poppytalk handmade

hey saplings!

ah, life in the country. is beautiful and relaxing here in the redwoods, and i have plenty of time to work on my own art and design projects. love that. its also VERY rural, so i have come to depend on the internet to stay connected to the art and design culture that i left. so i started a blog and an etsy shop to stay connected. have a look - i love visitors!

i am also participating in an online market beginning in october, run by the design blog poppytalk. the market is called poppytalk handmade and may be of interest to the saplings. everything in it is handmade, and sales go directly through each vendor's online shop. there is a small fee to participate. they will be accepting applications soon for the month of november, so if you are interested you should check it out.

cheers to all, and if you are ever in california, come visit!!!
xo jen

crochet class at brooklyn general

it's officially fall, which (among other things) means Crochet Season! i'll be teaching the first crochet class of the season at Brooklyn General, starting this wednesday evening (9/26)...

crochet 101
3 two-hour classes: wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10

in this class you will learn all the basics of crochet (chain, single, double and triple crochet stitches) and how to use them to whip up scarves, hats, amigurumi and infinite other possibilities! we will learn shaping and circular crochet, as well as stitch patterns like meshes, scallops and bobbles. you'll begin a scarf in the first class and continue on to either a hat or shawl by the end of the session. happy hooking!

students should bring one skein of smooth yarn in a light or bright color (easier to see your stitches) in either worsted or bulky size. for worsted bring a size G or H crochet hook, and for bulky a J or K.

to register, please call the shop at 718–237–7753 (leave a message!) or email at classes@brooklyngeneral.com. you must register in advance in order to ensure a spot in the class.

Brooklyn General is located at 128 Union Street (btwn Columbia & Hicks) in Cobble Hill.

attention Chicago!

if you are in or near chicago this weekend (or ever... read on), it's the original home of Renegade Craft Fair! i've always wanted to check this one out, to see different vendors than the one in brooklyn, to feel out whether it would ever be worth traveling to participate in that one, AND just because the idea of simply ATTENDING a craft fair without participating in it sounds so... stress-free! i might actually be able to browse the merch and focus; maybe even BUY SOMETHING!!!
but to me the really exciting news is that kathleen and sue also have a brand new baby: Renegade Handmade. it's their new real-live walk-in store in chicago where you can find handmade goods 7 days a week! now you can get a mini Renegade experience any time of year. wish i could visit both...

fall classes @ Home Ec!

here are all the details for the roster at Home Ec in Park Slope. i'm teaching patternmaking here and they also offer sewing and knitting classes...

Home Ec is Flirt Brooklyn's new creative space on 3rd Avenue near the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn's Park Slope! in search of a design studio for our Flirt clothing line, we came upon a spacious former machine shop which afforded us enough space to do more than just design. it now allows us to answer the eternal question, "Do you teach sewing classes?" with a firm and resounding, "Yes! We do!"
sewing classes, crafting and mending nights, children's craft and sewing classes, knitting, patternmaking, open studio and creative time and many more events. we are really excited about Home Ec becoming part of the Park Slope community, so if you have a class you'd like to teach or an event you'd like to hold let us know! we'll be sending out weekly email updates so sign up for our mailing list to learn about all our classes and events.

Home Ec is located at 303 3rd avenue (between carroll & 1st street) park slope, brooklyn

here's how you sign up:
email: flirtbrooklyn@earthlink.net
call: 718-852-2889
stop by either Flirt location:
93 fifth avenue between baltic and warren, park slope, brooklyn
252 smith street between douglass and degraw, carroll gardens, brooklyn



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patternmaking with Cal Patch
fridays, september 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 6:30-8:30.
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if you can sew, you're most likely itching to make your own patterns so that you can design your own clothes from scratch. we'll show you how to take your own measurements and use them to draft patterns for a basic t-shirt and skirt that fit YOUR body! then we'll take those slopers and stylize them to fit your vision, as well as learn to make patterns from existing garments. soon you'll be stitching up a whole new wardrobe!
***this is an intermediate class so some sewing experience is necessary***

there are 4 class sessions each lasting 2 hours. classes are fridays, september 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. the cost is $240.

supplies needed:
*a roll or pad of newsprint, drawing, wrapping or patternmaking paper, at least 14" wide
*see-through 18" ruler
*hip curve or french curve
*tape measure
*pencil and sharpener (or mechanical pencil)
*eraser
*scotch tape
*scissors (for paper)
*push pins
*safety pins
*1 yard of muslin or similar inexpensive woven fabric
*1 1/2 yds of t-shirt jersey or similar knit


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Flirt Skirt with Patti Gilstrap
september 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
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can't find the perfect skirt? is the fabric amazing but the fit is never quite right? learn to make your own Flirt Skirt with Patti Gilstrap co-owner of Flirt and designer of the shop's house label!
in this class you will alter a commercial pattern to fit your measurements, and then cut and sew your own A-line skirt from that pattern. you will learn to set in a zipper, sew darts, and hem the skirt to your desired length. time permitting, we will add a top-stitched pocket.

the class is 4 sessions in september and each session is 2 hours long. the dates are september 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and the class is $240.00 plus supplies.
**this is an intermediate class so some previous experience is necessary**.

supply list:
*2 yds. of 45" or 60" non stretch woven fabric such as cotton, cotton blends
linen, linen blends, twill, pique. NO KNITS (and please nothing very slippery)
*all-purpose thread to match your fabric.
*1 7" zipper (no metal and not invisible)
*1 package of 1/2" wide twill tape


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Build a Bag Workshop
wednesday september 5th, and thursday september 20th
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the Build a Bag Workshop is a 3-hour project-based class geared toward the beginning sewer. no experience is necessary!! after choosing your own interior and exterior fabrics you will cut, pin, interface, and machine-sew your own lined cotton tote bag. the cost is $120. and all materials are included. classes are from 6:30-9:30pm. wine and chocolate to celebrate at the end!

supply suggestions:
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Steinlauf and Stoller Inc.
239 w. 39th street
manhattan

P&S Fabrics
360 broadway (between franklin and leonard)
manhattan

Metro Textile Corp.
265 w. 37th street, suite 908
manhattan

Mood Designer Fabrics
225 w. 37th street, 3rd floor
manhattan


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Introduction to Knitting with Antoinettte Indge of Cinderloop
september 12th, 19th, and 26th 6:30-8:30pm
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don't we all think the same thing every year as the weather cools down and we start to pull out sweaters, scarves, and hats? "i wish i'd taken the time to learn to knit!" well here is your opportunity!!! this is a class for beginning knitters; no previous experience is necessary. by the end of this three-week workshop, you will have made a scarf in the design of your choice. you will learn to knit and purl, as well as explore simple pattern stitches. along the way you'll pick up lots of tips and advice to help you with future projects, including how to choose yarn, how to read a pattern, and how to avoid common pitfalls and fix mistakes. this workshop is a great way to start your knitting career!

supplies needed:

*4 balls of worsted wool yarn: 2 in a main color, 2 in a second color
*set of size 9 double pointed needles
*tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends
*point protectors for ends of needles
*small scissors
*size G or H crochet hook

there are 3-sessions in this workshop and the cost is $125.
september 12th, 19th, and 26th 6:30-8:30pm

Antoinette Indge is the designer of the Cinderloop clothing line and has been knitting for many years. before she started Cinderloop, she taught knitting classes professionally. she especially loves lace knitting and designing sweaters.

supply source suggestions:

Brooklyn General
128 union street between hicks and columbia
brooklyn 718 237 7753

Knitaway
398 atlantic avenue, corner of bond
brooklyn 718 797 3305

Downtown Yarns
45 avenue A
manhattan 212 995 5991

Purl
137 sullivan street
manhattan 212 420 8796

back to school!

yes, after this holiday weekend it'll be that time of year, the one that feels just as much like a 'new year' as january does... maybe even more? it's most definitely a time of new beginnings: a new school year (no matter if we don't actually GO to school, we just FEEL it!) a new season, the desire for new clothes, new shoes, a new coat, a new haircut, the instinct to start nesting and baking and hoarding acorns, and quite likely the itch to learn something NEW!

well, why not combine some of those urges and learn to sew? then you can make your own new wardrobe, piece by piece! my beginner class at Brooklyn General will get you sewing and you'll complete a wrap skirt that's all your own! their selection of prints is mind-boggling, so the hardest part is choosing what to use for your first skirt. classes begin september 4th so check your calendar and sign up NOW, before all the spaces are filled...

Sewing 101 $150
Four 2-hour classes
This class will teach you all the basics: how a sewing machine works, cutting from a pattern, and how to sew a simple wrap skirt. With these techniques, you’ll be on your way to stitching up all kinds of projects!

Materials: 2 yds light- to medium-weight woven fabric, 1 pkg extra-wide, double fold bias tape to match, thread to match, scissors, pins and pincushion, seam ripper, tailor’s chalk.

Session A: Tues, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm, 9/4, 11, 18, 25
Session B: Wed, 11 am-1 pm, 9/12, 19, 26, 10/3
Session C: Sat 11 am to 1 pm, 10/6, 13, 27, 11/3

to register, please call the shop at 718–237–7753 (leave a message!) or email us at classes@brooklyngeneral.com. you must register in advance in order to insure a spot in the class.

to see the complete schedule of offerings at Brooklyn General, (i'm also teaching crochet, embroidery, and 'altered states', plus they have classes in knitting and quilting too) look here.