As the winner of Project Runway, Season 14, Ashley Nell Tipton has elevated the conversation about plus sized fashion, purple hair and being true to yourself. Throughout the season, Ashley continuously pushed herself while battling self doubt and anxiety. Growing up as a “fat kid” struggling with dyslexia, Ashley learned to sew from her grandmother. After working at Torrid (a ... Read More The post Ashley Nell Tipton {Podcast Episode # 106} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

  For my 2017 sewing challenge, I am exploring garment sewing. After January’s Linden sweatshirt, I decided I wanted to build upon my skills in a more solid way. I didn’t want to sew up patterns, potentially struggle with fit and then be done. I wanted to fully dive into the subject. (Anyone else like this!?!) Starting in the middle of February, I ... Read More The post Springfield Tank Top {Garment Sewing Challenge} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

I came across the Social Justice Sewing Academy on Instagram and asked for an interview from Sara Trail. I knew it would be a perfect fit for my {make a difference} series! And stay around to the end… there are ways you can help (beyond monetary donations!) Why did you start the Social Justice Sewing Academy? My family comes from ... Read More The post Social Justice Sewing Academy {make a difference} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

Samarra Khaja designs fun and clever creations. Whether it’s her fabric line, Geogram for LECIEN, her sewing project book, Sew Adorkable, or her coloring book, Off the Bookshelf, Samarra always makes me smile with her ingenuity. If you want a current supplement to our podcast, you can read more about her in this month’s issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting. It published ... Read More The post Samarra Khaja Interview in Love Patchwork & Quilting appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

Jen Hewett is a San Franciscan printmaker, surface designer and textile artist. I ran across her work during her Print, Pattern, Sew series. Since I had made a few garments myself and taken two block printing classes, Jen was combining two of my budding interests into one personal challenge. She would often make pieces with large scale objects, which is also a passion ... Read More The post Jen Hewett {Podcast Episode # 105} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

My dear friend gave birth to her baby boy, Benjamin! The fantastic part of having a scheduled cesarean procedure is the ability to schedule the baby’s arrival. It *should* mean that your friends have plenty of time to finalize your gifts… in theory! After debating several different quilt blocks and colors, I felt such pressure to make something as special ... Read More The post Benjamin {patchwork throw] appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

A few week ago, I had the privilege to take a Small Piecing class from Chawne Kimber. When she posts pictures of her small pieces on Instagram, I am amazed while also thinking she’s just a bit crazy. How does she piece so small!?! Despite feeling I would never be able to make something so small (or I would be ... Read More The post Small Piecing with Chawne Kimber and Olfa {sponsored post and giveaway} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

For makers like Timna Tarr, the use of color is an intuitive process. They may train in art or graphic design but their underlying sense of color is innate. I remember coming across these two quilts by Timna: I could tell there was a story behind her quilts. Little did I know  we shared a history of growing up in ... Read More The post Timna Tarr {Podcast Episode # 104} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

Being an incredibly curious person, I tend to remember things about people and carefully file them away for future use. My Alison Glass mental file folder is large. Between our podcast last year and the Designer Profile in Love Patchwork & Quilting, I feel like I could produce a podcast of just me talking about Alison! When it came time to schedule ... Read More The post Alison Glass and Chen Wu {Quilty Box March Podcast} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more

As I come across ways for us as makers to support our community, I will share them on the blog. My first exploration into how to “make a difference” came from Jeanne Hewell Chambers. When she contacted me about her 70273 Project and I was immediately intriqued. As much of our collective history seems to be lost in the rhetoric ... Read More The post 70273 Project {make a difference} appeared first on Crafty Planner ..read more