Fall Has Arrived!

Fall is my favorite time of the year!  So it is no surprise that making fall items, tops my list!  We have so many fun fall projects to make, for the beginner clear up to advanced sewists. 

Chevron patterns are the hot print right now.  We decided to incorporate classic polka dots with the crisp chevron lines.  What a fun pumpkin this makes!  Make a set of three to add to your fall decor!

With cool weather, it gives me the bug to get my knitting needles out.  (Ok...they are out year round for me!)  Knitting is a great hobby to have especially in the winter, when you have so much time indoors!  I created this fantastic knit pumpkin.  By knitting this, you will learn how to cable, seam, and knit around an existing object.  On the inside of this pumpkin, is a plastic pumpkin.  So much better with yarn all around it!

Halloween is just around the corner!  Everyone needs a fun trick or treat bag!  This one is no exception.  Easy beginner project with teach them the beginnings of how to sew pleats and lining a bag.  Make it a trick or treat bag, or change the fabric to make an everyday bag.  Makes a great Christmas present too!

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for a baby shower present.  This is our latest addition!  A diaper clutch!  It will hold a few diapers and a small package of baby wipes.  What a fun project to whip up and give to that expecting mother.  Learn how to install magnetic closures, sewing on ric rac, buttons and so much more!

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine!  Call or email to reserve your spot today! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Summer Fun!

 Summer time brings us so many adventures.  Most of the time it involves going to the beach or pool!  So, we found this adorable beach bag to tote around your towel, sunscreen and maybe a good book.  This bag has six outside pockets, (SIX!) it also has a zipper pocket on the inside to hold your keys and important things.  The amazing thing about this bag?  The bottom is mesh screen so all the sand falls out the bottom!  Oh ya!

I don't know about you, but I don't care to walk around in just my swimming suit. Who does, right?  This was the perfect solution!  A cute beach cover up.  Nice enough that you could wear it around and feel comfortable at the same time!  It is a perfect project to introduce gathering and how to make your own bias tape. 

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Custom Home Decorating

Both Janette and I have sewn for an interior decorator for years. I am talking like 25 years combined!  Over the years we have made 100's and 100's of pillows, curtains, drapes, bedspreads, dust ruffles, seat cushions, etc.  The possibilities are endless.  We wanted to show you a few things that are in our homes, that you could learn how to make on your own! 

Pictured above is a pinch pleat drape that hangs on the sides of my sliding door.  They are a functioning drape with black out fabric on the back. It helps with keeping the sun and heat out on those hot summer days...fabulous!!

Here are two options of pillows.  I could go on and on about all the different designs we can make with pillows...but I won't! :)  They are so much fun to make!  We use the 54" wide designer fabrics that are a heavy, durable fabric.  I have had these pillows for five years and they still look great!  That's what happens when you buy nice fabric, they last a long time.  The front pillow is actually a striped fabric.  It is how you cut your fabric out and piece them back together that makes the fun square effect. 

 It also has a center button that pulls the pillow in the middle and is a fun detail. 

All of the pillows we make have a zipper for easy cleaning and looks very professional.

We have always made bedroom sets for our kid's rooms as well as our own.  Here is an example of my daughters room.  Her curtain that hangs just below her arch window has a beautiful silk flower detail that adds so much to these easy to make curtains. 

Curtains will soften your room like you can't even imagine!

We can also teach you how to make a bed set.  If you look closely, you will see that the bedspread coordinates with the bed skirt, sham and throw pillow.  The great thing about making your own is it will fit your bed perfectly!  A lot of the time, the store bought bedspreads are too short and fall apart in a year.  Way too soon if you ask me :) 

So, let us show you how to make great things for your home too!

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Is It Spring Yet??

Here at Simple Stitches Sewing School, we are more than ready for spring!  We thought this pillow was the perfect jumping off point!  On Whitney's Ruffle Pillow, you will learn how to...you guessed it, ruffle! We have an easy technique to teach you how to ruffle almost anything! Think of the endless possibilities with this super cute pillow!

Our students love to twirl in Molly's Circle Skirt!  It is so fun to watch them twirl all the way out to their ride home!  On this skirt they will learn how to make a flat felled seam, hem on a bias, and attach a 2" elastic band.  Pair this skirt with a pair of flip flops and you have a perfect skirt for spring or summer!

Audrey's Wrap Around Skirt is an easy reversible skirt.  With two coordinates for the body of the skirt and a third for the tie, it is a really enjoyable sewing project for any skill level!

 

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Love Is In The Air...

February is a time to show those you love just how much you care about them!  These Love Birds are the perfect gift to show that special someone :)  Are they not just the cutest things?!?  So much fun to make, these birds will teach you how to sew curves...not as scary as you might think!

Tina's Tidy tray is the project that all of our students make very first!  It is also a great project to take home and make and give away as a gift.  They make great teacher gifts.  Fill them with post-it notes or a treat and wrap it up with a cute bow!   Oh, the possibilities!

 Is this not an adorable pieced pillow?  Learn how to ruffle and put in a zipper in your pillows.  This pillow top has beginner applique and beginner piecing.  A fun addition to your Valentine decor!

So...have you figured out that we love to make table runners here at Simple Stitches??  It is such a fun project and doesn't take too long either.  This table runner has super easy piecing and machine applique.  We also teach you how to bind.  Don't you just love the polka dots? 

Ok...this looks like the most adorable skirt, right?  Wrong!  This is one of our half aprons.

 So fun!  I just love the layered ruffles. 

So many fun techniques in this piece, ruffles, darts, ric-rac, and tons more! 

I am pretty sure this will make cooking that much more enjoyable ;)

We are a Sewing and Knitting School and we realized that we have not posted a single thing about knitting!  We have adult knitting classes some at night and some during the day.  (Check our class schedule for dates and times.) This is just a sample of something you could knit for Valentine's Day.  I made a bunch of these cute heart ornaments to hang on a small tree that decorates my kitchen table.  Don't worry if you have never knit before, I can teach you right from the start! 

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Knitting Classes!!

 Isn't that the cutest girl...I mean hat ever?!?  Thanks to my cute little model to help showcase a knitting project that is such a fun knit!  Most beginners think the only thing they will ever knit is a long, straight, boring scarf.  Not true!  With what we call circular needles, you can create hats, sweaters and socks!

 This pony tail hat was inspired by my cute kiddo trying to wear her winter hat with a pony tail.  Doesn't really work too well.  So I created a button band on the back of the hat that can either be worn with a a pony tail or button it up to wear as a plain hat. 

Knitting a hat will help you learn how to work decreases and I will show you a super stretchy cast-on.  Hopfully this inspires you to come and try your hand at knitting.  It really is a different fun way to express yourself! I would love to introduce you to a new hobby...I am warning you, it is addictive! 

Simple Stitches Sewing & Knitting School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com

Sewing Conference Update!

 We attended the USU Sewing Conference last week and learned lots of new things!  Here are a few of the new projects we made.  Marti's Mondo Bag is HUGE! It would make a great beach bag.  Come learn a new technique on piecing and assembling this bag.

 Laminate is the "latest and greatest!" This new fabric is so different than the "old" laminate.  It is really forgiving.  You can pin, press and it is really soft. Kaylie's Travel Bag teaches you one of the easiest ways to put in a zipper.

Mikelle's Little Bag would be great for a cell phone, Ipod or use as a small wallet.  Learn how to use the Fasturn tool to make the cording.  It is super fun and easy!

Simple Stitches Sewing School is an on going year round school. Sewing machines are provided for students. No need to have your own machine! Class openings are available. Call or email to reserve your spot today! Classes starting every week! simplestitchessewingschool@gmail.com