window screen sewing

Uh oh.  I think I might be sewing a lot of window screen in the near future. Huh?

One of the benefits of being someone who crafts for a living, is that there are all sorts of materials stuffed in closets and drawers.  Yesterday I came across a roll of window screen and I can’t even remember what in the world I used it for but it gave me an idea. And, in order to keep myself off the computer this afternoon when the kids got home (I’m really trying to keep it to a minimum) I sat down next to Ava on the sofa with a piece of window screen and some embroidery thread and got busy.  This is what I made:

I made it for Ava and her burgeoning jewelry collection and I am pleased. So is she. I would say that it is a great fabric for kids to sew with, but those thin pieces of metal break easily and are VERY pokey.  Some blood was shed, but I would do it again. I would just suggest being careful. No biggie. This is how I did it, but it can be done any way you want.

1) I cut a piece of screen and then folded the edges twice in attempt to seal in the pokey raw edge (a double hem of sorts).  I did this the whole way around.

2) I sewed a running stitch all the way around, securing the “hem” in place. It is so easy to stitch through the screen, even when it’s folded and looks impenetrable. It’s not.

3) I wanted a little something to hang necklaces from so I folded up a length of screen twice and then cut it to the length I wanted.  i figured that it should be near the top because the necklaces would hang, but I kept it to one half so there would still be a place for the earrings. Then, I sewed it with another color embroidery thread with horizontal stitches.  This was just for fun – any stitch will do.  I knotted them at the back.

4) I completely forgot to photograph the little hanger loops, but they are made, as you can see, the same way as the necklace hanging piece – just a length of screen folded up.  I made these thin and folded the double folded length in half (is that clear?). I wanted it to be narrow but thick and strong.  They were also attached with some stitches and I offset the ends so the loop opened flat against the wall.

It was very satisfying to make.  The big needle sewed that stuff effortlessly and never got caught up.  The material itself is, of course, a bit rigid and the possibilities for what can be assembled are great.
I know exactly what I want to make next with screen – a food dome (only it might not be a dome) and an outdoor candle holder/lantern, and, and …

 

 

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sew, mama, sew giveway: stacked dot scarf and a book

We’re so excited to be participating in Sew, Mama, Sew’s Giveaway Day for the first time.  We’ll give away two prize packages — each one will include a Stacked Dot Scarf like the one on our cover of our new book Improv Sewing: 101 Fast, Fun, & Fearless Projects. We’ll make it just for you in your choice of colors (we’ve got lots of pretty ones — see a few of them below) and include a signed copy of the book.

Each of our 101 projects is simple, beautiful, and almost all can be stitched in an afternoon or an hour. Dresses, tops, pillows, curtains, kids’ clothes, accessories….you name it! Plus, you’ll learn fun and fresh ways to embellish your projects and free up your creative process.

To enter, leave a comment below (tell us your favorite color or colors–though you can choose different ones for your scarf if you win!), and, for an extra entry and double chance to win, like us on Facebook (just hit the button in the sidebar at right).

Please enter before 5 pm PST on May 25. We’ll choose winners at random and notify them by email by May 27.

Good luck to all and thanks, Sew, Mama, Sew!

We have two winners! I did a random number generator and Amy from HelenEthelStudio won, as did Danielle.  I will email you both to let you know and might ask you about preferences on the scarf color again. The scarves will be stitched up this week and sent out with the books – I’ll get your info via email.  Congratulations, and thank to everyone for coming by!

improv sewing in the nation’s capital

Thank you everyone who came to stitch with us and check out Improv Sewing in Washington, DC. We LOVED Trohv (couldn’t resist doing a bit of gift shopping while we were there) and though it was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, we still lured in a bunch of very enthusiastic stitchers who sat down and tried their hands at drawing on a sewing machine. Now they’ll never stop! Shots above show the scene, including a certain patient boy who constructed a very cool car while his mom helped other folks get creative…

At Bits of Thread on Sunday morning, we had a packed workshop that kept us so busy that damn, we forgot to take pictures! Too bad, because lots of really sweet pebbled tee shirts were made. Hey, if you were there, send us a shot of yours–we’d love to post it. Thank you SO very much to everyone who came to meet us and dive into a little improv sewing. It was such a pleasure meeting you! By the way, if you are in DC and into sewing or just curious about it, you have to check out Bits of Thread…a friendly, welcoming studio for learning or refining your skills. They have about 14 classes we’d love to take.

sewing together

We have learned so much during the two weeks since the publication of Improv Sewing. When you put creative work out into the world, it’s pretty amazing what comes back to you. Some of it is so enlightening. Here’s what has really struck me…that it is so much fun to create together. 

I am a writer, and so naturally I’ve always thought of creating as a solitary pursuit. Even though Nicole and I worked on the book together for a long time, we didn’t really CREATE together that much…instead, we kind of passed the work back and forth like a virtual football. She’d be at her house, I’d be at mine. There were Google Docs flying through space. We’d meet, talk stuff over, then go back and write or sew in our own homes again.

Now we’re out there sewing with groups of friends–new friends, old friends, people we know very well and people we don’t know a bit.

And it’s just incredibly satisfying to sit down together and make something…it’s like an instant way to bond, or to reconnect.

About a month ago, we had an evening of sewing with good friends to test out some of the projects we were planning for our book tour events.

Then on the road, we stitched with new friends in Denver…

in Santa Rosa…

.

And in San Francisco…

And finally, back home in Western Massachusetts, at our lovely book launch party at the Northampton boutique Ode this past weekend.

I guess we’re just discovering that improv sewing really lends itself to sewing with others, since the process is as meaningful as the results. It’s a community-builder. We’re all in it together when we sit down at that stitching table, and we ‘re cheering each other on, and it’s just a much more fun and fulfilling than sitting at home, sweating the small stuff and cursing and grumbling at the machine.  Yeah, that’s another thing…my language is much less rude when I’m sewing with others…when I sew alone, I swear like a sailor.

If you’d like to sew together with us, we have two events coming up this weekend. If you’re in DC, MD, or VA, come and see what we’re getting at here. We’d love to meet you.

Make-and-Take Thread Drawing Workshop

Trohv, 232 Carroll Street NW, Washington, DC 

Sat May 19,  2 to 4 pm  

Learn how to draw with a sewing machine, (beginners welcome!), create a piece of canvas art for your home–and eat, drink, and check out the beautiful home goods shop Trohv, in the Takoma Park section of Washington, DC.

Find out more at http://www.facebook.com/events/122193607904682/

 

Scribble on Your Clothes — and Learn How to Make a Dress Pattern 

Bits of Thread Studio, 1794 Columbia Rd, NW Suite #6, Washington, DC.

 Sunday, May 20, 10 am to 12 pm  

Bring a plain tee to this fun free workshop (or come without and try our techniques on plain fabric that we’ll supply). You’ll learn how to dress up your look with thread–no experience necessary! We’ll also demonstrate how to create a perfectly fitting dress by simply tracing a t-shirt. Sign up at http:\\www.bitsofthread.com

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Feedback

Sorry for the blurry image–it was late at night, and there was wine.

So as of yesterday, Improv Sewing is “officially” out in the big wide world. Since the Amazon pre-orders shipped last week, and the bookstores seem to have had it on their shelves for a week or so too, I’m not really sure what the official pub date means these days. But who cares–it’s all been a HUGE thrill, seeing our little baby being embraced. We’ve heard from some readers already about stuff they’ve already made… That is amazing. And there there’s this sweet thing that happened last Friday in the Bay Area. While I was visiting with my friends Kate and Mati, their 7-on-the-brink-of-8-year-old daughter was looking through the book and just spontaneously started writing a list of all the projects she wanted to do. She covered both sides of the envelope. See my blurry phone pic above. It was really one of the most gratifying moments I could possibly imagine.

When I got back home, I found this super nice review from the lovely Nanette Donohue at Library Journal:

Given this book’s title, you may expect pieces that are thrown together with little care. That’s certainly not the approach in Blum and Immergut’s excellent introduction to sewing—they simply want to reduce the intimidation factor. The authors’ “five basic designs” are at the heart of all of the garments in the book, and they’re broken down so clearly and concisely that any stitcher, regardless of experience level, could create a well-fitting, attractive garment following these instructions. These five designs alone are worth the cost of the book; the 96 other patterns, which include riffs on the five basic designs as well as household goods and accessories, make it an even better value.

VERDICT An excellent sewing book for beginners, although experienced tailors will also enjoy the simple yet tailored patterns and creative approach.

Hey, thank you, Nanette!!!

And if you are reading this now, and have looked at Improv Sewing and like it, could you do us a favor? A big favor? Please go to Amazon.com and review it. Takes only a sec, and we will be grateful beyond words.

And thank you, thank you, all who have come out to our events, or will be coming to upcoming events, and all who have taken a moment to check out the book or even have bought it. You are so fine!!

P.S. If you are wondering if we will ever get back to posting tutorials here, the answer is yes. We will! When we have a spare second to make something! Which just ain’t happening with all this hullabaloo going on. Apologies…

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