Monday, October 28, 2013

November Class Schedule

The Pencil Skirt Workshop – this class entails 4 sessions, $200
Dates & Times: November 5, 12, 19 & 26 @ 5pm - 7pm
Skill Level: Intermediate
This is a series of four classes in which we’ll go from drafting a pencil skirt sloper made to your measurements, to drafting a stylish pencil skirt pattern, and finally constructing a truly fabulous skirt to last you for years to come.  This series will give you the skills required to make endless pencil skirts at home! Please note that these classes are fashioned for intermediate sewists.
Materials to purchase or bring from your stash: 2 yards muslin, 1 - 1.5 yards 60” wide fashion fabric or 2 yards 45” wide fashion fabric prewashed and ready to cut; matching thread; 2 yards lining; matching 14 “– 16”invisible or traditional zipper. It’s highly recommended that you bring your own sewing machine for this class. Rare materials will be on hand to purchase if needed.

 How to Fit Sewing Patterns – this class entails 3 sessions, $150 
Class Dates & Times: November 6, 13 & 20 @ 5pm – 7pm
Skill Level:Advanced Beginner – Intermediate
This class is an extension of the popular Demystifying Fit class! In this class we'll cover a big discussion about fitting and how to go about doing it. We'll cover the entire process from measuring your body to picking your pattern size. We'll be mocking up muslins and determine what is good fit and what is bad fit. In addition, we'll cover how to make fitting alterations to your pattern, what works and what doesn't and how to go about getting the best information on fitting. We will not be sewing the finished garment in this class.
Materials to bring: Vogue 8766 - please note that this is the pattern that will be used in the class, exceptions will be made for those who don't fit the size range, but prior approval is required. Keep in mind that you will be slashing and cutting up your pattern, so if you want to preserve sizes, you will need to come with the pattern traced off beforehand. Muslin will be available to purchase from Yellow Bird Fabrics. Additional materials will be available for use.
Copy Your Favorite Garment – 1 class session, $50
Class Dates & Times: November 7 @ 5pm – 7pm (note this class is being offered twice this month)
Skill Level:Intermediate
Do you have clothing in your closet that fits you perfectly? Are you dying to have 20 of that same garment because you love the fit or style? This class is all about how to do what’s referred to as a “rub-off” – taking a pre-existing garment and creating a paper pattern from it, all without harming the original garment. In this lecture style class you’ll learn techniques for how to create a paper pattern from your favorite garment.  We’ll discuss construction order, how to add in elements like darts and gathers and ideas for creating different garments from one pattern. Please note that this class is geared towards intermediate sewists and is not for beginners!
Materials to bring:A notebook for taking notes.
Get to Know Your Serger - 1 class session, $50
Class Dates & Times: November 21 @ 5pm - 7pm
Skill Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Has your serger come unthreaded and you're terrified to try to rethread it? This class is all about sewing with your serger. We'll cover how to thread your serger, how and when to use it to finish your seams, the types of needles you need and how to change them, threads, differential feed and serger tension. Take the fear out of your serging!
Materials to bring: Your serger and if possible, your serger machine manual, your own serger cone threads. Please note that this class will not cover the capabilities of a coverstitch combo machine, but will cover your serger capabilities.
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Interested in taking any of these classes? Be sure to contact any of us at Yellow Bird Fabrics. We are available by phone, email or pop into the shop. Please note that all students receive a 20% discount off total purchase for anything in the shop the day of the class. Class fee excluded.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Yellow Bird Fabrics Bazaar!

Hello, Hello Everyone! We here at Yellow Bird Fabrics have decided to host a Bazaar or Swap, if you will (doesn't Bazaar have much more penchant to it?). Here's the skinny on how its going to work.

Where: Yellow Bird Fabrics basement
When: Saturday November 2, 11am - 1pm
What: bring your overflowing sewing patterns, fabric and notions to swap or donate to swap
Why: because its time to clean it all out, dontcha think? And why not give it to someone who will use it?
Who: Anyone can come! All are invited!

The Bazaar will be held in conjunction with store hours so that, not only can you come, drop sewing stuff off that you don't want anymore and pick up a few swapped items that you do want, but you can also shop for fabric for that new (to you) sewing pattern you might have just scored. You can also meet people, which is always fun! Yay! Light refreshments will be served! Hip Hip Hooray!

Additionally, the items that you bring to the Bazaar, if not snatched up by another, will be donated for you (isn't that nice???) to the Assistance League Thrift on 33rd. Please come! Even if you don't have anything to swap, come anyway and you might find some new jewels to add to your queue of sewing projects. No cover charge, just free swapping or should we say bazaaring! Note that this event will be free swapping between fellow sewer's destash - we are not swapping merchandise from the shop. And again, free swapping! We are not going to charge to have you come and swap, you don't need to bring anything to swap if you don't have anything but if you do, Yay! Additionally, all swap sewing destash will be free - just know that beforehand.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Bring friends! Let's do this!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Maxi Skirt Love

Many ladies have come into the shop and asked about how to go about making a maxi skirt - the on trend knit maxi's of the moment - so I thought I would do a few posts and tutorials on this subject. A maxi skirt, just to set the record straight, is basically any full-length skirt. These were quite popular in the 70s when they would be seen sported with some wicked platforms. A maxi can be made out of any fabric, not just knit. I'll be focusing on tutorials for knitwear, but I may consider doing some for wovens too (we'll see what you think). Today I thought I would just share some ideas and inspiration with you to get you thinking about and pining for a maxi. This is such an easy garment to make, wear and manipulate that its a suitable project even for a beginner. In fact, wonderfully suitable for a beginner. Still a satisfying sew for an intermediate or advanced sewer too. Alright, here we go!
I usually start with vintage sewing patterns via Etsy when I'm in the mood for inspiration. I have a soft spot for the 70s and since this is what I think of when I think of maxi skirts I thought it only appropriate to share some fun ones here. I'm loving the one on the right with the yoke - pretty cute right?
I'm loving the swirly/70s boho chic look here on the left and being a hick from the sticks myself, I have a love for all things country, so the one on the right totally fits with something I could see myself wearing. I love that check!!!
When thinking about maxi's, I especially love the floaty, flowy aspect and these two skirts definitely fit that idea. So pretty. Kind of ethereal.
These knit maxi's are also lovely. The one on the left looks incredibly comfortable and the one on the right makes use of the bias with those pretty fab stripes. Easy, fall, cosy.

You can find all the links to these photos on my pinterest board, especially for maxi's. What do you think about maxi skirts? Have you thought about making one this fall?

Friday, October 11, 2013


 This week was full of fun goings on at the shop! Thanks so to everyone who came out to get their scissors sharpened. Also a big thank you to everyone who came to the free class! I really really hope that you enjoyed yourself and that you learned some new things and approaches to fitting. We're going to try and start doing some favorite link round-ups every week or so. This just keeps you abreast of things in the online community as well as tying back into things that are talked about in the classes here at Yellow Bird.


For those of you interested, I (Sunni) am running a Fitting Series on my blog. You can find all the posts so far here.
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A wonderful post on Blanket Stitches! Aren't these glorious? What a wonderful idea for sitting down on a cold evening and doing some handwork.
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This post by Sallieoh is simply a revelation to those interested in getting their hands into dying fabric. Not to mention we have wonderful fabrics with which to dye in the shop.
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An oldie but a goodie, my favorite, absolute favorite method for putting in a fly front zipper.
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In Wednesday's free class, I talked about becoming a member Pattern Review. If you're not familiar with this site, know that its free to become a member and there is tons and tons of useful reviews of thousands of sewing patterns from sewers like you and me. Not to mention you can start adding your own. Plus there's online classes you can sign up for and they have lots of sewing patterns and several sales too.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Closed for Construction

Some of you may have noticed that there has been a lot of construction on 3300 South, right out side of our shop. To add to the chaos, there will be construction to the west of our building and possibly in our building tomorrow so I have decided to close the shop tomorrow, 10/10/13. We will re-open on Friday with our regular business hours, 11am-5pm. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for your patience.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Fall Shipment has arrived

Silk crepe de chine 54" wide $29.95
 Silk crepe de chine 54" wide $29.95
 Silk suiting 60" wide $32.95
 Wool coating 60" wide $24.95
 Wool crepe 60" wide $24.95
 Cotton/poly ikat reversable double cloth 54" wide $17.95
 Cotton/lycra border print 60" wide $11.95
 Cotton/lycra sateen 54" wide $9.95
 Cotton florals 45" wide $9.95
 Cotton dots 45" wide $9.95
 Heirloom cottons; Batiste 45" wide $14.95, Embroidered dot 45" wide $14.95, Swiss dot 60" wide $12.95
 Striped cotton shirtings 45" wide $9.95
 Solid cotton shirtings 60" wide $9.95
 Pinpoint oxford shirtings 60" wide $11.95
 Ponte de Roma knits 60" wide $9.95

Scissor Sharpening Day!


Hey Everyone! We're having Lee Stout, a local scissor/shear sharpener at the shop this upcoming October 9! Stop by and have your scissors sharpened on the spot for just $5!