QuiltCon Sew-a-Thon: Sorbetto Dress

I can't wait to take a class with Jay McCarroll!! I'm going to make a patchwork skirt with him at QuiltCon and it's going to be epic. I was really nervous to make a dress to wear in front of such a fashionista. I totally copied Sadie Fox, our amazing sewing instructor, and made this Sorbetto dress just like the one she made for her class!

The Sorbetto top is a free pattern from Colette and I love it. This time I altered it in a few ways. I added sleeves thanks to this free online pattern. I did an inverted box pleat instead of the box pleat and I also lengthened it into a dress.

I used our Essex linen blend for the dress and used Jay McCarroll's Center City fabric for the bias binding at the neck and sleeves. The perfect hint of Jay! I'm going to Austin-it-up with some cowboy boots at QuiltCon. Funtimes.

Spring Class Schedule is here!

We have just published our Spring class schedule - so many new things to learn and make!

We have lots of cute garment sewing classes: the Sorbetto Dress--a fun take on Colette's top pattern, a spring blouse by Heather Ross, and another great Colette pattern, Bloomers! Our very popular cowl sweatshirt is now on the schedule in a short-sleeved tee verion!

Cowl Tee  |  Sorbetto Dress  |  Spring Blouse

Bloomers!

More fun stitchin' projects--zig zag tea towels for the home, a crazy quilt sampler, and an easy pleated tote bag are all new for Spring!

Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock is back with a great modern lap quilt - a Giant Ohio Star finished with ties.

For Crochet we are excited to have Tylma Welch of Lowbrow teaching an adorbzable crochet doily and Cat's monthly afghan squares are now open as individual classes.

Knitter's can delight in a class for Emily's new hat, the Guillemet or focused skills classes.

Needlefelting is here by popular demand, and this Spring you can make all kinds of adorable birdies!

We have tons of our popular stand-bys too, so be sure to check it out and call us to reserve your spot. Click here to download the pdf version of the Spring 2013 schedule.

Betsy and Jaime Made Sorbettos!

 Betsy's Sorbetto

I had been wanting to make a Colette pattern for my summer wardrobe but couldn't decide on the right one until I saw the Sorbetto Top pattern on Sarai Mitnick's blog. The vintage style with a simple pleat down the middle was just what I was looking for and with all the beautiful new voiles in the shop I had to make it right away. The best part about this pattern is that it is available as a free download! Thanks Colette!

This was my first time working with a pattern from Colette and now I am totally addicted. Her instructions are so clear and she kindly details any new techniques so there is never a question about how or what you are supposed to do next. I was able to finish this piece in just a few hours and wear it that night to a party. The fabric I used was my favorite print from Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi voile, which feels so lovely on a hot day that I have already pick out some more voiles for my next Sorbetto.

 Jaime's Sorbetto

You know how we are around here--one person makes something and starts wearing it around and soon we all have to have one. That's how it went with the Sorbetto Top. As soon as Betsy came in wearing her flattering new tank, I knew it would be my next pattern to sew up. I have been eying this print from Anna Maria Horner's new Loulouthi fabric collection and wasn't sure what to do with it so the Sorbetto top seemed like the perfect solution.

I made this top in one sitting at Craft Night in between talking and drinking a glass of wine - its so quick and easy! Just a few seams and you're done. Colette does give instructions for making your own bias tape (which would look amazing!), but we happened to have the perfect orange bias tape and I couldn't resist the instant gratification of using it.

Hooray! New sleeveless tops just in time for the hottest days of summer.