Stitching Tradition, Making Heirlooms
When did you first learn about stitching crafts? When were you first enthralled by the ability to take a simple strand of yarn and turn it into something intricate, beautiful, and functional?
Chances are it was through the work of a family member or close friend that you first were wrapped in the particular kind of love imbued in stitchwork. Handcrafts have such a long, storied, and culturally distinct tradition, and when we make them we think not only of today but also of all the crafters who came before and all those who might come after.
Our latest class is all about the long life of the things we make. Our Crochet Heirloom Quilt Class invites competent crocheters to embark on a truly meaningful project that will be treasured for generations to come. Artist and designer Roseanna Murray will introduce classic motifs and walk through the technical skills you’ll need to make your quilt.
Roseanna started her company Moara Crochet Designs after a few frustrated efforts to copy crocheted clothing she saw online or follow patterns, only to end up with something bulky and unwearable. She wanted to create beautiful pieces she would feel good wearing and to help other crafters get over the hump from advanced beginner to confident crocheter able to take on any challenging project.
Roseanna will bring that same spirit and energy to the two sessions of Crochet Heirloom Quilt Class she’ll teach on Saturday 26 October — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Both sessions will be hosted at Frequency Coffee, right next door to Loop in Camden Passage. Patterns will be provided for a purse, cushion, or blanket, and participants are asked to bring at least two colours of 4-ply, sport weight, or DK yarn (or more! These projects are great stash busters) as well as a few different crochet hooks, ideally between 3mm and 4mm.
We have so many wonderful goodies from Rico in the shop! There are seven new colours of Spin Spin: Pastel Rainbow, Rainbow, Earthy Rainbow, Ice Cream, Ethno, Summer, and Autumn. This yarn is fantastic for hats, baby blankets, gauntlets, or any other garment where you want a natural colour-changing pattern to unfurl before your eyes. If you’re looking for your next project, the Rico pattern booklet Made by Me is also in stock, and we’re expecting more copies of the Rico Mini Shawls booklet very very soon! We know so many of you have been waiting for these. Don’t forget you can sign up to get a notification when it arrives.
Beyond these yarn and pattern treats we’re super thrilled we’ve also received more super fun “Shroom” Box Sets, which contain a fabulous mix of yarns that are perfect for the patterns in the Rico Shrooom Book or other fun little playful projects. This is really just such a fun way to explore so many different Rico yarns, whether you’re making little amigurumi or looking to add some flair to whatever is on your needles.
Beyond that there is still so so much to discover from Rico, like the Ricorumi “Christmas Rocks” Advent Calendar with all the gear for making a charming Christmas garland and sweet Rico creatures, doled out over the first 24 days of December. (Psst – stay tuned for more Christmassy news from Rico soon!) There are yarns galore plus kits for toys, dolls, and more, all on the Rico page of our website!
Firefly Notes is our go-to for seriously sweet notions, and we’re all stocked up on some of our absolute favourites. Crow-chet Stitch Marker sets, a-la-carte Squirrel Stitch Markers, and custom Loop Haberdashery Bird Tins bring some cute critters to your crafting habit. Piper and Squirrel Tins add a touch of folklore, Acorn Stitch Markers are perfect for autumn, and a good Tape Measure never goes amiss. If you’re starting to squirrel away your supplies for winter, start here!
Wishing you a weekend of joyful stitching!
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