May 15th, 2008

Thursday May 15th: Spins & Needles: Late Night @ National Gallery of Canada
1st or 2nd Friday in June: Disco Bingo (Date TBC)

Plus....

Check out spins & needles MySpace , Disco Bingo! MySpace , Flickr and Facebook pages.

Lunch Apparel: Hand Knit in Ottawa

• Hand knit sweaters to keep your apples, peaches, plums, & bananas from the sharp objects in your bag.
• Encourages the eating of more fruit.
• You know what they say: "An apple a day keeps you healthy"
• Brighten up your fruit basket at home.
  
• Yes, these sweaters will keep your fruit warm, too.

Available at:

• Heaven's To Betsy, 1243 Wellington Street West, Ottawa CANADA
• Workshop Studio & Boutique, 242 1/2 Dalhousie Street North, Ottawa, CANADA
• Ladyfest Ottawa Not Your Grandma's Craftsale, Saturday, May 10th, 2008 @ Jack Purcell Community Centre, 10 am - 5 pm, $2 Suggested Donation

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yarn Studio is having a Birthday and 500th Post Celebration Contest. Check her out and submit your entry! Don't forget to say that you found her through this blog.

Ladyfest Ottawa Spring Craft Sale

Sockem Socks

The first of a pair. And the first attempt at Waving Lace Socks, by Evelyn Clark. Pattern is found in Interweave's, Favorite Socks.
This yarn is Wolle Rödel Sport & Strumpfwolle Mini-Ringel, in gold tones. It is a wool and nylon blend, and not soft.
The needles I used are bamboo and 2.5mm.

Private One Session Sewing Lessons

[For Ottawa Readers Only]

Saturdays or Sundays from 1-4pm

Introduction $100 – all included

Learn The Basics

We meet for 15 minutes where I will take your measurements and I will later draft a basic skirt pattern (A-line style with darts and facings and centre back zip). There we will decide where to conduct your lesson. It is best for you to become familiar with your own sewing machine - and since domestic machines are easy to transport we could conduct the lesson in my studio or in your home.

The pattern will contain four pieces:

1. front pattern piece with darts, seam allowances and waist and hip measurements
2. back pattern piece with darts, seam allowances and waist and hip measurements, with centre back zip instructions
3. front facing with notches, seam allowances, waist measurements
4. back facing with notches, seam allowances, waist measurements, with centre back zip instructions.

Your pattern is drafted on craft paper (the brown and the strong kind), and kept in a large manila envelope for you to keep re-using.

On our second visit, you will learn how and why to cut your pattern out of a basic fabric (provided) or bring your own – at your expense.

In addition, you will learn:

· How to interface (provided) your facing and why.

· Sewing straight lines and some curves

· Insert an invisible zipper (provided)

· Attach the facing

· Stitching in the ditch

· Learn to not be afraid of the finishing, it is part of the process

Modify your skirt to fit just right and adjust your pattern

And, other tricks along the way

If you are interested contact me:

laura(dot)twiss(at)gmail(dot)com

Hustle Bustle Skirt End-Result

This is the beautiful Sophie H.
She modeled for me for a photo-shoot in early February.
I'll post some pictures of the shoot later-on.

Thanks for your comments.

Hustle Bustle Tutorial Part V

Here is the back of the skirt.

And the front of the skirt.

Hustle Bustle Tutorial Part IV

Gather Ruffle by matching Ruffle to Skirt notches. Pin occassionally at key areas.

Sew the two layers together, distributing the gathering equally along the skirt edge. Here I lifted the two pieces to show the gathering above and the clean straigt piece below.

Sew between the two rows of stitching for consistent gathering.

Finish the hem of the ruffle by foldind the long edge 0.5 x 0.5cm and topstitch along the folded edge.

* * * * *
The Hustle Bustle Skirt Pattern is available at my etsy shop, fabric is not included.

* * * * *
More of this tutorial to come

Hustle Bustle Tutorial Part III

Button holes!

From button hole to button hole draw, the tie will be drawn towards the back.

Clipping the edge of the tie and pull through.

Sew the edges of the ruffle together and baste two rows of stitching along the top edge.

* * * * *
The Hustle Bustle Skirt Pattern is available at my etsy shop, fabric is not included.

* * * * *
More of this tutorial to come

Hustle Bustle Tutorial Part II

All the pieces cut. I made the ruffle piece longer than the pattern.

Sewing the button holes.

e.

An invaluable tip: Before opening your button hole, pin the top part of it.
When cutting between the rows of zig-zag that create your button hole, the pin will stop you from pushing the ripper right past the hole and hence destroying your work. Invaluable.

The Magic Tie Turning Trick.

* * * * *
The Hustle Bustle Skirt Pattern is available at my etsy shop, fabric is not included.

* * * * *
More of this tutorial to come