fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying,
Old English flEogan to fly -- more at FLY
intransitive verb, of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

We got this.

It’s up to us now. It usually is, you know. Sewist know all about tears, frayed edges and unstable seams -- and we know how to fix them. We know how to overlook a few minor flaws to see the beauty and the purpose of the whole thing. We may even appreciate those flaws in our own way and call them charms. This is what we do. I have been quiet online about the election, even though this stuff is right there in my education and day-job wheelhouse. I have degrees in political science, journalism and German (the German degree with emphasis in political culture). My day job has a lot to do with recognizing and accounting for things like confirmation bias. So this election is my jam and my peanut butter. And I can handle talking to anybody about this election, over cocktails in the backyard on a warm evening, but not like this.

This here are screenshots of an algorithm on huffingtonpost.com, which links words found in a Twitter profile and whether that person is pro-Clinton or pro-Trump. “Sewing” falls about halfway between the two.



I will share with you an anecdote from over a decade ago, when I was making sewing patterns. I would lurk about a couple of popular sewing forums to see what the resonance for my designs was. But I would also get sidetracked by other things, as one does, on these forums. I recall encountering one forum, with an active participant, who was a man sewing for his son. It really is less of a novelty than it sounds like, as I now come across many men, who enjoy sewing. But at the time, I hadn’t really come across it and I was curious. That man happened to be in a same-sex relationship and his child had two fathers.

Many other participants, one could discern, from their avatars, signature taglines and involvement in church activities and so on, that they were from conservative backgrounds.

These forum members from conservative backgrounds, who would otherwise eagerly answer a question on different hand stitches or cleaning a  serger, kept a polite distance from this man. Nothing uncivil, nothing disrespectful, nothing disgracious and nothing indelicate. Just distance. Just didn’t reply to his posts. Didn’t comment on his sewing accomplishments.

He was over here, they were over there. Ne’er the twain would meet or some such.

As it goes with sewing forums, especially ones about sewing for children, members come to know one another and get a glimpse into the lives of others. Members often share things more than discount codes for Fabric.com. Members watch their children grow and share in their joys and milestones. And they share other times, as well. Such as when this particular man shared that he was diagnosed with cancer.

And just like that, those ladies, the ones who held a very different belief system and very likely held deep and damning (in the truest sense of the word) convictions about this man’s sexual orientation, set into action. They organized prayer circles. They asked for the son’s measurements and went to their sewing machines. They took out jars of homemade jam from their pantries and put together care packages. They gave recipe tips learned from their own bouts of nausea that comes with chemotherapy.

The twain met.

The whole while, as this one set of members were keeping that polite distance, they were also curious, were also taking a look into this man’s life. And they must have at that point just seen the man as a person, that he was diagnosed with cancer and that he had a young son. My eyes are tearing up as I write those words.

That memory has stayed with me throughout this election cycle. This ugly, bullying, mean election cycle. I know that we really have more in common than our differences. We all love our children. That’s a start. We all know within our families and circle of friends the pain and destruction of cancer. Another start. We know love. We know pain. That’s a good start. Separate circles on a Venn diagram that actually touch and very often overlap.

Sewists know how to improvise and how to make the best of the few scraps we have. So the tedious task of mending falls to us, again. And we know we don’t know how to do everything and we know when we need help. I have met professional tailors, who were open to learning a new trick. So let’s show ‘em all how creative we all really are. And how caring we are. Let’s stitch this thing back up. The edges, they may fray and hopefully we will be able to replace them with something more sensible. But the seams will hold and keep us together, keep us warm, keep us safe, keep us working, keep us moving forward.

"There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." -Bill Clinton, 1992

We got this.

It’s up to us now. It usually is, you know. Sewist know all about tears, frayed edges and unstable seams -- and we know how to fix them. We know how to overlook a few minor flaws to see the beauty and the purpose of the whole thing. We may even appreciate those flaws in our own way and call them charms. This is what we do. I have been quiet online about the election, even though this stuff is right there in my education and day-job wheelhouse. I have degrees in political science, journalism and German (the German degree with emphasis in political culture). My day job has a lot to do with recognizing and accounting for things like confirmation bias. So this election is my jam and my peanut butter. And I can handle talking to anybody about this election, over cocktails in the backyard on a warm evening, but not like this.

This here are screenshots of an algorithm on huffingtonpost.com, which links words found in a Twitter profile and whether that person is pro-Clinton or pro-Trump. “Sewing” falls about halfway between the two.



I will share with you an anecdote from over a decade ago, when I was making sewing patterns. I would lurk about a couple of popular sewing forums to see what the resonance for my designs was. But I would also get sidetracked by other things, as one does, on these forums. I recall encountering one forum, with an active participant, who was a man sewing for his son. It really is less of a novelty than it sounds like, as I now come across many men, who enjoy sewing. But at the time, I hadn’t really come across it and I was curious. That man happened to be in a same-sex relationship and his child had two fathers.

Many other participants, one could discern, from their avatars, signature taglines and involvement in church activities and so on, that they were from conservative backgrounds.

Those forum members from conservative backgrounds, who would otherwise eagerly answer a question on different hand stitches or cleaning a  serger, kept a polite distance from this man. Nothing uncivil, nothing disrespectful, nothing disgracious and nothing indelicate. Just distance. Just didn’t reply to his posts. Didn’t comment on his sewing accomplishments.

He was over here. They were over there. Ne’er the twain would meet or some such.

As it goes with sewing forums, especially ones about sewing for children, members come to know one another and get a glimpse into the lives of others. Members often share things more than discount codes for Fabric.com. Members watch their children grow and share in their joys and milestones. And they share other things, as well. Such as when this particular man shared that he was diagnosed with cancer.

And just like that, those ladies, the ones who held a very different belief system and very likely held deep and damning (in the truest sense of the word) convictions about this man’s sexual orientation, set into action. They organized prayer circles. They asked for the son’s measurements and went to their sewing machines. They took out jars of homemade jam from their pantries and put together care packages. They gave recipe tips from when they were going through their own bouts of nausea with chemo.

The twain met.

So the whole while, as this one set of members were keeping that polite distance, they were also curious, were also taking a look into this man’s life. And they must have at that point just seen the man, that he was diagnosed with cancer and that he had a young son. My eyes are tearing up as I write those words.

That memory has stayed with me throughout this election cycle. This ugly, bullying, mean election cycle. I know that we really have more in common than our differences. We all love our children. That’s a start. We all know within our families and circle of friends the pain and destruction of cancer. Another start. We know love. We know pain. That’s a good start. Separate circles on a Venn diagram that actually touch and very often overlap.

Sewists know how to improvise and how to make the best of the few scraps we have. So the tedious task of mending falls to us, again. And we know we don’t know how to do everything and we know when we need help. I have met professional tailors, who were open to learning a new trick. So let’s show ‘em all how creative we all really are. And how caring we are. Let’s stitch this thing back up. The edges, they may fray and hopefully we will be able to replace them with something more sensible. But the seams will hold and keep us together, keep us warm, keep us safe, keep us working, keep us moving forward.

"There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." -Bill Clinton, 1992

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

DIY Felt Storage Baskets and Hang-It-All Sorter

Happy Valentine's Day! Okay, I am a little belated, I will admit, but we took off spontaneously to enjoy a couple of days at a different beach. Check out my Instagram feed, if you're curious.

But I do still have a Valentine for you: A DIY instruction for woven felt totes.
All you need for these are some basic sewing supplies and 3 mm thick wool or wool-blend felt.

A place for everything and everything in its place, right? This is a simple project to create just that "place" for those "everythings" that seem to get scattered here and there. I do like a handy basket, don't you? I made these baskets from felt, because I like the look and feel and also because they don't scratch my very favorite coffee table ever.

In English and German!


 http://www.studiotantrum.com/free/


Follow the link here!

As a little bonus, I have also included instructions for making these hanging woven felt pockets. I have strung them on a bit of hemp rope for a nice bit of texture.

Follow the links for a PDF file containing both tutorials. Enjoy!








Zum Valentinstag habe ich für Euch nachträglich ein kleines Geschenk: Anleitung für gewebte Sammelkörbe und Hängetaschen aus 3 mm-dickem Wollfilz.

Ordnung muß sein! Oder zumindest den ernsten Versuch, nicht wahr? Ich mag dafür Sammelkörbe für all das, was sich so ansammelt. Diese habe ich aus Wollfilz gewebt, den Wollfilz finde ich gleichermaßen modern und rustikal, und ausserdem kratzen diese nicht so meinen allerliebsten Couchtisch wie so manchen Bastkörbe.

Die Hängetaschen kann frau beispielsweise über dem Schreibtisch, dem Nähtisch oder beim Eingangstür aufhängen, um so dies und das aufzubewahren.

Na dann: Viel Spaß!

Auf Englisch und auf Deutsch!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

(Pillow-)Case Study - A tutorial for a tied pillowcase



Happy Holidays!

Yup, a bit late with my present to you this year. "Boxing Day", okay? That still counts, right?

My gift to you is a simple pillowcase tutorial that makes a tied pillowcase for a total luxe look. Do you have house guests spending the holidays? Does the price of new bedding for the guest room keep you awake at night? Why not make your own for pennies on the dollar?

Bedding is really, really simple to sew--all straight seams! To get you started, here is something so, so easy that looks just so, so high-end: tied pillow cases. As a treat for yourself or for someone else, these pillowcases make terrific gifts. With only very basic sewing skills, you can make this something special for a friend, who is feeling under the weather, for a niece leaving for college, or for that sweetheart of a neighbor, who takes in the mail and feeds the cat whenever you are out of town.


This particular pillowcase design has flaps of material that totally cover the pillow insert inside. The bow ties are a romantic touch, which are not hard against your skin, like buttons or zippers would be.

Design options: Use your favorite printed woven fabric or go all out with embroidery or appliqué. Use a contrasting fabric for the ties for an unexpected punch of color. Or just use plain white linen and let the pretty ties do all the design talking. Cut the ties shorter and tie in square knots instead of bows for a less romantic, more utilitarian look. Instead of making fabric ties, consider using other options: Grosgrain ribbon is an time-saving choice for a feminine look. Or how about this? Grab some fabric with your favorite sports fan’s favorite team logo on it and then use shoelaces for the ties! Or maybe try using soft twisted cotton cording with plain navy blue fabric to for a nautical look. I’ll be excited to see what you come up with! Just make sure whatever tying material you use will stay securely tied.

I have this tutorial in both English and German (or "German-close-enough"). 

CLICK HERE for ENGLISH
HIER KLICKEN für DEUTSCH




Frohes Fest!

Ja, ja, immer spät dran... Immerhin, mein Weihnachtsgeschenk an Euch: Eine allgemeine Anleitung um diese mit Schleifen gebundenen Kissenbezüge selberzunähen. Da (gute) Bettwäsche so wahnsinnsteuer ist, wundert es mich, warum nicht mehrere diese selber nähen--denn Bettwäsche super einfach zu nähen ist. Nur gerade Säumen!

Um damit anzufangen, hier ein ganz edeler, doch sehr einfacher Kissenbezug. Die Schleifen verleihen ein romantisches Flair, wobei wenn die Bindestreifen einfach kürzer zugeschnitten und in Kreuzknoten anstatt Schleifen zugebunden sind und sieht schon der Kissenbezug eher modern, maskulin und utilitärisch aus. Ein Kissenbezug ist vielleicht etwas ungewöhnlich, aber immer gerne als Geschenk gesehen. Hat die Grippe eine Freundin erwischt? So ein schöner Kissenbezug wäre doch ein nettes "Ich-denke-an-Dich". Oder geht die Nichte nun zur Uni in einer anderen Stadt? Schicke ihr doch einen hübschen von Dir selbstgenähten Kissenbezug--sie freut sich bestimmt. Oder Übernachtet der kleine Sohnemann zum ersten mal bei Oma und Opa "alleine", na, dann gebe ihm doch einen Gute-Nacht-Kissenbezug mit!

Die PDF-Anleitung findet Ihr hier auf Englisch sowie auf Deutsch (bzw. "Deutsch-ähnlich"...viele Typ- bzw. Grammatikfehler habe ich auch nun nachträglich in der Anleitung erkannt... aber an meinem besonderem, ähm, "Dialekt" seid Ihr inszwischen gewohnt, nicht?).

CLICK HERE for ENGLISH

HIER KLICKEN für DEUTSCH


Saturday, July 25, 2015

DIY Cactus Pincushion

Prickly, yet low-maintenance: Perhaps that is why I identify with the cactus?

Here's a quick-lickety-split DIY cactus pincushion. Great to make as a quick gift for a sewing sister.

Just follow this link for a complete photo-tutorial. Enjoy!


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Drop everything! There's a craft idea on the Internet!

Hey! A DIY Tree Thing! For Thanksgiving!

Hey! Ein DIY Baumdingens im Internet! Für Thanksgiving...moment mal...das ist ja das Ami-Holiday-Freßfest...aber zu Weihnachten? Neujahr? Was spricht dagegen?


Be Thankful For What You've Got by Massive Attack on Grooveshark




Super simple.

Super cheap.

This Thanksgiving Tree is kinetic and interactive and chic in that Mid Century-Meets-Martha kinda way. You can do this.

This tree thing can be used as a Thanksgiving table centerpiece, on a mantle, coffee table... Leave it up all week with a few "thankful-for" leaves scattered and a pen and see what people are thankful for.

Ganz einfach.

Ganz billig.

Dieses Baumdingens ist kinetisch, interaktiv und Mid Century+Martha Stewart-schick. Das kannst du auch. 



You will need: Brauchen wirst du:

  • 1 3x3" Dobie: These are sold in home improvement stores in the aisle where cement and cement accoutrement are found, usually near the rebar. A dobie is a chunk of concrete with a couple of wires sticking out. They are often found 3-4 on a piece and are easily broken apart by dropping them, or giving them a good whack with a hammer. They cost less than a buck apiece.
  • 12 gauge aluminum floral wire: I like gold for this holiday. But this wire also comes in silver and black. 
  • Bakers twine: optional.
  • Dried fall leaves
  • Spray paint: Gold, if you like.
  • Craft paper: optional
  • Empty paper towel/toilet paper tube(s): For trivet
  • Protective gloves: Spray paint, know what I mean?
  • Leaf-shaped paper punch: If you got one. 

  • 1 sog. "Dobie": Schau das Bild bitte an. Wie das Ding auf deutsch heißt? Who knows? Das Dingens findest du allerdings im Baumarkt wo du alles zum Zement hast, meistens beim Armiereisen. Ein "Dobie" besteht aus einem Stück Beton mit zwei Drähten, die 'rausgucken. Dobies sind spottbillig und sollen kein Euro kosten.
  • Dicker Aludraht: Ich mag den goldfarbenen. Gibt's auch in silber und schwarz.
  • Buntes Bindegarn: nach Wunsch
  • Trockenes Laub
  • Sprayfarbe: Gold gefällig?
  • Dickes Papier/Pappe
  • Papierhülsen von der Papierhandtücherrolle bzw. vom Toilettenpapier: für den Untersetzer
  • Gummihandschuhe: Denn Sprühfarbe, nicht wahr?
  • Blattförmiger Papierstanzer: Falls vorhanden.



Tools:
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Hot glue gun + glue 
  • Scissors
Werkzeug:
  • Spitzzangen
  • Heißkleber
  • Schere


This is how we do it: So geht's:


Cut paper towel tube into even rings approx. 1 cm/5/8" thick.

Papierhülsen in ca. 1 cm-dicke Stücke abschneiden.


Spread out your craft paper and spray paint the dobie, dried leaves and paper towel tube rings with spray paint.

Pappe ausbreiten und "Dobie," Hülsenringe und das Blattlaub mit Sprayfarbe besprühen.



While those things are drying, write out the words "give" and "thanks" (or "joy" or "family" or "wish" or whatever not-too-long word strikes  your fancy) largely in cursive onto a piece of paper. 

With the aid of your needle-nose pliers "trace" the word with your wire.

Während das o.g. trocknet, deine gewünschte Worten -- z.B. "frieden," "freude," "freunde," wie auch immer -- großzügig auf Papier ausschreiben. Mit Hilfer der Spitzzange, das Wort im Draht "nachzeichnen."




Optional: Dab a bid of hot glue onto the finished word and wrap, wrap, wrap, wrap...wrap bakers twine around your word. Secure the end of the twine with another dab of hot glue and trim the excess twine.

Nach Wunsch dein Wort mit buntem Bindegarn umwickeln. Die Enden mit Heißkleber befestigen.


Cut 8-10 pieces of 12-gauge aluminum wire in varying lengths between 35-75 cm/15-30" and gather them into a bundle. Add the word branches to this bundle.

Secure this bundle of wires to the dobie, by twisting the two dobie wires around the bundle of aluminum wires.

Ca. 8-10 Stück vom Aludraht in verschiedenen Längen (ca. 35-75 cm) zuschneiden und diese zusammen bündeln. Dein Wort-Draht zu dem Draht-Bündel tun.

Dieses Drahtbündel (inkl. Wort-Draht) am sog. Dobie mit den zwie Dobie-Drähten festbinden.


Wrap a long stretch of aluminum wire around the base of the tree to form a "trunk."

Ein langes Stück Aludraht um den Bündel für den "Baumstamm" herumwickeln.


Using your needle-nose pliers, twist loops at the end of each tree branch to secure whatever should hang from there.

Mit Hilfe der Spitzzange, die Enden vom Draht kringeln, um die Anhängsel einen festen Sitz zu schenken.


Cut or punch out leaves from the craft paper which was spray painted.

Add bakers twine to the spray painted paper leaves and real dried leaves.

Bend the tree thing the way you like it and decorate with the leaves. Allow your family to write what they are thankful for on the leaves.

Vom Pappe, die als Unterlage zum Spraypainting diente, Papierlaub (oder Schneeflocken oder Sterne oder wie auch immer) ausstanzen bzw. ausschneiden. Buntes Bindegarn am Laub (Schneeflöckchen, Sternchen...) kleben.

Trivet: Untersetzer:




Hot glue rings of paper towel tube like this. Dobies aren't really great for putting on your nice wood table, so a trivet is helpful. (Didn't spray paint my dried leaves in the first go-around...so here we go...)

Die Ringe vom Papierhülse wie abgebildet zusammenkleben. Der Untersetzer schütz vor Kratzer vom Dobie. Hier oben abgebildet das echte Laub wird gold gesprüht.


Trim any extra paper towel rings in half and make these.

Schneide überbliebene Hülsenringen halb zu breit und solche "Blumen" zusammenkleben.

That's it! Das war's!

Cost:
  • Dobie: $.79 ea.
  • 12-gauge aluminum wire: $2.99
  • Spray paint: $3.59
  • Baker's twine: $1.99


Here's an idea: Make matching bent wire and baker's twine name cards and add a "thankful-for" leaf at each table setting. So fancy!

Eine weitere Idee: Das Draht in passenden Namenschilder für den Tisch biegen. Doch hübsch, oder?




Thursday, November 13, 2014

Happy Birthday, Farbenmix!



Ten years? Has it been ten years already? Ten years of fun and color, creativity and friendships. What a great time to be sewing! To celebrate Farbenmix’s first ten years as the leader in putting the “fun” into funtional and the “wings” into your sewings, Farbenmix has many presents for you! Please click on over there to see all that is going on!





Remember when it was just the patterns “Anjana.” “Cara” and “Dortje” over at klickundblick.de and you had to write Sabine a personal email to order yours? I’m getting a bit nostalgic. Being that I am, my present to you is this little retro hat pattern named “Morro.” I named it for Morro Rock on the California Coast, because it has a similar form. "Like a rock...like a rock of ages..." Okay...let's just listen to that classic together right now.

Loves Me Like A Rock by The O Jays on Grooveshark


Morro is a one-size-fits-all hat: The size of the hat can be adjusted with the ribbon. The cap can be worn “Sherlock Holmes” style, with the brim to the front, or more Roaring 20s, like a cloche.






Blue boiled wool "Naomi" from Swafing.
Wool suiting "Vechte" from Swafing.



Morro can be stitched up from many different sturdier fabrics, even a good jersey, if you have the right interfacing for the brim. I like it stitched up in wool suiting or boiled wool with a gross grain or velvet ribbon for a nostalgic take, because I am in that nostalgic mood. But how and where you take Morro and Morro takes you is your take! YOU are the designer! I think that’s one of the greatest things Farbenmix has taught us.

All proceeds of the sale of this downloadable ePattern will benefit Nahow, a comprehensive program to bring education, hygiene, solar power and a better way of life to a village in Cameroon, Africa.


Enjoy!

Many thanks to my lovely model, Jacqui! Please check out her YouTube channel to hear the beautiful voice inside this beautiful person.



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