• Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: “Quick” Yo-Yo Maker

    What is it? – Chances are either you or someone you know has a box full of fabric yo-yo’s under the bed or in a closet. And chances are either you made them or they were given to you by your grandmother or an aunt. It’s surprising how many people tell the same story. But why do so many people make fabric yo-yo’s? The answer is actually very simple. It’s FUN! Sit down in a comfy chair, grab a handful of fabric scraps and get your creativity flowing. Colors, patterns,…

  • Crafts,  Session 3

    Quick Yo-Yo Maker

    What is it? – Chances are either you or someone you know has a box full of fabric yo-yo’s under the bed or in a closet.  And chances are either you made them or they were given to you by your grandmother or an aunt.  It’s surprising how many people tell the same story.  But why do so many people make fabric yo-yo’s?  The answer is actually very simple.  It’s FUN!  Sit down in a comfy chair, grab a handful of fabric scraps and get your creativity flowing.  Colors, patterns,…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Kanzashi Flower Maker

    What is it? – How do you make a Kanzashi flower? Place a piece of fabric in the template, fold it closed, trim around the edges, take a threaded needle through the holes in numerical order, open the template and pull the thread tight. Petal complete. Repeat four more times and your flower is done. Could not be easier and no heavy equipment required. With all of the different sizes and shapes of Kanzashi Flower Maker templates and the vast and always changing selection of fabric patterns, colors and textures…

  • Crafts,  Session 3

    Kanzashi Flower Maker

      What is it? – How do you make a Kanzashi flower?  First you get some fabric that’s cut into perfect squares, a lighter, a hot glue gun, pair of sharp scissors and a couple of hair pins to hold the individual pieces together.  Then you fold each one of those perfect fabric squares in what is nothing less than an origami obstacle course.  Each of those pieces now have to be trimmed individually for shape and by the way, they all have to be identical when you’re done.  The…

  • Crafts,  Knitting/Crochet,  Session 3,  Sewing/Quilting

    Clover Vision

    What is it? – Time.  Space.  Cash flow.  Rare commodities.  One of the most important functions of any shop owner is to select and maintain a profitable product line.  Knitting, sewing and, crafts there are thousands of variations and combinations for store owners. You only have so much floor space, shelf space, counter space and wall space.  Every inch must be maximized for sales. So what is the solution?  Clover Vision.  Working with sewing and knitting luminaries, current and former shop owners and our own staff of experts, Clover has…

  • Crafts,  Session 3

    Weaving Sticks

      What is it? – Stick weaving is a traditional art form made modern by Clover with Weaving Sticks.  Just how old it is no one can truly say.  Not even Wikipedia knows for sure when or where it came to be.  There is little doubt that this simple method of weaving was initially utilitarian by nature intended primarily for making clothing and other needed implements by ancient ancestors.  The creative potential of weaving sticks could not be long ignored, however, and they soon evolved into something much more personally…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Weaving Sticks

    What is it? – Stick weaving is a traditional art form made modern by Clover with Weaving Sticks. Just how old it is no one can truly say. Not even Wikipedia knows for sure when or where it came to be. There is little doubt that this simple method of weaving was initially utilitarian by nature intended primarily for making clothing and other needed implements by ancient ancestors. Weaving Sticks are so simple to use that anyone, regardless of age, ability or skill level, can create beautiful and useful woven…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Hold It Precision Stiletto by Joan Hawley

    What is it? – Check out “stiletto” in the unabridged dictionary and you start reading about stylish heels or a long narrow knife with a sharp point.  Look it up in the Clover dictionary and you read about something entirely different.  The Hold It Precision Stiletto is an incredibly useful sewing tool designed by Clover in conjunction with Joan Hawley. Modern sewist require precision cutting, sewing and pressing.  Unfortunately some of these activities put our fingers in precarious proximity to either hot things or sharp things or both.  Done incorrectly…

  • Session 2,  Sewing/Quilting

    Hold It Precision Stilleto

    What is it? – Check out “stiletto” in the unabridged dictionary and you start reading about stylish heels or a long narrow knife with a sharp point.  Look it up in the Clover dictionary and you read about something entirely different.  The Hold It Precision Stiletto is an incredibly useful sewing tool designed by Clover in conjunction with Joan Hawley.  Much of what the modern sewist does requires precision cutting, sewing and pressing.  Unfortunately some of these activities put our fingers in precarious proximity to either hot things or sharp…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Iron Finger by Press Perfect

    What is it? – So much of what we do in sewing requires precision ironing. Careful pressing equals flat hems and seams. However, tiny hems, seams, points, appliqué and delicate creative shapes allow little space for stabilizing our projects while we press. The problem arises when we get that hot iron in close proximity to our cool fingers. Too close and it’s sailor talk and nobody wants that. So how do we accommodate the creative demands of our project while protecting our fingers? Simple, put Clover’s Iron Finger to work.…