Hopeful Threads Review, With Fabric & Thread

The lovely Kristy, of Hopeful Threads was kind enough to agree to test a project from our just-released With Fabric & Thread. She tells you about the experience on her blog, Hopeful Threads, check it out!

Kristy, thank you, and all of the Wiley Project Testers for truly adding so much value to the books you test. We appreciate all of your insight and working with you was a lot of fun!

Free Project from Teach Yourself VISUALLY Color Knitting

Want to try your hand at stranded knitting without committing to a whole garment’s worth of stranding? Mary Scott Huff’s Songbirds Blouse from Teach Yourself VISUALLY Color Knitting is a perfect fit for spring. Knit in cool cotton yarn, its cheery birds are sure to make you smile as you watch them come to life on your needles. Subtle waist shaping makes this versatile sweater figure-flattering, too. Click here for the pattern: Songbirds Blouse Pattern.

Songbirds Blouse

Songbirds Blouse Detail

Announcing Teach Yourself VISUALLY Color Knitting, by Mary Scott Huff

Happy May, everyone! The bright greens and purples and pinks that I see outside my window on this cheery spring day have me thinking about color…and color knitting! So it’s a happy coincidence that Mary Scott Huff‘s new book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Color Knitting, will be released next week. Mary has packed so many techniques and so much information into this comprehensive guide, from stranded knitting to intarsia to entrelac, that you’re sure to find something you can’t wait to start knitting. Here’s a sneak preview: 

Stranded knitting projects from Teach Yourself VISUALLY Color Knitting

Intrigued? Check back on Friday for a FREE PROJECT from the book!

 

Fiber Festivals

As spring approaches, we are reminded of the upcoming fiber festivals around the country.  For fiber lovers, a festival is more than a setting for buying and selling materials—it’s a gathering place where artisans, designers, farmers, and friends come together to teach, learn, share, and celebrate this timeless art in a unique 21^st-century marketplace.

Whether you are an avid attendee or simply wanting some festival inspiration, grab a copy of Joanne Seiff’s Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More than 25 Projects Inspired by America’s Festivals. Joanne highlights eleven fiber events throughout the U.S. and gives you a taste of what each has to offer through photography, essays, lore, and even a local recipe. On top of that, talented designers have contributed patterns using fibers that are ubiquitous to each festival.

Safe travels to everyone Maryland-bound next weekend!  

2012 Fiber Festivals

Northeast

• Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, West Friendship, MD, May 5-6
  http://www.sheepandwool.org/ 
• New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck, NY, October 20-21
  http://www.sheepandwool.com/
• New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival, Deerfield, NH, May 12-13
  http://www.nhswga.com/sheep-and-wool-festival

 South

• Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, Fletcher, NC, October 26-28
  http://www.saffsite.org/
• The Tennessee State Fair, Nashville, TN, September 7-16
  http://tennesseestatefair.org/

Midwest

• Michigan Fiber Festival, Allegan, MI, August 18-19
  http://www.michiganfiberfestival.info/

 West

• Black Sheep Gathering, Eugene, OR, June 22-24
  http://www.blacksheepgathering.org/
• Estes Park Wool Market, Estes Park, CO, June 9-10
  http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=TownofEstesPark%2FCBONLayout&cid=1251609816602&pagename=CBONWrapper
• The Wool Festival at Taos, Taos, NM, October 6-7
  http://www.taoswoolfestival.org/

Giveaway Winner–More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m happy to announce the winner of a free copy of More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making by Chris Franchetti Michaels: Shaiha! Thanks to everyone who left a comment in order to enter.

Have a great weekend!

Free Project from More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making

Looking to add some new jewelry pieces to your spring wardrobe? Chris Franchetti Michaels, author of More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making, offer this lovely project from her newest book. The Filigree and Gemstone Ring has a trendy antique look, and following Chris’ clear, step-by-step instructions makes it easy to make. Click here for details: Filigree and Gemstone Ring.

Announcing More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making by Chris Franchetti Michaels

I may be biased, but trust me when I say that Chris Franchetti Michaels is one amazing lady. She’s our resident jewelry making and beading expert for the Teach Yourself VISUALLY series, and she’s just come out with a fantastic new book: More Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making. If you’ve already got some experience with jewelry making and you’d like to learn some new techniques, this is the book for you. It covers designing with chain, basic metal work, metal cold connections, sculpting with metal clay, embellishing metal, using adhesives, working with resin, glaze, and leather, and more, step by step, with more than 900 photos to show you exactly what to do. Check back here on Wednesday for a free project from the book–a gorgeous filigree and gemstone ring. Better yet, leave a comment on this post by this Thursday, April 19, and I’ll pick a random winner to receive a free copy of the book!

Make sure to check out Chris’ website, beadjewelry.net, too, for free projects, tips, and information about the latest trends in jewelry making.

Video and Giveaway – How to Make Money Using Etsy

Today, Handmadeology‘s Timothy Adam offers a couple more tips on how to improve your selling experience on Etsy. Leave us a comment on this post and one lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive a copy of Tim’s new book How to Make Money Using Etsy.

Learn how to schedule a whole week’s worth of social media promotion using Shop Marketing Helper:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7whhmuUSRE

There is a new Etsy app that just came on the scene called the Shop Marketing Helper that will help Etsy sellers save time by scheduling all their social media marketing efforts. I have been scheduling the social media promotion of the Handmadeology Etsy shop and our traffic and sales have doubled and beyond!

25 strong backlinks to your Etsy shop in 3 mins or less! 

Now your Etsy business can have a social media presence even when you can’t be there!

http://handmadeology.com/etsyshopmarketing

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Free Spring Banner Project from Make and Takes for Kids

This week I did a project with my daughter from Marie LeBaron’s Make and Takes for Kids. We modified the Crushed Eggshell Bunting a bit for her brother’s first birthday, but that was half the fun. In fact, we had so much fun that I’m going to share the project with you today. The project in the book uses crushed color-dyed egg shells – which might be in abundance for some readers after this weeked. Eggshell Bunting Projectfor the project instructions.

Here is how we set about making the bunting as a birthday party decoration!

First my daughter marked her triangles on some leftover scrapbooking paper

Next, she cut them out

She used recyled tissue paper to make her letters

Then she glued the triangles onto some great ribbon we found on sale at a local craft store

She added some finishing touches from my papercrafting stash

And, voila, the finished banner. The baby couldn’t read it, but I think he thought it was fun all the same.

Evolution of Sewing MODKID Style

Before getting into the meat of this post, I need to offer my congratulations to Pauline – the winner of the free copy of Sewing MODKID Style from Monday’s blog post.

Perhaps the question I get most often regards how a book comes together. Here is a really short photo gallery showing how a book grows up, using Patty Young’s Sewing MODKID Style as an example!

First, the author and editor talk through the vision for the collection and the author creates a basic sketch of the collection.

Next, the author writes the manuscript.

While the editor and copy editor work through the manuscript, we work on the included pattern sheets.  

Then, the author and editor do some really tough photo selection (so many gorgeous images!)

After much editing, design, and layout, the author and editor (and several other players) all read through the laid out manuscript and mark up changes to make everything just so.

Finally, the finished book arrives from the printer!