New! Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart!

Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching has just published a new book chock-full of exciting embroidery inspiration. Included are tons of ideas for fashion embellishment and home decorating projects, as well as iron-on transfers to get you stitching away.


Embroidered effects has all the basic stitch instructions and tips for beginners, but also includes great instructions for combining basic stitches for amazing borders and decorations. Sweet.


Hand stitched goodies make great gifts so it's time to get started on your holiday gift crafting, ladies and gents!

Better Know A Crafter: Ali DeJohn

Ali is a crafty momma who makes all kinds of adorable things for her little ones. We love these placemats she sewed to help her kids learn their place settings. She sells some of her handcrafted goods in her Etsy shop--alidejohn.etsy.com. Check out her adorable hand sewn felt barrettes. Cute!

Ali DeJohn

1) Tell us about yourself. What crafts do you like to do?

I am a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful little people who inspire me to be creative everyday. I love bringing creativity into our family, making things by hand, everything cozy and the tiny details found in everyday life! I love to knit, sew, embroider and dream of all the new crafts I'd love to learn.


2) Tell us about your adorable placemats.
I made these placemats and napkins for my kids so they could participate in setting the table, and I loved the idea of the kids using reusable, cloth napkins that were fun and happy. I created the pattern myself and used vintage scrap fabric (from Fancy Tiger of course!) as appliques for the fork, spoon, plate, cup and napkin graphic.


3) What inspires you to be crafty?
I have always had a love for making things by hand, and I am very new to sewing. I was inspired to learn to sew after I read the The Creative Family, by Amanda Blake Soule. It's a fabulous, sweet, heart-warming book!

4) What is your favorite animal?
My favorite animal is a giraffe.

Thanks Ali! Happy crafting!

New! Bamboo Knit Jersey!

New at Fancy Tiger Crafts--bamboo jersey! We are so excited about sewing with jersey. This silky and stretchy bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial, unbelievably soft and perfect for making your own tees or supersoft undies.

If you've never sewn with jersey before we have a great book with patterns and tips to get you going. Sew U Home Stretch by Wendy Mullin is a great intro to working with stretchy knits and includes customizable patterns for tees, tops, hoodies and dresses.


Emily already made this super adorable t-shirt! She made a pattern out of one of her favorite t-shirts and now she has another favorite bamboo t-shirt! So cute!

Plushies + Art = Plush Me Harder!

We are always excited when craft meets art so of course we had to check out the Plush Me Harder show that is on exhibit right now at Kitchen's Ink gallery. We were totally inspired by this show and the adorable (with just a hint of scary) creations.




Plush Me Harder features creative creatures that are hand sewn and embellished with felting, embroidery and applique. This show will be up through the end of August at Kitchen's Ink gallery at 757 Santa Fe Dr so don't miss it!

Better Know A Crafter: Roxi

Roxi is the first crafty seamstress we know who has made the new Colette Macaron dress pattern. In fact, she's already made two Macaron dresses! We are so excited to see the Heather Ross Far Far Away unicorn print in her adorable little peach dress.

Roxi

1) Tell us about yourself. What crafts do you like to do?

I'm a PhD student in creative writing at DU. I used to make zines and had a small press for a few years, but have been concentrating on writing lately. I've been obsessed with sewing this summer.

2) Tell us about the dresses you made.
I made the Macaron dress from Colette Patterns. I went to California for a week and my mom helped me; I had no idea how to transfer the markings and etc. The prints are cotton and the top is linen.


3) How did you learn how to sew?
My mom is a good seamstress but we have never really made anything together before, except a pillow when I was in 4H and another pillow for middle school home ec class. My grandmother started a pinwheel quilt but passed away before she finished it; when I was in high school I made hundreds of pinwheels until the quilt was done. I also recently took the a-line skirt class at Fancy Tiger and that helped me a lot with getting an idea of how to fashion a garment.

4) What is your favorite animal?
My cat Timber, he has CH (cerebellar hypoplasia).

Thanks Roxi! Happy sewing!

New! Craft Pride Pinback Buttons!

Brand new at Fancy Tiger Crafts and also available in our Etsy shop--crafty pride pins! Perfect for pinning onto your hand knit sweater or your home sewn satchel. Now the world can see for itself that you, crafty wonderperson, did make that awesome thing they were just going to ask about!



We also have pride pins for crafty zombies and other dark monsters of the night...


...and for our favorite cute and magical crafty creatures.


For the wizards we have a set of pins especially well suited for magically handknit items.

Better Know A Crafter: Zareen Kapadia

Zareen is one of our lovely craft night ladies, and a super fantastic seamstress. I love the wrap skirts she's been making lately!

Zareen Kapadia

1) Tell us about yourself. What makes you want to craft?

I do DNA testing in a clinical lab. The fabrics at Fancy Tiger inspire me to sew. Mostly I make gifts (baby clothes, quilts, dolls) but this skirt is just for myself.

2) Tell us about the skirt you made.
This Joel Dewberry Deer Valley print was begging to be a skirt. I followed a McCalls wraparound skirt pattern and embellished it with a tagua nut button.


3) How did you learn how to sew?
I was taught to sew by my stepfather when I was 8 years old on an old treadle foot Singer. I have been sewing ever since.

4) What is your favorite animal?
I admire elephants and also delight in sea creatures.

Check out another of Zareen's cute skirts at our anniversary party!

Thanks Zareen! Happy sewing!

New! Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky & The Big Easy by Debbie Bliss!

Hot tweediness, this new yarn is making me so excited for the arrival of fall weather! A blend of wool and angora, this cuddly soft, chunky weight yarn is quick to knit up. Perfect for gift knitting!


Also new, The Big Easy by Debbie Bliss is full of inspiring cozy knits for chunky yarns.

Better Know A Crafter: Jenny Rosalky

Oh, how we miss our dear Jenny! She was like a ray of sparkling Australian sunshine--a regular at our Sewing Help Night during her summer visit from down under. She is an awesome seamstress, quilter and a super fun person.

Jenny Rosalky

1) What makes you want to be crafty?

I love to play with color and pattern so I quilt and embroider and do a little crochet. Now I've found Fancy Tiger--I have been inspired to make bags, soft toys and play with woolen felt. Hence the cushion.


2) Tell us about what you have been working on.
The whale was inspired by the Softies book, the pillow and the bags came out of my head.


3) How did you learn how to do what you do?
Christina helped me with the bags. Mostly I'm self taught.

4) What is your favorite animal?
It varies--this week it is the donkey and the camel.

Thanks Jenny! Come back and visit soon!

New! Weldon's Practical Needlework Series!

If you've ever dreamed of knitting a proper petticoat or crafting ear-caps for your pony these are the books for you! Weldon's Practical Needlework is reproduced exactly as it was published in the late 1800s and is filled with old-timey patterns for knitting, crochet, smocking, tatting, macrame and embroidery.

Check out some of the sweet Victorian garments and accessories you can make!