Michael Levine’s Special Kona Cotton Solids Sale for Online Customers Only!

Now is a great time to shed some light on the ever popular Kona Cotton, a staple broadcloth material amongst quilters and crafters for it’s universal appeal and large spectrum of colors. This weekend we’ll be having a sale online on all of our Kona Cotton Solids, so we wanted to share some ideas and pictures.

In case you are unfamiliar with broadcloth, it is characterized by a dense weave, which lends itself to sturdiness and long term durability. So as you can imagine, quilters choose this material for its ability to hold up to many washings and time, as quilts are traditionally handed down through families and generations as long lasting heirlooms. Not to mention the fact that it is 100% Cotton. If you know me well enough by now, you know that I am a huge advocate of natural fibers, especially for worn or slept-in items. I think blankets qualify. Nobody likes waking up clammy or damp. A material like Kona Cotton will give you the vibrant colors and long-term durability, paired with the added benefit of being a breathable, natural fiber that will ensure a comfortable sleep.

There are a ton of online tutorials and quilt patterns if you’d like to try your hand at a Kona Cotton Quilt. The most elaborate designs use analogous colors to create dimensional and gradated patterns.  This one here is an interesting take on a classic chevron. I like the simple instructions drawn out on graph paper, very clear:

Another notable, somewhat retro, design using Kona Cotton can be seen here. Or the Shattered Rainbow,which is here. The possibilities are endless. Just do an online ‘image’ search for “Kona Cotton Quilt” and you’ll be overwhelmed by choices.

But you aren’t only limited to quilts with Kona Cottons, I imagine them working wonderfully in both children’s garments or women’s dresses and skirts. And as the examples show, Kona Cotton works great for making bows and other semi-rigid items. You can also use a Kona Cotton Solid for any of the components in our pillowcase blog or the potato bag blog. Here are a few photos of garments that could easily be replicated using Kona Cotton Solids as the main fabric or contrast:

    

Whatever you decide to do or make with the Kona Cotton, it’s bound to yield pleasing results, and this weekend is a great time to stock up during our Kona Cotton Solids Sale!

Tags: michael levine, tutorial, make your own, rainbow, fabric, craft, make, quilting, quilt, blanket, cotton, material, sewing, garments, kona, broadcloth, children, kids, poplin, patchwork, heirloom, solid, color, bright, pastel, muted, analogous, monochromatic, pattern, sale, on sale, 20% off, 100% cotton, bows, do it

Look Who Visited Michael Levine’s – Marcy Tilton!

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting long-time designer and sewing world celebrity Marcy Tilton. Although I didn’t realize at the moment ‘who’ she was, when Marcy handed me her business card the name rang very familiar… I later realized Marcy’s name was famous to me from her work with Vogue Patterns. Aside from designing patterns, Marcy blogs and hosts a variety of workshops, classes, and tours – among them an exciting trip to Paris’ left bank in May 2012, suitably called ‘Paris Tilton!’

What I love about Marcy’s patterns is that they are all any-age appropriate, and if you’ve got an eye for classic styling and cuts, you will appreciate them. We’ve just recently added a nice selection to www.LowPriceFabric.com.  My ‘Top 3′ favorite Marcy Tilton patterns are these:

This asymmetric top/jacket (appropriate for all ages, and would be cute lengthened as a trapeze coat-dress!):

These cropped trousers (suitable for any woven fabric and so easy to pair up – you could dress these up or down, night or day! Plus there are three style variations):

And this asymmetric urban jacket (with so many different fabric options, it’s easy to get excited about it!):

It’s always refreshing to meet creative people who have found success doing what they love and who are just as interested in others’ work as their own. Marcy was very kind and intrigued by our operations and endeavors here. I highly recommend reading Marcy’s dissertation on fabric shopping, full of practical tips, found here. I hope you will pay a visit to our section dedicated to Marcy’s patterns; I’m sure you’ll find one that strikes your fancy. And who knows, maybe one of you will end up meeting Marcy in Paris!

Tags: michael levine, crafts, fabric, craft, do it yourself, home, garment district, shopping, crafting, material, fashion, sewing, marcy tilton, patterns, garments, guests, projects, visitor, celebrity, designer, paris tilton, paris, tour, vogue

Michael Levine’s Sweetens the Deal: Low Price Valentine’s Crafting Supplies and Valentine’s Day Projects!

Valentine’s Day and the month of February is always the time of year that we reflect on love and the special people we’ve been blessed with in life. Although many people would argue that Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, that could be said for any holiday. The true values of a celebrated day are becoming more and more clouded by the commercial world. Crafting, however, and making gifts from your heart are a sure way to hold onto what’s real and meaningful on Valentine’s Day, and what is priceless and cannot be bought: LOVE.

I’d like to share a couple of projects I’ve come across or made myself, that are prime examples of a perfect Valentine. You don’t even have to make anything functional; throwing together some nice materials in an artistic way with a lovely sentiment attached is really all you need to show somebody your admiration.

The first idea comes from Designed by Jane, and was featured on my previous blog entry about felt:
I just think this is so adorable and every little stitch and detail shows dedication and time. You could very easily embroider a sweet message onto the back – and voilà! Love delivered! You can shop our collection of eco-friendly felt, perfect for a variety of holiday crafts, here.

My next suggestion is something for the kids. My mother always supervised the making of home-made valentines for us to distribute to our classmates. Heart shaped doilies, Valentine’s fabric, some lace trim, red and pink construction paper, pinking shears, a bottle of Fabri-tac, and perhaps a little glitter is all kids really need to get crafty and show some love to their classmates. When I think of store-bought Valentines, I think of that song “Can’t Buy Me Love.” There’s just so much more dedication and affection that come with home-made Valentines. Plus, kids will love crafting their own Valentines, it will keep them out of your hair for an hour or two, and every one is happy! These are just a few of the many Valentine’s items we at Michael Levine’s have just added to our online store, www.LowPriceFabric.com!

      
Another idea comes from my previous blog about Personalized Pillow Cases. It would be very easy to adapt this project and incorporate some of our Valentine’s Day Fabrics and possibly use some of our eyelet trims instead of piping. You could even tie it up for presentation with one of our decorative ribbons and top it off with an adorable Cupid Brooch:

      
One more thing for the kids – or anybody for that matter – is a simple ribbon bracelet accented with a ‘diamond’ heart charm. You could add a clasp and it’s done!
This last project – I cannot take credit for, but – is certainly worth highlighting, is this lovely Heart-Shaped Mailbox for Valentine’s Day deliveries. This is a great idea for kids or teachers who want a fancy little place to receive their Valentines.
Again, this project would be a nice use for many of our Valentine fabrics (some are priced as low as $4.00 a yard!), and you could always trade out the scalloped edge for some lace or eyelet trim!
      
So whatever your Valentine’s Day plans are, and whoever receives your affection on this special day of love, hopefully you’ll find a place in your heart for some good, old-fashioned meaningful home-made gifts! And if not, if Valentine’s Day just isn’t your thing, you can always show some love for Arizona, whose Centennial Celebration of Statehood is this February 14!

Tags: button, charms, chiffon, craft, crafts, creative, cupid brooch, day, diy, do it yourself, eco-fi, eyelet, fabric, felt, flower, glue, heart, ideas, make your own, michael levine, project, puff, ribbon, unique, valentine, valentines

Question of the Day…Michael Levine’s asks “What is Chenille?”

So we had a little confusion here last week regarding fabric descriptions and what makes a true Chenille fabric. I always thought of chenille as being that super soft and slightly velvety feeling yarn that have commonly been used to make knitted blankets and throws. Last week when we were working on uploading products to the site we came across an issue. We kept going back to these items that were initially labeled Chenille. As the day went on and we encountered a true Chenille we realized that we were dealing with two different products and so the research began.

Here is what we found…Chenille, by definition, is the French word for ‘caterpillar’.

In textile terminology, it describes a yarn or a fabric made from yarn that is fuzzy in texture or has a velvety quality. The fabric piles used to create chenille are most commonly cotton. However, chenille can also be made of other fibers as well.

So while we love true cotton Chenille what we we have uploaded to the site is this super soft Minky. It is a polyester fabric with many patterns and textures, one of them being a Chenille.

http://www.lowpricefabric.com/p-1601-minky-chenille-stripe-ml14215-white.aspx

It is great for baby blankets, robes, and more. The other great thing about Minky is that you can get the look of Chenille, but it is much easier to take care of and cost 1/2 the price. Take a look at the new Minky that we just put up.

 http://www.lowpricefabric.com/c-239-minky.aspx

Tags: blanket fabric, chenille, michael levine, minky, quilting fabric

Modern Eco Felt… the possibilities are inspiring!

This week we are taking a closer look at the modern improvements and technology in the world of felt manufacturing, as well as fresh ideas on felt crafting. With a few simple web searches, and visits to a few Etsy shops, I’ve become quite riveted and impressed with the “new wave” of felters out there!
First and foremost, the new Eco-fi felt was what started it all for me. We added it to the web site this past week and it’s pretty awesome! Here’s why: made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, this stuff comes in a huge array of vibrant colors, can be machine washed and dried, is fade resistant, cuts without fraying, and can be used for all kinds of both sew and glue projects.

Secondly, this super cute book called Felt Friends just came into our store and oh, how I wish I was a giddy 12-year-old again, so I could sit at home with free time to make these silly cute felt pets! This paired with an assorted variety of the Eco-fi felt would make a great gift for any crafty girl who loves Japanese style cuteness!

A lovely heart like this, as well as the “Over the Rainbow” brooches pictured at the top, are Designed by Jane, and are great ideas for a home-made way to show your Valentine some love year-round. To view the entire gallery of Jane’s past works, click here.

Doing a few searches on Google yielded plentiful ideas and adorable displays of talent. I love all these felt cakes! What a sweet gift to give for a friend’s birthday, or any holiday for that matter!
And lastly, with the holidays right around the corner, there’s a plethora of Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa crafts to be made! You could easily adapt this idea of a felt advent calendar to represent the ideals of Kwanzaa also. It would be fun for kids of all ages to make as a group project (older ones cut out shapes, younger ones glue) and everyone can enjoy stuffing the pockets with treats – and of course – eating them too.
In conclusion, there are so many possibilities with the new Eco-fi felt, and now is a great time of year to get started exploring them!

Tags: advent calendar, badge, brooch, cake, Chanukah, Christmas, classic, crafts, cute, eco-fi, felt, hand, kawaii, kunin, Kwanzaa, project, rainbow, recycled, stitchery

Holiday apron and the perfect tool to help make it super easy!

One of my favorite elves brought in this apron today and I just love it. The print is so fun and quirky and the colors are not that of your typical holiday print.  Green, lavender, pink & red may sound crazy together, but here combined with just the right amount of gold it really works.

Besides showing me this fantastic apron our elf reported on a new tool she found in our Notions department. It’s called Turn-it-All. She told me that it made making the neck strap and the tie at the back a cinch!

In 4 easy steps you can turn so many items inside out. Since it has 3 different sizes it’s perfect for the apron shown, as well as Spaghetti straps, scrunchies (great easy gift for your tween!), doll parts, and any thing that needs to be turned inside out after you sew it.

For $10.00 this tools seems like a steal. Find it online at http://www.lowpricefabric.com/p-1971-turn-it-all-ml203015.aspx

Tags: Apron, holiday gifts, owl, tools, turn-it-all

The holidays are coming…

Yesterday as I was walking from my main office to the internet office, as I must do 20 times per day, and I realized our ML elves have been very busy. As the holidays approach, they have been putting up new sample projects to get our customers inspired. I just wanted to share some of these projects with you . They range from super simple (I’m talking a great skein of yarn, some big needles and some cellophane) to ones that the more experienced sewers out there might like.

If you’re looking for an easy gift idea, here are a few that I really love….

We have many beautiful skeins of yarn that (with 1 skein) you can make a beautiful scarf. The directions are included. Just add a large pair of needles (check the pattern to see what size is called for) and a pretty basket and your set. Great and super easy gift for the holidays.

We carry so many great books as well. If they love to knit, add a knitting one:  

If they like to crafts, try a fun felt book:

And I could go on and on.  What about filling a basket with fabric? Here are just a few of our pre-cut cotton bundles that make great gifts for your friends who like to quilt:

Lastly here is one of our cute sewing baskets. Have fun filling it with various items from our notion department.

Okay now for those of you who want to make something for those special someone in your life here are a few options…

I will start with the easy ones and work my way my up to the more advanced sewer…

We have so many fun polar fleece panels, from kids characters to sporting teams. These can simply be cut and used as blankets, especially for the kids, or you can finish the edges off.

Want your own grown up throw? Try lining this amazing, super soft faux fur.  I’m sure your honey would love to snuggle up under one of these.

Love to quilt? Look at this amazing flip flop quilt….Who wouldn’t love to get that!

I also really like this cute holiday flannel blanket:

Two other great holiday gifts, very pretty & completely usable are table runners and pot holders. While they may sound old fashion with all the amazing choices in fabrics at the store they won’t be dated. You can make them as cool as your imagination lets you. Here are a few holiday ones our busy elfs just finished…

Thanksgiving table runner

Pot holders and an adorable place mat

Okay just when I thought your tour was done I saw a few more goodies…

Love these Ugg-like baby booties. If you have any extra yarn around these would make up so quick and what a perfect gift for anyone with a little one.

If you crochet here are 2 great little purses that all your friends would love to get.

Okay so that is it from the Apparel store. I will be checking out the Home Decor store in the coming days. I hope our elves are hard at  work over there as well!

Tags: books, booties, fur, gifts, holiday, pot holders, purses, sewing baskets

Rest Your Head On A Personalized Pillowcase!

Making a pillow case as a gift, to donate, or for yourself is a wonderful way to bring a personal and unique story into someone’s sleeping space. I like to make pillow cases for my close friends and loved ones for holidays and birthdays, or when they are setting out on a journey or moving to a new place. A pillow case is easy to make, it’s small and packs flat, and it can be made very special just by the unique variety of materials you choose to combine. What’s a better place to rest one’s head than on a one-of-a-kind, made-with-love pillow? Or, if you are looking for an easy weekend project and are interested in sewing for a cause, there is the “1 Million Pillowcase Challenge” hosted by AllPeopleQuilt.com. Here are some pictures of the pillowcases Denise made using their “Roll-It-Up” pillowcase method:

I recently made a pillowcase for a friend who was moving to the southern Pacific island of Palau. I chose an appropriate variety of appealing cotton prints from Michael Levine’s, all with an island air, in a palette of sea greens and azure blues, and featuring tropical foliage, birds, and flowers. It isn’t the first time I’ve made a pillowcase as a “Bon Voyage” gift, because as I mentioned before, a gift for this occasion must be practical and pack flat. He later wrote to me and said “I had to stay in a shady motel the first night, so your pillowcase saved me!”

Before you begin, be sure to choose fabrics that are 45″ wide, 100% Cotton. You may also want to pre-wash and dry your materials to prevent uneven shrinkage. I recommend that cotton prints be machine washed in warm water and tumbled dry on warm, and then pressed smooth with an iron on the cotton setting.

1. Cut the fabric using this guide, although you will probably be using different fabrics for each piece:

You will need:
7/8 yard of main FABRIC A
1-1/2″ x 45″ strip of piping FABRIC B
3/8 yard of band FABRIC C

2. Press both band and piping strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together:

3. Place main fabric (A) right-side-up, design facing you. On the right-hand edge (which will be a 45″ edge), layer the piping strip (B) and then the band (C), all raw edges aligned on the right. Stitch together using a 1/2″ seam allowance, then serge if you wish. If you would like a no-serge pillowcase method, check out this video.

4. Open and press band to the right, while pressing piping strip to the left:

5. After pressing, topstitch 1/8″ from left edge of band:

6. Fold pillowcase in half, right sides together, wrong sides out, aligning both ends of piping and band. Edges should form squared corners. Starting at top right corner of picture below (band edge / pillowcase opening), stitch and back-stitch, then stitch long edge, pivot at corner , and stitch short edge. Serge if you desire.

7. Iron seams flat, turn pillowcase right side out, and press and steam all seams flat/smooth from outside. You may want to launder once more before using, to soften it up a little.
8. Lastly, if it will be a gift, I like to add a ribbon or bow. Fold or roll up the pillowcase, and tie it with a ribbon or a coordinated strip of silk georgette like I did:

Next time you are looking for a very personal and meaningful gift to give, I hope you will think of this tutorial and give the gift of sweet dreams!

Tags: case, custom bedding, home sewing, make your own, pillow, pillowcase, tutorial

Michael Levine’s Halloween Costume Contest for Employees

Last Saturday, October 22nd, we held our annual costume contest in the store for all Michael Levine’s employees. Each employee was given a $25 store credit to put towards fabric and supplies for any participating halloween costume or apron. In order to be eligible for a prize, we had to be able to work in our costumes all day, and they had to be completely hand made – no ready mades or store bought costumes!

At 8:45, fifteen minutes before opening on Saturday morning, all of the “contestants” lined up at the front of the store and paraded in front of our judges/store supervisors, fellow employees, and insiders/photographers like myself. They came to the front, stated their names and Halloween personas, and worked the catwalk as much as they could for ten to twenty seconds. By the end of the work day, winners had been selected and were announced and given prizes:

Alex, First Place

This is our First Prize Winner, Gaga Miranda, a.k.a. Alex, from our buttons department. His completely hand made cabana queen costume won him the GRAND PRIZE, and, as you can see, in the background his peers enjoyed the performance! Alex says he “was up until 2 a.m., the morning of the contest,” finishing up his costume. He used curled boning and horsehair to accomplish some of the finer details of his headdress, as well as tulle and sequined glitter mesh for the majority of the costume.

Rosie, Second Place

The second place prize went to the Queen of Hearts, a.k.a. Rosie, from our wholesale department. She stormed onto center stage with her commanding glare and dramatic eyebrows, which is honestly so far from the cheerful every day Rosie, that at first I didn’t realize it was her! Rosie used red velour, sequined glitter mesh, and a white feather boa, among other things, and completed the look with a fabulous pink dodo bird croquet mallet.

Jose, Third Place

The Third Place prize went to Pinocchio, a.k.a. Jose, one of our floor clerks. His costume was great; he used assorted colors of felt, feathers, and faux suede, and I loved his tree-branch nose with birds and leaves and a nest! He even had Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder!

Happy Birthday Pilar!

And now for some honorable mentions… A shout-out to Pilar. I like to say that she is a ‘pil-lar’ of our community here because we all enjoy her fun, lively spirit! Saturday happened to be a special day for her. Happy Birthday Pilar from all of your friends and co-workers!

Definitely worth mention and probably a close contender for one of the prizes was Ursula, a.k.a. Raquel from our Home Decor store. She floated into the spotlight in full character, arms raised and wickedly sneering deep sea threats as she twirled her tentacles! She really was scary!

It’s always neat to see the creativity that’s under the surface amongst our crew. Look what they came up with! Clockwise from top left: Karen as a Hobo, ‘La Vuida Negra’ Rosa (the black widow), Orange M&M Carlos, Pink Lady Elsa, Tanya as the Goddess Athena, Israel the Zombie, Gangster Alicia, Mariachi Jocelyn, Native American Shelly, and American Soldier Blanca.

And last but certainly not least, the Halloween aprons that the girls in our buttons and notions departments came up with were very crafty and cute!

All in all so many of the employees turned up in costumes, helping bring fun and celebration to the store and inspiring others to let loose and have a good time!

Tags: carmen miranda, contest, costume, employee, gaga, halloween, michael levine, pinnocchio, queen of hearts

The Loft, our across-the-street annex where fabric remnants are just $2.50 per pound!

Many frequenters of Michael Levine’s aren’t aware that we have a fabric-by-the-pound store right across the street from our main store, and above our home decor store. In the Loft, you will find boxes and boxes of orphaned fabrics that aren’t on rolls or boards; they are simply left overs from job lots or other sources, and we bring them here to liquidate. At the Loft, all fabrics are $2.50 per pound, with a minimum purchase of one pound. This on average equates to costing much less than $2.00 a yard!
The Loft boasts high-ceilings, a big open feel, and afternoon sunlight streaming in through its many windows. Fans are blowing, and boxes upon boxes of mixed fabrics invite you to have a dig through. A little time and patience, and a discerning eye, is all one needs to score big at the Loft. Your finds are simply taken to the scales near the Loft’s main entrance, weighed, and charged at just $2.50 per pound.
This past Sunday, I was lucky to meet one of the Loft’s devoted fans, Kim, from Los Angeles, who had nothing but great things to say about the Loft. “I can ALWAYS find at least one piece of something amazing on any given visit. And Michael is EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT,” she says of our friendly staff member, who heads and manages the Loft’s daily operations. “He remembers the things I’ve picked up in the past, and always has recommendations for me based upon those.” The dress that Kim is pictured in below is “entirely Loft, straight down to the trim!” she exclaimed.That’s right, you can find trims here also…
…as well as large thread cones for $1.00 each!
And larger fabric remnants are folded and hung on racks:Or they might be rolled and stored on shelving at the rear of the store:
Either way, you’re sure to score on your next visit, because every day is a good deal day at the Loft! Be our guest, the Loft is inviting you!

Tags: apparel, bulk, buy, by the pound, fabric, fashion, loft, material, michael levine, per pound, remnants, sewing, supplies, textile, thread, trim