Better Know A Crafter: Saffron

One of our most darling crafty customers, Saffron, and her mom, Shannon, came to visit us recently. Saffron was proudly wearing her five year birthday dress, which also happens to be, she says, one of her top five dresses. She told us all about how she chooses fabrics, what her other top dresses are and honored us with singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in its entirety. She is pretty amazing! Her birthday dress is made from a Portabellopixie sewing pattern with brown Echino fabric and a cute Japanese Wizard of Oz print. How perfect paired with her little ruby slippers!

Saffron

Tell us about yourself and the crafts you like to do.

I like sewing and painting. Sometimes I go to the Nature and Science Museum and the Denver Botanic Gardens to draw.

Tell us about the dress you are wearing.
My mom sewed this for me for my 5th birthday. I picked out the patterns and fabrics. My mom got some great tips and help with sewing this at Sewing Help Night at Fancy Tiger Crafts.


How did you learn to be so crafty?
I just started sewing and sewed a pink bunny. I really want to learn to sew more. I'm going to learn more at craft camp at Fancy Tiger this summer!

What is your favorite animal?
Dogs--especially pugs and chihuahuas.

Thanks Saffron and Shannon! Happy sewing to both of you cuties!

Stitchin' Challenge! Rainy Days and Little Splashes Hooded Raincoats!

We are so excited about Amy Butler's two newest sewing patterns, the Little Splashes Raincoat for girls and the Rainy Days Raincoat for grown-ups. What a perfect way to use all the pretty new laminated fabrics that have been coming out lately.


Here is a challenge for all you fancy sewers. We want to see one of these cute raincoats made by you, our most favorite of crafty folks. Be the first to bring in your finished raincoat with materials from Fancy Tiger and:

1) We'll feature you on the blog!
2) You will get a $20 gift certificate for your next Fancy Tiger Crafts purchase!

Here are some of the cute laminated fabrics that are in the shop right now just waiting to be made into a cute raincoat.


See you soon!

Better Know A Crafter: Miranda

Miranda recently visited us from Frisco where she works at the local yarn shop What's Needling U. She is not only a knitter--Miranda came in sporting the most adorable honeybee dress which she had just made from the Built By Wendy: Dresses book. Cuute!

Miranda

What crafts do you do?

I knit and sew, mostly. I've always loved fiber and fabric--now I get to work with it full time and help others at What's Needling U in Frisco!

Tell us about your sweet dress.
It's the 9-5 sheath dress pattern from Built By Wendy: Dresses. The fabric is Hive by Patti Young with magenta honeycombs and acid yellow-green bees!

How did you learn to be so crafty?
My mom taught me how to sew. I learned to knit from a book at a reeeeally boring job.

What is your favorite animal?
Octopus!

Thanks Miranda! Happy crafting!

New! Swanky Swell Screenprinted Fat Quarters!

Swanky Swell fat quarters are here! These modern prints are designed and hand screenprinted by Nina Jizhar on an organic cotton/hemp fabric.


This super eco-friendly fabric is sturdy enough for bags and small upholstery projects and is oh so pretty and unique!

Better Know A Crafter: Franki

Franki must be the most patient crafter of all time. Her beautiful lace knitting projects take upwards of 150 hours each to complete. She has taken these lace knitted tablecloth patterns, originally meant to be knitted with a size 2 needle and a very skinny yarn, and made them tiny intricate masterpieces that are knitted with the thinnest of thread on needles that measure 0.75 millimeters!

Franki

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

By trade I am an office goddess. The rest of the time I read, write, garden and take pictures. My people have "smart hands" that itch to do things.


Tell us about your knitting project.
These are lace knitting--Neibling's Lyra (on purple), Goldregan (unmounted) and Kinzel's Daffodil (on blue). For Neibling's Lyra and Goldregan I used size 000 knitting needles and quilting thread. Kinzel's Daffodil uses 000000 knitting needles and 100/2 thread.


How long does it take you to complete one piece?
Depending on the compexity of the pattern, one to three months, knitting at least 3 hours a day.


How did you learn to knit?
I taught myself to knit when I was 10. I learned to quilt, sew and embroider from my mom, but never really glommed on to doing those crafts.

What is your favorite animal?
CATS!

Thanks Franki! Happy lace knitting!

New! Hemp Goodness--Denim, Jersey, Webbing and More!

Hemp is here!

Check out the new hemp wovens: a denim and a ticking, both 55% hemp/45% organic cotton, and on the right a tweedy 55% hemp/45% recycled cotton, the bits of recycled cotton adding a touch of color and texture. I've never seen a lovelier denim than this--oh my goodness, it's pretty. We are imagining crisp denim dresses for summer, hemp ticking sailor blouses, and tweedy summer bicycling shorts. This fabric makes us swoon.


Hemp is perfect for summer--it is cooler than cotton and naturally antibacterial so it will keep you cool and fresh on summer days. We also have a new hemp/organic cotton jersey, perfect for tees and soft baby items.


100% Hemp cotton webbing is here, too. It is super strong and works great for bag handles, belts and dog leashes.


Hooray for hemp!

Better Know A Crafter: Kate Solomon

Kate is an amazing knitter. She teaches knitting classes at Common Threads in Boulder and also helps to organize a knit night in Boulder that is super fun! We love her most recent finished object--a pig-tailed, intarsia skull and crossbones baby blanket! Sweet!

Kate Solomon

What kinds of crafts do you do?

I am a knitter. As much as I'd like to transition to sewing, the yarn just calls too strong. I got started because of the color and haven't yet run out of inspiration.

Tell us about your knitting project.
This is a baby blanket for some friends of mine who are expecting their first (a baby girl!) in July. I created the pattern and am proud to tell you it's my first intarsia project. Go graph paper!


How did you learn to knit?
A friend of mine from the East Coast sat me down and taught me about 8 years ago. She told me that the meditative aspect of the craft would be great for me and the Type A part of me would be satisfied with the final result.

What is your favorite animal?
Gecko. They do push-ups when no one is looking.

Geckos really do push-ups? My googling tells me you aren't joking!

Thanks Kate! Happy knitting!

New! The Little Experience Craft Kits for Kids

The Little Experience craft kits are here! These kits for ages 6 and up have won awards-a-plenty for teaching skills like hand-eye coordination and creativity. Plus, they are so darn cute who can resist them?


Jaime sure couldn't resist and she's already stitched up this raccoon keychain. I think she's hoping that she can be featured on the box someday...


There are also bigger kits for making your own adorable toys. Check out these for handsewing and knitting.


Cute!