Ballooning

For those of you who are not familiar with October in New Mexico, every year the Balloon Fiesta comes to town and it is a massive celebration of all things hot air and balloon shaped. This year I decided to get into the mood by creating a little balloon themed window display at Stitchology.

For starters, I decided to make about a billion felt balloons and a few fluffy clouds as well. I hung them all from the window and it was a good thing, but I couldn’t help but feel that I needed to take the theme a little further, so I used the Hot Air Balloon fabric I had just received and made some little outfits.

Like this.

I used the Oliver + S Family Reunion Dress pattern and sure am glad I did. This pattern, like all Oliver + S patterns, sewed up well, had great directions and is totally adorable.

I mean how can you not LOVE the little neck facing detail?

Or the buttons down the back?

Or what about the hem facing and decorative stitching?

Sigh.

I was having so much fun with my balloon fabric that I decided to make a dress for the larger form as well.

For this gal I used the Oliver + S School Photo Dress and it also sewed up like a dream.

I used the scraps from the first dress to cut out a few balloons and appliquéd them around the hem.

It was the right thing to do and the dresses are stunning together in the window!

 

Happy Sewing

~Melisa & Cordelia

Colette Anise

I bet you thought I forgot I had a blog didn’t you? I didn’t, I’ve just been super busy doing other things like teaching kids summer camps, traveling, sewing up a storm and buying lots of new fabrics for Stitchology! Seriously, if you haven’t been in for a bit you need to stop by because we are bursting at the seams with new goodies!

I’ll dish about all that later, but first I have to share the new Colette patterns that are being released today!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Colette patterns. They have fresh, young, vintagey styles that sew up well. They also have the BEST directions I have ever seen in a pattern. Each one is a little booklet and they are packaged up all cutely too. I mean, she includes detailed instructions on how to sew welt pockets in the new Anise pattern. You can’t even find stuff like this in some sewing books anymore.

Because I was able to get my hands on the patterns a bit early, I decided to sew up a sample to help celebrate the release.

The weather’s still fairly warm here in NM so I opted for a home-dec cotton in fall-ish colors.

 

It is fully lined with a chartreuse cotton/silk fabric that is just heavenly against my skin and has a beautiful sheen to it. The best part about this fabric is that the cotton makes it REALLY easy to work with so it is my go to fabric for linings (we have several colors at Stitchology!).

This pattern is really awesome if you are interested in getting into tailoring as it gives directions on how to do some proper (but easy) tailoring techniques—for example it gives great directions for installing a welt pocket, has you put in an underlining (my inner sewing geek was doing handstands over this) and has you cut the under collar on the bias!

My only complaint is how she has you sew the collar in. If you fallow her directions, I believe you may find yourself in a swear-worthy, frustrating state. So do yourself a favor, and pay me a little visit before you get ready to sew any collars and you’ll be glad you did.

Here are a few more pictures to drool over.

 

That's right, we do have that polka dot fabric at Stitchology.  Thanks for noticing!

Overall I give these patterns an A++ and think you should hustle over to Stitchology to pick up your own coppy before they sell out.

Happy Sewing

~Melisa & Cordelia

Where IS Waldo?!

This July Waldo may be closer than you think!

As in a store around the corner closer.

As in Stitchology closer.

So come find him and participate in a fun city wide scavenger hunt hosted by Bookwoorks on Rio Grande.

This year Waldo turns 25 and to celebrate Stitchology has joined up with 19 other local stores to participate in a city wide scavenger hunt. All you have to do is stop by and find our Waldo doll that is hiding somewhere in the store.

Here he is looking all dapper as we search for the perfect hiding spot!

Once Waldo is found, I will give you a card and a list of the other participating stores. On July 31st there will be a Waldo shindig at Bookworks and prizes will be awarded.

Remember, the more times you find Waldo, the greater your chances to win a prize, so stop into Stitchology today and say “Hi!” to Waldo!

Happy Searching!

~Melisa & Cordelia

Windows

What can you do with 20 something glass bottles, some stolen twine and a scrap box of fabric? 

 I made a cheery fabric flower window display!

Happy Sewing!

~Melisa & Cordelia

My New Obsession

Early this week I received my shipment of the new Tula Pink line of fabric Night Shade. As soon as I ripped open the box, I knew I was in trouble because theses fabrics are to die for.

Each and every one of them.

Take a peak!

 

It took all of 0.15865 seconds before my brain was full of ideas for these beauties.

They will make wonderful dresses, skirts, bags, aprons and more!

 

It took me another 2.3658 seconds before I was ready to dive in and start cutting up the fabrics.

But I had to wait because I had customers in the store, and it’s not polite to ignore them just because I have beautiful fabric.

As soon as things calmed down a bit I got busy sewing, and after a stitch stitch here, and a snip, snip there I had created this:

And this:

For the bag, I used Anna Maria’s Multi-Tasker Tote pattern, and I sure am glad I did because this bag is great!

It’s big and roomy and has front pockets ideal for stashing my phone and keys.

The Apron pattern came from the book The Perfect Apron and I love how the girly flounces contrasts with the spider webs and skulls in the fabric.

If you would also like to have oodles of fun with this fabric, you better stop by Stitchology soon because this stuff is going fast!

Happy sewing!

~Melisa & Cordelia

Stitchology: Then and Now.

Today Stitchology turns 6 months old.  Can you believe it?  Well you probably can, but I can’t.  I was looking through my old pictures of the store, and it’s amazing how much growth we’ve had in a relatively short time.  Take a look.

Then:

We had no sign yet.

Now(ish):

Signage!

Then:

I had tables, but  ugly dirty paint.
(although all the young men aren't too hard on the eyes)

After a bit:

New paint did wonders to clean things up!

Now:

I have lots of stuff on the walls to inspire new projects.

Then:

The pattern wall was a little bare



 Now:

The pattern wall is so full I have to find creative new ways to display them.

 Like hanging them on this new fabric display.

Then:

The couch was just for sitting

Now:

The couch is a place for lots of fabric critters to hang out at.

Then:

We had a ribbon display full of cool ribbons. 

Now:

We just have more cool ribbons! 

Then:

We had books and thread and stuff...

Now:

We have more books and thread and stuff.  And zippers too!

Then:

This is what the display table looked like. 

Now:

It is full of fabric cause I ran out of bookshelf space.

Now:

We have a few new displays that didn't even exist then like all this beautiful felt.

Or this rack of fabric rolls. 

 And this cool ladder display.

But some things haven't changed too much.

Like take for example the fridge.

Then:

 Now:

We still have it packed full of the bubbly.

Happy Sewing

~Melisa & Cordelia