my favorite hand sewing links

I've been a fan of hand sewing for years, and I firmly believe that with just a couple of stitches you can hack your way through anything and it will turn out sweet.  Having said that, the following tutorials are excellent ones, with hints for even experienced stitchers.

For a perfect little whip stitch on your felt goodies, this is THE tutorial:
http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/01/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx

By the same brill crafter, here's an exhaustive, step-by-step tutorial for blanket stitch, including hints for starting, stopping, turning corners, and working round objects.  So good!
http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/09/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx

As advised by her (and everybody else), here's "the knot trick".  Yes, a knot is a knot, but you feel very smart when you do this, and can perfectly control the knot size & placement.  Very detailed tutorial for a knot that takes 2 seconds.
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/my_favorite_knot/index.html

Darling little printable origami book with six essential stitches.  Developed by Cassi Griffin of The Crafty Crow for Sew, Mama, Sew! (I recommend them both, by the way!)
http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSstitchbook.pdf

Sewing up the space-left-to-invert-and-stuff:  hidden stitch aka ladder stitch aka blind stitch, illustrated:
http://www.sewingstars.com/images/latterstitch-howto.pdf

Any other suggestions?
Comment & add!

wee trees & owls: handmade holidays #1

First Handmade Holidays workshop is Thursday! I just checked on our studio and all is dry and cozy and ready for us to sew together Thursday night. This week: wee trees and owls. Come make a lineup of wee owls and trees to gift or save for your own bookshelf. For hand sewing novices, we'll start with a lesson on basic stitches: running, whip, back, and blanket, and pass on a few good knotting and pattern hints. More experienced stitchers can start right in! We'll provide all supplies, a set of patterns and pocket stitch guides to take home, plus project access to great tools like scalloped shears and our gorgeous range of recycled and new wool felts gathered in years of careful gleaning and felting.

Register on the right sidebar or by emailing thewondercollective@gmail.com. 7-9 pm; Thursday, November 1st, 2012 at The Thought Lot, 37 E. Garfield in Shippensburg.

Three more great gift making opportunities coming up this month:  resin, wool stuffies, and needle-felted animal sets. 

November 7th wee workshop: Recycled Accessories

A sneak peek of accessories and jewelry you can choose to create.  We'll have several stations, all ready to wrap for Christmas giving or wear right away!

Adult Workshop : Needle felting Pumpkins

Success! Our first adult workshop for the Fall a smashing success! Lots of pumpkins being made and lots of fun and creativity being shared. There's still time to sign up for the rest of our Fall line-up! Handmade holidays are coming up in 2 weeks!

If you aren't here this is what you are missing!!!!

Wee workshop - all natural at the thought lot!!!!

wee workshop number one: nature crafts

We worked up our final samples for Wednesday's workshop. Lovely little figures and a gourd spinner, plus as many accessories as your favorite young crafter wants to make, all in a pretty little mossy oak leaf box. Dying? Register!

New Signs!

Look for our new street-side signs on the corner of Earl & Orange streets. They'll show up off and on, updated with current events. Our current registration focus: Theater Team for teens (MS & HS) starts next Thursday, October 18th. Please help us spread the word and register now! Registration details on the right side bar, or email thewondercollective@gmail.com