Yarn Shop Day! Come see us! Saturday 2nd May!

Following the success of last year’s event, Fabrications is pleased to announce that we will be participating in the national ‘Love Your Yarn Shop’ campaign, initiated by Let's Knit Magazine which aims to raise the profile of the value that bricks and mortar yarn stores bring to the local community. Part of the campaign includes ‘Yarn Shop Day’ taking place on Saturday 2^nd May.

On ‘Yarn Shop Day’, Fabrications will be hosting a ‘Close-Knit Community Knit-Tea Party’ open to all ages (from 7+) and all levels of crafter from 1:30-5:30pm. 

Flowers, leaves, and garlands will make up the creations for the day, which can be knitted or crocheted in detail with small needles and hooks or large on their unique MACRO knitting needles and French knitting wheels. All of the items created will be added to a flourishing knitted trellis installation on Fabrications shop front, so that everyone can admire them! 

Special Goody Bags are set to be available for the first 25 customers of the day to start off the event. Everything will be provided, from the materials to the food, with Fabrications lovely teachers on hand to help, so all you need to bring is you! Everyone is welcome to this free event, but space is limited, so be sure to book your spot NOW!. 

Participating in this exciting day is just the beginning of the celebration to mark Fabrications 15th birthday! 

* SUMMER SALE TIME *

 

It's that time of year when I give my studio space and shop a shake up! A 'deep clean' and sort out to make way for new possibilities and shelf space! I've decided to set free some of my stash and treasures including these amazing vintage knitting patterns.

 

 You might recognise a couple of the models! Sean Connery and Lorraine Chase. A lot of great actors started their careers on the front of knitting patterns.

 

Some designs no matter how old are timeless and look fresh today. Come on down and grab yourself some one off bargains. I'm selling patterns and magazines like these for 4 for £1 or 10 for £2

There are also lots of other goodies and deals including 50% off a selection of yarns, craft kits, books and gifts * bag of fabric £3.50 or 4 for £10 * bags of creativity * bags of fun * brick a brack * Other random delights! "Come down and have a look!"
Opening Times: Tuesday - Friday 12 - 5.30pm, Saturday 10am - 5.30pm, Sunday 11 - 5pm

Yarn Shop Day

Fabrications is proud to be a part of the 'Love your yarn shop' campaign. Initiated by Let's Knit and their sister magazine 'Let's get Crafting' the aim of the National campaign is to raise the profile of  bricks and mortar yarn stores, encouraging Crafter's to support their local yarn store and celebrate the value we offer beyond just selling wool! including personalised advice, ideas, expert recommendations, classes, socials, SOS (save our stitches!) and much more!

The campaign culminates with 'Yarn Shop Day' on Saturday 3rd May, when customers and local yarn stores all around the UK will join forces to spin a yarn and share their yarny love. Different shops will be hosting free workshops, promotions and inviting in knitting & crochet 'Ambassadors'.

How will Fabrications be celebrating Yarn Shop Day?

We will have an open house, offering free taster workshops in MACRO knitting, continental knitting and projects advice / SOS in our beautiful and welcoming Imaginerium craftspace. In conjunction with Stylecraft we are also offering Goody Bags - cotton bags containing yarns, haberdashery, knitting patterns to the first 40 Yarn Shop Day customers! Look out for our special window display too, which is going to spill out into the street!

Which Ambassadors will be with us on the day?

- Fabrications own Barley Massey will be sharing tips on MACRO knitting and making your own upcycled yarns
- Jill Bulgan, a regular adviser at our fortnightly Craft Club and teaches the 'progressing your knitting skills' classes will be available to offer some help with your projects and knitting dilemmas.
- Luise Roberts, author of numerous knitting and crochet books including 'First Knits' published by Collins & Brown (and on sale in our shop!) who informs me she loves to demo continental knitting as her party trick and is generously providing a free pattern of her Marilyn Monroe finger puppet for the goody bags!

Do I need to book?

Although it is free and drop in style, we'd be grateful if you could book in so we can accommodate you and ensure we have brewed enough tea and cake and prepared enough materials (for example you can make a MACRO knitted scarf) You can do this HERE!

Brother & Sister time

It is now 1 year (doesn't time fly when you're having fun?) that I have been working with Brother. I approached Brother to support my new 'Imaginerium' craft space with sewing machines. I wanted to build on my existing workshop programme and be able to offer sewing machine based classes. I've used and enjoyed using Brother's industrial machines most of my making career and being aware of Brother's environmental and ethical policies, for me they were the sewing machine manufactuer of choice!

Earlier this year I took a trip to Manchester to visit Brother sewing UK's head office. My sister also lives in Manchester, so it was a perfect combined visit!
As well as setting me up with a classroom of machines, Brother has made me an 'Authorised Dealer' of their domestic sewing, overlock, embroirdery and quilting machines. If people are considering buying a sewing machine, I now offer that service, along with the aftercare and support that an independant shop like mine can offer. (another reason to buy local!) 

I'm discovering that Brother's marketing strap line "At your side" certinly holds true. Brother lays on regular training sessions and 'dealer days'. Here I am with Gill Rogers, a very talented needlewoman and so knoweledgable about the workings, features and benefits of the range of Brother machines. I found the training incredibly useful. Although I am an experienced stitcher, understanding the capabilities of some of Brother's computerised machines (especially from the NV955 model upwards) has been a learning curve, but a fun, inspring one!

Some of you may have been along to one of the Fabrications & Brother FREE sewing days. The idea of the day is to offer an opportunity to test drive the sewing machines, create something while you try, meet Rachel Espin from Brother, who joins me on the day "At my side" offering support and advise. The days have been proving really popular, over the year we have welcomed 100's of new and experienced stitchers alike!
The next open day is on Thursday 4th April, 12.30 - 8pm. TO BOOK your FREE 1HR SLOT. Hope you can make it!

DIY Christmas!

As the festive season is nearly upon us, here at Fabrications HQ, I'm planning a "Re design Christmas Craft Club", taking place every Wednesday, starting this week. Inspired by the book "Why don't you Re-Design Christmas?" published by the organisation Re Design (and featuring some ideas by me and on sale at Fabrications!) the aim of the club is to demostrate different resourceful gift and decoration making ideas which are quick and effective, money saving, recycled and beautiful and we guarantee you will have fun with others while doing it! I've also invited along some eco designer guests - Rebecca Alderman (Girl with Beads) and Annie Sherburne to share their expertise.

 

MORE INFORMATION & BOOKING:

 

Week 1: Upcycled Christmas Decorations. CLICK HERE 

Week 2: Bows, Ties & Bow-Ties. CLICK HERE

Week 3: Personalised Santa Sacks. CLICK HERE

Week 4: Lovely Bubbly Fascinator Party. CLICK HERE

KNITLYMPICS!

Just for fun! I'm hosting a KNITLYMPICS event at Fabrications this Saturday!
Locally, I'm aware that so many people missed out on getting tickets to the Olympics or could not afford some of the high ticket prices and now with the recent empty seats controversy, my suggestion is to KNIT YOUR OWN!!

I've teamed up again with the brilliantly witty crafty publishers Collins & Brown to provide a once in a lifetime workshop to create your own KNIT TICKET (with lasting legacy long after the games!) Collins & Brown have kindly provided the pattern from their 'KNITLYMPICS' book, created by Carol Meldrum, currently on sale at Fabrications for £7.99

 The book is a lovely souvenir, which brings the characters (re create Usain Bolt for example) and sporting spirit to life in knit, accessible to both beginners and accomplished knitlympians.
All materials and refreshments provided and all attendees will receive a  special knit ticket pattern, so on your marks!! BOOK HERE

SALE TIME!

We're having our annual clearance SALE to make way for the new!

Queing up for the bargains! This image was taken by Andrew Boff from East Eight magazine, while he was passing by on his bicycle. Come on down and enjoy a good old rummage through our boxes of bundled up fabrics, haberdashery, yarns, UFO's (unfinnished objects).......

There's also a range of brick a brack, retro items from our shop displays including 2 old fashioned hand winding sewing machines, suitcases, china tea cups and saucers...
Also 50% off orginial designer items including my 'Shirt + Tie' cushions, Donna Wilson creatures, Fine Cell Swag Bags, Little Experience Knit Cases.

WHILE STOCKS LAST!!

Jubitea Party!

Join Fabrications & The East End WI this Saturday for an East End vintage style tea party! Barley will show you how to make a vintage inspired hair decoration or 'fabulous fascinator' whilst the East End WI will be serving tea in vintage t-pots and t-cups with their famously delicious cakes. the event is FREE to attend but please support our local WI by buying their tea and cake. BOOKING A TIME SLOT is advised (between 12 - 4pm) crafting activity takes approx 1hr, as we can only fit in a certain amount of tea party goers at one time!

Even the Queen got wind of our plans and dropped in as part of her Jubilee tour, last Thursday during our bunting making day with Brother. Sporting hand knitted crown, sash and medals. The young queen is actually Caroline Brooks from the Shoreditch Sisters, who have been involved in creating an entire knitted jubilee presentation and activities inside the WI tent over at the Diamond Jubilee Festival in Battersea Park, next weekend.

Fiona Macalister is the textile artist behind this incredible hand woven tapestry 'Pop Queen', currently on display in Fabrications window. Fiona studied art in Chelsea college of Art in the 1960's, culminating in a highly commended post graduate scholarship in woven tapestry design from Edinburgh College of art, where she stayed to continue her career.

Brother at our side

Fabrications welcomes Brother sewing machines into their new East London showroom!
The fleet of sewing machines arrived a couple of weeks ago and is probably one of the most exciting deliveries I've received in recent years, in fact I think I could say ever! Caroline from the Shoreditch Sisters helped me unpack the boxes and set up the machines during our recent monthly craft club and described it being like Christmas, when you're the first to open and use an item. Even I'm in the grip of enjoying using something brand new, that hasn't been tinkered with that runs like a dream, purrs in fact!!

An over excited Barley tries out the machines

Thanks to Brother's support, we can now offer a whole range of sewing machine based classes, which will be starting in April. We're planning 'provisional driving' sewing classes, more 'Refresh your wardrobe' classes. Rosie Martin will be running a series of DIY Couture classes for all abilities and we will also be joined by Laura Lees who will be bringing her creative machine embroidery 'The Mighty Stitch' workshop to town!

Don't they look lovely on this side board, upcycled by Out of the Dark

To celebrate the launch of our new sewing classes and becoming Brother's East London stockist, join us for some free unadulterated stitching fun on Thursday 29th March, 12.30 - 8pm.

* Make your own bag from a T-shirt and customise it.
* Test drive the new fleet of Brother sewing machines.
* Meet Rachel Espin from Brother and talk stitches.
* If you're a learner we'll guide you through
* If you're an experienced maker we'll share some tips of the trade or try out some of the advanced machine features.

Whatever stage you're at with your sewing, we are sure you'll gain bags of inspiration, creativity and skills with us! BOOK your FREE PLACE, letting us know what time you'd like to attend.

Loyalty does pay off!

Congratulations to Caroline for not only her creativity and productivity but also for successfully completing one of Fabrications loyalty cards!

We started issuing these last year as part of our 10 yr celebrations and to show our customers how much we value their custom and support. For every £10 spent you get a stamp, collect 10 stamps to qualify for £10 off your next purchase or get a gift voucher.

Here is Caroline with her cute nap sack, knitted from DK 100% merino blend by King Cole (full of more wool!!)

London Knit Crawl

I'm a couple of weeks late in getting this post up - but spurred on by Jackie and Leona's fun posts on Wednesday Knit's 1st birthday celebrations - a 'Knit Crawl' around some of London's unique independent yarn shops, I thought it's not too late to share their day and idea -


Jackie has been running the Wednesday Knit club for a year in West London and has now come East. As well as devising a novel way for members to celebrate and enjoy discounts along the route, Jackie informed me that she is also researching the possibility of producing a guide to encourage more people to wind their way around London's independent yarn shops and haunts - bring it on!

Fabrications was the first venue on the crawl for the Wednesday Knit troubadours - as well as Jackie, there was Leona who I'd met during her Lady Luck days, she has now launched a new venture - Thrift-Ola. I met Max who makes knitting inspired jewelry which I'd seen at the Bust Craftacular and Kali of lush and lovely.

Leona creating a toy owl which I overheard had been purchased from Kali's lush and Lovely stall in Brick Lane. What a close knit group they are!
Check out Leona's recommendations for the 'Purr-fect cat basket' after seeing Tommy luxuriating in a suitcase of scarves!

Get Snappy! It's SALE time!

Starting this Saturday, please come on down to Fabrications, you never know what you might discover! We are loading up crates, suitcases, baskets with bags of inspiration!!
I'm on the last leg of clearing out my studio in preparation for temporarily closing down the shop for building works to create an eco classroom and events space (or Imaginerium!) on the back of the shop. More news on this to follow!

I've focused on sharing some of the vintage haberdashery finds as I love the packaging and wording! But I've been bagging up all kinds of textile wonders - fabric lengths, offcuts (great for patchwork) wool, fastenings and findings, all kinds of notions!

There will also be all kinds of one off, quirky items, display props and samples of my work and other Fabrications designers.

Hope to see you for a good root and rummage!

Heartfelt Haberdashery

We believe in having a good stock of quality love tokens (conditions may apply) all year around but we do have a few recommendations for Valentines...

Our Heartfelt Haberdashery cards imbued with magic, 100% Guaranteed.

Crochet hearts in a lovely presentation box by Monstify
(who created Fabrications fantastic Halloween Window)

Alternatively, why not hijack valentines day to love the world?

Many people will receive an unexpected Valentine this year, courtesy of crafty activist group Craftivist Collective, who aim to hijack Valentines Day. For the third year running, the collective will be hiding alternative Valentines letters and gifts in public across the UK including London, waiting to be found by unsuspecting members of the public and provoking them to think about the effects climate change is having on our global neighbours on this special day.

You can get involved too! Visit their website to download an alternative valentines letter template, there is also a hearty keyring design by Tatty Devine with a scroll onto which you can write "Love the earth" or "show your love" which you can include with the letter.

Fab's Top 10 gifts for her

And last but very not least our selection for the ladies in your life.....

1) Neck Tie (£20) by Christene Gonzalez. An upcycled silk tie is simply and cleverly transformed into a stylish neck tie with vintage buckle.
2) Snowflake coasters (£13) by Donna Wilson. Laser cut felt to keep your tabletop or cup warm and protected!
3) Remember Me (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade. 10 reusable plant labels made from recycled plastic and a weather proof pencil.
4) Use my moustache to comb your lambswool (£4.50) by Donna Wilson. A handy devise to get rid of any unwanted woolly bobbles.
5) Remember Me commissioning service (starts at £20) by Barley Massey. See your cherished threads transformed into new items (your children's clothes, school uniform, a lost loved one...)
6) Tig (£25) by Donna Wilson. Another creature from Donna's quirky knitted family.
7) A coupon for having a great day (£2.50) by Knock Knock. It speaks for itself!
8) Head to Toe Knits (£12.99) by Bronwen Lowenthal. Lowie designer presents a collection of stylish hats, scarves, gloves, leg warmers and socks. There is also a great how to glossary at the back of the book!
9) Vintage knitting needle set (£10) from Barley + Belle redistribution centre.
10) Magnetic photo frame (£4.50) by Nick Fraser. Write it, post it, frame it!

Fab's Top 10 gifts for him

Here's our selection for the men in your life...

1) 'Moneybags' holster style bag (£25) by Barley Massey. File away your purse, phone, passport, keys.. in this very handy safe holster made from upcycled textiles (including men's suit jackets + trousers)
2) Pint + half pint T-shirts (£20 individually or £35 for a set) by Twisted Twee. Dad and son twin set!
3) Happy sacks - Christmas puddings (£10) by Suck UK. Putting the rubbish out has never been so festive and so much fun!
4) Key bottle opener (£7.50) by Suck UK. One of Suck UK's original iconic designs taking inspiration from what people do with everyday objects!
5) Remember Me (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade. While were on keys, this is a great pop up key holder with an envelope, to attach to your wall with the tube map on and made from recycled plastic.
6) Charlie Monkey (£47) by Donna Wilson. A charlie is a charismatic character.
7) Tube Cushion (£40) by Barley Massey. Innertubes collected from local bike shop's waste are hand woven and transformed into hard wearing and stylish cushions.
8) Controversial Debates (£10) by Emotional Baggage. A provocative game for 2 or more players - great for family gatherings and after dinner conversation!
9) Bus blind cup (£9.50) by Michelle Mason. For a well travelled brew!
10) Dad pillow wear (£18.50) by Twisted Twee. A lovely big pillow case for you know who!

Fab's Top 10 Hackney gifts

You won't believe your mince pies at this selection!

1) Clapton Pond - Bus blind cups (£9.50) by Michelle Mason. Hackney based designer Michelle Mason's finest bone china range.
2) I Love Hackney cross stitching kit (£10) by Clare Sams. Everything you need to learn how to cross stitch and make a lovely sampler.
3) East London Landmarks mugs (£8 each) by local architect Sara Godrich:
- The Rio cinema in Dalston.
4) The Hackney Empire
5) The Gasworks next to the Regents Canal and Broadway Market.
6) Hackney Sweet Hackney knitted sampler (£25) by Clare Sams. A small taste of Clare Sams's larger knitted tableaux which feature Hackney incidents such as 'The Hackney Siege' and the 'The fire at E.Gibbons' and Hackney people including 'The Mole man of Hackney'.
7) Felt taxi decoration (£5.50) by Michelle Mason. One of London's greatest services and icons and being next door to Cooke's Pie n Mash, lots of taxi's pull up for re fuelling!
8) Shite Food T-Towel (£8.95) by Hackney graphic designer Toby Leigh aka Tobytron stuff. The t-towel features a number of locally sourced delights including Special Brew and fried chicken.
9) I Love Hackney knitted purse (£15) by Clare Sams. Ideal for any spare change.
10) Greetings from Hackney postcard (60p) by the Caravan Gallery. Features local scenes including Hackney city farm.

Fab's Top 10 Craft kits

A range of kits aimed at all ages and abilities. A cross section of textile techniques and fun projects to enjoy over the holidays and fuel you in more crafty action for 2011....

1) Youdoodog (£12.50) by Youdoodoll. Take an image of your dog, or someone else's or choose an image from the Youdoodog gallery and print it out of your computer onto special iron on transfer paper onto a simple dog doll and customise away!
2) Rethink Rubbish - make your own recycled rosette (£10) by Barley Massey. 4 different methods to create a stylish rosette style corsage and enough upcycled materials to make 5, then keep recycling your own materials and before you know it you'll be churning out lots of rosettes!
3) French knitting kit (£5) by Wool-n-Dance. For the young ones french knitting is a great lead into knitting on 2 needles. Or use it to make cording, decorative elements...
4) Know your Knots (£4.50) by Flights of Fancy. A great play on words and handy tube of skills - test your knotting knowledge!
5) Stitch -It Racoon key ring kit (£6.50) by the little experience. Pre cut felty bits to stitch together aimed at 6 - 12yr olds but adults have been making them too!
6) Piss Off! Cross stitch kit (£10.50) by Subversive stitcher Julie Jackson. Everything you need to create a cheeky sampler - mind your fingers!
7) Knit pack (£7.50) by Barley Massey. 9 balls of different salvaged re wound yarns, a set of needles and basic how to knit instructions with a few extra tips too (such as how to make yarn out of a plastic bag)
8) Make your own monster (£15) by Donna Wilson. A pre stitched monster that you can stuff and decorate with offcuts of Donna's wonderful lambswool textiles.
9) Knit - it Sheep kit (£10.50) by the little experience. Knit some mini sheep and transform the box into their pen!
10) The Ancient Lucet (£3.50) by Flights of Fancy. A simple devise to make strong non stretching braids such as friendship bracelets dating back to medieval times!

Fab's Top 10 DIY gifts

A handmade gift is so much more personal, full of love and consideration, and you learn new skills and get the enjoyment factor from creating it, what more could a recipient ask for? Here are some ideas to help you on your way....

1) French Knitting kit (£5) by Wool-n-Dance. Create meters of knitted tubes, use up your wool ends and create woolly chain decorations, knitted jewellery or maybe even a coiled mat.
2) Create -it Flowery jewellery kit (£6.50) by the little experience. Never too young (or old) to make your own gifts! this kit contains pre cut flower pieces to thread together.
3) Cloth magazine winter issue (£3.50) by Real Design + Media. this magazine is such great value and always has really cool, stylish and thrifty step by step projects.
4) The knitted odd-bod bunch (£12.99) by Donna Wilson. Wow! Make a whole family of hand knitted Donna Wilson lovable creatures.
5) Rethink Rubbish - Create a fabulous fascinator (£10) by Barley Massey. Perfect for the party season - everything you need (including some rare vintage materials and haberdashery) to create 2 stylish hair accessories.
6) Bobby Dazler's Make your own Misfits (£12.99) by Fumie Kamijo + Rosie Short. 35 original and extraordinary animals to make and bring to life with a few stitches.
7) Tufty's beard pattern (£4 pattern, £8 kit) by Katherine Eaves. Apparently knitted beards are this year's winter warmers!
8) Fabrications gift voucher (£5, £10, £20 or combinations of!) Can be used for any of our classes or in the shop.
9) Wool-n-Dance 1/2 height giant needles (£20) + handspun wool (from £7.50 per scein) Quick fix knitting possibilities....
10) DIY Couture books (£9) by Rosie Martin. A beautiful series of instruction books that explain how to make items of clothing, making couture clothing affordable and affordable clothing non exploitative.

Fab's Top 10 green gifts

And herewith starts the Christmas gift ideas at Fabrications.... I will be posting up a few suggestions in the next few days. Kicking off with Fab's top 10 green gift ideas that are kind to the environment...

1) Shirt + Tie cushion (£40) by Barley Massey, old shirts + ties are lovingly washed unpicked and re fabricated into cushions.
2) Sun Jar (£20) by Tobias Wong for Suck UK, a jar that collects and stores sunshine so that you can use it at night.
3) Dot to Date (£12) by Dan Usiskin, a calender printed in a very friendly way that reveals a different London landmark each month with a box that turns into a frame.
4) Envelope Angel (£4.95) by Blue Marmalade, every envelope deserves another journey with these stylish sticky labels.
5) Rethink Rubbish - sustainable gift wrapping kit by Barley Massey (£10) Combine the Japanese art of Furoshiki with 3 vintage scarves and 2 handmade bows.
6) Gift Wrapping service at Fabrications (£1 - £2) If you don't want to DIY, we can do it for you! Pick a scarf from our display and we'll wrap your gift (you can bring in gifts purchase elsewhere!)
7) Why don't you (RE) design Christmas book (£9) by Re Design, make it yourself activities by 33 of (Re) Design's designers for a fun and thrifty Christmas. Includes Snowball pom poms and Woolly chains by Barley Massey.
8) Robin decorations sewing kit (£9.50) by Sparrow Kids. Get the little ones stitching up Xmas!
9) Eco - Frenzy badges (£3.50) by Mark Pawson. Recycling and ecology symbols to wear proudly.
10) Darn It! (£7.50) darning kit by Barley Massey. Everything you need to repair and refresh your wardrobe in the new year in a lovely embroidered bag.

Our window has been Monstified!

Thanks to Ayda Anlagan for her amazing 'Monstify' creations and 'Monstify over' service we have a wicked spooky window display for Halloween. Please come down and have a look, these pictures don't give justice to the level of detail and imagination in her 'anatomical crochet with a twist'. All items are also for sale, so get them while they are fresh!!
I came across Ayda's work at this year's Designers Block. She was exhibiting with the Puff + Flock design collective. Through adding crocheted eyes, Ayda believes that anything can be monstified! Giving life and theatre to any inanimate object.

The wool monster!

Any one seen my tea cup?
I'm finding it hard to see by the light of these crochet candles!

Watch out for the cookie monster!

My crochet heart is not on my sleeve but on a platter!

Watch out after dark, you may get caught up in a
giant spider's web!

ALSO FOR 1 WEEK ONLY from this Saturday
* DOMINQUE's POP UP vintage
fabric + haberdashery SALE *
Come and look through a fabulous collection of fabric lengths, samples, trims, lace, embroidered linen, hat making materials, buttons, buckles, darning yarns and much more on original cards and packaging and in good goody bags at bargain prices!