making caps

I just completed my first round of cap making. This is only my second experience working with jersey/knit fabric, but it was much easier than I anticipated. 

1. I started with two clean, soft baseball tees. I turned them inside out and pinned down the pattern. I found then even on a small womens tee, I could cut for two caps. 

2. Once the pattern was cut, I repinned all the pieces. The tutorial says to cut on the bottom hem, I found that it was tricky to get it even on both sides. But in the end it didn't make a difference. 

3. I sewed 5/8" seam on all sides. I trimmed the seam, turned the caps right side out and finished my tying a knot at the top.

Jenny will be teaching a workshop on how to make the caps at our workshop on December 7th. If you are unable to join us, we encourage you to try the project at home! Caps can be sent directly to:

Mama to Mama
c/o SouleMama
PO Box 8190
Portland, ME 04104
USA

We want to thank you in advance for all your support!

creat. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

a bit of history

For those of you completely new to the concept of Church of Craft, here is a great video and some interviews, all featuring the creator of COC, Callie Janoff.

Interviews:  by Oliver Irwin for Knit Knit

also  by Liz Zitron for Ready Made

and by Kirsten Hudson for 10x10 magazine

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

crafting for a cause

December Workshop

Caps to Cap Haitian Project

Mama to Mama has teamed up with Konbit Sante to gather infant caps to include in their Safe Birthing Kits. We loved the idea so much we decided to help too! As part of Church of Craft this month we will provide a tutorial on how to make the caps. 

About Konbit Sante:

Konbit Sante is a Maine-based volunteer partnership working to save lives and improve health care in northern Haiti. In Haitian Creole, a konbit is a traditional method of working together to till your friends' and neighbors fields as well as your own - a cooperative effort. Sante means health. The name defines their committment to address the staggering health problems in northern Haiti where most lack basic care and live without running water.

One aspect of their work involves OB/GYN care . Konbit Sante is working to assemble Safe Birthing Kits to be distributed by traditional birth attendants in the desperately poor Fort St. Michel area of Cap-Haitien. These kits - consisting of plastic sheeting, hand sanitizer, a sterile piece of string and razor blade, and these newborn baby caps - have the potential to reduce infant and maternal mortality, and give babies a safer, healthier start.

Some heart felt thoughts about the project from Sew Liberated. 

Donations for this Workshop: t-shirts, thread, time!

create. reflect. give back.

- Church of Craft Houston

calendar

Midtown Spirituality Center
FALL 2008 
Saturday 11/22 - We'll be back at the MIDTOWN FARMERS MARKET with our friends at Its Cool 2 Care. We'll have music to share and sewing goods from our friends in Bolivia to sell.

Sunday November 23 - IN HOME GATHERING & COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING - 5 to 7 - at Holly's (click here to request directions)

DECEMBER 2008
Sunday Dec 7 - Craft for a Cause - Sew Crafty 6:30pm 

Sunday Dec 14 - In home gathering at Holly's

Sunday Dec 21 - Mic'd Dissent - Open Mic Night in the Heights

Coming in WINTER 2009
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE - starting Thursdays in January

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston

Hello!

We are so excited to be able to bring the Church of Craft to Houston! So who are we?

Melissa Ireta, Craft Leader and Co-Founder Houston Chapter

Tanto Craft Studio, Owner

Melissa grew up with a super crafty mom and all about recycling dad. She has been creating and upcycling since she was a tiny tot. Her mom taught her to sew, crochet, make paper, decoupage, embroider. Along the way Melissa has learned to gocoo, needle felt, screen print, make jewelry and is always learning new things. She started tanto as a way to share her creations, although parting with them is difficult sometimes!

Melissa also works part-time at Sew Crafty, teaching craft classes, leading Mother-Daughter craft night and manning the desk on the weekends. She loves to teach and to inspire creativity.

Holly Ebel, Flock Leader and Co-Founder Houston Chapter

Director of Midtown Spirituality Center

Holly is a United Methodist minister who understands herself as an urban missionary.
She grew up in the United Methodist Church in Brenham, TX.
As a young adult, she grew disillusioned with 'the church'
While her faith in God never dissipated, her tolerance for organized religion did.

During her phase of disillusionment, Holly began the study and practice of other faith traditions. Eventually, this study led her back to Christianity and 'the church'.
She realized the teachings of Jesus Christ were impeccable.
As she returned to the church, Holly began to dream of ways to make the teachings of Christ and the Christian tradition accessible to others who were "turned off" by organized religion.

Holly received her Master's of Divinity Degree at Perkins School of Theology
at Southern Methodist University.
Here she received academic awards for adventurous and creative learning
as well as for preaching.

Holly is committed to the teachings of Christ, United Methodist theology and the way of John Wesley.

Her vision is to create a spiritual community that embodies the teachings of Christ in a bold new way.

create. reflect. give back.

-Church of Craft Houston