Fancy Moon - teaching in South London

I have been teaching for a good three years now at the Village Haberdashery in North London and have had many students in my quilting beginner and advanced multi-session classes, cushion, gift and Christmas themed classes. What I enjoy most about teaching sewing is how my students learn a new skill and in some cases turn into what I lovingly call "quilt monsters" (i.e. obsessed with quilting).

I am pleased to announce that in addition to my North London teaching location, I am expanding my regional reach to South London (no East and West yet, but who knows, anything is possible). 

A few months back I received an e-mail from Nancy, the owner of Fancy Moon, asking me if I was interested in teaching in her new Brick and Mortar shop in Crystal Palace. Did I say yes? Of course I did.

Fancy Moon as been around for quite some time as an on-line fabric store. Nancy stocks a great selection of Alexander Henry prints for example (no less than 27 currently !) and these are usually hard to come by in the UK. She is extending her selection to K.Fasset prints and solids and also has a selection of Kona Cottons and obviously other printed cotton fabric that are suitable for quilting and clothes making.

I went to the see the new shop when it was just set up and was very impressed. There is a spacious teaching area on the back of the shop floor where students are basically surrounded by all the wonderful fabric (which should be a great source for inspiration). There is a big cutting table, Janome sewing machines, ironing boards and everything else that is required. In short, what is stopping you ?

Nancy and I have prepared several exiting classes for the upcoming months:



           

14th of May: Introduction to quilting by means of making a patchwork cushion with zip
















 

19th of May for 4 weeks: Beginners patchwork quilt class
















23rd of June: Make a lined tote bag (which is ideal for anybody sewing beginner)


















7th of July:  Handmade gifts (frame purses, drawstring bags, media device coves, fabric baskets) 



























I am looking forward to meeting many new students at Fancy Moon.

Rediscovery of Linen

Schoppel is a German wool manufacturet that is probably best known for its varigated 'Zauberball' wool which I discovered a few months ago (more on that at a later point). So while trailing through their wonderful wool selection and getting ever more excited I spotted "El Linio" which is 100% Linen.

The yarn is finished as a tape yarn so instead of a round thread structure it is flat and in addition it is paint dyed which gives it a suptel varigation.

It feels fantastic and although the skeins are only 50 g, run an astonishing 150 m. I love linen in all its forms, be it fabric or wool but it's a tricky fibre. Linen is flexible and the finished piece will "grow" on you, so you need to be careful not to knit too lose or too big.

 

I am knitting a Summer sweater with those gorgeous two colours and when this first back piece is finished will have to measure the final lenghs while it is hanging rather than lying down to ensure it's not "growing" too much.

Happy knitting and sewing.