Pippablue - Design, Craft, Interiors, Living

Upcoming Autumn Sewing Workshops

Our sewing workshops will be recommencing in September. Here is preview of what we have planned, with dates to be announced later.  Workshops take place at the shop, and usually on Sundays. If you are interested in any of these workshops please let us know, via e-mail, phone, or just pop into the shop to see us. Classes start from 20 Euros.

Getting to know your sewing machine - 2 hr workshop covering sewing machine basics. From threading your machine, preparing your bobbin, different stitches, buttonholes, etc. A class for people who have sewing machines but don't know how to use them!

Beginners sewing - Making a reversible market bag - 4 hr workshop covering sewing machine basics, where you will learn to make a reversible shopping bag. An easy introduction to using your sewing machine. All material provided.

Intermediate sewing - Making a simple A line skirt - 3 to 4 hr workshop by Andrea Parry from LushStuff. You will be making your pattern, cutting fabric, putting together your skirt, learning hemming and how to put in a zip. A great introduction to garment making. Bring your own fabric, or purchase from the shop at a discount, and leave with a pretty skirt!

Beginners Patchwork with Ester Kiely (Hand Sewing) - 2 1/2 hr workshop by Ester Kiely where you will learn how to piece a patchwork block of half square triangles with directions on how to complete a full project.

 

Happy Sewing!

Pippablue - Fabric and Craft suppliers

Amy Butler Organic Yarn for Rowan

You know when a designer like Amy Butler teams up with a brand like Rowan, only good things can come from it! We already love her beautiful fabrics and her lovely sewing patterns, and now we get to go crazy for her new line of organic yarns and Midwest Modern Knits pattern book.

Midwest Modern Knits is a unique mix of fashion, accessories and home furnishings in Amy Butler's signature style.  Both the double knit and aran weight yarns are beautifully soft and come in  some truly yummy shades. Feast your eyes on these images or come down to the shop to see for yourself!

  

   
 

And last, but not least, the new Autumn Winter Rowan  Knitting and Crochet Magazine is in (No. 48) and as usual is full of inspiring photography and great projects!

 

Pippablue

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Andrea Parry who is the winner of our Amy Butler Giveaway! We look forward to seeing what you make with your pattern and fabric.

Thanks a million to everyone who participated in our giveaway and be sure to keep checking in for more fantastic prizes! And thank you to Michelle for being such a great host.

Pippablue

Charity Knitting

Just a quick mention for Innocent Smoothies' Big Knit. All you have to do to join in is knit some little woolly hats for their innocent smoothie bottles! For every behatted bottle sold in Ireland they will donate 25 cents to Age Action.

You can hop over here to download patterns and for more information on the Big Knit. We also have pattern sheets in the shop that you can pick up or if you send us an e-mail we can pop one in the post for you.

Also, don't forget to  include the kids. It's a great project  for beginners  and little helpers and innocent have some great prizes for the best looking hats!

Amy Butler Giveaway

The lovely Michelle from Michelle Made This is hosting a blog giveaway from our shop. If you pop over to her blog, and follow the instructions to enter a draw for an Amy Butler pattern, and a fat-quarter bundle of her beautiful fabrics. You can leave any comments regarding the competition on this blog entry.

And congratulations to Michelle who is featured in this months House & Home magazine with her deck-chair makeover!

Free quilt patterns!

If you are ever wondering what to do  with all your scraps of designer fabrics, there are some great free patterns you can find on-line to make beautiful quilts.

We especially like the ones by Amy Butler which you can find here. There are some great options, and so many fabric choices. Ger made a mini version of her Lotus Brick Path quilt. She chose a palate in greens, mustards and greys from Amy Butler's prints and her designer solids...

 

...and made this version.

The quilting was kept simple by going over the seams of each brick leaving a very soft quilt with a modern feel.

Another great site is the Moda Bake Shop. There are loads of great patterns from quilters around the world and  I was inspired to make this Stacked Coin Quilt by the talented Amanda Jean from Crazy Mom Quilts. (You'll have to excuse the pictures as the lighting wasn't great, and the camera died before I had a chance to re-take them)

I used fabric by Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Tanya Whelan and Heather Bailey in greens, pinks and yellows with white sashing. I made a scrappy binding with leftover fabric, and hand sewed it around the quilt. (It was my first time doing this, and I was very happy with the results and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would!)

It was also my first time trying free-motion quilting, which was harder than I thought, but definitely worth the effort. It's not perfect, but I love it ;) There are some great tutorials on how to hand bind a quilt, and also free-motion quilting  and much more at Crazy Mom Quilts and Cluck Cluck Sew.

Happy quilting everybody! 

If you have finished a new project this week, show and tell by adding a link to Lush Friday Linky Party and Amylouwho - sew and tell.

Pippablue

Pippablue - Mentioned in the Irish Times - Thursday 17th June

Pippablue got a little mention in the Irish Times last Thursday in the Galway supplement :)   Here's what they said:

Pippa Blue, run by Ger and Eva, is where you can shop for lovely stuff  but also pick up up the materials to knit and sew beautiful things yourself.

Middle Street, pippablue.com, 091-566972 

Beginners Sewing Classes

For anyone who is interested, we are running our Beginners Sewing Class again on Sunday 20th June. Places are filling quickly so if you are interested drop into the shop or give us a call to book your spot.  You will be learning how to use your sewing machine and we will be making a reversible market tote.

The cost of the class is 60 Euros, and that includes all materials. You will need a sewing machine, but no experience is necessary. The class runs from at Pippablue from 2 to 6.

Hope to see you there!

Make Sale at Pippablue

This June Bank Holiday Weekend, get making with our Make Sale. There is  20% discount on all fabrics, yarns and craft related products, this weekend. We have a great range of Amy Butler Patterns which are perfect for a Summer sewing project, including The Sun Surf Halter which is a good project for Beginners.

       

Or, how about The Field Bag, big  enough to use for a weekend away, or a trip to the beach.
Whichever project you decide on, we have the fabric to brighten your Summer wardrobe.

Happy Sewing!!

Spring Clean Sale at Pippablue

Sale on all our gift ware  starts today! Get 20% discount on all gifts and home ware, including Orla Kiely, Djeco and Uglydolls. Our sale ends on Sunday so hurry on down!