modkid Trunk Show

Treadle Yard Goods has recently begun to carry the line of fabulous children's clothing patterns from modkid.
Stop by soon to see the trunk show currently on display! Most patterns also have a matching doll-sized patterns for "just like me" fun!
We have most of the patterns in stock, along with many of the fabrics and coordinating ribbons.
Here is a sample of the beautiful pieces on display.
ava
nina
julia
kyokofrida

Best of Treadle

This fantastic, inspiring photo was sent to me by one of our fabulously talented Treadlettes - Rebecca.
This owl fabric is one of our favorites, and Rebecca has used it to fine effect here.

You may also feel free to email me at bandjontheriver (at) msn (dot) com if you would like your work featured here on our Treadle Blog!

One-Yard Wonders

In the last Book Review Corner post I asked for suggestions for this Book Review Corner, and there was a request to review One-Yard Wonders.Well, I am happy to oblige.
This is one of the more fun books out there.
The projects range from garments to toys, household necessities to just amazing ideas.
Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins (of Crafty Planet fame) asked only that the designs require only one yard of fabric.

Some of the projects are sweet -
Many are really practical -
And some are just ingenious -
This book also has a special place in the hearts of the Treadlettes, as two of the patterns come from our own.

The lovely and talented Nina Robinson designed a set of baby gifts, you can get a pair of booties, a bib, a blanket and a bag to hold them all from one yard of fabric!

And I (Jess Bandelin) designed a rocket ship toy.

One more fun feature of this book is that each of the designers has a bio in the back, and if you are a blog junkie, like me, you'll find that most of them have a blog to peruse. Fun.

Thanks for the suggestion Cecile!
Please keep those suggestions coming,
Thanks,
The Treadlettes

More great customer work.
Keep those photos coming, we love to see your projects!

Lots to catch up on

Well, as you might know, we're having a sale right now at Treadle Yard Goods.
We opened our doors in April of 1976, that make it our 34th birthday!
Please come by and join us in the celebration.
Everything in the store is at least 10% off, with some fabrics 20-50% off.

We also have some news in the pattern arena.
We have just added Colette Patterns and their line of 40's and 50's inspired garments are sure to be a big hit.
I have already found a couple that I would love to make myself!

Thirdly, and most exciting, we will have a visit from Anna Maria Horner in May.
There will be more information coming soon, but we can expect Ms. Horner to visit on the 22nd of May to talk a little and sign her newest book Handmade Beginnings.Anna Maria Horner has some beautiful fabrics out right now and one of the Material Girls worked up this delightful top with Little Folks Forest Hills in the Berry colorway.

Right now, however, it's too nice a day to keep blogging, so stay tuned for more exciting news on all fronts.

Sewing Green

It's Book Review Corner and today we're highlighting Sewing Green by Betz White.
This great book is full of wonderful ideas from using recycled materials to making re-usable lunch bags and sandwich wraps to reduce your own trash production.
Some of the more fun projects are Tyvek Tote made from a Tyvek mailing envelope, which is then decorated by coating bubble-wrap with paint and using it as a stamp.
Totally brilliant.
A few of the projects that I have made from this book are the Reusable Sandwich Wrap, the Lunch Tote and the Luxe Baby Toy.
I didn't use a recycled cashmere sweater for the Luxe Baby Toy, but felt squares worked quite well.
The directions are very clear and there is a wide variety of projects to make.
If the Sandwich Wrap doesn't interest you, for instance, there is also a wallet to make out of old shirt cuffs, and a beautiful scarf covered in leaves which is featured on the cover.
All in all a great book, one I am happy to say I have on my bookshelf at home.

Do you have any books you would like us to review, for better or worse, here on the Treadle Yard Goods blog?
Please leave your suggestions and I'll do what I can to bring attention to your favorites, or the clunkers out there.

Shop Local, Support Local

Kwik Sew is a local pattern company in north Minneapolis with fabulous designs at reasonable prices. We currently have on display a trunk show of selected garments from their current catalog.

Stop in and check out these designs (and others in the catalog) before the show goes away on March 28. We carry the entire Kwik Sew line year-round and in this day when "buying local" is more important than ever, we think you'll agree that this is a company you have to try!