We had our first of three sessions for the Halloween Costume Workshop!! Our students have some great ideas and started on their projects.
We cut out patterns - this one is for a fairy.
We pinned them to our fabric - this will be a vampire.
This will be Rainbow Dash.
We cut our fabric - this will be a poodle skirt.
We even got some sewing done - this will be a dinosaur.
Poodle skirt sewing.
All in all a great session and some fabulous costumes taking place!
We have such a fun time in knitting class! Our students get so much done!
This student did such a great job on her hat. She cast on with circular needles, knit for 6 1/2", changed to double pointed needles, and then cast off and sewed the top closed. Isn't it such a cute hat?!!
What is just so wonderful about these knitting classes is the friendships that are being made. The students are all so supportive of each other. They help each other with challenges and celebrate finishes together!
This session of knitting is over but the next one starts right up next week!!
It's time for another class of sewing and knitting and I haven't even posted from last week!! So many good things to come from Let's Go Crafting. A Halloween Workshop is being offered - I can't wait to see what each student comes up with! American Girl Clothing workshops, Holiday Ornament workshops and more to come.But...let me get to the important stuff for now! What went on in last week's classes?
We had a great first day of classes last Wednesday. All the students came to class ready and excited to learn and explore!
We had a fabulous time and I can't wait until tomorrow for our second class!
Campers were working hard today to finish their projects! Those that had finished yesterday, started new projects and most of them finished as well!
Even Kate made an appearance today! She was sleeping so peacefully, but one of the campers felt she might be a little cold so they gave her a "blanket".
This was our last class for the summer. Stay tuned for our fall class schedule!
We are having a super fun time each and every day in camp!
These are our pin cushions that we made with our colored fabric.
Aren't they beautiful?!
PHEW! WOW!! These students are busy, busy, busy!
Today in sewing camp we all settled into a really good rhythm. All the students know where everything is kept, they know how to use the sewing machines and they have fun projects that they are working on.
Just a regular fun day at camp!
Today we started our last week of sewing camp for the summer.
Students new to our sewing classes usually spend the first 15 minutes or so learning to work our sewing machines.
Once the students are comfortable on the machines, they start their projects.
Students who were here last week continue to work on things that they started previously.
This student saw a pillow that I had knit and she wants to make a fabric one just like it. Here she is drafting a pattern for her idea.
Everyone is working on something different. These students all get to choose whatever project they want. They then pick fabric and get started.
Except for Tux, who obviously needs rest and the yarn basket is the perfect place to take a nap!
Tux is never without someone paying attention to her and she loves it!
After break time we worked on creating some fun fabric which will be turned into pincushions.
Some students just use their imaginations when making projects. Here we have a couch and pillow.
This is so cute! The face is totally freehand.
This student decided to make something on her own. She created a pocket with a handle - how very creative and original!
This is also a student original! Pretty cute!
Sewing Camp is finished for the week. Every one finished their projects!! WooHoo!
This camper was going to make a square pillow, but at the last moment, decided to change it into a bunny! Lookin' good!
Our furry little helper, "Tux", stayed out too late last night and slept through camp this morning :o)
This camper is making a shirt of her own design. She wanted bias tape to go around the neck edge and the arm holes of the shirt and she wanted it in matching fabric. She decided to make her own!
Here is that same bias tape sewn around the neckline of her shirt.
What a lovely shirt!! This was designed and sewn by this camper-GREAT job! The only thing left is to sew her bias binding onto the arm holes. I can't wait to see it finished.
This camper finished a project first thing this morning and decided there was enough time to work on something else.
Such a fun time was had by all this week! I can't wait for sewing camp next week!
We had quite a few finished projects today!
We started out with the completion of this cute little bunny!
Just look at his cute little face!
Another bunny joined us at camp today. One of our students went home yesterday and created the cute bunny on the left all by herself at home and then brought him to play with us today!
After about half a morning of sewing camp, bunny needed a nap so another camper donated her handmade quilt for bunny to snuggle with.
A very lovely backpack was finished - these backpacks are fully lined and include a casing for the drawstring closure.
Such a cute froggy made a debut in camp today.
This young sewing enthusiast finished her quilt this morning. Isn't it beautiful?!
Here is a second backpack that was completed today. I LOVE this bird fabric!
This 7th grader is creating her own pattern for a shirt. Shortly after this photo was taken, her fabric was chosen, cut and she started sewing - I can't wait to see the outcome. Maybe she will let me use the pattern she created for future camps or classes.
This started out as a quilt but as this camper neared the finish line she decided she would much rather have a pillow. I think she will be very happy with her pillow.
This student worked very hard on her pillow case and it turned out fabulously!
Bunny must have a couch to relax in after a hard day at camp!
This couch was designed and sewn completely by a 4th grader - simply impressive! She did such a wonderful job from her first idea to the execution of her design!
Bunny must have a snack to make it through a whole morning of sewing!
So many fun things happening today in camp!
Everyone learns to use an iron! And they like ironing!
This student brought this to class this morning. She left yesterday from camp and was so inspired, she made this at home! Isn't he fabulous?!!
This student came to class yesterday asking about making polo wraps for her horse - she even brought her own pattern. I had no idea what they were, but we worked through it and made them!! Pretty Awesome!
Every day at sewing camp is a good day!
So many fun experiences today!
WOW!! That's all I can say about today! All the campers worked hard and had a great time finishing up their final projects for the week.
We started out the day with several of our student learning new stitch patterns on the looms. Here we are doing some beaded danish medallions. She finished her project and it is so very pretty. I did not get a picture of it and I am very sorry to not be able to share it with you.
This piece also has beaded danish medallions, but they are much closer together and give a very different look.
This student chose to do sections of even weave interspersed with pile stitch.
Check out the use of two different colors of thread used in the same shed on this piece. This very creative camper came up with this on her own!
I always try to take a picture of each piece being cut from the loom because I completely remember how scared I was to cut my first piece off the loom - terrified doesn't even begin to explain it!! I thought the whole piece would literally explode and come unwoven! These campers are not worried about it at all - they are completely fearless!! It totally amazes me each time.
This young weaver only had a day and a half to work on this beautiful piece of fabric because she had to leave early from camp today. I can't believe how much she accomplished in such a short amount of time - specialty stitches, color changes and enough fabric to use for many things. I also think her choice of colors are perfect and stand out so much against the white on this lovely piece!
I can't wait to hear about this camper using his new placemat!! He came into class knowing exactly what he wanted to make as his second piece and he really did it. Notice the two colors of warp (the dark blue and the light blue) and the great stripes he achieved from it! He also incorporated Pile Stitch and Danish Medallions - great job!
Look at those bright, sunny, happy colors! Doesn't it just make you smile to look at it? I love all the beads - it really takes time and patience to place all of them.
Remember the fabric from yesterday? The one with the many different patterns? Well, this camper turned her fabric into an over-the-shoulder bag! She also wove her own strap and sewed everything together by hand!! What a lovely piece of wearable art.
Close up details of the beaded danish medallions on the strap.
The strap consists of several rows of beaded medallions and leno lace. The rest is all even weave and it is very EVEN!!
Check out those great colors! And all that pile stitch! I can tell you that while creating pile stitch, it is very hard to maintain an even height from the fabric and this camper did an extremely good job at it. All those rows - and there are quite a few of them! - are all even and beautiful!
Each camper did such a great job this week!! They learned so much and had such a great time. The projects that they completed all turned out so beautifully!!
Today was fantastic! Everyone finished their first project and started a new one.
Our first warp of the day was measured and shortly after this picture was taken, it was wound onto the loom, threaded and the weaving started.
Danish Medallions are a big hit and very popular - they are not that difficult to do and they give a big "pop" on the fabric.
Our first finish of the day! Yeah!!
Of course, after a finished project, there is a need to start a new one :o) Here she is almost done measuring the warp.
And here is her work a little later. She is experimenting with color and texture.
This actually came off the loom yesterday, but still needed some finishing touches which were completed this morning.
I had to take some pictures of the different patterns she wove. They are simply gorgeous - sorry for the blurry pictures, she was so excited she couldn't keep still :o)
I just had to show the intricate patterns on her piece of fabric!
Since that piece of beautiful fabric will be turned into an over the shoulder bag, it needs a shoulder strap. This camper chose some very colorful yarn for her warp.
This is her weaving so far. Some even weave, some beaded danish medallions and some leno lace which you cannot see in this picture. I believe the strap is going to be as beautiful as the bag!
This is the other student who was working on the sampler project. She has finished the weaving and is working on her hem stitching.
She was very excited to cut her project off of the loom.
Here is her project in all it's glory!! Instead of sewing it into something, she has chosen to use this as a table runner. I think that's a fabulous use of this beautiful piece of handiwork.
I just had to include a close up of this section. Using a pick up stick and following a pattern on a rigid heddle loom is time consuming and required great concentration - Both students were up to the task. Job Well Done!!
Another scarf was finished today! Look how lovely it turned out!
This student finished her scarf yesterday and is working on getting her loom re-warped for her second project. She is actually quite a bit farther along now and has actually started her weaving.
Working on his danish medallions.
You can see that he has done several rows of danish medallions and a row of pile stitch. Now just to finish his hem stitching on both ends and he will be done with his second project.
Those colors on white just look so yummy and happy!
And another student almost ready to start weaving.
We had a fabulous weaving day!!
This camper started the day out with some beautiful hem stitching. I am amazed at this group of campers!! Their hem stitching is really great.
This third grader is working on the twill pattern for her sampler. On the rigid heddle loom, this requires great concentration.
The weaving and hem stitching is done!! Time to remove the project from the loom.
Another project being cut off the loom! Exciting times.
The hem stitching on one side of this camper's project is done and now she is hem stitching the other side.
Woo Hoo!! The sampler is done! Now to pull out the waste yarn at the beginning of her project and to hem stitch. Then this part of her project will be complete.
A camper from yesterday finished his project and is now measuring the warp for his second project. I love the colors he has chosen!!
Our first finish of the day and isn't it lovely?!! The colors are so fun and bright!!
Another fun finish! This camper is so proud of her scarf!
We had our first finished project for this week of camp!
It is always such a thrill to cut your first project off the loom!!
I make sure that the warp is long enough to make a scarf that will wrap around the neck and keep them warm. Isn't this such a nice scarf?
All of the campers are super excited each day when they come to camp. They start their weaving right away.
Our resident furry "helper". Notice that her leg is actually THROUGH the warp.
Of course Tux knows that if she is being cute, she will get lots of love from our students :o)
The first thing the campers did at snack was to check out their yarn. I asked them to eat before they took the yarns out.
After snack the chickens had to be played with for a bit.
This chick really loves this camper. He's the only one she will sit on quietly.
Now we were able to see exactly how our yarn hanks turned out.
We had to wring them out a little so they would dry faster.
Here they all are, just drying in the sun this afternoon. Tomorrow our campers will wind these into balls and weave with them if they choose.
Another camper is almost done with her scarf. Here she is learning how to use the hem stitch in order to get a really nice finish.
Today was our first day of weaving camp this week. It's always fun to see new weaving students learning and enjoying themselves at the loom.
It's also great fun to have students come back for another session. This time I created an Intermediate Weaving Sampler Pattern for two repeat campers.
We worked hard for the first half of camp and then took a short break to eat snack and play with the chickens.
After our break we dyed some yarn. This time we made dye baths with food coloring.
Each camper filled three jars with water and chose their food color for each one. Then they placed each end of the hank of yarn into one of the jars and the middle of the hank into the middle jar.
It's fun to see which colors each camper chooses.
It will be even more fun to see how the yarns turn out!
A friend of mine gave me some of her left over yarn. Isn't it so pretty?!
Well most of the campers felt the same way and wanted to use it in their weaving. This yarn weaves up so nicely!
Gift yarn getting ready to be used as weft.
See how pretty it looks in this project?! LOVE IT! Thanks so much, Margaret!
Lots of finished projects today!!
Usually I try to have our students finish their projects before class ends for the week. In the case of these two, they had finished their first projects and since they are coming back for more camps and wanted to knit more, I had them pick yarn and start something new.
These third graders worked so hard to finish their wrist warmers today. Great job girls!
Knitting camp is done for this week - I am sad to see these campers leave - they are such great students and work so well together!