Sewing, knitting, embroidery, easy and fashion blog

Winter begins to be felt timidly in this early 2016 ... the perfect time to get back to knitting!

Since I give knitting lessons (it's been 6 years!), I had a lot of people completely beginners, ie which start from zero. This allows me to make you a basic tips small summary if you feel the urge to begin knitting.

1/ The basis

What do you need to start knitting?

- A pair of knitting needles

- A ball

- A very easy pattern

2/ The pattern choice for beginners

Very important ! It's the first thing you need to find. It is important to start knitting small as this can be very frustrating to quickly begin a long scarf and realize in the middle we lost the motivation to finish it.

I suggest you start with adult accessories or ultra-easy baby clothing. The easiest beginners stitch is the garter stitch. You can also test the jersey stitch but for the ribs, you'll see it later!

The snood (or neckband) and mittens are ideal to start. See eg  Sorlin Snood with needles 15 and Triad mittens with needles 6. It's straight on and all in garter stitch. No reduction or increase but a quick super nice finish!

For a baby clothing, I recommend the Paul vest, slightly more complicated than the accessories (you will have to increase by several stitches) and needles are a little finer but clear explanations will guide you easily to the final sewing and you will be proud to offer this little jacket to a baby. It is also available in kit.

3/ Select the ball

Choose what is commonly called  the "wool" is not so obvious. You will find balls in many haberdasheries with very pretty colors but unfortunately not containing 1 gram of wool!

- The material:

I made the choice to offer you on the website, only knitting threads with a majority of natural material.

The material may be: from the sheep wool  (mostly merinos, very soft), recycled yarn from different materials, alpaca (slightly hairy and warmer), mohair (cloudier), cotton (lighter for summer) or even cashmere and silk.

For beginners I suggest you buy a ball of 100% wool, 100% recycled or 100% cotton (if it is for the summer or for a baby). Other wools are more expensive and sometimes it is less clear to observe our meshes or unravel without nodes (alpaca and mohair particular).

Our special beginners knitting balls:

- The thread size:

It is very important to well choose the thread thickness to begin knitting! It is even essential.

The wool ideal thickness that I recommend to begin knitting is for needles 5 mm up to 15 mm.

The needle number is always shown on the ball label (see below):

4/ Choose the pair of knitting needles

The pair of knitting needles number depends on the yarn you've chosen (and if you were paying attention, so printed on the ball label). The knitting needles numbers match their diameter in millimeters. They range from 2 mm to 25 mm or even 30!

There are also  différent needles shapes: straight, circular, double-pointed ...

The circular and double-pointed needles have been developed for seamless circular knitting: hats, gloves, mittens, socks, etc. But interchangeable circular knitting needles new lines (Knitpro line for example) can be very practical to knit straight works (in two-way) and circular, no need to buy both straight needles and circular needles! They need a small starting supplementary budget but they be used all your life.

For beginners, if you do not yet know if you and knitting that's for life, I suggest you opt for straight knitting needles 25 to 35 cm long. 25 cm is a minimum and for small works for babies and children.

You will also have the choice in the knitting needles material! Increasingly type of needles exist and that's good.

There are metal needles, used since time immemorial, they have the advantage not to break but can be heavy (in addition to knit), too slippery to begin, noisy and cause allergies.

You can choose also in wooden needles: bamboo or birch.

Wooden needles are much lighter than metal and do not let slip the stitches. Bamboo remains fragile for small sizes needles (2 to 3.5mm) but the birch is one of the toughest! See our range of 100% birch Basix Birch Knitpro needles. In addition, the wooden needles are very pretty!

It remains plastic needles that I prefer not to propose, they cling too much wool, stitches do not slide well and the feel always appeared to me unpleasant. By cons they do not break and are also very slight.

The baby knitting kit of the pretty striped sailor sweater Augustin is out!

This small model has to be knit simply from the bottom up, starting with a few rows of ribs 1/1 then some jersey. The body is knitted in one piece, alternating stripes is easy! The sleeves require some reductions, but this model remains accessible to beginners.

The Breton sweater has to be knitted in this beautiful Ambiance de Fonty wool, an ultra-soft wool (it's normal, it's Merino) and that can be washed without problem by machine.

The sailor strip sweater model sizes go from 3 months to 2 years. You only need 2 balls to the bottom and 1 ball for scratches to the 1 year size.

The kit comes in a cute recycled bag with:

Plus: you choose yourself your colors! If you want an ecru background with yellow mustard or blue background with gray stripes, it's time!

You start sewing and looking for help to learn to sew online? We offer today a small blogs and websites overview  for beginners and more savvy dressmakers to help you answer all your sewing questions:

• Thread & Needles :

Thread&Needles Thread & Needles is the reference community website for sewing and knitting. The site was created in 2010 by passionate about sewing, now the site has been widely enriched. Very interactive, volunteers regularly publish articles on the blog:

♦ Keeping you informed of the latest patterns and sewing books releases,

♦ Introducing a seamstress or a tailor with interview,

♦ Giving desire with projects that inspire,

♦ Showing a technique, sewing or knitting tools,

♦ Presenting an artist, an exhibition related to sewing or knitting.

As a community site, the big advantage of T&N is to offer an account where you can post your sewing & knitting projects. You add a title, an image, a link to your blog and other people in the community can interact with you via comments and private messages.

Your project is then referenced in the gallery. Each member may vote and may become the "popular of the week" project.

The website also contains very active sewing and knitting groups. Notably by region, allowing you to organize or to meet other real dressmakers or knitters in your corner.

These groups can also allow you to answer your questions about sewing or knitting technical problems.

The + : Thread&Needles is a very complete website as you will understand. It allows to virtually or actually meet bloggers through project presentations.

• Artesane :

Artesane is a new website created by the talented blogger Annie Coton . The principle is to offer sewing and knitting online classes and it will increase with arts and crafts.

Several recognized teachers therefore propose a course related to their field of choice.

The platform Artesane is beautiful and well done. Most courses are paid (and that's normal considering the work) but you will also find free lessons. Many videos workshops will emerge during 2016 have to watch closely!

The +: Artesane also contains a nice "newspaper" including clear tips on cloth or special sewing techniques, in particular. The illustrations are very well done and the approach discusses in depth techniques.

• Couture Débutant :

This blog was created in 2015 by a young sewing instructor Margaux.

Couture Débutant, is first to overcome the issues and redundant problems of its sewing beginners students. It notes that the problems of sewing beginners are always the same and there are very few site dedicated to the first steps.

Since then, the blog growed and Margaux offers:

♦ Super simple sewing DIY to not be afraid to begin it,

♦ Its patterns and magazine testing,

♦ Its best addresses both on the web than real,

♦ A Youtube channel offering basis support for amateur fashion designers.

The +: The universe of its blog is cool and pleasant. It makes you want to put it right away now even if you were born with two left hands, with these step by step tutorials, you are sure to get there!

• Crafty Bitches :

This vintage and quirky look blog is full of good sewing ideas with supporting tutorials.

There are as well many basic sewing lessons as customization DIY.

There you will find a wealth of information to choose your sewing machine, sewing a particular fabric, but also make everything simple accessories like a headband, a collar, etc.

The +: the blogger's humor. The articles, both for sewing in mood editorial or general web articles are really funny!

• Petit Citron :

Petit Citron is a small community sewing site. It was created by Perrine Colignon in 2007. She wanted to set up as a virtual sewing club.

The site offers in image sewing techniques, but also free simple patterns.

To participate, send your projects, technical ideas, etc. Just create an account on the site.

The +: the Petit Citron blog is full of tips and inspirations for sewing. It is a mine of information interesting when you start!

Summer has arrived, it's time to present our sales! We handpicked over 130 items on sale.

There is something for everyone and all passions:

Fabrics, artificial leather, mesh fabric and devoured fabric, all our embroidery canvas!

But also laces, braids, trimmings with fringes...

The Gueret wool from Fonty, Almond from Cheval Blanc but also some Valgaudemar Spinning Mill cottons...

Many of us look for the perfect swimsuit for this summer... And if we would go into sewing a unique and original one?

We noticed the success of our swimsuit clasps and hooks, adjustment buckles and bra rings.

All this little equipment needed to swimsuit and bra sewing seems difficult to find in France. So, we are headed to look for providers to expand our range and to summarize for you the useful material.

Basic equipment for sewing lingerie (any type):

- Stretch thread

- Jersey needles

Swimsuit

For a swimming suit, you will have to find the mat, or shiny, or patterned super stretch Lycra fabric. From our side, we have not yet found the perfect quality to offer you ...

For hems, we add an invisible and sea water resistant, very flat elastic, I appointed the framilon !

To fasten your swimsuit, we released a multitude of metal or plastic back clasps .

You could also sew  swimsuit pads to bring more structure, we have some flesh colored or white.

Underwear

To sew your underwear (bra and panties, tanga, boxer...) you need some very soft jersey fabric containing a small amount of elasthan. We advise you to take organic cotton knitted fabric which will be very soft to wear.

For straps, you will have to sew yourself from the same fabric and elastic, or buy ready-made. We can provide by the meter transparent elastic straps, double sided, white and pastel colors:

Good news, to adjust your straps and attach them properly to the bra, we offer a wide choice of colors and materials:

- the adjustment buckles

- the straps hooks

- the straps rings

If you want to sew a bra with underwiring, we also have the sizes choice of  straps rings and also of  armature protectors .

To fasten your bra on the back you can choose between:

- the by the meter  hooks strip flesh coloured, white or black,

- the white hooks sold by two with elastic

You can also find our  bra extenders over there.

Well now you have the basis for your underwear, but if we talk about ornament, you can add a wide, thin elastic lace or then border with a mat tape, satin or chiffon as bias (but very elastic).

- the wide  lycra elastic laces : blue, pink or green sequned, gray or white.

- the  thin elastic laces , with picots or scalloped.

- the  matt, satin or chiffon pre folded strips .

Also find over there our white or ecru linen bows.

Little more to keep your underwear or swimsuit strapless (also useful for strapless dresses) the by the meter silicone tape !

Not too fast, no pressure it's currently (still) holidays for the most lucky among you! the opportunity to review the snaps fasteners with you.

There are a variety of these buttons but, you'd like to put on a sleeping bag, a bib, a bag or even a shirt and you can not choose?

We make a summary of everything that exists here. We would also compare  Kam clamp and  Vario clamp by Prym . These are the two best known clamps used for laying snaps.

Snaps to sew

In plastic, they are very convenient to lay, available in black and transparent in many diameters. We propose

- Pryms from 7 to 21 mm available transparent only,

- black or transparent from 7 to 13 mm

- colored 21 mm and 17 mm

- leather imitations square or round.

Made of metal black or silver (sometimes bronze). These buttons are generally sold in packs of 6. These are the cheapest in the range. By cons, they can be a little bit difficult to clip / unclip.

The snaps-fastener strip is also handy when you want to quickly sew by machine a length of snaps. As pants or bloomers baby crotch for example. 

These snaps are a little bit slow to put because you have both sides to sew passing many times with the thread in order to hold well. But it is the most economical and you will not need clamp.

Snaps to lay with a clamp

These are the simplest buttons to lay! if you hate sewing a button and buttonhole, the easiest way is to put a snap with clamps. After the first snaps laid, you will not be afraid of those famous clamps.

The plastic or resin snaps are the last of the range and best known today.

The  Kam clamp allowed the easy to lay resin snaps development. They are available online in many colors and forms: star, heart, little and big circle. We have chosen to introduce the tranparent KAM snaps.

Prym recently, too created his easy to lay snaps called Color-Snaps . These snaps can be laid with the Vario clamp by Prym , multipurpose but surprisingly less known than the KAM clamp (yet less expensive and versatile).

This Prym clamp allows to lay many types of snaps that can not the KAM:

- The Color snaps . They are made of colored plastic with a metallic interior. The Buttons box is more expensive than plastic but they are sturdier and will hold better in time. Beware though, this series has been stopped by the manufacturer, we sell them until the end of stock.

- The new Color-Snaps , which replaces the Color. Available in 40 colors. The color-snaps will both be laid on the jersey on the woven. Be careful to enought press in order to lay the snap because they are slightly lighter than previous. They are suitable for all types of medium weight fabrics.

- The anorak snaps , perfect for coats. They are all made of metal.

- The jersey snaps with claws on ring, pearly or with a disc, used to be laid on stretch fabrics such as knitted avoiding tearing during use.

- The riveting snaps . very professional and in several colors. They are also very strong and ideal for coats, bags, pouches and rigid fabrics.

The Prym Vario clamp also has the advantage of being able to lay  eyelets and  rivets or even trousers hooks. So, It is much more versatile than the KAM clamp:

Lace, guipure, these so fine and delicate materials remain timeless. This is the time to offer you tutorials and inspirations we have gleaned here and there on pinterest. pinterest.

Lace adorns wedding dresses forever but we also find it in recent years to customize the everyday clothes in order to:

- edge a sweater bottom,

- make beautiful materials contrasts on shorts or a skirt,

- add openwork to the cardigan sleeves,

- decorate small accessories: scarves, stoles, headband, cases, bags, etc.

To find your happiness, we have updated all our lace and guipure on our website,

Lingerie lace, Calais lace, elastic lace, guipure, openwork scales, a large variety is available for you if, like us, you love the lace!

You have with lace or guipure pretty achievements ideas? Share them with us on  Instagram ou Facebook

To begin this new school year, we offer this big promotion:

All our plain cotton fabrics -50% discount.

In all, 14 colors 5 € per meter instead of 10 €.

So here we go for sewing new pockets, purse, skirt and accessories!

In addition, these cotton fabrics are available from 10 cm.

We are working on our basic plain fabrics ranges to offer you beautiful materials, always of high quality with trendy colors ...

We are seeking in particular to diversify our certified fabrics ranges OEKO-TEX 100 (perfect for babies) and organic cotton fabrics. To keep you informed of our upcoming finds, you can follow our Facebook page or our Instagram account.

It's getting cold, so we think winter, coats, knitwear?!

What would you like to sew for this winter 2016/17? To help you in your investigations, we introduce you our selection with beautiful novelties !

Buttons for coats

Our coat fabrics:
wool and boiled wool

Knitting kits

The velvet milleraies

Image term translation:

boutons en corne pour manteaux : horn buttons for coats
kit tricot: knitting kit
laine bouillie de luxe: luxury boiled wool
lainage pour manteaux: woollen for coats

Our wonderful luxury red, black and blue boiled wools will be perfect to sew you a coat this winter. These boiled wools are 100% wool of very beautiful quality. Metal, wood, horn or marble buttons are ideal for winter coats and jackets.

Don't forget our brandebourgs , these straps can be sewn on a pea jacket, cape or coat and can give a very chic effect. We have brandebourgs to sew in leather or imitation leather.

If you want to start knitting for this winter, we propose you

some Knitting kits for beginners !:

Very nice accessories like the Pavel hat kit with its mohair wool, the Sorlin snood kit in XXL wool and the minute mitts in recycled French wool. Stay informed about the release of the new knitting kits during winter around here.

the sewing skirt, poncho, jacket and sweater patterns made by A&A can be good sewing project ideas for this winter.

And you, what would make you dream of sewing for this winter?

Being an adept of beautiful natural wool and knitwear , this subject particularly affects me. People often ask me: why don't you offer cashmere in a ball?

Here are some arguments to explain you, evoked in particular by my dear spinning Fonty:

1/ Cashmere goat produces very little wool: 100 to 150g. The mohair goat is rather around 3.5kg. You need some cashmere goats to make a sweater! Basically, we multiply the necessary grass area by 20.

2/ Goats pull the grass to the root, unlike sheep.

Cashmere production is naturally in fragile areas: Gobi and Altai steppes in Mongolia. By increasing demand, the development of livestock farming is leading to desertification that is close to an ecological catastrophe:

The Gobi Desert progresses about 500 meters per year.

3/ The extra-fine Merino wool is of a casi softness comparable to cashmere! But here it is, it has less good reputation, is cheaper and resellers make less margins...

Yet this merino wool is now found in each of the balls 100% natural wool from our French spinning mills . The treatments currently allow a washing machine operation at 30°, what more could you ask for? Note that the hottest wools are yak, alpaca, mohair and merino instead of cashmere.

If you are interested in the subject of cashmere, this video will teach you more:

Cashmere, alpaca, mohair...What differences?

This subject affects me even more because Mongolia does not even benefit from its cashmere wool, considered the most beautiful in the world! Indeed, Mongolia does not have the industrialization capable of transforming cashmere into yarn on a large scale nor to knit them... Everything is sent to its neighbouring country (1st cashmere producer in the world): China.

So it's decided, not only I still don't sell a ball of cashmere wool but also, my next sweater will be merino wool!

What do you think of that?