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I just cut out my customized t-shirt pattern, and realize that I made a big mistake. Not with the cutting, but with the fabric. Because I didn’t want to risk using expensive material on this test project, I pulled something from my stash.

What was I thinking?! I should have tested it first to determine its stretch rating. Most t-shirt patterns are designed for “moderate stretch” knits, and clearly this stash fabric doesn’t fit the bill.

If only I had used the Stretch Ruler handout I give my sewing students! (Download a free copy here.) Trying to eyeball a knit fabric is a bad idea. Most knits look alike from a distance. Without testing the gauge, there is no guarantee that even an expertly sewn garment will fit and perform properly.

So now the question before me is: do I sew THIS shirt, if for no other reason than curiosity? Or do I pitch it, run to the fabric store, and buy something else? Stay tuned for the answer…

Now I’m on my own to explore the Pattern Master pattern drafting software in greater depth. It’s very cozy here, sitting in the back corner of the CQ studio. Lots of lively activity around me at the cutting tables. The studio windows are open, sun is streaming in, and the whoosh of the Powow River adds a soothing background sound, setting the perfect tone for creative contemplation. Ah…spring! Read more >

Greetings, CQ members and friends. For the next several weeks I’ll be blogging about my experiences with Crafters Quarters’ awesome pattern drafting software. While many of you folks think of CQ as a place for creating all sorts of fiber arts and mixed media projects, it’s also a phenomenal resource for those who sew clothing and home dec items: huge cutting tables, dress forms, sewing machines, and of course this software used by the fashion industry to create clothing lines for women, men, and children. Read more >

Crafters Quarters member Denise Coulson won a first place blue ribbon for her beautiful quilt at this year’s Topsfield Fair. After designing and piecing the quilt, Denise consulted with Georgette Gagne at Black Wolf Quilting studio on the quilting design and had her quilt it. Congratulations, Denise! You make us proud. 

Besides quilting, Denise’s other interests include riding her motorcycle, taking beautiful professional-grade photographs, and dressing up in vintage clothes, like the 1933 wedding dress she’s wearing in the picture below.

We welcomed members of the Essex County Needlecraft Guild (ECNG) to Crafters Quarters today as part of the ECNG’s mystery trip to Amesbury. While here, guild members assembled and sewed 50 very cute chemo supply bags to donate to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

The whole chemo supply bag idea started when cancer survivor Sara Gallet was ending her treatment and was given her chemo supplies in a wadded up paper bag. Gallet said that she felt like that bag–and didn’t want anyone else to feel that way. So she went to Zimman’s to shop for fabric to make her own bags to donate. Word about the bags got around to Kristin Hunter at ECNG and the guild decided to pitch in. And we are so glad that they did because we got to meet them and they are wonderful and we hope they come back soon. (Especially since they shared their  lunch and candy with us!)

Also! ECNG welcomes new members. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please email Kristin Hunter at the following address: kristinhunter@comcast.net .

Hi, my name is Lisa, and I’m a CQ-holic.

I first heard about Crafters Quarters in the fall of 2008 when I saw Jensi and her family moving furniture into the building. I am pretty sure my jaw hit the asphalt when she said that she was starting a craft studio–RIGHT ABOVE OVEDIA CHOCOLATES–and coincidentally right across the street from my condo.

I could not wait for her to open but was working fulltime in Boston as a textbook editor.  Long story short, my wonderful husband gave me a Crafters Quarters annual membership for Christmas last year (thank you, honey!)–about a month before I was laid off from the aforementioned job. Talk about SPECTACULAR timing! The rest, as they say, is history.

More often than not, you will find me working on my latest obsession in what Jensi and Lori so kindly call “Lisa’s clubhouse” (which sounds very clique-y but it’s not) when my hubby calls to find out where I am. It all started with Leah Allman’s silk scarf painting class, followed in quick succession by Kate Broughton’s fabric origami workshop, learning to sew with Lori Felch, Gail Picard & Linda Carey’s quilted tote bags class, and of course, Jensi’s Flirty Thirty fabric dyeing class.

Currently, I am addicted to all things having to do with quilting. Mind you, when I first started coming to CQ, I told Jensi that I was flat-out not interested in quilting, or even in machine sewing. She sort of smiled a little and didn’t say much.  I think she knew that after being immersed in such a supportive, friendly environment, surrounded by all of you inspiring quilters and your beautiful work, I would finally succumb. And I am so grateful that I did.

What is your CQ story? What are you up to, craftwise? I want to hear it. You can email me at Lisa.Phillips@craftersquarters.com .

Talk to you soon!

Lisa

At last week’s  Oh, Scrap! meeting, goddess of recycling crafts Angie Adams gave an inspiring {reCREATE} talk, “Being Green” where she showed us how to turn recycled plastic bags into totes and purse liners–with nothing more than an iron and some ingenuity! We also swooned over her beautiful collection of barrettes, magnets, and pins upcycled from maps, canceled postage stamps, and magazines.

This week as part of Oh, Scrap!, we’re excited to have Ellen Vidal’s Easy Paper Piecing class, where we’ll learn how to piece a cute little house block using Ellen’s techniques. Come on over and join us this evening (Wednesday 9/23) between 6 and 8 p.m. There is no charge for the class (THANKS, ELLEN!) beyond the usual Oh, Scrap! fee.

Hope to see you there! 

Lisa Phillips