16 Hours of Sewing

16 hours of sewing... well not really.  I just completed teaching another session of Introduction to Sewing 1 Intensive at the Sewing Studio in Manhattan.  I am always so impressed with the results.  These students started four weeks ago knowing nothing about sewing, fabric, patterns, grain, zippers and measuring the body.   Grain? like 7 grain bread?  No. 

I taught them how to use a machine, how to wind a bobbin,  we moved on how to make a drawstring bag and how to make a zipper pouch.  And their final project, picking a pattern and making a skirt that has a zipper.  It was 4 weeks long and it went by so fast.  These were the results. Here are 3 skirts, 3 varieties.  All have a zipper, darts and was adjusted to fit the sewist. 

I am so happy and impressed with these ladies.  They were a great group to spend a Saturday afternoon with.

Sip n Sewcial This Friday in NYC

Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice and productive weekend.  It rained here in New York but the weather is in the 50's!  What did you do this weekend? Any sewing? Are you working on any tough projects?  This Friday on April 4th I will be teaching at the first Sip n Sewcial at the Sewing Studio in Manhattan.  I am so excited about this event!  I know when I was single and childless sometimes I just preferred to hangout at home on a Friday night and do some sewing, enjoy a glass of wine or two.  The bar scene gets very old, very quick.   Who am I kidding, I still like to hang out at home and sew or do some other craft on a Friday night! 

Apron making

Busy bees

A student's shirt coat from Intro to Sew 2

If you are working on a project, want to start a new project, want some guidance or just want to be crafty and meet some new creative people you should come to the Sip n Sewcial.  It starts at 6 pm and goes until 10 pm.  You have full use of the sewing machines, the sergers, irons, and huge, spacious tables!  You can't find that in NYC!  If you need some help on a project I will be there to answer any questions.  Or if you want to try something new I will be teaching my Spring Infinity Scarf. 

Spring Infinity Scarf

To secure your spot you can pre-pay for your ticket here on Eventbrite. 

If you would like to make the Spring Infinity Scarf bring a half yard each of two different fabrics and matching thread.  For my scarf above I used 3 scrap pieces of Liberty of London and this reverses to Essex by Robert Kaufman.  

I almost forgot to mention, wine is provided!

Hope to see you there!

And have a crafty week!

Tracey

Holiday Prep - DIY Decor and Gifts

I love the holidays! I love this time of year right before Christmas.  The temperature is cool, fire places lit, crafting is full on.  In the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my DIY decorations and gifts.
 I am teaching two workshops at the Sewing Studio  which is in Chelsea on W 29th but I will also share with you here some fun crafty things to do.
Check back often, this is what we will be making!

wine bottle bag
pom pom countdown
holiday runner
lavender sachets that will make any stocking smell fantastic!

Two Workshops in NYC for the Holidays

Liberty of London fabric lined with Shot cotton

Ok are you trying to think of something to make for the holidays?
I will be teaching 2 different workshops at the Sewing Studio this month.  One is holiday based, the other is not.  Both of them are for beginners to intermediate.  If you don't know how to use the sewing machine don't worry, I will teach you.  You will also learn some hand sewing, working with applying embellishments and interfacing.  If you are looking for something fun to do with your friends you should come on by!

Workshop 1 Learn to Make a Tie

December 18th 6:30 to 9:30

Alexander Henry Day of the Dead fabric with Shot cotton

Workshop 2
Craft a Keepsake Stocking
Saturday December 21st 3 to 6

Wool felt is so lovely to work with.  With Harper now in my life I decided to start a new tradition, maker her a stocking every year.  I have been playing with wool felt alot lately.  Besides being warm, it is super flexible, forgiving and comes in so many colors!  Don't be surprised if you see more projects from me using this fabulous fabric!

felt bundles from Purl Soho

 One of the above bundles is great for details and trimming but the size of each piece is not large enough for one stocking.  Suggestion: you can always sew a color blocked stocking and piece the felt together.

samples I am working on

You bring the felt, fabric and what ever embellishments you want.  Some suggestions are sequins, smaller pieces of felt, rick rack, pom poms, embroidery floss.  How about some metallic or glow in the dark floss? DMC makes both!
We will provide needles, some trim, glues, templates, the pattern and the sewing machines of course!
Come take a break from the crazy holiday shopping on December 21st and have some fun!

rick rack, pom poms and green metallic sequins

 The felt pom poms and metallic sequin strip I bought at Purl Soho.  The rick rack I purchased from etsy years ago, it's from my stash.

Mini stocking measuring 6"

And hopefully you won't be having a cat sit in your supply box....what can I say the wool is warm and cozy!

Homer

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.