Back to School: The Pleasures and Purposes of Taking Craft Classes

The newspaper pattern we created to make a-line skirts

 I am one of those people who can't resist things. I cut out myriad recipes, planning to try luscious-sounding new foods; I get intrigued by threads of conversation that lead to story ideas and want to follow through and write them all; and of course, I'm a sucker for every new crafting idea that comes my way. As someone who writes about artists and designers, that's a heck of a lot of ideas.

Granny square class

For me, taking classes is one of the best ways to give in to my multi-crafting urge. I can buy books and materials, but actually sitting down and committing a several-hour block of time to use them is hard. There is something about paying for a class and putting it on my calendar that gives me permission to devote the time to trying something new.

South African embroidery in progress

In the past couple of months I've taken two classes taught by Alisa at Home Ec—one sewing a skirt (from a pattern we learned to make ourselves!) and another on crocheting a granny square (something I'd done in college, but not since). Also at Home Ec I took a class on South African embroidery (taught by Catherine Redford), and knitting a hat (taught by Jenny Gordy). I've done all these things previously in one form or another, but in each class I was reminded of what I enjoyed about that particular craft and I learned something new (last week in my hat class Jenny taught us a cool way to join stitches while knitting on circular needles). I get to handle new materials and use some old ones (I'd bought the fabric for my skirt at a Quilt Market six months ago, but wasn't quite sure what to do with it.)

Jenny Gordy (Wiksten) hat with bobbles

So here are photos from my classes—I finished the skirt the same afternoon I started it, but the other projects aren't yet finished. Those resulting UFOs are probably one of the biggest problems with taking classes. I sometimes question whether flitting from craft-to-craft is wise—after all, I have at least five unfinished quilt projects in my sewing room just waiting for me to devote time and attention to them. But I tell myself that some day these skills will all be waiting for me, as will the time to use them.

Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. readers! Hope you find some time to sit and stitch this coming weekend.

Yarn Bombing in Iowa

 Sunday was the culmination of a several-month event spearheaded by the Downtown Association in Iowa City. The idea was to organize a yarn bombing of downtown trees as a public art project and way to involve the community.

It was a whopping success—the first 97 trees were quickly snapped up by knitting volunteers, and Home Ec Workshop, which coordinated the yarn kits, pulled together more tree measurements and yarn with the help of other downtown businesses. The assignment was to knit a five-foot piece from the "approved" yarns (purchased by the Downtown Assn. and an anonymous donor). I misunderstood and thought I needed to try and get my yarn to go as far as it could, so I opted for simple stockinette and some stripes, but boy, oh, boy, was my tree plain compared to many. There were cables and bobbles and embroidery and myriad stitches and imagery knitting in—a spider, hearts, leaves. The results are amazing and here are a few of them.

Monica Lee's Smart Creative Women

Just a quick post to let you know about a web TV show worth watching. It's Monica Lee's Smart Creative Women. I met Monica at Quilt Market a year ago, after I'd attended her Schoolhouse session on social media marketing. It was one of the most useful sessions I'd been to and when I saw her on the Market floor I stopped to let her know.

Turns out Monica is delightful to chat with and you can see that when you watch her show—she's funny, loves to laugh, and is truly herself. I first watched the show when UPPERCASE's Janine VanGool was a guest and have since found myself regularly tuning back in. Most recently I turned on my computer, got out my knitting, and watched her two-part interview with Amy Butler. There was a lot of honesty and interesting stuff going on between Monica and Amy in those sessions. Monica's enthusiasm seems to bring out the humanity of her interviewees, even those I think of as industry icons (she gets amazing guests—I especially loved the Jenny Doh session). So check out Smart Creative Women! (I'm not getting anything for saying this—Monica doesn't know I've posted it. I just think it's a worthwhile, inspiring, and refreshing show and you might think so too.)

Quilt Market Houston 2012

Codi and Greta at Quilt Market

Made it home on Monday from Quilt Market (unlike many folks from the East Coast, who had their flights canceled). It was, as always, a visual whirlwind, as well as a time to reconnect with friends old and new. I especially enjoy meeting in person the people with whom I've had email and phone relationships. This time around I met Amber Eden, the editor of Stitch. We bonded over our journalism backgrounds and agreement on who was might be Quilt Market's newest "It" couple (Julie and Eric Comstock).

I traveled and roomed with Codi and Greta and spent quality time with Mel and Mary Lou. It felt a little rushed this year, as though I had a day less than I usually do. Here are photos of some of my favorite things this time around.

Marny of Modern Quilt Relish talks about their new BOM (while Jill holds it up)

Michael Miller's fashion forecast included jewel tones, pastels, and neon

Alexander Henry's booth was a little simpler this year, but still lovely

Amy Butler's new line for Renaissance Ribbons rested in vintage cigar boxes

I was in love with Anna Griffin's Blend lines—so many outstanding designers and a partnership with designers and Etsy shop owners—want to make a project with their fabric? Just ask. 

Designer Jessica Swift's Blomma line--one of the lovely Blend collections from Anna Griffin

I liked Brigette Heitland's Zen Chic Juggling Summer collection for  Moda even more than her last. These quilts were outstanding

Carolyn Friedlander and her Architextures collection were one of the biggest hits of Market. The quilt is from a Jaybird Quilts pattern

Echino eye candy at the Seven Islands booth 

Detail of some of the Echino bags at Seven Islands' booth

Fairfield created a natural wonderland entirely from batting and interfacing

Greta Songe's Studio 37 collections for Marcus Fabrics--Adorable!

Benartex's Kanvas Studios fabrics won a ribbon for their bright booth

Lisa Bongean's luscious wools. Always so tempted, but I've yet to figure out what to make with them

Have long loved Marcia Derse's fabrics for Troy, and she's so much fun to talk with—fresh, honest, simply who she is

Moda brought in a vintage Airstream to celebrate designer Mary Jane Butters Glamping line

I thought Melody Miller's booth should have won an award...such vintage good cheer

Moda's well-deserved blue ribbon hangs on their booth-of-many-colors featuring hundreds of paint-dipped stirrers, paint cans, pantone tablecloths and "paint"-dripped chair covers, along with fantastic sample quilts. 

Time to Sew

Just returned from Lake Tahoe, site of a retreat I've attended the last few years (here, here, and here). I've so enjoyed getting to know and learn from the women in the group. While it feels more than a little indulgent to travel across the country (with 49 pounds of fabric in a check-on bag and my Featherweight in a carry-on), the opportunity to get input and insight on technique, color, scale, block placement, etc. is invaluable.

This group is super-experienced and there are both teachers and students who have attended many workshops with a variety of instructors (everyone has taken a class from Mary Lou Weidman, who was also in attendance) and I learn so much from them each time. The sad truth of my life is that while I get to talk with and write about passionate stitchers, I don't have much time for my own sewing these days. So the time to just focus and sew, surrounded by friends who would stop what they were doing to provide suggestions and commentary (when asked for, of course) was fantastic. It was also a little bittersweet, as Lynn passed away this summer and her ready laugh and talents were greatly missed. But we were blessed to have De and Sue back with us, along with Sue's niece Linda. They'd been in a terrible car accident just before last year's retreat and their return marked a year of recovery. They were both stitching up a storm.

Strips cut in preparation for my hexagon quilt

So here are some photos of the week. There are so many that I'll spread them out over two posts.

I leave tomorrow for Quilt Market, so expect some posts about that very soon, too!

Debby's quilts, inspired by a Gwen Marston workshop

Kathy's finished story quilt about her dogs, who bark at the Blimp!

Linda's completed quilt

Mel's witch blocks surround a haunted house she based on her son's drawing. Note her flying geese/witch hat border and the name quilt—she stitched one for each of us!

Yes, we saw a bear, although if Debby hadn't shouted "Look!" we probably would have missed it as our heads were all bent over our sewing machines.

Quilts in Des Moines

Japanese quilt—the flowers are obi fabric

I'm getting ready to go on the road off and on for the next few weeks, so there will mostly be photos on Pearl the Squirrel. Today's are of some of the quilts I had the pleasure of seeing last week at the AQS show in Des Moines. I thought it was one of the strongest shows I've seen at this particular venue. In particular, I loved the Japanese quilts, Gwen Marston's quilts, and the Tentmakers of Cairo. There were many other great quilts, as well. Here are photos of some of what I saw (apologies for the photo quality—all phone photos—as well s the poor job of getting quilter's names). More apologies—I can't get Blogger to post the photos with appropriate captions. For some reason things won't work beyond the antique quilt below. Will try again later!

Love this, and that it challenged my perceptions of Japanese quilting

Detail of the above quilt—made of kimono fabrics

An vendor's antique quilt for sale. Absolutely amazing! Originally from St. Louis area