Need a gift for the sewing enthusiast in your life?
We might suggest one of our favourite things:
Liberty Print Baby Quilt Kit
Fabric Basket Kit
Fat Quarter Bundles
Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit
Merchant & Mills Bamboo Point Turner
Merchant & Mills Wooden Folding Ruler
Merchant & Mills Dressmaking Pins
Merchant & Mills Easy Thread Needles
Merchant & Mills Spanish Lace Pins
Merchant & Mills Studio Scissors
Our new Liberty Baby Blanket Quilt Kit is now ready! It is perfect for the DIYers who are looking to make that perfect gift for a little one or new parents. This kit includes a selection of 4 coordinating Liberty prints for the quilt top, Liberty fabric for the binding, a perfectly selected backing, and thread for the hand quilting portion. We offer this in two colorways and include a PDF instructional guide. The simplicity of the quilt design showcases the beauty of the Liberty prints, and the softness Tana Lawn provides is perfect for little ones.
Finished Quilt measures 35" wide x 52" long
]]>The Camber Set pattern by Merchant & Mills is a great choice for those new to garment making. The pattern comes with two options, a top and a dress. We chose the Merchant & Mills Boston Fall Linen to sew up the dress version of this pattern. One of the great things about the pattern is how quickly it comes together. While it is a simple pattern, the bias bound front neckline, the back yoke and back neck facing add thoughtful details to this pattern. The back neck facing also provides an opportunity to showcase another fabric, we chose to use the Liberty Eleonora Cfabric. The Camber Set is a versatile pattern that would be a great staple pattern in your collection. We can not wait to make another one in the Merchant & Mills Cobalt Linen.
]]>We've been busy creating some new sewing kits - our next one is this beautiful Fabric Basket Kit, which includes everything you need to make your very own basket! These baskets are 35cm long, 25cm wide, and 20cm tall.
We will also have pre-made bags available for sale, so if you don't sew, not to worry!
The Merchant and Mills Jack Tar bag is popular amongst sewists for a reason - this bag is stylish, fun to construct, and holds everything you'd need to tote about! From books and a laptop, to all your crafting supplies, it's got you covered.
We have created kits that contain everything you'll need - the Dry Oilskin Fabric, Leather straps and necessary hardware.
Our latest sewing sample is the Wikstein Bloomers - they're just so adorable, we couldn't stop making more of them. They're cut higher in the back to fit over a diaper just right, and the elastic waist and leg openings make them easy for toddlers to pull off and on by themselves. They'd be perfect with a sweater and leggings for cold weather wear!
We've chosen Robert Kaufman Linen, and the Liberty Prints for our samples!
One of the new patterns we received from Merchant and Mills is this easy-to-wear and easy-to-make Dress Shirt. The shape is relaxed, loose and very comfortable - inspired by a classic gentleman's shirt. This is a great beginner pattern that will flatter all body types.
Featuring beautiful and subtle tailoring, we cut the yoke on the bias for visual interest and lined the bib and yoke in a luxurious Liberty of Lawn - only a fat quarter* was needed! (*for sizes 12 and smaller)
We shortened the hem to tunic length so it can be worn with leggings or skinny jeans but the pattern would look lovely at dress length - perfect as your pool side cover-up!
Please feel free to swing by the shop if you have any questions about the pattern or need help selecting fabric!
]]>Use scraps to make this drawstring bag for your projects. Project from A Cuppa and a Catch Up.
This baby quilt made by Sew Sweet Violet uses perfect touches of different Liberty prints as accents. Original pattern from Amy Sinibaldi's Sweetly Stitched Handmades.
Use your Liberty scraps to dress up your old furniture, like blogger Sew Sweet Violet did to her craft organizer.
Pretty up your phone case with a pop of Liberty floral. Project from Cut Out + Keep.
A Liberty headband will add a touch of class and colour to your hairstyle. Project from Polkadot Chair.
Looking to dress up your plain walls? A Liberty gallery wall is a cute solution, especially in a sewing or craft room! Project from Flossie Teacakes.
Add a touch of Liberty to your decor with these whimsical butterfly cushions. You can view the project and get the pattern featured on Alice Caroline's blog here.
Liberty Christmas baubles are perfect little gifts for Liberty lovers and makers alike. Find the project from Alice Caroline here.
Create this cute and secure pouch using English paper piecing. Tutorial on Where the Orchids Grow.
Upcycle your old jewelry with this Liberty Bangle Tutorial from World of Ladies Liberty.
At Eweknit, we have over one hundred fabrics from Liberty of London, all of which are available by the half yard and as fat quarters! From the classic floral prints that are iconic of Liberty to unexpected motifs like barn yard animals, unicorns and pineapples, we have a massive selection of Classics, Seasonals and Specialty fabrics available in our online Liberty Store and our shop at 832 Bloor St. West in Toronto.
]]>If you follow us on Instagram, or have visited the store recently you may have noticed a new project we've been very excited about! For the last few weeks we've been working on these baby dresses that combine simple hand sewing techniques with basic crochet stitches. The results are adorable, and so easy to make. They're a great way to feature a really beautiful print in a cotton lawn fabric from designers like Heather Ross, Liberty Fabrics and Lizzy House, and are a quick and easy way to gift something special for the beautiful baby girl in your life. As you can see, we've already made a whole closet of them for our little girl!
Lovely floral blooms and tiny colourful snails cover this dress, sewn with Wildflowers from the Sleeping Porch collection by Heather Ross.
The skirt is wide enough to hide a pair of shorts or a diaper so they're great for playtime, but look sweet enough for a visit to grandma's. We've brought our girl to playdates in her dresses and she loves showing them off. We really love it's classic shape because you can really change up the look depending on which yarn and fabric you choose. We're picturing it in all white as the perfect flower girl dress for a summer wedding, or with a gingham skirt for an adorable first day of preschool outfit.
Yoke crocheted with Shibui Staccato in Velvet and skirt in the colourful Liberty Tana Lawn Posy Landscape. We love the contrast of the smooth cotton lawn with the soft lacy crochet yoke. you want to go as soft as possible for the yarn because it will be against such delicate skin.
Response in store to these little dresses have been so positive in store, that we've decided to share the process with our customers! We're excited to announce a brand new class that offers step-by-step instruction on how to hand sew these little dresses. The class does require students know basic crochet techniques, but no hand sewing knowledge is required! It's also a great class for learning the foundations of hand sewing, a craft that has endless possibilities. The best part is, we'll teach you how to customize the size of your dress, and the required materials will make a dress to fit up to a 2 year old. Don't worry about measurements, just bring in a dress that fits your baby girl and we'll help you size her new dress. Picturing the dress on someone a little older? No worries, you'll just require extra fabric.
This delicate paisley is Liberty Fabric's Lana Lawn in Marky.
We'll help you select all the necessary materials, which include a skein of lace weight yarn, crochet hook, 1/2 yard fabric from Heather Ross or Liberty Fabrics, hand sewing needle, Mokuba ribbons for finishing, and hand sewing Aerofil thread. We have a nearly endless selection of darling fabrics to choose from, so arrive early to make your choice!
Sign up now to learn how to make a custom dress for the little ladies in your life!
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1. Thread: An obvious one, perhaps, but often overlooked in favour of fancier notions. We carry Mettler 100% mercerized cotton thread in a huge array of colours. If you're setting up a kit for someone else, we recommend including a few different colours as well as the classic white and black.
2. Scissors: These Fine Needlework Scissors by Addi are a shop favourite. Their elegant shape and shiny brass plating are classic and their blades are snip-sharp. These are perfect for keeping next to a sewing machine or tucking into an embroidery bag. They're also small enough to travel with on an airplane, which is a nice bonus.
3. Needles: What needle you need depends on a few different factors. These Clover needles for hand-sewing and embroidery and feature golden eyes sized for various thread sizes. If you're worried about getting your thread through there, we also carrying needle-threaders.
4. Pins: Absolutely indispensable, pins are a part of just about all sewing. These are Clover silk pins, which glide smoothly through fabric with no snagging. We also carry longer Clover pins and, so your collection doesn't end up in a jumble, very handy Clover pin keepers.
5. Tracing Wheel: This one is less of a must-have, but it's definitely handy if you're thinking about garment sewing. This Clover serrated tracing wheel helps transfer patterns to tracing paper, making it easy to make copies (or multiple sizes) without buying multiple patterns or spending hours and hours cutting.
6. Seam Rippers: Pretty self-explanatory really. We're not saying you're going to make mistakes that require ripping, but, well, you'll probably sew seams you'd like to rip out, so... These are also very handy when it comes to getting the thread out of vintage buttons and the like, if you'd rather think of them that way.
7. Fabric Pencils: Need to mark a line on your fabric that won't later be hidden by a seam? These Clover fabric pencils come in multiple colours (all the better to see them on your fabric) and will come out in the wash. We also carry coloured tailored chalk, which is great for simple lines, but a little less precise than a sharpened pencil.
8. More Scissors: These OLFA scissors are seriously heavy-duty (they cut Kevlar!) and are perfect for cutting fabric. We also carry cutting wheels, but if you don't have a surface at home that can stand up to the wheel blade, these scissors are an excellent choice.
If you don't want to put together your sewing kit, there are a number of ready made alternatives. Merchant and Mills have some small kits that are wonderful for beginning sewists and for those who want to supplement their toolkit.
And if you need help assembling the perfect kit, stop by the store and we will help! Are you ready to get sewing?
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Simplicity pattern sewn with Liberty Fabrics' Mitsi Valeria Tana Lawn Cotton
We're finally starting to see some warmer temperatures here in Toronto, and those hints of spring have us dreaming of a bright, new, spring-y pieces for our closets. Dresses, tunics, tops, and tanks: there are so many exciting new patterns this season, we cannot wait to get our shears out and start creating a brand new wardrobe.
For warm weather wardrobes, our favourite fabrics to use are cotton lawns and lightweight chambrays. And lest we forget: florals, florals, florals. Lightweight woven fabrics drape beautifully and their weight makes them great for layering under cardigans or jackets.
So in the spirit of spring and renewal, we wanted to give you a look at how our style has changed from what we were wearing in Spring '16 to what we have planned for Spring '17.
First up: our all-time favourite wrap dress and 2016 staple, featuring a pattern by Simplicity. We've made this dress in several prints, but we especially love the bright red floral of Liberty Fabrics' Mitsi Valeria Tana Lawn Cotton. The dainty floral print is just darling on this swingy dress.
Next from 2016 we have this simple shell that was super easy to sew using the pattern Sorbetto by Colette and Liberty Fabrics' Kitty Grace Tana Lawn Cotton. We added these tiny bow neck closures to add a little detail to balance the simple cut and paisley design.
The next blouse is a great casual but darling piece that we love for the weekend or casual workplaces. It uses Jasmine by Colette Patterns paired with Liberty Fabrics' delicate floral Elizabeth Tana Lawn Cotton. We like how the dainty flowers compliment the blouse's tie collar detail.
Now for what we're really excited about. This season's new projects! The Cambie by Sewaholic dress is just fabulous and we know it would go smashingly with Heather Ross' Sleeping Porch Cotton Lawn in Moth's Twilight or Liberty Art Fabrics' Archive Lilac Tana Lawn Cotton, it's just a matter of choosing. Which would you pick?
We are also looking at making Reglisse by Deer and Doe using a soft print such as Liberty Fabrics' Tana Lawn Mabelle, Tea Leaves, and Space Rain. Another tough one! Looks like we might have three of these in our future. We plan on finishing them with Mokuba 1150SK ribbon and Mokuba 4655 Elastic for the elastic waistband.
We can't forget the men in our lives when planning future projects, and we've picked out this classic button down pattern Negroni from the Walden series by Colette. It's a great pattern to let a quality chambray like the Chambray Stellar Collection by Andover Fabrics really shine.
And because spring isn't all flowers and sunshine, we've planned a couple stylish basics in dark neutrals that are work appropriate and can easily dressed up or down depending on the accessories and occasion. The beautiful Pulmu High Waisted Pencil Skirt by Named Clothing has great lines and untraditional seaming that give an otherwise classic pencil skirt its sophisticated flare. We're pairing it with Brussels Washer in Black by Robert Kaufman to make a staple piece we'll wear long past the Spring '17 season.
What new wardrobe pieces do you have planned for the upcoming season? Tag us here, on Instagram, or pop in the shop and show us! We love to see your inspired work and share it with our followers.
Happy sewing, and till next time.
]]>It's still August, but there is a definite feeling of fall in the air. Part of that is the back-to-school reminders we see everywhere, but there's no denying the coolness in the air in the evenings or how the days have grown shorter. Don't get us wrong: Like almost every crafter, we love the fall, but summer... it's hard to let go of. So this year, we're going to try and take some of it with us, in the shape of summer-fun fabrics and yarns, and projects to match. Join us?
We are year-round knitters, but our needles definitely get a little extra click as fall arrives. Koigu, both KPM and KPPPM and the DK-weigth Kersti, is a staple for us, and as were getting ready for fall it's no wonder we're looking at all the bright, glorious colour and seeing our fall accessories. We'd love a Meandering Shawl in Koigu KPPPM brioche, or a Fluid Slouchy Beanie in Kersti.
While not technically a tied to summer, we've really increased our stitch work this summer, and there is no doubt that Sashiko is to credit for it. This Japanese embroidery technique is stunning on its own, as a wall hanging or cushion cover, and adds incredible detail to hand-quilting and gorgeous details to clothing. We carry a number of Sashiko samplers, as well as the thread, needles, and thimbles you'll need to get started. We can't wait to take our summer obsession with us into the cozy days of fall (and winter!)
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Sleeveless: Tank-tops can be surprisingly versatile, and once you get a sense of how you like yours to fit, you can whip up a bunch, changing little details to keep them all unique. This is a relatively modest top, with its crew neckline and full shoulder, but the back details and fabric choice (Liberty Tana Lawn in Kitty Grace E) keep it fun, and make it a great piece for transitioning from the office to a patio. We made this by modifying Collette Patterns' free Sorbetto, which is a great place to start. For other sleeveless styles, the Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank has a great casual, swingy shape; Deer & Doe's Datura Blouse has two great variations and fun back details; and for something a little dressier, Victory Patterns' Ava (view B) is lovely, and can be as modest or daring as you choose.
Short-sleeves: Who isn't on the hunt for the perfect T-shirt? Something that's effortless to wear, comfortable, but still looks put together... This is Colette Patterns' Jasmine, (this one sewn up in Liberty Tana Lawn in Elizabeth A) and it's hitting a lot of our buttons right now. The shape makes it perfect to wear with jeans, but it also tucks smoothly into a high-waisted skirt, and the tie detail is pretty fun (and designed for limited fussing when you're wearing it). For a more casual woven t-shirt, we can't resist Grainline's Scout Tee; new-to-us designer Liola Designs' Luna Top offers the opportunity for some fun colour-blocking as well as three variations (sleevless, t-shirt, or long sleeves). If you're after a good jersey-knit tee, both Deer & Doe's Plaintain Tee (free pattern) and Sewaholic's Renfrew are tried-and-true, and would be gorgeous in some Liberty Dufour Viscose Jersey.
Tunics: For ultimate easy dressing, tunics are a must-have. Perfect for layering with jeans or shorts on the weekend, they double as beach coverups and, in the right fabric and longer sleeves, as a slightly warmer layer in the evening, all of which makes them holiday-packing staples. This one is Sew Liberated's Schoolhouse Tunic (with a couple of variations), sewn in the holiday-themed Libert Tana Lawn Isle of Wight A. Wiksten's Tank and Tova (whose neckline we mimicked here) both come with tunic variations, and we're also big fans of A Verb for Keeping Warm's Endless Summer Tunic, which includes pockets!
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Adorable! The dress is sewn in Liberty Tana Lawn (Wild Flowers C) and the straps are crocheted in Valdani hand-dyed embroidery thread, with a ribbon backing for stability.
Last week, we got the urge to whip up a couple of little dresses. These are quite similar in style, with the bodice being the main difference. In the first one we opted to sew the bodice in the same fabric as the skirt and then crochet flowers for the straps (they're backed with ribbon to provide stability). In the second dress, we gathered the skirt to fit the size we wanted and then crocheted he bodice and straps, sewing the two together at the end. Both of these dresses are done in Liberty Tana Lawn, and need just a half-yard each, making them a fantastic way to try out a print you love or use up the end pieces from a larger project.
Bodice crocheted using Manos del Uruguay Lace. The skirt is Liberty Tana Lawn in Mabelle.
We whipped these up without any specific pattern, based on the measurements of their intended recipient. For construction details, come in to the shop or send us an email.
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This baby-sized quilt is very simple in its construction, which is perfect for showing off special fabrics, like this Liberty of London Lauren C and the lovely and subtle Cotton + Steel Kerchief print. Essentially, this quilt is two beautiful pieces of fabric and some batting — a very beginner-friendly formula for your first quilt or your first try at hand-quilting. All the stitching in this quilt was done by hand using Anna Maria Horner pearl cotton thread, which has a subtle shine that helps the stitches pop on the floral print. Hand quilting is a very satisfying and meditative process (not unlike knitting, actually) and it comes with the added benefit of working with the quilt spread out in your lap, which is very cozy!
Our second quilt is a bit more traditional and definitely still doable for an adventurous beginner (we're working on putting together a template, but if you're inspired right now, Jeni Baker's Triangularity quilt is quite similar). We really love the way the textured colour of the solid colours plays against the prints. In order to keep the focus on the piecing, we quilted this along the triangle lines, which is very subtle on the front and offers some nice symmetry on the back. This is a throw-sized quilt, and we can't wait to curl up under it with knitting at our side.
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Patterns really don't get any easier than this! It's a simple t-shirt with a gentle A-line shape, a banded scoop neck and set-in sleeves that comes together in an hour or two. The pattern offers a few different sleeve options that include short sleeves, 3/4 length sleeves and long sleeves. She even provides an option to add fun elbow patches, which have been all the rage this year! We squeezed this t-shirt out of a yard of fabric so stuck with the short sleeves but love the idea of long sleeves with contrast elbow patches for the Fall!
We used the Liberty of London viscose jersey in Dominic C and ended up with a sweet little statement t-shirt that we love! They are truly a delight to work with and wear! However, they do have quite a bit of stretch so we found that we had to shorten the neckband a little to make sure that the neckline lay flat.
If you've never worked with knits before then this pattern is a great place to start. It's also a great place to give these lovely Liberty fabrics a try! Now, having tried this fantastic Deer and Doe pattern, we can't wait for the others to arrive in the shop!