This video is part of the Design for a Living World exhibition on view at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City until January 4, 2010. Christien Meindertsma, featured in the video, is one of ten designers commissioned to develop new uses for sustainably grown and harvested materials in order to tell a unique story about the life-cycle of materials and the power of conservation and design. I find the video and Meindertsma's work (see more here) captivating.
STC Craft and Burda Style Present: DIY Design Day Benefit!
This is going to be a great event, for those of you who will be in Brooklyn November 14th!
To RSVP and for more information, click here!
V&A Patterns
I always love looking at books that showcase different patterns, so I was thrilled when I found out that that we (meaning Abrams, the company I work for and of which STC Craft is a part) would be distributing V&A Pattern, a series of pattern books from the publishers at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Each book includes over 65 pattern images, plus a CD with jpeg files of all of the images, ready to be viewed and manipulated for any non-commerical use. Below is a sampling of four of the patterns from each book. I love the idea of using these patterns to make customized stuff, such as gift wrap, note cards, notebook covers, screen savers, bookmarks, origami paper (or paper for nearly any paper craft), the list could go on and on. A few weeks ago my friend Hannah and I got together and made notebooks with patterns from the Fifties. I'll post a photo as soon as I take a decent one.
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| The Fifties | |||
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| William Morris | |||
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| Indian Florals | |||
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| Digital Pioneers | |||
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Winner of the Kata Golda Hand-Stitched Felt Contest and Felt Photo Pocket Demo!
Congrats to Naomi, our lucky winner of a free copy of Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt! Thanks to everyone who entered our contest. Stay tuned for Naomi's answer to the question: "What sort of adventures will your felty mice have?"
In the meantime, as a special consolation prize, here is the felt photo pocket demo that Kata did at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY.
This is a re-broadcast, in 2 parts, of the live webcast demo. There were some problems with sound, but hopefully these 2 videos will help fill in the gaps. Enjoy! I hope you'll be inspired to buy the book for friends and family (I plan on making nothing but felt gifts this year!)!
VIDEO LINKS:
• Felt Photo Pockets with Kata Golda (Part 1)
• Felt Photo Pockets with Kata Golda (Part 2)
Betz and Adina
This is the Halloween costume that my friend Adina made for her niece.
And this is the cover to our book Sewing Green by Betz White (with Betz's niece modeling).
Two great minds and two beautiful nieces.
Quilting for Peace Campaign
To celebrate the publication of Quilting for Peace by Katherine Bell and to, hopefully, help to spread some goodness, we are happy to be launching our new Quilting for Peace Campaign. To find out all about it, click on our Quilting for Peace widget at left. Whether you're new to quilting or an experienced quilter or don't quilt at all (yet) but are curious, please check it out.
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." ---Anne Frank
My Kata Golda Dog
I recently finished making this little dog from Kata Golda's new book Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt. I loved working with the wool felt (it's soft, the colors are great, and doesn't fray even when you make mistakes and have to rework stitches) and practicing my embroidery. I overstuffed him so his clothes are a little snug, but let's just call him muscular. I finished this guy in a couple of hours, such a quick and satisfying experience. To see more of these sweet characters, check out the video in my last post or the photos in the gallery here.
Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt: The Cutest-Ever Video Debut for a Book
Our new book Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt by Kata Golda is now available in stores. In this case, I think a video speaks a thousand words.
Leave a comment about the video and be the lucky winner of a free book. One winner will be chosen at random. Contest ends October 30th.
My Alabama Chanin Corset
A few months ago I posted about my Alabama Chanin dress here. Once I had finished the dress, I started this corset, spending many hours over the summer stitching it on my front porch. And now I'm working on a gray skirt.
Obviously, I'm totally hooked on both stitching and wearing this beautiful, comfortable cotton-jersey clothing. If you want to learn how to make it too, check out Alabama Stitch Book and/or take one of the Alabama Chanin Fall workshops (see the schedule here).
Fashion's Night Out
Check out the video and join in the fun on Thursday, September 10. From 6-8pm, I'll be at the Alabama Chanin Sewing Circle on the 5th floor at Barney's (660 Madison Ave., NYC). Where will you be? (For more information about events around the world, click here.)
Leslie H Reports from Sock Summit 09
I'm sure you've all heard by now (you who are knitters, crocheters, sock fetishists, or merely curious Portlanders wondering who the heck was cramming up the Voodoo Donuts line) the sighs and fond reminiscing about the first-ever Sock Summit in Portland, Oregon, the weekend before last. Even while vacationing, way up in the mountains on Peak #7, the following week, I heard the reverberations of that once-fabled Sock Summt, where socks from far and wide came to mix and mingle, share deep thoughts, and seek beautiful new patterns.
And, of course, to boldly go where no socks have gone...
Oh, who am I kidding? It was all about the donuts for some knitters. Here is Amanda from Lorna's Laces, with Natalia Apple of the Purls Beyond Price blog, noshing on what looks like a Fruit Loop donut and maybe just a chocolate-glazed.
Let's contemplate the maple bacon donut...which I, fair-weather vegetarian, bit into, only to feel both joy and pain in a single delicious moment.
But nevermind the donuts, no full Sock Summit day could've been started without a deliciously smooth cup of Portland's finest brew, and so I started out my mornings religiously at the counter of Red Square Cafe. Thanks to our amply stocked supply closet back at the office, I also left them with a few packages of our Greetings from Knit Cafe coffee sleeves. I got around to a few other hip spots as well...
...including Powell's Bookstore cafe, and even the Convention Center's Starbucks. Cha-ching!
Mmm, now that we're fueled to the max on virtual sugar and coffee, let's have a look at some of the beautiful booths (and booth people) who helped us sell our STC Craft creations: the brand-new Knitted Socks East and West by Judy Sumner (displayed with samples of the socks , which folks just loved!), and the STC Craft classic-to-be, Knitalong, by Portland gal Larissa Brown.
Thanks to the wonderful Sandy Kay of Knit Purl...
...the lovely (and lucky) Shannon of Twisted...
...John (way back there selling!) of Village Spinning and Weaving...
...Dawn and pal of Fiber Rhythm Craft and Design...
...the folks at the Cherry Tree Hill Yarn booth,and Lisa of the popular Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks booth, where Judy Sumner spent most of her Marketplace hours.
Our books and authors got out to the knitting shops around town as well. Here's Judy Sumner signing stock at the lovely Close Knit (while the talented Nancy of the blog Getting Purly With It winds yarn and shows off her handknitted flowers)...
...and here's Judy enjoying conversation at the local designers party at Knit Purl.
Local STC Crafters Leigh Radford (One More Skein, AlterKnits, and AlterKnits Felt) and Larissa Brown (Knitalong) enjoy the party with friends...
...and (yay!) even a random cute boy gets lured into the mix!
Next highlight of the night...this crowd at Powell's Books' "A Night For Knitters"! Around 80 people!
Judy was a natural on the stage! Inciting laughter, curiosity, and even sympathetic awww's when she talked about having to reknit some socks because of color issues. Of course, the crowd also loved looking at the socks from the book closeup.
Larissa Brown got a chance to talk about her book, and her fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders, the Knitalong Barn Raising Quilt Raffle, which ended up raising $600 (here are a couple of the gorgeous quilts, hanging out with Larissa at the Sock Summit author signing earlier that day).
By the time the authors finally finished with the line (and signing the massive amount of stock piled up for them), it was nearly time for bed...and for dreams of the next morning's Barbara Walker lecture. Now, I really didn't know much about Barbara Walker before this trip (I'm pretty new to knitting), so I just sort of expected to be sitting there politely, trying to stay awake while knitting my first sock ever. But seriously! This woman is hilarious and super-engaging, and she's done everything! Modern dance! Square dance! Feminist writings! Tarot card designs! And I so want to read her book The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets.
Well inspired, Judy and I headed off to Knit Purl once again, for Judy's Japanese sock technique classes, where everyone had a blast!
After such a busy two days, it was back to the hotel for Judy, who was finally feeling the effects of nonstop hobnobbing! I headed back to the convention to take random pics of this curious yarn culture!
Oh, and here are some crazy people posing with me. They claim to be my parents.
No, really, my folks surprised me and hopped a plane from Sacramento to Portland! Somehow they wrangled their way into the Marketplace, which they quite enjoyed! My mom bought giant glitter needles even though she doesn't knit, and my dad stood around commenting on the funny knitted hat/wigs he saw.
Eventually the parental units left to go dine at some place called Burgerville, and I moved on to the Ravelry party! I was pretty beat by this point, but I spread some STC Craft love about, and took in the awesome site of hundreds and hundreds of Ravelrers moving and shaking (and of course, knitting and crocheting) and winning raffle prizes from the fun-loving Ravelry mavens.
Sunday! Last day of the Sock Summit, and I got to experience the Luminary Panel. Did you know that Barbara Walker invented SSK? Did I know what SSK was? No. I've since learned that it stands for slip slip knit, and it's a way of decreasing and making your sock or whatever get narrower. One day I'll SSK like the best of them here: Cat Bordhi, Nancy Bush, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Judith MacKenzie-McCuin, Lucy Neatby, Deborah Robson, Meg Swansen, Barbara Walker, Anna Zilboorg.
Look! A Luminary attendee is covering up with the Knitalong quilt they won. Nice! (Thanks to Mary-Heather of Rainy Day Goods for this great pic!)
And the closing ceremony cake? Well, I ran away before I could get near it. Toooo many dooonuuuts!!!!
Aside from all the extra calories and caffeine, this Sock Summit was an amazing endeavor and a fantastic success. I, for one, am really looking forward to next year's summit, where we will "sock it to 'em!" yet again. Thanks for reading!
Sewing Green ”Show Us How You Sew Green” Special Offer
Sewing Green author Betz White and custom-fabric printer Spoonflower are teaming up for sustainability. Betz has designed a new Sewing Green print (shown above) and Spoonflower is printing it on 4-oz pure organic cotton. The fabric is available for purchase through Spoonflower's Etsy shop.
To celebrate this beautiful eco-smart collaboration, for $6, while supplies last, Spoonflower will send you a swatch the exact size you need to sew the Organic Washies from Betz’s book. And to sweeten the deal, we invite you to take part in our “Show Us How You ‘Sew Green’” Contest for the chance to win the book of your choice from STC Craft.
We’ve created a Flickr group called “Show Us How You ‘Sew Green’”. To enter, before noon EST on September 14th, post a photo to this group showing one of the following:
-a project you’ve made from Sewing Green (to see a gallery of images from the book, including the washies, click here)
-a project you’ve made with Betz’s new “Sewing Green” fabric
-a green or eco-friendly craft project you’d like to share
For more details and to share this offer with your friends, click here.
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All eligible entrants who upload a project photo will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win the STC Craft book of his or her choice. On or about September 14th, 2009, we will pick three (3) winners in a random drawing. (To see our online catalog, click here and here. To see galleries of images from many of our books, including Sewing Green, click on the titles you're interested in at right.) Limit one (1) entry per person, per Flickr account. We’ll be contacting the winner via Flickr mail, so please be sure your account is linked to a valid email address! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington D.C. who are 18 or older as of date of entry. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59:59 AM ET on 9/14/09. Visit www.abramsbooks.com for full official rules. Void where prohibited. |
Where Will STC Craft Be at the Sock Summit?
The question is, where won’t we be?! From all over the Sock Summit Marketplace, to the world famous Powell’s Books, to knitting stores all around Portland, Oregon (and yes, definitely stopping by Voodoo Donuts!), STC Craft will have holes in our socks by the end of this exciting weekend! Stalk us via our sock trail below, or follow us on Twitter @ STC_Craft to get up-to-the-second updates on what we’re up to!
Can't make it to the Sock Summit? Don't be sad! We've got something to keep you busy as well. Etsy has partnered with us to offer a complimentary copy of the Tatami Socks pattern from Knitted Socks East and West (shown above). Click here to download.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
7-9pm: Sock Summit Opening Ceremonies, Introductions, and Reception
Mixin’ and minglin’ with the teachers, organizers, and, ohh . . . just thousands of knitters. Someone is going to get their knitwear snagged for sure!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
8:30am-1pm: Sock Summit Marketplace @ Abundant Yarn Booths 506 and 508
Larissa Brown will be signing her book, Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together and raffling blankets for the Knitalong Barn Raising QuiltFundraiser for Doctors Without Borders.
11am –noon: Close Knit 2140 NE Alberta Street (corner of 22nd and Alberta); 503-288-4568
Book-signing and trunk show with Judy Sumner, author of Knitting Socks East and West, a compilation of 30 sock designs inspired by stitch patterns from Japan, most of which have never been seen by Western knitters until now. So many beautiful socks to fondle!
1:30-4:30pm: Sock Summit Book-Signing (Hall A1)
Larissa Brown will be signing copies of Knitalong, alongside knitting greats such as Cat Bordhi, Clara Parkes, Amy Singer, Barbara Walker. and many more!
6-9pm: Knit Purl 1101 SW Alder, (503) 227-2999
Portland Designers Showcase: Mix and mingle with local knitwear designers, including Larissa Brown and Leigh Radford—author of AlterKnits, AlterKnits Felt, One Skein, and the upcoming One More Skein. Cocktails are rumored to be here. Ooh, and do check out their site; they’ve got all kinds of fun things planned for this weekend!
7:30-8:30pm: Powell’s Bookstore 1005 W. Burnside Ave.
A Night For Knitters: Book-signing and Q&A with Judy Sumner, author of Knitted Socks East and West, and Larissa Brown, author of Knitalong. A night, and a bookstore, not to be missed!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
8:30-10:30am: Sock Summit Marketplace @ Abundant Yarn Booths 506 and 508
Larissa Brown will be signing Knitalong and raffling blankets for Doctors without Borders
9am: Sock Summit Lecture (Room: C123 (AV) (L))
Attending the lecture, “How I Became a Knitter” with the prolific and inspiring Barbara Walker
11am-noon: Close Knit 2140 NE Alberta Street (Corner of 22nd and Alberta); 503-288-4568
Book-signing and Knitalong Trunk Show with Larissa Brown
Noon-1pm / 1:30-2:30pm (same class twice): Knit Purl 1101 SW Alder; 503-227-2999
Judy Sumner, author of Knitted Socks East and West, will be teaching a workshop on four different Japanese stitch patterns used in her book. Call to register. Fee of $35 includes a signed copy of the book.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
1:30-4:30pm: Sock Summit Luminary Panel (Oregon Ballroom)
Rubbing elbows and needles with knitters who’ll be ga-ga for these folks!
And…be sure to scout out the following booths for signed copies of both Knitalong and Knitted Socks East and West!
Abundant Yarn: Booths 506 and 508
Close Knit: Booth 214
Knit Purl: Booth 1022
Knitwear and Dyeworks: Booths 801 and 803
Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design: Booth 307
Village Spinning & Weaving: Booths 901, 903, 1000, 1002
Twisted: Booth 812
Cherry Tree Hill Yarn: Booths 715, 717, 719
Hope to see you there. Remember, to follow our tweets @ STC_Craft!
Betz White's New Organic Fabric Line
Betz White, author of Sewing Green, has just released her debut line of organic cotton fabric called Family Cottage. Her inspiration:
I believe there’s a place in everyone’s life
real or imagined
in your mind or in your heart
in your backyard or far far away
where you are truly yourself.
Not defined by what you do or to whom you belong
but by the person you have always been deep down at the core.
The authentic you of your childhood, when long summer days stretched on forever.
When time stood still and there was nowhere to be but right where you were.
Fun and joy and life just happened.
To see more photos of the fabric and to read more about the collection, visit Betz's blog.
Last Stop on Vintage Baby Knits Blog Tour
This is the last stop on the Vintage Baby Knits blog tour, so author Kristen Rengren and I thought it would be fun to end where this book adventure began--with a few of the original vintage designs.
Original Jasper Diamond Hoodie (top left)
Jasper Diamond Hoodie in VBK
Original Violet Sacque (top left)
Violet Sacque in VBK
Original Harry Sailor Sweater
Harry Sailor Sweater in VBK
If you'd like to see sample pages from Vintage Baby Knits, click on the book cover in the right margin. If you'd like to see a gallery of images from the book click here. If you're interested in learning about working with vintage patterns, check out Kristen's Knitting Vintage blog tutorial.
A Free Pattern & Gift Idea from Weekend Sewing Author Heather Ross and STC Craft
Together with Weekend Sewing author Heather Ross, we've put together an easy gift idea. First, we're giving you the pattern for the Gardening Gloves from Weekend Sewing (shown above) as a free download. And then we're suggesting some creative ideas about how to present them to a friend. For the pattern and the rest of the details (which include some of Heather's adorable illustrations), click here.
To sweeten the deal, we also have three STC Craft books to give away. To enter to win, join us on Twitter (@stc_craft), answer this question--What are you currently crafting or looking forward to starting?--and tag your tweet #STCcraft. On Friday, July 31, 2009, at noon EST, we will choose three winners at random and contact them via Twitter.
Weekend Knitting Getaway Giveaway
UPDATE: WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE WINNER. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING. WE LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS!
Very exciting news! The amazing Clara Parkes of Knitter's Review and STC Craft are teaming up for a very special giveaway to celebrate the release of Weekend Knitting in paperback and the beauty of taking time off to knit and learn new knitting skills with friends.
Clara has been hosting an annual knitter's retreat every fall for the last eight years. And this year's gathering, which will take place November 20, 2009-November 22, 2009, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is sure to be wonderful with Clara and a great group of teachers--Karthryn Alexander, Anne Hanson, and Melissa Morgan-Oakes--leading the way. To learn more about the retreat, click here.
Now, here's the exciting part. STC Craft has one retreat package to give away. That means that one lucky winner will have his or her retreat expenses covered: to be specific, the cost of all classes and activities, two nights' lodging in a private room, all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast, snacks and beverages throughout the weekend, plus all taxes and gratuities, will be covered. In addition, the winner will receive a copy of the new Weekend Knitting paperback in a gift basket in his or her room. The cost of transportation to/from the event is NOT covered.
To enter, in the Comments section below, tell us which STC Craft book you would like to cuddle up with (or craft from) this weekend. To see all of our books, click on the online catalog at right. On or about July 22 at 9:30AM (EST), we will choose one winner in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and send him or her email notification. The winner will have 24 hours to respond; if that doesn't happen, we will choose a new winner, who also must respond within 24 hours of notification. Note that the official registration for Knitter's Review Retreat 09 opens on Friday, July 24 at noon (EST) and fills within minutes, so if you don't win and are interested in going, you'll need to act fast.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, DC who are 18 years or older as of date of entry. Sweepstakes ends at 9:29:59AM ET on 7/22/09. Visit www.abramsbooks.com/Weekend_Knitting_Getaway_Giveaway.html for full official rules. Void where prohibited.
Vintage Baby Knits Blog Tour
While I was on vacation, Kristen Rengren's Vintage Baby Knits blog tour started. Check out the first two posts, plus the rest of the itinerary (including Kristen's last stop on July 27 right here).
Wednesday, July 1
Franklin Habit's Panopticon: Dolores the Sheep gets real w/ Kristen Rengren & Book Giveaway
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com
Monday, July 6
Go Knit in Your Hat: Yarn Talk & Book Giveaway
http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 8
Sheep in the City - Book Review & Giveaway
http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com
Thursday, July 9
Lime and Violet – How to Knit from Vintage Patterns & Book Giveaway
http://limenviolet.blogspot.com
Friday, July 10
Whipup - Vintage Knitting Talk & Book Giveaway
Tuesday, July 14
Grumperina - Show & Tell & Book Giveaway
http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog
Thursday, July 16
The Blue Blog - Book Review & Giveaway
Friday, July 17
Handmade News - Author-Reader Q&A, Review, & Giveaway
Monday, July 20
Heather Ross's Weekend - Book Giveaway & Chat
http://heatherross.squarespace.com
Wednesday, July 22
House on Hill Road - Chat & Book Giveaway
http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/my_weblog
Friday, July 24
Handmade News - Answers to Author Q&A
Friday, July 31
STC Craft – Vintage Patterns for Inspiration
Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt and Quilting for Peace
Before I shut off my computer and officially begin my vacation, I am happy to be posting sneak peeks of Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt by Kata Golda and Quilting for Peace by Katherine Bell. Both books will be releaed this fall. To see a few interior pages of each, click on the book covers in the right margin below. I hope you enjoy. Happy 4th!
My Alabama Chanin Dress
Last July I was one of the very lucky participants at an Alabama Chanin workshop in Florence, Alabama, led by company founder and creative director Natalie Chanin (also the author of the STC Craft book Alabama Stitch Book and the upcoming Alabama Studio Style). When the workshop started, after I had tried on an assortment of beautiful Alabama Chanin dresses and skirts in different sizes, I decided that I would make the Camisole Dress in size medium. Next I chose my fabric colors, my stencil design, and my textile paint color. Then Natalie's staff cut out my 6 pattern pieces, stenciled my design onto the fabric, and handed me their work so I could start mine: working reverse applique around all of the shapes in the stencil design and beading around or inside of some of them. While I was there (Friday night - Sunday morning), I happily stitched for hours and hours and came close to finishing the reverse applique and some of the beading on 11/2 panels (with a little help from Alabama Chanin stitcher Diane Hall, who very kindly offered to work on one panel while I worked on another when she didn't have other responsibilities to attend to). After I returned home to my "real" world, where I didn't have the luxury of stitching for hours on end, I worked on the dress when I could, on the train, during long car trips, at a couple of my son's soccer tournaments, and sometimes while watching movies on television on Sunday afternoons. After all of the panels were finished, I stitched the seams and added binding around the neckline and armholes. All in all, it took me about 10 months (and I have no idea how many hundreds of hours) to finish. And I loved every bit of it. The process of making my dress by hand was soul-enriching. Wearing the dress, which is comfortable, feminine, and subtly sparkly--is wonderful. I especially enjoy looking at the seams and feeling how strong they are, knowing that they are that way because of the stitches I made with my hands. I am so grateful to Natalie and Diane and everyone else at the Alabama Chanin studio who helped me that weekend, to the other participants in the workshop, who made the beginning of this experience so much fun, and to Lori Adams, a local photographer who saw me working on the dress last Fall and promised that when I finished it, she would take my picture in it. Below are Lori's photos of me wearing the dress that makes me feel so capable and happy.
