February 18 – 25

Visit all six participating stores!  Beadology Iowa, Ben Franklin Crafts, Common Threads Quilt Shoppe, Fired Up Iowa City, Inc., Home Ec. Workshop, The Knitting Shoppe.

Make a purchase during the craft crawl and get your craft crawl card stamped at each store.  Cards submitted with all six stamps are eligible to enter our grand prize drawing.  One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card for each store.

Wait there’s more!

Our craft crawl kit includes screen printed coffee bean or tea bag fabric in various colors (designed by our lovely Amy) batting and a wide selection of colors and fabrics for the back.  Purchase a kit and get free workshop time to complete your mug rug!  One for $5, make two for $8! Four for $15!

with Nancy

Tuesday, February 14, 6 – 8 p.m.

Tuesdays, February 21 & 28, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

$35 + supplies, pattern included

If you already know how to knit, purl and cast on, you can learn to knit socks from the toe-up, two-at-a-time on two circular needles. Use worsted weight yarn and two pairs of US 4 circular needles, 24″ or longer. It helps if one is bamboo and one metal.

$40 + supplies (pattern included!)

Stylish, flattering, and quick to sew, the Schoolhouse Tunic is a versatile addition to your wardrobe. Make the tunic-length to wear as a dress or over jeans – or make a shirt-length version. The Schoolhouse Tunic features front and back pleats, 3/4-length sleeves with optional elastic gathering at the cuff, and an open bodice perfect for layering over your favorite camisole or tank. The pattern includes instructions, assembly diagrams, and full-size pattern pieces for Women’s sizes 2-20.

Want to make a quilt block and make a difference? For a $15 donation you can to learn how to make a split nine -patch block from one of our quilt group gals. This easy quilt block quickly gives even the beginning quilter impressive results! We will teach all participants how to make this basic block, which you can either take home with you, or donate to our “Furry Friends” fundraiser. Blocks will be incorporated into a quilt, with all financial donations going directly towards a “Knitter’s Gift Basket”.

https://secure1.heifer.org/gift-catalog/knitter-s-gift-basket.html

There’s still time to make your own handmade holiday gifts but if you’re starting to feel under pressure you can still gift something oozing with handmade love and impeccable craftiness.

Our top five suggestions for holiday gift-giving that are as good as making it yourself:

Made Just for You: Custom Pet Portraits by Home Ec. Workshop.  Give us a photo of your pet and we will create a thread-drawn portrait of your loved one, complete with a screen printed picture frame, a fabric wallpaper background, and your pet’s embroidered name.  Portraits are stretched over wood and canvas and come in several sizes.  Stop by and see the shop window for many examples and an order form or call us for details.  Get your custom orders in soon so we can have your portrait ready for the holidays.

Local: A Knitter’s Home Companion by Michelle Edwards and one of our Spud and Chloe Chicken Yarn packs.

Something To Do/Learn: Home Ec. Gift Card

• A knitting class + yarn & needles + a KEEP CALM AND CARRY YARN project bag.  Try chunky yarn for a beginner or 100% cashmere for an experienced knitter.
• A sewing class + a bundle of fabrics
• Needlefelting Kit:  includes how-to book, local hand-dyed wool, felting tool and foam.

Craft & Fancy: December 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  A handmade gift sale at Home Ec. Workshop.  Featuring work by Heather Atkinson, Tonya Kehoe, Kirsten Williamson, Greta Songe, Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Liz Munger and Home Ec. Workshop.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Come out and shop, celebrate and get your festivus on at Craft & Fancy 4 – Home Ec’s annual mini craft fair!
Shop and support local small businesses and artists this holiday season!  See gallery of photos below for a CF4 sneak preview!

Also find us at What A Load of Craft, Saturday Dec 10 @ the Johnson County Fairgrounds http://www.whataloadofcraft.com/

$65 for one portrait, $75 for two in one frame.

Call us at (319) 337-4775 to register for classes.  We request payment for classes in advance in order to reserve your spot.  This can be done over the phone or in person.   Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance in order to receive a refund.

TO DO LIST: Handmade Essentials for Fall into Winter.

ALISA

1.       Quick and Easy: Nothing like pulling on a pair of freshly knit legwarmers.  Stop in and I’ll tell you how! Try using a 12” Addi Turbo circular needle.

2.       Something to Learn: Colorwork Fingerless Mitts. Learn to make these two-at-a-time in our Oct. class with Nancy.

3.       So do-able that I wish it was already done: I love this Malabrigo shawl worn around the neck like a scarf on the cover of the new book 3.

4.       Ambitious/Dreamy: New Amsterdam Cardigan. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/new-amsterdam-cardigan

5.       For someone I love: inspiring ideas for a new sweater or knit bandana for Momo. http://www.79westdesigns.com

CODI

1. Quick and Easy: Valori Wells Pillowcase pattern—Such a fast way to freshen up your bedroom for Fall. (available at Home Ec.)

2. Something to Learn: Shirred Waist Skirt with pockets –(Only 1.5 yards of fabric! www.projectsbyjess.blogspot.com/2011/06/tutorial-shirred-pocket-skirt.html

3. So do-able I wish it was already done: An adorable Tea Wallet by Handmade Therapy.  One for yourself and a gift idea that could use a small cut of these fabrics. www.handmadetherapy.blogspot.com/2011/02/tea-wallet-tutorial.html

4. Ambitious and dreamy—A lovely quilt will be perfect to snuggle under this winter.  I better start now! (pattern available at Home Ec. Workshop) www.cluckclucksewpatterns.com/2011/01/kaleidoscope.html

5. For Someone I love: Negroni shirt for Mr. McWilliams.  www.colettepatterns.com/shop/negroni (of course Home

Finglerless Mitts Two-at-a-Time with Nancy

Try a skirt out of this fabric!

Codi's fabric choice for a men's shirt

Malabrigo Yarn New Book 3

Valori Wells Pillowcase Pattern

Use fabric fat quarters to make wallets

Ec has this pattern!) I have been wanting to use the Denise Schmidt stripe in the Blue.