Wear What When

Shop Class

The Field House presents free Sunday workshops

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 04, 2010 at 10:30AM 4 Comments

A felting class led by upcoming Blackbird instructress Ashley Halvey

While on a Sunday afternoon expedition aimed at procuring vintage flannels, American-made loafers, and rustic/now-wave housewares at Field House in Ballard, you might find yourself getting schooled.

Field House/Blackbird proprietress Nicole Miller is accepting students for four one-day workshops in the month of March.

Here’s a quick pass at what’s being offered; all courses are FREE and begin at 3p.

SUNDAY, MARCH 7
Wine of Piedmont, Italy: Culture and Tasting with Michael Teer of Pike and Western Wine Shop and western/

SUNDAY, MARCH 14
Bike Maintenance and Preparation with model employee Tyler Johnson

SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Age-Old Wet Felting Techniques with Ashley Halvey.

Here’s where (as far as I’m concerned, things really get good.) I met Halvey, a recent transplant from LA and SF who basically defines the nexus of art and style, via Totokaelo where her simple, elegant, of-the-earth necklaces are now sold.

Felted wall hanging by Seattle artist Ashley Helvey

Her line of sustainable, all-natural, traditionally produced felted rugs is called Danken. With these pieces, and with collaborations with ubercool Iko Iko in LA and Creatures of the Wind, Halvey’s craft goes beyond beauty to include global perspectives on history, culture, and the environment.

And then you gotta love the opportunity to sit around with some of Seattle’s sharpest style minds and apply elbow patches and tidy up old sweaters. Check out the last class in the March line-up:

SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Mend & Measure: Save money, save your favorite garment, consume less with Blackbird’s owner and resident needle-wielders Lauren Wang and Sue Weibler

As Miller points out, “in the old U.S. Navy, sailors had one day a month called ‘Mend & Measure’ where they were excused from their duties to launder and repair their clothes.” Let’s see Petraeus bring that one back.

Blackbird’s owner, who learned the art and craft of darning and repair work from her Grandmother, suggests you bring anything from* tattered socks to jeans and buttonless shirts.* The Blackbird team can help you figure out the best way to approach each repair job because really, the motivation and fuel for task completion is often found inside the group effort and community vibe. Attendees can bring mending supplies or share ones brought by the instructors.

Email info (at) blackbird.com for more information, or call 206-297-6093

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Tags: Locally Made, How To, Heritage Brands, Ballard, Workshops, Blackbird

Let’s Get RE Sourceful

Free workshop at RE Store helps brides and grooms get crafty

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 03, 2010 at 07:20AM 1 Comments

Slideshow: Create cake platters, candlestick centerpieces, ring boxes, name card displays, and more at RE Store’s Salvage Bride workshop on March 13

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Slideshow: Create cake platters, candlestick centerpieces, ring boxes, name card displays, and more at RE Store’s Salvage Bride workshop on March 13

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Bair and her husband-to-be aren’t interested in a ring pillow per se, but a vintage coffee can and some hat pins could do the trick. She also thinks a group of these would make a charming presentation of escort cards and table numbers.

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Bair used discarded cabinet doors and chalkboard paint to create some sample signs. Speaking of paint: Recycled and DIY projects can be tricky if you’re not well-versed in safety matters. Bair and her associates know all about staying clear of lead-free paint and other potential downers. It’s that kind of expertise that makes this workshop especially appealing.

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Chandelier pieces and light fixture parts make great candlesticks and votive holders.

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Rachel Bair and outreach and marketing manager Sarah Krueger in RE Store’s classroom. The store hosts many workshops in this inspiring and motivating space, but I believe the March 13 course is the only one that includes tea and cake.

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Downstairs in RE Store’s salvage shop, you’ll find all manner of inspiring materials. As Bair puts it, “There is so much material here, the only problem is staying focused on one project.”

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What could you do with dozens and dozens of doorknobs?

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Or a collection of hooks? Bring your ideas, dreams, and tool belt to RE Store to sound out projects and get to work.

Got crafty designs on your wedding day decor but feeling unsure about sourcing materials, operating a screwdriver, and/or achieving an Amy Atlas-like ultraperfect atmosphere?

First, drop the notion of ultraperfect. It’s just not useful, or fun. Second, RSVP for Salvage Bride, a workshop led by the expert recycling-crazy repurposers at RE Store on Saturday March 13 from 10a – 2p.

Leading the day o’ DIY is Rachel Bair, RE Store’s shop manager and a June bride. She’s also the unofficial Project Lady. People come to her with “what if this?” and “how would I do that?,” so as she began plotting the decor projects that would lend personality and memorable details to her own big day, she figured she should use her employer’s light-filled second-floor classroom space to share resources and ideas with other engaged folk and party people.

Salvage Bride is intended to help you find and transform previously used materials into cake stands, candelabras, cool signage, name card displays, and really, anything your ceremony or reception requires.

Check the slideshow here for some projects that Bair was elbow deep in on the day I met up with her, and then email sarahk (at) re-store.org to reserve your spot on the 13th.

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Tags: Design, Weddings, Receptions, Locally Made, Seattle Vintage, How To, experts, Ballard, Workshops

Taking your Pills

Or better yet, leaving them. The experts tell us how as fall/winter clearance sales continue

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:00AM 6 Comments

Half price at Margaret O’Leary: Unpilled sweaters (and gratis tips on how to keep them that way)

I have a thing about pilly sweaters. I have a thing as in I hate them. So when I stopped by Margaret O’Leary recently to get the details on their current sale (50% off all classic cashmere, and 50% off all F/W chunky wool sweaters, luxury cashmere blends, and draped, boxy, directional cuts), I took the opportunity to chat with store manager Nisa Trehearne about her favorite pill fixes. And then I followed up with a few more retailers to bring you the first Wear What When How To.

Nisa likes those pumice stones for de-pilling, and also reports that she’s had good luck with the little sweater shavers you see at drug stores. She points out that you have to lay the sweater flat on a smooth surface and not attempt to shave the sweater you’re currently wearing. Bad move; causes snags.

At Butch Blum, Kay Smith-Blum, an ardent knitwear wearer if ever there was one, has this to say: ‘I use the small comb meant for depilling – I pick them up in Italy usually, but have seen them in sewing shops too. You can also use the masking tape lint rollers – and the best preventive measure is to hand wash all cashmeres in cold water. Drycleaning is too much heat, and results in breaking fibers. I would not recommend the vacuums. Angora needs to be stored in freezer to keep fibers from flying in your eyes when wearing. Any time you have a chance to buy double face wool, cotton, cashmeres, do it! They never wrinkle! And fold your knits – never hang!’

I’ll add on Kay’s behalf, and yours, that F/W looks by Marlene Birger, Tumi, Culturata, and more are 40% off.

Next up, thinking of the shawl collar cardigan on our November Spree page, I went to Patricia Wolfkill at Merge. Here’s Pat’s practical and simple advice: ‘I just trim the pills off with scissors. I’ve never tried the shavers, but I’ve heard they work on sturdier pieces — I suspect they would pull on the weave of more delicate cashmere. I do know that you shouldn’t PULL the pills off, it just drags on the weave, creating more pills.’

You may recall that there’s a killer sale going on at Merge as we speak.

And finally, I wanted to two cents or so from Totokaelo’s Jill Wenger, since that’s where I purchased the Junya Watanabe cardigan I am hellbent on protecting. Jill says, ‘I remember the first Tom Scott cardigan I bought. Special. Somewhat conceptual. 100% cashmere. And it pilled after the fist wear. And I was devastated. Come to find out that great knits pill. It’s not a reflection of quality. The weave makes a difference (how thin is the thread they are stitching with? Is it bundled into yarn before knitting?). And additives – like 50% cashmere 50% nylon. Soy and bamboo are also fibers that don’t pill, so good blenders. And then I pay attention to designers. Some designers/clothing lines just do a better job at containing the pilling than others. If you have a favorite sweater that’s held up well, stick with that maker. APC is my go-to non- pilling sweater brand. Thinner sweaters are less likely to pill. Big heavy sweaters tend to just shed. It’s that medium weight knit that’s a doozie for pilling. I don’t have a great fix as I’m a low maintenance gal — well, not too low maintenance because the one fix that I can recommend is the dry cleaners. I ask them to de-pill when I clean. But now-a-days I mainly just buy sweaters that are 1) a lighter weight, and 2) a blend and 3) a brand I trust. Because I too hate pilling.’

And again, the sale at Totokaelo? Don’t sleep on it.

Now what about you? What’s your best trick for keeping the best sweaters free of pills?

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Tags: sale, How To, cashmere, butch blum, merge, totokaelo, experts