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Join Carolyn at Silk Road Textiles for the Noro Crescent Shawl Knit Along! We will meet for four Wednesday evenings, starting on August 10, from 6-8 to create the beautiful and simple Crescent Shawl featured on the cover of the current Noro magazine. The shawl is knit using two skeins of Noro Mirai yarn and #7, 32″ circular needles. Stop in, register, and purchase your yarn at SRT and receive the pattern for free! Want more patterns? You can also buy the Noro magazine at the shop when you pick out your yarn! LMB Designs will be hosting the KAL on their blog. Sign up on the LMB Designs blog to be eligible for prizes like Noro yarn and stitch markers from Ann Tudor! The pattern is rated easy and uses a chart for the lace edge in the first part of the shawl. Knitting together is a great way to learn to knit from a chart! Call or stop by the shop to register for this free KAL. Join the fun!! Dates: 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, AND 8/31 6-8PM
More than twenty people came together at Silk Road Textiles on June 20 to sew fidget quilts during The Longest Day, an event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association to honor the strength, passion, and endurance of those facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The quilts will be donated to Cincinnati area memory care units. We cut and ironed fabric and sewed together 24 fidget quilts, which help calm agitation in those suffering from Alzheimer’s. The energy level in the store was amazing, especially when we had the classroom humming with a room full of sewing machines all going at the same time! We are planning another sewing service project in September. Be on the lookout for more information!
Summer Fun! Six Favorites for the 6th Month of the Year! #1 World Wide Knit in Public Day Saturday, June 18 11AM-2PM Contemporary Arts Center Join us for a day of knitting at the Contemporary Arts Center. Kick back on a sofa in the lobby with your favorite yarn and knitting friends and knit (or crochet) to your heart’s content. Silk Road Textiles will give a small gift to the first 100 participants, host a Knitted Knockers KAL (11:30-1:30) & be ready with new yarn, needles or whatever you may need. Members of fiber artist collaborative The Bombshells will be on hand teaching the basics if you are new to the game. Bring your supplies; the CAC, has seating, a cafe, and the inspiration! Plan to take in the perfect CAC exhibition Unraveled: Textiles Reconsidered. The CAC is located at 44 East 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220 Please check in with the front desk when you arrive. #2 Make Fidget Quilts for those with Alzhemier’s Monday, June 20 9AM-9PM On Monday, June 20, join Trisha’s Team, Steve and Lynn’s Troops, and Silk Road Textiles for The Longest Day, an event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association to honor the strength, passion, and endurance of those facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. From 9AM to 9PM gather at Silk Road Textiles, to make Fidget Lap Quilts to be donated to Cincinnati area Memory Care Units. We have textured fabric ready to go and will have sewing, ironing, and cutting stations set up. We have sewing machines, or you can bring your own. Please stop by for as long or as short a time as you want! Bring something to eat if you will be here around lunch time. We will probably order something as a group for dinner. Together, we can show those facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia symptoms that they are not alone. We hope you will be able to join us! Trisha states, “My Uncle Steve struggled for many years with earlier onset Alzheimer’s and passed away in 2014. I participate in his honor and memory. He was a smart and fun-loving man who is sorely missed by friends and family. I also participate to honor all friends and relatives struggling with dementia or caring for someone with dementia.” You too, may have a loved one that you would like to honor on The Longest Day. Join Trisha’s team, Steve and Lynn’s Troops today. Stop by Silk Road Textiles on Monday, June 20, anytime between 9AM and 9PM to lend a hand in designing, stitching and finishing Fidget Quilts. No experience necessary, everyone can help! #3 Pick up Home in the Queen City June 21 – September 6 Mark your calendar and start your engine! Row by Row 2016 is ready to go! Silk Road Textiles is excited to reveal to our News for the Road subscribers our Home Sweet Home pattern –Home in the Queen City. Do you recognize these famous “homes”? Can you guess what lives there? We thought so! Wait until you see the various options and bonus block project included on our pattern and in our kits. Home in the Queen City plays especially nicely with last year’s row, The Crown Jewels of Cincinnati.* A new creative license plate and Row by Row official pins are in stock for you! Come in to get “rowing” on Tuesday June 21, 2016! *2015 pattern still available for purchase. #4 Get your Passport by June 30! I-75 Yarn Crawl 2016 August 9-14 Purchase your passport at Silk Road Textiles or online by June 30 to receive your FREE 2016 I-75 Official Yarn Crawl Tote Bag.* Passport and Bag – only $5! The Crawl is a 6 day event covering 40 shops from Birmingham, MI, to Berea, KY. See what’s new, experience the ambiance of each shop, get to know the owner and staff, and win PRIZES!!!. Silk Road Travelers need to be sure to bring your Traveler Bag with you for extra bonus door prize tickets! This year’s Crawl promises to be the Best Crawl ever! MORE PRIZES, BIGGER PRIZES, AND MORE FUN! Silk Road Textiles will have extended hours during the week. Meet Francis the Shepherd, from Cestari Sheep and Yarn Company, on Sat. Aug. 13. He will arrive with a truck load of all his 100% American wool and cotton yarns put up in skeins, hanks, and on cones. Plan your Crawl so you don’t miss this special event. Buy your passport (http://store.rabbithutchbeads.com/i75yarncrawl.html) today, call your friends and map out your “ROADTRIP!” *Bags will not be available after June 30 #5 Donate Finished Knockers! Now – June 30 and beyond Last scheduled FREE Knitted Knockers KAL/CAL! Saturday, June 18 2 sessions at 2 locations 10-noon at Silk Road Textiles 11:30-1:30 at the Knit in Public Event at the Contemporary Art Center Please label the Knitted Knockers with the cup size before dropping them off at the shop. Knockers can be stuffed or not. The knockers we create will be donated to the Barrett Center at UC Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital. Don’t knit or crochet? Donations can be made at Knitted Knockers or contribute to the “Knocker Yarn Fund” at Silk Road Textiles. Knitted Knockers are provided free of charge to any breast cancer survivor who asks. Free patterns for knitting and crochet, tutorials, and lots of information can be found at Knitted Knocker.org (http:// www.knittedknockers.org) . Turn in completed knockers and get 10% off the next yarn purchased to make more knockers. #6 Meet Your Maruca Match! Maraca Mania Returns June 26- 30 More savings than ever before! New styles! New fabrics! Carry the latest! Browse the latest Maruca catalog for Fall-Winter 2016-2017. Place an order during this event and save 6% on your total order. Save on single and multiple bag orders. While participating in the Six June Events listed above, check out these additional reasons to visit! Shop our HUGE Clearance Table! Now – June 30 Fabric, yarn, books and more. New items added frequently. We are making room for new goodies on their way already. Many items offered at 50% off. Now is the time to stock up and save. Take a Class or Two or Three! Register NOW for one or more of our top rated classes. Space is limited and popular classes fill fast. Here is a sampling of what is offered this summer. Find the complete list here. Sewing, Knitting & Crochet Camps for Kids * Felted Flowers * English Paper Piecing * Slip Stitch Knitting * Beginning Spinning, Knitting & Crochet * Beginning Quilting & Sewing * Get to Know Your Sewing Machine * Color Theory * Project Pants * Flat Pattern I * Modern Hand Stitch * Rust Dyeing * Color Work * Many More! Important Updates Quilt National ’17, the 20th Biennial Submissions Now Open Artists of the fiber world can officially begin submitting their innovative works. Each artist may enter up to three new submissions that will provide viewers with an appreciation of the variety of techniques and innovative trends in the medium of layered and stitched fabric. All submissions must be made online before the deadline on September 1, 2016. The rules have changed so check all details and submission guide here. Quilt National ’17 will open to the public May 27, 2017 through September 4, 2017.at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, OH. Parts of the collection will then travel to museums and galleries throughout the country and world until late 2018. Let’s go Silk Road Travelers! We’d love to see YOUR creation at Quilt National ’17! “Healing Bracelets” by Woman Art Ghana As we shared last month, Franciska Issaka, the amazing, kindhearted founder and leader of CENSUDI & Woman Art Ghana, had a serious medical emergency in late December. Her recovery continues to progress. She is thankful to everyone for your prayers and kindness. She continues to create bracelets from beautiful handmade glass beads and has added a smaller size to her offerings. Franciska is hopeful that people who wear these bracelets will send positive thoughts or offer a prayer for the healing of all in need. We are still offering these “Healing Bracelets” at $7 and $10 each, (regular price $15-$18) for a short time more. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Franciska’s medical expenses. Save these Hot July Dates! Fourth Anniversary Celebration July 15-17, 2016 Thank you for another amazing year! Door prizes and raffle gifts galore! “Show Us Your Roots” 4th Annual Irene Sutton Fiber Art Exhibit Create a 5″X7″ to 8″x10″ fiber art piece of any fiber medium. Submissions accepted June 21- July 31,2016, Exhibit opens August 5, 2016. Showcase your talents! Facebook Fans! Stay connected with us by “liking”, sharing, and commenting on our posts. This will help increase our presence on your timeline, enabling you to get our most recent news as it is posted. Participation is key to increasing the amount of information you receive.
Dive into this month’s 6-pack Sampler with our own mix of cottons, including Michael Miller’s nautical line “Into the Deep.” Picture seahorses, fish, and anemones adorning your newest pool or beach accessories while you splash in the sun! Suggested uses: Protect baby’s face and eyes with a cute, pieced baby bonnet. Create a water resistant zippered pouch protected with Glossy Vinyl Interfacing for your poolside treasures. Put together a Hold Everything bag for all your sewing or needle arts tools and add waterproof windows with Quilter’s Vinyl. Sign up for our Fabric 6-Pack Sampler Club at Silk Road Textiles! Each month you will receive a special selection of six fat quarters and a coordinating spool of Presencia thread. It’s a fun surprise every month!
Choosing the right colors for a fiber arts project can feel overwhelming. “I’m just not good at choosing colors” and “I would never have thought to put those colors together” are comments heard all too often. For those wanting to gain some “color confidence” and for those with a knack for color but who would like to understand more of the “Why?” of color, join guest instructor, Chris Adams, on a four week journey to a better understanding of color and how to use color more effectively in fiber arts. Class topics include the art and science of color, color families and relationships, and color manipulation and usage. Chris Adams is a designer trained in Haute Couture method of fashion design at The Virginia Marti College of Art and Design. He is heavily influenced by the American Arts & Crafts movement. His award-winning paintings, murals and garments have been displayed and dispersed throughout the country. He is also an art educator, lecturer and producer of fashion shows. The series of classes runs on Tuesdays in March: 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, AND 3/22 from 6-8PM
Sophia Costas scarves by Mia Berglund are not only beautiful, but also fair trade, hand-crafted, and sustainable. Sophia Costas supports an NGO that trains women from small villages in Nepal so they can earn a living. These women are often the sole breadwinners for their families. Stop by Silk Road Textiles to check out our selection of Sophia Costas scarves. We have a variety of patterns from which to choose, including animal, scenic, and geometric prints. These popular scarves won’t last long!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we’ve found some cute, quick, free patterns for you! Knitting: Valentine Heart Shaped Puffs Embroidery: Flourishing Heart Sewing: Fabric Hearts Crochet: Love Hearts
Now is the time to nominate Silk Road Textiles for CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati award! Nominations are open now through December 31, and it only takes about 5-10 minutes to complete City Beat’s 2016 Best of Cincinnati write-in nomination form. Please write in Silk Road Textiles in the “Shops & Services” section. Fill in these 2 categories: Arts and Crafts Supplies AND Arts and Crafts Classes. You do not have to fill in every line. You only have to vote in 10 categories for your ballot to count. When you have completed a section be sure to select “Submit and Continue” to save your nominations. You will automatically be sent to the next section of the form. You can also skip any section if you wish. Select “Finalize” when your nominations are complete. After you vote, you will receive an email confirming your ballot submission. In order for your vote to count, you must click on the link in the message. Easy! Click here now to vote!
Amy Wallace, resident artist at Silk Road Textiles, was recently featured on WCET’s Artsbridge program, which interviews local artists about their creative process. The program showcases her mixed media fiber art and gives viewers a peek into her studio. If you didn’t see Amy on Artsbridge here is a direct link to the video…no need to navigate the site. Her interview is the first segment. Very Cool!
Confused about interfacing? That’s no wonder! There are so many types: fusible and non-fusible; wovens, non-wovens and knits, weft insertions and warp insertions; different weights, colors and brands. How do you decide which one to use with all these factors? This series is intended to help you better understand interfacings and how to select the appropriate stabilizers for your next project. Interfacing is a third layer of fabric applied between two other layers to provide shape, stability and structure to garments and to enhance durability. It is used in buttonhole areas to keep them from stretching and distorting, in collars and cuffs to add crispness and in facings to give stability. In tailoring, it allows the garment to retain the shape that is built in during the construction process. It can be used for special dramatic effects in costuming. This week, we will be exploring the structure of various interfacings. Woven interfacings are stable. They offer firm support and are available in many weights. Knit interfacings are drapeable and soft. They are generally light weight. Weft and warp insertion interfacings are knit fabrics with threads woven through them. These interfacings combine the stability of the wovens with the drapeability of the knits. They are available in light to medium weight. Non-woven interfacings are made of synthetic fibers. They are neither woven nor knit. In some garment makers’ opinion non-wovens are generally not suitable for quality garments. However, they are perfect for bags and craft projects. While fusible versus non-fusible interfacings is a discussion for another day, it is important to note that woven interfacings are available as both fusibles and non-fusibles. All knit and weft insertion interfacings are fusible. Silk Road Textiles carries both woven and non-woven interfacings. Be sure to ask next time you’re in the store to see more interfacings – we don’t keep them display, but we have a nice selection!
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