Come Join Us for our 8 Year Anniversary Party!

Holy moly! Can you believe that Fancy Tiger Crafts is celebrating our 8 year anniversary this Saturday, June 28th? We can't begin to express our love and gratitude for our amazing customer support through the years. As always we have made up something special for you to celebrate 8 years of Fancy Tiger Crafts.

• free stickers and pins to everyone!
• free gift bags to the first 100 people through the door filled with amazing goodies from our vendors!
• free, brand new Fancy Tiger Crafts Knitting or Sewing kits with purchase over $20 (limit 1 per customer)
• limited edition t-shirts available for purchase
• free delicious pretzels in the shape of an 8 from local Bavarian pretzel master, Baker Street Pretzels, will be available from noon til they last
• limited edition and numbered Fancy Tiger 8 Year anniversary sparkly sock yarn dyed by Sleep Season Goods will be available for purchase
• high fives & funtimes!

Fancy schwag! Buttons and stickers are free just for stopping by!

You will have your choice of receiving a free Fancy Knitting Kit or Fancy Sewing Kit with your purchase of $20 or more, limit 1 per customer, please.

Super Fancy Sewing Kit packed with the essentials! We put together these adorable kits to giveaway free with $20 purchase. Limit 1 per customer, please.

Latest and greatest Fancy t-shirt! Wear your FTC pride with love! We have these locally printed by A Small Print Shop in a super-soft tee in ladies s - xxl and mens xs - xxl.

The first 100 people through the door on Saturday get one of these sweet gift bags from our amazing vendors. They are filled with awesome books, patterns, yarn, kits, and fabric! For those of you willing to wait in line for one of these babies, you'll be happy to know that The Bumblebee food truck will be out front selling delicious pastries from 8am on.

We can't wait to celebrate with you! Stop by anytime Saturday June 28th 10am-7pm for funtimes!

xoxo

Amber, Jaime and the Tigresses!

Meet the Designer: Lisa Solomon!

We are thrilled to host Bay Area designer Lisa Solomon for two classes at Fancy Tiger Crafts! Lisa is the author of Knot Thread Stitch which brings us a creative approach to thread and embroidery projects. As a mixed media artist, she embellishes her work with embroidery to add texture and depth. The root of her art is driven by her keen interest in hybridization. Mixing materials that normally would be considered wrong question the line between art and craft. We couldn't be happier that she is pushing this line. Lisa will be here teaching 2 classes at Fancy Tiger. Join us for her classes on June 7th and learn how to make an Embroidered Necklace from 10:30am-1:30pm or jump into her second class where you learn to make an Embroidered Portrait from a Photo from 2:30pm- 5:30pm. In the meantime, lets meet Lisa!

1) Tell us about yourself -  how did you get started? What is your background?
I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. Not too long ago my mom and dad gave me a bunch of my school “reports” from elementary school and almost all of them said something along the lines of “wonderful art”. I didn’t really think of myself as particularly artistic or creative growing up though. And I didn’t really call myself an artist until I went to graduate school and got my MFA. It was actually in grad school that I taught myself to embroider and fell in love with it. My grandmother had taught me to crochet and knit and embroidery just seemed like a logical step. I really adore how it functions like drawing and painting simultaneously. You can create very fine or thick lines with it and you can also fill in spaces with color.

I grew up in Los Angeles, went to high school in California, and came up to the Bay Area to go to college [UC Berkeley and Mills] and basically have never left.

2) What are you most excited about creating right now? What projects or mediums?
I’m currently working on an exhibition that will open in November at Walter Maciel Gallery in Los Angeles. It’s a continuation of my exploration of the number 1000 – or Sen in Japanese. My mother is Japanese and so I often find myself researching that aspect of my heritage. The number 1000 is prevalent in Japanese culture. It’s often used as a symbol of luck or good fortune, often with a component of communal good will – think 1000 buddhas, 1000 cherry blossom trees [given to Washington DC after WWI], 1000 cranes…

I actually did a show with the same theme at Fouladi Projects last November. I had 45+ women from around the world help me make 1000 doilies [a prevalent motif in my work], 10 each in 100 colors. I displayed them on the wall in a modified rainbow order… this Fall I’ll be reconfiguring the piece at Walter’s space. Working with collaborators from all over the world was so inspiring and amazing I’m actually trying to do it again ;) ! I’m trying to get people to draw me doilies and make me small swatches with French Knots. I put a call out on my blog – if any of your readers are interested I definitely still need help!

So this summer I’ll be in the process of making a series of drawings that go with the doily piece. I’m doing more 1000 buddhas and cranes, and also 1000 samurais [I discovered there’s a 1000 samurai parade that happens every year]. These are colored pencil, ink, acrylic on Duralar with embroidered elements.

3) Is creating a daily thing for you? How do you find time? Do you create in a studio or at your home? Where do you feel most inspired?
I think creating is a daily thing for me. But it’s not momentous creating every day. It can be very small – even just thinking about something. I tend to use photography to document things that visually interest me through out the day, so instagram is a big fav of mine. I find that helps to keep my creativity active on a daily basis. In terms of finding time… I’ve become very good at making in small spurts. I used to need long chunks of the day to BE CREATIVE. But these days – especially after the birth of my daughter – I have found the means to be more portable and work in short spurts. I almost always have a bit of crochet, or my sketchbook, or my phone to take a photo handy. I work a lot in front of the TV at night. I do still set aside whole days to spend in my studio, but it isn’t as crucial as it used to be.

4) What is your favorite mythological animal?
I’m interested in tengu – a Japanese mythological creature.

5) If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Oh jeez. How to choose???? Flying? Invisibility? The ability to wave my hand and have everything be clean??

Thanks Lisa, we can't wait to embroider with you!

New Fancy Pattern: Four Winds Quilt!

There is a new quilt pattern in town! The Four Winds quilt by Amber Corcoran is Fancy Tiger's newest pattern and our very first quilt pattern.

The construction of this quilt is quick, due to large scale patchwork and an efficient method of making its flying geese blocks. It is simple enough for new quilters and is a great introduction to matching your points, as the large blocks are pretty forgiving.

queen/king size quilt

We love this modern take on the classic flying geese quilt. The sample quilt uses 12 fat quarters from the Liberty Lifestyle Bloomsbury Gardens quilting cotton that pop off a background of Kona cotton Snow.

The pattern would look fantastic in the new Lotta Jansdotter collection (that we just got in!), or Carolyn Friedlander's Botanics fabrics.

twin size

Three quilt sizes--throw, twin and queen/king--are included in the pattern. The instructions thoroughly detail the construction of the quilt top, the quilt back and how to make a "front-to-back" binding, a method of binding popular in the 1930's

You can get the Four Winds Quilt pattern now in our Etsy shop and print copies will be available here in the shop next week.

Happy quilting and stay cozy!

Meet the Designer: Laura Nelkin!

We are so excited to kick off our new series of  "Meet the Designer" with the wonderful Laura Nelkin. Laura is a creative at heart with an extreme love for knitting. She started knitting in 2004 and was completely smitten with it. She is well known for knitting with beads and finds beautiful ways to incorporate them into her designs. Fancy Tiger Crafts is pleased to be hosting Laura for her Jewelry Knitting class on February 6th. There is still space available so be sure to check it out. In the meantime we'd like you to meet Laura!

1) How did you get started in the knitting industry? What is your background?

Well, I went to Cornell University for Apparel Design and focused on weaving, dyeing and apparel while I was there. A few years after graduating my daughter’s friends’ mom taught me how to knit at a play date, and that was the start of my knitting obsession!

I was lucky enough to have a well-established hand-dye company, Schaefer Yarn, close to my house and worked there for almost 5 years as their design director. I learned a TON about the industry and then it was time for me to strike out independently.

Since then I’ve been busy with e-books, published patterns, Mystery Knit Alongs, Clubs, and a book with Potter Craft (due out Sept 2014). There is definitely no time to be bored around here! I’ve recently turned back to sewing as my “non” work creative outlet… so fun to be back at the machine and making clothes for myself again!

2) You have a wide range of designs from jewelry to garments - do you have a favorite type of project to design? What are you most excited about right now?

I’m pretty much obsessed with cowls right now… I’ve designed a few of them over the last few years, but this winter I’ve been wearing one almost every day! Way less fussy than a scarf, and super fun to knit! Oh, and I’m completely smitten with adding beads to my knitting.

3) What influences you creatively? What is your creative process for coming up with new ideas? What inspires you?

Creativity begets creativity for me… often times while I am working on one thing and it’s into the rote phase (i.e. it’s all figured out I just have to finish knitting it) I find myself deeply in thought considering the next thing I want to create. (It’s almost like a disease….) Sometimes I just have these niggling feelings that I don’t act on, sometimes I have an exact vision of what I MUST make, and sometimes I see something in the wild that sparks a design. What I wait for is the idea to resurface more than once… then I know it is more likely to be successful! Little known fact: if I ever find myself at a loss I just take a shower, normally I have a solution by the time the water turns cold….

I also get a huge amount of creative juice from my students, which is why I love teaching so much! I had no idea that sharing my love of knitting and the techniques I adore would spark such a tremendous connection… it is seriously one of my favorite things to do, and I can’t wait to teach at Fancy Tiger Crafts too!

 

4) What is your favorite mythological animal?
Well, this isn’t totally an animal, but I am going to go with the Hindu Goddess Parvati… just look at all those arms! (see my answer to #5 below)

5) If you could have any super power, what would it be?

To magically grow more arms… so I can make ALL.THE.THINGS! I really do need more arms to keep up with my ideas!

Thanks Laura! We can't wait to knit jewelry with you!

A New Fancy Tiger Pattern is here! Howelsen Hill by Sunne Meyer

We are very excited to introduce you to our latest Fancy Tiger pattern: Howelsen Hill! This pattern is designed by our extremely talented knitting instructor Sunne Meyer. Sunne's construction design is simple and effective for maximum cuteness.

Worked in garter and stockinette stitch this cap can be whipped up in no time! Major plus, the band snugly fits around your head with an accent of 3-4 adorable buttons!

Our Howelsen Hill sample is knit in Fancy Tiger's Heirloom Romney yarn, in the wintery color of Hubbard. The pattern calls for just a bit more than half a skein. Don't worry, your leftovers can be used for a perfectly paired set of new Quandry Peak Mittens. 

The Howelsen Hill pattern is available in our Ravelry shop and will be arriving in print here at the store soon.

We are really excited that Sunne is getting recognition for her expertise in knitting with her new Craftsy class: Stranded Colorwork: Basics & Beyond. Check it out here!

Lets spend 2014 together!

Fancy Tiger Crafts is sending you hugs and many thanks. We have been crafting together for going on 8 years! Our customers and our shared passion for all things hand made are the reasons for this. This year has been beyond amazing.

2013 has seen the development of our own line of yarn, Heirloom, produced for us by Jeane Decoster of Elemental Affects. This was received so well that it is now sold in stores nationally and have even hit a few stores internationally! 

The folks here at Fancy Tiger have developed twelve beautiful patterns for Heirloom, and we couldn't be prouder of the things we have created together over the last twelve months.

Our patterns for Heirloom have been pushing us to create even more. Big things are coming in 2014... We can't wait to share them with you! Here is a sneak peek of two new patterns coming soon for Heirloom!!

Here is to an abundant and beautiful 2014!

Seven Year Celebration Funtimes!

--amber

The Fancy Staff ready for our big day

We had a blast at our seven anniversary party this past Saturday, and were blown away by how many folks came out to celebrate with us!

People came out early and by the time we opened the shop there was a line down to 1st Avenue and around the corner! What?!

Most impressive was all the hand-craftiness on display! Folks from near and far were proudly sporting their best made-by-hand items and we captured many of these beauties. We even had a few folks wearing hot-off-the-sewing-machine dresses made in the Laurel class that Sadie taught during the midst of the festivities on Saturday. Can you spot those who are wearing their brand new Laurels?

Check out the full size photos of our crafty customers here.

Jaime and I would just like to say how grateful we are to be a part of this fantastic and supportive handcrafting community. Many thanks to all of you who made it to our party, and to all our crafty customers for seven years of support, community and inspiration!

Brooklyn Tweed Loft Yarn at Fancy Tiger Crafts!

A few weeks ago we received an email from Jared Flood which included the most exciting news of all time. Fancy Tiger Crafts was chosen to be one of ten shops in the US to carry his Brooklyn Tweed yarns, Loft and Shelter. We are so honored to be chosen and are thrilled to be able to share this lovely yarn with our customers here in Colorado! Welcome Loft!

Loft is everything you could love in a yarn. It is grown in Wyoming and milled in the historic Harrisville mill in New Hampshire. You can read an extensive look at the mill process here on the Brooklyn Tweed blog. Loft is a woolen-spun, fingering weight yarn made up of soft and springy Targhee-Columbia X wool. The color palette is heathers in 10 neutrals (you know how I love that) and 22 beautiful hues. The colors are absolutely gorgeous, and the names of the colors perfectly encapsulate their mysterious tweedy shades. Postcard is a pale tweed that looks like a found stack of vintage french love letters, Foothills is the color of Leprechaun tears, and Sap is reminiscent of a Maple Tree Fairy's hair. Can you even imagine what color Old World is? or Bird Book?! Here are the 32 tweedy, woolly yarns that are just waiting to become your next project! You will have to stop by to check them all out in person to see just how magical they are.

One of the best things about this yarn is the amazing pattern support. Jared Flood and his team of designers at Brooklyn Tweed are constantly releasing patterns that are sophisticated, smart, and beautiful. Whether you want to knit a shawl, scarf, cardigan, or baby blanket, we can help you find the right Brooklyn Tweed pattern. Jared and Leila were kind enough to send us a few samples to display in the shop to help welcome Loft. Please stop by to have a look at these lovelies in person!

Burnham Mittens by Leila Raabe

Farthing Scarf by Jared Flood

Leaves of Grass by Jared Flood

Thayer by Leila Raabe

Sakura Shawl by Leila Raabe

Stonecrop by Jared Flood

Stay tuned for Brooklyn Tweed Shelter's arrival this summer!

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.