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Monday, March 1, 2010

Colorways


#6732 Black and Faded Leaves Large Medallion


#6694 Slate and Faded Leaves Circle Spiral Applique


#6722 Black and Slate Backstitch Reverse Applique


#6749 Slate and Dove Relief Applique

These and other new DIY Kit Colorways from Alabama Studio Style now available from our online store. Or order fabric to create your own colorways.

Posted at 1:23 pm
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Yarn Balls

 
My new favorite material in our studio is the Yarn Ball. 

 
Made from scraps of our 100% Organic Cotton Jersey, the scraps are pulled by hand (see page 99 of Alabama Studio Style for instructions) into ropes and then tied together with a square knot and rolled into these beautiful balls. The largest ball is 12” in diameter and weighs about 6 lbs. 
 
Although I love them just as objects just to sit around the studio, Diane Hall – our master seamstress – knitted the beautiful scarf above using this “yarn.”
 
Shown here in Storm Blue, I have worn my scarf everyday in this cold weather as it sits just like a collar under all of my sweaters and jackets. Keep an eye out for this in our upcoming Fall/Winter collection. Or get started knitting now… yes, knitting. (Melanie, are you reading this?)
 
The yarn is also great for making placemats, bathroom or door mats, braided rugs or just tying two things together.

 

Posted at 11:52 am
Friday, February 5, 2010

Alabama Studio Style Stencils


Stenciling is at the core of all of our Alabama Chanin collections; to date it is the sole means by which we transfer decorative patterns onto our fabric.
 
The simplest way to work is to buy a ready-made stencil; they are commonly sold at craft and art supply stores.
 
You can also use existing artwork (either from a book or CD of stencil designs or another source), or make your own stencil.
 
For the projects in Alabama Studio Style, we have provided two stencil patterns: Angie’s Fall and Medallion stencils have been used in two different sizes. The Small Medallion stencil is provided as a pullout located between pages 144 and 145 of Alabama Studio Style and is ready to use.
 
And here, you can download the artwork to create your own Alabama Studio Style stencils and projects: 

Angie's Fall Stencil.pdf

Angie's Fall Repeat Stencil.pdf

Medallion Stencil.pdf

Medallion Repeat Stencil.pdf

Enjoy!

Posted at 8:35 am
Monday, January 18, 2010

Angie’s Fall & Faded Leaves

 
Faded Leaves Fabric – new to our online store – is made by Wet-Paint Stenciling - one of the new techniques included in our (soon to arrive) Alabama Studio Style. The fabric was first included in our Fall/Winter 2008 Revolution Collection.  At the time, I was looking for new ways to color fabric that did not require dyeing. Faded Leaves was the result and here are a few of the ways that we incorporated it into the collection.

Here is a sample of the fabric before sewing:
 
 
Instructions for Faded Leaves can be found in the techniques section of Alabama Studio Style. However, here are a few fabrics that can be made with Faded Leaves and incorporated into your projects.
 
Quilted & Beaded Angie’s Fall on Faded Leaves Ground:
 
 
Supplies:
 
 
Using instructions for Reverse Appliqué from page 64 of Alabama Stitch Book without cutting the reverse appliqué and then add bugle beads to decorate center of flowers. Beads & Beading Tools on Page 30 of Alabama Stitch Book and Beading instructions on page 68. 
 
Appliquéd Angie’s Fall:
 
 Supplies:
 
 
Using instructions for Appliqué from page 62 of Alabama Stitch Book apply your Faded Leaves appliqué to black ground
 
Make this fabric into a Corset or A-line Skirt- patterns included in Alabama Stitch Book.
 
Or get started on the DIY Tank Dress pattern & instructions from Alabama Studio Style.
 
General Supplies List:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Garment Patterns from Alabama Stitch Book and Alabama Studio Style.
 
*Additional colorways and garments coming soon or sign up for one of our Weekend Workshops to view the full collection in our studio @ The Factory.

 

Posted at 10:13 pm
Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Patterns

Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so that each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry. – Richard P. Feynman
 
My life tends to run in patterns.
 
Sometimes I dream of patterns.
 
My favorite subject in design school was the study of pattern & repeat.
 
One semester I spent a week just discussing the word repeat (and an entire semester trying to define the word).
 
I have certainly spent the greater part of the last decade working with patterns.
 
I look for patterns everywhere I go and in everyone I meet.
 
Here are a few of my new favorite pattern resources (see the scrolling bar at the bottom).
 
Find a larger selection of my favorite pattern books organized here.
 
And pattern making (stenciling) tools from our online store...
 
 
 
 

 

Posted at 1:55 pm
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Waste Not Want Not

For me, this past decade was about learning to use the resources that I had readily available. My goal for the next decade will be about digging deeper to fully understand all of the resources that I have and then to use those resources wisely and wildly. 
 
It is my wish that we will use all of our gifts to enrich our lives this & every season of the year and upcoming decade:
 
Make the fabric above – “Waste Not Want Not” – by printing your left-over bubble wrap using a textile airbrush paint. 
 
Simply lay out your fabric on a clean work table and apply paint lightly to the bubbly side of bubble wrap with any sort of sponge or brush.  Print onto fabric by pressing the painted side of the bubble wrap gently to your fabric. Repeat as desired.
 
We used a taupe color paint (mixing white with tiny amounts of yellow and black) on a white fabric; however any color will work.
 
Let your printed fabric dry thoroughly and do not wash for at least three weeks to allow curing. This resource can be used for paper, wood or any other surface that you might choose to decorate.
 
Wash bubble wrap after use and store for using over and over and over again.


 

 

Posted at 10:16 am
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Scrap Bag


Get our new Scrap Bag - Assorted scraps from Alabama Chanin’s 100% Organic Cotton fabric. Fabric pieces come in our 5 pound, 19X14 inch bags and no two sets are alike. Use these pieces to create small projects or adorn larger ones: ideal for scrap quilters, collage makers, project improvers, and Alabama Stitch Book and Alabama Studio Style loyalists.

Posted at 11:43 am
Monday, November 9, 2009

Sewing Primer & Elegant Stitches


Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano - and now available from our Online Store - is by far the best illustrated guide to simple, as well as extremely complicated, embroidery stitches. A perfect companion to our Alabama Stitch Book, our Stitchers all have copies that have been dog-eared and used over and over again...

Add Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin and you have our perfect Sewing Primer and a great gift for the Stitcher in your world.

Sewing Primer ships with one yard of our 100% Organic Cotton Jersey Fabric, two Color Cards and one spool of our Button Craft Thread.

The perfect gift - ready to give - comes tied in a bundle and shipped in our stenciled boxes...

Posted at 12:02 pm
Thursday, July 2, 2009

Facets Stencil


Many will recognize this geometric stencil from our archive of work as well as from our Spring/Summer 2009 Ceremony Collection.  People often associate this star pattern with Islamic Art (and the pattern is sometimes called the Islamic Star); however, patterns of this nature were already becoming visible in early Mesopotamian Art and Architecture.

This genre of geometric pattern is ancient and has been used over the millennia for multiple purposes: from tiling and textiles to religious meditation, ritual, pottery, art and architecture.

Here are good resources for intricate graphics patterns to further research:
 
 
 
 
 
 
And the Facets Stencil is now available from our online store.


 

Posted at 3:21 pm
Monday, June 29, 2009

Sewing Kit

For projects on the go:

http://www.alabamachanin.com/store/sewing-kit

 

Posted at 8:17 am
Thursday, May 14, 2009

Nashville Stories #3

One of the best surprises in Nashville was finding, and browsing, Textile Fabrics. The best fabric store I have seen in ages and reminded me of a fabric store from my childhood. 
 
Their trim and button departments rival Tinsel Trading in New York City and the fabrics are simply luscious.
 
Looking forward to our book signing there next month… stay tuned for more!

 

 

Posted at 4:22 am
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Nashville Stories #2

 

Anna Maria Horner made a surprise visit to our Trunk Show in Nashville on Friday. Nine months pregnant (#6) and shining, her smile and bubbly disposition are contagious. What a pleasure to have had a short time to catch up and find all of our common threads in life! 
 
We have now officially traded copies of Alabama Stitch Book and Seams To Me. 
 
Anna Maria left the show with one of our t-shirt kits, for which she found an inspiring purpose.
 
We emailed yesterday and she sent me this lovely sentence which I think says so much about her joy for life:
 
“Was out in a fresh green 68 acres of hip-high wheat grass yesterday with 2 pregnant friends & a photographer working on the book.  Many contractions, naturally, but oh the beauty, well worth it.”
 
Wishing her the best of luck with her upcoming delivery of Roman and I am looking forward to our many, many future conversations…

Photo: Anna Maria Horner

Posted at 11:05 am
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Sewing Green

Betz White’s new book is filled with fantastic projects that you can make by recycling garments from your own closet. But I LOVE all the extra information, recipes for going green, inspiration and ideas scattered throughout.
 
My favorite is the recipe for your own powdered laundry detergent on page 108.
 
Congrats to Betz and all the folks at STC for a wonderful new title.
 
(And thanks for including our story @ Alabama Chanin…)

Sewing Green

 

Posted at 4:05 am
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Weekend Sewing


I received a load of new books while I was away on my whirlwind travels & can’t wait to dive in…

The first one to catch my eye was Weekend Sewing from Heather Ross.
 
Everyone who knows me understands clearly that I am not much with a sewing machine.  In fact, I came very close to failing Home Economics 101 as my apron fell apart before the presentation. My teacher told me emphatically while shaking her head, “You will NEVER learn to sew!”
 
So, imagine my surprise to find this simple glove project on page 54. Perfect for me and Maggie as they are easy to make and we are FOREVER losing our gardening gloves in the course of a single afternoon in the yard. 
 
 
And from Melanie:
 
Heather Ross is hosting a fun, creative contest to celebrate the publication of Weekend Sewing, and the release of Far Far Away, her latest fabric line. Check out the contest on Heather's blog here.
Posted at 5:36 pm
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Rag Boa and a Free Book


Visit Cotton, Inc @ The Fabric of Our Lives for the instructions to make our famous Rag Boa from our Alabama Stitch Book… 

Posted at 9:01 am

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