"Home is Where the Heart Is"- Announcing a New Collaboration with Romi Hill!

by : MarinadeDesigns
We are so excited about this new partnership and have barely been able to contain ourselves the past few weeks! A couple of months ago, Rosmary "Romi" Hill moved here to lovely Northern Nevada where Jimmy Beans Wool just happens to be located. Now, the high desert isn't for everyone, but she is one of the lucky ones who see's the amazing beauty beyond the brown fallen head over heels for her new home. We were so delighted when she stopped into Jimmy Beans and shared with us her big idea--basing her newest "7 Small Shawls Collection" on Northern Nevada and the Sierra! (Feel free to check out her blog post on the topic as well!)

"Home is Where the Heart Is" is a collection of seven gorgeous shawls and one set of accessories-- eight patterns in total. The patterns will be released gradually over the course of the year with corresponding KAL's and giveaways and all kinds of fun! "Home is Where the Heart Is" is Romi's third year of "7 Small Shawls", her first two being: "The Pleiades" and "The Muses". Both collections are simply stunning which is why we can't wait to see where year three takes us!

The e-book version of "Home is Where the Heart Is" is now available for pre-order on Ravelry and you would receive the patterns digitally as they debut. The cool thing about pre-ordering is that you get all eight designs at the $16 price through the month of July. The price goes up to $20 on August 1st. Be sure to check out Romi's Ravelry Group and join the buzz that is happening over there! We have a JBW Thread started as well!

If e-books aren't your thing, never fear! Jimmy Beans Wool will be carrying all of the patterns from "Home is Where the Heart Is" exclusively as they debut. What does that mean exactly? Well, we will have beautiful hard copies of each pattern available to purchase and they will be exclusive to Jimmy Beans Wool for three months after they debut! We've also worked with Romi to coordinate and stock the yarns she chooses so that you can even purchase the colors you need to knit the designs. We'll have kits available with or without the pattern to make your shopping as easy as possible!

We have some other fun things planned for this collaboration which we'll announce later on down the road, but we just HAD to share this exciting news with you! We hope you'll join us in celebrating Romi's beautiful designs and her new home with this coming series!

Hope you all have a great weekend and happy knitting!
Kristen

PS. Romi is the Featured Designer in the Fall 2012 Knitscene which you can now pre-order or check out the preview of all of the designs!

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Summer Giveaway Series- Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits 2!

by : MarinadeDesigns
Wendy Bernard has long been one of my favorite knitters. Her blog, Knit and Tonic is always a humorous breath of fresh air! Her designs are simply fantastic as well! I love her simple and casual style that is very much West Coast Chic. She's hip, and fun, and refer's to her adorable daughter as "girlfriend." What's not to love about Wendy?! Here is what she has to say about her follow up book to the original "Custom Knits", the life of a knitwear designer, and a few other fun facts:

JBW: Can you give us a super quick (2-3 sentences) description of Custom Knits 2 for our readers who might be new to you and your work?

Wendy: Custom Knits 2 is more than a pattern book. It also offers formulas and tips to help you truly customize what you knit. It teaches you how to adapt patterns to your size and style, swap out yarns and stitch patterns, and change gauge.

JBW- What was the inspiration for the book?

Wendy: Custom Knits 2, like Custom Knits, was inspired by knitters who have read my blog over the years. They’ve encouraged me to write down ways to customize their knits so they work for them.

JBW- Do you have a favorite design (or designs) from the book that you’d like to highlight for us? What makes them your favorite?

"Pebbles"
Wendy- I really like Pebbles, the red sweater on the back cover. I like it because the man’s version, also shown on the back cover, proves that a knitter can take a woman’s knit pattern and convert it into a man’s and come up with something that looks like it should! I also love the sweater on the front cover, the Zuma
Tunic. It totally looks like a Southern California knit.

JBW- Besides the new set of patterns, what makes Custom Knits 2 different from Custom Knits 1?

Wendy- There are unique “recipes” in this book that cover converting a woman’s pattern to a man’s, a child’s to an adult size, as well as a handful of other techniques a knitter can add to their arsenal.

JBW- What made you want to start designing knitting patterns?

Wendy- The readers of the blog, Knit and Tonic. As I wrote about my knitting and my life people kept asking me to share my patterns. And so, I did.

"Satsuma"
JBW- As a designer and author do you have any advice for those folks out there who are just starting to design on how to make a living doing what they love?

Wendy- First, they need to know that it is very, very difficult to make a living from knitting or designing. Even the most successful writers/designers have second jobs or a partner who contributes. That said, finding a mentor who understands the business of working as a designer is a great idea. Having someone give pointers
and inform you about how magazines, wholesalers and those sorts of things work is invaluable.

JBW- And now for the lightening round! Here are some fun/silly questions we'd like to ask about you!

"Ribbon"
JBW- Where did you grow up?

Wendy- Born in Minnesota, lived in Northern California, then went to Houston, TX, and have been in Southern California since the late 70’s.

JBW- What time do you start work?

Wendy- Whenever I roll out of bed.

JBW- Do you prefer coffee or tea?

Wendy- Coffee!

JBW- Tell us about your previous life—you know, before knitting…

Wendy- I was a marketing executive for many years in the financial services industries specializing in Internet sales.

"Lemon Drop"
JBW- A little known fact about you…

Wendy- I was on a synchronized swimming team as a youngster. (Ha ha.)

JBW- Your favorite book?

Wendy- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

JBW- Biggest accomplishment?

Wendy- My daughter.

JBW- Favorite possession?

Wendy- A nude my grandfather sculpted. On the back he inscribed: “Bikini, g-string or jaybird?”

JBW- Next big adventure?

Wendy- Hopefully, after a fourth book, a book of fiction.

Thanks so much to Wendy for the fantastic blog interview! Also, thanks so much to the nice folks at STC Crafts for sending us a copy to give away to one of you fine readers! Please leave a comment letting us know what your favorite Wendy Bernard design is by Tuesday, July 3rd at 12pm (PST) and we'll select a winner (using a random # generator) and announce it in the 4th of July Blog post!


Lastly, the winner from last week's giveaway of Denyse Schmidt's "Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration" is Commenter #18- slmiller8 who said:


"I love the Tobacco Leaf quilt, but "Basketweave" makes me want to start quilting again, something I haven't done for 2 or 3 years."


Thanks to everyone who entered! Slmiller8- please e-mail me at kristen@jimmybeanswool.com with your shipping address to claim your prize!


Thanks everyone and happy knitting!
Kristen

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Dora's Crochet Corner- Etsy is Inspirational!

by : MarinadeDesigns
Where do you go for crochet inspiration?  I love the fact that there are so many places on the internet to see great designs.  I find Etsy to be a great source, and often browse there to see what people are making and selling, and what's trending in crochet.  But even more than that, I look for crochet artisans whose work has something really special about it, something I can aspire to or learn from.  I find this most often at Etsy shops where people are selling finished pieces rather than patterns.  Some are quite affordable too -- especially if I compare their prices to things I might buy in New York which are not even handmade. Today I want to share some of my favorite Etsy shops, with artists who are doing work I consider noteworthy.

Before I launch in, however, a few tips for those who haven't explored Etsy much. It's very easy to use.  Start at the "Shop Home" where you can browse through the artisan's offerings, or select categories listed on the left side of the page. If there isn't much in the shop, click where it shows the number of sales the shop has made and you will see more samples of the work.  It's also easy to communicate with shop owners via the Contact button, and I've had excellent luck talking to people from all over the world -- very cool!

If you start at the Etsy home page (etsy.com), you can browse under just plain old crochet (and get literally hundreds of thousands of items) or narrow your search down, or sort it -- I actually sorted by highest price first to see what the high end stuff was like.  So, here are some of the treasures I found:

One of my top favorites is a shop called "Lilthist."  Here's a link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilithist?ref=seller_info

The artist is from Turkey and everything she does is truly stunning, beautifully made, and very fashionable. For example, don't you just love this exquisite shawl made with Solomon's Knot?! 



Or this neck piece using Crocodile Stitch?



Exquisite! I might even treat myself to a present from Lilthist some time soon.

Another super talented lady, from Israel, Lucy Levintovich, can be found at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/levintovich

Her style is freeform, and her pieces are fashions statements, some very colorful, others in neutral tones.  There are a great variety of things here, unlike some Etsy shops where the same item is featured in a gazillion colors. Here are two of my faves. 


A different kind of shop I appreciate is Rachel's Scraps:
 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rachaelsscraps

Now here's a woman who understands the value of vintage doilies! She reworks them to appeal to the modern eye.  If they are damaged, she cuts them down and finishes them so they won't rip, then dyes them vibrant color.  Such fun! 


 Bead crochet jewelry is the specialty at the shop of Doris Chi, from Taiwan.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/dorischi4229

These exquisite pieces are inspired by Irish crochet, as you can see in the first selection here.  Irish crochet is gorgeous on its own, and with beads added -- well, it's remarkable, and so expertly done!   



 A very original designer is Kristina Lazar, who lives in California:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TranscendentBird?page=1

I love the playful, even kooky look of her work, and how she incorporates crochet pieces within it.
Some include doilies and her own crochet.  Even the photos show her great sense of style! 


 I leave you with the work of a textile artist, Karine Aber,  whose work is in the category of mind-blowing. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KarArt2010

Karine incorporates numerous needle techniques in her pieces, and they belong in a museum -- perhaps some of her work is!  Can anyone discredit crochet after seeing this?  Thanks Karine for showing us the true potential of the needle arts.



This is only a smattering of lovely shops on Etsy, but I hope it gets you exploring further. Remember too that there is a lot more hand made work besides crochet.  In fact, I'd be thrilled if readers post here about their own finds!  How about it folks?

Happy crocheting!
Dora

Dora Ohrenstein is an author, designer and writer whose most recent book is Custom Crocheted Sweaters: Make Garments that Really Fit.  Her website Crochetinsider.com  is a great source for articles, interviews and techniques, and where she teaches online crochet classes.


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Summer Giveaway Series- Interview with Denyse Schmidt

by : MarinadeDesigns
The book.
Denyse Schmidt is revered for her amazing take on modern quilt-making. Although her designs are inspired by traditional quilting techniques, she puts her own unique spin on them that results in true quilted masterpieces. With many gorgeous patterns under her belt (including the now famous "Single Girl Quilt"), several of her own fabulous fabric lines, and a line of ready-made quilts, Denyse has certainly made a name for herself in the quilting world. Here is what Denyse had to say about her most recent book "Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration", as well as her upcoming plans, and what inspires her everyday:


"My Compass"
JBW- Can you give us a super quick description of "Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration" for our readers who might be new to you and your work?

Denyse- Though I am known, as a modern quilter, my style – a blend of pared-down simplicity and vibrant colors – draws heavily on quilts of the past. My new book is an homage to quilting’s rich heritage – in it I reinterpret 20 of my favorite traditional patterns as fresh designs. Each pattern is accompanied by an overview of its history and evolution. The book is hardcover and the full-page photographs are exquisitely beautiful, so it doubles as a coffee table book!

JBW- What was the inspiration for the book?

"Basketweave"
Denyse- After more than 15 years in business, it felt like the right time to share the quilts that inspired my life’s work. Most people know my work in the context of the modern quilt movement that has grown over the last few years, but I started by looking at historic quilts. I was drawn to quilts that had a simple, quirky charm, and though many of them are over a hundred years old they seem really modern to me. I also love the stories that are an integral part of quilting’s history, and something about the combination of this folksiness with quilts that were often very sophisticated resonates very strongly with me.

JBW- Do you have a favorite design (or designs) from the book that you’d like to highlight for us?  What makes this design(s) your favorite?

"Hawaiian Style Applique"
Denyse- It was hard to narrow my favorites down to the 20 patterns in the book, never mind choosing just a few! The book has a range of patterns that will appeal to all levels of experience, and I’m happy about that. A pattern like Basketweave is perfect for a beginner crafter and it’s stunning and graphic. My Compass will satisfy a quilter who is more expert, and I am partial to my austere version of the pattern. I’m excited about presenting quilt forms that are perhaps not as well-known to many newer quilters such as the Hawaiian-Style Appliqué, Broderie Perse and the Stamped Quilt. 

The making of the Hawaiian
Applique pattern starts by
creating a stencil.
One reason I fell in love with many historic quilts is that they are not about perfectly matched seams or block corners that align. The beautiful imperfections that are inherent in a handmade object are reassuring evidence that we are human. I hope that novice quilters will embrace this truth and feel confident about attempting patterns that might initially seem daunting. Even experienced quilters may think that curved piecing is tricky or time consuming, but with just a little patience it is easily mastered, and the large scale of the Wagon Wheel templates means a quilt can be sewn together relatively quickly. The Tobacco Leaf pattern, while definitely not for the faint of heart, has built-in fudge room because the finished leaves are appliquéd onto the background blocks – so if your leaves are larger, smaller, or irregularly shaped it’s okay.
"My Compass"

JBW- What made you want to start designing quilting patterns?

Denyse- Quilting has such a strong tradition of sharing patterns, and being a part of this community seemed like a natural extension of what I was doing. One of the things I love about the craft is the opportunity for variation inherent within the structure. One simple block pattern can yield an infinite number of designs depending on the fabrics used, the colors, or the way the blocks are put together. Every person will bring his or her own point of view to a pattern and create a unique expression of the quilt. In the book I talk about this – how the patterns are like a living, breathing entity that evolve from person to person, generation to generation. It’s a truly remarkable thing, and I never get tired of it.
"Tobacco Leaf"

JBW- As a quilt designer, do you have any advice for those folks out there who are just starting to design on how to make a living doing what they love? 

Denyse- Be true to yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in what others are doing, and this can lead to comparing yourself or your accomplishments, or attempting to do more than you may have the resources to do initially. Try to be clear about the lifestyle you want to create for yourself, and use that as a guide to the decisions you will need to make every day. Do you prefer to work alone in your studio making things, or do you want to rule a craft empire and manage a team of employees? When I am on the fence about taking on new projects, I sometimes think about whether the results will be something I am proud of 30 years from now. It’s surprising how many things don’t measure up to that.
"Wagon Wheel"

JBW- What is next for you? Are there any fun projects that you are currently working on or future projects that you’d like to share with us?

Denyse- I’ll continue to create lots more fabric for the foreseeable future, which is great because I really enjoy it.  I’m hoping to make space to re-focus on our studio-produced quilts. It’s been a while since I’ve had the time or energy to devote to this.

JBW- Where did you grow up?  


Denyse- West Boylston, a small town in the middle of Massachusetts.

Most days while working on the
writing portion of the book
Denyse would work from home.
JBW- What time do you start work? 


Denyse- I get to work between 9 and 10, but usually the minute I wake up my brain gets going.

JBW- Do you prefer coffee or tea? 


Denyse- Coffee.

JBW- Tell us about your previous life—you know, before fabric and quilting…


Denyse- I have had more than my share of careers and jobs – I was a modern dancer and actress, worked as a seamstress for the Boston Ballet and a clothing designer, made ecclesiastical vesture, and was a graphic designer before starting my business.

John Gruen photographing
the "Crazy Star" Quilt at
the photo shoot.
JBW- What is your favorite hobby? 


Denyse- In my free time, I like to troll flea markets or yard sales, hike, and take road trips to forgotten little towns.

JBW- A little known fact about you…


Denyse- I was photographed (for the most part as nature intended) by Andy Warhol.

JBW- What was the last crafty project (knitting or other) that you created? 
A lot of staging and planning
went into the photography
for the book.


Denyse- I knitted sweaters for my great nephews, and I’m working on an embroidery piece for Come What May Projects.

JBW- What inspires you? 


Denyse- Nature, optimism.




Thanks so much to Denyse for being a part of this blog interview and for sharing all of her photos with us! The quilt photos are all by John Gruen and the rest are from Denyse's personal collection on Facebook. Be sure to check out Denyse's website: www.dsquilts.com, and her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DenyseSchmidtQuilts. Also, Denyse teaches classes and workshops in her studio and at other shops and locations all over the country! Be sure to check out her site for more information. Planning to attend QuiltCon next February? Well, Denyse is the Keynote Speaker there as well, so you won't want to miss it!


Lastly, we have a copy of Denyse's lovely book: "Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration" to giveaway! Please leave us a comment letting us know what your favorite Denyse Schmidt quilt is (either from this book or her website) and you will be entered to win! The deadline to enter is next Tuesday, June 26th at 11pm (PST). I'll choose a random winner and announce it in next Wednesday's blog post!


Now for last week's winner of the "Alabama Studio Sewing + Design" by Natalie Chanin  giveaway!  Thanks to the random number generator at Random.org, our winner is Commenter #3- Amanda Tucker who wrote:


"These designs and garments have been inspiring me to start sewing again! Currently, I embroider and knit! I've got a group that meets weekly to work on different types of fibre arts. We get to learn from eachother! I'd love to share this with them!"

Amanda- please e-mail me at: kristen@jimmybeanswool.com to claim your book! Thanks again to everyone who commented, and for reading all of our guest blogs! Stay tuned for more summer giveaway goodness in the coming weeks!


-Kristen

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Sewing Tutorial: How to Make an Easy Project Bag

by : MarinadeDesigns
Happy Friday Everyone!

I've been really excited lately about these easy cloth bags that I've been making, and I wanted to share them with you and include some simple instructions. I've taken some photos to go along with it, so I think with my written instructions and photos, you should be able to figure it out. They are super simple after all!

(I will apologize in advance for the slightly grainy photography and messy yarn piles in some of the photos. I am in the process of cleaning out my sewing room and it's getting messier before it gets more organized.) :)


I love these bags and use them for all sorts of things besides just toting around knitting projects (although they get used for that too)! Some other potential uses for these cute cloth bags:

1) Produce bags at the grocery store
2) Gift bags any time of year.
3) Pack a few extra when you travel for dirty laundry
4) Use as a beach bag in a pinch when traveling
5) Use different prints for different kids when going on car trips to carry toys and games for entertainment.

The possibilities really are endless for these, and if you cut out a bunch at once, you can make one in about 10-15 minutes! I made two in about 30 minutes last night using a couple different Amy Butler Sale Prints. Here is what you need to get started:

Materials:
-Basic sewing tools- a sewing machine, scissors, thread, measuring tape.
-1/2 yd or more of a fun fabric. (You can make these in any size. You can get two 9"x13" bags or one 15"x18.5" bag out of 1/2 of a yard of fabric. If you get a full yard of fabric, you can get three 14"x16" bags which are perfect medium sized project bags. You can also make these with fabric scraps from other sewing projects. Go wild!)
-At least 1 yd of Ribbon or Cord per bag (You can also use up scrap yarn by making i-cord or crochet chains to use as the drawstring. Whatever you use, just make sure it can withstand being tied over and over.)
-A 1.5" or larger safety pin.

Instructions:


Step 1: Wash and iron your fabric. Do me a favor and don't skip this step. Please. Your fabric needs to be washed to pre-shrink. You don't even want to know what your bag will look like if you don't do this and then you throw it in the wash. It's not pretty.

Step 2: Cut out your fabric whatever size you want your bags to be. If you can get away with cutting the whole thing as one long strip that you will fold in half so that you don't need to sew a bottom seam, do it. Otherwise, you'll just have to sew the bottom seam. No biggie. :)


Step 3: With the print facing in, sew the side seams (the two longer sides), and if necessary, the bottom seam (one of the shorter sides). Leave a 2.5"-3" space at the top of each long side to fold down later for the drawstring casing at the top of your bag. When you sew the sides, use a 1/2" seam allowance. If you have three sides to sew, start at the top of the one of the longer sides and work your way around. Be sure to back stitch at the beginning, corners, and end of your seams to reinforce the stitches.


Step 4: Trim the edges of your bag if they look a little rough. If you have a serger, you can serge the edges to keep them from fraying. If not, I like to use pinking shears which cut little zig zag edges and also help prevent fraying.

Step 5: Turn your bag inside out and iron your seams flat. You may have to stick your hand inside the bag to push the seams forward as you iron them.

Step 6: Iron down the 1/2" edges on the top side flaps of your bag.


Step7: Then iron down the top edges 1/2" so that your seam has a smooth edge on it.



Step 8: Iron down the tops another full inch and stitch down both sides separately using a 1/4" seam allowance. You should now have two little tubes at the top of your bag on both sides of your opening for your ribbon.

Step 9: Cut two lengths of ribbon for your drawstrings. Each piece should be twice the length of the bag opening plus 4"-6" depending on the size of your bag.


Step 10: Attach the safety pin to the end of one ribbon and use it to guide the ribbon through both tubes. When the ends meet, tie a knot. Then attach the pin to the other length of ribbon and guide it through the tubes the opposite direction. You now have a super cute project bag!!!


Extras and Advanced Techniques:

- Use a French Seam on the inside seams to make them look super nice and not fray. Directions on how to do a French Seam can be found in a number of sewing reference manuals. You can also check out these directions here on Burda Style.

-Make a cute square bottom on your bag by opening the bottom corners and sewing them across anywhere from 2"-4" wide. Cut the corner off once you've made the seam.


-Piece together different fabrics for a patchwork bag.

-Embroider or applique onto your bags.

Any way you make them, you are sure to love how fast and easy it is to make these bags. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Please feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a comment! Or, if you've made these types of bags, leave us some of your tips!

Hope you all have a great weekend and happy sewing!
Kristen

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Summer Giveaway Series- Alabama Studio Sewing + Design!

by : MarinadeDesigns
Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Top Detail
When given the opportunity to write about Alabama Chanin and their newest book addition: Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: A Guide toHand-Sewing an Alabama Chanin Wardrobe, I jumped at the opportunity! I have long been a fan of Natalie Chanin’s hand-stitched sustainable style and of course the clothes and accessories are unbelievably stunning beyond words.

About five years ago, when my husband (then boyfriend) was working at Borders book store, I used to visit him at work and kill time by sifting through the craft book section. Often, I would thumb longingly through the original Alabama Stitch Book and dream of someday of being a skilled enough sewist to be able to execute such beautiful patterns. Finally, one day I bought the book to put in my “hope chest” of craft books for that day when I would finally attempt something so intricate and lovely. I’d pull it out occasionally and fantasize about accomplishing such feats.

Applique details up close
Gorgeous wrap
What I love about Natalie Chanin’s designs is that they are so distinct and unique. You don’t see anything else like them on the market today, simply because of the fact that they are hand-stitched garments. No machine needed. Plus, if you make them yourself instead of purchasing one of their beautiful ready-made garments, you can’t beat that satisfaction of having made it yourself by hand. To me, anything that makes me feel like I've stepped into the Little House on the Prairie is good in my book!

Layering
When Natalie Chanin moved back to her home state- Alabama in 2000 to start a clothing line, she had no idea where it would end up. In the beginning, her company “Project Alabama” employed over 200 artisans in the Florence, Alabama area and sold clothing in shops all over the country. In 2006, Project Alabama ceased operations and Alabama Chanin was born. Alabama Chanin still uses the “Slow Design” process to create their heirloom quality ready-made pieces, and they are worth the wait. Additionally, Alabama Chanin is helping to keep these traditional crafting techniques alive and putting their own modern spin on them in the process. Natalie’s books serve as a guide to learning these techniques as well as inspiration for projects that are sure to be passed down for generations to come.

Roses and Rooster Tablecloth
Although I have yet to actually attempt anything from the first book I bought (although I still have dreams of completing a Roses and Rooster Tablecloth), I have major plans for Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. What I love about this book is that it provides instruction for the most basic Alabama Chanin designs and clothing instruction, then goes into detail about the different stitches and techniques needed to sew the more complicated appliquéd and beaded designs. Personally, I love the simplicity of the basic designs and absolutely can’t wait to get started! Just ask Piet and Casey, with whom I share an office here at Jimmy Beans. All I can talk about as of late is how I want to make just about every garment in this book. Maybe when I am done with that, I’ll finally muster up the guts to try that gorgeous tablecloth.

The long skirt
Although I love almost every piece in the book, I think my first project will be this long skirt. I wear skirts most days of the week because they are comfortable and look good dressed up or down. Plus, I love wearing boots, and they look great with just about all of the boots I own. I guess that’s the westerner in me coming out. J In any case, this long skirt would be super comfy to wear year round and a good starting point for experimenting with Alabama Chanin’s garment construction techniques. I’ll be sure to post a picture when I finish as I am planning on starting this project soon. I am planning to use a cotton jersey bed sheet that I bought at a thrift store. Since Alabama Chanin is a big supporter of organic and recycled materials, I figured this would be a great way to repurpose fabric. You can also purchase gorgeous organic cotton jersey fabrics by the yard directly from the Alabama Chanin website.
Alabama Chanin Cotton Jersey

Thanks so much for reading about Alabma Studio Sewing +Design! If you’d like to win a copy of this gorgeous book, please leave a comment telling a way you are keeping crafting traditions alive in your own life. We will choose a winner at random and announce the winner in next Wednesday’s blog post! You’ll have until 11pm (PST) on Tuesday, June 19th to enter. Good luck!

Also, the winner of last week’s Noni book giveaway was Commenter #4- Debby who said:
“It would be fun to make flowers from this book. Favorite flower - that's a hard one, but I think maybe daffodils.”

Congrats Debby! Please e-mail me at: kristen@jimmybeanswool.com to send me your mailing address and claim your copy of the book! Once I hear from you, I’ll ship it out right away!

Hope you all have a great rest of your week and happy sewing!

Kristen

PS. All photos in this post were used with the permission of Natalie Chanin and are directly from the Alabama Chanin website. Please check out www.alabamachanin.com for more examples of their gorgeous work!

PPS. You may have noticed that we have been giving away a lot of books lately on the blog. These giveaways are made possible by the individual designers and STC Crafts! We’ll be continuing this series throughout the summer so keep checking back every Wednesday for more opportunities to win!

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