We’ve had a lot of demand lately for a monthly class where kids and teens to get together and get crafty… so here you go!

Starting in February, we’ll be holding Saturday CRAFTernoon on the second Saturday of each month. The class will be held from 1 – 4pm and will be open to students ages 8 – 14. The class fee is $45 and will include a kit for that month’s class. Some of our projects will be french-seamed tote bags, pencil pouches/ cosmetic bags, binder covers, fabric cuff bracelets, softies, and MUCH more!

This is one of our younger seamsters. She is very gifted and we love having her and her sisters at Stitch! When customers stop in to see what’s new and they see such a young sewer they are always surprised. With one on one or small group classes, it’s amazing what these kids can do! It’s inspiring to see them leave with their finished products. Elizabeth has made a skirt, pajama pants, a tote bag, and an applique wall hanging during her lessons at Stitch Cleveland. On her own, she has experimented with her sewing machine and made many other fun projects! Keep it up, Elizabeth, you inspire us!

We are really excited to offer these classes and even more excited that there has been a demand for them. How great that sewing is making a huge comeback for our kids. Someday as they start sewing businesses, or go to fashion school, or stitch someone up on an operating table they will think fondly of how it all started… one Saturday CRAFTernoon!

Looking for another great group to get you inspired? Clara from the Cleveland Craft Coalition stopped by Stitch Cleveland today to drop off some flyers for the Valentines Day Craft Show. They are a newly formed group of artists and crafters who’ve made it their goal to sell their handmade wares once a month at Bela Dubby! Anyone interested in joining? Drop them a line and tell ‘em we sent ya!

Next Saturday, February 6th from 12 – 4pm you can stop by Bela Dubby for a great handmade show. Bela Dubby is an awesome coffee & beer bar in Lakewood that is sure to get your creativity flowing. Get all of your valentines something handmade and from the heart!

Are you planning a handmade holiday? Leave a comment and share your good Valentine’s Day ideas with us! Someone will get a Valentine’s Day prize…

Hi all! Just wanted to tell you about grey cardigan… a great local artist who has a design on Threadless.com for you to vote for! If grey cardigan, aka Brian Jasinski wins he will be rewarded with prizes and money, fame and fortune!

Threadless.com is an awesome site where you can submit design ideas, buy prints and tees, and just browse through pages and pages of cool artwork. New designs are released multiple times a week so there’s always something new to check out!

I know that you are on your way to clicking that link and casting your vote for Brian. But just in case you need another gentle nudge, I’d like to tell you that Brian is also a gifted stitcher and personal friend of Stitch Cleveland.

So jump over there. You can even submit your own design to one of their contests… then you’ll be famous and rich.

But let Brian win this one…

We received a great compliment from the ladies over at Sew, Mama, Sew the other day. We are so happy that so many of our area’s Crafties call Stitch Cleveland home! We rather like the sound of the humming sewing machines, knitting machines and sergers. However, we welcome the company of others to give us some creative consultation or constructive criticism. Working in the company of others lets us step away from our work and see it from another perspective!

It seems that people all over are feeling the same way. From sewing labs at Rock Paper Scissors Collective, to knitting therapy at River Colors, churchs, republics, and mafias are popping up everywhere! Let’s keep the momentum going! Stay tuned to Stitch Cleveland to find out about two new groups we will be introducing soon…

In the meantime, we want to know what makes your needles click! Leave a comment and tell us when, where, how, or with whom you like to get your creative juices flowing.

Hope to see you here at Stitch Cleveland for Church of Craft. We’re the official meeting place for the Cleveland chapter of this international organization. Bring your sewing, knitting, crochet, drawing… whatever! We want to see it! This is a fun, free, social afternoon where you can work while in the company of other like-minded creative types!

See you here from 1 – 4pm!

During this month’s meeting, Megan will show us how to insert an invisible zipper… come one come all!

The fabulous designers at Project Runway come up wth the most amazing fashions and details, considering the time they have to construct them, don’t they?!   I love watching them sketch their designs, and drape their fabrics on the dressforms, too- it’s so workroom-y!!  And so much creativity-yikes!!  Where do they come up with all those ideas? I’m so glad to see Tim & Heidi again, I missed them, not to mention that they’re back in New York – yay!

Learn how to sketch your designs, drape, make a pattern and construct your dreams, too!  Private lessons at Stitch are just the thing to get you started!

Our Tuesday After School seamsters just completed their first project.  Here they are showing off their creations.

They are so much fun and amazing with their enthusiasm.   On their first project, they have learned how to channel quilt, insert a zipper and use the Fasturn tool for making the zipper pull.  As well as straight stitching practice and using the zigzag stitch on their machines.

They  have a very long a list of projects they want to make, including bean bag chairs, clothing, American Girl Doll clothes, pillows, fleece mittens  & hats,  and even a quilt.  Yay for sewing!

Call Stitch to set up a Sewing Club with your friends!

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…

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.

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!

You’ll be amazed at the stuff you can make with this machine, not to mention how fast!  You will see  how to set up and adjust gauge,  as well as some fun techniques.  Learn the basics of following a hand knitting pattern and how to use component yarns such as fun fur and bulky yarns.  Everyone will be able to try their hand at doing a few rows to get a feel of how the machine works.  There is so much you can do with this simple machine, this will only be the tip of the iceburg!!  There will be plenty of sample items, too!   Scarves, sweaters, purses, & toys, and even a skirt!

This demo/hands on will be offered twice .  Saturday, January 16, 12:00-2pm  and  Sunday, January 17th, 1-3:00.  Class size is limited, so sign up early!!  $15.00.