacGyver, that is the question. Okay, forget the feeble Shakespear/80’s TV action series reference. Seriously though, when it comes to knitting tools my answer is why? Why seek a MacGyver gimmick-based solution to the challenges presented by our most lofty creative endeavors? Why would you ever want to use anything other than the best solution-based tools available? Perhaps our knitting pattern specifies a particular decorative procedure that requires us to put designated open stitches on…
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Extra Credit: Needle Punch & Hoop
Shagadelic Coaster & Wall Hanging By Shannon and Jason A throwback to an earlier time… when boots were made for walking and Tina told us about love river deep and mountain high. What better way to get your groove on than by making your own set of Shagadelic coasters… or better yet, take those coasters and turn them into a wall hanging. Take your favorite colors of yarn, some rug cloth, the Clover Punch Needle and Punch Needle Hoop, add a little bit of flower power and you are well…
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Extra Credit: Cable Stitch Holders
Squishy Twists Spa Cloth By Shannon and Jason Me time. That’s not a practice we are always good at around here. We seem to always be moving from project to project to laundry, to groceries, to fixing the dishwasher, and where did Atlas go now and what is he into?? Like most of us, it is easy for days and even entire weeks to slip away without us taking any time to ourselves to recharge our batteries. Let us give you a good excuse to do just that with our…
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Yarn Guide
Yarn Guide System with instructor Steve Butler Class 151 What is it? – If you’re a fan of stranded color work like Fair Isle knitting with its symmetrical geometric motifs or Scandinavian knitting with its striking large asymmetrical motifs or even your own dramatic multi-color creative inventions, you know that these techniques can be both extremely rewarding but also pretty tricky. The challenges of organizing and controlling those multiple strands of yarn when doing creative color work can be rather daunting. Those challenges can be serious and will ultimately determine the…
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Extra Credit: Flower Loom
Drab to FAB Bag and Hat Upgrade By Shannon and Jason Seldom do we use the phrase “Quick and easy.” Some projects are quick, some are easy… rarely are they ever both. This project is one of those rarities that is indeed quick and easy! Woven handbags are easily found with a quick internet search. In fact, the “crafty” trend is huge in bags for 2022. Unfortunately, if you want the latest Chloé tote or Bottega Veneta bag from that trend, you are going to pay $1,200 or $7,200. Beach…
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Flower Loom
Flower Loom with instructor Steve Butler Class 150 What is it? – A famous Clergyman once wrote, “Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.” Really? I’m not so sure. Can you imagine any of Monet’s major works of art without flowers? He couldn’t. And how about poetry? Spend some time perusing floral themed verse and you’ll see that poetry and flowers can truly be viewed as nothing less than a beautiful garden inside the author’s words. But what does that mean to us? How do we feel about…