-
Extra Credit: Embroidery Stitching Tool
Embroidery Stitching Tool: The Swag Tag! By Shannon and Jason We give you, the Swag Tag! NOTIONS AND TOOLS Clover Embroidery Hoop – Item #8812 Scissors – Bordeaux 130 – Item #4940 Embroidery Stitching Tool – Item #8800 3 ply Needle – Item #8803 MATERIALS Fabric Top – Plain cotton fabric or muslin, enough to fully cover the embroidery hoop. Backing fabric – recommend using felt or a paper textile like Kraft-tex. 6 ply Embroidery Floss 3-5 colors of floss (we used Aurifil Cotton Floss 18yd/spool). Colorful is the word…
-
Extra Credit: Sweet `n Sharp Macaron
Macaron By Shannon and Jason So, you’ve been bitten by the creativity bug and decided that hand sewing is going to be your next foray into the maker world… WELCOME! There are so many styles to choose from… embroidery, sashiko, needlepoint, crewel, kogin-zashi, or cross stitch. Whether sewing is your primary form of creative expression, or you saw that one project which inspired you to pick up needle and thread, you’re going to love the versatility and vast range of projects that hand sewing encompasses. One thing that is going…
-
Extra Credit: Pins
Pins By Shannon and Jason It goes without much debate that the pins are the multi-tasking wonder of any creative space. And, more often than not, we tend to take them for granted until we can’t find one… or as the case might be, find the RIGHT one. Our philosophy in our art and life is to Embrace the Creative Chaos which means we have a w-i-i-i-de variety of projects going on all at once at any given time. So, for us, having the right pin at the right time…
-
Extra Credit: Stack and Slash Pillow
Stack and Slash Pillow By Shannon and Jason This month’s Tool School Extra Credit focuses on that wonder of tools, the Clover Rotary Cutter. We have three sizes of the Clover Rotary Cutters in our studio. Three above our big cutting table, one on the smaller cutting table, and one 45mm in our portable studio kit. The project video for this month features the 60mm rotary cutter that makes easy work of multiple layers of fabric used for our Stack and Slash Pillow. What a name, right? Just wait… you’ll…
-
Extra Credit: Hot Hemmer Square & Hot Ruler Large
Hot Hemmer Square & Hot Ruler Large By Shannon and Jason Well… Clover has done it again. Just when we were looking for a product, here they are with exactly what we need. They have expanded their line of pressing tools to include the Hot Ruler Large and Hot Hemmer Square. If you are a garment sewist, the larger ruler is something you are already familiar with, and it is this product we were JUST looking for to use in our own garment making as well as to adapt for quilting.…
-
Extra Credit: No-Sew, Iron-On Octopatch
No-Sew, Iron-On Octopatch By Shannon and Jason Oney the Octopatch Here, in our part of the world, we are entering that time of year when the skies are clearer, the breeze is warmer, and the wind carries the unmistakable sound of screaming little folx who have looked forward to summer break for months but now they have entirely too much time on their hands and are sooooo bored with everything and what were you thinking giving them three juice boxes (they have how much sugar??) and maybe that giant Slurpee…
-
Extra Credit: Amour Crochet Hooks
Amour Crochet Hooks By Shannon and Jason View at our website From the first crochet patterns we published to our three latest crochet books Crochet Geometry, Designer Crochet, and Complete Crochet Course, Clover Amour Crochet Hooks have been in our hands all the way. Whether working on personal projects, teaching classes, or creating the pieces for our books, we couldn’t do what we do without these hooks. Especially when Shannon started developing hand and wrist pain from all metal crochet hooks, the ergonomic soft grips made it easier to use…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…