The Winter Trees. Natalie’s Garden.Thank you.  A Note from Natalie: I’m sending this note while en route to Paris with Collection #67: Natalie’s Garden in tow, headed for the spring presentations. While these forty-eight new styles travel to their unveiling at the Palais-Royal, Collection #66: The Winter Trees launched online this past Tuesday. The ever-unfolding succession of… Read on

Collaborations. Collections. Embroidery.A note from Natalie. I’m sending this out from Salem, Massachusetts—where fall is approximately 566 miles north of home. When packing for the trip, I began thinking about the idea of seasons traveling at approximately 15 miles per day or 100 miles per week with the rotating axis of the earth. This puts Salem approximately… Read on

August. Whirlwind Month. (And we’re only halfway through.)A note from Natalie. I hope this finds you all well. I’m writing from my kitchen, back doors flung open to a cool(er) morning—foreshadowing the change of seasons. I spent the morning making lists, updating my calendar, reminiscing on the last week, and looking forward what lies ahead.  First… Read on

View our full schedule details here (and add an extra day or two to your travel plans for adventure). The Factory: Daily ToursEvery Monday – Friday @ 2:00pm CST ______ 2023 July 21 – November 26, 2023New Orleans: Fashioning American Exhibit @ NOMA ______ October 16 – 20, 2023Patternmaking Workshop @ The Factory ______ November… Read on

Above: from The Quilts of Gee’s Bend by William Arnett, Alivia Wardlaw, Jane Livingston, and John Beardsley; quilts by Loretta Pettway. Photograph by Abraham Rowe. The 2023 Project Threadways Symposium will be held April 20-22 in Florence, Alabama. In-person and virtual tickets are available—purchase yours here. ORIGINS AND VOICE OF THE 2023 PROJECT THREADWAYS SYMPOSIUM… Read on

Project Threadways and Alabama Chanin are excited to present the 2023 Friends of the Café Dinner featuring chef Nicole Mills, the Chef de Cuisine at Pêche in New Orleans, where she focuses on working with local fisherman and farmers who harvest sustainably. All proceeds will benefit Project Threadways. Tickets are $250 per person for an… Read on

Pictured above: Detail of The Shoals Area; map via AllTrails In her book, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety, Sarah Wilson explains how walking helps calm her anxiety and balances the nervous system. In the chapter titled “Slow…” her declaration, “I’m also a mad hiker,” appeals to my heart and… Read on

THE COLLECTIVE: TEXTILES AS COMMUNITY In 2019, and after 20+ years of planning and work, Natalie and the Alabama Chanin team officially formed Project Threadways as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to record, study, and interpret history, community, and power through the lens of fashion and textiles. That year also marked the inaugural Project Threadways Symposium, now an annual… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love.@alabamachanin What We’re Watching (via @swissmiss): Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint from Kino Lorber Films. @kinolorber Learn more and watch the full documentary here. Explore Hilma af Klint’s work and legacy as one Sweden’s most experimental and influential artists. Weekend Digest: “Dealing with Dignity… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love.@alabamachanin Natalie Loves: Emma Thompson in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. #oscarworthy Stream the film on Hulu (and watch for a scene featuring one of our favorite hometown hits, “Always Alright” by the Alabama Shakes).  Read: “Emma Thompson and the Challenge of Baring All… Read on

September 12, 2022 marks Natalie’s 61st birthday, and we’re raising a glass to celebrate this special day for Alabama Chanin’s founder, fearless leader, creative director, jack of all trades, and H.B.I.C. (lovingly proclaimed head b*tch in charge—with the t-shirt to prove it). All of us at Alabama Chanin wish Natalie a beautiful, vibrant, inspiring, celebratory… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love.@alabamachanin Closely Crafted is a newly launched non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing craft in the American fashion industry. By nurturing artisan equity and critical awareness of the craft, Closely Crafted is working to build a sustainable future for our industry and empower the… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin “Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.” —Yoko Ono Summer Living: The Poe Dress | $1,498 The Poe Dress offers a feminine silhouette with a v-neckline, a double tie closure, a fitted bust, and a gentle flare through the body. This sleeveless wrap dress… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin The Washington Post: “Florence, Ala., offers Nashville’s soul and flavor, without the hassle.” Read a recent profile on our community of The Shoals via @washingtonpost. Plan your trip to The Shoals, and explore upcoming events @ The Factory and within our community.  Inspiration:… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin The Perfect Tees: A word on our favorite tees from Erin Reitz, Alabama Chanin’s Design Director (and t-shirt lover). The Boxy Tee | $138 Fabrication: Medium-Weight Cotton Jersey (Organic + Domestic) Fit: Boxy with a slight crop, traditional short sleeve “I love the… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin Natalie Loves: Bed, a limited-edition booklet by Maira Kalman released on the first morning of Summer. @mairakalman “What is better than bed?There is no place I love more.The precise, ecstatic momentof getting into bed.The covers. The pillows.The womb. The cocoon.Beautiful blissful bed.” —Maira… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin Summer Nights: A new capsule collection from Alabama Chanin. Explore the hand-painted “Summer Nights” motif on organic lightweight cotton, new waffle essentials, and evergreen staples for all of summer’s adventures. Featured:  The Summer Nights Coverup | $418Sustainability + Care: 100% Organic Lightweight Cotton… Read on

This week’s installment of Stories We Love highlights our latest collaboration with Heath Ceramics (@heathceramics). Watch for more inspiration and stories from the development of the Echo collection coming up on the Journal. Natalie at Home: Photographs by Rinne Allen (@rinneallen) Alabama Chanin x Heath Ceramics etched dinnerware. @heathceramicsMuir Flatware in Tumbled by Heath Ceramics…. Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser: “When women are storytellers, the human story changes.” @elizlesser Learn more about Cassandra Speaks and purchase a… Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. InStyle: “Peek Inside Alabama Chanin Founder Natalie Chanin’s Gorgeously Curated Home”. Explore the new feature on Natalie’s home and kitchen… Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on Instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. (P.S.— Explore our inaugural Stories we Love post here.) InStyle: “Peek Inside Alabama Chanin Founder Natalie Chanin’s Gorgeously Curated Home.”… Read on

Introducing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. Congratulations to @cedric.burnside on his @recordingacademy win and to the whole @singlelock family for a year of award winning sounds…. Read on

2021 marks the tenth year of our annual review, looking back on the highlights, and accomplishments, of the past year.   We are grateful for the opportunity to do what we love for another year—being stewards of sustainability, sharing inspiration, creating designs and experiences with our family, friends, colleagues, and guests. We recognize that many of… Read on

In the spirit of the holiday season, we are reminded:   “Live by the Word (your word, your heart, your humanity, your humility, your best self, your fear, your higher power) and keep walking.” —Alice Walker  Revisit Alice Walker and Living by the Word here in this essay from Natalie.   And also follow Natalie’s journey here through Alabama Chanin’s 21 Years… Read on

“Much of the social history of early America has been lost to us precisely because women were expected to use needles rather than pens. Yet if textiles are in one sense an emblem of women’s oppression, they have also been an almost universal medium of female expression. If historians are to understand the lives of… Read on

“Serial in production, social in philosophy, circular by design, and faithful to longevity, Natalie’s collections signalled that international fashion could break the industry’s seasonal cycle and come from anywhere, even deep in the heart of Alabama where quilt-making became a movement at Gee’s Bend one century before. Local and global while defining a contemporary version of Americana… Read on

Tomorrow, we continue celebrating 21 Years, launching a collaboration with our friend and forward-thinking maker Diana Weymar of Tiny Pricks Project. The Alabama Chanin x Tiny Pricks Project is a collection of 21 one-of-a-kind jackets, each embroidered with lines from a poem titled Twenty-One Years. The poem, using words and sayings from twenty-one years of work, was written in a collaboration between… Read on

“Natalie and her team lead with the heart. The passion they have for people and mother earth is palpable. It is evident in everything they do – from fabrics to food, from hospitality to home goods, from workforce development to the way they share the work of others they admire.” —Malia Mills, swimwear designer and… Read on

Left: “Inspired By quilt”, 2014 by Beth Shibley, Los Alamitos, California, contributor Quilt Alliance with accompanying essay “Flags of Hope” essay, by Natalie Chanin, published in Talking Textiles, Issue 1 for New York Textile Month, September 2016 (pages 206–207). “A quilt tells a story about its maker, specific to a time and place; a quilt, quite literally, is a whole… Read on

Left: Stack of serged reclaimed down jackets, 2014, photograph by Rinne Allen; right: Grace Malloy of Poco Farm wearing Reclaimed Down Scarves for Patagonia’s Truth to Materials collection lookbook, 2014, photograph by Jeff Johnson “A big part of the beauty of this project is the prior lives of the down jackets. We will never know… Read on

Left: Etched dinnerware from the Alabama Chanin and Heath Ceramics Collaboration, bowls and mug from Heath Ceramics’ Coupe line, Alabama Chanin placemats and napkins with embroidery, 2011, featured in the T Magazine piece “Table Dressing,” written by Alexandra Lange “Depth of craft and beauty coupled with purpose [is Alabama Chanin’s most enduring quality]. There’s so… Read on

Left: “Barns of the Future” featuring The Farm Project by Mike Meiré from View on Colour: A World of Folk by Li Edelkoort, 2008, photographed by Robert Rausch; right: Indigo dyed Corset in reverse appliqué Angie’s Fall from the Alabama Chanin and Goods of Conscious collaboration, 2009, photographed and styled by Sarah Lewis Moursund Join… Read on

The Alabama Chanin 21 Years celebration continues tomorrow, highlighting the years from 2004 – 2006 during which Natalie collaborates with more artists and designers, becomes a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and founds Alabama Chanin—a career milestone in 2006.  This celebration marks Natalie’s legacy in sustainable design and honors our collaborators,… Read on

Left: Models in Project Alabama for Prom Night show, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen;  from left: Maxamilla, Ksenia, Camila, Jaja Tomorrow, the 21 Years Celebration continues to unfold with new entries from our archives, published articles, interviews, and essays. This week, we look at 2003—a year rife with collaborations and hear from more… Read on

Left: Early hand-sewn Alabama collection “Sister Shirt”, 2001, Natalie Chanin; Right: Film still portraits from the Life Ball awareness campaign, 1999, photography direction by Sissi Farassat; Location scouting photos, photographed by Wolfgang Tschofen, Vienna,1999, photograph by Robert Rausch On September 21, 2000, Natalie “Alabama” Chanin showed her first collection, a “project” that would become Alabama… Read on

Left: The Family of Woman: A World-Wide Photographic Perception of Female Life and Being published by Jerry Mason and Ridge Press; Right: Light Drawing by Rinne Allen featured in the Permission to Wander collection “If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?” —Ernst Haas Enjoy light reading and inspiration—from how trees communicate with one another to tile… Read on

“Insightful Photos of 1960s Afghanistan Reveal What Life Was Like Before the Taliban”; Image via Dr. Bill Podlich’s collection, managed by his son-in-law Clayton Esterson.  “I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world.” —Malala Yousafzai  Women’s Equality Day is observed this Thursday, August 26th to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the… Read on

“Okra flower and okra” from Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks through the Seasons by Steven Satterfield.   “Let things taste of what they are.” —Alice Waters  August produces an abundance of fresh vegetables from the garden, at farmers markets, and on the menu at local eateries. Popular in our community this season are corn, tomatoes,… Read on

 “A word after a word after a word is power.” – Margaret Atwood  Today, National Book Lovers’ Day, celebrates a love of reading and literature. It encourages us to put down our phones and settle in with a good book. To mark this celebration, Natalie (a self-proclaimed lover of books) shares her current summer reading… Read on

“Deciding to give myself permission to wander — without a set outcome, destination, or expectation — has been a turning point in my creative process and in my role as a mother of young children. It is now a vital part of my seasonal rhythm.”  – Rinne Allen for The Bitter Southerner  Rinne Allen is a… Read on

“Summer has filled her veins with light and her heart is washed with noon.” —C. Day Lewis  Long days and short nights, travel and adventure, rest and relaxation, summertime connects us with the natural world, inspires exploration, and delivers bountiful gardens, fresh vegetables, and our beloved tomato sandwich. Follow these links to find readings and resources for… Read on

The Summer of Love collection highlights our Love Tee—a nod to sharing with those we love. Explore inspirations from the 1967 Summer of Love movement that reflected a longing for peace and love and represents a time unlike any other in American history:   The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock & Roll — the de… Read on

From Beauty Everyday by Rinne Allen, Rebecca Wood, and Kristen Bach (page 117).  “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”—Henry David Thoreau  Born on this day in 1817, poet, author, philosopher, and naturalist Henry David Thoreau was an advocate of living a simple life. Today, National Simplicity Day, honors his life and… Read on

“Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them.” — Marc Jacobs  Not only is a T-shirt the foundation of so many wardrobes, but it is a foundation of Alabama Chanin. Nearly two decades ago Natalie cut up her first T-shirt, sewed it back together, and set herself on the path towards Alabama Chanin. This summer… Read on

“For the artisan, craft is an end in itself. For you, the artist, craft is the vehicle for expressing your vision. Craft is the visible edge of art.” — David Paul Bayles  At Alabama Chanin, we have enlisted the craftsmanship of skilled artisans for two decades. These artisans, who are independent contractors, craft our heirloom-quality Collection garments utilizing hand-sewing skills. As we celebrate Natalie’s… Read on

Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. – Pema Chödrön  June brings the Summer Solstice on June 20th, and its full moon, the Strawberry Moon on June 24th—honoring the berry synonymous with summer.  That summertime staple, the strawberry,… Read on

Left: “Plate 110. Wall hanging, Jacquard weaving”, 1925; right: “Plate 111. Wall hanging, three-ply weave”, 1926 by Anni Albers from Anni Albers: On Weaving (New Expanded Edition) by Anni Albers with afterword by Nicholas Fox Weber and essays by Manuel Cirauqui and T’ai Smith. “Most of our lives we live closed up in ourselves, with… Read on

Left: “Untitled”; Right: “Buds”, 1959 by Agnes Martin. From Agnes Martin, 2015 edited by Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell (pages 50–51).  “Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind.” — Agnes Martin As we usher in June, we’re happy to celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community. This week… Read on

“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer… one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends, and delightful doing, come as near perfection as anything can come in this world.” — from Anne’s House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery  As the world starts to awaken, this summer is a time for… Read on

The earliest days of Alabama Chanin’s website mostly consisted of Natalie teaching herself web-publishing in her (almost nonexistent) free time. She saw it as a way to express elements of who Alabama Chanin was without literally stitching it onto a garment – though we actually did that, too. Because of this tinkering and self-teaching, Alabama Chanin stepped into the e-commerce world in… Read on

After winning the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge in 2013, Natalie shared that “part of the appeal of being a designer, for me, is the act of bringing not only products but also systems of making to life.”  It’s not about the end, but rather, the entire. Under Natalie’s creative direction, the Alabama Chanin production, design, and… Read on

Lead image: “The Wall #2”, 1962 by Agnes Martin from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  “I do know one thing about me: I don’t measure myself by others’ expectations or let others define my worth.” ― Sonia Sotomayor  HISTORY describes Women’s History Month as a time to “reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of… Read on

Lead image from Beauty Everyday, 2013 by Rinne Allen, Kristen Bach, and Rebecca Wood (page 59)    “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop  Winter finally made it to Alabama last week, with snow and ice blanketing The Shoals. Prioritizing our team’s safety, Alabama Chanin made the decision to close The Factory for the week. This winter… Read on

“It is no secret that I feel a commitment to my community; it is equally evident the role that growing up in Florence, Alabama, had on my development as a designer. Textiles – the growing, picking, spinning, knitting, cutting, and sewing – were a part of the vernacular of small southern towns from the late… Read on

The importance of Black women in American life, culture, democracy, and history is undeniable. Even as recent years have brought some recognition, Black women’s contributions remain underappreciated or unspoken.  We still have a long way to go. But these women inspire us to continue the journey toward freedom and equality for all. This month, in… Read on

Thank you to Laird Borrelli-Persson and Vogue for including Alabama Chanin in their recent article, The United States of Fashion. Read the excerpt below and view the entire story here.   “Twenty years ago, Natalie Chanin returned home to Florence, Alabama, to reconnect with her roots and the hand-makers there for what was to be a one-off project. She never… Read on

Founded in 2019 as a 501(c)(3), Project Threadways records, studies, and explores the history of textiles. Through their work, they seek to understand the impact that textiles and their creation—from raw material to finished good—had on our local community, the region of the American south, the nation, and finally at the global level—connecting the people, places, and materials throughout… Read on

new/n(y)oo/ adjective  Made or discovered recently or now for the first time.  In an interview on our Journal, our friend Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses quoted Emma Goldman who said, “One to whom the making of a table, the building of a house, or the tilling of the soil, is what the painting is… Read on

From top left: Luna Rae Top in White Gold Palm; The Willie Top in Blue Slate; Waffle Caftan in Natural; Lightweight Organic Cotton Face Mask in Black; Left and bottom right: Lee Dress, 2017; Top right: Chandler Jacket and Austin Skirt, 2018 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin from The Women who Revolutionized Fashion: 250… Read on

Launched in 2006, the Alabama Chanin Journal celebrates the art of storytelling. This weekend we look back at our top Journal stories of 2020, starting today with The School of Making. This year, above all, we’ve learned from our readers about the importance of connection, inspiration, and making.  Check back tomorrow for Alabama Chanin’s 2020… Read on

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu  Wishing you peace, love, and light this holiday season.  From All of us at Alabama Chanin  P.S.: Enjoy this free downloadable printout of our Florence Collection fabric design, shown above. Sized to print on 8.5” x 11” paper, the PDF… Read on

Our gift certificates are the perfect way to share sustainable, beautifully crafted products with someone you love. Choose a digital version, and we’ll send the recipient a styled email with a special note or message. Or select our printable option, and we’ll email you a styled PDF that you can print, wrap, and gift yourself. Purchase a… Read on

Find last-minute, in-stock gifts from Alabama Chanin and The School of Making. We are accepting orders until 12:30pm CT today for overnight delivery. Happy Holidays from all of us at Alabama Chanin.

Hanukkah, the “festival of lights,” begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar. In 2020, the holiday began at sundown last night and continues through Friday, December 18th. The lighting of the candles on the menorah represents the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, when it should have lasted just one… Read on

The holiday season inspires ways that we can show generosity, express gratitude, give back, and support others— oftentimes through charitable giving. Today, on Giving Tuesday, we highlight an organization whose work, like Alabama Chanin, is rooted in textiles: Project Threadways.   Project Threadways is a nonprofit that records, studies, and explores the history of textiles. Through their work, they… Read on

While we are celebrating differently this year, we are reflecting on what to be thankful for during this holiday season.  At Alabama Chanin, we are grateful to each one of you who has supported our business during this trying year and also supported the work that has shaped our company over the last 20 years. We… Read on

Featured in Made It: The Women Who Revolutionized Fashion exhibition. From top left:  “Gilded Sapphire Celia Tunic”, 2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Beaded Facets Coat”, 2006 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Beaded Facets Coat Detail”, 2006 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Sapphire Dot Leighton Skirt”, 2019 by 2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Sapphire Dot Leighton Skirt Detail” 2019  2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, and Lee Dress, 2017; Top right:… Read on

Clockwise from left: The Baby Doll Corset Bundle in Bloomers Dove from The School of Making; Appliqué Rose Stencil Design and Facets Camisole Dress featured in Textile Futures: Fashion, Design, and Technology, 2010 by Bradley Quinn; Embroidery, Appliqué, and Reverse Appliqué Bloomers Fabric Swatch from The School of Making. From page 57 of Alabama Studio… Read on

Legendary photographer Bill Cunningham once said, “The wider world that perceives fashion as a frivolity, as something that should be done away with…fashion, you know, point of fact, it’s the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. I don’t think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization.”  Of course,… Read on

In 2011, on the 10th anniversary of September 11th, Natalie shared her personal story recounting the day. And in 2013, as our team was in New York on the anniversary, we were in remembrance: For most of us, this day will remain very personal for the rest of our lives. And yet, a dozen years is time… Read on

A warm “thank you” to Laird Borrelli-Persson and Vogue for interviewing Natalie and including Alabama Chanin in their recent article, “How the #WFH Movement Could Reshape Fashion.” Read excerpts below and view the entire story here. Also big love to Vogue for uniting all 26 global magazine editions with a forward-looking theme of ‘hope’. (If… Read on

“Veiled in this fragile filigree of wax is the essence of sunshine, golden and limpid, tasting of grassy meadows, mountain wildflowers, lavishly blooming orange trees, or scrubby desert weeds. Honey, even more than wine, is a reflection of place. If the process of grape to glass is alchemy, then the trail from blossom to bottle… Read on

Left: Image of Natelie’s card from her spring 2017 visit to the We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965 – 85 exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Pictured: Faith Ringgold (right) and Michele Wallace (middle) at Art Workers Coalition Protest, Whitney Museum, 1971. Digital C-print. Photographed by Jan van Raay.  Right: “Free, White and 21”,… Read on

Image: Black Mountain College via OurState.com  “But most important to one’s own growth is to see oneself leave the safe ground of accepted conventions and to find oneself alone and self-dependent. It is an adventure which can permeate one’s whole being. Self-confidence can grow. And a longing for excitement can be satisfied without external means,… Read on

“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight…” — Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God Our most beloved essentials, re-imagined. Explore the assortment of evergreen and everyday garments designed in the spirit… Read on

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” ― Nelson Mandela  Celebrated every year on his birthday, Nelson Mandela International Day “celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and… Read on

“Reproductive freedom is critical to a whole range of issues. If we can’t take charge of this most personal aspect of our lives, we can’t take care of anything. It should not be seen as a privilege or as a benefit, but a fundamental human right.” ― Faye Wattleton This Saturday, July 11th, is World… Read on

Freedom Quilt by Jessie B. Telfair (1913 – 1986). Made in 1983. Jessie was fired from her job in a school cafeteria because she registered to vote during the Civil Rights Movement. The pain of the incident stayed with her her whole life and fellow quiltmakers urged her to express her pain through her art…. Read on

Image: Vitamin T: Threads and Textiles in Contemporary Art by Jenelle Porter. This spread features “Black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink” installation by Shinique Smith  “I believe that telling our stories, first to ourselves and then to one another and the world, is a revolutionary act.” ― Janet Mock  The Stonewall uprising took place in June of 1969 and… Read on

“Harriet Tubman Mural” by Aaron Douglas, c. 1931, commissioned by Alfred K. Stern of  Chicago for Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, North Carolina  “If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho’ we may be, our destiny is tied… Read on

“This world demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.” ― Robert Kennedy  Young people across the nation and the world have, for… Read on

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”  ― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963  It is clear that this is a time of great tumult. Each day brings news of more unrest: COVID-19, economic uncertainty,… Read on

Like many of you, all of us at Alabama Chanin are deeply angry and gut-wrenchingly grieved about the unrest in our nation and the racism towards our brothers and sisters. However, this time is not about us; this is a time to dig in and learn to do better. We’ve worked for almost 20 years… Read on

“But there is another South, the one that we know: a South that is full of people who do things that honor genuinely honorable traditions. Drinking. Cooking. Reading. Writing. Singing. Playing. Making things. It’s also full of people who face our region’s contradictions and are determined to throw our dishonorable traditions out the window.” ―… Read on

We have long turned to Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. when making our custom cocktails at home and for our Friends of the Café dinner series at The Factory. Jack Rudy was founded by Brooks Reitz (husband to our designer Erin Reitz) in 2010. Since that time, Brooks has slowly grown a small food and beverage empire that continues to… Read on

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt  Celebrating the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day brings cookouts, beach trips, and an extra day off from work for many. The holiday has a deeper, and much more important, meaning:… Read on

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow – Audrey Hepburn  Originally planted during World War I and World War II, victory gardens offered food security, reduced pressure of the food supply, and encouraged morale during wartimes. They have made a resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with many citizens of communities across the world going… Read on

Project Threadways has been in the works for several years. In spring 2019, our team’s planning, learning, researching, and visioning came to life at the inaugural Project Threadways Symposium, held at The Factory. Following the symposium, Project Threadways was officially established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3)—allowing us to further realize its mission of recording, studying, and exploring the history of the… Read on

One garment. One sewer. One piece at a time. The acts of making and manufacturing have a rich history in our community, and at Alabama Chanin we are carrying on those traditions by creating our heirloom garments locally. Utilizing our American-made organic fabrics, our team of skilled sewers carefully crafts each garment, with one sewer… Read on

Founded last year as a non-profit, Project Threadways examines, documents, and records the history of textiles. In preparation for our next symposium, we have been researching textile history over millennia and the broader arc of time (look for updates next week). As we think ahead to the future, we can’t help but question how COVID-19 will forever… Read on

“We first started talking about slow fashion as a derivative of the slow food movement. I think in many ways that industry is light years ahead of where the fashion is. People started looking at the ways things were planted and grown much sooner than we did with textiles. I think a lot of what’s… Read on

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” ― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities  Activist, journalist, and writer Jane Jacobs’ was instrumental in paving the way for urban planning in American cities and grass-roots organizing. Her work and writings focused on urban studies, sociology, and economic theory and often addressed controversial… Read on

wan·der·lust /ˈwändərˌləst/ Noun a strong desire to travel.  The stillness, and for many, sheltering in place, that has blanketed the world leaves many of us longing for the opportunity to travel to near and far places. This week we share reading (and viewing) inspirations of people, places, and things for your wanderlust.  Travel back to the American West… Read on

Melanie Falick has been a friend of Alabama Chanin and The School of Making since our earliest days and, through her former imprint at Abrams Books, edited five of our Studio Books. Her dedication to crafting by hand and sharing the importance of doing so made us compatible and complementary partners throughout the years. As part of her most recent… Read on

On Sunday, Dana Thomas, author of Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, hosted a discussion with Natalie on Instagram. Dana, in the South of France, and Natalie, in her kitchen in Florence, Alabama, shared their thoughts and experiences about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting day-to-day life and the fashion… Read on

In this time of COVID-19 and great unrest, we’ve been looking for projects that are easy to execute with on-hand materials. String Quilting is an age-old technique that uses scraps and leftovers to create something new. We’re sharing here the instructions for String Quilting and the String-Quilted Pillow project from Alabama Studio Style, which is soon to be retired. (If you don’t yet… Read on

Right now, as best we can, we are looking for ways to ease anxiety. Scientific research shows the positive and calming effects that sewing, cooking, and hands-on making has on the brain. The meditative action of sewing reduces stress. It increases dopamine, the happiness hormone; it requires creativity—which improves the brain’s ability to grow new… Read on

As we write this post our national food and beverage industry is in free-fall. Restaurants and bars, shuttered in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, have laid off an unknown number of staff and servers across the country. We feel deeply what our friend Brooks Reitz wrote yesterday, “Uncharted waters. We have been gut punched,… Read on

On Friday, we shared a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, announcing the postponement of our events in March and April, the temporary closure of our store, and our efforts to maintain a safe and responsible workplace and supply chain for our team and guests. If you missed it, we encourage you to read it here…. Read on

Though we are surrounded by many uncertainties right now, we at Alabama Chanin will continue, as best we can, to share stories and have conversations that are uplifting and positive. Today’s post reminds us about enacting change through acts of courage. “I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, ‘How… Read on

Dear Alabama Chanin Guests,  Thoughtful design, ethical, and responsible production are the highest priorities for us. Our guiding principles of quality, impeccable service, unified teams, organic, local, regional, and domestic sourcing are reflections of our care for the wellbeing of all. We seek to be a benefit for the broader community in our region and… Read on

“Where there is a woman, there is magic.” ― Ntozake Shange  International Women’s Day was celebrated yesterday, March 8th. In its honor, we invite you to reflect on this year’s theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights,” and encourage you to support local and national organizations that stand behind a better and more inclusive future. We… Read on

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” – Maya AngelouJoin us today in celebration of International Women’s Day and explore our #THOSEWHOINSPIRE series on the Journal.

In 2016, Natalie wrote the following on the Alabama Chanin Journal, ”In my design training, we never really spoke directly about the cultural impact of the things (products) we were making. In my memory, conversations tended more towards how the culture impacted us as designers. I learned to make dresses and thought about the manufacturing… Read on

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” ― John Muir, Our National Parks On March 1, 1872 (148 years ago this… Read on

A big “thank you” to Laird Borrelli-Persson and Vogue for sharing a preview of our upcoming Collection. They recently spoke with Natalie about her work and 20 years of defining sustainability. You can find the story online here along with a lookbook of the upcoming Collection or read below:Fall 2020 Ready-to-WearAlabama ChaninVogue, February 29, 2020 “We’ve… Read on

“Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighbors, and our joy of living. All at once.” ― Chris Rose Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday! Though Mardi Gras has been celebrated for the past few weeks, official Mardi Gras Day is February… Read on

“Alabama Chanin as a business was founded on the idea of a quilting stitch. And although it took me months to realize that I was actually quilting as I pieced together those first cut up t-shirts, the knowledge of those quilting stitches came from my most elemental childhood experiences. Growing up in the South, at… Read on

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi Explore the links below to discover who, what, and where we love. Love yourself. Love your family, friends, and neighbors.   Love good company.   Love your team. Love the planet. Love good food.   Love to travel. Love to create.  … Read on

“We are all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love. True love.” ― Robert Fulghum This week is all about Valentine’s Day. From a bit of history on… Read on

“I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care: for this moment I know where I am going.” ― Anna Funder, Stasiland On February 5, 1883, the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its Sunset Route, a continuous rail line from New… Read on

“These living arts have been passed down by oral histories through generations of women and men—connecting us to our roots, our past, our community, and consequently to our present.” — Natalie Chanin, 2008 From the original introduction to Alabama Stitch Book A connection to community has always been deeply rooted in Natalie’s work and is… Read on

“I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty, or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the… Read on

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” ― Alfred Austin This Saturday, January 25th, is National Seed Swap Day. Founded in 2006 by Washington Gardener editor Kathy Jentz, National Seed Swap Day… Read on

Vitamin T: Threads and Textiles in Contemporary Art is the latest in the series of noted Vitamin books, each of which focuses on different type of visual art and various media. Every volume includes short essays by critics, curators, and art historians, who focus on specific artists within a chosen area. Vitamin T takes an in-depth look at fiber work, textiles, and thread, created by over 100 artists from across… Read on

Published in 2015, Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns: A Guide to Customizing a Hand-Stitched Alabama Chanin Wardrobe is the fourth in our Studio Book series and, because our maker community has embraced the idea of sustainable customization, has become one of our most popular books. As part of our 10-year celebration of Alabama Stitch Book, we… Read on

“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” ― Louis L’Amour Winter is in full swing with nightfall beginning early and weather that forces you to stay indoors out of the cold. This week we share a reading list with some of our favorite books featured… Read on

It is hard for me to believe that 2020 will mark 20 years of Alabama Chanin and 20 years of defining sustainability. The School of Making programming began 12 years ago with the launch of  Alabama Stitch Book, although we didn’t know or plan how the publication of that book would change the course of our business. … Read on

In her book, Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, author Dana Thomas explores the heart of the modern fashion world – exposing a fundamentally broken system, while also highlighting those who are developing solutions to deep-seated problems, and offering options for consumers on how to improve their shopping habits.   Thomas writes in… Read on

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” – Jean Shinoda Bolen The dictionary defines “retreat” as a verb, “to withdraw to a quiet or secluded place.” With a daily life that is full of commitments to others,… Read on

“I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions.” ― Zora Neale Hurston Author, anthropologist, and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7th, 1891 (129 years ago this Tuesday) in Notasulga, Alabama. In honor of her… Read on

This year – 2020 – will mark the 20th year of the company now called Alabama Chanin. While we have changed and grown over the years, our purpose has largely remained the same. Our values are steadfast. What began as a kind of experiment has grown into a company and a way of life that… Read on

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.”  – T. S. Elliot As we mark the start of a new decade, we hope you will join us as Alabama Chanin’s journey on the road of sustainability, community,… Read on

“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”― Meister Eckhart 2020 ushers in a new decade as well as the 20th anniversary of Alabama Chanin. As we prepare for the year ahead and celebrate Natalie’s two decades of commitment to sustainability, we wanted to take this opportunity… Read on

“And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent…” ― Taylor Caldwell With Christmas just two days away, today we wish you and yours a very happy holiday and share a few of our favorite holiday memories… Read on

“This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!” – D.M. Dellinger As you celebrate this holiday week, relishing the days spent with family and friends and looking back on… Read on

“Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home.” ― W.J. Tucker  Christmas, more so than many other holidays, has foods and treats that are synonymous with the holiday. From candy canes to gingerbread houses, to the infamous fruitcake, these foods only fill our homes during Christmastime. This week, we share the histories… Read on

“In a world where news of inhumanity bombards our sensibilities, where grasping for things goes so far beyond our needs, where time is squandered in busyness, it is a pleasure and a privilege to pause for a look at handiwork, to see beauty amidst utility, and to know that craft traditions begun so long ago… Read on

Each year the holiday season renews our sense of thankfulness and fellowship. Thankful for the abundance of love and support in our own lives, we are inspired to give back to the community that nourishes us. This year we focus on Project Threadways. Working in partnership with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and the… Read on

“Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.” ― Valentine Davis, Miracle on 34th Street  Whether Christmas decorating starts after Thanksgiving dinner or a few days before December 25th, decorating for the holiday is a tradition for countless homes every year. This week we share a few of our favorite DIY Christmas decorations.   DIY Tree Skirt   Pomander Balls  … Read on

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” —John F. Kennedy The Oxford Dictionary defines grateful as “feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness.” Being thankful is a feeling; being grateful is an action. And while they are often used interchangeably,… Read on

We began our popular Build a Wardrobe subscription program in December of 2015 and, since then, have introduced over 20 patterns in a wide range of patterns. Each year, we add new silhouettes to help you expand a wardrobe, keeping individual styles in mind. This year, we featured four patterns: the Fractal Dress, the Jumpsuit,… Read on

Twenty-five years ago, Diane von Furstenberg popularized the now-iconic wrap dress. Originally patterned after ballerina sweaters, the garment wraps around the torso, crosses at the chest, and cinches at the waist. The primary appeal of the wrap was that it flattered almost every body style and was worn by everyday women and celebrities alike. With… Read on

“If you really are thankful, what do you do? You share.” ― W. Clement Stone Thanksgiving is this Thursday; a time for family, friends, good food, and reflection on the things we are most grateful for in our lives. In that spirit of thankfulness and fellowship, we were inspired this week to find and share… Read on

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” ― Maya Angelou Next Thursday is Thanksgiving for us and our readers in the U.S.A., and we are already looking forward to a day spent with family and friends. In anticipation of the delicious food that accompanies this yearly gathering, this week we share Thanksgiving-table-worthy… Read on

For the final dinner of our 2019 Friends of the Café series, we hosted James Beard Award-winning chef Tandy Wilson for a special evening that combined savory with sweet and included personal touches to each dish. Benefitting Project Threadways, the evening featured a brief discussion of Project Threadways by Carolyn Barske, director of the Muscle… Read on

Our waffle knit styles have become some of our year-round, best-selling pieces. They can be styled for any season and are available in a range of colors to suit your preference. Waffle knit garments are comfortable enough to be worn for a cozy day at home and stylish enough to be worn to many events…. Read on

“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned, or removed from production.” ― Pete Seeger This Friday, November 15th, is America Recycles Day. Originally founded in 1997, it was the Presidential Proclamation in 2004 of then-Present Bush that declared every November 15th America Recycles… Read on

“That’s the secret of entertaining. You make your guests feel welcome and at home. If you do that honestly, the rest takes care of itself.” ― Barbara Hall Holidays are just around the corner and now is the perfect time to prepare for the family and friends sure to gather around your table in the… Read on

Join us for a morning of self-discovery during the No Bullshit Breakfast: Enneagram on Wednesday, November 6th. The Enneagram is a powerful personality typing system that illuminates our walk in this world and how we as individuals experience our journey. After completing a specialty designed online questionnaire, the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator, each person will… Read on

“Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows’ Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows… Read on

“Every great architect is – necessarily – a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.” ― Frank Lloyd Wright Located in downtown Florence and a short drive from The Factory is the Rosenbaum House – designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it one of only 26… Read on

“We must have pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” ― David Mamet Today, October 14th, is National Dessert Day. In honor of this scrumptious holiday, this week we share some of our favorite dessert recipes from the Journal and the histories behind a few of the most famous and well-loved Southern… Read on

“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” ― Sarah Dessen This past Saturday was the first-ever Shoals Fest here in Alabama, organized by singer and guitarist Jason Isbell. Shoals Fest celebrated the rich musical history of the Shoals area with… Read on

“What’s more important than recipes is how we think about food, and a good cookbook should open up a new way of doing just that.” ― Michael Symon October is National Cookbook Month. In observance, this week we share just a few of our favorite contemporary cookbooks. We hope that they will encourage you to… Read on

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.” ― Stanley Horowitz Autumn begings today in the North Hemisphere with the arrival of the Fall Equinox. The cool, crisp weather ushers in some of our favorite outdoor activities. This week we share a few of those,… Read on

Like other popular American foods, claims to the creation of the cheeseburger are scattered across the country. Sixteen-year-old Lionel Sternberger is said to have thrown a slice of American cheese on a cooking burger in 1924 at his father’s diner, The Rite Spot, calling it a “cheese hamburger”. The first establishment to serve a cheeseburger… Read on

 [Photographs by Kristin-Lee Moolman. Styled by Suzanne Koller, for The New York Times. (Left) JW Anderson windowpane wrap cape, $2,050, circular paneled jersey turtleneck, $290, wide-legged wool gabardine trousers, $950, wide-waist belt, $350, and sandals with tulle ties, price on request. (Right) Loewe pearl sweater, price on request.] In her article for The New York Times Style… Read on

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” ― Helen Keller One of The Shoals most famous residents was Helen Keller. Blind and deaf, the Tuscumbia native devoted her life to education and improving the lives of the deaf and blind.  She authored numerous books throughout her life and on September 14, 1964 (55 years… Read on

“The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their stories for them.” ― Czeslaw Milosz   2019 marks the eighteenth year since the September 11th attacks. Remembering the victims – their lives and their courage – has kept their memories alive in the years since the tragedies of that day. This week we share our own memories, tributes from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum,… Read on

“Canning is a whole world of a thing to do. It requires that you get out of your head. It’s a Zen thing.” ― Debby Bull, Blue Jelly: Lost Love & the Lessons of Canning This year was the first time The Factory Café offered a series of Canning Workshops, teaching all attendees the heritage-skill of… Read on

Today we celebrate our friends and collaborators at Heath Ceramics for their feature in the in The New York Times Style Magazine. The article, from the One Good Meal series, which focuses on road trips, good food, and the Heath aesthetic, also features the Camellia Etched Serving Platter, shown in the photo above. This beautiful… Read on

“Making it through the ceiling to the other side was simply a matter of running on a path created by every other woman’s footprints.” ― Shonda Rhimes Today is National Women’s Equality Day – a day that marks the adoption of the 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. In celebration… Read on

“Be passionate and be involved in what you believe in, and do it as thoroughly and honestly and fearlessly as you can.”  ― Marie Colvin On this day, August 19th, 100 years ago, Donna Allen was born in Petosky, Michigan. Allen would go on to found the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press in… Read on

“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.”  ― Shauna Niequist, Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table Summer is a great time for entertaining. Longer days and warm… Read on

Since ancient times makers have adorned their most precious pieces with gold.  Egyptians overlaid their sarcophagi with gold leaf. The Chinese enveloped pottery and textiles in gold. Greeks and Romans embellished their marble and wood with this precious metal. The age-old craft of gilding has been practiced for centuries and it is these works, partnered… Read on

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” ― Ruth Bader Ginsburg This Saturday, August 10th, marks the 26th anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice – at the time only the second woman in United State’s history to have achieved that… Read on

“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” ― Mary Ann Evans (under the pen name George Eliot), The Mill on the Floss For us, a relaxed summer evening spent at home, listening to music, in comfy clothes, with a favorite cocktail, sounds just about perfect. For some stay-home inspiration… Read on

“Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope.” ― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe With plenty of warm… Read on

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use of Life Summer is in full swing here in Alabama… Read on

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela On this Independence Day I’m reminded that not every human is afforded the rights, freedoms, and equality that many of us in the United States take… Read on

“All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement. We are no more – and no less – heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century; and the labor organizers, Freedom Riders, Stonewall demonstrators, and environmentalists of the 20th century. We are ordinary people, living our… Read on

“A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered…” ― Nanette Avery On June 27, 1829 (190 years ago this week), British mineralogist and chemist James Smithson passed away, directing in his will that £87,620 be given to the United States for “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” That establishment… Read on

“For me, summer hasn’t really started until tomatoes reappear in local farmers’ markets.” ― José Andrés Today, June 17th, is National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Locally sourced organic vegetables have always been the cornerstone of the meals served at The Factory Café, and like many of our readers, farmer’s market produce is a staple on… Read on

“It’s only when you grow up and step back from him—or leave him for your own home—it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.” ― Margaret Truman This coming Sunday, June 16th, is Father’s Day. In honor of the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in our lives, this week we… Read on

“I paint not the things I see but the feelings they arouse in me.” ― Franz Kline The abstract shapes and design of our new spring Collection inspired us to learn more about some of our favorite female artists in the realm of abstract expressionism. This week we share a few of those supremely talented… Read on

“Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future.” – Elie Wiesel To commemorate Memorial Day and honor those who have died while serving our country, today we share the stories of women in the military whose contributions have impacted our country and our lives. We pay gratitude to… Read on

“A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors nor how strong their weapons.” ― Cheyenne proverb, found in the book Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog In the wake of the anti-abortion bill that was signed into law… Read on

“Bldg. 14 works to preserve [the] history and tell a new story of modern manufacturing in the United States.” ― alabamachanin.com It’s been 5 years since we opened Building 14, the machine manufacturing arm of Alabama Chanin’s Family of Businesses. In those five years, we have ushered in the Core Club and the Clean Tee,… Read on

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” ― Jane Austen, Emma Alabama Chanin’s Leisure Collection gets a refresh tomorrow with revamped classics and the addition of a few new pieces that are sure to become favorites. With relaxation on our minds, this week we share some of our favorite refreshing and easy… Read on

“Really, I do not know whether my paintings are surrealist or not, but I do know that they are the frankest expression of myself.” ― Frida Kahlo Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated this Sunday, May 5th. Author Isabel Bueno of National Geographic said of the holiday: “For Mexicans…as well as Mexican-American in the United… Read on

“Earth is what we all have in common.” ― Wendell Berry Today marks the 49th time Earth Day has been officially celebrated in the United States. As we all take time today to reflect on the state of the environment and the steps we can take personally, and globally, to protect it, this week we… Read on

“The buildings are simply elegant and the machinery is of the latest style and embraces all of the modern improvements for making cotton yarn.” ― Tom Anderton on the Cherry Cotton Mill in East Florence, quoted by William McDonald in his book, Sweetwater, Yesteryears, 1990 Though the history is not always pleasant, cotton and cotton… Read on

We are constantly singing the praises of our home state—its natural beauty, its historical musical past, its food culture, and its people. Our people: Alabama’s greatest treasure. In this Travel + Leisure article, author Kevin West winds his way across the state observing our inspiration and witnessing as we try to reckon with our ghosts…. Read on

“Food is everything we are. It is an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” ― Anthony Bourdain This Thursday kicks off The Gathering at The Factory, and next week, we welcome the community for the first annual… Read on

“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.” ― Audre Lorde In our final post in the series honoring Women’s… Read on

“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” ― Mary Wollstonecraft Whether it was the right to vote, the rights to racial and gender equality, the right for control over their own bodies, or the myriad of other causes taken up by women throughout history, the activists and leaders… Read on

“To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.” ― Georgia O’Keeffe In celebration of Women’s History Month, this week, explore the artists who, drawing from their own unique outlook on the world, have used their work to convey the gamut of universal truths, emotions, and experiences. “The inconvenient spectacle of Frida Kahlo”… Read on

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” ― Coco Chanel To honor Women’s History Month, every Monday in March we will be celebrating influential women in the spheres of art, activism, and writing. For decades (more like centuries) women’s experiences had only been seen through the lenses of those who society… Read on

“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and the world better than you found it.” ― Marian Wright Edelman The affect a teacher can have on the life of her student can be monumental. From instilling a love of learning and fostering a sense of self confidence, to encouraging… Read on

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” ― Rosa Parks At the heart of the crusades for equality and justice that African-Americans have fought decades for are the activists and organizers, and often those vital roles were undertaken by women. The third post in our series honoring Black… Read on

“The artist creates the material that we look back upon as part of history. ” ― Roy DeCarava As Black History Month continues, we explore some of the supremely talented women who have, across the decades, created beautiful, thought-provoking, and enduring works of art through the mediums of painting, quilting, sculpture, performance art, and photography…. Read on

“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” ― Michelle Obama February 1st ushered in Black History Month in the United States. In celebration, each week this month we will be focusing on inspiring African-American women in the realms of art, education, and activism…. Read on

“Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement, and remuneration based on ability.” ― Sandra Day O’Connor On January 29th, 1926 Violette Anderson became the first African-American woman to practice law before the Supreme Court. To… Read on

“How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, you shall reap what you sow… How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ― Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have written extensively about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over… Read on

To set the tone of our new Collection release, we explore our color theme: blue. And not just any blue—it’s a vibrant possibility of the color. The color blue: A history from Egypt to now On the Journal: Anna Atkins + Cyanotypes Two hundred years of blue from Brainpickings Blue highways 10 artists and their… Read on

It has been five years since we began our Friends of the Café dinner series here at Alabama Chanin. Take a look back on our Journal for a look at the experiences created by the generous chefs who donated their time for these fundraising events. This year’s events will certainly be as special and we… Read on

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” ― Neil Gaiman To start the new… Read on

2019 marks the fourth time The School of Making welcomes the new year with an inaugural Build a Wardrobe pattern debut. With its modern style and relaxed, yet tailored fit, The Fractal Dress is flattering to a full range of body types. Made up of expertly designed panels, The Fractal Dress allows the maker the… Read on

The Slow Food movement and its principles have inspired Alabama Chanin’s commitment to slow fashion. We take their mission of Good, Clean, Fair to heart, as we attempt to make responsibly, grow connections in our community, and espouse sustainable practices. In order to further these beliefs, we look to build relationships with others who want… Read on

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’” ― Alfred Lord Tennyson The eve of 2019 has inspired us to explore food traditions from around the world that are said to bring prosperity and luck to all those who partake on New Year’s Day. Soba noodles bid goodbye… Read on

Every year it seems that we say what a busy year it has been for us at Alabama Chanin, and every year we mean it. We seem to keep growing as a company and as people and making opportunities that expand our horizons. Look back at the 2018 happenings for The School of Making, Bldg…. Read on

In 2018, the store and café celebrated five years serving our community and the public and is anticipating brand new programming for 2019. Having shared a review of the past year for The School of Making and Bldg. 14, today we look back at The Factory Store + Café. The Factory Store rotated its offerings… Read on

Next in our “year in review” series is a look at 2018 for Bldg. 14, Alabama Chanin’s Design & Manufacturing division. Bldg. 14 began the year developing and making machine-sewn styles for the Alabama Chanin Collection—a practice that has been in effect since its inception in 2013. The team in Bldg. 14 worked to develop… Read on

On the Journal, as in life, we like to take an annual look back on our accomplishments as we head into a new year. This year we’re reviewing each of our Family of Businesses, starting with The School of Making today. Look for Bldg. 14, The Factory Store + Café, and Alabama Chanin in the… Read on

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.” “A Visit from St. Nicholas (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)” ― Clement Clarke… Read on

2019 is ushering in exciting new changes for The Factory Café. Our beloved Friends of the Café Dinner Series will continue, as well as an array of new programming. 2018 wrapped up with some great events. Chef Kyle Ogden of the Shoals’ Turtle Point Country Club was featured at our September Supper Club and executed… Read on

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” ― Bob Hope The signs of a Christmas season in full swing are all around us: homes and Christmas trees are decorated with colorful lights, dinner menus are underway, presents are wrapped, suitcases are packed, and guest rooms are ready for family… Read on

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Theresa We’re two weeks away from Christmas and everything is a buzz at Alabama Chanin. Our Bldg. 14 team is humming along on the sewing machines. Our artisans are steadily working out in the field. Our fulfillment department is… Read on

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” ― W. C. Jones The holiday season is officially upon us. Cultures and religions across the United States and the world celebrate their own holidays… Read on

“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change someone else’s life forever.” ― Margaret Cho Giving Tuesday, a response to the consumerism that surrounds the holiday season, has been celebrated since 2012. Founded as a way to give back to one’s community, both local and global, the Tuesday following “Black… Read on

Our seven-year long collaboration with Heath Ceramics began in 2011 with hand-etched dinnerware ceramics. Founded in 1948 by Edith Heath, Heath Ceramics is run by Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic, who both have a deep background in design. While our collaboration has been ongoing, it’s been a few years since we worked deeply with Heath… Read on

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca In a world where the news is filled daily with tragedies, injustices, and strife of one kind or another, we tend to forget the enormous impact that even the smallest act of kindness can have. In celebrating World… Read on

“TO VOTE IS TO EXIST” American graphic designer Milton Glaser’s 2016 “Get Out The Vote” poster More from the AIGA Design for Democracy #getoutandvote

“The attractions of ceramics lie partly in its contradictions. It is both difficult and easy, with an element beyond our control. It is both extremely fragile and durable.” ― Isamu Noguchi Founded in 1948 by Edith Heath and her husband Brian, San Francisco-based Heath Ceramics have long been creators of functional and beautiful tableware and… Read on

We all dream of a homemade Thanksgiving dinner, but sometimes (and these days more often than not) we get swept up in the busyness of life and find ourselves scrambling to put together a last minute meal. For our Shoals community, The Factory Café is offering Thanksgiving Pickup again this year. Our menu includes Thanksgiving… Read on

Since 2014, we have worked with Patagonia on a beautiful circular design project, the Reclaimed Down Scarf. The goal of circular design is for every product to reflect sustainability from the beginning of life as a raw material, through design, manufacturing, active life, and end-of-life processes. Garments that reach the end of their lives become… Read on

“The reason why we won’t face up to our problems with the environment is that we are the problem. It’s not the corporations out there, it’s not the governments, it’s us. We’re the ones telling the corporations to make more stuff, and make it as cheap and as disposable as possible. We’re not citizens anymore…. Read on

“Any time one or more things are consciously put together in a way that they can accomplish something better than they could have accomplished individually, this is an act of design.” – Charles Eames Our collaborations and partnerships have spanned many years and have created deep connections with like-minded companies allowing us to grow, be… Read on

Our inaugural year of The Factory Supper Club is drawing to a close (with two more left), and it has allowed us to showcase talented, local chefs and provide a unique experience for our guests. In November, The Factory Café is bringing in chef Fatin Russel of Odette, a beautiful dining establishment in downtown Florence… Read on

“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh The Leisure Collection gets an update tomorrow, so this week we explore the scientific and holistic benefits of relaxation and… Read on

We are excited to announce that our upcoming Friends of the Café Dinner with Kelly English and Cameron Razavi will be hosted by two members of the Single Lock Records team: Reed Watson and Cedric Burnside. Reed and Cedric are taking over duties for Natalie, who will be unable to attend due to family commitments…. Read on

Recently, we were honored to have longtime friend Rosanne Cash approach us to collaborate on a special project. She worked with Bldg. 14 to print and produce t-shirts dedicated to her album, “The River and the Thread.” As you know, Alabama Chanin has a special relationship with this record and its message. Rosanne has served… Read on

“One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been that I have never stopped learning about Good Cooking and Good Food.” ― Edna Lewis For the past 20 years the Southern Foodways Alliance, or SFA, has “explor[ed] the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.” Their Fall Symposium, held this weekend in Oxford,… Read on

Jessica Ullom is the founder and brains behind Hawks and Doves (named after her favorite Neil Young album), a fabric and leather goods company based out of North Carolina. It first began when Jessica (or Jess) started crafting goods inspired by items found at flea markets. As a collector (or “borderline hoarder”, as she describes… Read on

“Above all, don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” — Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Prize-winning neurobiologist As October ushers in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are inspired to look back over the decades to the female doctors, chemists, biologists, and researchers who devoted their educations and careers to research and discoveries that have advanced… Read on

“Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.” — William Wordsworth This past Saturday, September 22nd, brought the Autumn Equinox to all of us in the northern hemisphere. Though it doesn’t quite feel like Fall here in Alabama yet (almost), the changing of the seasons has us looking forward to savory… Read on

“This ‘ethical fashion,’ this ‘sustainable fashion,’ that complies to what fashion really is, that is borne out of passion, skills, heritage, artistry, and bravery, is fashion. “ — Orsola De Castro Alabama Chanin returned to New York Fashion Week this year with a private showing at the Bowery Hotel. This return inspired us to looks… Read on

“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer.” — Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen Art can be as haunting as it is beautiful. It can be a reprieve from fears and traumas or the catalyst that forces you to… Read on

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” — Dolores Huerta From the right to vote to equal pay, women have never shied away from fighting for the rights inherently owed to them. Whether it’s worker safety, job protection during and after a pregnancy,… Read on

Project Threadways records, studies, and explores the history of the textile industry in The Shoals community, and the American South. Our goal is to accurately and respectfully retell the story of textiles—from farm to finished product—and the way the act of making textiles shaped the lives of the communities and the individuals of those communities…. Read on

“Being creative is not so much the desire to do something as the listening to that which wants to be done: the dictation of the materials.” — Anni Albers To mark the 10th anniversary of the release of Natalie’s Alabama Stitch Book, this week we focus on exceptional women in the world of handcrafts. Thursday… Read on

“I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognize.” — Sarah Moore Grimké On August 18, 1920, women were granted the right to vote in the United States. This past Saturday marked the 98th anniversary of that momentous shift in American culture, politics, and society. This week we… Read on

“Alabama Chanin has evolved into a community… a company of farmers, fabric makers, artisans and our customers who support what we do.” — Natalie Chanin from the archives: W Magazine, 2011 With the excitement of a new Collection at the forefront of our minds, this week we take a few moments to reflect on all… Read on

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai With the first day of school just a few days away here in Alabama, our minds have turned toward inspiring teachers, optimistic students, and to the opportunities provided by a quality education. This week we decided to explore some of… Read on

North Carolina-based wine importer Eric Solomon started his career in spirits as a bartender in Great Britain. The rock and roll drummer was a quick study and was sponsored by the Institute of Masters of Wine, excelling in their rigorous coursework until his UK student visa expired. Once back in the states, he found work… Read on

“Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.” — Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson Unlike relationships we are born with, like parents, siblings, and cousins, our friends are completely of our own choosing. Without any pretense or obligation, they are the people we choose to share our life… Read on

Renowned chef John Currence was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, but has become a veritable institution in his adopted hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. John currently runs City Grocery—which he opened when he was 26—and three other restaurants: the “upscale downhome” Boure, French bistro-meets-Mississippi café Snackbar, and his homage to the most important meal… Read on

“Cooking well doesn’t mean cooking fancy.” — Julia Child The bountiful harvests of summer make simple, fresh dishes, made from in-season vegetables and fruits, possible. Pair these with staple meats and seafood and summertime is sure to be delicious. In honor of this warm weather fare, this week is all about summer-eats. Blackberry Farm’s Green… Read on

“Travelling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, ‘I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station’.” — Lisa St. Aubin de Teran Road trips are a very sensory and immersive method of traveling. Unlike a plane, which only offers a patchwork view of the land below, road… Read on

“I found I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” — Georgia O’Keeffe Our lives are full of and, in many ways, dictated by color. We express ourselves with the color of our hair and clothing. The vibe of our home… Read on

“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.” — Susan B. Anthony On the heels of Saudi Arabian women’s newly attained right to drive and just a few days away from the United States’ Fourth of… Read on

Created in 1934 by Mary Hambidge, the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences is an artist community and sustainable farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, founded in memory of artist Jay Hambidge—Mary’s partner who introduced her to her life’s work, weaving. After retiring from work as a popular vaudeville whistler (with her… Read on

“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” – Annie Dillard, The Living With summer underway and warm evenings, relaxing weekends, and long-awaited vacations offering the perfect opportunities to slow down and catch up on reading, this week we share a summer reading list—filled with classic works by native Alabamians…. Read on

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees…I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby The summer solstice (or equinox) in the northern hemisphere brings the longest day and shortest night of the entire year…. Read on

“One of the greatest gifts my father gave me—unintentionally—was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity…He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man.” – Ben Okri By the time Father’s Day was proclaimed an official holiday in 1972, it had already been unofficially celebrated for 63 years—since Sonora Smart Dodd,… Read on

“The white T-shirt is like a blank canvas – eternally versatile.” ­ Edward Enninful Whether stark white and paired with jeans for the epitome of cool or emblazoned with a bold political statement, the t-shirt has held a special place in the hearts of most since Marlon Brando donned one in1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire…. Read on

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James The (unofficial) start of summer is here, especially in Alabama where we have already seen days that top 90 degrees. To help you get a head start on your summer plans, this week we… Read on

We couldn’t have asked for a livelier kick-off to our 2018 Friends of the Café Dinner Series. James Beard award-winning chef Steven Satterfield joined us in house and created a flawless meal. Steven started the night out with rye biscuits topped with sweet butter and country ham, radishes with whipped feta and a pesto drizzle,… Read on

“The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.” – Laurie Colwin Last week, The James Beard Foundation held their annual awards ceremony (it’s like the Oscar’s for the food world)…. Read on

“I think it’s so vitally important that all people in this world are involved in the process of discovery.” – Mae Jemison From the United States’ first manned space shuttle mission in 1961 to today’s exploration of Mars, outer space has always been a place of fascination and discovery. To honor the May 5th anniversary… Read on

“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary —it’s an act of infinite optimism.” – Gilda Radner From primordial goddesses to present day working moms, the roles of mothers and society’s expectations of her have experienced a myriad of changes. With Mother’s Day fast approaching,… Read on

Virginia Willis is a longtime friend of Alabama Chanin, as we both share a love of Southern food and culture, locally sourced ingredients and sustainability, the Southern Foodways Alliance, and real, honest storytelling. The Georgia-born chef has thrived both on television and in the cookbook industry, appearing on shows like the Food Network’s “Chopped” and… Read on

“The fair maid who, the first of May, Goes to the fields at break of day, And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree, Will ever after handsome be.” – Mother Goose nursery rhyme from The Children’s Mother Goose From its beginnings as an ancient Celtic ritual to modern day parades, festivals, and workers’ right… Read on

Penny Sandy joined Bldg. 14 this year and comes to us with a lifetime of sewing experience. She was born and raised in our community, learning to sew from her grandmother at a very young age. And while she moved away for a bit, Penny found her way back home. (That seems to be a… Read on

“Demand quality, not just in the products you buy, but in the life of the person who made it.” – Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution Loss of life and destruction of natural resources have been the tolls paid by society for its reckless and exorbitant consumerism. “Fast fashion” and its lack of consideration… Read on

“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” – Barbara Shelley Earth Day, which has been celebrated in the United States on April 22nd for the past 48 years, serves as a reminder to us to treat all aspects of the Earth—water, land,… Read on

We’ve written before about the process of mending and of integrating it into your lifestyle. Embracing mending as sustainable practice and a component of everyday life can be a small change that makes a big difference. Mending acts as a solution to economic challenges by utilizing your own skills to repurpose, repair, and restore your… Read on

“A community is made up of intimate relationships among diversified types of individuals—a kinship group, a local group, a neighborhood, a village, a large family.” – Carroll Quigley As we prepare to host friends, family, Shoals locals, guests from afar, and our making community for The Gathering this week, we were inspired to explore our… Read on

“I think the degree of a nation’s civilization may be measured by the degree of enlightenment of its women.” – Helen Keller, “My Future as I See It,” Metropolitan Magazine, 1904 Throughout history women have been leaders, organizers, and advocates against injustices of many forms; from voting rights to racial and gender equality. As the… Read on

We’ve long been admirers of Liz Pape and her team at Elizabeth Suzann. The Nashville-based company holds quality clothing and mindful consumption at its heart—paying strict attention to detail, respecting the people they work with, their company culture, and the environment. The garments that Elizabeth Suzann produces are cut and sewn locally (sound familiar?) out… Read on

Each year Alabama Chanin hosts a community picnic—a time for employees, artisans, collaborators, supporters, and members of the community to gather and celebrate. It gives us the opportunity to say hello to each of you, spend time together, and give thanks for the beautiful work and support we receive throughout the year. What started at… Read on

In 2018, we will mark our fourth year of our Friends of the Café charity dinner series. A look back at our Journal reveals the incredible chefs that have generously donated their time and resources to raise money and awareness for important causes. Our first dinner of 2018 is scheduled for April 12th and is… Read on

For many people, New Year’s Day is about resolutions and setting goals, which can sometimes be a positive thing. You feel hope and a renewed sense of purpose, and view the end of the year as a reset button. We thought about writing a post about our own resolutions and suggestions for our readers, as… Read on

The past year has been one in which we’ve continually searched for beauty and hope; undoubtedly, 2017 has been a year unlike any other. As a company, our response to this year has been to look within and search for new meaning in what we do, to seek inspiration in the work of others, and—perhaps… Read on

Going into 2017, we knew there would be a lot in store. We launched a new website, several new collections, and brand new programming (like the Alabama Chanin Core Club). Our Bldg. 14 team really brought it this year, completing production for Alabama Chanin while having other special manufacturing projects under their belts for Patagonia,… Read on

It’s been a busy year for The School of Making—new packaging, new products, workshops at The Factory (and away), new patterns through Build a Wardrobe, a new website, a Craftsy course (with 2 more in the works), and our brand-new book—The Geometry of Hand-Sewing. We’ve shared it all along the way with our maker community… Read on

2017 welcomed exciting changes, friends and collaborators, and community involvement to The Factory Café. In July we welcomed new head chef, and Florence native, Ray Nichols. Our menu saw exciting changes with the addition of Antipasti Mondays, The Factory Burger, house made pastrami, and seasonal grit bowls on the brunch menu. We continued the tradition… Read on

Bldg.14 was created during the summer of 2013, with our machine-sewn line officially launching in 2014. (Some of you might remember that it was originally called A. Chanin.) Our organic machine-sewn styles are still being produced in-house by Bldg. 14 and can be found in the current Collection. Bldg. 14 offers organic fabrics and American-made options… Read on

The Factory opened to the public in November of 2013 with our flagship store and accompanying café. The Slow Food movement has informed much of our work, and so we envisioned a space where the two merge—slow food served fresh and slow design made locally. We hope you’ll be able to visit us in our… Read on

In fashion, graphic design, art, architecture, and other creative mediums, designs evolve and change with time. The same is true for website design (and technology)—and with that idea in mind, today we are over-the-moon to announce the launch of the newly designed AlabamaChanin.com. What began as a conversation about AlabamaChanin.com over a year and half… Read on

We love you all. We love the Fourth of July. We love our staff. We love for our staff to spend time with their families. In celebration of Independence Day this year, The Factory, the Alabama Chanin offices, and our production studios will be closed today, July 4, 2017. Some of our staff will celebrate by… Read on

#alabamachanincoreclub #knowyourbasics #ownknitdressing

The Alabama Sweater has been a long-standing pattern at Alabama Chanin, and the silhouette remains one of our customer favorites (a reason we included the pattern in our 2016 Build a Wardrobe). The Alabama Sweater shown above was created using the Daisy stencil for one of our archived collections using a classic whipstitch appliqué technique…. Read on

Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared instructions for our recently-added Custom DIY silhouettes from the 2016 Build a Wardrobe program. These new projects are not included in our Alabama Studio books, but the instructions for the four patterns from last year are now available online. So far, we’ve shared instructions for the Maggie Dress, Alabama Sweater, and Walking… Read on

We have recently added our 2016 Build a Wardrobe silhouettes to Custom DIY. These new projects are not included in our Alabama Studio books, so we are providing instructions for each project on our Journal over the next few weeks. So far, we’ve shared instructions for the Maggie Dress and Alabama Sweater, and this week, we share… Read on

Last week, we added our  2016 Build a Wardrobe silhouettes to Custom DIY. These new projects are not included in our Alabama Studio books, so we are providing instructions for each project on our Journal over the next few weeks. Last week, we shared instructions for the Maggie Dress and variations with you, and this week, we… Read on

With one successful year of Build a Wardrobe behind us, we are excited to offer the 2017 subscription with four brand new garment patterns. The first quarter introduces the Factory Dress pattern—a long-time staff and customer favorite—with its flattering fit, princess seams, and high neckline. In addition to being included in our 2017 Build a Wardrobe… Read on

Some years fly by and others seem to drag on forever; 2016 kept us at a steady pace at Alabama Chanin. We have been able to focus on refining our methods and more deeply developing our different avenues of work—from the design team to workshops to collections and collaborations. It is possible that 2017 could… Read on

This year was a busy and productive year for all of our divisions at Alabama Chanin. The School of Making and The Factory teams worked hard to introduce new and expanded programming for our customers. Our design team launched new home items and Collection #30, which produced some of our most intricate and beautiful garments… Read on

Happy holidays from all of us @ Alabama Chanin  

Natalie has a deep history with Penland School of Crafts where, more than 30 years ago, she first received a studio assistantship—an experience that opened her eyes and mind to the incredible world of design and craft. In 2012, she revisited the North Carolina mountain school to teach a course on hand sewing. Natalie documented… Read on

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of Garden & Gun’s 7th Annual Made in the South Awards—from home to food, drink, outdoors, style, and crafts—all applicants showcased a true spirit of creativity and quality of craftsmanship that makes us proud to call the South home. P.S.: Thanks for including Natalie and Alabama Chanin in your… Read on

Thank you to Lauren Vespoli and Amtrak’s The National magazine for highlighting the importance of community and American-made manufacturing and for including Alabama Chanin in your Made In America feature­. “There is a deep history in every community, and I think that in the age that we live in those communities are being cracked wide open,”… Read on

The days following the Thanksgiving holiday have become inextricably associated with commerce: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday – these are all days to bargain hunt and search for gifts. But over the past five years, a movement has been growing to change the conversation on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, now known as #GivingTuesday…. Read on

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been revisiting thoughts from the late Civil Rights activist Vincent Harding, who was recently featured on one of our favorite podcasts, On Being with Krista Tippett. Their conversation, “Is America Possible?” touched on so many feelings we’ve been struggling to corral recently. It reintroduced us to the idea… Read on

The Magdalena Classic Jacket DIY Kit is the newest addition to our (recently updated) DIY Collection. Featured in Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, our Classic Jacket hits at the hip and has a relaxed fit—making it a great everyday jacket. This kit comes with everything you’ll need (including variegated embroidery floss that we’ll match for you). We’ve… Read on

Today, we launch updates to our DIY Collection with new kits, colorways, patterns, and designs. We’re introducing new silhouettes while offering some of our customer favorites with new stencils and treatments. New projects include the Anna’s Garden Maggie Tunic and Polka Dot Walking Cape. Our expanded selection includes a range of projects for the home, like the… Read on

This year’s Build a Wardrobe program has allowed us to expand the options in each of our closets. So far, we have introduced three new garment patterns—the DIY Maggie Dress, DIY Alabama Sweater, and DIY Walking Cape—and offered several of our own variations on each piece. Build a Wardrobe provides hundreds of options for how… Read on

The words ‘Rabbit Rabbit’, spoken on the first day of the month, are believed to bring you good luck for the rest of that month. The idea is to say it on the first of every month, so you’ll always have good luck. This old English superstition was picked up in the United States in… Read on

One of the challenges of running a company dedicated to sustainability is adjusting to the ebbs and flows of other small businesses in our supply chain—businesses that are devoted to sustainable practices themselves. Sadly for us, one of those companies has closed its doors after almost 20 years of operation. North Carolina-based Tumbling Colors, our… Read on

If you’ve attended some of our past Friends of the Café Dinner events, you may have seen Adam Evans’ face in our kitchen, working beside both Frank Stitt and Rob McDaniel. A constant student of his craft, he was quoted as saying, “Any time you get a chance to work with someone who is the… Read on

With a number of things brides could worry about on their wedding day, feeling comfortable and beautiful shouldn’t be one of them. Our organic cotton jersey allows that comfort and ease on your wedding day, while still looking elegant. We have a wide range of dresses, skirts, tops, and accessories available through Custom DIY and… Read on

Alabama Chanin as a business was founded on the idea of a quilting stitch. And although it took me months to realize that I was actually quilting as I pieced together those first cut up t-shirts, the knowledge of those quilting stitches came from my most elemental childhood experiences. Growing up in the south, at… Read on

If you follow along on the Journal, you know that Alabama Chanin is a long-time supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Over the years, we have joined together for countless partnerships, events, and projects: Natalie barbequed dresses for their 2012 Symposium; we created an apron in their honor; we even supplied costumes for their collard… Read on

You may remember that back in 2013 we spoke with the trio behind Single Lock Records, when they were newly established. Single Lock is an independent record label founded by Shoals residents Ben Tanner, Will Trapp, and John Paul White. At that time, they had just released Overseas then Under, by The Bear (still one… Read on

I’ve been reading Pattern Recognition (2003) by William Gibson as a sort of “digital book club” with a friend of mine who lives in another state. I’ve never been a huge fan of science fiction—and had, honestly, never heard of William Gibson but managed to get lost in the book—equal parts thriller and exposé on… Read on

I assume that most folks imagine that the Maggie Top/Tunic/Dress is named after my daughter Maggie—and they would be right, in a way. What few people know is that the garment is named after an apron/smock dress that my Maggie wore and loved as a three-year-old. One day as I was dressing her and life… Read on

If you don’t yet know The Bitter Southerner, you should. They’ve been telling good stories since 2013, strong stories; stories that make you laugh, and stories that make you cry. There is so much that I love about what they are doing, but I especially love the description below from their “About” page by editor… Read on

Today, we launch our Maggie Dress garment pattern—available in PDF format through our website. Part of our Build a Wardrobe programming and available for individual purchase at $18, the PDF download includes the nested pattern and comes in sizes XS to XXL along with instructions for fabric selection, cutting, and garment construction. Our PDF patterns (more styles… Read on

I spent quite a lot of time over the holiday season digging into some of my favorite cookbooks. This was sparked on by several things: My son, Zach, and I started talking about what we want to accomplish with The Factory Café in 2016 and got side tracked talking (for a very, very long time)… Read on

New Years’ Eve is a big (if quiet) night for me. It’s been a long time since I was that girl that danced until sunrise. These days I’m much more into getting up at sunrise, writing, scheming, drinking coffee, and, on some days, simply cleaning house. That being said, I’ve very often had big changes… Read on

Looking back on 2015, it’s clear that this was the year of collaboration for Alabama Chanin. We expanded upon work that we have been creating with others for many years, added major new initiatives with new partners, and built upon our partnerships across all parts of our business. Partnership has always meant growth for Alabama… Read on

2015 was a year full of making, partnerships, learning, and growth. We truly appreciate each and every one of you and the love and support you show for us every day. We are excited to see what 2016 holds for us and hope that you’ll follow along. Happy New Year to you and yours. P.S…. Read on

This has been a year of great achievement, great loss, great beauty, great sadness, and great friendships; but through it all I have been repeatedly reminded of the gift of family. At this time of year, I think we all look forward to looking homeward and to family—whatever home and family may mean for us…. Read on

December has arrived, and with it come holiday parties, family get-togethers, and plenty of reasons to cook and bake. The Factory’s calendar is a little less packed this month, simply because we all have so much to do at home and with our families. But—great news! December is National Egg Nog Month. No matter what… Read on

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For many Americans, “Black Friday” (the name given to the Friday after Thanksgiving) marks the beginning of the holiday season. It’s a day largely associated with fanatical shopping and savings. While some people dread the thought of Black Friday shopping, many get excited—even camping out at stores the night before to get the best deals…. Read on

We have updated our School of Making section with an all-new pattern called the “Baby Bundle”—a multi-item downloadable package that includes patterns for a Baby Blanket, Baby Bucket Hat, Baby Bib, and Stuffed Bunny Rabbit. This set of items would be a wonderful holiday gift for new or expecting parents, and the patterns are useful… Read on

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I looked down at my calendar recently and was stunned to realize: this year is almost over. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was thinking summer vacations and tomato sandwiches. Now, I have to shift gears and get into holiday mode—quickly. It seems the older I get, the more I seem to… Read on

Newsletter #34 announces our upcoming sale, which begins tonight at midnight. It also highlights the Half Skirt—a new addition to Collection #29, Host a Party (where you can organize your own sewing party with some help from us), and new events and products in store at The Factory. For a dose of all things happening at Alabama… Read on

#achaninteamatwork  (very hard at work this week) To learn more about The School of Making Project with Nest, visit here.

Way back in 2007, performance artist John Rives put together a light-hearted TED talk meant to tease conspiracy theorists everywhere. I won’t get into the incredible connections he makes between people like country music artist Faron Young, Dame Judi Dench, and Bill Clinton. (I suggest you watch for yourself.) But he manages to connect one… Read on

September kicked off our busy season here at The Factory. We launched a new collection, hosted Patagonia’s Worn Wear Truck at The Factory, and I celebrated my birthday with a specially-made cake from my daughter, Maggie. October brings our Collection and DIY Trunk Show and Two-Hour Workshop this weekend at Craft South, upcoming Friends of the… Read on

October is here and—finally—we are beginning to get a reprieve from the heat of summer. By now, my house has gotten back into the school, work, homework, bedtime routine. (I think every year Maggie manages to negotiate a later bedtime, while mine gets earlier and earlier.) October is one of my favorite months, because it… Read on

Bon Appétit’s October issue hit the stands this past week and featured a big Alabama party—complete with a campfire, Lodge Castiron, and whiskey. Read the full story of our ‘Alabama Getaway’ and find the recipes online here. A HUGE thank you is in order to all the chefs, makers, artists, and friends who drove (and… Read on

Newsletter #33 shares our newest Collection, as well as updates to our Cook + Dine section online. Our design team is also working on new designs for our Basics line—coming soon. We have a series of upcoming events at The Factory, which include our Friends of the Café Dinner on October 24th and an On… Read on

Last September, as we were preparing for a workshop at Anna Maria Horner’s venture, Craft South, we got our first look at her new line of knit jersey fabrics—Anna Maria Knits. We have since experimented and played with several of these patterned knits using our techniques and are loving the results. Shown here is our… Read on

When the company that became Alabama Chanin began years ago, we didn’t have (or didn’t know how to find) many kindred spirits—those who were enthusiastic about celebrating uniquely Southern craft traditions. Years later, we look around and see so many individuals and organizations who have taken up the banner for Southern craft, culture, foodways, and… Read on

Patagonia’s Worn Wear truck and team arrived in Alabama and to The Factory yesterday morning. They’ve set up in the parking lot and brought fabrics and machines to repair your existing gear. As a bonus, they’ve also brought a slew of jackets that they’re giving away so we can learn to make our own repairs. I… Read on

The source of creativity can be confounding. Artists have been famously driven by mystical or divine inspiration, obsessive love, depression, or self-exploration. Some artists are prolific; Picasso supposedly produced over 13,000 paintings and 100,000 prints. Others struggle openly, like author Fran Lebowitz whose writer’s block was so famously long that she called it “writer’s blockade.”… Read on

We are still receiving responses to Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns and are delighted to get great comments from Linda Lee, a notable maker who has quite a design collective of her own. Linda—who has become a friend over the years—is owner of The Sewing Workshop sewing school and produces a pattern collection under that same… Read on

September comes as a bit of a relief this year, as it brings more routine, less travel, and a few moments to relax. While I’ve enjoyed my unforgettable summer with Maggie (especially our cross-country train trip), most parents will agree that there’s just the slightest feeling of liberation when your child goes back to school (albeit… Read on

#aroundthefactory Thank you to everyone who came out, sponsored, and supported our Friends of the Café Dinner with Rob McDaniel, benefiting the Southern Foodways Alliance. To name a few—Rob McDaniel and his amazing team from SpringHouse Restaurant, Billy Reid, the Southern Foodways Alliance, John T. Edge and Melissa Hall, Grassroots Wine, Cathead Vodka, Good People Brewing,… Read on

#aroundthefactory collaborations are in the works.

Newsletter #32 includes updates on our Alabama on Alabama show at Heath Ceramics’ Boiler Room (extended until September 13th). Other announcements include a sneak peek of our upcoming Collection—and beer and wine service beginning this Friday at The Factory Café . The Café will feature a limited menu and close at 1:00pm this Thursday as we prepare… Read on

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#aroundthefactory Thanks to all who are giving our Sample Sale items new homes. Our shipping team has been hard at work all week to get packages out the door and into your hands.

The Alabama Chanin Journal was unofficially launched back in 2006. In those early days, there was no editorial staff (or much staff at all). There was just Natalie and a couple of friends who pitched in here and there. The early blog posts had little in the way of structured format or consistent subject matter…. Read on

The months of June and July were wonderful and hectic in lots of beautiful and fun ways. There was plenty of travel, including our trip to Blackberry Farm and the cross-country train trip that Maggie and I took to San Francisco. With August comes a welcome bit of calm, just before our house gets back… Read on

July has been a busy month of preparing for (and then traveling to) the Boiler Room in San Francisco for the launch of our month-long show, Alabama on Alabama. Follow along on Instagram to keep up with our time there and mine and Maggie’s train ride back home. P.S.: Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr,… Read on

The Alabama Chanin, Heath Ceramics, and Boiler Room teams have been working together over the past few months in preparation for our show in San Francisco, which opens tomorrow evening. Needless to say, we are very excited. The show, Alabama on Alabama, is the fourth ever exhibition in Heath Ceramics’ new event space, the Boiler Room. Heath… Read on

Our first collaboration with Heath Ceramics, launched in 2011, has built a lasting, creatively symbiotic relationship. That joint development was a beautifully intensive design process that blended our techniques with theirs. Our Heath + Alabama Chanin line of dinnerware is made by hand, just like our Alabama Chanin handmade Collection. The artisans at Heath etch… Read on

This week we reach the three-year anniversary (and the 10,000-follower milestone) of our Instagram account. We’ve enjoyed the projects you’ve shared through #theschoolofmaking and the meals you’ve had at The Factory through #alabamachaninfactorycafe. Thanks for all of the ongoing conversations and for following along… xoNatalie P.S. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Celebrate: v. 1. Publicly acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity. Independence: n. The fact or state of being free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority. We hope that you take time this weekend to soak in the sweetness of independence that we’ve been granted… Read on

Summer is now officially in full swing. As adults, we rarely get to indulge in a full-scale month of vacation—as our children often do. But, in July I like to take a few extra days to enjoy summer with my family and friends. Maggie absolutely loves July (and July 4th festivities are some of her… Read on

This month, we introduce a new layout for our Newsletter. The new design clearly distinguishes Alabama Chanin, The School of Making, and The Factory—making it easier to find the information that is most important to you. Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter and keep up with our latest news, events, and stories featured on… Read on

Our On Design series began in fall 2014 as an extension of our Makeshift conversations and events. The series explores art, design, makers, relationships, and the elevation of craft. Our conversation in January explored William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Here are some of Natalie’s thoughts from the presentation. Feel free to share… Read on

In January, we added to our ongoing Makeshift series, adapting available garment patterns using Alabama Chanin techniques with a Merchant & Mills pattern for the Shirt Dress. This month, we’ve created another Merchant & Mills garment in our own style—an Alabama Chanin version of the Factory Dress (love the name). This piece is shown here without embellishment… Read on

As we continue to get feedback from some of our favorite makers on Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, we realize how lucky we are to be part of such a positive DIY community. So many fellow writers, designers, knitters, and Journal followers have contacted us with generous responses and honest commentary. How heartening it is to… Read on

This week, we feature another in our series of posts from makers we admire highlighting Alabama Chanin garments—specially tailored for the wearer, using techniques outlined in Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns. Previous posts from Amy Herzog and Heather Ross reveal what we really already know: we are not defined by our garment fit issues and owning… Read on

Anna Maria Horner and I have been friends and collaborators now for about 6 years; but, she is the kind of friend you feel like you’ve known forever. I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside her on more than one occasion and we created two stencil designs, Little Folks and Little Flowers, together—based on her… Read on

If there’s something we have learned from our DIY community and The School of Making programming, it’s that our fellow makers can be passionate and prolific. In a world focused on “fast fashion” we are constantly inspired to see so many taking time and effort to create meaningful things. Quite a few of you have… Read on

In our continuing Makeshift series that demonstrates how design, craft, and fashion can influence on another, we adapt another pattern using Alabama Chanin techniques. This pattern is from Marcy Tilton, a longtime Vogue pattern designer, author of three sewing books, and a name well known to crafters and sewers alike. As always, we encourage you… Read on

We wrote earlier this week about scale and patterns, and how we reduced and enlarged our New Leaves stencil artwork to create graphic variations of the design. One of our projects that looks at scale is a series of  DIY Unisex T-shirts. The shirts feature our New Leaves stencil in five different sizes and can… Read on

Today, we continue our series of blog posts from some of our favorite makers highlighting DIY garments, customized using the techniques and patterns of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns. We last heard from Amy Herzog, who described the fit issues she has faced over the years—particularly garment length. This week, we are blushingly grateful to post… Read on

I am happy to greet May, partly because April came “as advertised”—dropping buckets of rain—but also because May is filled with so many good things. So many, in fact, that I might feel differently by month’s end, but for now I am ready. There are workshops, both at home and afar. Maggie finishes school at… Read on

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Since the launch of The School of Making, our team has been inspired to create new resources, to design more beautiful DIY kits (that complement our newest book), and to give our online store a new look. Shop our updated Maker Supplies section here and find tools and materials to inspire your next project. And… Read on

In this month’s cocktail post, contributor Jesse Goldstein goes deep into the margarita well (or pitcher, as it were). Everyone loves a good margarita on Cinco de Mayo—but here are a few options that will carry you through the rest of the summer in high style. From Jesse: I catch myself feeling sorry for inanimate… Read on

With the launch of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns at the beginning of the month, many of our Journal posts have focused on the book’s features, printing options, and our new School of Making page—now with printable patterns and tiled stencil artwork. We’ve combined all of these new choices into Newsletter #28 as an easy-to-reference resource for… Read on

Ask yourself, “Who made my clothes?” And then, turn your garment inside out and find out.  Take a picture and share with the world. Check out Fashion Revolution and get involved. Save, copy, share, and spread the word… it’s easy.         P.S.: Can a hashtag change the fashion industry?

As we’ve written in the past, there are many ways to define a mother. Merriam Webster opts for “a female parent” but we at Alabama Chanin feel the term mother is often more verb than noun. A mother can also be a member of your “family of choice” –or any woman that has offered you… Read on

Natalie’s Apron—now available for purchase as a downloadable sewing pattern from our Studio Books + Patterns —is a version of an apron my grandmother wore nearly every day of her life. The cut of the apron was adapted from the shape of our Camisole Dress pattern from Alabama Studio Style, and it features an optional… Read on

Like the rest of the world, the fashion industry has widely utilized Instagram (the photo sharing app with over 300 million users) to share insider glimpses into brands and lives, highlight the creative process, and find simple ways to connect to followers. Brands and consumers are sharing personal, visual “moments” in their lives (of course,… Read on

Today, we begin a series of blog posts highlighting customized DIY garments made from Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns. We are lucky to work with a range of makers and writers across the spectrum of handwork. In the coming weeks, you’ll find stories and ideas from the likes of Heather Ross, Anna Maria Horner, Kristine Vejar, Joelle Hoverson, and Amy… Read on

When I first started brainstorming what was to become Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, I had a dream that as an elevated service to all of our sewers, our garment patterns (including patterns from our previous books) would be neatly packaged onto one convenient CD with an additional size (XXL), which had been so often requested. … Read on

Today, we launch our new Unisex T-shirt garment pattern—available in paper and PDF form through our newly re-organized Studio Books + Patterns page for The School of Making. Available for purchase at $18 – $24, it includes the nested pattern and comes in sizes XS to XXL along with instructions for fabric selection, cutting, and… Read on

With the launch of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns and our updated online Studio Books + Patterns page on Friday—including new garment patterns and stencils offered as downloadable PDFs—we are offering a growing range of designs that require printing, either from a home printer or from wide-format printers found at print shops across the globe. Alabama… Read on

Last Thursday we started shipping our newest book, Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns.  Stacks of books around the office moved quickly into boxes and off into the hands of readers.  Thank you for all your sweet notes of praise and excitement.  We find it equally exciting to move on to this next chapter. Look for our… Read on

It’s a BIG week for us here at Alabama Chanin. Our newest book, Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, lands in stores and into the hands of the makers tomorrow. This fourth book in the Alabama Studio Series includes all the patterns from our first three Studio Books on a convenient CD, plus instructions and patterns for… Read on

With the arrival of April (and the announcement of our partnership with Nest), it feels as though we are finally settling into the year. April’s warmer weather is also welcomed with open arms (and horseback rides). April is a busy month. April is National Poetry Month. Poetry lovers can begin a project using our Poetry… Read on

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As we wrote in last week’s post on our DIY Exploding Zero T-Shirt, inspiration comes at us from every direction. Recently, our design team has been (almost endlessly) inspired by Eames: Beautiful Details. The use of color and form shown by Ray and Charles Eames is bright and modern, even by today’s standards. The image… Read on

When we opened our Bldg. 14 manufacturing facility in the summer of 2013, we knew that we had to commit to learning about the ever-changing manufacturing industry—and that the learning curve would be steep. But as we began to educate ourselves, we found that no manual or set of rules existed for us to consult…. Read on

While writing this post about March and our Swatch of the Month, I mentioned the Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont which I am currently reading in preparation for a new book we are writing (yes, another book) on the tools of handwork. I became curious about the life of Thérèse de Dillmont who… Read on

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February is technically a short month, but it was so fast and furious that I had to make conscious efforts to be mindful AND productive. March looks to be just as busy, but in the best way—full of things I want to do and people I want to see. It is National Women’s History month,… Read on

Last year, we launched our Friends of the Café Dinner and Factory Chef Series, which was quickly established as part of our Makeshift initiative. As with most things here at Alabama Chanin, the idea evolved over time from an interesting idea into something bigger. In 2015, we are continuing to host Friends of the Café… Read on

This take on our Long Fitted Skirt—one of my longtime favorite go-to pieces—is available for a limited time in our DIY Sewing Kit Collection through The School of Making. I own many versions of this skirt in a range of colors and wear them throughout the year, from one season to the next. The Long… Read on

The School of Making is firmly in place. Our new collection of DIY Kits is being loved (and completed) by many. The occasional frustration of writing a book is now replaced with the joy and pride of making something new and beautiful. Now, we can hardly believe that the arrival of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns is just… Read on

We began our 2015 Swatch of the Month back in January but neglected to write about the swatch and share pictures here on the Journal. Many of you reached out to let us know that you missed these posts. We heard. We listened. And herewith, our February post (and the slightly late January below). Here’s… Read on

In our ongoing Makeshift conversation on design, craft, food, DIY, and fashion—and how they intersect—we continue to adapt open-source patterns from other designers and brands using Alabama Chanin techniques. This experiment demonstrates how open-sourced materials and collaborative works can be used in any number of ways and tailored to almost any personal style. For this… Read on

2014 has been another year of making, learning, and growing. Thank you for the love and support you show us each and every day. Have a wonderfully happy New Year. P.S. Follow our journey on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what new and exciting things 2015 holds for us.

With 2014 coming to a close and a brand new year upon us, it is time to reflect on all we’ve accomplished—slow in design, but rapid in growth—during the past year. But first and foremost, we want to thank each and every single one of our supporters, friends, collaborators, partners, and everyone who has made… Read on

With the release of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, we offer a DIY Sewing Kit for our A-Line Dress. This dress is part of our DIY Sewing Kit Collection. Made from our medium-weight 100% organic cotton jersey, the dress is patterned with our Magdalena Stencil and shown here worked in negative reverse appliqué; however, you may choose… Read on

The Camisole Apron is an embellished version of an apron my grandmother wore nearly every day for most of her life. It is beautiful and incredibly practical—especially for those of us that need full-coverage protection in the kitchen. This kit—created from our Camisole Dress pattern from Alabama Studio Style—is fitted for a woman’s body and… Read on

Our final Swatch of the Month for 2014 combines several techniques explored (and hopefully mastered) in previous months’ swatches—including appliqué, negative reverse appliqué, and eyelet beading. The design, titled Natalie’s Dream, is beautifully intricate and one of my personal favorites (hence the name). To create the swatch, begin by stenciling the design to the top… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we frequently speak about the concepts of Slow Design and sustainability. We attempt to create a healthy environment so that we can create healthy products. Part of being sustainable means we take great care in the materials that we source to create our products; it also means that the processes we use… Read on

One of our more popular series of do-it-yourself posts has been our ongoing adaptation of commercially available patterns in the Alabama Chanin style. Among the patterns we have reworked are: a dress from an Anna Sui Vogue pattern, two variations of a Vogue dress from Vena Cava, an open-sourced jacket pattern from Yohji Yamamoto, and… Read on

Our Alabama Chanin Candles, with a seasonal Grapefruit + Watercress scent, are the newest addition to Cook + Dine. Hand-poured in Mississippi, the soy candles feature our floral Magdalena pattern and a graphic Diamond design, inspired by vintage glassware that I’ve collected over the years. Once you burn your candle, clean the 6 oz. votive… Read on

In 2014, we were inspired by our extensive fabric library—and readers expressed interest in trying new techniques—to create our first Swatch of the Month Club. Our library of sample swatches archives over 500 techniques, embroideries, fabric treatments, and colorways that we have experimented with or used in past and upcoming Alabama Chanin collections. If you… Read on

The Swatch of the Month for November highlights one of my all time favorite designs, Climbing Daisy. The technique uses ribbon embroidery, which beautifully adds dimension and detail to projects and garments. The concept is simple: we use cotton ribbon rather than thread or embroidery floss to stitch the design. This technique can be applied… Read on

As I’ve mentioned before, writing a book is no easy feat. It involves months (often years) of planning, drafting, edits, new designs, reviews, rewrites, photo shoots, patternmaking…basically, equal parts labor and love. So, I honestly surprised myself when I agreed to write another one. While still a work in progress, the end is in sight,… Read on

Today we introduce our newest Alabama Chanin silhouettes like our Marie Pencil Skirt and Garter Dress which have a flattering and feminine shape, alongside our Peasant Top and Factory Dress which offer a more relaxed fit. Classics styles, like our Corset and Long Fitted Skirt, are combined with new stencil designs like ‘Aurora,’ ‘Marie,’ and… Read on

Since the launch of Alabama Studio Style, our DIY Eyelet + Angie Throw (also known in my family as a “couch saver”) has been a favorite do-it-yourself kit among home sewers and our workshop participants alike. Today we introduce another design option for this project: the Polka Dot throw. This 36” x 48” throw, made from… Read on

“Zero” is both a number and a concept. It is both incredibly complex and perfectly simple. Zero is both a value and a digit—a number and a placeholder. It can be called: nil, oh, naught, nada, and zilch. Complex chemical and physical theories involve and surround the concept of zero. All of this to say… Read on

The October Swatch of the Month highlights one of our most popular embroidery treatments—Alabama Fur. The technique, first presented in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, combines our Spiral stencil with backstitch-worked embroidery floss, and incorporating exposed knots and tails. Simple, yet time consuming, the end result is a hypnotic continuation of curves that is both… Read on

As a designer, I am constantly in search of inspiration for new patterns. Often, I find ideas in nature. Other times, I’m drawn to simple geometric shapes—such as circles or dots—and how they interact with one another. Polka dots, with their equal size and relative spacing, create a classic pattern on a garment. In fact,… Read on

Beginning today, we launch our new DIY Sewing Kit collection. These DIY collections are designed and sold in the same manner as our ready-to-wear collection—created through seasonal inspirations and focusing on garments and patterns that we love. Some pieces are designed in conjunction with our current Alabama Chanin collection; others are top customer picks and… Read on

Our longtime friend and collaborator Anna Maria Horner has created a new line of knit jersey fabric – Anna Maria Knits. On my recent visit to Nashville for Anna Maria’s newest venture, Craft South, we hosted a joint workshop that focused on combining machine and hand techniques with both Alabama Chanin and Anna Maria Horner… Read on

Two years ago this week, we were picking organic Alabama cotton. Today, The New York Times – T Magazine shares that journey. Thank you (and a BIG hug) to Rinne Allen for taking this journey with us. From Rinne: “Two years ago, I found myself knee-deep in a field in rural Alabama, picking organic cotton… Read on

The Swatch of the Month for September continues August’s emphasis on texture as it relates to an overall design perspective. Couching has a sculptural quality and it places significant focus on the stencil or design motif it highlights. This stencil, Anna’s Garden, works well with the couching technique, as it has lots of curved shapes… Read on

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One of the great joys of my job is the fact that we sometimes get to review books for other authors. Sometimes we order the books from a catalog of new titles and sometimes, the books just arrive like magic in the mail. This was the case last year, when we received a book called… Read on

Each month, we invite our fellow stitchers to create a favorite Alabama Chanin pattern, embellishment, or embroidery technique through our Swatch of the Month Club. As a companion to that monthly series, we are also offering DIY projects that you can create with your completed swatches. Past projects include DIY Swatch Pillows, DIY Book Covers,… Read on

Clockwise: Studio Bundle #2 from The School of Making; Fabric Swatch in Natural/Bright White Kristina’s Rose with appliqué and beading; “Roses and Revolution” featuring the iconic Tina Modotti photograph “Roses, Mexico” (1924) from Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit; Kristina’s Rose stencil artwork; Fabric Swatch in Bright White/Natural Kristina’s Rose with appliqué and beading; Detail of… Read on

Based on feedback that we have received from some of our DIY customers, we are now offering supplementary instructions in each of our DIY Kits. Each kit will be shipped with an insert that includes basic instructions, including how to “love your thread,” directions on completing basic stitches, simple construction tips, and how to add… Read on

Each month of 2014, we have been demonstrating some of our favorite embroidery techniques as part of our Swatch of the Month Club. The month of July features our satin stitch-embroidered Stars design, embellished with beads and sequins. To highlight this stencil and technique – and as a way to celebrate Independence Day all summer… Read on

The July Swatch of the Month demonstrates one of our popular beaded embroidery techniques, the Satin Stars design. This technique is highlighted in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, where you can view an in-depth fabric map of the embroidery. Use the Satin Stars design to add embellishment using either an allover or placement technique, as… Read on

We’ve written before about the importance of color – from a cultural standpoint and a design perspective. At Alabama Chanin, we tend to embrace more muted tones for our design color palette. Muted colors have a reduced intensity, so any saturated color stands out in comparison.  We are drawn toward natural tones and some of… Read on

The Alabama Chanin Gore Skirt is one of our more popular DIY items because it is a simple design that is the perfect canvas for a wide variety of colors, stencils, and embroidery techniques. Shown here in reverse appliqué in our Magdalena design, the skirt sits low on the waist and flares to the hem—creating… Read on

Each month, we feature a favorite Alabama Chanin embroidery technique as part of our Swatch of the Month Club. Additionally, we offer suggestions as to how you might put your completed swatches to use. Past month’s project offerings have included the DIY Clutch, DIY Book Covers, and DIY Swatch Pillows. This month – with 6… Read on

The Swatch of the Month for June combines a number of embroidery techniques into a single design. This stencil, appropriately titled June’s Spring, combines both basic techniques, like backstitch embroidery and appliqué, with more elaborate treatments, like beading and Feather stitch embroidery. The combination of these elements on one swatch results in a lush, rich… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we believe DIY projects are integral to sharing creativity and promoting sustainable heirloom-worthy pieces. Bibliocraft: A Modern Crafter’s Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects is a great guide to DIY crafts that utilize a range of library resources for inspiration. Written by rare book librarian Jessica Pigza, this book… Read on

Each month, we highlight one of our favorite embroidery techniques through our Swatch of the Month Club. As a companion to that monthly series, we have also put together a selection of projects you can create with your completed swatches. This month, we have created a beaded clutch bag, which you will need one finished… Read on

One of our Mother’s Day Gift Guide selections, the DIY Magdalena Shawl is versatile in design and function. The Magdalena stencil is a bold design that dresses up casual wear. A shawl is a simple way to adjust to the changes in weather that tend to occur on a whim this time of year and acts… Read on

The Swatch of the Month for May demonstrates our beaded ruffle stripe technique. This is a variation of our random ruffle technique, featured in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. You can add several rows of ruffles for a more elaborate textural design or use just one if you want to highlight the technique itself. Detailed… Read on

Today, April 24, is the one-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has also been declared Fashion Revolution Day—celebrating best practices in the fashion industry and raising awareness of the true cost of fast fashion. In homage to the anniversary, we etched wax candles with our Anna’s Garden and Bloomers… Read on

In service to everyone who showed such great response to our Swatch of the Month, we are featuring a series of DIY projects that you can create with your completed swatch(es). This month’s project is a book cover adapted to fit the size of our Studio Books. It requires one swatch and four blank panels… Read on

The Swatch of the Month for April allows you the opportunity to experiment with a basic, traditional appliqué technique in our Anna’s Garden stencil design. Appliqué is a way of “applying” one fabric on top of another. We use appliqué for many reasons – to add color, texture, dimension, and more elaborate design work to a… Read on

After launching our Swatch of the Month Club in January, we received several requests for a more accessible way to sample a variety of our techniques before investing in a club membership. Our commitment to listening to your feedback and, in turn, giving better service, led us to create the Starter Sewing Kit. Our Starter… Read on

Each Thursday on the Journal we post DIY projects and ideas. On Thursdays following our highlight of the Swatch of the Month, we will be creating projects made from our completed swatches as a source of inspiration for those of you following along. At Alabama Chanin, swatches start out as a design concept for new… Read on

Each month, as part of our Swatch of the Month Club, we are demonstrating some of our most popular techniques so that you might try your hand at creating new designs and embroideries. If you join the Swatch of the Month Club, you will receive a ready-to-sew package each month with the supplies needed to… Read on

Our newest men’s DIY Kit features the Check, our 2014 Stencil of the Year. The shirt is shown here worked in reverse appliqué, but there are various ways to work this stencil, including negative reverse appliqué and outside reverse appliqué, along with a variety of other techniques found in the Alabama Chanin Studio Book series…. Read on

Vogue designer patterns, which are available to all at reasonable prices, are excellent examples of resources contributing to and encouraging the DIY opportunities in modern fashion. The existence and availability of such resources help us to continue our ongoing conversation on design, craft, and fashion and how they intersect. As part of our ongoing series… Read on

I’ve kept a journal, or some type of notebook, on and off since I was fifteen years old. My current journal is full of messages, reminders, sketches, and sweet notes and drawings I’ve collected from Maggie over the past few weeks—which, since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, includes a lot of heart-shaped and heart-adorned things…. Read on

February’s Swatch of the Month illustrates a variation on Alabama Chanin’s basic reverse appliqué technique in our Anna’s Garden design. With a membership in our Swatch of the Month Club, you can try out a different technique each month. You may purchase a Swatch of the Month membership at any point in the year and… Read on

Last year, we announced with great excitement that Alabama Chanin would be launching a machine-made line called A. Chanin. After months of hard work from our team (and the receipt of the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge award), the inaugural A. Chanin pieces are here. Until now, all Alabama Chanin products have been made by hand, using… Read on

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” –Martin Luther King, Jr. In continuing our celebration this week of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his philosophy and teachings, we sought to create something sustainable that… Read on

In the tradition of old-time quilting and sewing circles, join us at The Factory the first and third Tuesday of each month to sew and socialize. Spend the morning working on your latest project in the company of fellow sewers, while sharing inspiration, encouragement, fellowship, and maybe even a bit of light-hearted gossip. (It is… Read on

January’s Swatch of the Month incorporates Alabama Chanin’s basic reverse appliqué technique with our Paisley stencil. Explore our techniques and build your skills with a membership to our Swatch of the Month Club and follow along here on the Journal. The photograph above shows one of many options you can create when making your own… Read on

Looking back at what we have accomplished this year at Alabama Chanin, I feel nothing short of overwhelmed. With the help of many friends, Alabama Chanin has grown in ways I only imagined. Our company is the best it has ever been, and will only get better. Over the summer, and on the heels of… Read on

Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy holiday season. From all of us @ Alabama Chanin

This holiday season, as part of our Handmade Holiday collection, we are offering a DIY tree skirt kit that features our Anna’s Garden design in a negative reverse appliqué, and coordinates beautifully with our Natural Appliqué Stockings. This project was inspired by the custom tree skirt we created for the official White House Christmas tree… Read on

This stuffed bunny rabbit is Alabama Chanin’s version of the old-time childhood favorite, the sock monkey. My grandmother used to make sock monkeys for all the children in our family. Each one she made took its own personality and looked different from the others. Our DIY Bunny Rabbit doll is an easy project to complete,… Read on

Thank you to everyone who graciously showed their support for Alabama Chanin over the last few weeks. Your purchases, emails, and love are the things that keep us going. It has been an incredible year and we appreciate your amazing show of kindness and loyalty as we move towards the holidays and the end of… Read on

This time of year, often associated with peace, may not always feel so peaceful with the chaos and frenzy that sometimes accompanies the holidays. At Alabama Chanin, we strive to practice DIY Peace, doing what we can to promote peace: in our lives, at our business, in our community, and within ourselves (body and mind)…. Read on

I’ve written before about our Fabric Library, a collection of sample blocks and swatches that our company has created over the years. Each swatch starts out the same way, as a basic 10” x 16” rectangle of our organic cotton jersey. Then each one is embellished with embroidery, stencils, beading, and/or appliqué. These sample blocks,… Read on

Perfect for the nature-lover in your life, our Stag T-Shirt is part of a new series of Men’s DIY projects and is currently featured in our Handmade Holiday collection. Designed to be worn (and loved) by men and women alike, this adaptation of our basic t-shirt features a bold Stag stencil across the chest and… Read on

Holidays often mean family visits, friends and neighbors stopping by unannounced, parties, and dinners. But, all of this merriment can come with a bit of chaos, rushing around, and readying for all of these events. Avoiding clutter may be impossible, but there are easy ways to help make your home look holiday ready at a… Read on

We are in the season of giving – giving thanks, giving gifts – but also of making. Perhaps you’re baking a pie, sewing a stocking, or creating a one-of-a-kind garment or handmade item full of personal touches and plenty of love. No matter what you choose to make, handmade items are certainly the best kind… Read on

The Alabama Chanin Gore Skirt has continually been a popular DIY item because it works up beautifully in any color, using any design and embroidery technique. As part of our Handmade Holiday collection, we are offering a special-edition DIY Eyelet Embroidered Gore Skirt that is perfect for any holiday gathering. The bottom edge of the… Read on

The Long Coat and Short Cardigan have long been staples of our collections and are popular projects at our Weekend Workshops. Both the Long Coat and the Short Cardigan are perfect layering garments for the chilly months leading up to the busy holiday season. The Long Coat is great for cooler evenings and is a… Read on

The holidays offer a unique opportunity for each of us to spend a little bit of time and energy creating for those we love. If you are a maker, you may innately understand the value of a handmade gift. Creating presents an avenue for you to express your love and admiration in the most personal… Read on

Mary Adams studied art, not fashion, in college, but eventually chose fabric, specifically, the dress as her medium of choice. Her first storefront in New York City was in the Lower East Side, on the corner of Ludlow and Stanton in the early 1980’s, when that area of the city was cheap and dirty and… Read on

As part of our Handmade Holiday 2013 selection, we are offering limited edition Holiday DIY Kits. Look for brand new items, some favorites from the past, and special, holiday picks. Alabama Chanin believes that holiday gifts mean more when they are handmade. This DIY Onesie + Baby Blanket Kit is a two-item option normally only… Read on

Before Alabama Chanin existed in its current form, before the Journal, the Studio Books, the DIY Kits, even the website, we were a very small company. When I began working to create these garments, I was doing the majority of the making myself. That meant buying t-shirts from thrift stores around the community (or anywhere… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we believe in living and creating a sustainable life—contributing in every way we can to the Slow Design movement, growing and reusing existing cotton, whenever possible. In our continuing efforts to become a better company and commit to ecological sustainability, Alabama Chanin ships UPS packages using carbon neutral shipping. Carbon neutral means… Read on

We use stencils in many of our designs. Most often employed as a pattern to follow when adding elaborate embroidery, beading, and appliqué, we also love the simplicity of a stenciled pattern on a basic silhouette. This DIY Stencil T-shirt focuses on the simple beauty that emerges when you combine just the right pattern, stencil,… Read on

Our finished Alabama Chanin garments, made from 100% organic cotton jersey, are beautiful when worn as unembellished Basics; however, through the years, most of our designs have highlighted the incredible number of stencil patterns in our growing library. These stencils are the cornerstone of both our design process and our business model. From page 10… Read on

The Bolero is a popular item for those of us in Alabama, as spring and fall temperatures (and in some years, mid-winter) can swing from 50 degrees to 80 degrees in the course of one day. It is an easy piece to toss into your bag on the way out the door and an effortless… Read on

Couching is one of the more sculptural techniques that we use to embellish garments at Alabama Chanin. The effect adds a unique texture and visual appeal. Traditional couching is a very old technique where yarn (or another material) is laid across fabric and sewn into place, creating shapes and patterns. Our process of couching involves… Read on

The Eagle T-Shirt is the second in a new series of Men’s DIY projects, designed in a style that is flattering to both men and women. The Eagle stencil has been in the Alabama Chanin library for several years now. We shared instructions on how to create the stencil and apply it to a basic… Read on

Yohji Yamamoto has been a hero of mine since I graduated from design school. I once saw him walking down the streets of Milan, Italy, not long after I started working in the New York garment district, and felt that I had made the big time. “Walking on the same street as Yohji Yamamoto?” I… Read on

If any of you are like me, when preparing food, you end up with at least a modest amount of flour, eggs, or whatever you’ve cooked for dinner all over your clothes. (Close family members also know that I am notorious for dropping food, plates, and glasses.)  Anyone will acknowledge that this is not a… Read on

The Alabama Corset is one of our signature pieces and, over the years, has proven to be the perfect canvas for a wide variety of colorways and techniques. Shown here in Anna’s Garden reverse appliqué, the garment is created by joining two layers of fabric. The top layer is stenciled, then the maker stitches around… Read on

Past & Present is a collection of essays on decorative art history and DIY projects by Design Sponge columnist, Amy Azzarito. Grace Bonney, founder of the very popular Design Sponge website, first met Amy while working on a video project at the New York Public Library. The two became instant friends, as Grace was impressed… Read on

A ‘Founding Father’ of our country, Benjamin Franklin, was a Renaissance man with many skills, talents, achievements, and innovations. His professional life includes titles such as: scientist, activist, politician, postmaster, inventor, musician, and diplomat. An astute inventor, Franklin counted bifocals, the lightning rod, catheter, odometer, and glass harmonica among his inventions; he even mapped the… Read on

In anticipation of tomorrow evening’s opening exhibit of our BBQ’ed Dresses Collection at Warehouse Row in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we mixed up a celebratory cocktail. Our friend Brooks Reitz of the Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. sent us a few more bottles of his Small Batch Tonic for the event, and the Chattanooga Whiskey Co. is providing… Read on

For those of you who sew often, you likely understand how something as simple as draping fabric can also be very complex. For those of you who don’t, or who are novice sewers, the technique of fabric draping can involve more than just hanging fabric in a lovely way. It is not likely that a… Read on

Next week, as part of the Crafted by Southern Hands event and workshop, our Barbeque-inspired Collection will be on display at Warehouse Row, a historic, old stone fort turned community retail center in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The couture dresses were originally a part of the 15th Annual Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium’s Punch, Pictures, and ‘Cue… Read on

We learn our first real poem around the age of 2 — the ABC Song. Soon, we graduate to nursery rhymes, then rhymes for jumping rope. By the time we reach junior high and high school  we’re reading Epic Poems, like The Odyssey, and reciting Shakespeare in Iambic Pentameter—well sometimes. Songs can be poems set to… Read on

This past February, Alabama Chanin partnered with the team at Craftsy, an online community of makers who offer projects, craft ideas, and courses on dozens of topics. Our online class, Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading, and Embroidery, has provided us with a new way to interact with our fellow makers and has given us… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we practice Slow Design, which focuses on producing goods in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The intent is to design clothing and home goods that are made from sustainable raw materials using environmentally sound methods, resulting in beautiful, healthy, and long-lasting products. We want to create connections with our customers and… Read on

It is generally understood that taking a shower uses less water than taking a bath. Even so, I must admit to enjoying a good soak occasionally. Either way, my bathing routine can be one of my favorite parts of the day (at least on days when I have time for more than a cat bath)…. Read on

The process of writing a book is involved. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Each draft gets written and edited, reviewed, passed from hand to hand, rewritten, reedited, and re-reviewed until – after many (many) drafts – you finally arrive at a finished product. It’s a shiny new representation of years of hard work. And… Read on

Southern children who grow up with a healthy respect for their elders, particularly their mothers, are said to have been “raised right.” Across the south, most children (and their fathers) must have been “raised right,” because there is almost always a big to-do made about Mother’s Day. Even though new Easter clothes have just been… Read on

We often hear the mantra, “Live for today.” Most of us need to slow down, curb our expectations and anxieties, and embrace the present.  And for the most part, I try to approach life that way. But we can’t always live completely in the present. Sometimes we have to plan ahead, we have to think… Read on

Some of us fell in love with Mark Twain the first time we read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and some of us understood his genius much later on, when we were finally old enough to appreciate his humor and satiric commentary on humanity. Twain’s polished use of irony is ever-present throughout the brief book,… Read on

Last  fall, one of my neighbors gave me a box of vintage patterns he found tucked away in his basement. The weather-stained cardboard box that once belonged to his mother was filled with patterns that represented decades of accumulation: Vogue Patterns, McCall’s, Simplicity, and Butterick . Each had been purchased for as little as a… Read on

I think it is pretty safe to say that midwifery is one of the first DIY skills in human existence. Certainly, the human body knows instinctively what to do when the time comes to birth a child. Still, I can’t imagine that we would have gotten very far as a species without someone learning how… Read on

As readers of our journal, many of you have read about our attempts to grow organic cotton here in Alabama. While researching the process and details of what it means to grow organic cotton, we discovered, to our surprise, that only a small amount of the world’s organic cotton is grown in the United States…. Read on

It’s been a busy past few months for Alabama Chanin. Shortly after our cotton picking party and field day came our biggest Black Friday sale, then the holidays, our Garage Sale, Craftsy launch, travels to Los Angeles, the Texas Playboys visit to Florence, and much more in between. All the while, we’ve been making headway… Read on

This week, we’ve been exploring Finnish design company, Marimekko, well known for creating colorful, often bold patterns and fabrics. While their designs were first made popular in the 1960’s by Jacqueline Kennedy, the bright and vibrant garments remain classic choices, appropriate for any generation. Personally, I love to add a bold pattern or color to… Read on

Confession: I have a certain disdain for flip flops. More often than not, they are considered a faux pas in the fashion world, and sometimes for the right reasons. This being said, I must also confess I own a pair of Havaianas that I bought years ago on my Venezuelan adventure. They are packed snuggly in… Read on

Click on image to enlarge. To create Little Folks: 1. Stencil fabric using Little Folks stencil and the stenciling technique of your choice. 2. Backstitch square shapes by stitching directly on stenciled edge. 3. Backstitch circle shapes inside of the flowers by stitching 1/8’ inside stenciled line and cut 1/8” outside of stenciled line. 4. Backstitch… Read on

In 2005, I was inducted into The Council of Fashion Designers of America.  Long before that time (and during my days as a stylist in Europe), I didn’t really know what the CFDA was (or did). However, the organization was founded in 1962 by Eleanor Lambert as a not-for-profit trade organization to support American womenswear,… Read on

As most of our readers know, we have a deep love and admiration for our friend – and collaborator – Anna Maria Horner. She is an artist, fluent in more than one creative medium. She not only creates bold and unique fabrics, some of which we have adapted into Alabama Chanin garments, but she also… Read on

Monday, we wrote about artist Tilleke Schwarz’s New Potatoes as inspiration for the week. However, Tilleke’s textiles have been a source for inspiration for me for years. When New Potatoes landed on my desk about a year ago, we started the skirt you see above as homage to Tilleke and her work. We have produced narrative work… Read on

You can add texture to anything (and everything) with our Spiral embroidery technique from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Personally, I would like to have a Spiral embroidered couch; however, my production manager just shakes his head. Perhaps a quicker and easier place to start is with a set of the Spiral embroidered coffee cozies… Read on

This month’s Desktop of the Month features our Spiral embroidery technique from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Due to its textural quality, I think the Spiral is one of the most beautiful techniques that we use here at Alabama Chanin. Those that wear garments embellished with this simple (but time consuming) embroidery treatment often remark… Read on

There are a growing number of programs tailored to adults in the workforce who want to advance their careers or earn a degree. These days, it’s not unheard of for someone to earn their bachelor’s or master’s degree online. There are also entirely new platforms emerging, called MOOCs, or massive open online courses. The expectation… Read on

Fit is by far one of the hardest subjects to address within the realm of manufacturing. There are just so many different body types that it would be near impossible for one manufacturer to address EVERY type in one product—and often times in one line. The most basic body shapes range from round to pear,… Read on

Couching is another age-old technique that we employ over, and over again as a design practice at Alabama Chanin. When embellishing, we often use cotton jersey pulls as appliqué to give weight and a sculptural quality to our crafted garments and home goods. From page 110 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: “At Alabama Chanin,… Read on

Update: The class is no longer available on Craftsy due to the discontinued pattern; however, Natalie does teach additional online courses that you can find on Craftsy and Creativebug.  Heirlooms aren’t created overnight, and it’s the time that goes into embellishing and constructing an artisanal garment that gives life to its one-of-a-kind beauty. Join me,… Read on

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I live in a house where hearts can be the overriding theme for weeks on end.  I find them tucked under plates, randomly lying on the floor, taped to my bedroom door, and, yes, the most beautiful little heart-shaped lips that kiss my face all-over.  You haven’t truly… Read on

February’s Desktop of the Month is all about pink (and shades around it). To celebrate the spirit of love, we’ve talked about what the heart symbolizes and what we might want it to mean for 2013: joy, beauty, acceptance, and more. Here, the backstitched reverse appliqué hearts in gray and pink are simply a way… Read on

Follow instructions for the Woven Farm Chairs (or Friendship Chairs) on page 95 of Alabama Studio Style to make your own chair with our Hearts stencil.

We (HEART) this story in the newest NO’ALA Magazine (on pages 110-117) about our custom made Bridal gowns: It takes a village: “Once the elements of the gown are chosen, Diane, the master seamstress, measures the bride and Carra-Ellen cuts the fabric and prepares the pattern. Steven, the production manager, applies the stencil to the… Read on

While cleaning up for our recent Garage Sale (stay tuned for another coming towards the end of February), I found a bag of our Cotton Jersey Pulls cut into 4” lengths. Most likely, these were prepared for button loops, but no one in the studio can remember exactly why they were prepared and cut.

I’ve mentioned this a few times here on the Journal: I am a grandmother.  And in the photo above, you see our sweet Stella Ruth.  Her hands, clearly visible, are surrounded by my son Zach’s, my dad’s, my grandmother’s, and mine.  That’s right—five generations.  You may have seen pictures of five generations in newspapers and… Read on

No one can find inner peace except by working, not in a self-centered way, but for the whole human family. – Peace Pilgrim There are many ways to make DIY Peace. Mildred Norman set off on New Year’s Day and began to walk across the country in the name of peace. Changing her name to… Read on

It’s the time of year when most of us start to look back at the past year to take stock and plan for the next. As a company, Alabama Chanin is no different. With a lot of help from our friends, we’ve brought the year to a (BIG) close with our first online Garage Sale…. Read on

In the last few months, I have been given two wreaths made from living materials. The one above comes from my friend Erica Rosenberg of St. Florian Fiber Farm—just outside of Florence, Alabama. The wreath below was lovingly made by Sybil Brooke Sylvester of Wildflower Design in Birmingham, Alabama. There are so many ways that… Read on

I have been somewhat of an herbalist since I was a small child.  Plant names and properties have always come as second nature.  While I struggle with the names and faces of people (sometimes people I have just met can go undistinguished an hour later), I have a recall for plants that sometimes baffles. It… Read on

Our studio team made this wreath almost a decade ago. While it never found its way into production, I always loved the textural quality and combination of yarn and cotton jersey fabric. I purchased it at one of our many long-ago sample sales after finding it in the bottom of a box of other holiday… Read on

I have to note that we started writing holiday posts about wreath making before the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday morning.  It is incomprehensible for all of us to understand how that community will make it through the upcoming holiday season and beyond.  For me, senseless tragedy can rarely be fully… Read on

This project from Alabama Stitch Book, like our Handmade Red selection, and the Holiday Stocking, is another perfect holiday project.  Made from two recycled t-shirts, you can get started with materials you have right in your own closet. (Don’t we all have a few t-shirts we don’t need?) The project was posted originally on the… Read on

I use ropes made from our organic cotton jersey fabric for wrapping all of my holiday packages (and for many other things–as evidenced in the DIY instructions below). If you have ever ordered garments or fabrics from our online store, you will have found your contents tied up in one of these Cotton Jersey Pulls. Follow… Read on

With the publication of our Alabama Studio Book Series, we open sourced our beloved techniques that these living arts might be preserved for future generations. One of the things that we learned along the way is that people who are dedicated to one particular area of craft can also become converts to another area. The… Read on

I think that our Beaded Fern treatment lends a holiday feel to December’s Desktop of the Month. Up close, Beaded Fern resembles a holiday tree, but the glass beads can also catch your eye across a crowded room. Perfect for your next holiday gathering… Learn more about the Fern Stencil here and flip to page 121… Read on

Those of you who are frequent visitors to our blog may have read about the incredible Tom Hendrix and his beautiful tribute to his great-grandmother, The Wichahpi Commemorative Wall (known around here as simply, The Wall). Tom not only built an incredible monument for his great-grandmother, but he also took the time to tell her… Read on

Just in time for fall weather and the upcoming holiday season, we’re featuring the Anna’s Garden Poncho Kit. One of our most popular garments, the poncho is a classic piece, fit for most any occasion. Originally featured in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, the poncho is seen here in our 100% organic cotton jersey fabric in… Read on

In the style of “old-school” Alabama Chanin – and perfect for holiday gifts – make our Sister Shirts using mirror-image or mix-and-match sections of your favorite t-shirts. Follow the instructions for our Printed T-shirt Corset on page 155 of Alabama Stitch Book to complete the project. From the project introduction: Follow the instructions as given… Read on

Today, for DIY Thursday, we are featuring a Guy Laroche pattern from Vogue Designer Patterns constructed in the Alabama Chanin style. I never had the chance to meet Guy Laroche, nor have I met the house’s current artistic director, Marcel Marongiu, but I admire their focus on impeccable tailoring. Laroche’s collections once featured billowing empire… Read on

Last week, a group of friends in our community gathered together at one friend’s home to fill the living room with piles of their unwanted clothing that they then “shopped”. Part of the “Swap, Don’t Shop” movement, these women, friends and family, got together for their bi-annual clothing exchange party called ‘The Big Swap’. Interested in this… Read on

In 2009 and 2010, an exhibition was held at Pratt Institute to help explain the relationship between fashion and sustainability. For this exhibit (called Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion), curators Francesca Granata and Sarah Scaturro (now Conservator at The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) displayed garments from our Alabama ChaninSongbirds collection, and… Read on

Some months back, a bowl of tea towels became a permanent installation on my kitchen table. We use them as napkins for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just about every moment in between. I found one in the car yesterday that had served as an impromptu placemat for one of my daughter, Maggie’s fruit pops. I… Read on

Olivia has been knotting away in the studio today. We make our Knotted Necklaces from 100% organic cotton jersey fabric scraps and accessorize as a necklace, belt, or headband. Featured in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.

While part of our Alabama Chanin crew is working in New York, our cotton continues to grow in Trinity, Alabama.

Our Camisole Dress from Alabama Studio Style is highlighted in a video class on Traditional Appliqué at Creativebug.com. You fill find the pattern sheet for this dress at the back of the book and can follow along step-by-step with our instructions on Creativebug. We now offer this project as a DIY Kit from our online store… Read on

Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 6:58 AM Subject: It will be alright Soggy, sopping wet Cocker Spaniels. That is what the cotton looks like right now. It is droopy and matted and dirty with rainwater and splashed mud from the storms we had.  When I was a little girl my dearest friend was a Cocker… Read on

Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 6:47 AM Subject: Dayum (Georgia word for Damn) Rain The rain and storms yesterday evening continued to send rain until this morning.  About 5:00 am the rain was coming in waves and it sounded like the ocean.  It is odd to me that Mother Nature that gives us so much… Read on

Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 11:04 AM Subject: Our first cotton angel Hi Everyone, I was at the cotton field this morning when a car pulled up and a tiny young lady got out and put on her work gloves and went to work!!  She is still there working!!!  I sent a photo from my… Read on

Continuing our conversation around design, craft and fashion, this week we present a Tracy Reese pattern from Vogue Designer Patterns for DIY Thursday.  In all my years as a designer, I have not had the chance to meet Tracy, although I have been familiar with her work since the launch of her collection in the… Read on

Crocheting was one of my first creative outlets, once I felt the distinct urge to make. When I had a crochet hook in hand, making hats, scarves, bags, whatever I might need, the process came to me like second nature.  Often, I couldn’t find patterns to fit what I needed so I ended up making… Read on

A helpful resource for your sewing box or design studio. The book categorizes many types of needles: bodkins, embroidery, quilting, sharps, and more.

In January, we began a conversation about the intersection of Fashion, Craft, and DIY. That dialogue started with our friends at Vena Cava and progressed to our Makeshift events, and continues with adapting patterns from designers like Anna Sui and Donna Karan (one of my personal favorites that I wear often). This week we extend the conversation with… Read on

When working on a new collection, part of the design process involves creating fabric swatches in various colorways and patterns, and using an assortment of embellishment techniques. These “samples” help us quickly and sustainably choose the perfect finish for our garments. I’ve written before about our Sample Block library and swatches as part of a… Read on

Originally featured in Alabama Stitch Book in reverse-appliqué, these simple tea towels can be given a new look using what is essentially the opposite technique – applique . For this project, our design choices include one Navy Tea Towel with Natural appliqué, whip-stitched with White Button Craft thread, and one Natural Tea Towel with Navy… Read on

Check out our classes at Creativebug.com and make this Random Ruffle T-shirt: From the Creativebug Website: “Basic sewing skills can transform a plain t-shirt into one of your favorite go-to wardrobe pieces. The random ruffle t-shirt uses a simple appliqué technique that’s quick and easy, yet true to the Alabama Chanin style.” Shown here our T-Shirt… Read on

Here’s our trailer for Creativebug. Subscribe to view the full workshops!

Here’s some Behind the Scenes action from our shoot with Creativebug. Video workshops coming today. Visit creativebug.com to register.

Beginning Tuesday, our video workshops will be available on Creativebug.com. Subscribe to Creativebug to view. THANK YOU to the Creativebug film crew, it was such a great experience to have them in our studio… xoNatalie

Our Beaded Seam Corset is easy to make for yourself by following the pattern with instructions from page 145 of Alabama Stitch Book, by using our Corset Pattern, or The Corset Kit.  As one of the most popular garments in our collections, the corset is designed to show off a woman’s best assets, enhancing natural curves. A… Read on

Our current selection of DIY Kits offers many garment styles with a variety of color and notion choices; however, we understand that often times the perfect design is a matter of personal expression. For this reason, we now offer Custom DIY. For our Studio Weekend Workshops or home use, choose from our selected Custom DIY Kits…. Read on

As we continue to explore the design elements that make up Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, we look at the simple, but incredibly beautiful Spiral pattern. This pattern is reminiscent of both our Circle Applique and Kristina’s Rose treatments, but this particular design stands out largely due to its use for an entirely new application- Alabama… Read on

I have had a set of cotton twill curtains in my house for years. I don’t really remember where I bought them anymore; they have just been a part of my home for ages. This spring, I got a set of new set of (more energy efficient) French doors to replace the 1950s era sliding… Read on

Thank you to our employees and artisans for their commitment to the extraordinary and thank you to everyone at Etsy for telling our story with this beautiful film. It makes us proud to share the stories that unfold each day in our growing community. Please visit the Etsy blog to read a little more and leave a comment to enter to win… Read on

Kristina’s Rose is one of our newest fabric designs and stencil patterns, seen in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. The undulating circular pattern is reminiscent of the Circle Spiral Applique from page 156 of Alabama Studio Style, but translated using more elegant techniques. Highlighted in Chapter 8 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.: Fabric + Fabric… Read on

As we posted last Tuesday, I highly recommend that you start a library to document your design work. As you create your samples, make them the same size so that your (master) pieces can be easily stored. And even if you don’t want to keep the samples for posterity, you can work towards making a Sampler Throw like… Read on

Whether you plan to purchase a DIY kit or make a garment from the Alabama Studio Book Series, we suggest that you keep a set of our medium-weight organic cotton color cards on hand. The cards show you what our fabric colors look like in person so that you can choose the exact shades that are… Read on

In conjunction with our Star stencil post today for DIY Thursday, we are featuring our Satin Stars fabric from page 129 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design as our March Desktop of the Month. xoNatalie

The word “star,” with its many meanings, occupies several places in my mind (and the universe): First, a star is simply a shape- the most common being five-pointed. As I was taught in geometry class, it is constructed from points, proportions, and folds. Seen in patriotic prints of the 1960s and 70s, its contour was… Read on

Nature and flowers are often a source of inspiration for my pattern designs, which is evident in their titles: Climbing Daisy, Anna’s Garden, and Kristina’s Rose, to name a few. I simply find Mother Nature’s curvaceous forms and shapes alluring. I look for pattern inspirations everywhere I go, and most often find them when gazing… Read on

In New York’s Garment District, there are two stores that take the prize for the most comprehensive selection of embroidery ribbons: Mokuba Co., Ltd and Tinsel Trading Company. At Alabama Chanin, we happen to purchase the cotton tape that we use for embroidery from Mokuba, who supplies us with gorgeous ribbons and other notions made… Read on

I’m almost certain she’s the coolest person I’ve never met. Several pieces of evidence have led me to this conclusion; the first is this article from the NY Times and the second was probably the conference call that spurred our upcoming Visiting Artist event. Natalie and I were hunched over the speaker phone in my… Read on

While we are a manufacturer of high-end women’s and men’s clothing, our office works less like a production facility and more like a studio. Because we custom-cut and paint each piece in our collections, it is important that we pay especially close attention to detail. What seems like a small mistake – like choosing the… Read on

Like The Physics of Sewing, understanding how our Button Craft thread (the strongest thread we have found in the world) works with our cotton-jersey fabric is also important physics when embarking on any of our DIY Projects. Included in Chapter 3 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, I think you will also find my Grandfather’s… Read on

This text – some of our most important sewing tips at Alabama Chanin – is an excerpt from Chapter 3 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design (which we plan to receive and start shipping around the 15th of this month). It is important to us at Alabama Chanin that we as a humanity (women and… Read on

Thank you notes are an integral part of a Southern woman’s upbringing. We are taught to be grateful, always say please and thank you, and appreciate the many gifts in life. This is how I was raised and this is how I choose to raise my daughter Maggie. I want her to grow up with… Read on

Last Thursday, we wrote about Vena Cava and began a dialogue (one we plan to continue every Thursday) about the intersection of Fashion, Craft and DIY. While in New York a few weeks back, I sat down for a quick coffee with Lisa Mayock – half of the Vena Cava design team – to share… Read on

Thanks @ Stephanie LaCava for this lovely piece in the New York Times today: “I may be their most passionate member,” says the snow-white-haired designer Natalie Chanin of the Southern Foodways Alliance (S.F.A.), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the culinary heritage of the American South. For years, it’s been Chanin’s calling to preserve the textile… Read on

I am so excited about the launch of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. The book includes some of our very best garment patterns to-date and I can’t wait to see how the stencils, patterns, and designs work their way into DIY projects. The long skirt pattern that is included in the book has become my… Read on

From page 10 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design: “Stenciling is a cornerstone of both our design process and our business model. We use stencils as tools to transfer decorative patterns onto projects like dresses, skirts, and pillows. The stenciled patterns are then used by our artisans as guides for positioning embroidery and beading. Because… Read on

It seems unbelievable to me that 2011 is coming to a close.  The Alabama Chanin journal has covered so many topics over the 2011 year and we have been so grateful for the opportunity to share our thoughts, travels, milestones and inspirations with you. As the year’s end approaches, we thought we would recap some… Read on

…from our dear friend Eva Whitechapel and all of us @ Alabama Chanin

It took me years to come to love the paisley pattern. I first became aware of the distinctive design during my days working in India and throughout my years as a stylist: men’s ties, patterned shirts, dresses, and scarves just scratch the surface. Since that time, I have avoided using it at Alabama Chanin simply… Read on

There has been such a buzz around the studio these last weeks as we prepare for the holidays. So much buzz, in fact, that I have not really had time to sit down with our new book,  Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Last night, I remedied that with a quiet house, a  cocktail, and my… Read on

Thanks to all the HEATH Ceramics team for this lovely piece on Alabama Chanin in their November Newsletter: Slowing Down (and Sitting Down) with Alabama Chanin Stitch and clay intersect to create modern heirlooms in our newest collection Slow down. This may feel like an impossible pursuit, particularly in this season, but when Heath Ceramics… Read on

While I was away having fun at the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium last weekend, my daughter Maggie was working hard at eating doughnuts and designing t-shirts for our new children’s line. The top design features a glass of “sweet tea” on the t-shirt front – not iced tea as it “has to be sweet to… Read on

It’s officially launched. From the HEATH website: “The point of intersection between stitch and clay. A collaboration between Natalie Chanin and Heath Ceramics yields an anthology of carefully crafted modern heirlooms in a new and permanent dinnerware line. This collection celebrates texture and a range of layering possibilities in thoughtfully curated place settings, plates and… Read on

Get out your stencils and decorate. Happy Halloween from all of us @ Alabama Chanin

So excited about our collaboration with HEATH Ceramics. Look for the entire collection to launch next week. Until then, a little sneak preview via the New York Times… xoNatalie

A variation on our classic DIY Swing Skirt, our new Facets Swing Skirt is 6″ longer, has all-over embroidery and reverse applique in the Facets stenciling. Choose your own fabric and thread colors and we will cut to your size specifications. Follow the instructions for reverse applique and construction from Alabama Stitch Book to make your… Read on

Our floor-sweeping skirt is made of soft, wearable jersey. The pull-on design is framed by stretchable stitching, and can easily be worn slung low on your hips or high above your natural waist. The Long Embroidered Skirt is comfortable enough for every day, but the incredible all-over design and details allow it to fit any… Read on

Plan your adventure and join us (along with Patty Griffin, Barbara Lynn, Ben Kweller, The Black Angels, Amy Cook,  Imogene + Willie, and a slew of others) in Marfa, Texas – September 22 – 25. Learn more about El Cosmico and the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music & Love here. Adventure awaits…

Mending is not something we – as a culture – spend a lot of time doing these days.  Fast fashion and mass consumerism has taught us to simply throw older or imperfect items away and replace them with newer versions. I am all for the “Sewing Schoolyard” – let’s teach ourselves and our kids to… Read on

Our newest DIY Kit: Reverse Applique Rose Tank Dress Perfect for every occasion, this 100% organic cotton jersey tank dress from Alabama Studio Style uses a Rose Placement Stencil from Alabama Stitch Book patterned all-over the garment front and back.  Choose your own fabric and thread colors . Shown here in dark grey with slate… Read on

If you are in New York for Fashion Week, mark your calendar for the opening of YIELD on September 10th at the Textile Arts Center. Thanks to Holly McQuillan and Timo Rissanen for including our work in this important installation. And learn more about zero waste in Subtraction Cutting School, by Julian Roberts.  

There are so many computer and electronic device covers on the market today that are perfectly serviceable and will take you lots of places. I have avoided writing about these functional items for years; however, our babysitter made a version of the one shown above for her reading device and I was inspired to create… Read on

A 12 hour road trip brought Amy and her mother to our weekend workshop @ the Factory last summer. A weekend with new friends (our design team included), a rack of sample sizes, and our fabric archives were the beginning of one truly magical garment (actually, two). 120 hours, at least ten times as many stitches,… Read on

Stencil artwork used in our Studio Style Book Series are now available for download from our new Resources page. These stencils should (in best case scenario) be to full scale when printed; however, keep in mind that different printers can alter the scale slightly. Visit Studio Book shop for our favorite sewing, resource, and inspirational books.

*Illustration by Eva Whitechapel

Over the holidays, I will take more time to sit and sew. Over-the-Arm Pincushion – instructions from Alabama Stitch Book – on the back porch swing. Did you know that sewing, cooking and all acts of hands-on making stimulate happiness and over-all well being? From Kelly Lambert: “Lambert shows how when you knit a sweater… Read on

For a decade, my work at Alabama Chanin has been made possible by our artisans.  Without them and our amazing staff, there would be no Alabama Chanin. Many of the artisans working with us today are the very same women who sewed those first deconstructed t-shirts.  I want to express my deep gratitude.  Wielding needle… Read on

Stenciled Aprons from page 147 of Alabama Studio Style. 36” squares of medium-weight organic cotton jersey in assorted colors, stenciled, decorated and inscribed with an extra fine permanent marker. Add your own menu.

New Look.  New Decade. December 23rd marks 10 years Alabama. Help us celebrate: Receive 20% on all orders over $150 from our online stores with the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS20 and also receive a 100% organic cotton Alabama Chanin tote (with our new label) as our way of saying THANK YOU for an amazing decade. Happy Holidays… Read on

This year marks a decade on my journey to Alabama Chanin. Looking at where we started, where we have been and where we are headed has been an amazing and beautiful process. What a time of laughter, tears, exploration, and, well, growing up. To celebrate our growing up, we will be launching several exciting collaborations… Read on

I have always loved quilt tops and have collected them for many years from thrift stores and yard sales. The problem with these beautiful hand-sewn tops is that it is impossible to use them until they have been quilted as the delicate woven fabrics fall apart when washed. Not so with our 100% organic cotton jersey, Alabama… Read on

Thank you to Jasmin and all the folks at Ecouterre for sharing our Circle Spiral Applique from Alabama Studio Style.

My Gram Perkins loved to crochet (aside from making bread, canning, gardening, raising kids, and sewing). On those rare days growing up when I was sick and got to skip school, I would stay with my Gram Perkins. Curled up on her couch underneath one of her beautiful hand-made afghans, I would lay there with my… Read on

Celebrate – verb: To observe (a day) or commemorate (an event) with ceremonies or festivities: Today we celebrate Earth Day and the joy of life. To make known publicly; proclaim: The newspaper celebrated the beauty of her life. To perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies; solemnize:  We will celebrate the light that her life brought… Read on

The Doo-Nanny was amazing this year and I have arrived back home after what seems like months. It was lovely to sit at my dining room table this morning and think about all the stories and laughter… I hope that you can all join us next year in Seale. It is a magical experience and there will… Read on

Our copies of Alabama Studio Style are arriving to our studio today and will be shipping out today and tomorrow! Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered. As a thank you, all of the pre-ordered books are being shipped with a little gift of a yard from our Green Organic cotton jacquard and inspiration for a project… Read on

This corset – one of my all-time favorites – was part of our Songbirds Collection for Fall/Winter 2009. The pattern is available in Alabama Stitch Book and it is made using our 100% organic indigo fabric and the Angie’s Fall stencil from Alabama Studio Style. TO MAKE YOUR OWN: Corset pattern from Alabama Stitch Book… Read on

Faded Leaves fabric is made by Wet-Paint Stenciling – one of the new techniques included in Alabama Studio Style. The fabric was first included in our Fall/Winter 2008 Revolution Collection.  At the time, I was looking for new ways to color fabric that did not require dyeing. Faded Leaves was the result and here are a few of… Read on

The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum has announced their upcoming National Design Triennial series for spring 2010. “Why Design Now?” will be on view from May 14 through January 9, 2011, and will explore the work of designers addressing human and environmental problems across many fields of design from architecture and product design to fashion,… Read on

After lofty plans to post each day about the last decade – and the next, my computer slipped from my hands last Tuesday morning and crashed (literally) to the floor and shattered. Later that afternoon, my Blackberry decided to follow suit.  My deduction was that it was time to take a much needed sabbatical from all… Read on

This shawl was made from a pattern similar to the Rose Shawl pattern from page 108 of our Alabama Stitch Book. The shawl was cut in our white 100% organic cotton jersey fabric (doubled layered) and the ends of the top layer were painted with the Facets Stencil using grey airbrush paint. After drying, the ends were… Read on

A Time to Sell Green, Not Greed By SUZY MENKES From the New York Times: September 13, 2009   NEW YORK — “Fashion’s Night Out” — an evening of open-house shopping last week in New York and other major cities around the world — was designed to brace up nervous customers and convince them that… Read on

Many will recognize this geometric stencil from our archive of work as well as from our Spring/Summer 2009 Ceremony Collection.  People often associate this star pattern with Islamic Art (and the pattern is sometimes called the Islamic Star); however, patterns of this nature were already becoming visible in early Mesopotamian Art and Architecture. This genre of geometric… Read on

Here is another new book from STC and this one very different from The Gentle Art of Domesticity. Lena Corwin has created the definitive book for the process of stamping, printing and stenciling by hand. This book is a great companion to our Alabama Studio Sewing Series as it goes in depth to simply explain… Read on

I am very excited to be included in this seminar and looking forward to visiting Stavanger and seeing The World of Folk exhibition: International Design Seminar – Folk Futures With: Li Edelkoort, Tord Boontje, Natalie Chanin, Dick van Hoff, Hella Jongerius, Peter Marigold, Mike Meiré, Fernando & Humberto Campana. As part of this summer’s A… Read on

I once read this description of Alabama Chanin on a blog which I can no longer locate: “It is a little like southern country meets eco-friendly superstar at a thoroughly modern old fashioned picnic.” Can anyone help me find who wrote this? Thanks! Natalie

This is one of the earliest reverse appliqué stencils that I attempted and has become a classic around our office.

Back in March, Liesl Gibson wrote a really lovely story about our Alabama Stitch Book on disdressed. I contacted Liesl to let her know that I loved the story of her running across the street “during lunch just to ogle the Alabama t-shirts.” In writing back and forth with Liesl and browsing the blog, I… Read on

We are lucky enough to have a “Traveling Sharpener” who goes from community to community with his tools and sets up one day a month at our local fabric store to sharpen scissors.If you did not have a sharpener in your neighborhood or local fabric store, I would check with local hair salons to find… Read on

EMBROIDERY SCISSORS The scissors that I prefer to use are 5″ Knife Edge and the 4″ Embroidery available from  The School of Making. I recommend that you test every scissor before purchasing. Each pair sits differently in your hand and a good pair of scissors should last a lifetime. Our local fabric store carries the… Read on

The Arts and Crafts in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” This is the essence of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Joanne Ingersoll and The Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design have… Read on

After seven years of living, working, laughing, sewing and growing in this house at Lovelace Crossroads, we are moving past “The Crossroads” and on to “The Factory.” Our new building, originally built in 1982 for Tennessee River Mills, sits in the heart of the industrial community that was a hub of textile production from 1976… Read on

My friend, and colleague, Stacie Stukin sent me this very beautiful quote from the International Quilt Study Center. “Much of the social history of early America has been lost to us precisely because women were expected to use needles rather than pens. Yet if textiles are in one sense an emblem of  women’s oppression, they… Read on

SUPPLIES Sustainable Cotton or Recycled T-shirt Jersey Fabric as large as you choose to make your stencil Birdie stencil graphic Letter “B” Stencil graphic X-acto Knife Pennant felt, poster board or other sturdy material for stencil making Cutting mat Spray Mount Textile paint Thread Additionally: Embroidery scissors Sewing needles Glass head pins 1) Prepare and… Read on

Elegant Stitches is by far the best illustrated guide to simple, as well as extremely complicated stitching. Our Stitchers all have a copy that have been dog-eared and used over and over again. Get your copy here: Elegant Stitches by Judith Baker Montano