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 Shannon & Jason's Blog 

Quiltfest Virtual Schoolhouse #3 Workshops Open

9/15/2022

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We're Teaching
​at Quiltfest!

Don’t miss out on this chance to take your skills to the next level with Strip Quilt A-Go-Go and Sashiko for Hand Quilting. Both workshops are beginner friendly so even if you’ve never done any quilting or hand stitching before, we gottcha covered. Link for all the relevant details and enrollment is below… optional kits are also available for both classes but are first come first served so get those orders in now.

We are thrilled to be back at virtual quiltfest and hope to see you all in the virtual classroom!
  • Join us, Thursday, November 3rd as we bring you Strip Quilt A-Go-Go.
  • Come back on Friday, November 4th for Sashiko for Hand Quilting.​
Click the button below to register today!
Register for Quiltfest Virtual Schoolhouse with Shannon & Jason
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Heart On My Sleeve Patch

6/23/2022

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Heart On My Sleeve Iron-on Patch

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If you need a last minute, no-sew way to zhoosh up your Pride outfit, this project we originally created for Clover's Tool School Extra Credit will take you from drab to FAB in just a few minutes.
The fabric we used is Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics leftover from our Colors of My Pride Quilt pattern. The only other material you need is a double sided fusible product like Clover Wonder Fuse. Grab a good pair of scissors, and a marking tool (that's a pen or a pencil… or, heck, a crayon if that's what you have on hand!) and you're good to go.
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Follow along in our step-by-step video below. We've also included the original instructions from our project sheet for you to work from.

Y'all know we don't prioritize "quick and easy" for our projects, but this one really is something you can make faster than you can say fairy dust, fairy dust, fairy dust! (If you catch that reference, bonus points to you.)

Again, for our heart, we used colors from the Colors of My Pride Quilt pattern which we made in the colors of the Progress Pride Flag. You can see that post HERE and use colors that best reflect your Pride!

Here's the step-by-step instructions:


INSTRUCTIONS

  • Pick Your Pride Colors
    • Grab fabric in colors that best represent YOUR Pride.
  • Cut Your Strips
    • In the colors you choose, cut enough strips to cover the entire sheet. Strips can overlap slightly or lay flat next to one another. The important part is that the strips cover a sheet of Wonder Fuse.
    • Place the strips on the “rough” side of the Wonder Fuse.
    • Trim the excess fabric from the sides as needed.
  • Iron the Strips
    • Using a hot iron, press the strips to the Wonder Fuse.
    • IMPORTANT: Do Not Use Steam. Just the heat from the iron is all you need.
    • To ensure the fabric is fully fused turn the fabric over and iron the Wonder Fuse side as well.
    • Wait for 2-3 minutes for the patch to fully cool before continuing to the next step. Yes, the waiting is the hardest part… feel free to go grab an iced coffee…
  • Make the Heart
    • Fold the patch so the Wonder Fuse sheet is evenly folded in half.
    • Using the center fold as a guide, draw half of a heart.
    • Cut out your heart. Not YOUR heart… you'll need that for dancing in the streets at Pride. Cut out the heart shape from the fabric.
  • Iron on the Patch
    • Decide on the placement for your patch. Shannon has had these black vests for years and decided she needed to dress them up a bit for wearing at Pride. No, it's not on her sleeve. It's a vest, there isn't a sleeve. But "Wear your heart on your right shoulder blade" isn't a saying to it's called heart on my sleeve. Y'all got that… right? Moving on…
    • Peel off the paper backing of the Wonder Fuse and, again, using a hot iron without steam, press to secure.
    • Note: Be careful of your chosen fabric and garment; do not use heat too hot for either. The last thing you want is to melt your hear or your sleeve. Or your right shoulder blade for that matter.
 
Wear your heart on your sleeve… or your pants leg, or back, or anywhere else you want! You’re in charge of your heart!


And here's the video:

Now get out there and show your colors at Pride. And, if you can't be that visible right now, make your heart and wear it just for you. You'll know. It's your Pride… wear it your way.

Whether you are marching in a protest, dancing in the streets in celebration, vibing with friends, or having a moment of Pride in the privacy of your home, we are sending our LGBTQIA+ and TGNCNB community, love, light, and peace during Pride Month and all year long.

ONWARD!!
S&J

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The Colors of My Pride Quilt Pattern

6/14/2022

 

Show us the Colors of Your Pride!

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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
Another year rolls by and we have come around to June, the month when the LGBTQIA2S+ and TGNCNB community celebrates Pride Month! A few years ago, we started down a road toward expressing more of our identity and making ourselves more visible through our fiber arts making by creating a mini quilt based on the Progressive Pride Flag. You can travel back in time to that post HERE.
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Obviously not his first time on a stage.
And some of you were there when Jason debuted our They/Them Pullover crochet design on the runway at an event we were teaching at. Those of you who weren't there will just have to make do with seeing the photos… a natural born performer! Travel back to that post HERE and click on one of these photos for the pattern to make your own.
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L-I-V-I-N-G!!
As with most of our endeavors, our mantra of "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing!" held true here. We started with the They/Them Pullover crochet pattern to speak to the non-binary gender expression and the Progressive Pride Flag mini quilt project was a way for us to talk about the need for more inclusion of BIPOC and TGNCNB2S+ folx in Rainbow Pride Flag and the community as a whole. Both were projects created as a way to express our own Pride and it kind of snowballed from there into three different quilt designs during the past year. Also true to our modus operandi, we started working out the designs for all of those quilts at the same time. Soon, one of the designs started consuming our minds and became almost an obsession. Piece by piece, the blocks grew. Block by block, our vision expanded… as did the project! The patterning experiment became a wall hanging, the wall hanging became a lap throw, the lap throw became a queen sized quilt for our bed which brings us to this pattern release: the Colors of my Pride quilt pattern!
Before we dive into the new quilt pattern, let's add some context to the content and take a brief look at the history of Pride flags.

A brief glimpse at the History of LGBTQIA+ Pride Flags

The history of the banners we wave to represent us in the LGBTQIA+ and TGNCNB community is as deep and as colorful as the members of our community itself. Without writing a tome on the subject, we would like to give you an overview of the flags and colors that influenced us in the creation of the Colors of My Pride quilt.
Beginnings
In 1977, Gilbert Baker was challenged by Harvey Milk to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. Baker, who was inspired by the song Over the Rainbow, created the original Pride flag with eights colorful stripes representing different aspects of queer Pride. This first Pride flag flew for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade on June 25, 1978. Although the flag was modified to seven stripes sometime that next year due to a scarcity of materials in the mass production process, the iconic six striped Pride flag was not far behind. Again, due to production issues, one of the seven colors was dropped and the six colors remaining comprised the Rainbow Pride flag that many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community “grew up” beneath. The Rainbow Pride Flag has been a rallying point for our community through celebrations, protests, mourning our friends and loved ones, and strengthening our resolve by reminding us that we are part of a larger community.
The Gilbert Baker Pride Flag from 1978
Gilbert Baker Pride Flag, 1978
Rainbow Pride Flag
Rainbow Pride Flag
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Gilbert Baker 8-Stripe Pride Flag with color designations and meanings of each color.

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More Color, More Pride flag designed by Amber Hikes.
Representation
Throughout the years, modification have been made to the Rainbow Pride flag including a vertical white stripe that was said to signify unity and, in 2017, Amber Hikes designed the “More Color, More Pride” flag (what some call the Philadelphia Pride Flag) with the addition of a black and a brown stripe to the rainbow. Hikes said on Instagram, the addition of the stripes was to “uplift the voices and experiences of LGBTQ people of color.”

A More Progressive Community
The latest evolution of the Rainbow Flag came about in 2018 when Daniel Quasar added a chevron with five colors to the flag and the new iconic Progressive Pride Flag was born. The five additional colors are the black and brown from of the Philadelphia Pride Flag as well as the blue, pink, and white from the Transgender Pride Flag.
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Daniel Quasar's Progressive Pride Flag

Beyond the Rainbow
The LGBTQIA2S+ community is not a monolith, and neither are the colors of our Pride! In addition to the incarnations of the Rainbow Pride Flag, there are individual flags that represent the communities we each identify with. There are flags hoisted for the lesbian, bear, agender, transgender, and non-binary communities, as well as flags that represent the leather, pansexual, intersex, and genderfluid communities. And that’s just a few! Regardless of how we feel on the inside or how we represent ourselves on the outside, each of us celebrates our Pride differently and we certainly express our Pride with colors that go beyond the rainbow.
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Transgender Pride Flag
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Intersex Pride Flag
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Agender Pride Flag
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Leather Pride Flag
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Lesbian Pride Flag (5-stripe 2018 variation)
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Bisexual Pride Flag
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Non-Binary Pride Flag
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Bear Brotherhood Flag
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Genderfluid Pride Flag
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Pansexual Pride Flag

The Project: The Colors of My Pride Quilt

Our quilt, The Colors of My Pride, is a combination of colors from across the wide range of vibrant Pride flags that speak to us the most; the colors that we feel represent us best. We worked with Karla Overland at Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics to pick our very specific colors that best represented our Pride. As we encourage each of you to do with your own Colors of My Pride quilts, we chose colors from different flags and pulled the ones that had the most meaning to us to include in our blocks. Our choices were very personal to us… as yours will be to you. For our The Colors of My Pride quilt, we included the six colors from the Rainbow Pride Flag since that is the first flag that either of us remembers flying as a banner at marches, plastered on our vehicles, worn on our bodies, waved in defiance, and painted on our skin for the better part of 30 years. However, in more recent years, we have come to feel that the representation of the colors from the More Color, More Pride Flag is more inclusive and even further encompasses our community, so we included the black and brown stripes from that flag. Shannon is transgender so we also brought in the soft blue and pink from the Transgender Pride Flag and added a lavender stripe to represent those of us who feel we are outside of (or fluid within) the gender binary. And the soft pink for the framing of the blocks? We had asked Karla of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics for a soft pink that was just barely there. We wanted something that would subtly frame and complement each of our blocks and would provide an overall unifying color when the blocks were assembled. For us, the pink framing of the vibrant blocks represents the overall LGBTQIA2S+ and TGNCNB community and our unity regardless of where we are and how we represent ourselves. Again, all these color choices are very personal to us and represent OUR LGBTQIA2S+ and TGNCNB Pride… if those colors speak to you, then use them for your own quilt but, if you feel like other flags and other color combinations represent your place within your community, pick the colors of YOUR Pride and make your quilt your own.

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The Colors of My Pride Quilt by Shannon & Jason

The Colors of My Pride Quilt Color Choices
How many colors? Which colors? That’s up to you. The blocks themselves are created using a Scrappy Wonky Log Cabin block construction with 17 pieces built from the center out. We used a total of 11 colors repeated starting with either of the three color sets. Don’t worry… in the quilt pattern, we break down the different color sequences we used. You can follow those exactly or substitute in your own colors that represent your Pride!
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Pride Celebration at Seattle Center
But that’s not the end! We used a gorgeous, soft pink by Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics to frame each of our Pride blocks. When we created the blocks, we didn’t aim for one size but let the blocks grow organically. The result, as you can see, are different sized Pride blocks floating in a background of pink. We used the pink fabric to square up each block four different ways. The way we did that still ensures the random nature of the finished quilt. We did not count how many we squared up using which method, we just looked at each bock individually and framed it so it looked best!
Finally, we arranged all of the blocks on our makeshift design wall (not much space around here for a big ol’ design wall!) to determine the final layout for our quilt. This is the exciting part where we get to see all of our work come together. For us, the layout was an exciting afternoon of putting together a giant, vibrant puzzle. This final step will ensure your quilt will be a one-of-a-kind work of art unlike anything anyone else will create. In the end, your The Colors of My Pride quilt will, just like all of us, look unique and be personal to you.
Follow our color patterning or pick your own colors that represent your Pride. No matter which colors you choose and how many of them there are, we have worked with the folx at Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics to make sure you can find what you need. With 200 colors to choose from, Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics has you covered.

Equally important is the thread we used to construct and finish our The Colors of My Pride quilt. The folx at Aurifil thread made sure we had the exact shade of neutral 50 wt thread we needed for piecing our blocks. And we cannot say how thrilled we were to have such a glorious thread match for the pink fabric for the final assembly and quilting of our Colors of My Pride quilt. 270 colors of thread to choose from means you’ll find your perfect match for your own Colors of My Pride quilt.
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The PERFECT Pink from Aurifil Thread.

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The first time we laid the quilt top out on our bed.
The Pattern
The Colors of My Pride quilt pattern is available right here on our website! The pattern includes fabric requirements and full instructions for a 4-block sampler through a king size quilt. Those instructions include detailed diagrams for making the blocks and for assembling your row sets and quilt top. You can get your pattern right now by clicking on this button right… here…
Colors of My Pride Quilt Pattern

The Kit
We worked with Karla Overland at Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric to to pick the colors for our Color of My Pride quilt… with 200 colors, it was easy to find exactly what we were looking for. The kits are available on the Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics website in sizes from sampler through king size quilt and the kit purchase includes the pattern. In addition, you can choose to purchase the fabric for just the blocks or you can purchase the fabric for both the blocks and that amazing pink Karla made for us for framing. And, if you are looking to customize your colors, you can build your own kit for a personalized Colors of My Pride quilt.

The button on the right will take you to the Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric site page for the Colors of My Pride quilt kit.
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All in a day's work!
Gimme the Kit!

The Class
Our Colors of My Pride quilt pattern is written for sizes from a lap throw to a king size quilt. If you’ve never made a quilt before or never made a quilt with this style of construction and want to try a smaller project first, we also included sizes for a 3 x 4 block wall hanging and a 4-block sampler. And, if you want a little help with the blocks or you just want to hang out with other FAB folx making their quilts, we have recorded a class on Creative Spark where we will be make the 4-block sampler.
The class focuses on the stacked spiral style of construction of the scrappy wonky log cabin Pride blocks and shows how to frame those blocks in the four different ways we did for our quilt. We also cover how to assemble and finish your sampler including options for making the quilt sandwich, quilting options for domestic machines, binding your sampler using a faced binding, and two different options for hanging your work of art for display.
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Rainbow Pride Flag at Seattle Pride Celebration
If you have never made a quilt before or if you are newer to quilting, you’re going to love how forgiving this method of construction is. No… really… time after time, folx in our scrappy wonky quilt block classes who were intimidated by matching corners and perfect lines are thrilled with how they can sit down and, with a basic machine that sews a straight line, create something glorious and stunning. Experienced quilters will love this style of construction both because of the freedom of expression it offers and the modern esthetic it creates. Most experienced quilt makers love the sense of play in the creation of these blocks and the resulting randomness is always a thrill… new or experienced!

Click on the button below to be whisked away to the Creative Spark website buy the Colors of My Pride Quilt Class so you can start on your own version of this FAB quilt.
Colors of My Pride Quilt Class

A final word… or two…
On this, the 53rd anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn that sparked the fire that became the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement and, ultimately, the reason we celebrate Pride Month in June, we are proud to be a part of this vibrant, diverse, exciting community of people. We stand in the shadow of those first transgender Black and Latino women, lesbians, and sex workers who threw the first bricks at Stonewall. We stand on the platform that those folx and so many more before and since have built so that we can be out and proud. Without them, we would not be where we are today… period. Now it is our time to speak out and use our own platform of creativity and education to express ourselves and make it possible for others to stand tall and proud.

Whether you make this for yourself to show the color of your Pride or if you make it for someone else to show them your love and support, we hope you think of those who have come before and all of those of us who are still fighting every day just for our basic human rights as members of the LGBTQIA2S+ and TGNCNB community. Whether you make a Colors of My Pride quilt as a silent encouragement for yourself or as a way to shout out to the world, whether it is a personal journey or one of support for others, we hope you find the same strength and power in the creation process as we have.

STITCH ON!
S&J

Embrace the Creative Chaos

2/5/2022

 

Making a Thing

Sometimes you make a thing. Sometimes that thing becomes part of something else. Sometimes it stays the thing it is.
 
Not everything that you make has to be more than the thing it is. Just because you can’t put a name on what it is doesn’t make it invalid. It is a thing. You made a thing and that’s good.
Just because we can’t give it a zippy name so it sounds good in a class description or call it a certain thing so it can be packaged, patterned, and sold doesn’t mean it won’t make a great class or a FAB pattern or thing to be packaged and sold. Then again… maybe it is just the thing it is and that thing that it is isn’t any of those things at all. And that’s good too.
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We used to always create with an end purpose in mind. I’m going to design and create this ______ so it can be ______. Then we designed and created ______ and it was used for the purpose it was intended. And we liked that. We still do. But a few years ago, we started making more just for the sake of making. No end goal in mind, no purpose, and no need to name the thing that we were creating. Creation for the sake of creation. Making for the sake of making a thing.
We also used to create only in the mediums we were perceived to have a certain level of expertise in… specifically, yarn arts. And we liked that. We still do. But we like to do a LOT of things with a LOT of stuff. So, we started doing things that we liked with the stuff that we liked using to make things. Not all of it became part of something else. Sometimes the things we made just were what they were, and we were happy with them and that was good enough. Sometimes, however, those things became part of a larger thing and, yes, classes were developed, two books written, and patterns created and sold. Sometimes that happened. Sometimes it didn’t. Both were good. Both are still good.

Sound chaotic? It is. A bit. We used to be afraid of that chaos. We were afraid that if we didn’t create things that folx could name using stuff folx could immediately recognize and name, we wouldn’t be able to make a living. If we didn’t stay focused on creating the next thing that would give us an income, we would not have money to pay our bills and buy the things we need to live. If what we did wasn’t recognizable and marketable, how would we make a living? If we let the creative chaos in our brains take over, how would we get by?

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Fortunately, we were able to create the perfect storm of circumstances where we could produce recognizable, marketable things AND fully embrace our creative chaos.

We found a balance.

And we love that balance that came from embracing the creative chaos.

Both are rewarding. Both are thrilling. Both excite and motivate us because embracing our creative chaos inspires the rest of our work.

Embracing our creative chaos makes even those things we make primarily for the sake of earning the money we need to survive more special and exciting to us. Focusing on creating with purpose as well as being open to and embracing the creative chaos. That’s where we are. For now. Let's see where this takes us…
 
#EmbraceTheCreativeChaos

S&J

The Great Yarn Challenge

2/3/2022

 

The Great Yarn Challenge

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We are so excited to be a part of the Great Yarn Challenge!
The Great Yarn Challenge (TGYC), hosted by the Craft Yarn Council, is a fiber competition that consists of weekly challenges based around different themes. Each week a challenge theme will feature inspiration projects and patterns, but you’re also encouraged to think outside the box on how yarn can be used and create your own original projects. Sounds like us right???

The theme for our assigned week is "Spruce Up Your Space". That's an easy one for us as we are always looking for new ways to adorn our living space, making it cozy and homey at the same time.

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Pat Sloan's New Book Tour

6/7/2021

 

Pat Sloan's Holiday Book Tour!

Update 06.15.21
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratuations to Robin J. who is the winner of a copy of Pat Sloan's new book!

Come back soon for more FAB fun and check out our books and patterns via the links you'll find… well… pretty much all over this site!

S&J

If you are a quilter, then you probably already know the name Pat Sloan. Pat is one of the icons of the quilting world and, in 2020, we had the honor of meeting Pat and working with her as part of the Aurifil Designer Block of the Month Series. Now, Pat has a new book out and has asked us to be a part of her blog book tour. WOOHOO!! Pat’s book, Holiday Celebrations – 17 Quilts and More for 6 Seasonal Occasions, contains patterns for quilts and home décor that span a year’s worth of holiday themes. She asked us to pick one project to recreate in our own style and we had to much fun doing just that.
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Upcoming BARN Workshops

11/11/2020

 

Food & Fiber Arts Classes at BARN

Hey there folx! We are thrilled beyond words to be back in the grooooooove of teaching again and we wanted to let you know about a new venue for us that we have LOVED working on. The Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) is a non-profit community center for artisans and makers and serves as a creative hub for many on Bainbridge Island and throughout our home base region in the Pacific Northwest. Here in Seattle, we are a quick but STUNNING ferry ride to Bainbridge Island so we were fortunate enough to hook up with the programing folx in their fiber arts program to plan out a series of yarn and fabric based classes before the pandemic shook everything up. Luckily, when we approached the folx at BARN about virtual programming, they were already headed in that direction and we worked with them to adapt our classes and workshops to fit this new way of interacting with our students and their members.
Now, after several wonderfully successful sessions, we have added cooking classes (YES!!) to our BARN schedule including Jason's Miracle Bread and our killer read sauce. Look for more details about those cooking classes on our Classes Page HERE and make sure you are signed up for our NEWSLETTER HERE to stay up on the latest.

Today, however, we want to give you all a heads up about four workshops in the fiber arts studio of BARN; two of which are coming up very soon!
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New Crochet Just in Time for Fall!

9/1/2020

 

It's Time for a Crochet Wardrobe Refresh

Yes, we know. It's just the first of September. But we are big fans of Fall and the temps have been down in the 50's here at night so we're calling it. Fall wardrobe refresh season is here! Even though the daytime temps prevent us from wrapping up in cozy layers, we all know it takes a bit of time to gather the materials and actually make new crochet garments sooooo… no time like the present to get started!
For this season, we present four new crochet patterns that range from light and layerable to downright cozy. Here's a quick look at all four. Click through the photos for a more detailed look at the sizing and materials specs.

This cabled cardigan is the next showpiece in your crochet wardrobe. The luxe crochet cables ensure that you will stay engaged with this pattern from start to finish and the resulting fabric will keep you cozy on those chilly fall mornings and all through the coming winter. Design details like the generous hood and thumb openings transforming the sleeves into hand and wrist warmers will make this the wardrobe piece you reach for the most.
Crochet Cabled Cardigan
Crochet Cables that Little Red Riding Hood wishes she'd had.

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PRIDE Month 2020

6/26/2020

 

A Brief History: Pride Project 2020

Happy Pride!!

​Every year as June rolls around, we take time to reflect on our LGBTQIA community: to consider how far we’ve come, how far we have to go, and to pay our respects to the folx who lead our community now and those who came before us who made it possible for us to celebrate Pride Month.
 
From the Mattachine Society and the Society for Human Rights, the Daughters of Bilitis and the homophile movement, to the Stonewall Riots and the Christopher Street Liberation Day March. The Gay Liberation Front, the Gay Activist Alliance, ACTUP, GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ Freedom Fund, the Black AIDS Institute, the Transgender Law Center, and Trevor Project… we could write rich volumes about each of these organizations… and so many more like them. (FYI, those last two sentences would make a great jumping off point for internet searches to learn more about the LGBTQIA community.) LGBTQIA organizations and the leaders who marched, threw bricks, fought, wrote, sang, chanted, and gave their lives for us are the reason we are able to be open and proud of who we are. We have a long way to go… but we have most definitely come a long way.
 
This year for Pride, we decided to focus on one of the most prominent symbols of the LGBTQIA community: The Pride Flag. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all of the flags representing all aspects of our community. Instead we started from the end (we’ll get to that in a minute) and worked our way backward to show you how we got to the final Pride flag that inspired us to create the project at the end of this post.

​The original Pride flag created in 1978 was designed by fashion and textile artist Gilbert Baker at the request of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. Gilbert was known for his activism through fashion which, by itself, is a fascinating read… definitely a rabbit hole worth going down.
 
The Gilbert Baker flag, consisting of eight stripes, was first flown in the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco for the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade.
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They/Them Pullover

6/25/2020

 

More Than Just a Gender-Inclusive Design

It may look like just a crochet pullover to you, but, for us, it is a statement of power. A statement of independence from the arbitrary binary masculine roles we were taught to play out our entire lives.

"Don't be a sissy!"

“Boys don’t wear pink.”

“Don’t you want something a little less… feminine?”


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“Grow a pair!

"Man up!”

“You look like a f*ggot.”



“Real men <insert something here which arbitrarily defines what a "REAL MAN" is by what that real man does>."

“Real men <insert something here which arbitrarily defines what a "REAL MAN" is by what that real man does not do>.“


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After having grown up hearing these and, frankly, much worse, we had shrunk into the “norms” that society had held up to us as part of our masculine roles we were to play. The more we fit in, the less likely we were to be yelled at, beaten up, harassed, or possibly hospitalized. This is the act we learn to put on from a very young age. We learn from our families. We learn from our teachers. We learn from our classmates. We learn from TV, movies, books, our neighbors, the people we work with… we learn our lessons and we learn them well. We swallow our feelings and deny our true nature. And we learn to exist… sometimes even with a smile on our faces. After a while, that life becomes the norm and, suddenly, you’re 40-50 years down the road and you’ve learned your lessons so well that you’ve forgotten who you really are. That realization is a kick in the gut.
For years, we have tried to break out of the arbitrary gender binary with our design work but, according to the folx paying for our work, non-gendered or uni-sex designs just wouldn’t work for their magazine/yarn/books. So, all of those designs we gendered according to the arbitrary binary and published as such. To be clear, working for other companies in the fiber arts industry barely pays the bills and selling your work on your own even less so. So we justified it all by saying that we just had to do what we had to do to pay the bills. Once again, we swallowed our pride and learned our lessons… and we did the work to pay the bills. After a while, paying the bills and building a business become the norm and we learned your lessons so well that we forgotten who we set out to be. That realization was, again… a kick in the gut.
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This one design, the They/Them Pullover was us finally breaking the bars of our binary cage. It was, at least, a first step. The journey of creating this design and having Jason wear it on the stage at an event was a long one that ultimately culminated in us doing our Tale of the Purple Zebra talk at that same event a year later and to Shannon coming out as gender queer and using they/them pronouns. Yeah… don’t think their therapist missed out on the symbolism of testing the waters with a design surrogate before kicking down the gender closet doors a year later wearing a sparkly gold tux dress and high-heeled, knee high boots on stage.
While a pink and black crochet pullover with a non-binary name might not seem like that big of a deal to a lot of folx, for us, it was a triumph in our own journey to realize who we really were as designers and as humans. It was the first monumental step that shook the foundations of our lives and put us on a path that we’ve been trying to get back to for a very long, exhausting time. For me, Shannon, it was a sigh of relief that I no longer had to hide who I was. And I’m telling you, seeing my husband, Jason, proudly wearing that pullover on the stage at a large national fiber arts event was one of the most life affirming events of my 50+ years on this planet. Plus… he looks really good in it… don’t ya think? Yeah the leather pants don’t hurt at all.

Happy Pride Month everyone! To our LGBTQIA+ and TGNCNB community, we love you, and we are proud to stand with you.

STITCH ON!!
S&J

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Photos of Jason on stage taken by the talented Kellie Nuss Photography used with permission.
Yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts… we know… it's pretty amazing!

2022 Update: Jason still looks just as good in this pullover and his leather pants (just sayin') and I, Shannon, have continued my gender identity journey. My transition will be an ongoing process for the rest of my life and I am unlearning those lessons… both of us are. My pronouns are she/her and I am a proud transgender woman married to an amazing man who looks great in leather pants. Wait… I said that part already…

If you'd like to make your own They/Them Pullover, click on the link below! And don't forget that gorgeous Blue Moon Fiber Arts Yarn. Check out these colors (and OH so many more) by clicking on the button.
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Soft Rock Yarn

They-Them Crocheted Pullover - DIGITAL PATTERN Size Small-5X

$7.50
Add to Cart

Fashion is meant for EVERY body regardless of gender

Designed by the Shibaguyz – Shannon & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby, the They/Them Pullover is a gender neutral pullover that is perfect for him or her or they or them. This design features fabric made in a Half Double Herringbone crochet stitch with a large cowl neck collar, easy slip stitch shaping at the neckline, and the arms are crocheted long enough to become handwarmers, just insert your thumbs into the openings and you’re good to go.


You can customize this design to fit your body, your life, and your style and make your own kit with NEW colors of Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Soft Rock yarn available from Needlepoints West.


SKILLS USED

  • Foundation herringbone half double crochet
  • Linked first half double crochet
  • Herringbone half double crochet
  • Increases
  • Carrying yarn up the side of work
  • Blocking
  • Locking mattress stitch
  • Setting in a sleeve


SIZES

S (M, L, 1X, 2X {Sample Size}, 3X, 4X, 5X)

To Fit Chest: 34 (38, 42, 46, 48, 50, 54, 58)”/ 86.25 (96.5, 106.75, 116.75, 122, 127, 137.25, 147.25) cm

Sample shown to fit chest 48”/122 cm


FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

To Fit Chest Circumference: 34 (38, 42, 46, 48, 50, 54, 58)”/86.25 (96.5, 106.75, 116.75, 122, 127, 137.25,

147.25) cm

Finished Chest Circumference: 38.25 (42.25, 46.25, 50, 52, 54, 58, 62)”/ 96.5 (106.75, 117, 127, 132, 137.25,

147.25, 157.5) cm

Finished length from shoulder: 28.75 (29.5, 29.75, 30, 30, 30.25, 30.5, 30.5)”/ 73 (75, 76.25, 76.25, 76.25,

77, 77.5, 77.5) cm

Neckline Width: 9.5 (10.5, 10.5, 11.25, 11.25, 11.5, 12.25, 12.5)”/ 24 (27, 27, 28.5, 28.5, 29.25, 31, 31.75) cm


MATERIALS and TOOLS

Sample uses Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Soft Rock (100% Superwash Merino; 4 ounces/113g = 500 yards/475 m):

3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) balls in color F*ck Cancer and 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) balls in color #Survivor—3000 (4000,

4000, 4000, 4000, 4000, 5000, 5000) total yards/2743.25 (3657.5, 3657.5, 3657.5, 3657.5, 3657.5, 4572,

4572) total meters of fingering weight yarn; 18 WPI; CYCA 1

Crochet hook: 2.75mm (size C-2) or size to obtain gauge

Yarn needle

Ten-grain Bread Recipe

5/21/2020

 

A Homemade Ten Grain Sandwich Loaf?
Yes, Please!

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Some of the best things in life are quite often the most simple things. Take, for instance, this whole wheat bread. It's a simple recipe, but one that yields a beautiful loaf of bread that's perfect for toast, sandwiches, and just enjoying with butter and jam.

(Note from Shannon: Or peanut butter… I like to rip off chunks of this bread and slather them with peanut butter. Okay… back to Jason's recipe.)

For this recipe we chose to use a combination of 50% bread flour and 50% half whole wheat flour. This makes a loaf that is wonderfully chewy, but not overly dense – as 100% whole wheat can sometimes be. The addition of the 10 Grain Hot Cereal Mix adds a delicious nutty quality and great toothy character.

We baked our loaves shaped into a torpedo right on a pizza stone, but this loaf will be just as good baked in a loaf pan. That choice is yours.

I'm sure most of you will agree that nothing beats the smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread, and we hope you take a little time to make this one. You'll be glad you did.

Happy Baking!
the Shibaguyz
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What you need:
1½ Cups Bread Flour PLUS 2-3 Tbsp for kneading. 
1½  Cups Whole Wheat Flour
½ Cup Bob's 10 Grain Hot Cereal Mix
2 Tbsp Honey
2 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Salt
​2½ tsp (1 packet) Quick Rise Yeast 

¼ Cup Powdered Milk
1 to 1½ Cups Lukewarm Water
½ Cup Hot Water

Directions:
Part One: The Night Before
Make Your "Sponge"
  • In a mixing bowl combine 1½ Cups Bread Flour and 1½  Cups Whole Wheat Flour.
  • Split  and set aside half of the flour mixture.
  • Add Sugar and 1 tsp of yeast to the first half of the flour, mix well.
  • add 1 Cup room temperature water to this mixture and mix till smooth.
  • In the second half of the flour, add remaining yeast, stir, then mix in the salt.
NOTE: DO NOT PUT SALT DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE YEAST. IT WILL KILL IT.
  • Pour the dry mixture over the wet and cover with plastic wrap.
  • Sit the bowl on the counter overnight. In the morning you will see the wet mixture has bubbled up through the dry... this is good.
Part Two: Lets Make Bread
Make the Dough
  • Mix Hot Water and Honey together in a bowl or 1 cup glass measuring cup.
  • Pour 10 Grain mix into water and stir.
  • Allow to set for at least 30 min.
  • Add the wet 10 grain mixture and any remaining liquid, and the Powdered Milk to the Flour mixture.
  • Install a dough hook to your KitchenAid or food processor and knead for 5-7 minutes, until dough comes together in a smooth(ish) ball. You may need to add a few Tbsp of flour if the mixture is too wet, or dd a few Tbsp of water if the mixture is too dry.  Dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl, but not be crumbly.
  • Allow the mixture to rest covered for 30 min.
  • Knead dough for 10 minutes in your machine OR 20 minutes by hand. This is a hefty dough, so if you have a machine with a bread hook, now's the time to pull it out...
  • Place dough in a bowl that has been greased with butter or oil and cover with plastic wrap.
  • Allow dough to rise in a draft free part of your kitchen. I recommend the microwave for this.
  • ​When dough has risen to 2X its original size take it out of the bowl, stretch it gently and fold in thirds.
  • Replace in the bowl, cover and allow to rise again.
  • When Dough has risen again to 2X its original size remove from the bowl and split into 2 loaves.  You can shape these into any shape you like, I prefer a Torpedo shape (think football for you Americans out there).
  • Place shaped loaves on parchment paper or on a baking sheet and allow to rise until puffy and springy (about 30 min, or until your oven is nice and hot. Speaking of that...
​Part Three: Baking
Get these puppies in the oven!

While loaves are rising
  • Pre-Heat your oven to 425°F  (218C)
  • If you have a bread stone or pizza stone, heat it in the oven on the middle rack.
  • Place an ovenproof pan/skillet on the bottom rack and allow to pre-heat with the oven.
  • When bread is risen, slash the top with a sharp razor or knife and brush on a light egg wash (1 egg and 1Tbsp water).
  • Place bread directly on the bread stone or place parchment lined baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven... 
  • At the same time pour 1 cup of ice into the hot pan in the bottom of the oven... close the door quickly. The steam created will give your bread a nice toothy crust.
  • Bake for 30-35 min or until crust is deep golden brown and bread should hollow when thumped (an instant read thermometer will read 190° to 200°F ).
  • Place bread on a wire rack to cool.

Eat and Enjoy
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Complete Crochet Course - Autographed Copy

$29.95
From renowned crochet designer Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby comes the ultimate reference manual for the absolute beginner to experienced pro.
Filled with step-by-step photography throughout for an easy-to-follow and fully visual experience, this unparalleled guide teaches you how to crochet from the very first stitch—and will keep you crocheting as you gain experience! The Complete Crochet Course explains all the tools, materials, and techniques you need, from choosing a hook and yarn to seaming, working in the round, handling specialty stitches, and adding details. We've included ten patterns, perfectly designed for novices eager to complete their first projects, while intermediates can enjoy mastering even more advanced skills.
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Sashiko Vest #1 Digital Pattern

$15.00

Literally meaning "little stabs" or "little pierce", Sashiko is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. We added Sashiko stitching elements to a vest based on Japanese patching technique, Boro to complete this design.


Boro came to predominately signify clothing worn by the peasant farming classes in the Edo era of Japan who mended their garments with spare fabric scraps out of economic necessity. A boro garment would most likely be handed down over generations, eventually resembling a patchwork after decades of mending. Only in the modern era are we beginning to see the care and beauty of these textiles.


Sashiko Vest #1 is a long vest sewn using Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric cotton cloth, then hand stitched in various Sashiko patterns using The Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essentials thread collection from Aurifil Thread.


Fabric: Body - Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric in Indigo. 

Patches - Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric from fat quarters in various colors.

Sashiko Stitching - Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby hand stitched Hitomezashi Sashiko patterns (where the pattern emerges from the alignment of single stitches made on a grid) then the garment pieces are machine sewn.


Pattern includes: 

Instructions for making the vest in Sizes Small through 5X and doing the sashiko stitching.

Fabric amounts for all sizes

Detailed schematics, stitching instructions for the vest and for the sashiko embellishments



SIZES 

Small (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) 

To Fit Measured Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)" / 81.3 (91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 121.9, 132.1, 142.2, 152.4)cm 

To Fit Finished Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62)" / 86.4 (96.5, 106.7, 116.8, 127.0, 137.2, 147.3, 157.5)cm 


SKILL LEVEL 

Intermediate 


MATERIALS 

Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric 

2 YDs (3 YD for XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X) 

-Back Panel 

-Front Panels 

-Collar Panels 

-Sides Panels 


10 fat quarters in various colors for patches 

PLUS Two more fat quarters in the same color for the F Patch 1 (left and right) 


Sewing Machine 


Sashiko Notions 

Sashiko Thread 

Sashiko Needle and Thimble 

Sashiko Pattern Templates 


Not Required, but will make it easier 

Plastic grid 

Circular plastic grid 

Washable or heat removable White Marking Pen from Clover 

Washable Blue fabric marking pen(s) 

Serger/Overlock 

Shop

Video Tutorial: Intro to Sashiko - Offset Running Stitch and Offset Crosses

5/16/2020

 

Introduction to Hitomezashi Sashiko

Offset Running Stitch and Offset Crosses

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If you've spent any time around our social media feeds or classes, you know we've been obsessed with sashiko. The history, the applications for strengthening and mending fabrics. Even quilting! Sashiko is now a permanent part of our creative lives.
Lately, folx have asked us for an introduction tutorial for sashiko… we can't blame y'all for being as excited to explore this fascinating Japanese mending and reinforcement technique as we are. So, to get y'all started, we've created a short video to introduce you to the basics of the sashiko Offset Running Stitch and Offset Crosses.
The offset running stitch and offset crosses are the basis for a profusion of other hitomezashi sashiko patterns and it makes a great stand-alone stitch for reinforcing or embellishing fabrics. Both stitches are perfect for fastening down patches and for layered patchwork and visible mending patches (like on Jason's jeans in the photo above). After all, sashiko IS visible mending! These two sashiko stitches are the first stitches all of our students learn in our live classes and now you can give them a try!
Links To The Tools We Use In The Video
Sashiko Needles 
Adjustable Ring Thimble with Plate
Thread Snips
Shannon & Jason FAB Sashiko Essentials Thread: We recommend stitching with Aurifil 12 weight cotton thread instead of the "sashiko thread" you can find online and in some craft stores. And this particular thread in this video is our very own FAB Sashiko Essentials Collection from Aurifil thread!

Come find us on social media!


FAB Sashiko Essentials Aurifil Thread Collection

$77.00

FAB Sashiko Essentials by Shannon and Jason



Includes 6 large spools of Aurifil Cotton 12wt thread with 356 yds/325 m per spool

Colors Included

2024 – White

2740 – Dark Cobalt

2265 – Lobster Red

1240 – Very Dark Eggplant

1147 – Light Leaf Green

4657 – Tramanto a Zoagli (variegated)


Our FAB Sashiko Essentials thread collection for Aurifil is the perfect starter pack of colors to set you on the right path for your sashiko projects. We use these thread in our classes and our book and personal sashiko and handsewing projects. However, we’ve also used these same threads for hand quilting, embroidery, and even cross stitcha nd machine embroidery. We picked the colors for this collection specifically to work across a wide range of projects and fabrics whether you want your threads to stand out for sashiko or blend in more for shading in embroidery and quilting.


If you’ve never worked with Aurifil thread before in your hand sewing and sashiko, do yourself a favor and try this essentials collection. You’ll find out very quickly why we only work with Aurifil thread: smooth thread that doesn't easily tangle or snag. Aurifil thread produces virtually no lint or thread dust to clog up your machines. We were hooked from the first samples we used and are now Aurifil Ambassadors and designers.


From the Aurifil Website

Aurifil’s 100% Cotton 12wt thread is the heaviest weight thread we offer and is perfect for hand applique, hand embroidery, hand quilting, cross stitch, embellishment, handmade lace, machine applique, blanket stitch, machine embroidery (especially for designs that use a longer stitch length), machine art quilting, Sashiko, redwork, lower looper serging, and longarm quilting.


Uses

Hand applique, hand embroidery, hand quilting, cross stitch, embellishment and lace, machine applique, blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch, machine embroidery, machine art quilting, sashiko, redwork, lower looper serging, longarm quilting.


Needle Recommendations

·     Sashiko Needle (hand stitching)

·     100/16 or 90/14 Topstitch Needle (40wt in the bobbin)

·     4.5 Longarm Needle (28wt in the bobbin)


Tips

·     When using 12wt thread by machine, we recommend using a much thinner thread in the bobbin, like our 40wt.

·     When using in a Longarm machine, quilt slowly, using a longer stitch and silicone conditioner where necessary.

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Mighty Ten Hand Sewing Essentials Thread Collection

$45.00

This new collection of 50wt thread is perfect for machine or hand sewing, and includes 10 small spools (164 yards, 150 meters) of glorious 100% long staple Egyptian cotton Aurifil thread.


Colors Included:

2692 - black

2024 - white

6711 - pewter

2260 - dark carmine red

5023 - medium green

5022 - mustard

2784 - dark navy

2770 - very light delft

4030 - plum

2395 - pumpkin spice (don’t judge us)



From the Aurifil Website

Aurifil’s 50wt thread is our most versatile and most popular Cotton thread. It is available in all 270 of our Cotton colors, and is wound on our iconic orange spool. The 50wt is strong and thin, and results in remarkably flat and crisp seams.


Uses

While it is wonderful for piecing, subtle quilting & topstitching, and English Paper Piecing it also works incredibly well for Needle Turn Applique, Bobbin and Machine Lace, Machine Applique (Straight Stitch, ZigZag, Blind Hem and Blanket Stitch,) Machine Embroidery, Dense Machine Quilting, Subtle Machine and Longarm Quilting, Basting, Whole Cloth and Micro Quilting, and Dense Background Designs.


Needle Recommendations

Perfect for: Needle Turn Applique, English Paper Piecing, Hand Piecing, Bobbin and Machine Lace, Machine Applique (Straight Stitch, Zig

Zag, Blind Hem and Blanket Stitch,) Machine Embroidery, Dense Machine Quilting, Subtle Machine and Longarm Quilting, Basting, Whole Cloth and Micro Quilting, Dense Background Designs 

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Kogin Essentials Thread Collection

$41.50

KOGIN ESSENTIALS COLLECTION BY SHANNON & JASON



10 SMALL SPOOLS (5-floss and 5-12 weight)


Colors: 

Floss– 

2250 - Red

2145 - Yellow-Orange

2135 - Yellow

1147 - Light Leaf Green

5018 - Dark Grass Green


12wt– 

2784 - Dark Navy

2730 - Delft Blue

2710 - Light Robin's Egg

2545 - Medium Purple

3660 - Bubblegum




Our third collection of thread is inspired by ourr latest book, Contemporary Kogin-zashi: Modern Sashiko Beyond Filling in the Gaps (available for pre-order now) and features the colors we reached for most often when creating the projects for the book. The mix of floss and 12 wt in vibrant hues perfectly compliment the intricate thread work of kogin-zashi, allowing makers the versatility of working with different counts of evenweave fabric.


Use the colors as solo features in your projects or match shades for colorblocking or thread blending for dramatically different effect. Either way, this collection is an essential collection to start your kogin-zashi journey.



Shop

Sashiko Vest #1 Digital Pattern

$15.00

Literally meaning "little stabs" or "little pierce", Sashiko is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. We added Sashiko stitching elements to a vest based on Japanese patching technique, Boro to complete this design.


Boro came to predominately signify clothing worn by the peasant farming classes in the Edo era of Japan who mended their garments with spare fabric scraps out of economic necessity. A boro garment would most likely be handed down over generations, eventually resembling a patchwork after decades of mending. Only in the modern era are we beginning to see the care and beauty of these textiles.


Sashiko Vest #1 is a long vest sewn using Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric cotton cloth, then hand stitched in various Sashiko patterns using The Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essentials thread collection from Aurifil Thread.


Fabric: Body - Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric in Indigo. 

Patches - Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric from fat quarters in various colors.

Sashiko Stitching - Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby hand stitched Hitomezashi Sashiko patterns (where the pattern emerges from the alignment of single stitches made on a grid) then the garment pieces are machine sewn.


Pattern includes: 

Instructions for making the vest in Sizes Small through 5X and doing the sashiko stitching.

Fabric amounts for all sizes

Detailed schematics, stitching instructions for the vest and for the sashiko embellishments



SIZES 

Small (M, L, XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) 

To Fit Measured Bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)" / 81.3 (91.4, 101.6, 111.8, 121.9, 132.1, 142.2, 152.4)cm 

To Fit Finished Bust: 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62)" / 86.4 (96.5, 106.7, 116.8, 127.0, 137.2, 147.3, 157.5)cm 


SKILL LEVEL 

Intermediate 


MATERIALS 

Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric 

2 YDs (3 YD for XL, 2X, 3X, 4X, and 5X) 

-Back Panel 

-Front Panels 

-Collar Panels 

-Sides Panels 


10 fat quarters in various colors for patches 

PLUS Two more fat quarters in the same color for the F Patch 1 (left and right) 


Sewing Machine 


Sashiko Notions 

Sashiko Thread 

Sashiko Needle and Thimble 

Sashiko Pattern Templates 


Not Required, but will make it easier 

Plastic grid 

Circular plastic grid 

Washable or heat removable White Marking Pen from Clover 

Washable Blue fabric marking pen(s) 

Serger/Overlock 

Shop

Complete Crochet Course - Autographed Copy

$29.95
From renowned crochet designer Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby comes the ultimate reference manual for the absolute beginner to experienced pro.
Filled with step-by-step photography throughout for an easy-to-follow and fully visual experience, this unparalleled guide teaches you how to crochet from the very first stitch—and will keep you crocheting as you gain experience! The Complete Crochet Course explains all the tools, materials, and techniques you need, from choosing a hook and yarn to seaming, working in the round, handling specialty stitches, and adding details. We've included ten patterns, perfectly designed for novices eager to complete their first projects, while intermediates can enjoy mastering even more advanced skills.
Shop

Jason's Miracle Bread

4/13/2020

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Few things are as simple as making bread.

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Long before humanity created the first alphabet, folx had discovered how to mix together flour, water, yeast, and salt to make nutrient rich loaves of bread. However, whether due to the artisan food movement or because of those photos posted by professional food accounts on social media of perfectly formed loaves of 12-grain bread created by milling their own flour from grain grown on their balcony in their studio apartment then fermented with wild yeast and baked in terracotta pans they made from clay in the desert during Burning Man… the simple loaf of bread has become something, seemingly, unattainable to the every day person.

We, The Shibaguyz, are here to tell you that you do not need a masters degree in chemistry to make great bread. Nor do you need to buy mixes from those professional food accounts on social media to create YUMMY loaves of Instagram-worthy bread. We, in fact, learned to make bread from watching our grandparents. In fact, Jason’s grandpa was well known for his bread recipe. Well… technically he was known for flirting with waitresses AND his bread recipe… but that’s a story for another time…


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Banana Bread: The Return

4/10/2020

1 Comment

 

Banana Bread: the Craving!

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Recently, we have found ourselves making and eating a lot of banana bread. First, we have not been traveling as much as expected due to the pandemic so we are home more often and baking a LOT. Second, we like banana bread. Specifically, Shannon really likes banana bread and gets random cravings for it. Those random cravings have prompted me to keep extra bananas in the freezer so I can whip up a batch of bready banana goodness on short notice.

Wait… you didn't know that?

Yes, you can take bananas that have "gone over" (read: turning black) and pop them in the freezer for safe keeping. In fact, these overly ripened bananas provide a more intense flavor to banana bread (and smoothies) than regular bananas.

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New STITCH ON! Projects

4/1/2020

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New Tutorial and Easy Sewing Project

Many of you have been following our Clover Tool School Extra Credit series where we review Clover products and show you how to use those products in projects. Well, now there's even more to play along with in our STITCH ON! tutorial and projects series. To kick things off, we used the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge to create 3 Easy Projects. Even if you've never sewn or quilted before, this tool will have you looking like a pro in no time. And, with the three different projects, you can progress through the tutorials to up your skills as you go.
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New Tool School Extra Credit with the Shibaguyz - Yo-Yo Pillow!

3/30/2020

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Tool School Extra Credit Tutorial and Project Sheet

It's time for another Tool School Extra Credit with the Shibaguyz! This time, we used the Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker to create a pillow top. As always, the video includes both a tutorial on how to use the product followed by a step-by-step project walk through.
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We have to admit, we've not been big fans of the original method we were familiar with for making yo-yo projects. Between fussing to keep the fabric on the circular template and trying to make the stitches just so to make a perfect little yo-yo, we just couldn't bring ourselves to make more than a few. But, by locking the fabric in place and with guides for how to place the stitches, this little tool makes is so quick and easy… we got a little carried away making these while watching a movie one night. Yup… it's that simple with this clever little tool.

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A Request From The Shibaguyz During The COVID19 Pandemic

3/16/2020

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As freelance fiber artists, our teaching gigs and the resulting product sales account for a large portion of our income. With two events now canceled (and a possible third cancellation) as well as the early closure of our museum show, we are facing some uncertainty right now. In addition, a few of our clients have shut down their operations and “will not be processing invoices.” 

During this time of 
uncertainty we come to you, our friends, neighbors, students, and fellow makers and crafters to help us out if you have the means. There are a couple of ways to do this: 
  • First, you can find something that you love, books, thread, or patterns, in our online store where every purchase is greatly appreciated. 
  • Second, you can also donate directly to us. Below is a link to our PayPal Donate page. Even the smallest donation will be greatly appreciated and will assist Shibaguyz Designz in weathering through the next few months. 

Thank you for your help and understanding. 
​Stitch On!

S&J
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How to Register for Classes with the Shibaguyz at Sew Expo 2020

1/24/2020

 

​Get Your Tickets to Our Sew Expo 2020 Classes - A Walkthrough

UPDATE: This event has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event!
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

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It is time, once again, to register for our classes at Sew Expo! We know some of y’all have had some issues navigating the Sew Expo website in the past but, this year, they have really stepped up their game and made the process a few steps easier. Still… we’re going to do our annual walkthrough to help you find and register for our classes. Again, the process is a little bit easier this year but there is one very important step right at the beginning that you must attend to. So read on…
First, go to Sewexpo.com
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Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essentials Aurifil Thread Collection

2/8/2019

 

Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essentials Aurifil Thread Collection

The time has finally come when we can tell you about a project we have been working on with the FAB folks at Aurifil. We can officially announce the launch of our NEW thread collection from Aurifil! The Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essential thread collection is now available for preorder RIGHT HERE on our website. Can you tell we’re more than a little excited about this? We have been fans of Aurifil threads for all of our hand and machine sewing and embellishing ever since we tried our first sampler pack. We because Aurifil Ambassadors in 2018 and have been using Aurifil on projects here in the studio and our students have been using Aurifil threads in the classroom thanks to Aurifil’s generous sponsorship of our classes. So… yeah… we’re big fans.
 
When we were approached with the opportunity to produce a thread collection of our favorite colors in our favorite thread weight, we were simultaneously excited and stressed. Excited because curating a custom collection of thread and colors is HUGE. Stressed because curating a custom collection of thread and colors is HUGE. But, of course, we did make decisions (with the help of our friends at Aurifil) and we were even able to design our own packaging! Check it out!
Shibaguyz FAB Sashiko Essentials Aurifil Thread Collection

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How to Register for Classes with the Shibaguyz at Sew Expo 2019

2/4/2019

 

Get Your Tickets to Our Sew Expo 2019 Classes - A Walkthrough
UPDATE: This event has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

It's time to purchase tickets to our classes at this year's Sew Stitch Expo in Puyallup, WA. WOOHOO! We have a LOT of classes at Sew Expo this year including embellishing crochet and knit fabric, English Paper Piecing, 5 FAB hand stitches, and our whirlwind BORO Class! In addition, we will be sharing a booth with Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric. What a FAB weekend!!

Now we wouldn't want y'all to miss out on a minute of the FAB fun we have planned for you but, occasionally, we hear from folks that they have problems finding our classes and registering online. So this year we thought we'd put up a little walkthrough to help you with the process. The process does take a couple of steps, but is not difficult. Once it is all over, you end up with the best possible prize... a class with the Shibaguyz! [blush]

Here we GO…
First go to www.sewexpo.com
Sew Expo Register Walk Through
On this page you will see lots of options. Click on the TICKETS button at the top of the screen.
Sew Expo Register Walk Through

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The Season of Giving-Away Week 4 AND GRAND PRIZE

12/23/2018

 

Week 4 of the Season of Giving-Away Event is Upon us. That means our final weekly giveaway AND the AWSOME GRAND PRIZE

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP


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New Crochet Pattern!

12/20/2018

 

Balsam Pullover on the Cover of Interweave Crochet

They don't tell you these things ahead of time… you just open your mail one day to find a mailing packet with your contributor copy and a very nice note thanking you for contributing to the latest issue of Interweave Crochet. Imagine the celebrating that ensued when we realized that was our design on the cover of the Winter 2019 Issue of Interweave Crochet! If you've ever been around us… you know there was some noise.
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The Balsam Pullover is a cowl-neck pullover that truly embodies our sense of tailored casual style. We used Valley Superwash DK (courtesy of the folks at WEBS) for a mid-weight fabric that would feel good on the body without weighing you down. The asymmetrical hem balances a wide range of body types and the single crochet ribbing at the cuffs and draped cowl neckline are cozy  and balance the sleek look of the main body and sleeves. From special occasions to curling up with a good book to an afternoon of shopping, we designed this to be a true wardrobe staple.

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The Season of Giving-Away Event: Week 3

12/17/2018

 

​It's Week 3 of our Season of Giving-Away Event

UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

​Week 2 is over, but there are a lot more prize packages to give away.
​Lets look at what Week 3 has to offer.
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Week 3 is our Knitting Extravaganza

The winner of this week will receive:
From Clover: Takumi Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set
From The Daylight Company: Yoyo Magnifier Light
and from Soak: Soak Wash 12 oz bottle - fragrance "Lacey"
 

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The Season of Giving-Away Event: Week 2

12/10/2018

 

It's Week 2 of our Season of Giving-Away Event
UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

Week 1 is over, but there are a lot more prize packages to give away. Lets look at what Week 2 has to offer.
Daylight Company Smart Clip On Light
I sew for fun kit

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‘Tis the Season of Giving-Away!

12/2/2018

 

A Giveaway to End 2018 with a Bang
UPDATE: This giveaway has ended. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our next big event! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

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