ABRAMS Craft 2 ways in the next couple of weeks!

October 20, 2017 Abrams Craft

Whether your cold-weather armor is of the woolly persuasion or you prefer the comfort of a bright cotton quilt, we have two weeks of craft authors at some of the country’s largest fiber-arts celebrations: the New York State Sheep and Wool and Festival, Quilt Market Houston, and Quilt Festival.

Here’s the who, the where, and when.

New York State Sheep and Wool and Festival

Dutchess County Fairgrounds

6550 Spring Brook Ave

Rhinebeck, New York

Building B

Saturday, Oct. 21

Hannah Thiessen signing Slow Knitting

9:00 AM–1:00 PM

Heather Ross signing Boys

9:30 AM–5:00 PM

Clara Parkes signing A Stash of One’s Own

11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Sunday, Oct. 22

Hannah Thiessen signing Slow Knitting

9:00 AM–1:00 PM

Clara Parkes signing A Stash of One’s Own

11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Quilt Market Houston

George R. Brown Convention Center

1001 Avenida de las Americas

Houston, Texas, USA 77010

Friday, Oct. 27

Schoolhouse Session

Author Patricia Belyea inspires new directions in quilt design and finishing details with improv quilts made with Japanese fabrics. See these unique quilts featured in her newly released book. Door prizes!

Make Your Own Cape

April 24, 2017 Abrams Craft

You need an item that isn’t commercially available. You want something unique. You want total control over the materials, color, style, and details. You want a custom fit. You’re on a budget. You enjoy that smug “I made this” feeling.

The reasons that Vogue Patterns editor-in-chief Gillian Conahan gives to cosplayers, performers, and even once-a-year Halloween costume shoppers for learning how to sew (even a little bit) are the kind that we always champion at ABRAMS Craft, but they’re all the more important for those creative souls whose dream projects aren’t just hard to find at the mall—but pure fantasy. Her book The Hero’s Closet: Sewing for Cosplay and Costuming is on sale as of last week!

The Hero’s Closet is a practical introduction for anyone who wants to forget about generic, store-bought costumes, including a complete primer on sewing technique, plus patterns for 11 basic pieces that can be combined, altered, and adapted into 9 full-blown costumes. Will James at GeekDad calls the “Getting Started” section “worth the price of admission alone,” but even an advanced sewist might be surprised by sensible advice like Conahan’s for dealing with fake fur: “it should be cut from the back side using a razor blade or craft knife so you don’t cut the pile, which will help to minimize the fluffsplosion.”

In this excerpt from The Hero’s Closet you’ll learn to create a “luxuriously swishy” cape with stacked box pleats at the shoulders. It connects to your outfit with snaps, so you can “swiftly detach in the event of an emergency.”

Cape

Excerpted from The Hero’s Closet

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Sewing Essentials (see above)
Lightweight fabric with a soft drape, such as blouse-weight cotton, silk/cotton blends, silky polyester, charmeuse, crepe de chine, or even lining fabric—amount based on step 1 (I used 3½ yds/3.2 m of 54"/137 cm wide gray plain-woven cotton shirting.)
10" (25.4 cm) of twill tape, ½" to 1" (1.3 to 2.5 cm) wide (Anything in this size range will work.)
1 yd (.9 m) of bias tape, ½" (1.3 cm) single-fold (optional)
6 large sew-on snaps
Large safety pins
All-purpose thread in a matching color
Trim or decorative medallions for the shoulders (optional)

NOTE: Choose stable fabrics that don’t stretch or fray much, and make sure that both the garment you’re attaching the cape to and your chosen fastening method can stand up to the weight of the cape. If you want to use a heavy, bulky fabric like velvet, you may need to reinforce the attachment point with interfacing or a piece of twill tape behind the snap area. If you’re attaching the cape to a stretch garment, stick with very lightweight fabrics for the cape to avoid straining the fabric.

P ATTERN

Download the cape pattern at the link above. Fold the fabric widthwise and cut 1 on the fold; see steps 2 and 3 for details.

INSTRUCTIONS

⅜" (1 cm) seam allowances are used for this pattern.

1. Begin by determining how much yardage you need to buy for your cape. The amount of fabric required will be twice your finished length + your shoulder width (measured across your back) + 16" (40.6 cm) for shoulder extensions and hem allowance. Excess width will fall into draped folds down your back, so if you like that look, feel free to exaggerate it by adding even more width to your shoulder width measurement. (Because the pattern is cut on the fold, any adjustment in the measurement should be halved when placing the template.) The maximum cape length will be the width of the fabric minus 9" (22.9 cm) unless you want to add a seam; for a long cape, make sure you’re buying a sufficiently wide fabric. For this cape, 3½ yds (3.2 m) of 54"- (137 cm-) wide fabric was used, based on a finished length of 45" (114 cm) and a shoulder width of 16" (40.6 cm).

2. Fold the fabric along the cross grain, aligning the selvages. Place the cape template at the top of the folded edge, making sure to place the half-shoulder width mark at the appropriate distance from the fold. (Compare your shoulder width to the bar on the cape template to determine where to place the template on your fabric.) Use the pleat lines as a guide to extend the cape to the desired length, adding the same amount onto the end of each pleat line and at the center back (A).

3. Connect the marks into a smooth curve to create the hemline of your cape. Cut along the hem curve, around the top edge of the cape template, and parallel to the selvages for the straight front edge (it’s best to trim the selvages off as they’re more tightly woven than the rest of the cape and may pull or ripple). If there is a gap at the center back neckline, simply cut straight across to the fold. Mark the pleat positions with small snips in the seam allowance.

4. Sew a narrow or double-fold hem (see page 67) on the two straight front edges of the cape. Finish the curved neckline edge with a narrow bias facing, as shown on page 65 (B). The facing used here is a bias strip (see page 66) cut out of leftover cape fabric that is 1" (2.5 cm) wide and stitched on with a ⅜" (1 cm) seam allowance.

5. Use the snips you made in step 3 and the center notch as a general guide to form the pleats on each shoulder. Arrange the pleats to your liking and pin in place (C). For example, you may want to make the pleats shallower or deeper to adjust the amount of shoulder coverage. Make sure both sides match.

6. Place a 5" (12.7 cm) strip of twill tape on top of the end of the pleats on the right side of the fabric as shown in (D). Sew in place along the upper edge of the tape.

7. Wrap the ends of the twill tape around the edges and fold to the underside. Stitch around the edges of the tape through all layers. Attach the male side of the snaps to the twill tape (E) and the female side to the garment. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the second shoulder.

8. Clip the shoulder pieces to a hanger and let the cape hang for a day or two so the fabric can relax. Pin the cape on a dress form or safety pin it to a helpful friend and check the length. Trim if necessary to make it nice and even and sew a narrow double-fold hem around the long curved edge (F). If you like, attach trim or decorative medallions to hide the shoulder ends.

To see the finished cape in action as part of Conahan’s “Superhero 2” costume, browse a sample of The Hero’s Closet below. Be sure to check back here at ABRAMS Craft for news on Gillian Conahan’s appearance at New York Comic Con this fall.

The Best Thing You Could Do

April 6, 2017 Abrams Craft

“In our world, being an artist was the best thing you could do. That was my parents’ version of me being a dentist or a doctor or a lawyer.”

—Livia Cetti, in an interview with Martha Stewart Living

A new visitor to Abrams might be struck by the number of paper flowers in the office—cherry blossom branches are tucked into odd corners, and roses sit in pencil cups alongside prints by Robert Indiana and Fletcher Martin.

These were taught to us by Livia Cetti, whose first paper flower book was published here in 2014, and whose second—brighter, bolder—title is released this week. Livia describes The Exquisite Book of Paper Flower Transformations as “more me”—a quote she delivered along with a box of hand-dipped tissue paper and a bagful of clipped wire in the midst of an early-March snowstorm.

If that is the case, we are grateful for it! The startlingly realistic blooms are photographed by Kate Mathis against vibrant (near-neon) paint-spattered backdrops created by Livia herself, with the result that the book is as visually energizing as it is informative.

After a chapter on the deceptively simple dipping, cutting, and wrapping techniques that form the basis for each bloom (the most complicated items on a spread of tools are a hot glue gun and Fiskars zigzag scissors), readers learn step-by-step methods for 26 different flowers—from the globe-shaped Eden Rose and Hydrangea, to the arcs of Honeysuckle and Lily of the Valley, bells like Crocus and Narcissus, saucers, and even spikes: Delphinium, Lupine.

Eden Rose by Livia Cetti, photograph by Kate Mathis

From there it’s on to a dizzyingly beautiful “Part 2” filled with decorative projects: garlands, wreaths, a Blooming Chandelier, and even a Dutch Still-Life Centerpiece.

Cetti credits her success as floral designer to her time spent observing nature over a childhood in the mountains outside of Santa Barbara, and now in her own yard in the Bronx’s Riverdale neighborhood. It’s a causal sequence that perhaps only sounds startling to city dwellers—we recognize her work from magazines and John Derian shops, ad campaigns for Burt’s Bees, or luxurious displays at Tiffany and Co. and the French ceramics boutique Astier de Villatte. But Cetti’s familiarity with her muses shines through on every page.

Author, floral stylist, and paper flower artist Livia Cetti

Pore over a sample of The Exquisite Book of Paper Flower Transformations below, or try your hand at two of the simplest projects here, or at The House that Lars Built.

We are also giving away several of her paper flower kits on Instagram! Until Friday, April 7 try The House that Lars Built, and check back over the next few weeks with Paper Trail and Flax and Twine.

ABRAMS Craft Authors at Vogue Knitting LIVE

January 12, 2017 Abrams Craft

These events are the closest we have to our own university, to tenured professors and a formal curriculum. Because we lack sufficient financial clout to establish a permanent place for such learning, we have this traveling circus of experts who roam from town to town, event to event, squeaky-wheeled suitcases of samples in tow. Instead of vacuum cleaners or encyclopedias, we sell knowledge and skill acquired from decades of experience.

—From Knitlandia, by Clara Parkes

This weekend, thousands of knitters, crocheters, and other fiber arts enthusiasts will converge in New York City at the 7th annual Vogue Knitting LIVE conference—transforming the Times Square-centered New York Marriott Marquis into “our own university.”

Tenured professors include our beloved Clara Parkes, Norah Gaughan, Amy Herzog, Maryanne Moodie, and guest of honor Kaffe Fassett—who can be spotted at an “Inside the Designer Studio” talk with moderator Liza Lucy on the Marketplace main stage, as well as at his keynote address for Saturday evening’s Rowan Yarns Gala Dinner. His garments will be featured in a gallery throughout the conference, and at an exclusive fashion show after the gala dinner.

More than 200 technique classes including weaving, lace knitting, cables, dyeing, and much more will take place alongside a bustling Marketplace made up of nearly 150 booths selling everything from hard-to-find fibers to patterns and accessories and—most importantly—books. This event will see the debut of our new Kaffe Fassett adult coloring book, Kaffe Fassett’s Adventures in Color—something bound to help you see the world through his master colorist’s eyes.

We hope you will stop by booths 712–716 to meet ABRAMS Craft authors hosted by our friends at Knitty City, enter a raffle to win a new craft library, collect some exclusive show giveaways including Knitlandia luggage tags, and perhaps take home a signed book—to study and enjoy long after the university has closed its doors.

Here is your cheat sheet:

Saturday, January 14th

New York Marriott Marquis – 1535 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets

Noon – 12:30 PM at Knitty City (#712–716) – Meet Norah Gaughan

12:30 – 1:00 PM at VKL Book Nook – Meet Kaffe Fassett

12:30 – 1 PM at Knitty City (#712–716) – Meet Amy Herzog

1 – 1:30 PM at Knitty City (#712–716) – Meet Maryanne Moodie

1:30 – 2 PM at Knitty City (#712–716) – More signing with Kaffe Fassett

4:00 – 5:00 PM at Knitty City (#712–716) – Meet Clara Parkes

5:15 – 6:00 PM at Marketplace main stage – Inside the Designer’s Studio with Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy, followed by more signing

7:00 – 10:00 PM Rowan Yarns Gala Dinner featuring Kaffe Fassett (tickets are available with the purchase of the Big Apple Weekender or 5th Avenue Getaway Packages)

A Space I Am Designed For: Small Business Saturday with Kristine Vejar

November 26, 2016 Abrams Craft

Kristine Vejar in her natural dye studio at A Verb for Keeping Warm

In honor of Small Business Saturday, we visited A Verb for Keeping Warm, Kristine Vejar’s store, teaching space, and natural dyeing studio and garden in Oakland, California. A peek through Verb’s glass door (tucked between a no-frills cupcake shop and a bicycle-friendly cafe) reveals a lofty, light-filled space packed with yarn, fabric, sewing notions, books, patterns, tools, clothes to make yourself, and signs of life in every corner—but calling this a store visit would barely scratch the surface of what we learned. We found instead a hub of scholarship, activism, and community outreach cloaked in laid-back, Bay Area informality, and a powerful example of a person living by her values.

Read on for a Q&A with Kristine Vejar, the author of The Modern Natural Dyer—along with a deep dive into giving gifts and giving back, a few recommendations, and other thoughts on small business as we head into the holidays.

11:55 AM activity in the retail shop at A Verb for Keeping Warm

For Small Business Saturday, what’s the secret to staying solvent as a small business? Are there any mistakes that you’ve made, or what would you say to someone starting out?

When it comes to Small Business Saturday, and shopping, and what have you, it’s interesting that I have a retail shop because I don’t enjoy putting pressure on people to buy things. It’s been an ongoing challenge to myself to honor what I believe, while also knowing that it is a time for a business to make money and that I do have these lovely employees who deserve to make money—so the question becomes how to bridge this quandary.

Last year we turned a corner, which felt right—we donate a percentage of our profits to a nonprofit called Global Glimpse. They’re based in Oakland but they have programs in the Bay Area, New York and Chicago, and they’ve created study abroad programs in Ecuador and Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. They believe any kid who wants to study abroad should not be held back by socioeconomic constraints. Global Glimpse works on raising money to help fund and create scholarships for high school students to be able to go to those countries.

My own experience studying abroad has been so impactful on my business—placing equality, women’s rights, diversity, the discovery of textiles and what a role textiles play in those cultures front and center—making Global Glimpse a natural bedfellow for us. It feels really authentic and genuine and I feel good. “Ok, people do want to buy gifts. People are very excited to come out and to support small business, but we get to take a percentage and pay it forward.” It makes it easier for me to deliver a marketing message.

For me and Verb, I desire to earn money and pay it forward, to pay my employees a living wage (especially challenging living in the Bay Area), while also honoring the customer and giving back to them.

A work station tucked among components for natural dye kits

The current habit is for businesses to offer discounts at this time. As a small business it’s a little hard because you are running on such slim margins, but I also get it. So we also offer discounts as a gift to people.

What I would say to people starting out in a new business is you really have to be able to honor what your business can afford. Be cautious, because it can be easy to get caught up in what you’re seeing online, and then you start working outside of what is actually affordable for you. Be careful to support your business. Write and think about ways in which you can creatively honor authenticity and what you can afford.

Whole natural dyestuffs (and a place to scour and wash textiles)

Natural dye extracts and mordants, which create a bond between the fiber and dye, for sale in the retail shop

I do have to say that a big key to Verb’s success was doing a number of holiday shows for those first three or four years. It was hectic and crazy, but we did everything from really small shows—from setting up a little table of natural dyed fiber and yarn in someone’s weaving studio—to Bazaar Bizarre, a larger-scale craft fair. At this point there are so many different types of craft fairs that you can choose from as an entrepreneur and business owner, but getting your product out in front of people and seeing their responses and hearing from them, and starting to cultivate relationships and friendships around that—to this day we’re still in touch with those people and they’ve been along for the entire journey with Verb and I consider them very dear friends. I’m honored to have been alongside them and their creativity, and to work with them.

An awe-inspiring range of colors in Kristine’s own lines of naturally dyed yarn, made from California-raised wool

What are you hoping to get for the holidays? What are you planning to give?

I hope I get to make a homemade meal with ingredients that I feel like have been very thoughtfully grown, and contribute to farms that are working so hard for the environment and for people.

In terms of giving that’s also a really tricky one. I have to say there’s kind of the sense here of the cobbler that has no shoes, where working retail—the saturation level and all of the time we constantly spend marketing—means it’s hard for me to stomach walking into other retail. It’s very intense. I do enjoy going to West Coast Craft. A lot of friends and customers are vendors there. I tend to go and purchase things from them to give either to myself or to others, so I look for opportunities where I can keep “the flow of currency” local and giving to those who have also supported Verb.

But we don’t have any kind of Christmas list—[Adrienne] wants more time to mushroom hunt.

Can you do that here?

Yes. Well, especially when it’s raining she’s dying to go out and I’m like “YOU HAVE TO KEEP WORKING.”

Adrienne: I agree, foraging is one of my favorite pastimes and is priceless, absolutely priceless.

Remember what I got you last year? It’s actually in New York and they’re not open anymore right now, they have a pop-up in Cooper Hewitt. They’re this amazing—I believe they’re a couple—and they travel around the world and they collect small editions of objects and then they write amazing descriptions (like a storytelling type of situation), around the object and who made it, and how they captured it and cultivated it, and then they sell small amounts of it. They had a show at PS1 with this little kind of pop-up. But they had this amazing Scandinavian mushroom knife . . . was that what it was?

Adrienne: Yes. It was made from the local birch and then either reindeer horn as an accent . . .

Yea, it was beautiful. So that’s like the kind of stuff I look to buy for someone and then . . .

Adrienne: Yea, really choice items that are [too] hard to find.

What would you recommend from A Verb for Keeping Warm as a gift for the beginning natural dyer?

In the world of crafting, the way that I—and I think a lot of my peers—have viewed it is that knitting is the gateway drug to [other fiber arts]. Not sewing necessarily, sewing is like its own little world, but in terms of yarn-related crafts like knitting or crochet, people learn this first, and from there you have people who go into spinning, and who go into natural dyeing. That has been steadfast in my mind. And so when I did my book I was thinking well, I’m going to be very explicit about fiber types and treat people as if they’re just learning for the first time, but really I'm thinking that you’ve come to the table with these other things under your belt and you’re going be able to hang with me pretty fast about what I’m talking about, when really—and I think what [editor Melanie Falick] was trying to push me towards—was that natural dyeing could possibly be someone’s first fiber-related craft. Which I found mind-blowing! And that has actually been the case.

A long table hosts classes in natural dyeing, knitting, sewing, spinning, and weaving, surrounded by natural dye shade cards, lavender, and whole dyestuffs

I wanted The Modern Natural Dyer to be as beautiful as possible so it would inspire people—everyone from the armchair dyer who just wants to learn more about natural dyeing, to those who are ready to dive in, to those who are practiced natural dyers and want to learn and practice my style of dyeing.

The Modern Natural Dyer, with kits created to accompany a handful of the 20 projects in the book — *The Modern Natural Dyer,* with kits created to accompany a handful of the 20 projects in the book

Here are a few kits we created to accompany The Modern Natural Dyer:

For a knitter, The Northwoods Hat Kit
For a sewer (a little sewing kit that you can sew yourself), the Flowers at My Fingertips Kit
For someone who doesn’t know how to knit or sew, the Sock Hop Kit

Here are a few kits great for knitters who would like to work with naturally-dyed yarn:

As long as you know how to join in the round, and you know a knit and a purl stitch, the Verb x Quince Northwoods Cowl Kit
Again, super easy, as long as you know how to knit and purl, and knit in the round, the Evening Fog Cowl Kit
As long as you know how to increase and decrease, all knit and purl, Simpatico Wrap Kits
With designer Thea Colman, a sweet little introduction to faire isle, for someone who wants to try it, the Anchor Steam Hat Kit

A rack of finished projects gives would-be Modern Natural dyers an example of the finished product. Sewn up examples of patterns created by Tasa Gleason and Alabama Chanin provide the same assistance to sewists. — A rack of finished projects gives would-be *Modern Natural* dyers an example of the finished product. Sewn up examples of patterns created by Tasa Gleason and Alabama Chanin provide the same assistance to sewists.

How about some gifts that are very unique to Verb?

Adrienne and I recently visited Oaxaca and we brought home some goodies to share: natural dyes like cochineal, pericon, and indigo. Cacao trees grow there, and they grind the chocolate right there in front of you and make hot chocolate. So we had to bring home Oaxacan drinking chocolate. And we brought home special hand-carved whisks—the same ones they use to make the hot chocolate with. We made three variations of kits called A Love Letter from Oaxaca.

Different and so cute, and rather inexpensive, A Love Letter from Oaxaca Kit

The Stowe Bag Kit, features fabric made from US organic cotton—bred by a farmer close to our heart and local to Verb, Sally Fox, and a sewing pattern for a project bag by Fringe Association and Grainline Studio.

We indigo dyed some of the fabric and, taking hints and inspiration from the traditional Japanese techniques of boro and sashiko, created this kit. This is a fun way to work with naturally dyed materials and make something truly unique.

The Dye-It-Yourself Eco-Printing Kit: Table Linens is easy to make (especially with kids) and is a fun way to add a bit of nature to your table.

This kit would make a great gift in its own right—or dye the linens and give those as gifts!

Cleo has the run of both the private and public-facing areas of Verb

“It’s been a long learning curve with being a leader, and having a business, and needing to stand in that space—but it’s a space I am designed for, more or less. I just need to walk into it and accept it for what it is.”

An outdoor studio and dye garden is used primarily for education and research, but Verb has ventured into farming in nearby Capay Valley, as of summer 2015

Butane stoves for dyeing outdoors—which Kristine recommends particularly when using indigo

We wouldn’t think twice about sending Bay Area crafters to A Verb for Keeping Warm, as evinced by the minor spree that happened here. For directions, visit the Brick & Mortar tab on their website.

For more information about Kristine’s book, The Modern Natural Dyer—which was lauded as “sophisticated and detailed” by Library Journal, and both “scientific and creative, as approachable as it is beautiful” by Design*Sponge—click through the slideshow below.

A Year of Quiet and Important Moments

November 8, 2016 Abrams Craft

A January day trip with MAV, from A Year Between Friends. Living in Maine means extreme temperatures, MAV calls this “a frigid but beautiful day.” — A January day trip with MAV, from *A Year Between Friends*. Living in Maine means extreme temperatures, MAV calls this “a frigid but beautiful day.”

Today’s big news is not what this post is about, but it does serve as a bit of a reminder, whether comforting or not, that headlines and sound bites are not the bulk of our lives.

On a December morning almost exactly a decade ago, Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes each posted a still life on the then-new photo-sharing site, Flickr. Though the two women had never met, they were struck by the way the photos seemed to echo each other, and the friendship that followed grew into a year-long photo collaboration, a blog with a worldwide readership, and today, a new book.

We are celebrating with a Q&A with Maria (MAV) and Stephanie (SCB).

One of our favorite things about A Year Between Friends is the seasonality of your projects and recipes, and how your very different environments affected your tastes. Can you tell us a little about your lives as makers? What are you working on now as the holidays approach?

MAV: I live very much in tune with the seasons and I love seeing Stephanie’s life pace along similarly. I know I will see her paper snowflakes coming out after Thanksgiving and her tabletop Christmas tree shortly thereafter. It’s a comfort to me to see these traditions in her life 3,191 miles away. Right now, I am preparing to host Thanksgiving (for 15 adults and 10 children!) and thinking about what I want to make Luna Rose, my baby, and my friends or family for Christmas. My making usually centers around photographs (photo books, framed images), food (cookies or granola in a beautiful jar) or naturally dyed goods (a set of cloth napkins or towels). I don’t work too far ahead and will take each holiday one at a time.

SCB: Since childhood, making things has been a part of my daily life, but the process of documenting my life for A Year Between Friends helped me see how my activity and focus flows with the seasons. After a summer spent out in the world—traveling, exploring, gathering inspiration and supplies, now I am settling in for the shorter days when I spend more time indoors at home. Making a little time every day for craft is essential to me whether I am learning a new skill or chipping away at a long-term project. I am doing a lot of mending, both with wool (as shown in our book) and some simple patchwork on favorite garments. As the holidays approach, I am starting a few hand-sewn projects as gifts for close friends and family, including something special for MAV’s daughter.

You both started blogging in 2005, which if we look back is a time period that produced game changers in more fields than one (the advent of Dooce, and Gawker, Julie Powell, and Deb Perelman). What is it like to be part of the group of first bloggers? How have things changed, how have they stayed the same, and what do you think will happen to the medium in the future?

MAV: It’s interesting to see you categorize us next to names like Dooce and Gawker. While we did start blogging around the same time as many bloggers who are now “internet famous,” I think of us so differently. We are not better or worse, just different. The plain fact is, we are just not as popular as the rest. We never took on sponsors, we don’t spill our guts or publish tons of photographs from our personal lives. We have been doing this for a decade in a rather low-key fashion and I think we prefer it this way. I think we have changed with the times, somewhat, but we still value our space at 3191 Miles Apart. We still try to cultivate a home there where we can share quiet and important moments. The medium of sharing has gotten faster, quicker, more immediate. People don’t want to read a long, wordy post (or I should say, most people?). They want something quick; a snippet. They can find that at 3191 Miles Apart, and in our books, through the photographs. That feels good to us. But we will always want to offer a space, through the web and our books, where people can take a bit more time to themselves, or time to share with a friend. We still see what we do as a whole as creating a place of pause, something a bit deeper than a snippet. Or, at least I hope people see that. I think it would be hard for us to get on the fast track like many other bloggers from our time have. I guess we are a bit old-fashioned.

A milder weekend escape with SCB, to Oregon’s Mount Hood.

SCB: I think we benefitted from the boom in the popularity of blogs back then, but agree with MAV that we have always been a bit set apart. We chose to not ride the tide of sponsorships and advertising and have forged our own path. Our project has always been about our friendship and having an outlet for our creativity, and thanks to the supportive community surrounding 3191 Miles Apart, we make it work. The advent of smart phones has definitely changed how bloggers share in the last ten years. Some of that change has been hard for us to adjust to, but other aspects have been welcome—we love the simplicity and immediacy of Instagram, for example. Back when we started with A Year of Mornings, taking a picture of your breakfast was an odd thing to do, now it’s the norm!

MAV, you write in A Year Between Friends that for this book, “It would have been easier to just share the photographs but this time around, we wanted to give more.” How did it feel to share some of these life events? Was there anything that was too close to heart, or anything to be afraid of? What did you enjoy the most?

MAV: I was not afraid of sharing as much as I was afraid of exposing. I think there is a difference. I am a private person but I also have a lot to say and am not afraid to say it. We decided to share our lives from a full year (2015) but certainly we didn’t share everything. I did have to share some big things because I wanted to, not because I felt forced to. That felt really good to me. I’m honored to have an audience to share in this part of my life and my friendship with Stephanie. As the year went on and I grasped what I was going to have to share, I knew Stephanie would be there to have my back. She cheered me on all year and I did the same for her. Working on the book together was an incredible touchstone for me. I enjoyed the commitment. I enjoyed showing up each month to do the work. I loved the rhythm of the whole process. I am a huge fan of marking a full year so our “Year Of” concepts have been thrilling for me no matter what happens during that year.

SCB: When we committed to documenting the year, I worried a bit that we were inviting disaster, and life did throw us some curveballs. MAV and I are both private people, but also very open to new experiences and connections. We never would have met and started collaborating ten years ago without that exact openness and vulnerability, so I am always able to see the benefit of sharing. That said, I value my relationships and the trust that friends and family place in me, so that is always foremost in my mind. The gift of this book for me was being able to explore my feelings surrounding parenting teens and the changing role tradition and rituals play in our family as I prepare for them to leave the nest. I was also just so moved by MAV’s strength and resilience over the course of the year and her ability to share that experience with me, and ultimately, all the readers of the book.

At some point in early adulthood, it suddenly seemed like a lot of people were telling us it would be hard to make real friends after X point, or that the friendships wouldn’t be the same (this article stuck, in particular). We don’t think that’s true, necessarily, but your friendship story seems particularly miraculous—you met on Flickr and have never lived in the same state! What makes your very real friendship work despite the physical distance between you?

MAV: I think our friendship comes down to one word: trust. We built trust over a shared visual language. We did not over-think it. There was not a moment where we could stop and say, “is this person my real friend?” because we were already involved in a year-long project and then another one. We were committed to each other because we respected and adored each other’s photographs. From there, there were visits and getting to know each other more. Each of us let our guard down over time. Even now I always tell people that Stephanie is very private and I feel honored that she shares with me. I always feel that I am standing a bit taller after we talk on the phone and she gives me her sage advice or tells me a story from her life. Her friendship is one of the most important of my life yet it’s one that I put the least amount of time into, if that makes sense. I know, however, that I could call her at any moment and share anything with her. I love that feeling. I also know that she understands my photographs, which are incredibly important to me, just as much as I do. I think we both have an eye for seeing things in each others images that others don’t have. Trust is why our friendship is so dear. We do not share the every day through words, we share it through photographs, making, cooking, caring. It’s simpler. It feels like home, like an extension of myself and what is important to me.

SCB: MAV expresses my feelings surrounding our friendship so well! It is absolutely about trust. Sometimes it takes years to build trust with a friend, but we were thrown into this creative partnership where we had to show up every day and share a little bit of our lives, so that trust was built quite quickly. It is very unique relationship in that way! As I meet new people and form new face-to-face friendships, I sometimes wish I could jump-start them in the same way!

SCB, you write that doing this project “creates a heightened awareness of the passing of time.” How does the process of documenting your daily life affect your daily life? Do you ever struggle to find the time, or are there any rituals or habits that help? What would you recommend for someone hoping to create a similar kind of document?

SCB: Documenting my life in a structured way has been such a gift to me, as an artist and as a human. I do believe in the ritual of time-based projects whether it be photographing your morning, keeping a gratitude journal, or having a weekly craft goal. An essential part of the process is sharing that work with someone else. I often struggle to find the time or just feel that my work is not good enough, but the trust and commitment that I have with MAV, as well as the community of people that follow 3191 Miles Apart, propels me forward. It is important to show up. The advice I give is that it is all about the showing up. The work you do is secondary to the showing up, but you will see benefits in your work over time. You don’t have to document it all in a book or even share it online—a commitment between two friends can be enough!

We might be a little biased, but we promise this conversation has barely scratched the surface of this generous, beautiful book. Learn more, or order your copy of A Year Between Friends here.

Handmade All Hallows’ Eve

October 27, 2016 Abrams Craft

Whether you’re warding off evil spirits, or simply marking the beginning of chillier weather, there is something magical about passing up store-bought treats and decorations and making them by hand.

This year we sampled two recommendations from A Year Between Friends, a month-by-month chronicle of the friendship between Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, who live 3,191 miles apart in Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine.

MAV’s autumn leaf-colored luminaries took less than 20 minutes to make and all of $3.98 in materials—probably even less for those of you with organized spice drawers. Which is all the better as once you’ve seen them glowing in your kitchen you will want to make dozens more and give them to all your friends (wrapped in twine, with tea lights, as MAV recommends). We hope you’ll find the book on November 8 for full instructions, but will hint that we had great results with turmeric.

SCB contributes a thoughtful take on Rice Krispies Treats using brown rice syrup instead of corn syrup-filled marshmallows. This recipe makes 28 small or 15 large squares.

Excerpted from A Year Between Friends:

Peanut–Crispy Rice Bars

2/3 cup (165 ml) brown rice syrup
2/3 cup (165 ml) natural peanut butter (or another nut butter like almond or cashew)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups (180 g) crispy rice cereal (I use Erewhon’s Rice Twice)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or other flake salt (optional)

Line an 11 x 7-inch (28 x 17-cm) baking pan with parchment so the parchment hangs over the short sides.

In a small saucepan, heat the rice syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla over low heat, stirring constantly, until blended and liquefied (a few minutes). Immediately combine the peanut butter mixture with the rice cereal in a large mixing bowl, then toss until the cereal is very well coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it out to create an even layer and pressing gently into all the corners. Sprinkle the top with the salt if desired. Allow to cool in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes. When cool and firm, lift out of the pan by the parchment and slice with a serrated knife (I do small squares for sharing and larger ones for school lunches). Store in an airtight container in a cool place or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

We're Headed to Sheep & Wool!

October 13, 2016 Abrams Craft

Join ABRAMS in Rhinebeck, NY for the annual New York State Sheep & Wool Festival.

We'll be joined by 3 of our talented authors this weekend:

Amy Herzog

In-booth signing: (Building B) Saturday 1 - 2 PM and Sunday 11 - 12 PM

Wendy Bernard

In-booth signing: (Building B) all day Saturday and Sunday.

Norah Gaughan

In-booth signing: (Building B) Saturday 10 - 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 4:30 PM; Sunday 10 to 12:30 PM and 1:30 - 4:30 PM

We hope to see you there!

Get Norah Gaughan's Knitted Cable Sourcebook Signed at The Sheep & Wool Festival

October 11, 2016 Abrams Craft

Named one of “Vogue Knitting’s” Master Knitters of the 1990s, Norah Gaughan shares over 150 new and innovative cable stitch patterns in her newest book, Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. This guide for the modern knitter will help knitters design their own cable knits, and mix and match cables into unique patterns.

Norah Gaughan has served as design director for Berroco Yarns and JCA Yarns, designed for Adrienne Vittadini, and published patterns in all the leading knitting and textile magazines. She is the author of Knitting Nature, Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans, and Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers.

This weekend, get your copy of Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook signed at The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival.

Saturday, Oct 15: Building B: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Sunday, Oct 16: Building B: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Learn Weaving Basics from Maryanne Moodie this Fall in NYC, LA, and more!

September 19, 2016 Abrams Craft

Weaving lies at the border of art and craft and in On the Loom, Maryanne Moodie brings the ancient art of weaving to the modern day in a comprehensive guide packed with step-by-step tutorials and beautiful photography.

Split by loom type—circular, rectangular, and even found objects—24 lush, bohemian, and uniquely modern projects for the home and to wear draw deeply on the nostalgic quality of vintage textiles.

We've excerpted 3 sample textile projects from On the Loom so you can add a handmade touch to your home this fall:

Fringed Place Mats: This perfect place setting makes a warm, inviting dinner party. With a cardboard loom and neutral yarn, you can personalize your dining room.

Maryanne Moodie On the Loom Placemat How-To Weave

2. Wrapped Lampshade: Give any room a warm glow with a textile-wrapped lampshade.

3. Wall Hanging: Use T-shirt yarn, muslin, and scraps of leftover fabrics to create a unique focal point in your room.

Learn how to weave these projects and many, many more by purchasing a copy of On the Loom or attending a class with Maryanne Moodie.

Events

Join Maryanne Moodie at her launch party and weaving classes in New York and California. Learn more about her classes here.

Brooklyn & NYC!

Madewell Williamsburg Party, September 23, 5 - 8pm

NYC Beginners Weaving Class, Industry City, September 24, 9:30am - 12:30pm, SOLD OUT

NYC Intermediate Weaving Class, Industry City, September 24, 1:30 - 4:30pm

MM Roving Wall Hanging Class (all levels), Industry City, September 25, 10:30am - 1:30pm

Purl Soho Book Signing and NYC Yarn Crawl, September 25, 5 - 7:30pm

Weaving Demo and Book Signing, Brooklyn Craft Company, September 28, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Los Angeles!

LA Beginners Weaving Class, Makers Mess, Silver Lake, October , 1 - 4pm

LA Roving Wall Hanging Class (all levels), Makers Mess, Silver Lake, October 1, 5 - 8pm

LA Beginners Weaving Class, Makers Mess, Silver Lake, October 2, 10:30am - 1:30pm

LA Intermediate Weaving Class, Makers Mess, Silver Lake, October 2, 3 - 6pm

Enjoy!

-Abrams Craft

Thinking Boldly with Kaffe Fassett

September 13, 2016 Abrams Craft

Fall into a world of bright, visionary colors in Kaffe Fassett’s Bold Blooms. World-renowned textile artist, Kaffe Fassett invites readers into his workshop to learn how to make stunning, eye-catching quilts, needlepoint canvases, and bold ribbon patterns.

Pulling inspiration from nature, Kaffe will teach you how to create unique color palettes from soft neutrals to rich, dark tones. With an emphasis on patchwork and needlework, the inventive designs and fresh color palettes translate to many creative disciplines ranging from mosaic, beading, fiber arts, embroidery, floral arrangements, and home décor.

Beginning crafters and experienced artists alike will learn and refine Kaffe’s process of sketching fabric swatches and creating mood-boards. There are 18 new quilt patterns and 7 new needlepoint patterns featured throughout, so readers can see projects from concept to completion.

Kaffe Fassett’s work has been featured in museums worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He has authored 15 books on quilting and pattern making, including Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts. Kaffe is regarded as a visionary for the use of bold colors and stunning designs.

Events

Kaffe will be speaking and signing copies of Kaffe Fassett’s Bold Blooms at the upcoming, Quilters Take Manhattan event on September 24, 2016.

Giveaways

Orkan Arts is giving away four copies of Kaffe Fassett's Bold Blooms and bundles of fabrics from Rowan's Kaffe Fassett Collective. Submit to win by September 30th and start creating your boldest patterns yet: https://okanarts.com/sept16-giveaway/

Celebrate Fiber Arts this Fall

September 9, 2016 Abrams Craft

With summer coming to a close, we’re ready to break out our favorite yarns with our newest fall titles:

You Can Knit That

Making your own sweaters doesn’t have to be intimidating. When knitting superstar Amy Herzog gets complimented on her hand-knit sweaters, the compliments are often followed by “but I could never knit that.” Now, you can!

Amy Herzog’s signature patterns are back in her newest book, You Can Knit That. Her newest book provides clear instructions for beginners and experts looking to expand their skills in sweater making.

This essential guide starts with basic sweater know-how and moves into instructions for knitting six must-have sweater styles—vests, all-in-one construction, drop shoulders, raglans, yokes, and set-in sleeves.

You can catch more of Amy’s easy-to-follow instructions in her first two books, Knit to Flatter and Knit Wear Love or learn from her in person at her fall events:

September 22-25: Fall Sweater Retreat in Mid-Coast Maine

November 11-14, 2016: November Strung Along Retreat in Port Ludlow, OR.

Try your hand at one of the projects from the book! Get a free pattern for the Easygoing Sweatshirt Mini (above) here.

Crochet Therapy

Betsan Corkhill is a pioneer in therapeutic knitting and crochet. Her new book, Crochet Therapy will inspire you to unwind with over 20 simple and soothing patterns. Mindfulness exercises accompany the patterns and complement the therapeutic effect of crocheting for achieving calm, stress relief, and becoming “effortlessly present” in your craft.

Crochet is a perfect portable means of stress management, easy to do on your commute or lunch break. Clinically trained in physiotherapy, Corkhill’s book is the perfect guide to relaxation with fiber arts.

We've included a fun (and free!) pattern from the book on the ABRAMS Books blog. Even better, you can team up with your crochet friends to create it. Get together to make the individual flowers then knot them together as a symbol of your friendship. It would make a unique gift from all of you to someone special. Get the pattern here.

You can learn more about more information about crocheting for health and wellness, at her nonprofit support-network, Stitchlinks.

Enjoy!

-Abrams Craft Team

We're Celebrating National Puppy Day with Our Newest Release, DIY For Your Dog

March 23, 2016 Abrams Craft

Today is National Puppy Day!

While your dog may technically not be a puppy anymore, as all dog lovers know, our furry friends will always be puppies to us. To help us celebrate this special day, we are turning to the pages of our latest book, DIY for Your Dog, which features 30 lovingly handcrafted projects that will show you how to make, bake, and sew delightful treats for your dog.

Suitable for all breeds, from Chihuahuas to Great Danes, these sweet and easy projects are presented in four sections—“Eat,” “Nest,” “Play,” and “Wear”—and include everything from a cozy traveling dog bed, a knitted blanket, and a throw-and-catch bone to an adorable neckerchief, a colorful crocheted leash cover, and a made-to-measure coat for gray days. There are even recipes for wholesome and easy-to-make treats like Doggie Pops, Bite-Size Biscuits, and the ultimate Doggie Birthday Cake. Fun, practical, and irresistibly cute, DIY for Your Dog will inspire you to channel your love for your puppy into a handmade gift from the heart.

For a peek at the projects in the book click through the images below or check out the book on our site.

Whether you’re hand-making a gift, purchasing a treat, or giving your dog a warm hug, make sure your puppies know that today is their day.

Join Abrams Craft Authors at QuiltCon This Week!

February 17, 2016 Abrams Craft

Calling all modern quilters! Will you be at QuiltCon in Pasadena this weekend? Lucky you!

Don't miss these books and signings from some of our star authors who will be teaching at the show!

We hope to see you there!

Knitlandia is here! Read a sample chapter today.

February 16, 2016 Abrams Craft

Today's the day! We're excited to present the latest memoir from the esteemed Clara Parkes, Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World, available now! For a sneak peek from the book, read sample chapter "From Baseball to Broadway: Swatching in the Big Apple" here.

In addition to her physical book tour that we posted about last week (first stop: launch party in Somerville, Mass tonight, next stop-- NYC tomorrow!), Clara also has a blog tour lined up later this month. Hope you will join us on our blog tour, below:

Feb 22 Knit and Tonic

Feb 24 My Sister’s Knitter

Feb 26 Mary Jane Muckelstone

Feb 29 Knit Circus

March 2 Yarniacs

March 4 Leethal

March 7 Tin Can Knits

March 17 Marly Bird

Spring is Here Over at Abrams!

February 2, 2016 Abrams Craft

Well... not quite, but even with some snow in the forecast, we're looking forward to sharing our exciting list of spring books with you!

We've been working hard to bring you a fresh crop of the beautiful and inspiring books that have long been a part of our fiber as an imprint of Abrams.

Below is a sneak peak of the books debuting in the coming season. Click through each cover to read more on our website, and stay tuned for exciting updates here— catch our authors as they visit a city near you, follow along on blog tours, and stay tuned for sneak peeks, contests, giveaways, guest posts, and more!

Wishing you a happy and productive season.

—your friends at STC Craft / Abrams

Seasons Greetings from STC Craft

December 23, 2015 Abrams Craft

From our family to yours, wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season. See you in January!

Pom Poms! from p. 51 of Lotta Jansdotter's Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Style

Stuck on your holiday list? Give the gift of craft!

December 15, 2015 Abrams Craft

With time running down, there's still a chance to get some of our faves from this year for the folks on your list (or maybe just to treat yourself—who's looking!?) Check our list below for a little something for every kind of maker.

For the One Always Looking to Try Something New

For the One Who Needs to Relax (and Doodle)

For the Fabric Store Junkie

For The One Who Always Seems to Set Her Own Trends (and looks fabulous doing it!)

For the Novice Crafter, Nester, or General DIY Enthusiast

We hope some of these lovely books find their way to your bookshelf, or to a craft table of someone you love, sometime soon! You can find more of our books online here.

GUEST POST: Gretchen Hirsch on her inspiration for 'Gertie's New Fashion Sketchbook'

September 10, 2015 Abrams Craft

I’m so excited about the release of my new book, Gertie’s New Fashion Sketchbook! Over the past several years, I’ve been busy writing sewing technique books with an emphasis on retro design (see Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing and Gertie Sews Vintage Casual), so this is a bit of a departure for me. Today I’m going to share the inspiration for the sketchbook and why it was such an important project for me.

Sewists often think of sketching as something that “real” designers do. But everyone who sews is a designer! The simple act of matching a fabric to a pattern is designing. Even picking out a zipper is a design choice. Every choice you make on a project is part of its design. With so many little decisions to make, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why sketching is such a helpful tool: you can map out your ideas visually, easily changing them if necessary.

A wonderful tool for sketching fashion ideas is the croquis, a body figure template. That way you don’t have to be able to sketch a realistic figure from scratch! And nowadays it’s easy to go to a bookstore and buy a fashion sketchbook filled with croquis, ready to go. However, the problem with the available fashion sketchbooks is that the figures can look a little bizarre: they’re strangely elongated and spindly, and twisted into strange poses that I like to call the "broken doll" or the "sad alien." That's because fashion people work with a concept called "nine heads," where the figure is nine head-lengths tall. To put this in perspective, actual people are only seven to eight heads tall. Here's an interesting image that breaks it down:

One of my missions over the years has been to write about sewing and fashion in a body-positive, feminist way. So these nine-head ladies were bringing me down. And so the idea for this sketchbook was born and brilliant illustrator Sun Young Park brought it to life. Here's how it works:

The figures are presented in a "nested" configuration (almost like a sewing pattern!), so that you can follow the lines (bigger or smaller) to represent different figures. You can make the figures smaller on top or bottom to replicate a woman's actual curves and proportions. I tested the whole thing out with some wonderful sewing friends, and it really works! But my favorite thing about it is that the height of the figures is actually realistic. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Do you enjoy sketching ideas for your sewing projects? If so, I hope you love this new sketchbook!

The perfect book to get you in the Mood for sewing

September 3, 2015 Abrams Craft

“Designers, we’re going to Mood!”

Chances are, if you've heard of Mood Fabrics you fall into one of two categories: you are either a huge Project Runway fan OR you are an avid home-sewer, a fashion student, or an aspiring designer. Regardless, you know it's New York's go-to spot for anything and everything fabric.

It was more than 10 years ago that Tim Gunn walked the first batch of Project Runway contestants into Mood Fabrics. This week, the experts behind this fabric power- house bring their fabric and fashion know-how—plus their behind-the-scenes stories—to the sewing public. The Mood Guide to Fabric and Fashion is the ultimate guide for the home-sewers, fashion students, aspiring designers, and Project Runway fans who want to learn everything they need to know to choose and use quality fabric. Drawing upon the expertise of the Mood staff, the book teaches readers the fundamentals—from where fabric is produced to the ins and outs of its construction—and features a fabric-by-fabric guide to cottons and other plant fibers, wools, silks, knits, and other specialty fabrics.

Intrigued? Hear what Tim Gunn has to say about it.

And if you're a frequent shopper at Mood (or would like to be!), take advantage of the promotion that is going on on their site right now! Buy a copy of the book from their site and you'll be automatically entered to win a $250 gift card to the store.