Free Project Friday: Heather Ross Prints

Anyone else find themselves drooling over the adorable personalized stationery suite from Heather Ross Prints featured in our fall galleries? Well you’re in luck! Add a little whimsy to your weekend by clicking here to download the free tutorial for making personalized stationery for yourself or a friend (and be sure to download the template and liner artwork here and here).

While we're on the topic of free crafty goodness, we're thrilled to announce that our friends over at the Purl Bee are hosting a giveaway for all five books on our fall list! The contest ends today, so make sure you don't miss out.

Have a happy, crafty weekend!

Handmade Halloween

Some of my very best memories from childhood involve frolicking around in the various Halloween costumes my mom sewed for my sister and me. From fuzzy animals (I'm the mouse on the right) to gauzy Disney princess numbers, she transformed us into whatever our little hearts desired each year. Now, as an adult, I still can’t bring myself to buy a pre-made Halloween costume, instead preferring to cobble together something unique and of the silly and last-minute variety (and yes, I still rope my mom into helping).

There are many ways to put together great Halloween attire on the fly without spending a lot of time on something you'll only wear once. And, as we here at STC Craft are suckers for any excuse to pull out the craft supplies, where better to start than with costumes inspired by our books?

Have you tried dressing up a found piece with fun hair and makeup? Learn to master the art of prohibition-era flapper finger waves or mod Twiggy eyeliner with The Bust DIY Guide to Life:

 

If you've already spent time creating the perfect handmade wardrobe, why don't you take something you already love wearing and put it to double use? This sultry sheath from Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing can go from a date night outfit to Mad Men-inspired trick-or-treating digs, and the leaf scarf from Sewing Green would make the perfect addition to your Mother Nature or Jolly Green Giant costume.

 

When all else fails, wear a hat! The right topper can transform an otherwise simple outfit, like this witch hat from Knitting From the Center Out, or bear hat from Oliver + S Little Things to Sew (you can customize the ear shape for different critters!):

 

It's amazing what a difference a few handmade add-ons can make (just look at these creative costumes made from STC Craft author Liesl Gibson’s Oliver + S patterns!), but if you still need some inspiration, make sure to stop by and check out our Halloween pinboard. Let the treats roll in!

Our Newest e-Books

It’s officially fall—have you started to think about toasty knitting projects for the cooler days to come? Well now you can whip out your e-reader or smartphone and start stitching even more of your favorite patterns from STC Craft!

Open Road Integrated Media, in partnership with STC Craft, has released e-editions of six of our most-beloved knitting titles—Knit 2 Together, Knits Men Want, Knitted Socks East and West, Knitting 24/7, Knitting for Baby, and Viva Poncho—for a total of 14 titles in our e-knitting collection. Spanning a wide spectrum of skill levels, these releases are perfectly timed to coincide with the impending sweater weather.

As a lovely bonus treat, scroll through the inspiring videos above to watch STC Craft authors Melanie Falick, Kristin Nicholas, Bruce Weinstein, Joelle Hoverson, and Andrea Berman Price share their thoughts on expressing love through hand-knitted gifts and how nothing compares to making it yourself.

Download and start knitting for the ones you love today!

I Spy: Kaffe Fassett Edition

Somehow, September has nearly passed us by, and school-aged future crafters are already back into the swing of things—cutting up construction paper, cramming for tests, and skinning knees on the playground. Think you know which of the studious little tots above grew up to be our very own Kaffe Fassett, quilter/knitter/artist extraordinaire? Take a guess! We'll post the answer on Monday.

Update: There he is, fourth from the left in the middle row!

If you're stumped, why not come on out to one of his cross-country tour dates to compare? Starting this Friday, he’ll be kicking off his North American tour at Bentley University in Waltham, MA.

If you can’t make it out to see him for yourself, you can still feast your eyes on some inspiring photos spanning his celebrated career in Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color, available now.

Partying with Heather Ross

 

There are many things that author Heather Ross does well, and one of them is throwing a great party. To celebrate the release of her latest book, Heather Ross Prints, she decorated the rooftop of her apartment building to the nines, put out fabulous food and endless proseco, and managed to assemble the most wonderful and interesting people in the sewing and craft community (including Amy Sedaris!) in one little space. Throughout the night, Heather flitted about her party with a gracious, easy smile. Don't you love it when a hostess seems to be enjoying her own party?

But what I think Heather enjoyed most of all was signing copies of her book for guests. After months (nay, years!) of working on this book together behind closed doors, getting the finished product out into the world is pure bliss. But even better is getting to meet the people who love the book, have a chat with them, and dish about design and fabric and crafting in general...and this party was full of people who have lots to say on these subjects.

About mid-party, a thunderous storm passed over the city and we all ran inside to get out of the rain. Lucky for us, the party continued indoors where a giant Mac ran a slideshow of images from the book--the very Mac, in fact, where all of the prints and projects were designed!--and we could view a whole slew of projects that were on display. The party carried on well into the night, and in addition to the other photos shown here, the lovely Kollabora staffer Leslie Henkel even managed to get a few group photos (that's assistant editor Cristina Garces on the left, artist Katy Tanis next to her, and Heather and I on the right...don't we look oddly like sisters?)

After all of that work, it was great to sit back and enjoy the moment. Congratulations on a job well done, Heather! 

To see projects from Heather Ross Prints in person, stop by the Kollabora booth at the Maker Faire this weekend; they'll also have copies of the book to buy if you want to pick one up.

Happy National Sewing Month!

This September marks the 30th anniversary of National Sewing Month! Even though we’re at the tail end of things, that’s no reason not to join in the celebration. Whether you’ve been meaning to learn or have made stitching a part of your daily life, we have just the books to get you on your way!

If you want to learn the essentials:

 

If you prefer sewing sans machine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're ready for a wardrobe update:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you love quilting with style:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to sew for the little ones:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more book suggestions and a double dose of project inspiration, head on over to our Pinterest boards to get your creative juices flowing!

 

We Love Parties!

It's launch party season over here at STC Craft! To kick things off,  last Saturday we celebrated the release of Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing. The party was held at The Sewing Studio in Chelsea, and what else would you expect author Gretchen Hirsch to wear than the epic Strapless Party Dress from her book? Just look at the glamourous way the dress poofed up around Gretchen as she enjoyed a well-deserved piece of cake!

Of course, other finished garments from the book were on hand for our viewing pleasure (on dress forms--not all on Gertie), and it was quite a treat to get to see the garments in person. I loved being able to look at them inside and out and see the fine craftsmanship. Those bound buttonholes are a sight to behold! And this perfectly tied bow-tie was rather impressive, as well.

Over the course of the night, Gretchen signed books by the moody lights of the sewing machines scattered about the studio, and there was a general feeling of revelry in the air. Thanks so much to all of the companies who came together to throw such a wonderful party: The Sewing Studio, Kollabora, Creative Bug, and Coats and Clark. A great time was had by all! And we couldn't be prouder to see this book go out into the world and into the hands of so many fabulous sewists.

To see more photos of this super-fun launch party, be sure to check out this post from Kollabora, and this post on the Creative Bug blog.

Next up...all of us at STC Craft will be picking out our party dresses for the Heather Ross Prints launch party this weekend. I wish I had time to make myself a Strapless Party Dress like Gretchen's!

 

Fall Book Galleries Are Here!

Heather Ross Prints by Heather RossI’m still a bit stricken by the things that count as “work” here, and my recent stint choosing images from our fall books to populate our galleries was no exception. While there are certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon than thumbing through new advance copies, picking the loveliest images from a group of extremely lovely images is more difficult than you would think!

Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing by Gretchen HirschIn addition to choosing eye-catching photos and illustrations, it was important to cull a good variety of projects. Our fall list is so dynamic, and we wanted to make sure we really showcased each book’s scope, without showing so much that we risked dampening the excitement of discovery when the real book was flipped through for the very first time.

Knitting from the Center Out by Daniel YuhasThis process really allowed me to get to know these books inside and out (since the writing and editing process had been completed before I began working here) and think strategically about why I liked certain aspects of each. After all, we’re these books’ first champions, and it’s important to be able to articulate that!

Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers by Norah Gaughan and the Berroco Design TeamWhether you fancy outfitting yourself in a vintage modern wardrobe or your home in whimsical illustrations,  knitting and crocheting things for all of the cute babies (or adults) in your life, or merely want to acquaint yourself with the life of one of quilting’s greats, there’s a little bit for everyone. So why don’t you take a peek, and leave a comment telling us which images captivate you!

Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color by Kaffe Fassett

Cristina at STC Craft!

Hello! You may have noticed a new byline here on the blog lately, and I thought it time to introduce myself. I’m Cristina Garces, and I’m STC Craft’s new editorial assistant/avid crocheter/spray paint enthusiast.

My pup, Chuleta, often enjoys the fruits of my labor.

Although my most recent professional pursuits have landed squarely in the academic realm, somewhat unbeknownst to me I had been harboring a penchant for creating. It’s not like there weren’t indicators: my emergency road kit was comprised entirely of craft supplies, I carried a small glue gun in my purse for crafting on the fly, and before I ever imagined working here, I would spend many a Saturday afternoon consumed by STC Craft’s captivatingly lovely books, woozy with the prospect of creating something beautiful. Now that I’ve legitimized my fandom, I am so excited to help create the books I used to daydream about, working with people whose talents I’ve admired both as an ardent crafter and an all-around lover of pretty things.

It’s rare to have your interests and responsibilities commingle so serendipitously, and I get itchy fingers just flipping through our books. As sad as I am about summer (my favorite season) drawing to a close, I’m pacifying myself by bookmarking fall projects to try (needless to say, I’m running low on Post-its!).

Is there a better way to welcome the season than with these fun (and easy!) tie-dye tights from The Bust DIY Guide to Life?

As the days get cooler, my need for a mid-afternoon tea fix is at an all-time high. This cute Songbird Mug Cozy and Coaster from Kata Golda’s Hand-Stitched Felt is definitely a necessity:

I would love to spend crisp evenings on my fire escape working on the Bright Stripes Blanket from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (a perfect project for a novice knitter, like myself!):

 

I could, of course, go on and on, so stay tuned: I can’t wait to begin sharing my projects, as well as insight and updates from the wonderful world of craft book publishing with you!

Calling all Sewists: Celebrate Gertie's Book, Support Pets in Need

What’s more exciting than the imminent publication of Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing? Gertie’s new book… plus puppies! To celebrate the book’s release, Gertie is partnering with Pets Alive, the shelter where she adopted her seriously cute pup, Rosie, to host a drive for much-needed sewn items from the shelter’s wish list. Starting this week, you can head on over to her blog to view tutorials for each project, beginning with the “adopt me” kerchief!

Our furry adopted pals are near and dear to our hearts, and we'll be tagging our projects on Twitter and Instagram with #gertiesnewbook. Join us—we'd love to see what you create!

Cozy Up and Craft with a Creativebug Giveaway!

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Tina R.!

We here at STC Craft are often struck by the impulse to start a new project in the wee hours of the morning, but that thrill quickly tempers with the realization that surprisingly few instructors offer classes at midnight. Enter Creativebug, an innovative online learning site launched just a few months ago. If you, like us, are the type of people who want to learn embroidery techniques right this moment but don’t feel like leaving the comfort of your cozy knitted slippers, then Creativebug’s all-star roster of instructors—STC Craft favorites Natalie Chanin, Liesl Gibson, Heather Ross, and Kelly Wilkinson among them—are at the ready with project ideas, guidance, and creative inspiration via their video workshops. Whether you’re in the market to enhance your sewing know-how by learning to make your own patterns, or have a hankering to dip your toes into something new like bookbinding or screenprinting, Creativebug offers options for well-seasoned and beginner crafters alike.

Only have a quick half hour to spend on creative pursuits? Many instructors post projects that can be completed in an afternoon or weekend, and each workshop is broken down into manageable segments, making it easy to stop part-way through. When you’re ready to sneak away for another round of creating, your workshop picks up right where you left off. Once you become a member, you have unlimited access to as many video workshops as you can consume, a steal at $25 a month (even less if you sign up for 3 or 6 months at a time). Creativebug also believes in giving back: a percentage of each monthly subscription goes to non-profit art programs across the country to provide affordable space, supplies, and education for future legions of would-be crafters.

If you’re thinking Sign me up! then good news—we have a three-month Creativebug subscription to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment letting us know what new skill YOU would be excited to learn (or hone) from Creativebug’s offerings by August 20th at 1 PM EST. One winner will be chosen at random.

To find out more about Creativebug, visit their site and blog.

Click here for official rules.

Behind the Scenes: The Knitted Slipper Book

We recently had an STC Craft first: a photoshoot in Asia! We feel so global chic. Mika Nakanishi photographed The Knitted Slipper Book by Katie Startzman, coming out in fall 2013,  in Tokyo. Our fabulous graphic desiger, Miao Wang, sent us some Instagram updates directly from the studio.

Even though we’re having a heat wave here, don’t these cozy slippers still look tempting? (And what about that baby?!)

I love how the weathered interiors of the photo studio create a contrast to the colorful footwear.

These bright blue ballet slippers are adorable. (And how about those striped tights?)

And what a gorgeous group of models.

A brilliant splash of color brightens up concrete walls.

Mika checks some settings while a little model patiently waits.

I can already hear the requests for these animal slippers in adult sizes.

How do we say "We love it!" in Japanese?

QuiltCon Here We Come

2013 will see a hallmark event in the craft world: QuiltCon, the inaugural conference and show of the Modern Quilt Guild. The event will be held in Austin, Texas, from February 21-24. While there are many wonderful quilting events out there, this will be the first to focus on “modern quilting.”

Today QuiltCon released its catalog, and it's filled with exciting events and workshops. Click here to check it out. Although you can't officially register until August, from what we are hearing anticipation is very high so it's a good idea to sketch out your plans now (How about meeting up with quilting friends from around the country for four days of fun and learning?) and then sign up as soon as registration opens (and before the classes and events you're most excited about sell out).

 

We're thrilled to report that Denyse Schmidt, author of the STC Craft book Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration, will be the keynote speaker. Denyse will also be teaching workshops and presenting a special exhibition of her gorgeous quilts. STC Craft publishing director Melanie Falick will be speaking on a panel about getting your work published.

Be sure to check out the QuiltCon website if you’re interested. Hope to see you in Austin!

Pottery Class - Part 2

About two months ago, I left the safety of my orderly desk and ventured into a cermics studio for the first time, determined to learn the craft of turning clay into tableware. It's an art form that I have long admired, but the opportunity to learn how to do it never presented itself...that is, until I started working on Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook (a comprehensive guide for making wheel-thrown pottery, which we're editing now and planning to publish in Spring 2013). Now that I've completed my beginner's course, I can attest to the fact that a lot happens to clay on its way to becoming a pot: After its first spin around the wheel, the pot is deemed a "keeper" or a "do-over." If it's a keeper, then you set the pot under plastic for a few days or a week until it has firmed up and dried out a bit, at which point you put it back on the wheel and trim away excess clay, carving the bottom into a delightful shape. The pot is then bisque-fired in a kiln (which is sort of like prebaking a dough), and then it gets dipped in glaze and fired at super-high heat in a kiln, and this is where the glaze turns to glass, coating your creations in the most fascinating ways.

See how much I've learned?

I must be honest--I didn't know how much I would love seeing the finished product. As you may recall from my first post, as a beginner I was happy just to see the wet clay become a somewhat symmetrical shape. But the first time I saw my clunky little freshly glazed pots, I breathed out a sigh of wonder. Oh, would you look at that glossy finish!, I thought, when I first saw the little blue bowl above. Or, when looking at the bowl below: How fascinating that the turquoise came out so matte, with so much gray and deep navy blue...

My proudest achievement (so far, anyway) has been the little creamer below. When I first threw this pot, I had in mind that it would be a little bud vase, but then I looked at its rim and thought, if I squeezed the clay just so, I could create a spout. (For the record, the act of creating that spout required a fair bit of courage since it was a nice bud vase as it was, and some things really are better left alone.) But now that it's glazed, I can't imagine it any other way.

Admittedly, I seem to have a fetish for finger bowls, and my favored palette appears to be distinctly Mediterranean. I supposed it's a good thing I love olives and roasted almonds, since it looks like I'll be serving a lot of these at my house! And yes, it's true that almost every one of my pots is wonky, but that doesn't bother me too much. In fact, I now look at the ceramics sections in stores and cannot believe that there are potters out there who can throw tableware so consistently. Someday, I think, if I keep practicing, I might be able to do the same. But for now, I'm thrilled that I have challenged myself to learn something new, and I have the good fortune of being taught by and working with some of the best potters in the world as we develop what will truly be an amazing pottery book. And finally, I hope that this post inspires you to try your hand at something new--until you try, you'll never know what exciting, wonderful, and wonky creations will spring forth from your own two hands. What is it that you have always wanted to learn? Please share in the comments section below!

Behind the Scenes: Choosing a Cover for Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration

The title of Denyse Schmidt’s Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration perfectly expresses the book’s aim: to explore the traditional roots of a gorgeous collection of modern quilts. When we were deciding on a cover for the book, we knew we wanted this melding of modern and traditional to come across loud and clear.

Throughout the book, John Gruen’s beautiful photographs show Denyse’s quilts in contemporary interior settings, disputing the notion that quilts make an old-fashioned statement. So our graphic designer, Brooke Hellewell Reynolds, started our cover experiments with a simple and lovely photo of the Shoeman’s Puzzle quilt in a clean setting.

It’s a bit quiet, which is part of its appeal, but it doesn’t have the star power necessary for a cover. Luckily, it’s pretty and soothing vibe worked perfectly for the back cover of the book!

Denyse herself steered us in the right direction. She sketched up a vision she had: a super close-up photo of a quilt, stripped bare of the interior settings. 

Here are Sawtooth Stripe and Irish Chain. We were getting warmer!

 

Ocean Waves is a quilt that many pick as their favorite from the book. Unfortunately, there's no room for type!

The winner: Courthouse Steps. The diagonal design gave us both intense color and clean white space. Paired with the modern type, it looks graphic and fresh. But the blown-up stitches remind us of quilting’s traditional roots.

What do you think? Is the final cover your favorite?

Behind the Scenes on The Shape of Knitting Photo Shoot (plus Interview with photographer Thayer Gowdy)

Thayer (right) and stylist Karen Schaupeter on the photo set for The Shape of Knitting

Thayer Gowdy is a superstar at STC Craft. She’s an incredibly talented photographer who has shot a whopping 11 of our books, including Knitting Nature, The Repurposed Library, Printing By Hand, Reversible Knitting, and many more. I recently got to interview Thayer after she sent us some fabulous behind-the-scenes shots from Lynne Barr’s upcoming book, The Shape of Knitting (to be published on our Spring 2013 list). Read on for Thayer’s take on working on craft books, spontaneity on set, and incorporating confetti (lots of it!) into your life.

What was the theme of The Shape of Knitting shoot and how did you decide on it? Did the fact that you shot Lynne Barr's previous book--Reversible Knitting--affect any of your choices?

The theme was fun and chic and colorful, but also very clean. I’ve also been addicted to confetti lately, so that was a huge part of it! We had so much confetti; it was crazy. Reversible Knitting was a bit quiet and we shot it in a studio so it was very clean. I wanted to keep that thread for The Shape of Knitting, so we shot it in a studio again for a sophisticated look, but I also wanted to make it more colorful and playful.

 

  

You've shot quite a number of craft books for STC Craft/Abrams. What do you like best about these projects? What are some of your favorite memories from these shoots?

I love the creativity involved. Melanie gives us a lot of freedom and says “go for it.” I also love working as a team with stylist Karen Schaupeter. We come up with a vision, do research, and work together on the imagery. It’s all about creativity.

  

One of my favorite memories is when we shot the book The Repurposed Library. We shot the book in real homes that belonged to people I found online. One snowy day we ended up in the home of a retired writer and his wife, a children’s book illustrator. They made us a huge feast for lunch, including homemade soup. It was so welcoming. Most of my favorite memories come from people we meet along the way like that.

 

You seem to capture so many spontaneous moments. How do you encourage that spontaneity on set?

You have to leave room for things to happen. I like to keep the energy fun and playful, so people feel they can be spontaneous. It’s important to leave room for curiosity rather than trying to control things too much.

 

You shoot all over the world. What are some of your favorite places? 

Bali is my favorite place to shoot. It’s a melding of cultures, and it’s so visual. But it’s all the smells, the scents, the sights. Everything combines to create a beautiful sensory experience.

 

What do you like to do when you're not shooting?

I love to surf, and I’m about to plant a vegetable garden, which is really exciting. I love to travel; I can’t get enough of seeing new places. My boyfriend and I just got back from Mexico, and we’re excited to try making piñatas.

Which means you can use more confetti!

Exactly! I won’t be done with confetti any time soon.