Scrappy Headbands, Summer Camps and More!

"Scrappy" Upcycled Headbands (Adult and Infant)

Upcycled Upholstery Trim with Button and Sequin Embellishment-Hair Clip

We've been having way too much fun at Crafters Co-op!  It is so rewarding to create beautiful accessories from what would normally be a "throw-away" item(s).

So, we are announcing our first monthly "Make Somethin' Out of Nothin'" night for next Saturday (June 2nd) from 7-9 p.m.  Here are the details:

Location:  910 Pioneer, Oak Harbor, at Crafters Co-op
Cost: $10 and a snack to share (BYOB optional)
Details:  No supply cost, as we will be creating hair accessories, pins/brooches (and anything else you choose) from our "scrap" baskets of fabrics and trims.  You can create as many as you choose in the two hour period and may add one embellishment (i.e. button, feather or bling) to each item.  At the end of the evening, all in attendance will vote, and the winner of the cutest/most creative will not have to pay the $10 for the evening.  :)

Register in the shop or 632--4200 or www.facebook.com/whidbeycrafts.

Also, our June class schedule will be out on Tuesday.  We'll have our normal offering of fiber arts, sewing and papercraft classes, but will also have a beginning quilting class meeting one evening a week for the entire month of June.  This will fill up quickly, so sign up soon!

Don't forget to sign up for our SUMMER CRAFT CAMPS for youth!  Grades 1-5 in the mornings (9-11:30) and Grades 6 and up from 1-3:30 pm.  $125 for all week and includes all supplies for fun, yet practical projects completed each day!  All instructors background checked.

Crafters Co-op, where EVERY day is Earth Day!  Open 11-8 Mon-Sat and sometimes on Sunday
Craft store, studio, boutique, supplies and classes.
910 Pioneer, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA  98277
royalalpacas@aol.com
360 632 4200

Our FB page at www.facebook.com/whidbeycrafts provides the most up to date list of classes and events.

Make It Mondays! Scrappy Scarf Tutorial

From this......

...to this........

in a few simple hours!

Use your small (even teensy) recycled lambswool, angora, alpaca, mohair and cashmere soft scraps to make this yummi-liscious infinity scarf. Great for yourself or for a beautiful Valentine's Day gift. Outta the landfill and into someone's heart. :)

Materials Needed:

Recycled natural fiber scraps
Yarn
Large eyed needle

Steps:

1. Thread your large eye needle with a complimentary colored thin yarn (or embroidery floss.)

2. Overlap your scraps and start sewing them together with a running stitch on your threaded yarn. I also call this the "inchworm" stitch...just up and down.

3. As you sew, pull your yarn a bit tight so that the fiber scraps scrunch up. This will add a lot of texture to your scarf.

4. I encourage you to leave the pointy edges off to the side of the scarf as you sew. In other words, don't make a perfect line. This is also a way to use odd shaped scraps...scraps aren't too narrow to use unless you can't stitch through it!

5. Don't be afraid to use all different colors. One of the neat things about recycled wool/other natural fibers is that all colors seem to go together well! When you wear this scarf with different outfits, it will highlight the different colors in your scarf!

6. Continue sewing until your length is long enough to loop around your neck three to four times.

When you're happy with the length, stitch the beginning to the end, making an "infinity loop."

7. Out of a larger scrap or two, freehand cut a flower, sew a button through the middle of the flower, and secure it to one part of your scarf. This step is optional but adds a lot of pizzazz to your scarf. :)

Like this tutorial? Then please "like" our Facebook page Everything But The Oink and subscribe to this blog. Bloggers like to feel the love! ;)

EnJOY!

p.s. Thanks to Reyna for taking our class yesterday and agreeing to model her completed creation!

New Fiber Arts 4H Project: Scrappy Scarves (tm)

We had to reschedule our Fiber Arts 4H meeting for two consecutive weekends due to crazy weather (snow, tidal surge flooding.) But, it was worth the wait as we met today and all nine of the members made my version of the ever so popular "infinity" scarves. True to Everything But The Oink's name, we used all of those long, narrow scraps which most people would toss into the trash.

The 4Hers used thin yarns and a running stitch (working on those needlework skills!) to artfully sew together the scraps. The running stitch allowed the kids to "scrunch" up the scraps, thereby incorporating a lot of texture into their creations.

It is always challenging to find project which are simple enough for our 3rd grade 4Hers,
yet appealing enough to our high school members. All of the kids were excited about wearing their scarves tomorrow, so Scrappy Scarves were a success!