traceytoole: sewing

Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

New Sewing Classes coming up!

The new year is well under way and I will be teaching a variety of new classes.
I also teach private lessons in Park Slope, Soho and Chelsea. Email me for more info on those. tracey@traceytoole.com

available for purchase Cover Me Apron

INTRO TO SEWING: Adjustable Apron
Feb 6th, 13th, 20th
6 to 8 pm
at Purl Soho
$150 for 6 hours
Learn to use the sewing machine and make an adjustable apron.
Pre-wash your fabric before your first class.
Find more info here.

Call or email Purl Soho to register store@purlsoho.com or 212-420-8796

Hand Stitching Techniques: Bunny Hand Puppets
2 hour workshop

I made these last Easter for my nieces, they absolutely adored them. Learn hand sewing techniques in this class while making a Bunny Hand Puppet. These little tricks will help you sew buttons on properly, repair minor tears, and you will leave with some cute friends.

March 22nd
5 to 7
$50
at Purl Soho
Click here for more info

LAP DUVET

This is an intermediate class, some basic sewing knowledge required. You will be making a cozy throw blanket or give as a great baby gift.
Feb 27th and March 6th
6:30 to 8:30
at Purl Soho
click here for more info

INTRO TO SEW: Liberty Scarf

Learn the basics of the sewing machine and make yourself a beautiful Spring Scarf using Liberty of London Fabrics.
April 24th and May 1st
6:30 to 8:30
$100.00
at Purl Soho
click here for more info

NEWBORN KIMONO: One day workshop

Since I am expecting a baby in June I should start building up inventory of clothing. I love this little kimono and it is a perfect beginner project. No prior experience needed.
You will learn machine sewing and some hand sewing tricks.
April 7th
12 to 5
$125.00
a one day work shop!
Click here for more info

For all classes at Purl Soho you can call or email to register.
212.420.8796
store@purlsoho.com

And if you have any questions on the supply list or class descriptions feel free to email me at tracey@traceytoole.com OR tracey@purlsoho.com

Please pre-wash all fabric before your first class. This is very important, you will find out why in class!

Thanks and have a great day!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Patch pockets, how to make them.

As a designer and sewer I find myself constantly hiding the raw edges. I teach sewing at a couple places in NYC and in my classes at 3rdward I teach how to make a Butcher's Apron or a Grocery Bag called the Charlie Bag borrowed from Burdastyle. For both projects we add patch pockets, double sided. There is always at least 1 student sometimes 2 or 3 that say as we are about to finishing sewing the pocket shut, "How do we put our hand in?".

I will start from the beginning. Place your 2 pieces face to face, sew 3/8" seam allowance leaving 3" to 4" open. Trim corners at a diagonal, flip to the right side, tuck in raw edges and sew a top stitch straight across. Then we attached the pocket to the bag or the apron.

the ticking stripe is the apron body

Currently I am making some new styles of aprons for Shag. A cute little, sexy shop based in Williamsburg Brooklyn. The owners, Sam and Ashley, are very cool women. I work mainly with Sam and she is easy going and I can always count on her opinion. I digress. Any who, one of the styles I am working on now is a retro inspired with a tad of sexiness to it half apron. I am calling it the Tabitha apron. Tabitha from Bewitched. I am still using durable fabrics as the base so these are functional as well as cute. I posted my progress on facebook and a friend asked about the pocket. I planned on making a pocket but wasn't sure what kind. Definitely not square. This is a curved, sexy apron, a square visually wouldn't work. I was thinking possibly a 5 point pocket. My friend, Stacey, asked will it be heart shaped. Yes that would be cute but doing a double sided heart shaped pocket with raw edges tucked in can sometimes not be completely smooth on the outside. Those of you who sew know curves can be tough. Then I thought, well I don't have to reverse it, I can just sew it on and have a little fringe.

If you want to do this, cut your heart on the fold like you did in grade school with construction paper. My pocket is double sided here with pink. I did a straight stitch first around the edges then stitched it onto the apron. I stitched it to the half way up the arch of the heart, leaving about a 4 1/2" wide opening. Feel free to place it at an angle or straight.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/91452844/valentine-cafe-apron-red-hearts-and

Don't feel like making the apron above? You can buy it on etsy, just click the link.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

5 Under $25 Gift Guide

A little under 2 weeks before Christmas, can you believe it? How time flies. End of another year and the economy still isn't that great. So in this post I decided to do an Under $25 Gift ideas all thru etsy. Buy local. Not only do you support our US local economy, but also you are not supporting sweat shops over seas. And a bonus, most likely you are getting one of a kind and handmade item by talented artisans and crafters.

I typed in Under 25 on etsy and one of the first thing I found is this cute french clip pouch.