Luke at the Newark Museum

This past Sunday I had the pleasure in accompanying my friend Luke Hayes to the Newark Museum to see his art on view. Luke makes quilts and they are works of art, amazing layers of colors and textures creating photo realistic portraits. The Newark Museum purchased his 'American Gothic' queen sized quilt and it is now on display with multiple historic and significant quilts in an exhibition called 'Patchwork: from folk art to fine art'.  Luke and I had a wonderful day with our friend Ariel and meeting up with the curator Ulysses who gave us a private tour of the museum, saving Luke's piece for dessert.  It was well worth the wait! His quilt looked great in the gallery and was definitely an eye catcher. Ulysses said people will jump when they see it, because the image is so realistic they think there are actually two people standing there.

Luke standing next to his 'American Gothic' at the Newark Museum

a view of the exhibit and Ulysses, Luke, and Ariel

detail of 'American Gothic' courtesy of Luke Haynes

With all Luke's quilts, he uses recycled clothing as his fabric, mixing patterns, textures, and fiber content. He then creates high contrast portraits of himself, friends, historical figures, or everyday objects and machine appliques them on top of a traditionally designed quilt background. The result is a 2-D domestic object filled with depth and meaning, contemporary with a sense of strong history. You can see more of his work and read all about him here and on his blog.

A self portrait of Luke entitled 'Tradition' photo courtesy of Luke Haynes

posted by Sarah

DIY: Pullover Sweater into a Cardigan

Here is one of my favorite DIY fashion sewing projects: making a pullover sweater into a cardigan. I love cardigans because they are so easy to layer and taking them off means I don't have to take off my glasses or wonder what does my hair look like now! I have broken down the steps so you too can change that lovely sweater you never wear into you new favorite piece of clothing!
This is also just in time for my class ReClaim Your Closet I am teaching at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn on Saturdays in October. There is still room if you want to sign up and learn hands on sewing techniques to alter your own clothes.

Step 1: Make bias strips from fabric

My favorite technique in making a cardigan sweater is to use a knit fabric and cut bias strips to use as a binding around the cut edge of the sweater. Bias is the true diagonal 45 degree of fabric. You can easily find it by using a a ruler and a square. Draw diagonal lines the length of your sweater from neck to hem plus 2" of seam allowance. Each strip should be 3 wide.

Step 2: Stitch on either side of the center front of sweater

Find the exact center of the front of your sweater by laying it flat on a table and measuring equally from each side seam to center. Make a line of pins from neck line to hem.

Stitch on either side of the pin line with a size 3 stitch length. Then cut directly in between the two stitch lines. This will be your opening of your new cardigan.

Step 4: Bind the cut edges with the bias strips

Start by laying the bias strips face down on the right side of the sweater lining up the cut edges. Pin the strips to the sweater and stitch the bias to the sweater. Stitch about a half inch away from the cut edges.  

Now it is time to bind the edge of the sweater. Wrap the bias strip around to the inside of the sweater and tuck under a half inch of seam allowance. Pin as you fold under the seam allowance, then switch the pins to the right side of the sweater. Pin right along the edge of the bias making sure to catch the bias fold on the inside of the sweater.

Stitch right along the pin line, right where the the sweater and the bias meet. The stitches should catch just the edge of the bias fold on the underside.

Step 5: Last step hand stitch ends of bias

Trim the ends of the bias and tuck them inside. Then hand slip stitch the ends shut and give it a good press with an iron and your done!

Now you have a super cute cardigan sweater!

Stay tuned for more re-fashion DIY tutorials!

posted by Sarah