October is here, along with plenty of sweater weather crafts. See what is new this month in Creativebug!
Using your library card and PIN, create your own account for FREE and nurture your creative side with 1000+ video classes in painting, knitting, crafting, sewing & more!
Garment Sewing with Woven Fabrics: Finishings & Hems with Amanda Todaro – October 1
For professional-looking garments, you’ll want the inside to look as fabulous as the outside. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator from Ditto patterns, teaches you how to finish your seams with a sewing machine or a serger as well as four ways to sew hems, including making and applying your own bias tape. Not only will your projects look neat and tidy, but you’ll also be giving them greater durability and longevity.
Garment Sewing with Knits: An Introduction with Amanda Todaro – October 8
Sewing with stretchy knit fabrics is a bit different than sewing with wovens. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator from Ditto patterns, gives you an introduction to creating garments with knits, beginning with learning about the different stretches in fabrics, sewing your projects, setting in a shirt sleeve, finishing hems with mock cover stitch, and adding a finished neckband. And while a serger is a knit garment’s best friend, learn how you can create most knit garments using only your sewing machine.
CB Mixtape: Hocus Pocus – October 10
Introducing CbMixtapes: playlists made of specific bits from different classes and grouped together by a common theme.
It’s a fun way to learn how one topic is approached by a variety of artists with different techniques, all rounded up in one curated mixtape. It’s spooky season and time to conjure up all things witchy, spooky, and magical. Begin your multimedia exploration by crocheting a witch’s hat with Twinkie Chan. Paint a frog in gouache with Jen Orkin Lewis, then try your hand at stamp carving by making a magical starbust with Lisa Solomon. Lisa Congdon demonstrates how to paint an inky moth, and learn a gorgeous monoprint technique by painting flickering candles with Courtney Cerruti.
Garment Sewing: Design Details with Amanda Todaro – October 15
Once you’re comfortable with the basics of garment sewing, it’s time to explore design details. Amanda Todaro, a sewing educator with Ditto patterns, demonstrates an array of techniques to add to your clothes-making toolkit: making straps, sewing facings, sewing buttonholes and buttons, creating skirt vents, attaching a lining to a zipper, sewing swing tacks, and making shirt collars. Feel confident about implementing these skills when you come across them in sewing patterns, and consider how to use them creatively to make your garments unique to you.
Make a Bird Costume with Suzy Ultman – October 17
Artist Suzy Ultman is an illustrator, toy maker, story teller, and an avid birder. One of her favorite activities is bird watching in her backyard and connecting to nature. Now you can turn into your favorite bird as Suzy teaches you how to upcycle everyday paper grocery bags into a full-fledged, fabulous bird costume. You’ll learn how to print and assemble a paper template, cut paper bags to create a mask as well as a cape for wings, add paint and color to bring your bird to life, and make and attach paper feathers. Not only is this costume fun for little ones to play in, but they will delight in the painting and gluing process, too. The next time you go shopping, remember to hang on to your paper bags, because there is still an entire world of make-believe in there.
Make a Pin Cushion and Needle Book with Rebecca Ringquist – October 22
For years, Portland-based artist and designer Rebecca Ringquist has encouraged embroiderers to pre-thread their needles as a gift to their future selves. By keeping a pincushion or needlebook full of ready-to-use needles, you can start stitching anytime, anywhere. In this class, you’ll work with one of Rebecca’s unique embroidery samplers, designed with two panels to be sewn into two styles of pincushions that keep your needles organized. Rebecca will guide you in constructing a distinctive pyramid-shaped pincushion and an easy-to-tote needle book. Stay inspired by showcasing all your pre-threaded needles—create one set for yourself and another as a gift for a friend!
Marbling Finished Goods with Mercedez Rex – October 24
Have you ever wondered what you could marble beyond paper? Surface designer and marbling artist Mercedez Rex has, and she’s put it to the test. Building on the foundation of her introductory class, Marbling Through Creativity, this lesson delves into printing on various finished goods. Mercedez demonstrates how to transfer marbled designs onto a silk scarf, a two-sided canvas bag, a cotton crop top, and a terracotta pot. You’ll learn foundational marbling patterns, experiment with tools like a stylus and straw, and pick up tips for working solo. With natural materials like silk, wood, leather, canvas, and clay, the possibilities are endless! Check out Mercedez’ Marbling Through Creativity: An Introduction and Daily Practice for how to get set up.
