Clever Summer Headline

The newsletter this month is a little minimal. I’ve been so busy with commissions and classes and freelance and gardening and my brother’s wedding and traveling to teach, so I’m keeping this one super simple and just sharing our upcoming classes and events! I’ll be back next round with more links, playlists, etc, but for now we’ll get straight to those sweet summer class listings.

Also, as a thank you for being an intrepid newsletter reader, I’m offering subscribers 20% off all classes if you book before Monday May 18th! Use the code NEWSBESTIE26 at checkout to get a discount on classes.

This summer, we have a fun array of classes including lots of one day workshops! But before I even get into it, this is your reminder that there’s still a chance to sign up for our Sew Simple Pants class (we had to push the start date to 5/18) on Mondays from 7-9pm. This is a great class for new sewers! Make a pair of jogger style or wide leg elastic waist pants (with pockets!)

If you’re a total sewing novice I’d recommend signing up for our Learn To Sew: Patchwork Tote class. Bonus: if you’re not a beginner and you just want to make ✨the perfect tote bag✨ out of recycled materials, you can join too! This class happens twice this summer: Sunday May 31st at 1pm and Friday July 31st at 7pm.

If you’re excited to play with fabric and make something fun for your home, a friend, a snuggly pet, or a new baby, take our Make a Quilt class, starting Thursday June 4th at 7pm. You’ll learn all the basics of crafting a quilt and leave with a lap size quilt of your own design.

Some of you may have noticed a huge increase in the amount of tie dye I wear to the studio. I’m sure I wasted no time telling you about my love of ice dye. Ice dye is a super fun and easy dye technique that creates a beautifully organic and watercolor-esque result using ice and powdered dye. Come make an ice dye shirt in our Ice Dye Workshop on Sunday June 7th at 2pm.

If you’re more interested in designs of the illustrative or geometric nature, come join our Block Printing on Fabric class on Saturday June 27th at 3pm. Block printing is such a fun, easy, and satisfying way to decorate any fabric item. We’ll have bandanas, but feel free to bring in a t-shirt, tote, or anything else you want to customize.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your own patterns? Now is the time! In June/July you can take our Make Your Own Patterns class, starting Monday June 29th at 7pm. You’ll learn all the fundamentals of pattern making and use them to create your own unique design.

Later in July, we’ve got two of our perennial favorite classes back for summer sessions! Natural Dye: Ecoprinting on Saturday July 11th at 1pm will teach you how to use fresh and dried flowers to create gorgeous designs on fabric. Cyanotypes on Fabric on Sunday July 19th at 10am will give you the chance to make super fun sun prints using objects from nature, your craft stash, and the junk drawer. Both of these classes are great one day explorations of textile design techniques that can feel daunting to explore on your own.

In August I’ll be doing a bit of traveling, but I managed to squeeze a couple fun workshops in there so don’t fret! I’m bringing back our Fabric Design Workshop for another round on Sunday August 2nd at 2pm. Come learn tricks for designing your own seamless repeating pattern. Following the class, you’ll receive with a digital file you can use on any print-on-demand fabric service, like Spoonflower.com.

As a final farewell to summer and a welcome to fall temperatures, we’re running our Sew a Beanie class again on Monday August 24th at 7pm. This quick workshop is for all levels, including folks with zero sewing experience!

If you’d rather do a little sewing on your own schedule, don’t forget you can also book a Private Lessons to get help with almost anything sewing related. On top of that, private lessons are always ‘Bring a friend for free’. That means you and a friend can sign up for a private lesson and split the cost, but still get a ton of one on one support!

If you need a bit more low-key help, you can always sign up for a session of Open Sewing Studio. It meets regularly on Friday mornings and sometimes on weeknights. Just check the calendar on the sign up page to see what’s available. We’ve got some Monday night availability coming up this month.

Of course, we always have our Community Craft Night on the last Tuesday of the month! The next session is Tuesday May 26th at 7. Come join us for this free craft night and socialize and sew with other local crafters. All are welcome!

…and if you’re more interested in some quiet contemplation and intuitive crafting via collage, come to one of out Inner Oracle Workshop sessions. Callan Tynes of La Forza Tarot will be on hand to share the basics of making Soul Collage inspired custom oracle cards. No prior experience necessary, only a curious soul is required!