This Skirt is Made for Walking...Sheep

I just made the Kelly Skirt by Megan Neilsen and it's so easy and so cute!

I used a Kokka fabric--a 1970s Americana inspired denim print--that works perfectly with this simple button front skirt pattern. Seven bone buttons give it an adorable old-time finish. It's the perfect skirt for taking my cute friend Marshall the Shetland on a walk!

Adorable new denim skirt? Check. Urban sheep walking? Fun to the max!

New Kokka Fabrics Galore!

Jaime and I were inspired to drop everything and stitch up some new outfits, thanks to a tempting box of  Kokka fabrics that just arrived! Japanese style must be all about photographic prints of woodland creatures and a love of eastern European folk style right now, and we are digging it.

 Jaime

I chose this friendly animal print to make an adorable Barcelona skirt from. I love the photographic quality of the animals and mushrooms and was super excited to have new fall skirt!

The Barcelona Skirt pattern by Amy Butler is our number one selling pattern of all time - it is a classic design that flatters many body types and an easy-to-make pattern. Our A-Line Skirt Class is also a favorite and is a great choice if you would like some help making this skirt. I have made it so many times, I can whip one of these up in about a hour and a half, lined and all. I love it!

Amber

Colette's Macaron dress is a sewing pattern that I've been wanting to make for a while--when I saw this European folk inspired fabric form Kokka I knew I had to make an adorable little dress.

This was my first time making the Macaron, but I knew I would enjoy sewing it. Every Colette pattern I've made has worked out wonderfully. I paired the print with an Echino solid in teal, added a navy piping to the sleeve and placed the fancy red heart of this cute print right in the center of the bodice.

That's not all that was in this box of fabrics either, there are plenty more Kokka fabrics that are just waiting for someone to turn them into the cutest sewing projects of all time. What will you make...

...an owl oven mitt, a partridge pocketbook?

A babushka bookbag?

A rabbit romper? Perhaps a mushroom miniskirt?

Happy sewing!
♥ Amber & Jaime

Emily's Negroni-athon!

This Valentine's Day, my beau Luke totally scored with two handmade shirts! Colette recently released Negroni, a shirt pattern for gentlemen. The pattern is named for a classic cocktail invented in 1919 by the Count Camillo Negroni. Manly!




The construction is really brilliant, and I got to practice my flat felled seams on curves! Luke is tall at 6'8", but the Negroni pattern has easy to follow markings for alterations to lengthen or shorten body and sleeves. Thanks, Colette! One thing I love about garment sewing is tailoring to your measurements. Clothes that fit make you feel like a ninja (see above). This is really important if you are prone to loitering in alleys.



Another thing I love about sewing is getting to choose fabrics! I had a really hard time with so many fabrics to choose from, so I asked Luke for help. The main fabric is Library Stripe from Denyse Schmidt's newest collection, Greenfield Hill, with contrast in Kokka's black on black Cool Skulls. Smart and dangerous!



The second Negroni uses two coordinating fabrics from Denyse Schmidt's Greenfield Hill collection. The pattern doesn't call for contrast fabric, but I think it certainly spices things up.



To make your own Negroni, mix equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Or, come into Fancy Tiger Crafts!

Melody Miller's Ruby Star Rising Fabrics Are Here!

Melody Miller's new fabric collection for Kokka just arrived, and we are oh-so-excited about her awesomeness! Ruby Star Rising is Melody's very first collection that she says was "inspired by women from shopping catalogs in the late 60's. I wanted to tell a story about the women, and the objects that filled their lives."

Well, we love these atomic era prints and can't wait to get sewing!


So, what will you sew?

Better Know A Crafter: Julia Slejko

Julia is a crafting wonder woman! She does it all--knitting, sewing, quilting--and with super cute results.

Julia Slejko

1) What makes you want to be crafty?
I am working on a PhD, so knitting and sewing helps me get creative for my dissertation! I love knitting, sewing bags and am just starting to quilt.


2) Tell us about all your cute projects.
Knit Twinkle Pilot Hat and Flying Gloves. Using Twinkle yarn is the trick!

Taxi Tote bag by Anna Maria Horner with Echino fabric

Lotta Jansdotter yoga bag with Kokka fabric


3) How did you learn how to do what you do?
My grandmother taught me everything I know! Continental-style knitting, crochet, sewing, even some pattern making. She just turned 88 on the 11th. Originally from Italy, she was a seamstress, pattern maker, and is amazingly talented. Now she supervises!


4) What is your favorite animal?
Monkeys

Thanks Julia! Happy crafting!