Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts Blog Tour!

We've sure been keeping Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy, authors of Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, busy lately! They've barely kicked off their US tour-trotting shoes and have already tackled our first round of Quilt-A-Long questions.

Good thing they are a hardy pair, because not only will they be offering their inspiration, encouragement, and advice here on the first Tuesday of every month (last date, July 6th!); they are also extending their wisdom and influence to our friendly neighborhood blogs! Follow their wild ride through the blogosphere below, and be sure to get your free pattern and Quilt-A-Long badge and link to our Quilt-A-Long Facebook group from here!

 

May 3: Quilt-A-Long Begins! http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com 

May 6: Review http://to-be-charmed.com

May 7:  Kaffe and Liza’s Top Ten Quilting Blogs http://quilting.craftgossip.com

May 10: Review and “Liza Lucy Stories!” http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com

May 11: Podcast Interview with Kaffe and Liza http://www.PatSloan.com

May 13: How the "Kaffe Fassett Collective" designs together http://whipup.net   

May 14: Choosing Colors www.knitgrrl.com

May 17: Art vs. Craft http://www.thisisloveforever.com

May 18: The Question of Dabbling http://www.yarnstorm.blogs.com

May 19: Choosing Patterns http://www.houseonhillroad.com

May 20: Interview http://sewmamasew.com

May 21: Review http://www.ohbara.com

May 25: Review http://usineurope.typepad.com

May 27: Why a Design Wall and Reducing Glass http://thelastpiece.typepad.com  

May 28: Interview: Tradition Today http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com

May 31: Interview http://thelongthread.com

June 1: Kaffe and Liza's Quilt-A-Long / 

June 2: Review http://quiltersbuzz.com

June 3: Quilt-A-Long Sharing http://blog.fatquarterly.com

June 4: Review http://www.trueup.net

June 7: Review http://bemused.typepad.com

Norah Gaughan's COMFORT KNITTING + CROCHET: AFGHANS Blog Tour!

April 8:   http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog

April 9:   http://blog.yarn.com

April 12: http://blog.yarn.com

April 13: http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com

April 15: http://www.craftgossip.com

April 21: http://to-be-charmed.com

April 22: http://www.houseonhillroad.com

April 23: http://www.knitgrrl.com

April 26: http://www.crazyauntpurl.com

April 27: http://www.thehookandi.com

April 27: http://www.belleepoquewhimsy.com

April 28: http://www.knitandtonic.net

April 29: http://whipup.net

April 30: http://www.alabamachanin.com/journal

To see photos of some of the 50+ afghans in this book, click here.

KNITS MEN WANT Blog Tour!

 

Knits Men Want author Bruce Weinstein has been teaching knitting for over 10 years, and in that time, he's seen his fair share of well-intentioned gifts knitted for men--full of bright colors, crazy cables, itchy yarn, and...what?! Did you really intarsia yourself on his sweater?

Sometimes the response our gift gets depends on the man. But, according to Bruce, and considering the tales of Cringe or Crush? he's heard from his students and fans, there are tried-and-true rules we should be aware of before we stay up until 3am on Chirstmas Eve crafting our labor of love.

Rules, shmules, I say! Only, why am I now the proud owner of the giant, shawl-wide, extra-bulky scarf I knitted for my main squeeze? I mean, didn't he see that H&M ad with the guy in that enormous cowl-necked sweater? Doesn't he know that sporting the illusion of a shrunken head is très chic? And why did he wear my second, slimmer attempt all winter long?

Bruce will answer my burning questions, and yours, during the course of his blog tour this month. Follow the schedule below, and be sure to check out and contribute to our hilarious Cringe or Crush? Sweepstakes!  Grand prize is a signed copy of Knits Men Want and this 8'' x 10'' print from the book, by photographer Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed!

April 7: BUST blog contest kickoff! http://bust.com/blog

April 9: Review/Q&A - http://www.knitgrrl.com

April 14: Review - http://www.houseonhillroad.com

April 15: Their a$$ from their elbow - http://whipup.net

April 16: Husband review - http://goknitinyourhat.blogspot.com

April 19: Review/Q&A - http://www.purlbee.com

April 22: Boyfriend sweater curse! - http://blog.yarn.com

April 23: Review - http://to-be-charmed.com

April 26: Review - http://www.crazyauntpurl.com

April 28: The perfect project -  http://www.thehookandi.com

April 28: Review - http://www.knitandtonic.net

April 30: Top 10 knitting blogs - http://www.craftgossip.com

ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES HERE!

"Cringe or Crush?" The KNITS MEN WANT Sweepstakes

Crafting for a man can be dangerous territory, but author Bruce Weinstein has come to the rescue with his new book Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man. To mark the occasion, we're hosting Cringe or Crush? The KNITS MEN WANT Sweepstakes.

Think about a lucky fella for whom you have made something. Did he cringe and recoil when you presented him with your labor of love?  Or did he totally crush on it?   If you have a humorous, embarrassing, heartwarming, or tear-jerking tale about crafting for a man, this is your chance to share it! Spin us your best yarn and be entered to win one of four great prizes.

To enter, share your Cringe or Crush? story in the Comments section below before noon (EST) on April 30th, 2010.

After the deadline, we'll choose four entries at random.  All winners will receive a signed copy of Knits Men Want.  In addition, the prizes below will be awarded in the same order winners are chosen--it's luck of the draw in this sweepstakes!

First winner: This print from Knits Men Want by photographer (and Brooklyn Tweed blogger!) Jared Flood.

Second winner: Two projects from Knits Men Want, knitted by author Bruce Weinstein: the Watch Cap (in red) and Fingerless Mitts (in olive).

Third winner: The Thick and Warm Socks (in green) from Knits Men Want, also knitted by Bruce.

Fourth winner: From ShibuiKnits, two skeins of their gorgeous Hand-Dyed Merino Worsted yarn, in “Stone.”

Think hard about your crafting history and be sure to check out these links!

Download the Knits Men Want Introduction for inspiration and advice.

Join the Knits Men Want Ravelry group to post photos of your crafting hits and misses and swap tips with fellow crafters.

Read the Knits Men Want blog for funny commentary and unique insight from author Bruce Weinstein.

Check out projects from the book in the Knits Men Want gallery.

Follow the Knits Men Want blog tour for book reviews, interviews, and special posts from Bruce.

Please note all entrants will be added to our e-mail list unless you tell us that you do not want to be added. For a full set of rules, click here.  Thanks--and good luck!

 

Kata Golda's Workshops in New York Start This Friday!

Mark your calendars! Starting this Friday, March 18, Kata Golda, author of Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt, will be  in New York City to teach workshops, sign books, and give felt craft demos. Here's the complete schedule!

FRIDAY MARCH 19, 2010

3 – 5pm | Book signing & Felt Craft Demo | Kate's Paperie (Soho)

Kata Golda's charming handmade photo albums have been popular at Kate's for many years. Join Kata Golda at Kate's Paperie in Soho as she demonstrates how to make projects from her book Kata Golda's Hand-stitched Felt, including felt photo pockets and cute little finger puppets that nest in their own roll-up bed, which doubles as their carrying case. Kata Golda's felt craft DIY kits, her book, and bags of hand-dyed felt scraps will also be on sale.

72 Spring Street; New York, NY 10012 (between Crosby & Lafayette Streets),  (212) 941-9816

COST: Free. No registration required.

 

SATURDAY MARCH 20, 2010

2 – 4pm | Handmade Crafternoon | New York Public Library (Manhattan)

Crafty librarian Jessica Pigza and Crafternoon author Maura Madden welcome Kata Golda to NYPL's Handmade Crafternoon, where she'll share her process of making some of the sweetest felt creations to ever roam the earth. Learn how to make one of the finger puppets from her book!

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (Room 227) , 11 West 40th St.; New York, NY 10018-2788, (917) 275-6975

COST: Free. No registration required.

 SUNDAY MARCH 21, 2010

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Felt Craft Demo | Books of Wonder (Brooklyn)

Join us for some lunchtime stitching with author Kata Golda, who will demonstrate kid-friendly felt craft projects from her book Kata Golda's Hand-stitched Felt.

Books of Wonder, 18 West 18th Street; New York, NY 10011, (212) 989-3270

COST: Free. No registration required.

 

MONDAY MARCH 22, 2010

4 – 8 p.m. | Craft Night at Etsy Labs | Etsy Studios (Brooklyn)

Kata Golda returns to Etsy for her second felt craft workshop at Etsy Labs. This time she'll show you how to make one of her popular (and extremely charming) finger puppets. Drop in anytime between 4–8 p.m. Instruction will be given throughout the night as participants arrive, so don't worry if you swing by after work at 6 — you won't be missing out on the demo.

Etsy Studios, 55 Washington St., Suite 512 (5th floor); Brooklyn, NY 11201,(718) 855-7955

COST: Free; RSVP here.

Sunday March 14th @ Spacecraft Brooklyn - Alabama Chanin Bandana Workshop + Down Home Get Down!

 
  

4-6pm. Workshop: Natalie Chanin, celebrated fashion designer, CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, artist, and crafter, will be teaching a workshop on her Southern-inspired applique techniques using sustainable and earth-friendly materials. Cost is $100 and includes a signed copy of her new book ALABAMA STUDIO STYLE and all the materials and instruction to complete the bandana kit, plus gift bags courtesy of BurdaStyle.

RSVP: rsvp@spacecraftbrooklyn.com for questions or to reserve your spot. Space is limited!

6-9pm. FREE After Party: Don't miss this very special opportunity to meet Natalie and purchase a signed copy of her new book, ALABAMA STUDIO STYLE, if you can't make it to the workshop. Enjoy free beer, wine, and treats,  as well as live music from Free Advice (partytime bluegrass by way the McKibben Lofts!) and blues man-about-town Ernie Vega (aka: Lester Hawkins, Jelly Roll Robertson). Oh, and it’s Pi Day! So expect some delicious pie! Feel free to bring a pie to share as well!

 

Brooklyn Crafts: DIY Event Recap and Pie Bake Off Benefit!

I

 Thanks to everyone who attended the STC Craft and BurdaStyle Presents: DIY Design Day at 303 Grand's Perk Street Lounge (and to everyone who wished they could have attended!) this past Sunday in Brooklyn.

It was a great success! Thanks to online event promotion via the Daily News, Going, NY Post, Yelp, Time Out NY, 3rd Ward, New York Magazine, Etsy, and BurdaStyle, we had over 100 RSVPs, and about that many passing through the space throughout the day.

 

We also raised $100 for the local non-profits BARC, Brooklyn's no-kill animal shelter, and Bags For The People, which hosts fabric-recycling, bag-making workshops, through our raffle and sale items:

Here's the lovely Carol of BurdaStyle, and the lovely Ellie of STC Craft, working the sales and info tables!

 
The first craft of the day was bag-making with Katherine Bell of Quilting For Peace, and Deanne of Bags For the People and I Jamaica.


Here are two ladies very happy with their wine bags...


 

 ...and folks in the thick of making the 30-Minute Shopping Bag from Quilting For Peace.

Thanks to Purl Patchwork in Soho for their donation of such gorgeous fabric!


Second project of the day was the Potato Printing with Heather Ross of Weekend Sewing. Can you believe her amazing potato stamps??!!

And finally, the last project was the Coffee Cup Cozy and Coater from Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt!

Look Ma, I made this!

  

Alicia Kachmar, who donated a bunch of her adorable crafts for the raffle (and who you will meet in my next post,  the start of a series called "Friends of STC Craft", worked on this adorable "Safety Cone" cozy (work in progress)!

 Check out the adventures of her little Safety Cones and Kata Golda's little finger puppet friends here!


Stay tuned for my interview with Alicia, and the results of our raffle! Winners are being contacted now!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. If you are in Brooklyn this weekend, come to the 1st Annual Brooklyn Pie Bake Off Benefit for Bags For The People!
Our judges are heavily involved within the New York food and craft worlds, including our own Heather Ross (read her hilarious post about it here), Tracy Candido of Sweet Tooth of the Tiger, Julie Schneider, director of Etsy Labs, Chysanthe Tenentes of Brooklyn Based, and Tara Laruffa, marketing director of the Union Square Greenmarket.
Winners receive a Bags for the People bag filled with prizes: including a copy of the best-selling Baked cookbook (Stewart, Tabori and Chang), a copy of our best-selling Weekend Sewing book (which also features recipes!), and more! 
Best Overall gets all that, plus a pie feature on Etsy, and these fun things from BurdaStyle and Alicia Kachmar:

So come bake or just eat and be merry! Rules and info here: http://brooklynpiebake.tumblr.com