“Craft” might seem like it’s for the amateurs, and “fashion” for the auteurs. Yet we live in an age where creativity and innovation are increasingly found in collaborations between makers and users, crafters and designers, designers and manufacturers, and in the loosening of the boundaries between them. – MAKESHIFT 2012

The MAKESHIFT conversation began last year to discover where and how various creative industries can work together as one. The discussion continued last Thursday evening at The Standard, addressing the intersection of industries on the artisan level, where the interchanges occur, and how we can transform those intersections through innovation and collaboration for the greater good.

Several designers, filmmakers, authors, musicians, and makers joined us, alongside friends and panelists, Cathy Bailey of Heath Ceramics, singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, Andrew Wagner of Krrb, Kristen Wintercheck of Wintercheck Factory, Natalie Jordi of People’s Pops, and singer/songwriter Tift Merritt. While we shared ideas, touching on subjects like the importance of maintaining authenticity when scaling a small business, we crafted our thoughts and experiences surrounding these issues onto 100% organic cotton Alabama Chanin totes. The results are beautiful, provocative, and insightful.

Collaboration and innovation begin with conversation, and we were able to capture some of the night’s most poignant thoughts, shared below.

“I love to do something that eliminates words and music, so that when I go back to music, it feels fresh.” – Rosanne Cash on creativity

“I’m someone who makes sense of my life by making things.” – Tift Merritt on creativity

“Handmade objects are all about things that retain a story…it’s all about the story.” – Father Andrew

“We’ve moved closer into the heart of things, making closer to where people are, not away from people, on a scale that feels like the craft and balance are still there.” – Cathy Bailey on scaling Heath Ceramics and their new factory in San Francisco

“The making is integral.” – Cathy Bailey

“You make things because something is imbedded in you, something that you miss. Why do people make? Do you need to make, or want to make?” – Jill Andresevic on creativity

“As long as you don’t sacrifice on [quality] ingredients then there aren’t that many factors negatively affected by machine.” – Natalie Jordi on scaling manufacturing

As this posts to our Journal this morning, part of our Alabama Chanin team will be in the air and on their way home from MAKESHIFT 2013. We hope that you have followed our explorations and conversations during New York Design Week via Instagram and have had conversations of your own.  Leaving MAKESHIFT this year, we are even more convinced about the importance of making, sharing, and finding common ground. You can expect a full recap of our experiences from New York Design Week in the next days, plus expanding conversations about design, fashion, food, craft, and DIY over the coming months.

One thing we do know is that, as we continue to open source our ideas, our Alabama Chanin conversations series and workshops will continue to grow.  These events—like MAKESHIFT—have become an intimate, extraordinary way for us to connect with fellow makers, designers, and like-minded creators across the country (and the world). See more in the coming weeks about the bag project we started at MAKESHIFT 2013.  In the meantime, here are some instructions for a different kind of bag (with an equally important message).

In the early spring of this year, Alabama Chanin designed and created a one-of-a-kind bag to support the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s “You Can’t Fake Fashion” campaign. We loved the finished product so much that I wanted my own version, adapting the OrganicTote Bag #3. This bag measures 17 1/2” x 13 3/4” x 4 3/4” and is large enough to use as a purse or laptop bag or to carry your sewing projects. The tote has been double-layer appliquéd all-over using our Paisley stencil in Alabama Indigo fabric.

The bag comes in Natural. We chose to customize this tote to match our CFDA bag by dyeing it indigo, but your design choices are endless.

If you want to try your hand at indigo dyeing your tote, you can see how some of our friends created their own indigo dye bath. If you want to experiment with other colors, it is easy to find recipes for natural dyeing online. Wherever you live, there is a fruit, vegetable, plant, or flower in season that can be used to create beautiful shades. The Tote Bag is also beautiful in its original Natural color, which allows you freedom to display high contrast appliqués or go for a tone-on-tone color palette.

SUPPLIES

Tote Bag #3
Paisley Stencil from our Resource Downloads page.
Natural Dye Indigo Fabric
Cotton Jersey Pulls or Kitchen Twine  for the handles
Button Craft thread
Embroidery Scissors
Sewing needles
Pins

Stencil or trace the Paisley pattern onto the back of appliqué fabric using your stenciling method of choice. For each appliqué that you want to place on the Tote Bag, you will also cut a slightly larger version of that piece by cutting about 1/8” around the outside of an identically stenciled piece. This will allow you to stitch a double-layered appliqué.
Begin by placing your larger appliquéd pieces on each side of the Tote Bag and securing them into place with pins. Once you have your appliqué placed as desired, add the slightly smaller appliqué pieces on top of those first appliqués by removing the pins one piece at a time and re-pinning through the smaller and larger appliqué at one time, fitting the smaller appliqué just inside the borders of each larger appliqué.

Using a whip stitch, secure the smaller appliqué through all layers of the larger appliqué and the bag. This leaves about 1/8” of the larger appliqué visible behind your smaller appliqué.

We covered the handles of our bag with Cotton Jersey Pulls. You can also use Kitchen Twine, but keep in mind that you will need more yardage as they are thinner and will cover less surface area. Securely tack the end of the pull to the inside of the tote bag’s handle, then begin wrapping by making a loop and pulling the end of your cotton jersey pull through the loop to make a knot. Continue making knots to completely cover the straps of the bag. When you reach the end of a pull, tie to the next pull using a square knot and continue wrapping. Once you have wrapped the entire handle, secure the end of the pull to the inside of the tote by tacking the end of the pull to the inside of the tote bag’s handle.

Southern children who grow up with a healthy respect for their elders, particularly their mothers, are said to have been “raised right.” Across the south, most children (and their fathers) must have been “raised right,” because there is almost always a big to-do made about Mother’s Day. Even though new Easter clothes have just been bought, a slew of children will go shopping again for new Mother’s Day outfits; it is expected to make a good impression at church on that big day. Mom gets to sleep in (just a little) and breakfasts will be prepared and served by the children. We present our mothers and grandmothers with beautiful corsages. Often in my community, the tradition is to give carnations. It’s common to give Mother a red or pink one and to set a vase of white carnations upon the kitchen table for grandmothers or great-grandmothers who have passed away. In my family,we  presented corsages to Mother and Grandmother on Mother’s Day morning.

Some people say that being a mother is a thankless job and rightfully so, as some days it feels that way. But, there is nothing like the sight of your child with a homemade card and a flower to make it all feel worthwhile. (And, as they get older, a hug or a phone call will do, too.)

Our DIY Bloomers Gore Skirt from Alabama Studio Style and Corset from Alabama Stitch Book, paired with the Handmade Corsage (a beautiful addition to any of our tops), would be perfect for any Mother’s Day outing. From church, to restaurant, to walk in the park, you can make Mom happy. The corsage is a great project to do with children. It’s simple and you can use old t-shirts or fabric scraps that you have on-hand. Just follow the instructions for mums on page 135 in Alabama Stitch Book. Cut circles, strips or triangles, and sew and/or ruffle together in random ways to create your own mother’s day corsage. Think of it as refrigerator art that Mom (or Grandmother can wear). You can also purchase the Corsage Corset kit, which includes fabric pieces to make your corsage appliqué.

Both of these projects are available for a limited time as DIY Kits from our online store and can be found in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

Last  fall, one of my neighbors gave me a box of vintage patterns he found tucked away in his basement. The weather-stained cardboard box that once belonged to his mother was filled with patterns that represented decades of accumulation: Vogue Patterns, McCall’s, Simplicity, and Butterick . Each had been purchased for as little as a dollar and some change.

In the group was a vintage Misses’ Top pattern with a four-color iron-on transfer. The Charlie’s Angels feel of the photograph, bright colors of the shirts and 70’s floral designs reminded me of the Marimekko era and they seemed a good addition to our DIY Selection.

As the transfer was too fragile to iron-on, we created a stencil inspired by the design on our pennant felt.

Today we feature this design as a limited time, seasonal DIY Kit. While our garments are created to be timeless, as designers we feel the desire to expand and change the collection with ever-evolving styles. We will continue to offer our most popular DIY Kit selections, adding new, complimentary styles for each season.  This DIY Embroidered Flowers V-neck T-shirt Kit is our first new addition for spring and featured on our Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

The V-neck T-shirt uses the pattern from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design with an adapted neckline. The embroidery floss colors are from a special selection, available with this DIY Kit only. The kit comes stenciled and ready-to-sew.

Below we provide instructions for the embroidery stitches and list our design choices. Purchase your DIY Embroidered Flowers V-neck T-shirt Kit here.

The embroidery stitches used for this project can be found in Elegant Stitches. We highly recommend this book as an embroidery resource guide for everyday use.

To create the leaves, use a Fishbone stitch; instructions available on page 42 of Elegant Stitches. To create the flower petals, use a Satin stitch; instructions available on page 35 of Elegant Stitches. To create the center, or “eye”, of the flower and the linked stems, use a Chain stitch; instructions available on page 59 of Elegant Stitches.

Note: For our flower center, or “eye”, we drew a small circle in the center of the stenciled flower shape with a pencil. First complete the Satin stitch for the flower petals. The Satin stitch will go from the stenciled flower edge to the edge of your drawn circle, or “eye”. Then fill in the eye of the flower with a circular Chain stitch.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Garment –Long sleeve V-neck T-shirt Top (Adapted from the T-shirt Top pattern in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design)
Fabric weight – Alabama Chanin 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Fabric color – Natural
Button Craft thread for construction – Coats & Clark color #26 Cream
Stencil – McCall’s vintage iron-on floral transfer
Embroidery stitches- Cretan stitch for the binding;  instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Seams – Inside Felled

My friend Kay and I started giving one another socks for each holiday several years ago. Although this may bring back memories of dreaded Christmas gifts from years past (not socks again!), I find the gift of socks a very practical thing. It’s just not one of those things that I go out and purchase for myself on a regular basis—but, anyone who has had to show their threadbare socks in public understands that such a reveal can cause major embarrassment. Think back to that cliché, “Always wear clean underwear because you never know where you will find yourself.”

So, Kay and I once found ourselves side-by-side in the airport check-in, both wearing less than savory socks. Looking down at one another’s feet, we started to laugh—imagine the contrast of hole-ridden socks sticking out from below a beautiful hand-embroidered skirt.  Hence the start of a ritual: birthday socks, Halloween socks, Yuletide socks, just plain old happy-to-visit with you socks.

Which brings me to Zkano (pronounced za-kanno). A few months ago, another Alabama Chanin friend introduced us to Gina Locklear from Zkano and an immediate friendship ensued (not to mention the fact that she brought me a whole BAG of organic socks). I have been wearing them ever since and Zkano are the best socks I have ever owned. Period. And the best part: made in America with organic cotton. The next best part: Zkano is striving to use US grown cotton—just like Alabama Chanin. It is a sustainable partnership made in heaven.

We are working on a Zkano/Alabama Chanin collaboration; however, in the meantime, you can get a great range of their socks from our online store.

The funniest part: two days after we sealed the collaboration deal, my friend Kay showed up at the studio with two pairs of Zkano socks she had gotten for me at Whole Foods. Great minds think alike. (Thank you Kay.)

P.S. For a simple DIY project, customize your socks with embroidery stitches. Alabama Studio Sewing + Design and Elegant Stitches feature a wide selection of stitches. We chose the herringbone stitch in White and Pistachio embroidery floss on Zkano’s Grey Thigh High Socks. 

This week, we’ve been exploring Finnish design company, Marimekko, well known for creating colorful, often bold patterns and fabrics. While their designs were first made popular in the 1960’s by Jacqueline Kennedy, the bright and vibrant garments remain classic choices, appropriate for any generation. Personally, I love to add a bold pattern or color to my regular wardrobe from time-to-time, and re-visiting the Marimekko story inspired this Tunic.

This pattern is a variation of our T-shirt Top, available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design cut to tunic length. The tunic has a bit of a flare starting at the waist, which makes it comfortable and forgiving. We also have variations of tunics – the Camisole Tunic and the Tank Tunic – available as patterns in Alabama Studio Style.

The role of color and Marimekko influence is obvious when you compare the T-shirt Tunic above with the one below. Both are the same style, same cut, same pattern, but use different color ways.  While both tunics have a white fabric as the reverse appliqué, the tunic above is high in contrast with a navy outer layer and includes the Marimekko-style splash of color. The one below is shown with a Natural outer layer. It is more simple, allowing the bold pattern to blend into the background. Both are equally beautiful. They are simply different statements.

This play on color is one of the things that inspires me most as a designer. Use this project as a way to try your hand at experimenting with new colors and patterns.

SUPPLIES

T-shirt Top pattern, adapted from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design or Alabama Studio Style
Paper scissors
1 yard of 60” wide medium-weight organic cotton jersey for top layer
1 yard of 60” wide medium-weight organic cotton jersey for backing layer
Supplies for stenciling (see page 48 of Alabama Studio Style)
Magdalena Stencil  – available in our Resource Downloads section
Button Craft thread
Embroidery Scissors
Hand-sewing needle

Basic sewing supplies: fabric scissors, pins, tailor’s chalk, ruler, rotary cutter, Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, or Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: all three of these books contain the basic sewing and embroidery techniques.

Photocopy your pattern and cut the photocopied pattern to your desired size, cutting as close as possible to the black cutting line. There are two pattern pieces – a front and a back panel – with a 1/4” seam allowance built into all pattern edges.

Lay the top layer of fabric flat and fold to create two layers and position the front pattern on top of that yardage, making sure the pattern and fabric grain lines run in the same direction. With tailor’s chalk, trace around the pattern’s edges, remove the pattern, and cut out the traced pattern, cutting just inside the chalked line to remove it entirely. Repeat this step on the remaining top-layer fabric and then repeat for the back panel. You should have 4 cut panels for your shirt.

Add the stenciling on the right side of the tunic’s top layer only, front and back. Align each cut top layer piece on the corresponding backing-layer piece, with both fabrics facing right side up, then pat the layers into place with your fingertips so that their edges match. Securely pin together the two layers of each piece.

Follow the instructions for reverse appliqué on page 95 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design and then trim away the excess fabric on the wrong side of your T-shirt panel, keeping 1/4″ outside your stitching line.

Our Marimekko-style appliqué is based on a flower shape. You can easily make your unique appliqué by cutting any shape, floral or geometric, from fabric scraps.

Decide upon the positioning of your Marimekko-style appliqués on the front and back panels of the tunic. We have secured the bottom layer with a whip stitch, and then added each subsequent layer with a straight stitch.

Once you have completed your embellishment, construct your tunic by pinning the two panels, right sides together.

Thread your needle, love your thread, and knot off (see pages 21-22 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design). Using a straight stitch, begin stitching the pinned pieces together 1/4” from the fabric’s cut edges. Be sure to begin and end the seam by wrap-stitching its edges. Fell your seams by folding over each seam’s allowances to one side and topstitching the seam allowances 1/8” from the cut edges, down the center of the seam allowances, using a straight stitch and wrap-stitching the seam.

TONE-ON-TONE VERSION

For the second/ tone-on-tone version, you follow the same instructions and just eliminate the appliqué.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Garment – Casual T-shirt Tunic
Fabric weight – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Fabric color for outer layer – Navy
Fabric color for inner layer – White
Stencil – Magdalena
Embroidery technique – Reverse appliqué; Cretan stitch used for neckline and armholes – both instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Fabric paint – Navy
Button Craft thread – Navy #13
Seams – Inside Felled
Knots – Inside
Marimekko-inspired appliqué – Rose, Carmine, Coral, and Navy scraps
Rose Appliqué – whip stitch with Dogwood #155 thread
Carmine Appliqué – straight stitch with Red #128 thread
Coral Appliqué – straight stitch with Dogwood #155 thread
Navy Appliqué – whip stitch with Navy #13 thread

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Garment – Casual T-shirt Tunic
Fabric weight – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Fabric color for outer layer – Natural
Fabric color for inner layer – White
Stencil – Magdalena
Embroidery technique – Reverse appliqué; Cretan stitch used for neckline and armholes – both instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.
Fabric paint  – White
Button Craft thread – White #1
Seams – Inside Felled
Knots – Inside

The Marimekko-inspired tunic is available for purchase as a DIY Kit in our online store.

We spend a good bit of time in the kitchen, planning meals and testing out new recipes to share, while I spend evenings trying to please the taste buds of my picky eater. I’ve found that kitchen twine has a number of uses, including trussing or tying meat when cooking or when you want to keep a stuffing firmly placed inside of something. Use it to tie fresh herbs in a bouquet garni or bouquet garnish (see recipe below) or wrap bacon on the outside of your roast or bird. I also use my twine for tying up birthday presents and pony tails—and stuffed animals at my house are often doctored with bits of twine.  You might also try making our Knotted Necklace with this twine. It is thinner than our Cotton Jersey Pulls but made in the same way.

Twine, especially for use in the kitchen, shouldn’t be made from synthetic materials (they can melt or chemicals can seep into your food), and we’ve found this organic, non-toxic option works perfectly.

Once the dish is finished cooking, the twine can be cut with a knife or kitchen shears before serving. We always keep a separate pair of scissors in the kitchen for this, for vegetable and pastry trimming, and plenty of other tasks; you don’t want to use paper scissors in the kitchen, or vice versa.

These J.A. Henckels stainless steel shears have become my favorite kitchen scissor. Made with the same quality and forged steel Henckels knives are famous for, they also have a screw cap opener to help with tight jars and bottle caps.

Twine and scissors are now available in our online store. Purchase either item individually or both together.

Our twine comes in 5 colors with 50 yards spun for easy usage. See our website for more details here.

TRADITIONAL BOUQUET GARNI

You can really use any combination of available herbs for your garni, but traditional bundles call for parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, celery leaves and bay leaves all bundled and tied together so they don’t come apart during the cooking process.

Confession: I have a certain disdain for flip flops. More often than not, they are considered a faux pas in the fashion world, and sometimes for the right reasons. This being said, I must also confess I own a pair of Havaianas that I bought years ago on my Venezuelan adventure. They are packed snuggly in my tote this week as Maggie and I celebrate spring break with a trip to the Florida Pan-Handle and the beach. Honestly, Maggie saunters in flip flops throughout the Alabama summers. I can hardly get anything else on her feet as the scorching heat necessitates barely-there footwear – if not bare feet. When in Rome…

My flip flop rant aside, our Baby Doll Camisole Dress is also packed neatly in my traveling bag. In fact, a DIY garment often makes its first travels in pieces, taken on long car rides or trans-Atlantic flights to be embellished.

Once complete, squarely folded or rolled up, it easily transports on-the-go. My dress has made multiple trips with me to California, returning to Alabama a little more worn (and loved) each time. The gathered ruffles relax the wrinkles from the trip, and yes, it is possible to tastefully pair our Baby Doll Camisole Dress with flip flops (or your favorite pair of heels) on certain occasions.  Look for me at the Seaside Promanade this week in both and this weekend at the Doo-Nanny).

In addition to our Appliqué Baby Doll Top, we now offer our Baby Doll Camisole Dress as a DIY Kit. For this kit, we chose the Camisole Top pattern from Alabama Studio Style rather than our Fitted Top pattern paired with the Baby Doll Dress in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design for a more fitted bodice.

SUPPLIES

Camisole Top pattern from Alabama Studio Style
Instructions for Baby Doll Dress from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
2 yards of 60” wide medium-weight organic cotton jersey
Button Craft thread
Embroidery floss
Basic sewing supplies: fabric scissors, pins, needles, ruler, rotary cutter, and Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: this book contains the basic sewing and embroidery techniques we used to make our dress.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Garment – Baby Doll Dress from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design (Camisole Top pattern with a ruffle appliquéd to the hem.)
Fabric weight – Alabama Chanin 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Fabric color – Dark Grey
Button Craft thread for construction – Coats & Clark Colors #26 Slate
Stencil – Paisley
Embroidery technique –Negative Reverse Appliqué; instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Embroidery stitches- Cretan for the binding, Zigzag chain stitch for the ruffle -  instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Seams – Inside Felled

March 29-31, 2013

17^th Annual Doonanny Festival

Art – Music – Experimental Architecture – Fire

Museum of Wonder
41 Poorhouse Road
Seale, Alabama

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/garden/08doonanny.html

For more information on Doonanny, visit here.

April 4, 2013
Visiting Artist Series: Texas Playboys Baseball Club @ The Factory

7pm-9pm
Artist Talk @ 7:30pm

462 Lane Drive, Florence, AL

The Texas Playboys are a group of artists, architects, photographers, writers, filmmakers and entrepreneurs based in Austin, Texas. Learn more about the players + artists here.

For more information contact office(at)alabamachanin.com or call +1.256.760.1090

April 6, 2013

Texas Playboys vs. Alabama Slammers

2pm

Mike D. Lane Field, UNA Campus

Florence, AL

Free Admission

Come watch the Texas Playboys baseball club take on the Alabama Slammers (Alabama Chanin + Billy Reid)

For more information contact office(at)alabamachanin.com or call +1.256.760.1090

April 18, 2013

Fabric Tasting @ A Verb for Keeping Warm

SOLD OUT

Fabric Tasting Stitch-in with Natalie Chanin

6pm – 8pm

A Verb For Keeping Warm
6328 San Pablo Avenue
Oakland, California 94608

Participants will sit and stitch on small samples of Alabama Chanin 100% organic cotton jersey and practice techniques from bead work to embroidery. Join us to meet Natalie, have your Studio Books signed, and dabble in the Alabama Chanin style of textile embellishment.

April 18-19, 2013

Trunk Show @ Berkely, CA

Alabama Chanin Collection @ RedBird

10am – 6pm

2938 Domingo Avenue
Berkeley, California

For more information, contact: office(at)alabamachanin.com
or RedBird +1.510.644.0294

redbirdberkeley.com

April 20, 2013

One-Day Retreat @ the Edible Schoolyard, Berkley, CA

9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Join us for a day of sewing @ the Edible Schoolyard.

Cost includes sewing kit, a beautiful lunch, stories and laughter.

SOLD OUT

April 26-27, 2013

Trunk Show @ Mario’s Portland

Alabama Chanin Collection @ Mario’s
10am-5pm

833 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
For more information, contact: office (at) alabamachanin.com
or Mario’s Portland +1.503.241.8111

www.Marios.com

June 20-21, 2013

Trunk Show @ Charleston, SC

Alabama Chanin Collection @ Billy Reid

150 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
For more information, contact: office (at) alabamachanin.com
or Billy Reid + 843.577.3004

www.billyreid.com

The Alabama Chanin workshop series allows participants to work directly with Natalie Chanin and members of the Alabama Chanin design team. Our guests experience total immersion in the Alabama Chanin philosophy as they learn various stitching techniques, tips and tricks, as well as an explanation of our business model and company history. We offer several projects of varying intensity and length to satisfy all levels of skill and patience.  Conducted in a casual, open forum, the subject matter tends to cover a wide range of topics. We provide materials, know-how, and local cuisine. Everything needed to create your own custom project or DIY Kit is included.

Two-Hour Workshop

$155

This workshop is suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike. Work with Natalie Chanin and our Alabama Chanin team to create one of our DIY Projects. The cost of each workshop includes materials, stories, laughter & fellowship. Workshops are offered both in our studio and on location.

May 4, 2013, 2:30-4:30pm @ Southern Makers, Montgomery, AL

July 12, 2013, 1-3 pm @ The Factory, Florence, AL

Register Here for a Two-Hour Workshop.

One-Day Studio Workshop

$475

Register for our One-Day Studio at Alabama Chanin in Florence, Alabama to work with Natalie and our in-house team for a day-long workshop.

Each guest will create a project from a selection of Alabama Chanin DIY Kits. Suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike, projects range from garments (a corset or swing skirt) to home goods (tea towels or placemats). The cost of our workshops includes all required materials and a catered lunch featuring local fare.

May 10, 2013, 9am – 4pm @ The Factory

September 21, 2013, 9am – 4pm @ The Factory

Register Here for a One-Day Studio Workshop.

One-Day Retreat

$475

Our One-Day Retreats offer the Alabama Chanin experience in a casual, day-long session. Work with Natalie Chanin and our Alabama Chanin team to create one of our DIY Projects. Suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike, our retreats are scheduled at various locations throughout the year, so check our listings below for scheduled dates.

May 31, 2013 @ ZingTrain, Ann Arbor, MI

June 22, 2013 @ 1600 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC

September 14, 2013 @ The Photosensualis Building, Woodstock, NY

Register Here for a One-Day Retreat Workshop.

Studio Weekend

$1,125

This workshop opens our studio doors @ The Factory in Florence, Alabama, and allows participants to work with Natalie, our in-house team, patterns & stencil library. Participants create a garment or project of their choice from The Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, or a selection from our archives. We offer a range of options that can be tailored to any skill level. The cost of the workshop includes materials, welcome cocktail on Friday, lunch on Saturday, and Sunday morning brunch.

April 12-14, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL  SOLD OUT

August 2-4, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL

November 8-10, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL

Register Here for a Studio Weekend Workshop.

In addition to our Little Flowers and Little Folks stencil collaboration with Anna Maria Horner, we’re also introducing a new DIY Kit: the Little Flowers A-line Tunic. This is one of our few kits available in lightweight organic cotton jersey (along with our Random Ruffle T-shirt  and the Paisley Skirt). The relaxed fit and the flow of the lightweight jersey makes this tunic an easy favorite in my day-to-day wardrobe. Think absolute comfort.

The top is fitted through the bust with an empire-style flare that lands just below the hip, providing a comfortable, yet feminine shape. It measures 31 ½” from the shoulder.

The kit comes stenciled with Little Flowers and ready-to-sew with all notions for the project. We also feature our variegated embroidery floss in this project.

While we don’t offer the A-line Tunic pattern in our Studio Book Series, you can simply follow the construction instructions for the Fitted Top on page 52 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Garment – A-line Tunic; follow instructions for the Fitted T-shirt Top in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Fabric weight – Alabama Chanin 100% organic lightweight cotton jersey
Fabric color top-layer – Black
Fabric color bottom-layer – Natural
Stencil – Little Flowers
Button Craft thread for construction – Coats & Clark #2 (Black)
Embroidery Floss – Variegated Black #53
Embroidery technique – Backstitch reverse appliqué; instructions available in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design
Seams – Inside Felled