Archive for the 'Sewing' Category

Summer Sewing

Published on June 26, 2010 in Sewing and summer sewing. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Our machines have been buzzing!  Summer dresses = super easy sewing.  Here are a few examples.

This is a variation of the popular pillowcase dress.  It can be a dress, swim coverup, or top.  Simple seams and tie straps finish it off easily.  A fabric flower was added to the front of this one.  This is a great  beginner project that can be finished in just a couple hours using under one yard of fabric.  I know you have something in your stash that would be perfect!

Beautiful silk fabric with elastic shirring at the top, which can easily be done to any fabric.  It’s a simple rectangle of fabric, this one has panels of contrast fabric along the bottom.  I”ve had this fabric in my stash for years, and this was the perfect project for it, it was just under one yard, so the fabrics along the bottom added length and matched perfectly don’t you think?  Oh, and don’t forget a fabric beaded necklace-a snap to make and fun to wear.

Sewing + Librarians = Fun

Published on April 12, 2010 in Events, Philanthropy and Sewing. 0 Comments

Lakewood Public Library is going green! They are hosting a free event where you can make your own tote bag to carry all of those awesome finds from the nooks and crannies of the library… or the grocery store, or the market, or anywhere else, really.

Join us on Saturday, April 17th from 9am to noon. You can either volunteer with us to be a seamster and assist registered participants in sewing their totes or you can register yourself and learn how to make a tote! We are really excited to be a part of this event… and hope you’ll join us in making Lakewood a more awesomer place to craft…  and read.

To register or volunteer please contact the Lakewood Public Library at 216.226.8275 or stop in to Stitch Cleveland and we’ll be happy to pass your info on to the library!

Holiday Sewing

Published on April 7, 2010 in Creativity boost, Fabric and Sewing. 1 Comment

I love to make things for people as gifts for the holidays. I’m always trying to think of what I’ll make for the guys. Girls are easy… they can always use a shoe bag, necklace, cosmetic bag, or purse. Handmade ideas for guys are what I struggle with.

For Easter I made all my guys ties. They turned out great! I chose colorful fabrics and prints – not your average masculine ties. They were good sports and wore them to Easter dinner… so sweet! I used an old Butterick pattern but I have some changes I would make to it if I were to make it again so I’m working on a pattern of my own. Even little Rex had a tie to match the big guys!

I think this may be a fun project for the next BurdaStyle Club… all four ties only took me about 2 hours to make!

…and it’s not just for knitters, either!

Published on January 11, 2010 in Felting, Machine knitting and Sewing. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Have you seen all the cool projects that you can sew using  felted sweaters??    I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been able to find any decent sweaters at Goodwill in colors that I really like, wouldn’t it be cool to find stripes in orange and pink, and turquoise ??  Or blue & green in nice shades, not kelly green, old man grey or maroon. (sorry, nothing against old men!)

OK, then, knitting machine to the rescue!  You don’t even have to know how to knit. (really!)   Stripes, solids, varigated–in just the right colors for your sewing projects.  Knit  a skein of yarn, throw into washer to felt–imagine the possibilities!!

Here are a few knit samples before felting…

IMG_6798

Felted bags, mittens, toys, appliques, scarfs…you’ll whittle down mom’s yarn stash in nothin’ flat!

Sign up for the demo on Saturday or Sunday and try your hand at it.

IMG_6808

OK, and who doesn’t have enough scarfs?!  I have so many, I made this pair of mittens from one I made (on the knitting machine) last year, the ribbing is knit on the machine, too!  They are lined with fabric from an old tee.  Love them!!  (And can you believe that this is the only pair of mittens I have!)  Cut and sew – awesome!

Don’t miss Project Runway tonight!

Published on August 27, 2009 in Sewing. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

yay, it’s on again!  I was very impressed with the designs last week and can’t wait to see it again tonight.  Did you watch last week?

Wouldn’t you love to have a workroom like Project Runway to spread out your fabric??  Stop in and check out our space, you can rent workshop space for only $10 per afternoon (noon-5pm)  Cut out your projects on our awesome cutting table…

IMG_0315

Bring your sewing machine and set up in our classroom on one of our spacious tables…

IMG_6562

And get some serious stitching done!!!  Whether you’re working on products for an upcoming craft show, your fall wardrobe, holiday gifts, or finishing your ufo’s, Stitch Cleveland has space for you!  Please call ahead to reserve.

Happy Summer

Published on June 9, 2009 in Sewing and sewing lessons. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

barcelona_cover_medYay summer!  Now that it’s warmer, it’s time to make some summer skirts-great to wear with camis, halters or tees.  A-line, fitted or tiers of ruffles-you can never have too many skirts in my opinion!  We also have Amy Butler’s Barcelona skirt pattern, an all time favorite of our students.  

Sign up for Skirt Bootcamp with Megan – Learn to create a skirt from start to finish. We’ll begin by learning how to determine size and cut a commercial pattern. Discover the benefits of making a muslin first and learn to fit and move alterations to your pattern. You will have a finished skirt you can wear for the rest of the summer! Open to students 13 and up, this is also a great opportunity for a mother-daughter activity ($200 for both). August 10th – 14th, noon – 2pm, $135 All supplies included!

We know you’re busy, so remember- you can always schedule a private lesson to fit your schedule.

 

Get by with a little help from your friends

Published on March 23, 2009 in Classes, Sewing and sewing lessons. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

and save some cash while ya do it!  Take a look at these projects friends, Ingritt and Darryl made together last week.  They caught the “I wanna sew” bug and signed up for a few lessons together while the kids are were in school.  Fun! Their first lesson was a pattern for a coin purse with a zipper, a little overwhelming for them at first, but with our help it was a breeze.  Their second project was this shoulder bag, Ingritt chose our fabric with the  bird from Tina Givens collection and Darryl has an endless stash of vintage fabrics, they had so much fun together and completed their bags with the perfect buttons.

 

Schedule a lesson with a friend, make the same project and the lesson rate is only $35 each for two hours.

There are still a few openings in the Sashiko playdate scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st.  Call the store to reserve your place.  You’ll learn the Sashiko technique of hand sewing, all supplies are included-and we’ll finish the purse construction for you.

 

New fabric love

Published on March 15, 2009 in Quilting, Sewing and sewing lessons. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

This fabric just arrived, Fairy Tip Toes from Tina Givens .  I just couldn’t wait to make something, and this quilted cosmetic bag worked up in a flash!

 

 

This is a great easy peasy project for beginner sewers, learn channel quilting, inserting a zipper and you have a fun bag that is an excellent gift, too…and isn’t Mother’s day coming up????  

Springtime from the inside out

Published on February 25, 2009 in Amy Butler Home Dec fabrics, Home Dec, Quilting and Sewing. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Will Spring ever arrive??  Maybe not outside for awhile, but with these fresh looking Home Dec fabrics From Amy Butler’s Nigella Collection you can bring it inside now!  Pillows, quilts, placemats, aprons, ironing board covers and window treatments never looked better.  These fabrics are 54″ wide, 100% cotton with a wonderful sateen finish.    

Need help getting started?  Join us this Saturday for the Applique Pillow workshop or schedule a private lesson to get you on your way!

 

Applique Pillow Workshop

Published on February 9, 2009 in Classes, Events, Quilting, Sewing and sewing lessons. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Join us for this fun workshop with Heidi, make a cool pillow  and learn some new sewing techniques in the process. Using fabrics from designers such as Amy Butler and Anna Marie Horner, create this  pillow to freshen up your room for spring.  Inspired by a recent article in Sew News by designer Linda Lee.

 Saturday February 28, 10am-2pm     Class size is limited so please sign up early!  Call store to sign up.