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Extra Credit: Fork Pins
Fork Pins By the Shibaguyz Pins are the ubiquitous tool of sewists, crafters, quilters, garment makers, crocheters, knitters… basically anyone who ever touches fabric will use pins, and use them often. Some pins tell you what they are designed for—like Silk Pins or Quilting Pins—others you must play with a while to find their best use. They all have their own unique characteristics that make them suitable for different uses.There is one type of pin that we keep close at hand as the secret weapon in matching up any seams.…
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Needle Threaders
Needle Threaders with instructor Steve Butler What is it? – Few sewing tools are more useful and necessary than hand sewing needles. Specific needle styles have evolved into virtually every genre of sewing specialty including general sewing, appliqué, embroidery, ribbon embroidery, quilting, upholstery, tapestry, basting, beading, darning, tailoring, etc. Additionally, and regardless of style, each needle is manufactured with great attention ensuring it is produced with a point that ensures precise fabric insertion, a flawlessly smooth shaft that pulls effortlessly through layers of fabric and a smooth eye that securely holds the…
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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: Tunisian Crochet Mug Rug
Tunisian Crochet Mug Rug By the Shibaguyz It should come as no surprise to most of you that we like to play with a lot of different types of crafting. We knit, crochet, quilt, sew, spin… you get the idea. Our general philosophy for our making and art is that all forms of art and craft inform one another; there are transferable skills from each form that support, enhance, and expand the others. When we were asked to create something using the Clover Tunisian Crochet Interchangeable Hook Set, this philosophy came…
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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…
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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…
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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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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…
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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…