Meet the Designer: Latifah Saafir!

Modern quilter Latfiah Saafir is teaching at Fancy Tiger! We are so excited to host her for her Glam Clam quilting class Sunday August 24th. Latfiah has an eye for color and design! Her mechanical engineer brain operates perfectly into the quilting world bringing us such stylish looking quilts. Let's meet Latfiah! 

1) How did you get started in the quilting industry? What is your background?
I am a Mechanical Engineer by training but, I’ve been sewing since I was a kid. I worked in technology for many years and when I got laid off decided to try my hand at making a living with the true love of my life - quilting.

I actually started quilting in 2009 when I saw a quilt that a friend of mine made. Something about that quilt made something click in me and I decided not only could I quilt but that I needed to. Later that same year I co-founded the Modern Quilt Guild and it’s first chapter in Los Angeles with only one quilt under my belt. I have a tendency to dive in head first with things. Quilting has been my life ever since.

2) What are you most excited about in quilting right now?
As the generation of modern quilters becomes more competent in their technique, I’m looking forward to new innovations in quilting. I’m almost sure we’ll start to see some of this soon and bits and pieces are starting to filter through. Also, I’m very interested to see how modern quilting will grow over time.

I’m also excited about younger and younger people being interested in quilting and I’m dreaming of ways to introduce more of them to it in a way that is palatable and exciting to them.

3) What do you look for when you're fabric shopping?
I’ve never thought about that because I guess I just know it when I see it! I guess I look for uniqueness, clean lines, and bold designs. Mostly I buy really great basics though. And I’m always on the search for the perfect solid color! There are never enough solids. I also love sophisticated whimsical novelty prints for all the baby quilts that I make.

4) What is your favorite mythological animal?
Ummm, does Tinker Bell count? Hehe. I know she’s not mythological or quite an animal but, I wasn’t much into cartoons as a kid and fell in love with Tink just a year or so ago. If I were a cartoon character that’s who I’d be. She captures the engineering and creative sides of me and she wears my favorite color!

5) If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I’m sure you have all guessed that my super power would be quilt related.  My super power would be having my quilt tops quilted and bound with a wave of a wand. The wand is key. ☺ I actually like to take ownership of the whole quilt and so I don’t often send my quilts off to a long armer BUT, the most exciting part of the process is piecing and seeing the pattern come to life. Then I’m sorta done and have to force myself finish the quilt. ☺

Thanks Latifah! We can't wait to quilt magic with you! 

So Much Fun with Lizzy House

--amber

The adorable and prolific Lizzy House visited us recently and we've never made so many things in a weekend!

Lizzy was at Fancy Tiger teaching two classes--the first, a mini-quilt class where students designed their own little art quilt. Lizzy went over many aspects of color and design and each of the finished quilts were stunning and totally unique.

Jaime took the class and here she is showing off her masterpiece. It turned out very cool!

Lizzy also taught a block printing class, where folks learned to carve their own design into a printing block and then used it to print pattern onto fabric.

The prints turned out awesome!

After teaching these two epic classes, the unstoppable Lizzy was ready to have a non-stop sew-a-thon, especially with the new Nani Iro fabrics we just got in stock, so Jaime and I joined in and made a million new garments.

Here are just a few of our new things...and, yes, they are all made with Nani Iro except for the leggings...

We've already blogged a few of these items, but stay tuned to see the rest up close and in the streets on our bodies! Thanks Lizzy for the good times!

Lizzy House in the HOUSE!

Lizzy House workshops are coming up! Lizzy House is an amazing fabric designer and an awesome person. We first got to know Lizzy and take classes with her in 2011 when she came to town to teach at the Makerie. We are thrilled to announce that she is coming back to Denver to teach 2 in-depth workshops here at Fancy Tiger Crafts just for you!

Lizzy House: all around awesome peep

First up is Mini-Quilts on Saturday August 24th! Lizzy will help you design and execute a Mini-Quilt! These small quilts are beautiful works of art that could be displayed on your wall or tabletop. Using the quilt as art, Lizzy will help you develop and create tiny works using the principles and elements of design. Using intuition, and quilt math you will make a plan to make mini dreams come true. You will be dazzled and amazed by what you produce. 

On Sunday, August 25th, Lizzy is teaching block printing! In this class you will learn true printmaking techniques for successful block printing! The first half of the class will focus on proper carving techniques and skills. The second half you will learn how to print at home like a champion. You will gain the knowledge and skills to assess what's happening on your block and print. 

We went ahead and re-ordered a beautiful spectrum of Lizzy's popular Pearl Bracelets as well so those will be in stock when she is here! They are hard to resist and look great with almost anything.

We hope you can join us for superfuntimes with Lizzy House! Call us here at 303-733-3855 to reserve your space.

Learn it Up, Yo! The Fall Class Schedule is Here!

Our new class schedule is out and there are a million new things to learn and make!

We have a huge line-up of crafty classes, including these brand new projects:

Brand New Fall Classes!
1) Free Motion Quilting with Claudia Miller
2) Needlefelted Mice (kids or adults) or Needlefelted Turkeys with Wynne Reynolds
3) The Staple Dress from April Rhodes taught by Krystal Thomas
4) The Heirloom Tunisian Cowl by Cat Stolzenbach
5) Sonya Philip of 100 Acts of Sewing will be coming to town to teach a 2 day Dress-making Workshop!
6) Patchwork Napkins with Amy Gibson
7) Dia de los Muertos Embroidery with Lalania Simone
8) Kids Elephant Stuffie with Christina Patzman
9) Pattern from Existing Garment with Christina Patzman

There are also plenty of our recurring favorites on the schedule, like My Favorite Sweater, Serger 201: Jersey Skirt, Colette Laurel, Crochet 201: Hat, Spinning 101: Drop Spindle--be sure to check out the full craft class line-up on our website!

Happy crafting!

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.

Better Know A Local Designer: Ann McCauley

We are excited to be hosting local knitting designer, Ann McCauley, for a trunk show and classes on January 19th!

Ann and her pup in matching sweaters of her design. Cute!

Ann McCauley 

Saturday, January 19th

Enviable Invisible Seams Class: 10-1pm

Trunk Show and Book Signing: 1:30-2:30pm

Movement for Knitters: 2:30-5:30pm

Ann teaches nationally and is the author of two knitting books, as well as loads of patterns for publications such as Brooklyn Tweed's Wool People 2, 3 and the upcoming Wool People 5, Knitter's Magazine, Craftsy, and Louet, and was featured on Knitty Gritty. Ann's books, The Pleasures of Knitting: Timeless Feminine Sweaters and Together or Separate: Knitting the New Twinset, will be available for purchase with a special discount at her trunk show.

Ann is not only a professional knitter--she also had a long performing and teaching career in Modern Dance--she taught 20 years at the National Theatre Conservatory at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, was Associate Artist in Choreography for the Denver Center Theatre Company for 14 years, and taught Movement at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy for 14 years.

We are so intrigued by Ann's combination of her love of dance and love of knitting and can't wait for her Movement for Knitters class! We've asked Ann to share a little about herself and her knitting history on our blog today.


How did you learn to knit and how long have you been knitting?

I learned to knit in Girl Scouts! My Mom knew how to knit so she could also help me with my knitting. I loved it immediately. First I made headbands, then I made slippers, then I told my Mom I’d like to knit a sweater. She told me I’d never finish a sweater. I understand why she said that because it took her a really long time to knit a sweater being a full time social worker, mother of four and wife. That was it, my knitting was on pause until in my late 20’s when I went to Denmark on tour with a modern dance company. Everywhere I went I saw public knitting. I started buying yarn and needles immediately and started knitting again once I returned home. I’d say I’ve been knitting rather obsessively for thirty years.

Tell us about why you fell in love with knitting.

Honestly, I fell in love with knitting because I am a sweater girl. I love knit wear. I grew up at a time that young girls wore skirts and sweaters to school. I was smitten because there was nothing else that I ever wore that felt as comfortable and comforting as sweaters. I also love that knitting is a meditation, an orderly, repetitive activity that changes our brain waves. I love exploring the creative process.

Why is movement such an important aspect of the knitting process?

Because we live in these bodies that are high maintenance vehicles and how we use them correlates with how we feel. In the process of learning to knit, many start off too tight in the knitting and/or too tense in the body, be it the shoulders, neck, hands, thumbs, back or spine what have you. A little physical awareness goes a long way and can make such a significant difference, so when I teach Movement for Knitters I cover lots of information about alignment, efficiency, self-help hand care, even breath. It’s one of my favorite things to teach because of the immediate difference most people experience. I’ve had many knitters who have taken this class tell me that it should be required for all knitters. Class information is based on over 40 years of studying movement, dance, the body and different forms of body work.

What inspires your design process?

Yarn, color, texture, line, shape, mood, becoming very quiet and still. I believe the design process can be highly variable. At times, I have had that flash when spontaneously I may see every detail of a new design and I’ve also experienced painstakingly swatching to the length of a scarf, but it’s a jumble of stitches that I have to see and allow to inform me. I very much enjoy watching a design evolve.

What designs or project are you most excited about right now?

I’m excited to contribute designs to Brooklyn Tweed. I adore being part of what Jared Flood creates. I find his work incredibly interesting. We met when we were both teaching at Yarnover, a fabulous annual event the Minnesota Knitting Guild puts on in the Minneapolis area. Since then I have had designs in Wool People 2 and 3 Collections and will have a design in the upcoming Wool People 5 Collection.

What is your favorite technique for a professional looking handknit?

I believe a professional looking handknit is the result of many techniques. It is a challenge for me to single out just one, but I’ll try. Small details interest me and cumulatively small details add up to a big difference in achieving a professional result. 

Blocking so enhances our knitting. I prefer steam blocking because it allows more control. I love seams for the stability, definition, structure and fit they give. I prefer designing with flat pieces and feel this is an area where knitters can learn a great deal from sewers. When needed, I do some of the pressing that sewers utilize after a knit garment is steam blocked and seamed. An example would be a reverse stockinette stitch seam. You can bet that I’m going to lie that finished seam on the ironing board with the wrong side facing me, push straight pins into either side of the raw seam to open it outward and give it a little more steam so it lies flat. Otherwise you can count on that seam rolling inward. 

 I’ll cover a number of these types of details in the Enviable Invisible Seams class. By the way, if there’s anyone that can’t tear themselves away from their current project to knit swatches to practice seaming on, I understand, and you can bring any swatches you might have from past gauge checks or a finished garment that is ready to seam. I recognize that many knitters don’t like seaming until they have learned the invisible seaming because I was one of them. Seaming from the right or public side allows such a beautiful result.

Thanks Ann! We look forward to your classes!

Epic Sewing Weekend!

We just had the most epic weekend! We had two amazing sewists visit the shop for tons of funtimes, learning and inspiration.

First up on Friday night, Jacquie Gering, author of "Quilting Modern" was here with millions of quilts! Jacquie displayed tons of quilts from the book as well as new designs. They were amazing. It was like being in a museum where you could touch things.

We loved her attention to detail in everything from thread color to fabric choice. She was amazing to meet and we can't wait to have her back one day to teach.

A surprise treat was that Angela Walters (author of Free Motion Quilting) was also in town and stopped by! We about peed our pants having two such famous quilters in the shop at once!

Angela Walters, Jacquie Gering, Susanne Woods (of Interweave), Jaime and Amber

Saturday night, Anna Maria Horner was here! She has been a huge inspiration to us since the beginning with her amazing colorful,on-trend fabric designs and her smart, fashionable patterns. We were so thrilled to welcome her to Denver and Fancy Tiger! Many people came out to meet her, chat about her new line, "Field Study" and generally just hang out. Funtimes were had by all.

Sunday, we really got down to business with back-to-back classes with Anna. First we learned about strip piecing in her "Feather Quilt Block" class. All of the feather's made were amazing and Amber and I are both looking to make queen-sized feather quilts.

Anna shows Anna some piecing techniques.

Some serious cutting

Amber and Jaime's blocks

On our way to making a quilt!

The second class was her Multi-Tasker Tote. Anna warned us that making this bag in 4 hours was going to be a squeeze, but the Fancy Tiger students rallied and everyone finished their bags!

Amber and Jaime's bags.

This bag comes together in a way that let's you know Anna Maria Horner is a sewing genius! It is awesome with pockets on the inside as well as 4 outside pockets for quick and easy access to keys, phone, etc. Everyone did such a great job and each and every bag looks amazing!

Happy students with a happy Anna.

Thanks so much Jacquie and Anna for making the trek to Fancy Tiger Crafts and sharing your amazing inspiration and knowledge!

Cat's Year Long Afghan Class is almost here!

2011 was the first year that we offered Cat's afghan class and it was a total success! We are super excited to announce that the 2012 Afghan class is about to begin. This class is good for beginning crocheters and it is free! That's right - one year of amazing crochet and tunisian crochet instruction for free - you just have to purchase your yarn for the afghan here at Fancy Tiger Crafts to enroll.

 Each month you will meet for a 2 hour class and Cat will show you a new stitch that you will use to make a new square for your afghan. By the end of the year, you will have 12 amazing and different squares to stitch together into a finished project. Don't worry - she'll show you that part too.

Stop by the store and we can help you pick out the perfect yarn for your afghan and get you all signed up. For more info on dates and times, click here.

New Fancy Tiger Patterns!

Fancy Tiger Crafts patterns have just arrived from the printers!

The My Favorite Sweater knitting pattern and the Market Tote sewing pattern are both now available at our shop! You might recognize these two projects from their regular appearance on our class schedule. Both patterns were developed and have been taught many times here over the years.

We decided it was time to spread the crafty love beyond the walls of our classroom and have had both patterns professionally printed.

The easily constructed Market Tote was developed as a simple bag making class and can now be seen at many a farmer's market around town. Not only is it easy-peasy for beginner sewists--it can be a quick and rewarding project for more advanced stitchers! (Last minute gift project? Check.)

It is roomy enough to bring home all your market finds and the perfect showcase for beautiful, large scale prints from your favorite modern fabric designers.

The My Favorite Sweater pattern has been taught for many years with great results for all body types. The simple top-down raglan sweater is knit seamlessly in the round. Shaping and length are adapted according to your measurements for a perfect fit. The pattern booklet walks you through taking your own measurements and guides you as you create the sweater with the fit of your dreams!

Not in Denver?

Both the Market Tote and My Favorite Sweater are now available for purchase as PDFs in our Etsy store! You can also purchase and download our sweater pattern directly from Ravelry.

We hope to add many more crafty patterns to our roster, so stay tuned for more!

Tunisian Crochet

Hello, faithful readers! This is Cat, lover of all things crochet!

We've recently become very excited about Tunisian Crochet here at Fancy Tiger Crafts. But wait, knitters, don't stop reading here or be turned off by the word “crochet”. Tunisian Crochet, also referred to as Shepherd's Knitting, Railway Knitting, Afghan Stitch, German Work, Russian Work, Tricot Stitch and my personal favorite, Royal Princess Stitch, is an amazing blend of crochet and knitting. It makes a thick and beautiful fabric great for blankets, scarves and sweaters. Tunisian Crochet is a very old craft thought to predate knitting and weaving. And if Queen Victoria did it, so can you. Here are some examples of the items we've made:

Jaime's Iceland Scarf

This beautiful scarf was made with Malabrigo Aquarella. I made it for Jaime to take on her trip to Iceland last fall so that she wouldn't get cold out in the Highlands!

Betsy's Neck Warmer

Fancy Betsy whipped up this adorable neck warmer after only one lesson! Way to go! Betsy has become a Tunisian Crochet Machine! She's cranking these neck warmers out left and right!

Amber Neck Warmer

This stunning neck warmer is a blend of Tunisian and “regular” crochet. Tunisian crochet was used for the neck part and the more familiar crochet for the front and adornments. It is from a pattern found in a recent issue of Interweave Crochet.

If your interest is piqued check out the class schedule on our website for more info about up-coming classes! If you can crochet or knit you can easily learn this fun craft and make some great items of your own!

Fall Class Schedule Now Available!

We are super excited about our fall class schedule available here! We have a ton of new knitting, crochet and sewing classes. Here are just a few of our favorites for a sneak peak...


Fall is the time to dust off your needles and hooks and get ready for cooler weather with knitting and crochet. We are excited about all the new woolly project classes on the schedule!



We have tons more new and fantastic projects lined up for fall, so go check them all out on our website and give us a call to sign up!