From top, left to right: Fabric swatch of the Fiorire paint design on organic canvas; menu for the Friends of the Café Dinner for Project Threadways, featuring Chef Nicole Mills; The Nieve Skirt in Wax; The Noto Bandana; A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit; Alabama Chanin Core Club in Navy and Natural…. Read on

Introducing Virtual Workshops, a remote learning series for beginners and experienced makers alike. Taught by The School of Making instructor Sunne Meyer, each two-hour workshop focuses on the physics of hand-sewing, embroidery, and construction. Once enrolled, guests receive workshop information and a form to choose a DIY Kit and/or materials for the class. As the… Read on

Outerwear DIY Kits from The School of Making: #memade appliqué and embroidery for everyday.Explore the styles below and browse new colorway options. _________ Join one of our virtual workshops, and apply those skills to crafting the perfect coat, jacket, skirt, and everything in between. Intermediate Hand-Sewing | April 7, 2023 Advanced Construction Techniques | October… Read on

One of our favorite holiday DIY silhouettes, the Long Skirt is now available in Couched Anna’s Garden inspired by November’s Swatch of the Month. Shop the new Anna’s Garden Couched Long Skirt Kit (or give a year of swatches to the makers in your life). Holiday Gift Guide:Maker Favorites + New Arrivals Start Shopping →… Read on

Embroidery opens with Natalie Chanin narrating a series of moments from her life: speaking at The Moth, standing dumbstruck on a New York City street corner, dancing in Naples, swimming in Venezuela, screaming into Angry Cove, coming home to Alabama in the middle of the night. Over the course of the book, she connects these… Read on

Clockwise: Fabric Swatch in Ballet/Ballet with Latticework Passementerie and Herringbone Stitching; Passementerie-inspired dress from the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2015 RTW collection; “Miscellaneous Shroud Knots (Plates 69–90)” from Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work, 1939 by John Hensel and Raoul Graumont; July 2022 Swatch of the Month detail featuring Latticework Passementerie and Herringbone Stitching… Read on

A closer look at a few of the textiles, stitches, and silhouettes that served as inspiration in developing featured projects and materials for June. Studio Bundle #2 is the color palette and common thread that is woven through newness at The School of Making, from June’s Swatch of the Month design to newly released DIY… Read on

“Untitled (S.270),” 1954–1958 by Ruth Asawa via the Whitney Museum of American Art; Fabric Swatch in Abstract Camel/Camel with Reverse Appliqué; Installation views of Todd Hido: The Poetry of Darkness for the University of Kentucky Art Museum via Institute 193; Family, 1965 by Margaret Mead and photographed by Ken Heyman; The A-Line Top + Tunic Kit in Abstract Navy/Navy; Color sample swatches from the development of Studio Bundle #2. The School of Making… Read on

Our beloved Classic One-Day Workshop is back, with registration now open for Friday, July 8th. This workshop teaches fundamental skills and techniques for designing, embellishing, and constructing the hand-sewn garment of your choosing. Register for the new One-Day Classic Workshop here. Our Individual Studio Days offer a personalized workshop experience and one-on-one instruction, uniquely tailored… Read on

Led by our team of experts and skilled artisans, The School of Making workshops offer immersive, hands-on education in all things DIY and hand-sewing.  Suited to specific areas of interest and experience levels, upcoming workshops range from virtual and beginner courses to highly specialized weeklong sessions. In addition to teaching skills and techniques to carry… Read on

Maggie’s Dream uses our classic Magdalena Stencil and is intended to be made without embroidery, showcasing the unique graphic pattern. The layered, dream-like design was inspired by the drop cloths in our stenciling department, which become a work of art in their own right as they collect layer upon layer of various textile paints and… Read on

Inspired by our newly released Maggie’s Dream Kits, The School of Making’s refreshed DIY assortment includes all of our favorite projects for the year ahead. Explore latest DIY Kits and a new color story curated by our team, as well as accompanying notions and materials to make what you love. DIY Kit Refresh this way…. Read on

In 2021, we relaunched Swatch of the Month, a monthly subscription program for embroidery technique practice and exploration from The School of Making. 2022 commemorates the 10th anniversary of the publishing of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, which is our inspiration for the forthcoming 2022 subscription program. Each fabric swatch will feature techniques and stencil designs from the studio… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring Fabric Swatch in Large Polka Dot Natural/White using Whipstitch Appliqué; Fen Dress Pattern by Fancy Tiger Crafts; Fancy Tiger Crafts storefront in Denver, Colorado; Embroidery Floss; Interior shot of Fancy Tiger Crafts; Left: “Untitled”; Right: “Buds”, 1959 by Agnes Martin. From Agnes Martin, 2015 edited by Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring the Fancy Tiger Top Kit; Embroidery Floss; October’s Swatch of the Month; Climbing Daisy Stencil artwork; right: Facets Stencil artwork from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin (pages 132–133); Studio Bundle #3; The Starter Poncho Kit. “With just one polka dot, nothing can be achieved.” —Yayoi Kusama … Read on

October’s Swatch of the Month highlights the Medium Polka Dot Stencil using the Negative Reverse Appliqué technique with the Feather Stitch. The neutral Sand on Sand color palette in 100% organic medium-weight jersey pairs well with projects created from the Studio Bundle #3.   Left: Studio Bundle #3; right: The Wrap Top Kit in Sand  Fancy Tiger Crafts, this month’s collaborator, is a beloved staple… Read on

Swatch of the Month Inspiration featuring Fabric Swatch in New Leaves White/Sand; Fabric Swatches in Abstract Concrete with Metallics and Tonal Paint; View of a display in Mary’s Weave Shed highlighting “Process in Work” by Natalie Chanin and Rachel K. Garceau. Photo: Rinne Allen; Loom in Mary’s Weave Shed highlighting “Process in Work” by Natalie… Read on

Design and color inspiration featuring September’s Swatch of the Month; The Swing Skirt Kit; Studio Bundle #3; The New Leaves Corset Kit; Fabric Swatches in Abstract Concrete with Metallic and Tonal Textile Paint; New Leaves Stencil. Following our Studio Bundle #3 launch is the arrival of new DIY kits and colorways to complement September’s Swatch of the Month and… Read on

Studio Bundle #3 inspiration featuring a display in Mary’s Weave Shed highlighting “Process in Work” by Natalie Chanin and Rachel K. Garceau. Photo: Rinne Allen; Studio Bundle #3; September’s Swatch of the Month; Rabun Studios Weaving Sample #16 – Color 28. Photo by Rinne Allen; Fabric Swatches in Abstract Concrete with Metallic and Tonal Paint;… Read on

September’s Swatch of the Month reflects on the creative process and journey in each of us. Using the New Leaves Stencil design, natural elements come into play and call back Natalie’s monthlong residency at the Hambidge Center in the north Georgia mountains during the summer of 2018. Register for Swatch of the Month here for… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring Fern Stencil artwork; Plain Cake Yarn by Madelinetosh; Grid of fabric swatches testing tonal paint with Fern Stencil, Laura Zander, CEO of Madelinetosh with Plain Cake yarn; August’s Swatch of the Month; Cake stand from Alabama Studio Style; Photograph by Robert Rausch With a focus of building community through… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring August’s Swatch of the Month; Plain Cake Yarn by Madelinetosh; Dyeing yarn in Madelinetosh dye studio; Plain Cake from The Factory Café; The Wrap Top Kit in Black; Madelinetosh Yarn. We first met Laura Zander (now CEO of Madelinetosh) at one of our sewing workshops hosted at The Factory in… Read on

August 2021 Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring: Detail of The Wrap Top Kit in Sand; Embroidery Floss; The Wrap Top Kit in Sand; Plain Cake hand-dyed yarn from Madelinetosh for August’s Swatch of the Month and DIY kits; Plain Cake Tea Towel Kit; Plain Cake yarn in Madelinetosh studio. In collaboration, Madelinetosh developed an exclusive… Read on

Swatch of the Month Inspiration featuring: “Alternating Stitches, Alternating Double Chevron, Damask Stitch” from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing by Natalie Chanin (pages 128–129); August’s Swatch of the Month; “Fern Light Drawing” by Rinne Allen; Fabric detail of The Wrap Top Kit in Sand; Gold-Handled Embroidery Scissors; “Assorted yarns and fibers from Judith MacKenzie” by Rinne… Read on

When I was younger, creation was a part of the everyday lives of the women and men living in my community, especially for my grandparents. People—most often those living in rural communities like my hometown—were deeply connected to the land. They made their own bread, got milk from their own cow, and grew everything they… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring (from top left): Bead Mix in Natalie’s Mix; Fabric Swatch in Large Paradise Ochre with Couching and Accent Beading; Stars Alabama Sweater Tunic Kit; “Interior detail of Natalie’s kitchen”, 2019 by Rinne Allen; July’s Swatch of the Month featuring Beaded Satin Stars in Forest; “Andrea”, 2010 by Sissi Farassat… Read on

On Tuesday, we posted news of upcoming supply chain changes. These updates include both Alabama Chanin designs and The School of Making kits, bundles, and yardages. Although we will continue to offer a full-color range, as with any change in process or stock of fabric, colors and dye lots may vary.   When Natalie wrote Alabama Stitch… Read on

“Cotton field in north Alabama”, 2012. Photograph by Rinne Allen.   Cotton has been at the heart of our business for over two decades. First in the form of recycled cotton t-shirts, and since 2005, in partnership with our Texas farmers and North Carolina converters. This plant, and its fiber, are rooted in the complicated history of… Read on

Swatch of the Month Inspiration: Beads + Sequins; June’s Swatch of the Month featuring Transitional Embroidery; “Shade Card” from Journeys in Natural Dyeing: Techniques for Creating Color at Home by Kristine Vejar and Adrienne Rodriguez (pages 182–183); “Oaks galls used to naturally dye June’s Swatch of the Month Embroidery Floss at the Verb Studio in… Read on

Swatch of the Month Inspiration featuring Journeys in Natural Dyeing: Techniques for Creating Color at Home; Kristine Vejar: Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns from the Alabama Chanin Journal Archives; June Swatch of the Month Exclusive: Naturally Dyed Embroidery Floss; “Shearing day at Sally Fox’s farm from A Verb for Keeping Warm Blog; The Slim Scarf Kit;… Read on

June’s Swatch of the Month explores a new way to showcase embroidery techniques through an application we call ‘Transitional Embroidery.’ Our three new kits—The Cropped Car Jacket, The Slim Scarf Kit, and The Scarf Kit—inspired us to experiment with this application. Transitional Embroidery is a combination of embroidery techniques applied to a fabric. As we… Read on

Inspiration featuring from top left: “i just want a love that bends / a love that wins / an honest friend ” from Bird on a Blade by Rosanne Cash and Dan Rizzie (pages 18–19); Photograph of Rosanne Cash by Clay Patrick McBride; Maggie’s Dream Top Kit; May 2021 Swatch of the Month Detail; The Studio Bundles;… Read on

From top left: May 2021 Swatch of the Month; Fabric Swatch in Magdalena Camel; Needles; Embroidery Floss; Bird on a Branch Swing Skirt Kit; Image of Rosanne Courtesy of Clay Patrick McBride a bird on the edge of a blade lost now forever  my love in a sweet memory  —Bird on a Blade by Rosanne Cash and Dan Rizzie  Last… Read on

From top left: May 2021 Swatch of the Month; Embroidery Floss; Bird on a Branch Swing Skirt Kit; The Studio Bundles;  Bird on a Branch T-Shirt Top Kit; “this is my least favorite you who floats far above earth and stone the night that I twist on the rack is the time that I feel most… Read on

In 2017, we featured Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors in our Indigo Stories series on The Journal (among many other movers and shakers in the natural dye world). For our new readers, we revisit her background, her work with Alabama Chanin, and share the mission of Botanical Colors—with who we’ve recently collaborated on for our capsule collection of… Read on

From top left: May 2021 Swatch of the Month; Textile Paint color studies for swatch development; Stem Stitch detail from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing by Natalie Chanin; “If Jesus came from Missisippi, if tears began to rhyme, I’ll have to start at the beginning, it’s a world of strange design” from Bird on a Blade… Read on

From top left: May Swatch of the Month variation with Black backing layer and appliqué; Gold-Handled Embroidery Scissors; Alabama Chanin Archives Fall/Winter 2010 Collection; Brown Bugle Beads; Studio Bundle #2; Fabric Swatch in Abstract Forest/Forest with Brown Variegated Embroidery Floss Natalie writes of her return home in 2000, “Although I had been gone from Alabama… Read on

Clockwise: The Maggie’s Dream Top kit contents in Black; Textile Paint color studies from the development of Maggie’s Dream; The Maggie’s Dream Cropped Car Jacket Kit in Black; Fabric Detail of the Maggie’s Dream design in Plum Extra-Long Staple Medium-Weight Cotton Jersey; The Maggie’s Dream Francis Tee Kit in Black. At The School of Making,… Read on

   From top left: Lahja Unisex Dressing Gown pattern from Named Clothing; Sewing Needles from The School of Making; Sointu Tee pattern from Named Clothing; Variegated Stripe Fabric Swatch in Camel/Natural with mixed embroidery from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing; Breaking the Pattern: A Modern Way to Sew by Saara and Laura Huhta; Color Palette Bundle… Read on

From top left: The Stitch Journal; Bead Sampler; The Stripe Poncho Kit; Fabric Swatch Detail in Variegated Stripe Camel/Natural with embroidery stitches from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing  April’s Swatch of the Month design features the Variegated Stripe Stencil and embroidery stitches from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing which debuted in 2017. Variegated Stripe is our take on a classic stripe that provides visual interest with… Read on

Last week, we announced an update to AlabamaChanin.com. The website features a new look for The School of Making, where we introduce new maker supplies, tools, and notions from our archives. Explore each of the categories below to find DIY and making goodness.  Contact orders@alabamachanin.com or call 256-760-1090 for assistance with our (new) website or for… Read on

“Pleated Ruffle”, 2012 from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin (pages 108–109); The Ruffle Swing Skirt Kit in Black from The School of Making; “Galloon, Silk and metal thread”, 17th–18th century from the Metropolitan Museum of Art; “Riverside Museum”, 2011 by Zaha Hadid Architects via dezeen; The Ruffle Swing Skirt Kit in Black from The School of Making; Left: “Balenciaga’s… Read on

“Anything which is worth the effort to portray, is worth every effort to improve upon.”  – Eugene Von Bruenchenhein  In case you missed it, read Natalie’s personal essay about the inspiration for our Marie Stencil from the work of Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. The Marie Stencil is featured as this month’s Swatch of the Month, and we’re showing more love… Read on

From top left: Fabric Swatch in Marie Natural/Carmine with Whipstitch Appliqué;  The Marie Swing Skirt Kit in White/Natural with Reverse Appliqué; Eugene Von Bruenchenhein: King of Lesser Lands by Philip March Jones; “Marie”, by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein from Eugene Von Bruenchenhein: King of Lesser Lands; Fabric Swatch in Daisy Carmine/White with Variegated Red Embroidery Floss with Whipstitch Appliqué; Fabric Swatch in Large Polka Dot Natural/White with Beaded Whipstitch Appliqué.   Last week, we… Read on

From top left: February 2021 Swatch of the Month: Marie White/Natural Fabric Swatch in Backstitch Reverse Appliqué; The Marie Swing Skirt Kit in White/Natural; Limited-Edition Variegated Embroidery Floss in Variegated Brown; Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas  February’s Swatch of the Month design features the Marie Stencil, which debuted in The School of Making in 2018. The… Read on

From top left: January’s Swatch of the Month Magdalena Black/Faded colorway; Fabric Detail of Black 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey stenciled in Magdalena; Lightweight Jersey Car Coat Kit; Black Bugle Beads; The Faded Stripe Pencil Skirt Kit; The Swing Skirt Pattern in Bloomers Black/Faded Colorway  What I love about watercolor is that a lot of happy accidents occur. – Jane Seymour  January’s Swatch of the Month features our faded organic cotton… Read on

Clockwise from top left: “Magpie” from the In Flight series, 2020 by Mark Harvey; Swatch of the Month 2021 Subscription from The School of Making; Graffiti Painted Tee from the Alabama Chanin Archives; Black Bugle Beads from The School of Making; The Keyhole Dress Kit in Baby Blue from The School of Making; “Structural Constellation” by Josef Albers via “Josef Albers’ Intimate Visual Relationship… 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

The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead. – Charles Eames  At The School of Making, we preserve the Living Arts through educational and open source initiatives and programs. We work at the intersection of fashion,… Read on

From top left: Asymmetrical Peacoat in Verdant made from The Peacoat Bundle from The School of Making; Color Palette Bundle #4 from The School of Making; “Things had changed for the better, which is not always the case. But sometimes is.” from Sara Berman’s Closet, 2018 by Maira Kalman and Alex Kalman; “Maira Kalman sweeping… Read on

“Most of our lives we live closed up in ourselves, with a longing not to be alone, to include others in that life that is invisible and intangible. To make it visible and tangible, we need light and material, any material. And any material can take on the burden of what had been brewing in… Read on

Clockwise from top left: “Khruangbin” by Mal de Mar from Lux Aeterna: Latitudes of Reverence to an Endless Sun, 2005–2018 by Mal de Mar; Abstract Camel Fabric Swatch from The School of Making DIY Kits; hand-stitched interpretations of cliffs and Italian roof tiles from The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch, 2019 by Susan… Read on

The recent launches of our Corset Pattern, The Baby Doll Corset Bundle, and The Corset Bundle have us looking back at Corset projects and designs over the years. We’re resharing the Printed T-Shirt Corset post from 2012 for some early gifting inspiration:  In our “old-school” company design style – and perfect for holiday gifts – make our Sister Shirts using mirror-image or mix-and-match sections of… Read on

From left: “Corset illustration” by Sun Young Park for The School of Making Book Series and Patterns; “Original Corset” from the Alabama Chanin archives; Bloomers Fabric Detail in Natural/White Reverse Appliqué; “Corset” from Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns by Natalie Chanin (pages 74–75); “Corset”, 1870–89 by Maison Léoty via the Metropolitan Museum of Art; DIY Corset… Read on

We’ve restocked our 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey in the following colors: Earth, Plum, Forest, Camel, Dove, Sand, Natural, and White.  Find these colors (along with more) back-in-stock and available by the yard in our signature organic fabric—seed-to-shelf Made in the USA. Shop Organic Medium-weight Cotton Jersey. (And find many of our DIY Kit colorways… Read on

“Untitled”, 1947 by Ruth Asawa at Black Mountain College; Keyhole Dress Kit from The School of Making; Left: “Group IX/UW, The Dove, No. 12”; Right: “Group IX/UW, The Dove, No. 13” from The SUW/UW Series, 1915 by Hilma af Klint. Photograph from Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future, 2018 by Tracey Baskhoff for The… Read on

From left: “Homage to the Square”, 1968 by Josef Albers via the Museum of Modern Art; Color Palette Bundle #3 from The School of Making, Abstract Gold Organic Cotton Swatch from The School of Making, “Lapis Lazuli (left) and Blue Verditer (right)” from An Atlas of Rare & Familiar Colour: The Harvard Art Museums’ Forbes Pigment Collection by Kingston Trinder (pages 116–117); Button Craft… Read on

“Inspiration comes from everywhere, it’s how you process it that’s important.” – Rob Ryan  The development of our patterned fabrics has taken years, as we’ve carefully curated fabric color, ink color, and stencil design to create an inspiring combination for use in making. Our patterned fabrics utilize 100% Organic Medium-weight Cotton Jersey and are printed by Spoonflower with eco-friendly, water-based inks and… Read on

“Love is an emerald. Its brilliant light wards off dragons on this treacherous path.” – Rumi In addition to our Summer Corset and Summer Swing Skirt kits, find the following DIY Sewing Kits offered in limited-edition Magdalena Emerald-on-Emerald—a lively and lush green colorway. The Long Skirt KitThe A-Line Dress KitThe Corset KitThe Swing Skirt KitThe… Read on

It’s hard to believe that we are more than halfway through 2020 and The School of Making’s Year of Color. Such a year, we could never have fathomed—and, in so many ways, still cannot. Contemplation, making, and gathering inspiration for the future have become a go-to coping mechanism for me—which has been expressed through adding… Read on

Explore DIY Kits here and find more making and design inspiration below. MAKING, DESIGN, + INSPIRATION

Image from left: Detail of the A-Line Top + Tunic Kit in Abstract Peacock with Reverse Appliqué and Backstitch Embroidery; The Lucy Top and The Palm Wrap Skirt from Alabama Chanin’s Spring/Summer 2020 Collection; “1958 Le Trapeze ad campaign for Spring 1958″ by Yves Saint Laurent; “1950 Dior Ad campaign“, 1947 by House of Dior,… Read on

Make it Summer with our DIY Sewing Kits. Explore the collection here and find more inspiration below. MAKING, DESIGN, + INSPIRATION Available for a limited time in tone-on-tone hues Experience our full range of fabric colors for the Year of Color Introducing new Gold fabric and back-in-stock colors by the yard Sustainably made kitchen and… Read on

The School of Making offers DIY Kits made for makers: pre-cut, pre-stenciled, and with all the thread and notions needed to create a garment made for you, by you. As we continue our recent themes of tone on tone and diversity in hue and tone in the Alabama Chanin Summer of Color Collection, we feature two new kits… Read on

Left to right:  Untitled (Music Series), Untitled (Blue), and Jonquils, all by Alma Thomas, showcase her unique style—a deep understanding of color theory, finding inspiration in the natural world, and a developing abstract style.    Alma Thomas, born in 1891 in Columbus, Georgia, was an art teacher, and alumni of Howard and Columbia Universities. In the 1960s, and after… Read on

From top left: Backstitch Reverse Appliqué Abstract fabric swatch from The School of Making; Malick Bodian self-portrait as directed by stylist Suzanne Koller for A.P.C;  “Felt Suit,” 1970 by Joseph Beuys via Tate; Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the December 2019 issue of American Vogue wearing a dress by Balenciaga, styled by Tonne Goodman and photographed and… Read on

Ellsworth Kelly, Dark Blue Curve; Louise Bourgeois, Untitled from Ode à la Bièvre. 2007 a fabric illustrated book; Collection Whitney Museum of American Art, New York There is a certain kind of blue that feels like the deepest part of a shadow on a bright summer day. It is a color that is simultaneously cool… Read on

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”   –Desmond Tutu  In these unprecedented times, hope has become a pivotal emotion for all of us. There is so much wrapped up in our hope for the future, our hope for change, our hopes for well-being. Hope has always been… Read on

Like so many during this unprecedented time, those of us here at The Factory have allowed our minds to rest and find joy in the simple act of making. We’ve been digging back into the archives and though all of our garments and projects are made slowly, we always like an easy project that works… Read on

Our series, For the Love of Tools, looks at the history, uses, and types of tools for design, sewing, and making. Next up in the series, we are highlighting scissors. This cutting tool has a long history that has developed over the millennia, and a well-made pair of scissors will aid you in cutting the perfect pattern… Read on

Introducing our new summer project bundle, the Color Blocked A-Line Dress. In lieu of our beloved Build A Wardrobe, we are focusing this year on using existing books and patterns to expand our wardrobes with available resources.  We’ve been having lots of conversations about sustainability within our own business but also about the sustainability around… Read on

From our very beginnings, Alabama Chanin has approached design from a sustainable and zero-waste perspective. Our earliest Collection garments were t-shirts taken apart and pieced back together, sometimes using scraps for appliqué or decoration. We are always looking for ways to use scraps in clever or utilitarian ways. Sometimes that means building our patterns so that they… Read on

Today we introduce our new series, For the Love of Tools, and begin by sharing the history and types of safety pins used in sewing. Most recently we’ve seen this pin used to fashion DIY face masks, and we take special note of its cultural significance during this moment in history.  The safety pin can be found in almost every household, and… Read on

Every craftsperson knows that work is made easier when done with well-made tools that are appropriate for the job at hand. Very often good tools are also objects of great beauty that become even more beautiful as they acquire a patina through years of use.  As we introduce a new series about tools for design,… 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

As we spend more time indoors, social distancing, and getting through this time spent #TogetherApart, we can’t think of a better way to fill the time, keep our hands busy, and allow our minds a bit of rest, than making.   2020 is The Year of Color at The School of Making, and we have been exploring new… 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

Originally published in 2010, a few years after Natalie’s acclaimed Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style expanded on the philosophies and skills taught in the first book. More importantly, though, Alabama Studio Style was an invitation into Natalie’s home. Stories and recipes for an “Autumn Brunch,” “Alabama Studio Celebration,” and “Pickling Party” fill the pages…. Read on

As part of The School of Making’s Year of Color, we are looking at some of the mechanics behind exploration and creativity and how inspiration emerges. One recent standout is Brooklyn’s BLUE: The TATTER Textile Library. As its name explains, the space is a soothing collage of blue, with fabrics draped across shelves and cabinets…. Read on

2020 is the Year of Color at The School of Making. From rich blues to warm browns, new color stories are the focus of this year’s programing. New offerings, like the Color Palette Bundle incorporate Natalie’s current favorite hues and today we announce new A-Line kits and that the DIY Sewing Kit colorways are getting… Read on

After announcing our Year of Color, we shared more the inspiration behind the first Color Palette Bundle with trend forecaster Li Edelkoort. With limitless combinations and possibilities, there’s so much opportunity for color and design exploration in our Year of Color series. Our Sample Swatches complement the exploration process—pair unstenciled and stenciled swatches in the… Read on

As part of The Year of Color, 2020’s yearlong exploration of creativity through color, we are delving more deeply into one of our inspirations, Lidewij – or Li – Edelkoort, one of the world’s most trusted trend forecasters. She has worked for a wide array of companies, from Coca-Cola, to Nissan, to Prada, Disney, Shiseido,… Read on

Natalie’s passion for hand sewing and sustainability are the roots that helped The School of Making flourish into the entity that it is today. Throughout 2020, The School of Making will be launching new programing that will coincide with the celebration of 20 years since Natalie began her journey to our Family of Businesses and… Read on

To immerse our makers into the community that surrounds Alabama Chanin, this year chef John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee, located in downtown Florence, will be joining us at The Factory to bring his own brand of Southern cooking to each workshop. We recently sat down with John to discuss Rivertown Coffee, the food community in… 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

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

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

Pumpkin carving has a deep-rooted history in American culture. Whether you are a fan of the traditional butcher knife or more fine-tuned supplies for more detailed carving, today there are specialized carving tools available from a range of sources. Martha Stewart, a lover of all things Halloween, has brought pumpkin carving to a new level, offering creative… Read on

As a continuation our book review series about vintage embroidery books, we explore Design in Embroidery by Kathleen Whyte with contributing writer and textile artist Elaine Lipson. See previous posts on The Art of Embroidery by Françoise Tellier-Loumagne and Design for Artists and Craftsmen by Louis Wolchonok. Today’s explosion of interest in stitching owes a… Read on

The Factory Dress has long been a favorite at The School of Making. The A-line style features a fitted bust, slight flair from the waist, princess seams, and high rounded neckline.  We find this style to be flattering on a wide range of body types and can easily be dressed up or down. The School… Read on

As part of the recent School of Making update, The Starter Poncho Kit was introduced to the DIY Sewing Kit collection. Perfect for novice and advanced sewers alike, The Starter Poncho is a versatile cover-up and a great layering piece to help carry your wardrobe into the colder season. The simple placement of the stencil… Read on

It is that time of year again – when we introduce the newest garment from our 2019 Build a Wardrobe program. This design is flattering to all and highlights the best of every person’s unique form. The Pencil Skirt can be made in any of three variations: the Basic Pencil Skirt, the Asymmetrical Pencil Skirt,… Read on

The Asymmetrical Trench is the third-quarter part of our 2019 Build a Wardrobe program, and reflects the unique style of this year’s collection. It has a style that complements its sister garments, but also stands out as a piece completely distinctive on its own. You won’t see another trench coat that looks like this in… Read on

Designed to work in tandem with our updated DIY Kit process, the new swatch carousel featured with all DIY Kits will allow you to see detailed design aspects of each kit. Once you have chosen the DIY Kit you would like to create and are on that kit’s page, each swatch in the carousel will… Read on

The School of Making is welcoming exciting changes to its DIY Kit offerings. On the heels of the recent fabric update, our DIY Sewing Kit page has also undergone a refresh with a more streamlined process for viewing and ordering DIY Kits. The DIY Kits that our makers love, pre-cut and pre-stenciled with all the… Read on

In 2008, at the launch of Alabama Stitch Book and before The School of Making was established, we began receiving questions about where to purchase organic materials and sewing supplies like the ones were using at Alabama Chanin. As some of the items were difficult to source, we began offering a small selection of our… Read on

Launching today is quarter three of Build a Wardrobe 2019 and The Asymmetrical Trench Pattern. Boasting traditional trench coat styling, the Asymmetrical Trench is full length at 47” long and features a double-breasted front, optional storm shield, and in-seam pockets. A variation for the shorter Asymmetrical Peacoat is also included with the pattern. Like all… Read on

The newest addition to The School of Making’s pattern offerings, The Jumpsuit, which debuted as the second quarter of Build a Wardrobe 2019, brings a flattering and utilitarian style to your wardrobe. With its drawstring waist, flowing wide legs, and a fitted bust, The Jumpsuit is comfortable and flattering on a range of body types…. Read on

Inspired by bold graphics and the natural world are the Abstract and Canopy stencils – both new this year to The School of Making. With graphic shapes and leaf motifs throughout, Abstract (35.5” x 31) is available as both a Mylar stencil and a downloadable PDF that can be used to create your own stencil. Abstract’s… Read on

To help you add even more color options to your home design studio, The School of Making introduces three new embroidery floss colors: Sage, Dogwood, and Forest. Complementing our Button Craft Thread, each 100% cotton color is wound by hand onto a wooden spool. Curated bundles like the Design Bundle—which gave us inspiration for our… Read on

Always striving to help you make your hand-sewn wardrobe more functional and versatile, today The School of Making launches The Pockets Pattern. Comprised of three unique pocket styles: Cargo, Shell, and Basic, each pocket pattern comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large), with an optional flap for each style and size. A pocket marker,… Read on

As the Project Threadways Symposium approaches, we are excitedly finishing up last minute details and getting the final product ready for you to view. These details include completing our exhibition, which will be on display at The Factory. Our documents and oral histories will be presented and include quotes from former textile workers like Sherri… Read on

Just in time for spring, the second installment of the 2019 Build a Wardrobe debuts today with The Jumpsuit Pattern. This utilitarian design features a comfortable drawstring waist, flowing wide legs, and a flattering, fitted bust. The Jumpsuit pattern includes three style variations: the jumpsuit, shirt dress, and shirt, with the jumpsuit also offered in… Read on

The School of Making workshops for 2019 are beginning to fill up. Visit our Workshops + Events page in The School of Making for our available options. Our annual community picnic, The Gathering, will feature three mini-workshops, Custom DIY, Embroidery Stitches, and a T-Shirt Workshop. Look over our calendar for the rest of the year… Read on

The School of Making’s popular Host a Party program is updated and expanded for participants who want to make together with friends. As always, the concept is simple: gather six or more friends and acquaintances who want to gather and sew, while you provide the location and hospitality. Each group chooses its own garment style,… Read on

The School of Making strives to be a constant source of education and inspiration to all our makers—those local to our home base in Florence, Alabama, and across the globe. Besides the Journal and our Facebook and Instagram accounts, Pinterest is another way we connect to the world. Today we announce a new Pinterest account… Read on

The fresh and modern color story of our Design Bundle, which draws inspiration from woodlands, wildlife, and serene creeks and streams, has been a popular choice with makers since The School of Making launched the bundle in November. The unique colorways in the Design Bundle feature paint colors designed especially for each of the five… Read on

Welcome to 1972. The Rolling Stones just landed at Muscle Shoals Regional Airport to record three of their classic songs: “Wild Horses,” “You Got To Move On,” and “Brown Sugar.” Aretha Franklin recorded what was considered the first big hit of her career, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” Across the… Read on

The Fractal Dress Pattern was developed exclusively for our 2019 Build a Wardrobe program. When we were developing the pattern, we were drawn to the modern lines the pattern pieces create; they allow the endless opportunity to experiment with colors. Launching last month, the pattern has been popular with The School of Making community and… Read on

Common in botany, the word variegated means to exhibit different colors, and it often refers to leaves and foliage on plants that show the appearance of differently colored zones. Now in six color variations, we’ve expanded our Variegated Embroidery Floss offerings to Black, Green, Blue, Red, Rust, and Gold. Each color slowly fades from a… Read on

Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More, by Katrina Rodabaugh, includes 22 how-to projects, a number of essays on the topic of slow fashion, over 200 color photographs, and a foreword by our own Natalie Chanin. Rodabaugh dedicated herself to repair and sustainability after the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse, when… 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 work of Project Threadways continues. We’ve been busy planning for the inaugural symposium in the spring and collecting oral history interviews from textile workers in our community. With the expert help of our friends at Nest and support and funding provided The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, we’ve developed a survey to help us… Read on

Our 2019 Build a Wardrobe subscription launches today with modern, brand new styles to add to your closet. In planning for 2019, The School of Making design team set the tone with our color of the year: Verdant. They have also developed three new stencils: Abstract, Canopy #1, and Canopy #2. And they combined these elements… Read on

Expanding on design programing, we developed three new stencils for The School of Making that build on the design series’ connection to nature and geography. Inspired by strong graphics and the natural world are Abstract and Canopy. With bold shapes and leaf motifs throughout, Abstract (35.5” x 31) is available as both a Mylar stencil and a… Read on

The new year can refresh the mind and the blank slate it offers can inspire you to plan for the year ahead. Arriving just in time for the new year, and offering inspiration for projects you are planning for 2019, is The School of Making’s Design Bundle #6. Like the bundles before, this Design Bundle… Read on

/ˈvərdnt/ Adjective (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation. of the bright green color of lush grass. “a deep, verdant green” The design team for The School of Making has taken a fresh approach with its newest color: Verdant. Verdant is a fresh green that is reminiscent of nature in woodlands, creeks, streams… Read on

Over the years, we have tried to create various ways to put our scrap fabric to good use and to inspire our fellow makers to do the same. We studied the zero waste design techniques of Dr. Timo Rissanen to understand how the patternmaking process could be streamlined. What is left after our garments are… Read on

Since its launch in October, the Ezra Coat Pattern has become one of our best-selling patterns. The pattern dates back to 2012 and was developed with a handful of other outwear styles. At the time, only a coat version for Ezra existed—the “companion” blazer in the group was a different pattern. When we decided to… Read on

As we continue to build out our paper pattern library, today The School of Making releases the Maggie Dress, Full Wrap Skirt, Alabama Sweater, Walking Cape, Unisex T-Shirt, T-Shirt Top, and Baby Bundle patterns in paper versions. Previously only offered in digital forms, these patterns will add new dimension and styling options to your hand-crafted wardrobe…. Read on

Jessica Marquez is a professional photographer and the creator of Miniature Rhino, a full-time embroidery and teaching business based out of Brooklyn, New York. She is a self-taught embroideress who travels for inspiration and views instruction as one of her callings. She grew up surrounded by woman makers, who taught her to love all-things craft;… Read on

Always striving to help you expand your own hand-made, sustainable wardrobe, The School of Making has released its much-anticipated coat pattern, the Ezra Coat, as the fourth (and final) installment of the 2018 Build a Wardrobe. The Ezra Coat dates back to 2012 when we first created the pattern inspired by the photographs of Jim and Nancy… Read on

The School of Making offers a wide range of sewing patterns—both in The School of Making Book Series and as standalone patterns—to fit many different body types and lifestyles. In the past, we’ve also adapted sewing patterns from other designers using our techniques and materials, with beautiful results. Some of our favorites from the past are… Read on

In July, we wrote about the book Design for Artists and Craftsmen as part of our series that explores vintage design, embroidery, and craft books.  I carried this book with me as my daughter Maggie and I headed to my residency at The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts in the mountains of North Georgia. In… Read on

Sharing good food and good company with friends and family have brought some of our best memories over the years, at both The Factory Café and at home. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve (which will all be here before you know it) allow you to open your own home to family and… Read on

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary edition release of Alabama Stitch Book, we celebrate our journey and growth over the years by re-releasing special-edition kits of our Swing Skirts, which were featured in Alabama Stitch Book and remain our most popular garment pattern of all time. It is likely that, because of the number of… Read on

Ten trips around the sun. A lot happens in ten years: birthdays, anniversaries, growth, loss, happiness, struggle, and joy. I daresay that each of us has experienced all of these things in the last decade. But, for Alabama Chanin, we are crossing an entirely new milestone: the tenth anniversary of the publishing of Alabama Stitch… Read on

The Marie Stencil, inspired by the lush backdrops and intricate costumes of artist Eugene Von Bruenchenhein and his wife and muse Eveline ‘Marie” Kalke, is now available through The School of Making. The Marie Stencil utilizes graphic floral motifs and lends itself well to bold color combinations. The Marie Stencil is available in physical and digital… Read on

This week we share insight and inspiration from The Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures and Surfaces in a Journal series from our contributing writer, Elaine Lipson. As I was reading Françoise Tellier-Loumagne’s The Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures and Surfaces, her deep visual dive into embroidery as an art and design form, I… Read on

For millennia, from the Great Plains of North America to the southern regions of Africa (and all the cultures and continents in between), beads have been used as a way to adorn garments and to communicate with others. The definitive guide to these beading traditions, The History of Beads, was first published in 1987 and… Read on

We love a good T-shirt, and our summer has revolved around this classic garment with the launch of the Clean Tee collection from Bldg. 14, a special one-of-a-kind Graffiti Tee collection from Alabama Chanin, and the Frances Dress and Top pattern—our take on an effortless, relaxed T-shirt dress—launched earlier this month in The School of… Read on

We continue our book review series with contributing writer and textile artist, Elaine Lipson, with a look at a classic design tome, Design for Artists and Craftsmen. What can a funky old hardbound Dover book, written by a man born in the 19th century, teach us about modern design? First published in 1953 (and available… Read on

The third quarter of 2018 Build a Wardrobe kicks off today with the launch of the Frances Dress pattern. The Frances Dress has three body variations—the top, T-shirt dress, and baby doll dress—along with two sleeve length options, an optional collar, and optional side seam pockets. The simple silhouette provides a blank canvas for embellishment—or… Read on

Most of us have seen boxes of old patterns in our grandparents’ attics or at yard sales, but have you ever considered putting them to use? For those who are interested in doing just that, Vintage Patterns Wikia has posted over 84,000 out-of-print patterns from before 1990 in a searchable archive. Not all viewable patterns are… Read on

The School of Making offers a wide range of beloved sewing patterns, available in our Studio Book Series and as standalone patterns. We’ve also adapted sewing patterns from other designers using our techniques and materials with beautiful results. Some of our favorites from the past are from Merchant & Mills, DKNY, and Vogue Patterns. Our… Read on

We’re nearly halfway through the year, and the rest of our workshops for 2018 are filling up quickly. We recently hosted our largest Three-Day Workshop—with 20 guests—and the popularity of our workshops continues to grow. We normally wait until later in the year to announce upcoming workshops, but we have already set dates through part… Read on

We’ve written before about our supply chain and how the availability of fabric and notions directs what we do at The School of Making and Alabama Chanin. As a lean-method manufacturing company with zero-waste goals, we always look for ways to streamline and improve our processes. Previously, we carried 24 colors of fold-over elastic to… Read on

As a textile artist and designer, Elaine Lipson has spent much of her life exploring creative mediums and the fine arts. Born in Canada, Elaine has found a home (many, in fact) in the United States and spent time living in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco before settling in Colorado where she currently has… Read on

The Variegated Stripe Stencil made its first appearance in The Geometry of Hand-Sewing. It’s our take on a classic stripe that provides visual interest with its contrasting stripes, and it provides a great base for intricate embroideries. Learn to create the embroidery stitches shown on these swatches with Natalie’s newest Craftsy course, “The New Embroidery”…. Read on

The Geometry of Hand-Sewing has proved to be a great resource for learning and perfecting a myriad of embroidery stitches. The book and Natalie’s newest Craftsy course, “The New Embroidery”, focus on stitch samples and swatches for practice and building up a swatch library using our Stitch Journal to document your progress. While the Stitch… Read on

Our Craftsy virtual learning courses dive into hand embellishment and construction in The School of Making techniques. In The Swing Skirt: Techniques & Construction, Natalie walks you through each step of creating a hand-sewn garment. Creative Embellishments gives an in-depth look at our most popular hand embellishing techniques including quilting, reverse appliqué, whipstitch appliqué, and… Read on

Our new Thread + Embroidery Floss Calculator charts are available for download to print and reference at home. This is a new tool that can be used to determine how much thread is needed for reverse appliqué and negative reverse appliqué on different garments using different stencils plus how much embroidery floss is needed for… Read on

Custom DIY has always been a resource to design your own garments and accessories—personalizing everything from fabric and thread color to stencil design and treatments. Now, you have even more control over what you receive once you place your Custom DIY Kit order. The new programming provides even further customization, allowing you to take into account… Read on

Now available in the Maker Supplies + Stencils section of the website, a new take on our classic Armor Beads is available as the new Bead Mix product. Each new mix incorporates a variety of beads and sequins in an array of complementing and/or contrasting colors to add sparkle to your next project. Pair these… Read on

Beauty and practicality are at the heart of countless Alabama Chanin garments, accessories, and goods. The School of Making adds that same philosophy to your sewing kit with the introduction of new Gingher scissors and sewing tools to the Maker Supplies + Stencils section of our website. Delicate details adorn the Gold-handled Embroidery Scissors, making… Read on

Always striving to be a center for inspiration, instruction, and community, Alabama Chanin and The School of Making are excited to announce The School of Making Stitchalong group on Facebook. A creative space intended for the sharing of ideas and to be a resource for all your School of Making project and pattern questions. Our aim is… Read on

Our last Craftsy virtual learning class—The Swing Skirt: Techniques & Construction—has been very popular among our community of makers, and because of it, we’ve welcomed many new followers. We were often asked on the class discussion board for more instruction, and our newest class—Creative Embellishments—released this past Tuesday. The course covers four key stitches and… Read on

The Panel Tank style made its first appearance in the Alabama Chanin collection in 2013. It has been one of our most requested patterns ever since due to its form-flattering fit and debuted as the first pattern in our 2018 Build a Wardrobe program. Find design details below for some of our favorite versions for… Read on

2018 Build a Wardrobe kicks off with our beloved Panel Tank Pattern. The Panel Tank flatters all body types with a fitted bust and generous flare to the bottom hem. The thin straps and scooped out neckline well to layering underneath a cardigan or jacket, or over a long sleeve tee or turtleneck. The pattern… 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

Featured on the Quarter 4 Design Bundle, the newly released Tartan stencil is available today through The School of Making(along with the re-released Fern). Originally released in 2012, our natured-inspired Fern stencil has been featured over the years on garments, home goods, and Swatches of the Month. This customer favorite is again available in physical and… Read on

We’ve written in the past about the challenges that come from writing a book. This book alone went through numerous drafts and made its way around our studio to be proofed and edited many times before being sent back to our editors at Abrams. Despite the rounds of proofing and editing, incorrect versions of the… Read on

The books have landed, and we’ve started shipping out copies of The Geometry of Hand-Sewing. The School of Making team is so excited to share this new resource—it has truly been a labor of love. The idea for this book blossomed from Natalie’s love of geometry and math. As our team started analyzing embroidery stitches,… Read on

The final quarter of our 2017 Design Bundle series is now available, filled with a bright color palette of Apple, Ruby, Burgundy, Carmine, and Plum—perfect for the holidays. The Design Bundle includes basic sample blocks as well as stenciled, in your choice of metallic or tonal paint, with our re-released Fern stencil and the newly available… Read on

With a continually evolving supply chain and our mission to be as resourceful as possible, we have a few updates to announce. The School of Making is introducing new colors of Embroidery Floss. Our colors are now available in a rotating selection—some all-time favorite colors will stay, some other colors will come-and-go with the seasons…. Read on

The School of Making was founded back in 2014 as an overseeing body that encompasses the DIY Kit collection as well as workshop programming, format, and content. It was also developed to direct and innovate learning initiatives and educational programs that will continue to teach Slow Fashion and sustainability and promote the Living Arts to… Read on

As the final installment of our 2017 Build a Wardrobe subscription, we introduce the Drawstring Pant Pattern. Flattering on all body types and adaptable to any wardrobe or season, the pattern offers four length options for the pant (shorts, knee-length shorts, cropped pant, and long pant), three skirt length options (short, mid-length, and long), and… Read on

Textile paint is an everyday staple at The School of Making and ­Alabama Chanin. We use it to transfer stencil designs to a multitude of items including the Alabama Chanin Collection, DIY Kits and Custom Kits—we even stencil our gift bags and boxes. Because of our commitment to lean manufacturing, everything is stenciled to order… Read on

The School of Making was created in 2014—though our workshops, educational services, and DIY projects date back to the early 2000s. This important part of our business allows us to make living arts accessible to all consumers. Today, we guide you through this section of our new site, which has a few updates. What We… Read on

Marfa, Texas, has fascinated the American imagination since we saw James Dean cross our wide movie screens in 1956’s Giant. It can seem both stubbornly Texan and confoundingly trendy at times, but it actually holds a great deal of magic for those willing to make the journey. Liz Lambert’s El Cosmico is a campground wonderland… Read on

Couching is a traditional embroidery technique that’s been used for hundreds of years. Historically, yarn (or some other form of rope) was laid on top of a surface and sewn into place with a satin stitch. At The School of Making, we define couching as a type of appliqué in which cotton jersey ropes are… Read on

While our basic, unadorned garments provide a great foundation for your wardrobe (and are quick and easy to stitch up), it’s the embellishments you add that make them truly unique and turn them into statement pieces for your growing hand-sewn wardrobe. Beads, sequins, and decorative stitches can transform a simple hand-sewn garment into an heirloom…. Read on

Inspired by the work of French naïve artist, Henri Rousseau, and originally used in our 2015 Collection, the Large Paradise stencil is now available through The School of Making. The stencil features a tropical-inspired motif that harkens back to Rousseau’s lush, jungle setting of his 1910 painting The Dream. The Large Paradise stencil is available cut… Read on

The Wrap Dress style made its first appearance in the Alabama Chanin collection back in 2008. Over the years, it has been made in many different variations—dressed down in a basic tank style for summer as well as dressed up as a fully embellished dress for a wedding. The sleeve variations and length options make… Read on

Universally flattering and a staple of any wardrobe, the Wrap Dress is the focus of the third quarter of Build a Wardrobe 2017 and is available for the first time today as a digital pattern download. Offered with five sleeve options and five length variations, the pattern is available in sizes XS through  XX-Large. The… Read on

We’ve written before about the importance of sample blocks and how we use them to design our collections and other projects. As you explore new techniques, we encourage you to create your own fabric library to document your process. The most efficient way we’ve found to do so is to attach what we call “headers”… Read on

Since our Indigo Dye Kit launched, we’ve loved seeing dye projects pop up on social media. The kit comes with enough materials to dye 6 yards of our 100% Organic Medium-weight Cotton Jersey, but you can also use it to give rarely worn garments a new life or to overdye a DIY project. Dyeing yards… Read on

The School of Making launched in October 2014, and over the past 2 ½ years it has grown into a flourishing division of the Alabama Chanin Family of Businesses. In the time since its launch, we’ve increased DIY kit offerings, introduced new programming like Build a Wardrobe and Host a Party and expanded our workshop space… Read on

At The School of Making and Alabama Chanin, we’ve become known for our own style of embroidery and other stitched embellishment that involves applying thread, embroidery floss, beads, and other notions to organic cotton jersey. We know that some of these techniques can seem intimidating for even experienced sewers, and we have developed our newest… Read on

Once offered exclusively in the Alabama Chanin Collection, Aurora is now stenciled, along with Small Polka Dots, on the fabric of our latest Design Bundle. Aurora has an art deco feel and gives movement to any project. It works up beautifully in different techniques including negative reverse appliqué (shown above), whipstitch appliqué (shown below), and… Read on

Design Bundle #2 launched this morning and included the return of one of our favorite specialty fabrics—Faded Polka Dot. This fabric is created by our stenciling team in-house using 100% Organic Medium-weight Cotton Jersey in Natural and the Small Polka Dot stencil. Faded fabric made its first appearance at Alabama Chanin in our Fall/Winter 2008… Read on

Continue your year of making and designing with our second, limited-edition Design Bundle. Like the first quarter, Design Bundle #2 contains fabric, thread, embroidery floss, and beads that are intended to be used as tools to practice appliqué, embroidery, or beading treatments from our Alabama Studio Book Series. Offering a new range of pre-selected fabric… Read on

At The School of Making and Alabama Chanin, sustainability is a top priority. We strive to be a zero-waste company and leave the smallest environmental footprint possible. Recently, our team has been working behind the scenes to elevate our DIY offerings and take larger strides toward a more environmentally friendly future. Today, we introduce new… Read on

The global fashion industry is notoriously opaque, and it depends upon exploitation of workers and environmentally damaging practices. It is an issue that we’ve spoken of many times and one that drives us to do our very best to remain as transparent in our methods and materials as possible. But for us, there is also… Read on

Since the launch of Limited-Edition Printed Cotton Jersey, we’ve used both Anna’s Garden and New Leaves variations to create a Factory Tunic and Swing Skirt (respectively). The printed fabric allows you to make quick and easy basics with the added visual interest of a pattern. With spring in full effect here in north Alabama, we… Read on

We often incorporate limited-edition colors into our Alabama Chanin Collections or have our Organic Cotton Rib dyed to match our existing colors. Our lean-method manufacturing practices mean we order small batches of specialty colors and fabrics so there’s little to no waste or leftover fabric. For the first time, we now have select colors of… Read on

Build a Wardrobe 2017 continues in the second quarter with our Car Coat Pattern. Offering a fit that is flattering to all body types, the Car Coat is a great transitional piece that can be worn throughout the year—going from basic to statement-making with the addition of stencils, embroidery, and beading. The digital version of… Read on

As part of an ongoing exploration into indigo and other natural dyes, we are spotlighting artists we consider to be experts in the field—including Scott Peacock, Donna Hardy, and today, Kathy Hattori. Kathy is one of the founders of Botanical Colors, a well-respected source of materials, support, and educational offerings for those seeking to employ… Read on

We have a long history of loving and working with indigo at The School of Making and Alabama Chanin. We’ve used it in previous collections, worked with and learned from Artisan Natural Dyeworks in Nashville, and even had a special indigo-focused exhibition at Heath Ceramics showcasing upcycled antique quilts and one-of-a-kind indigo garments. For the… Read on

By popular demand, we have created a sleeve for the Factory Dress for those of you who have either subscribed to Build a Wardrobe or purchased the Factory Dress pattern online. The sleeve was drafted to fit the existing armhole on the pattern, so no adjustments will need to be made before attaching your sleeve…. Read on

We’ve seen such beautiful pieces made with our Limited-Edition Printed Cotton Jersey collaboration with Spoonflower that we’ve decided to add another design. Now available is our 100% Organic Medium-weight Cotton Jersey in Sand printed with our newest Daisy Stencil design in teal. Experiment with our newest design of Limited-Edition Printed Cotton Jersey using patterns available on our… Read on

We have, over the years, done quite a bit of experimenting with natural dyes, and we try to integrate naturally dyed fabrics into our collections of low-impact dyed yardage whenever possible. We have also been lucky enough to benefit from the wisdom of many natural dye experts. Picking up from a conversation we had last… Read on

Our Design Bundle was announced last week and includes hand-stenciled swatches in two designs: our popular Anna’s Garden stencil and a new stencil for our DIY community: the Daisy stencil. Once only offered for our Collection garments, the Daisy stencil is a now available through The School of Making as a Mylar stencil and as a… Read on

Now that our 2017 Build a Wardrobe program is in full-swing, we have added our 2016 styles to Custom DIY. You may now customize your own kits for the Maggie Dress/Tunic/Top, Alabama Sweater Tunic/Top/Crop Top, Walking Cape, and Full Wrap/Pull-On/Apron Skirt. In addition to the new silhouettes, you are now also able to choose between… Read on

Our 2016 Build a Wardrobe silhouettes are now available to order through Custom DIY and select kits on our website. Since these projects are new and not included in any of our books, we’ll share the instructions for each project on our Journal over the next few weeks. This week, we’re sharing instructions for the… Read on

As we move into 2017, we want to do so cloaked in a strong sense of community. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is approaching and my mind is drawn again and again to his idea of a Beloved Community, and how each of us, in our own way, can bring people together for a common… Read on

We’ve been loving our Limited-Edition Printed Cotton Jersey—part of our collaboration with Spoonflower—which we debuted a few months back. Since then, we have used it to create a Swing Skirt, and here we utilize it to introduce the Factory Tunic. We used a variation of the Factory Dress pattern—now available through our 2017 Build a… Read on

All of our medium-weight cotton jersey yardage is now sold unwashed. This includes all medium-weight fabric sold by the yard and included in Build a Wardrobe. Our DIY kits and finished garments are cut from pre-shrunk yardage, so this change does not affect our sizing in any way. Since our medium-weight jersey fabric shrinks approximately… Read on

We’ve stated before how much our maker community continues to inspire us, and we’ve been so excited to see how you’ve used our programs and patterns to expand your creativity throughout the past year. Host a Party opened up new opportunities for reaching out in your own communities and teaching sustainable practices in a way… Read on

Thank you to Mary Celeste Beall and the Blackberry Farm team for including our hand-dyed Indigo Quilts in this year’s Farmstead Catalog. In addition to our quilts, the catalog includes holiday gift items from Blackberry Farm to stock your pantry (Pickled Ramps and Farm Jams are a favorite) and decorate your home. View the catalog… Read on

In 2016, The School of Making successfully expanded our Swatch of the Month Club and other hand-sewing programs into a larger experiment—Build a Wardrobe. This project offered our maker community the opportunity to take things they have learned from our Studio Book Series, workshops, and our Journal and create pieces they could fold seamlessly into… Read on

Last October, we launched our Host A Party program to expand the sense of fellowship we create here at The Factory through our workshops, dinners, and events by inviting friends and colleagues to host their own workshop and event (surrounded by friends, family, and good food). When you decide to host a sewing party for… Read on

There is a lot you can say about Scott Peacock: James Beard Award-winning chef, engaging storyteller, companion to Edna Lewis, budding farmer, writer/filmmaker, experimenter with indigo—yes, you got that right, indigo. Several weekends ago, my daughter Maggie and I took a road trip to meet Scott at his home in Marion, Alabama. We were joined… Read on

Anyone who is familiar with our company knows that Alabama Chanin is built on the beliefs of collaboration and the open exchange of information. Our connections and relationships with fellow designers, makers, customers, and suppliers run deep, and we appreciate every opportunity to learn from, be inspired by, and to teach and work with others…. 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

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens Our Walking Cape is the perfect all-weather staple, and it lives in my closet all year long. It is the ideal companion for the… Read on

The third quarter of our Build a Wardrobe program has arrived, with our beloved Walking Cape pattern. The individual garment pattern, which includes instructions for selecting fabric, cutting, and constructing, can be purchased for $18 – $24 online, depending on format. This pattern is designed for use with our Studio Book Series. The Build a… Read on

Our clothing today says much about who we are and—in some cases—what we believe in. To some, what they wear is of great importance and to others, not so much. But modern women in most Western societies have the agency to decide what to wear and how much meaning they assign to what they wear…. Read on

Stenciling has a deep history that reaches across millennia, but also within Alabama Chanin. It is the basis for our lean-method manufacturing and also within part of The School of Making. We’ve got a library of 600+ stencil designs and the Stars stencil is #340. Stars was originally inspired by the costumes in found in… Read on

Over the years, through connections with our DIY community and The School of Making programming, we have seen how passionate and virtually inexhaustible our fellow makers can be. We have also witnessed them making connections through craft that extend outward into their lives, creating lifelong friendships and bonds. Author Christine Chitnis and her mother attended… Read on

In Spring 2005, Natalie launched a collection (for her company at the time, called Project Alabama) that featured photographs from her family history and community, heat transferred onto t-shirts. She then added appliquéd details and embroidery, including written words and embroidered lines of text. The photo shown above was one of the images included in… Read on

For the uninitiated, Spoonflower is a North Carolina-based web company that allows individuals to design, print, and even sell their own fabrics, wallpaper, and giftwrap. Founded in 2008 by Gart Davis and Stephen Fraser, the Spoonflower user community now numbers over a million people who use their digital textile printers to print custom runs of… Read on

We last shared about The School of Making on Instagram in March, and we’ve been thrilled with the increase in sharing your projects through #theschoolofmaking. Here are some of our recent favorites from our online maker community. P.S.: Follow us on Instagram: @theschooloofmaking, if you don’t already. And tag and share your projects with #theschoolofmaking Thank you to… Read on

Like many Alabama Chanin garments, the Alabama Sweater was created because it fit a specific need in my own wardrobe. Years ago, I bought a cashmere sweater that became a well-worn, beloved staple. I wore it and washed it a thousand times; accordingly, it shrank and stretched—and became perfectly mine. Rather than search the world… Read on

Anyone who has ever attempted to make a garment quickly understands that the most important element of the final product is how well a garment fits. Tailoring is the art of designing, fitting, fabricating, and finishing garments. The word “tailor”, which first appeared in the Oxford Dictionary in 1297, comes from a French word—tailler—meaning “to… Read on

We’ve had a fun (and colorful) month exploring natural dyes with Kristine Vejar through a series of projects from her book, The Modern Natural Dyer. Here’s a quick recap from our Journal, before we close out the month (which Kristine has tagged as #alabamachaninapril on Instagram) with a final project. – You can learn more… Read on

As a sustainable design company, we take the health of our employees and our environment into consideration every day. And though not all businesses have the same focus, it is interesting to look back on how much has changed and become the norm—both in workplaces and homes around the world. Forty-plus years ago, the idea… Read on

We continue our month-long exploration into natural dyeing with Kristine Vejar, author of The Modern Natural Dyer. Last week we created a Maggie Tunic project from fabric that was printed with flowers, and this week we highlight another project in The Modern Natural Dyer: the Iron Age Tank and Gilded Cardigan. Kristine chose to over… Read on

“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal — that is your success.” – Henry David Thoreau Recently, longtime friend and collaborator Kristine Vejar created fabric for us using a technique from… Read on

One of my favorite parts of design school back in the 1980s was the hand-dyeing class I took in the fall of my third year.  For me, it was a perfect combination of science and creativity that, to this day, I believe fostered some of my best work.  A few years later, after I graduated… Read on

The fourth month of 2016 launches the second quarter of our Build a Wardrobe program and, with it, the Alabama Sweater garment pattern. Available for individual purchase for $18 – $24, depending on format. The PDF download includes the nested pattern in sizes ranging from XS to XXL and comes with tips on fabric selection,… Read on

Our maker community has grown substantially in the past few years thanks to an increased interest in slow fashion and a do-it-yourself attitude. We’ve seen engagement, respect, collaboration, and beautifully-made contributions from many of you in The School of Making, which includes both a design and manufacturing service that facilitates production for other, smaller designers… Read on

We’ve received questions from many of you about our design choices for the Maggie Dress images pictured above. We share them for inspiration—and to make your fabric, stencil, and thread choices a little easier. From top left to right: 1. Garment – Maggie Dress (no center front or center back seam) Fabric weight – 100% organic… Read on

We have used stencils to transfer designs onto fabric since the earliest days of Alabama Chanin. There is a section of The School of Making devoted to the art of stenciling, and you can read about making and using our stencils on our Journal here: #stenciling. And while we’ve developed stencils of all sorts and used… Read on

When joining our Build a Wardrobe program, participants make design choices for each of the four garments they create. When planning a design for any garment, the first decision you make is whether the garment will be made with a single- or double-layer of our organic cotton jersey. Some embroidery or embellishment choices will make… Read on

Last fall, our friend (and editor) Melanie Falick reached out with the desire to design her own stencil—and use that stencil for one of our of our Custom DIY Kits. She documented her process, and we’ve named her design “Circus”. (She also likes the subtitle, “If Not Now, When.”) Seen above, the finished artwork is… Read on

I’ve recently been reading Brené Brown’s new book, Rising Strong. I’ve found so much good in the book, both for me personally and also for how we run our business. In any small (or young) business, you must have the courage to fall down, over and over again, and to “rise strong.” Because we aren’t perfect… Read on

In March of 2015, The School of Making launched a partnership with Nest—a non-profit that joins together with artisans across the world to bring about positive social impact through sustainable development. Nest works specifically with artisans because they are often community-based businesses or organizations; they collaborate with those artisans to provide tools, training, infrastructure, and… Read on

Just over a year ago we launched our line of Alabama Chanin candles. Since then, they have become one of our most popular gift items. We worked diligently to find the right collaborator for this project and are lucky to have found DPM Fragrance, a regionally-owned business in Starkville, Mississippi. The company, once named Aspen… Read on

Over the past two years, The School of Making has evolved into a community of creators who experiment together with a diverse range of sewing, stitching, and embroidery techniques, design concepts, dyeing methods, and a widening array of practical skills. Through our Swatch of the Month and our Host a Party programs, we’ve watched our community of makers… Read on

As many of you know, artist and photographer Rinne Allen has been a friend and collaborator for years. In our recent profile of Rinne, we told a little of her personal story and highlighted her incredible light drawings. In addition to her work with chef Hugh Acheson, magazines like Selvedge, and her own site Beauty… Read on

If there is one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there is joy and power in making in a group setting. We’ve witnessed this in a multitude of workshops, Makeshift events, and also in our informal First and Third Mondays and Thursday night Sip + Sew events here at The Factory. Many of us have outside… Read on

Atlanta-based chef Anne Quatrano is perhaps the most visible figure in the area’s farm-to-table movement. She and her husband and fellow chef Clifford Harrison are longtime proponents of sustainability and make concerted efforts to use locally grown seasonal and organic products—much of which comes from their own family farm. They own and operate three established restaurants—Bacchanalia, Little Bacch, and Floataway… Read on

The design world is filled with innovators making products that can impact the human experience for good or for ill. The idea of designing and making with positive, spirited intention is growing far beyond its early influencers like Samuel Mockbee’s Rural Studio or the now defunct Architecture for Humanity—inspired by Mockbee’s project. Today, AIGA—one of… Read on

We are constantly inspired and impressed by our DIY community and what you make and share. We loved sharing your projects as a part of #MeMadeMay and wanted to highlight more of our recent #theschoolofmaking favorites from Instagram. With the weather (finally) cooling, now is the perfect time to settle in and sew something new…. Read on

Early on in the life of Alabama Chanin, Natalie had the opportunity to visit the Ventura, California offices of Patagonia. That visit, along with a copy of founder Yvon Chouinard’s manifesto, Let My People Go Surfing, opened all of our eyes to the fact that it is possible to create a healthy workplace, make products… Read on

Those of you who frequent the Journal have read and learned about our Makeshift initiative—which is a series of events, talks, workshops, and gatherings that seek to get makers of different minds and from various fields in the same room together for discussion. As design and craft professions evolve, sometimes walls develop between the makers;… Read on

Makeshift is a series of events, talks, workshops, and gatherings that invite a dynamic group of participants to explore the ways in which the fashion, art, and design worlds are inextricably linked to the world of craft and DIY, and how each of these worlds elevates the others. In its fourth year, Makeshift conversations create an intersection where we can… Read on

According to Wikipedia, supply chain is defined as “a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer.” At Alabama Chanin we strive to responsibly produce quality, sustainable products—at every level of the supply chain. We believe that responsibility means transparency and understanding where each material comes from… Read on

In April, I traveled to Chicago to lecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. While there, I spent some time at the Art Institute and found great inspiration from the works displayed in their galleries. (For someone who has been considering scale and texture quite a bit lately, Elena Manferdini’s exhibition gave… Read on

I’ve been toying with the idea of scale and pattern recently. This thought arose because of a presentation I gave in March on Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group. The talk was part of the monthly On Design Lecture Series that we host in our studio as staff development but is also open to our community… Read on

“I am a designer and I want to design things.”  – Ettore Sottsass When Alabama Chanin started our MAKESHIFT conversation nearly three years ago, inspiration came from several places and sources. The core idea was, and still is, that through the gathering of like-minded folks (writers, designers, thinkers, artisans, creators) we could elaborate on the… Read on

As part of our On Design and Makeshift conversation and event series, we have led discussions on various design movements and schools of thought (like Bauhaus, Arts and Crafts, and Memphis), the business of artisan craftwork, and designers like Charles and Ray Eames. This week’s discussion takes a turn toward a new design arena—Biophilic Design… Read on

“Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality, per se.” – Charles Eames Our first official On Design conversation and event centered on the Bauhaus—founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius. This movement’s core objective was a radical concept: to reimagine the material world to reflect… 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

On May 21,2009, Matthew B. Crawford published an article in The New York Times Magazine titled, “The Case for Working With Your Hands.” Later that month, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work arrived on my desk at work. Three paragraphs down in the New York Times piece, Crawford describes our situation:… Read on

At almost any workplace, you can hear employees talk about their co-workers with a closeness and familiarity; after years of working alongside one another, your officemates can (in some cases) begin to feel like family. In the past, that has actually been the case here at Alabama Chanin. Studio and dye house directress Diane Hall… Read on

Our On Design conversation in December focused on the practice of stenciling—including examples of designs throughout history and various techniques used over time. Stenciling is at the core of our Alabama Chanin collections; currently it is the sole means by which we transfer decorative patterns onto our fabrics. We have explored DIY stenciling in our… Read on

In October of 2014, and as an extension of our Makeshift initiative, we began a new series of events and conversations called On Design. This series explores art, design, makers, relationships, and how those who create can elevate craft in general. Natalie hosted our inaugural event, which was an exploration of the school of Bauhaus… Read on

When we first opened our Bldg. 14 division in July of 2013, we learned quickly that there was still SO MUCH to learn. So, with the concept of The School of Making firmly in place, we began at the beginning to work on a set of finishing examples for our Bldg. 14 machine-made division. Like… Read on

Black and Gold – in color symbolism they hint at the unknown, power, and formality alongside abundance, prosperity, and extravagance. Black and Gold – Madonna on a Crescent Moon by an anonymous painter in Germany, commonly referred to as the Master of 1456. Black and Gold – for some reason also makes me think of Madonna (the singer) in… Read on

During Makeshift 2012, we dedicated a portion of one event to “Worn Stories,” a concept defined and documented by Emily Spivack that explores the stories and emotional attachments surrounding our clothing. Jessamyn Hatcher introduced us to Emily and her work about the relationships we create with our garments and the rich memories we associate with… Read on

In 1982, Ari Weinzweig and his business partner Paul Saginaw opened Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Today, that institution has evolved into a collection of food specialty businesses (known as the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, or ZCoB) that includes a bakery, mail order operation, a coffee company, candy manufacturer, a barbeque restaurant, creamery, and… Read on

In March of this year, we unexpectedly received an email with the subject line, “Asante Sana (Thank You) from Kenya!” It was sent by a woman named Nirvana, who is part of a team working to empower rural Kenyans with life and entrepreneurial skills. It seems that their goal is to inspire people to challenge… Read on

Join us this Monday at The Factory for the second lecture in our conversation series: On Design. Last month, Natalie spoke on the Bauhaus and the creative process. This month the conversation continues with a lecture about Charles and Ray Eames, husband and wife designers, and mid-century design. We’ve been finding inspiration from the timeless… Read on

Without fail, the arrival of autumn marks the season of all things pumpkin. From pumpkin bread, to pumpkin scented candles, to my daughter Maggie’s annual visit to The Pumpkin Patch, the pumpkin is an essential part of the seasonal change. Just ask any coffee shop employee who hears the cry for Pumpkin Spice Latte dozens… Read on

Alabama Chanin as a concept and a company began as a DIY enterprise. I made the first garments by hand, to fit my own body. Our entire business model was created because I couldn’t find manufacturing for the sort of garment I wanted to make—and so, we created our own manufacturing system, one stitch at… Read on

A warm “thank you” to Debbie Elliott and everyone at National Public Radio for their story about our collaboration with Billy Reid on Alabama grown cotton. And, thank you to K.P. and Katy McNeill, Erin Dailey, and Lisa and Jimmy Lenz—they all know how to dream big (and work hard to get there). If you… Read on

Previously, I shared the story of my first encounter with Jill Dumain of Patagonia. Meeting Jill and hearing her speak not only opened my eyes to the good work that company was going; it opened my eyes to what is possible. Years of conversation finally resulted in a collaboration between Alabama Chanin and Patagonia, as… Read on

Quite a few years ago, I loaded up the car with scissors, needles, and an array of other sewing supplies and took a trip with a group of friends and fellow stitchers to a women’s prison facility (at their invitation, of course). My friend Kyes had organized this meeting in the hopes of developing a… Read on

Beginning  October 13th, 2014 and as part of our ongoing Makeshift conversation, Alabama Chanin will host a series of discussions and lectures about design, art, business, community, and plenty of other topics. Events will be held at the Factory on the second Monday of each month. The format will shift, depending on topic and presenter,… Read on

Over the last several years, The Factory has expanded in leaps and bounds and the Alabama Chanin team has grown to keep in-step. Working in a creative industry, it takes a while to find the perfect mix; some people must be true creatives, while other jobs require a tactical mind. It is special when you… 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

In December of 2012, songwriter and musician Beck released an “album” called Song Reader that challenged modern recording industry standards and the traditional definition of what an album should be. With Song Reader Beck took a unique approach by releasing 20 songs in sheet music format and asking artists to interpret and record them as… Read on

Passion. It takes passion to make a difference. When you truly want something, you find a way to make it happen, naysayers be damned. In the moments when it seems your project is doomed for failure, you carry on. You learn to ask for help and to count your blessings. Our organic Alabama cotton is… Read on

I met Julien Archer when he was only sixteen, in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. I was leading a workshop at the Visual Arts Center there. He was a creative and enterprising sophomore in high school who had already started a screen-printing business (and had designed shirts for the venue where we were holding the… Read on

Maria Popova is the founder of Brain Pickings, a website designed to introduce you to a broad variety of subjects that feed one’s mind and inspire creativity.  Since founding Brain Pickings, Maria has spent countless hours researching and writing – hours that have taught her many life lessons. In honor of the website’s 7th birthday… Read on

The process of starting our own dye house began with an exploration into the materials and methods that involve the chemistry of dyeing. That exploration began with indigo. In its natural form, indigo is a tropical, leafy shrub and a member of the legume family, and a version of the plant is native to our… Read on

About four years ago (to my dismay), Diane Hall, our head seamstress and studio directress, turned in her five-year notice. However, as her retirement grows closer, it has become evident to all of us at the studio that we will continue to see her around The Factory after her “official” retirement. Diane has developed a… Read on

Friend, inspiration, and collaborator Anna Maria Horner has been featured on our Journal several times. She is a multi-talented woman fluent in more than one creative medium, from her imaginative books and fabric design to fine art. Natalie and Anna Maria’s friendship has only continued to grow as they connect over everything from food and family,… Read on

The act of sharing a meal with others can be a uniting experience, with the potential to create memories and build relationships. Ashley English’s new book, Handmade Gatherings: Recipes and Crafts for Seasonal Celebrations & Potluck Parties, is a celebration of just that sense of community. We previously featured another of Ashley’s books, A Year… Read on

Two weeks ago, our team left New York feeling excited and energized—and with the conversation at The Standard the night before fresh on our minds. This was the third annual Makeshift, held in New York each spring during Design Week. Over the years the conversation has shifted—but our goal of learning how certain themes cross… Read on

MAKESHIFT began three years ago as a conversation about the intersection of the disciplines of design, craft, art, fashion, and DIY—and, on a bigger level, using this intersection as an agent of change in the world. Since then, we’ve explored making as individuals, and how making as a group can open conversations and build communities…. Read on

Olga Rei and Valentine Uhovski are stepsiblings and creators of Art Ruby, a daily art bulletin that presents art of all disciplines to readers around the world in an approachable, open format. Art Ruby is a hub for relevant news, exhibits, designers, and innovations in and around the art world. Olga and Valentine created the… Read on

“Don’t throw anything away. Away is not far from you.” The quote above hangs in our studio as a reminder that each action we take (no matter how big or small) impacts our environment. Designed by our friend Robert Rausch a few years ago, the simple quote was stamped on an event invite as a means… Read on

It’s been too long since I visited Blackberry Farm AND since Alabama Chanin has held a Weekend Away Workshop (the last Weekend Away was in Taos, New Mexico in 2012). My last trip to the farm was a few years ago for Taste of the South (an auction benefiting the Southern Foodways Alliance) and I… Read on

You may have read recently about dear friend, advisor, and co-worker, Jennifer Rausch. As I recounted then, I have known Jennifer and her husband, Robert, since returning to Alabama. After moving home from New York (and after years abroad), I felt a little shy and out of place in my own hometown. It was a… Read on

Our team experiments with all types of fabric manipulation here at Alabama Chanin. We have used ruffles to create texture in our textiles and jewelry; have featured crochet work in our collections and projects, and love how something so simple as a knot can add complexity and depth to a piece. In Alabama Stitch Book,… Read on

In early May, we will be traveling to Montgomery, Alabama, to participate in the second annual Southern Makers event. Southern Makers is a one-day affair that celebrates innovation and creativity of all types in Alabama. From panel discussions and artist talks, to cooking demonstrations and workshops, Southern Makers highlights some of the top talent working… Read on

If you have purchased an Alabama Chanin garment or DIY kit in the last year or so, there is a chance that the fabric in your hands was also touched by Carra-ellen Russell. Carra-ellen is our Production Manager and is present at the beginning of most of the things that we make; she starts each… Read on

Long-time friend and artist Jack Sanders is also an architect, filmmaker, and baseball enthusiast. He is the founder of Design Build Adventure, a full-service “design, build, and adventure company” that focuses on collaboration. I first met Jack when he was a student of Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee of the Rural Studio.  I sent him a box… Read on

Each morning, when the rising sun (or my daughter) wakes me and I open my eyes, I begin to go over my plan for the day. This is a treasured time. Some days, I can’t wait to get going and the day’s tasks are joyous and fruitful; other days, work just feels like…work. Last summer,… Read on

Alabama Chanin recently partnered with our friend Gina Locklear of Little River Sock Mill (and Zkano) to create a line of Made in the USA, organic cotton socks as part of our new collection. We’ve written before about the textile and manufacturing history of the Shoals, and our current strides towards revitalizing manufacturing within our… Read on

Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do… Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is… Read on

Shortly after my move from New York to Alabama, I was sitting alone at our local Italian restaurant, reading magazines. After a while, a couple who’d been sitting across the room approached and introduced themselves to me. That couple, Jennifer and Robert Rausch, quickly became fixtures in my life; they’ve remained integral members of my… Read on

Recently, Building 14, our new Design + Manufacturing Services division, produced the Grist in collaboration with our friends at Billy Reid. This raglan style men’s t-shirt is made with our 100% organic cotton and features an antique button snap pocket. Read more about our team, the manufacturing collaboration, and Building 14 on the Billy Reid… Read on

Those of you who have followed Alabama Chanin for years know that this company was built around the concepts of expert craftsmanship, beauty, function, and utility. Focusing on using sustainable, organic, and local materials and labor, we have committed ourselves to producing quality products made in the USA. As we grew, the company developed a… Read on

Lance and Evelyn Massengill In 2008, Maxine Payne, an Arkansas-based artist, self-published a book of photographs titled Making Pictures: Three For A Dime. She catalogued the work of the Massengill family who worked from 1937 to 1941 as itinerant photographers in rural Arkansas documenting farmers, young couples, babies, and anyone else who had a few… Read on

Sun Young Park, a freelance illustrator living in New York, is an integral part of the Alabama Chanin team. If you own Alabama Studio Sewing + Design or have ever browsed our Studio Style DIY Custom DIY Guide, then you’ve seen the beautiful sketches of our garments, illustrated by Sun. I met Sun several years ago… Read on

A former business partner of mine once wrote a press release that stated our company “came from nowhere.” When I read that “came from nowhere” years ago, my stomach began to turn and, honestly I was a little angry and my feelings were a bit hurt. That sentence seemed to imply that our work was… Read on

If you visit our studio here in Alabama, you will arrive to find that we are housed in a sturdy, industrial-style, metal building which we call “The Factory.” Our community was, for generations, home to textile mills that employed an incredible number of area residents. This industrial building where we work and spend hours of… Read on

Phillip March Jones is an artist, photographer, and author of the photo essay book, Points of Departure. He runs the non-profit gallery, venue, and publishing house, Institute193 in Lexington, Kentucky, and curates shows in the U.S. and Europe for various artists, including Lina Tharsing’s recent exhibit of new paintings at Poem 88 in Atlanta, Georgia…. Read on

I’ve known Heather Ross for almost five years now. We first met in New York, at a show celebrating our collection based on the work of famed Alabama photographer Charles Moore.  Heather arrived with my editor, Melanie, and I was bowled over by her beauty AND her spirit. When Alabama Studio Style launched back in… Read on

I recently came across this documentary about the disappearing North Carolina textile industry. I studied design and textiles at North Carolina State University (shown in the video), when the state was still known as the capital of textile production in the United States, and so this especially hit home. But what this documentary accomplishes is… Read on

Fellow designer and neighbor, William “Billy” Reid (“Nobody calls me William,” he says), and his business partners, Katy and K.P. McNeill, have been friends to Alabama Chanin for over a decade. We’ve watched each other grow our businesses and our community. We’ve worked together on countless projects and events over the years, including our favorite… Read on

Kristen Wentrcek is the founder, owner, designer, and creative director of Wintercheck Factory, a Brooklyn, New York, manufacturer producing American-made, design-focused goods for living. Wintercheck Factory began designing and manufacturing furniture in 2009 and soon after, expanded into soft goods, including apparel, accessories, and home goods with a balance of aesthetic and functionality. During MAKESHIFT… Read on

Alabama Chanin has long looked to Patagonia, and Yvon Chouinard, as the standard for sustainable design, manufacturing, and corporate culture. The recent film “Legacy Look Book” (shown above) is a beautiful reminder of why we love this company so very much. When Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” he wasn’t implying that… Read on

I love having fresh flowers around the office. I dream of flower beds surrounding the building and vases of camellia blooms on each desk. Shane Powers’ book, Bring the Outdoors In: Garden Projects for Decorating and Styling Your Home, has inspired me to perhaps be more ambitious in my plans for floral décor – both… Read on

In Closing: The Life and Death of an American Factory, Cathy N. Davidson writes: “When the last worker passed through the doors of White Furniture Company in May of 1993, hardly anyone beyond the city limits of Mebane, North Carolina, noticed. In national terms, it made little difference that 203 men and women were out… Read on

I’ve been thinking about painting my back porch and deck white since it was built last summer. After all, we spend about fifty percent of our time out there. I’ve long disliked the toxicity of commercial paints on the market. Most common indoor and outdoor household paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs contain a… Read on

Yesterday, I wrote about my appreciation of hand-painted signs, inspired by the book Sign Painters, authored by friend Faythe Levine with Sam Macon. Faythe and Sam have directed a documentary – also called Sign Painters, as a companion to the book. In 2008, Faythe co-authored and directed a book and film, both named Handmade Nation: The Rise… Read on

Growing up in small-town Florence, Alabama, a trip into downtown meant a visit to colorful shops, recognized by equally colorful signs. Ye Ole General Store had a block letter, serif-type sign across the entranceway and inside, we could find canteens and hats and overalls for backyard battles and explorations. Next, we’d walk to Court Street… Read on

We have written before about the rich manufacturing and textile history present in our community. The Shoals area and surrounding communities were working fabric and textile materials beginning in the late 1800’s. Those earlier years were often unkind to the mill workers and their families who worked long hours, lived in factory-owned apartments, and shopped… Read on

This year, with MAKESHIFT 2013, we expand ideas that were born from MAKESHIFT 2012 to create a global conversation among artists, designers, and makers. The first part of the MAKESHIFT 2013 SERIES took place at the Standard, East Village where panelists and conversation guides Cathy Bailey – Heath Ceramics, Rosanne Cash – Singer/Songwriter, Natalie Chanin… Read on

Earlier this year, we featured artist, friend, and collaborator, Anna Maria Horner. As that week came to a close, we were inspired by Anna Maria’s elaborate needlepoint projects and decided we would experiment with more involved embroidery techniques ourselves. For our first project, the  Embroidered Flowers T-shirt, we mixed traditional embroidery stitch work with retro… Read on

On the heels of MAKESHIFT 2013, we are inspired and invigorated by the conversations around design, fashion, food, craft, and DIY that took place last week during New York Design Week. We hope that you have followed our explorations throughout the events this year and have used our discussions to begin conversations of your own…. Read on

On Sunday, as part of MAKESHIFT 2013, we co-hosted a Chair Workshop, modeled after the MAKESHIFT 2012 workshop, Crafting Design, sponsored by Partners and Spade. This year we teamed up with Build It Green!NYC (BIG!NYC) and Krrb and invited an array of makers to join us for an afternoon of collaboration, innovation, and chair re-design…. Read on

“Craft” might seem like it’s for the amateurs, and “fashion” for the auteurs. Yet we live in an age where creativity and innovation are increasingly found in collaborations between makers and users, crafters and designers, designers and manufacturers, and in the loosening of the boundaries between them. – MAKESHIFT 2012 The MAKESHIFT conversation began last… Read on

Last night we kicked off our Makeshift 2013 conversations with an intimate dinner hosted by friends Lisa Fox and Rosanne Cash. It was wonderful to hear all of the conversations running through the night, from the study of 50 pages of Proust, to the intellectual property rights on patterns. Come back tomorrow for more New… Read on

There may be no more relevant time than now to talk about Slow Design, specifically Slow Fashion, as the body count in a collapsed garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh – a factory that churned out Fast Fashion for American consumers – surpasses 900. As we prepare to travel to New York for MAKESHIFT 2013 to discuss… Read on

As MAKESHIFT 2013 takes shape, we continue the conversation that began last year about the intersection of art, craft, making, producing, designing, and manufacturing.  One of last year’s most popular events, Crafting Design: Chair Workshop with Partners and Spade, found resonance with a league of artists, designers, crafters, and makers. And due its popularity, we are… Read on

I received this gorgeous package from friend and maker Kata Golda a few days ago. My daughter Maggie snatched the contents up and they have been in her school backpack every day since. Kata makes a menagerie of amazing little creatures with hand-dyed wool felt and hand stitching. They are simple, colorful constructions that embody Kata’s… Read on

My friend Kay and I started giving one another socks for each holiday several years ago. Although this may bring back memories of dreaded Christmas gifts from years past (not socks again!), I find the gift of socks a very practical thing. It’s just not one of those things that I go out and purchase… Read on

This week, we highlight the Finnish design company, Marimekko. As a long-standing leader in the fashion and design worlds, Marimekko has created timeless and colorful prints for over 60 years. I’ve followed the company from my days at NC State University and, as a designer, I have deep admiration and respect for Armi Ratia, the… Read on

We’ve been talking about friend and collaborator Anna Maria Horner all week, featuring a DIY A-line Tunic with her Little Flowers stencil, a Greek lunch in her honor, and a review of her new book, Anna Maria’s Needleworks Notebook, which we wrote about on Monday promising a giveaway later in the week. Details below on… Read on

I first saw Tilleke Schwarz’s work in an exhibition called Pricked: Extreme Embroidery at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. The needlework was displayed proudly as contemporary art by extraordinary female artists. Boundaries were pushed as textile art was made. Friend, Maira Kalman, also had work on view. Tilleke’s work resonated with… Read on

As a small business with an artisan-based production system, we are aware that Alabama Chanin is unique in the way that we create our products. We would not exist without the skill and hard work of our artisans. Our cottage industry-style method of production is a subject of interest at many trunk shows, workshops, and… Read on

I’ve written a couple of times about what happens when your heroes and heroines become friends. For me, it brings about a feeling of connection to the ever-expanding universe; all things are possible.  A girl from the countryside in Alabama can dine with royalty (in all its meanings).  The picture above is proof. When I look… Read on

The colors of a season include shades, tones, and hues that are sometimes steeped in meaning: Red: The color includes shades that run from deep blood red or plum and burgundy to apple, fire engine, and carmine.  The meanings sometimes associated with this color can be as diverse as the shades, themselves. Red is said… Read on

It’s the time of the year when the shape of a heart makes its prolific comeback (although with a six-year-old girl at home, the heart shape is a pretty common part of daily life). Graphic symbols often carry with them deep histories (and controversies) over where the shape emerged.  This simple shape is no different…. Read on

These days, you don’t think twice about hearing a woman’s voice on the radio. There are surely female deejays or journalists on your local station. NPR broadcasts the voices and stories of women like The Kitchen Sisters or Terry Gross among others. Alabama Chanin favorite, Elizabeth Cook has her own show, “Apron Strings,” on Sirius… Read on

This post – part of our new “Real Women” series – is dedicated to two of the most “real” women I know: Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva of The Kitchen Sisters.  Without their dedication to telling the “real” story, I would not be the designer, or the person, I am today. Lost and Found Sound… Read on

“Craft” might seem like it’s for the amateurs, and “fashion” for the auteurs. Yet we live in an age where creativity and innovation are increasingly found in collaborations between makers and users, crafters and designers, designers and manufacturers, and in the loosening of the boundaries between them. Open sourcing and the emergence of DIY everything… Read on

SHIFTING THOUGHTS ON DESIGN, FASHION, COMMUNITY, CRAFT & DIY Over the four days of New York Design Week (May 19-22, 2012), Alabama Chanin–in collaboration with its fashion and design partners–is organizing a series of talks, workshops, and gatherings with leaders in the fashion, design, and craft/DIY communities. The events bring together a dynamic combination of… Read on

You know how we at Alabama Chanin feel about open sourcing. We offer our techniques and the information necessary to recreate our products, should you decide that you want to do-it-yourself. After three books, countless DIY Kits, and an amazing array of workshops, we have learned some important things: people will take your ideas and… Read on

Amethyst, aubergine and lavender; lilac, mauve or mulberry; orchid, perse, plum, and violet. All of these beautiful words for one color, and yet, purple has never been one of my favorite shades. While I haven’t had any adverse experiences with the color purple (it is, after all, one of my favorite books— ever), it is… Read on

I’ve heard Lubbock called the cotton capital of the United States, if not the world, by a handful of people in the industry. Flying into Lubbock, I saw farmland that continued as far as the eye could see.  Once I landed, those fields became stretches of white that reached out to the horizon. Today, thanks… Read on

My first sewing project was a “picture” of a flower that I made when I was about seven. I chose green and purple ribbon for the stem and petals, respectively, and a white button for the bloom’s center, which I attached to a square of quilted light blue Swiss dot fabric – aka the sky… Read on

We can’t thank everyone enough for coming out to the field on Saturday to help pick (and celebrate) our organic cotton. The skies were blue; the fields were alive with eager hands; we were standing in high cotton.

This week our Alabama Chanin fitted dress was included (ON SALE!) for the Chris Brown curated Made Collection titled “EXPLORE  AMERICA.” If you aren’t yet familiar with the Made collection, it is worth the time to create an account and browse their site.  The company, started by Dave Schiff, Scott Prindle, and John Kieselhorst is a self-titled… Read on

More and more volunteers continue to visit the field. Bolls are opening by the day. In addition to weeding, we’ve begun harvesting the cotton. In the studio, we are preparing for the quickly approaching Picking Party (and field work day). Look for details soon. I took a trip out last weekend with my daughter Maggie, my friends… Read on

As the days grow shorter and the nights become chillier, I find myself craving an evening around the fire. In my family, I am a renowned fire builder. My patience for building fires was nurtured as a child as we built fires at our family camping spot to roast hot dogs and grill hamburgers; at… Read on

This summer Kristine Vejar, founder of A Verb for Keeping Warm (one of the first stores to sell our fabrics and supplies in a retail setting), began a project that encourages each of us to make 25% of our wardrobe. Simply stated, this means 1 out of every 4 garments in your closet should be handmade-… Read on

I live in a small house. By big city standards (and the Small House Movement), my 1800 square feet might be considered huge. But, by the standards of my community our home is relatively small. Regardless of the size, my home is perfect for me and my daughter, Maggie, the occasional evening babysitting for my new… Read on

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

—–Original Message—– Sent: Friday, August 31, 2012 8:58 AM Subject: Re: cotton field photos I was thinking of you this morning and took a few pictures at the cotton field so you can feel like you are here this morning.  My photos are nothing to these that you have sent, but perhaps you will like… Read on

For those of you who have read about (or visited) our cotton field, we’d like to share with you its beginnings and its progress over the last months. These small bolls are more than just crops in a field; rather, they hold a fiber that has shaped the history of our community and, as we… 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

If you’ve been following our blog, you’ve read about the rollercoaster that has been our first exposure to cotton farming. Having survived the terrible drought, the cotton has been carried through the summer by equal parts rainfall and sunshine. Right now, the bolls are looking healthy, but so are the weeds. Following the organic guidelines, we did… Read on

Wednesday morning, Alabama Chanin closed its doors for half the day and made a trip out to the cotton field to visit (and weed with) Lisa and her husband, “friend” Jimmy (as he jokingly refers to himself). Jimmy and Lisa have been the determined and loving caretakers of our cotton these last months. Living near… Read on

With another Studio Weekend under our belt, we are happy to begin the work week with new friends, ideas, and projects.

Sustainable. Natural. Organic. These are all words that are integral to the Alabama Chanin identity. Our core values compel us to take a holistic approach to our design methods, looking at every aspect, quality, material or person that may play a part in our production process. This way of thinking led us toward using natural… Read on

In response to Tuesday’s post on our collaboration with Anna Maria Horner, the designer herself replied with an overly generous, almost embarrassing, thank you. In return, I am moved with gratitude. xoNatalie  

It is so easy to sing the praises of Anna Maria Horner. Our frequent readers know that she has appeared on our blog before and is a friend and inspiration to Alabama Chanin. I adore her personality, a perfect mixture of sweet, sincere charm and biting wit. Her joy for life is irresistible and her… Read on

We will host our first One-Day Retreat of the fall season in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley on Sunday, September 16th. Our day will be spent in a restored nineteenth century factory and will feature local food from Barbara Goldstein of Blima’s. We were able to talk to friend Melissa Auf der Maur from Basilica… Read on

If you’ve called or stopped by the studio lately, perhaps you’ve met one of our newest team members, Erin Stephenson. Erin has her hand in many pots here these days, doing everything from writing, to graphic design, to closely monitoring our organic cotton crops. Her ability to seamlessly handle multiple projects makes her an excellent… Read on

It has been a wonderful two weeks at Penland: learning, exploring, resting, dreaming. I dread leaving this magical place and at the same time I look forward to going home and using the tools I learned here to become a better designer. As I pack the car, we leave you with a few shots of… Read on

As the first week at Penland progressed to week two, the piles of books on our studio meeting table (and the individual studio tables) have grown substantially. We have spoken of so many things and explored SO many ideas.  Here are a few of the volumes that have made their way into our conversations:

Just when I think that it can’t get any better, it does. A weekend in the mountains was what I needed and it’s the first time in ages that I meet Monday morning feeling rested, relaxed (beyond measure), and balanced. The highlight of my weekend was certainly a swim in the North Toe River: icy cold waters,… Read on

After two hours of restorative yoga, a walk around the studio reveals beautiful progress.

It’s been raining every day here at Penland—such a change from the dry, dying fields of North Alabama over the last weeks. Like a miracle, it rained on our cotton field, too (more to come on that next week). My father reports that we did get 3 inches of rain at my house and I… Read on

I was about 22 years old when I entered my first design studio. I felt like a baby. I had rarely taken an art class in school.  When I say rarely, I mean there had been a few special days of art in grade school – nothing particularly formal, and certainly nothing recent. At that… Read on

Even when I land in one of the most beautiful (peaceful) places on Earth, it takes me time to settle in, to relax, and to feel like I belong. Regardless, there is already a sort of “hum” in the studio, as my friend Cathy Bailey might say.  You can “hear” thoughts coming together, the whisper… Read on

I flew out of hot and dry North Alabama on Saturday afternoon and woke up in room #2 surrounded by the cool mountain airs of Penland, North Carolina.

I was driving through the desert of New Mexico en route to Taos talking about our cotton. I can’t remember a summer as scorchingly hot as this one–and there were some hot ones in the late 60s and early 70s. In the last weeks, temperatures have consistently been over 100. If we have a few… Read on

We recently shared companies that are making quality products in the United States. To continue this ‘Made in America’ post from last week, we feature another round of companies who practice the same excellence and pride. Some of these products have been staples in my daily wear for ages; they’ve held up to the test… Read on

Earlier this week, I wrote that, as a designer, I feel a deep connection to Donna Karan. Today, for DIY Thursday, we feature a Donna Karan dress constructed in The School of Making style. It works up beautifully using our 100% Organic and Extra-Long Staple Medium-Weight Cotton Jersey in a single layer and with our… Read on

From the Creativebug Website: “Reverse applique is the signature look of Natalie’s designs at Alabama Chanin. Natalie demystifies the process in this workshop, showing you how to add depth and texture to a cotton table runner. The technique is worked on two layers of fabric, with the top layer stenciled and then stitched to the… Read on

When I was a design school student at the end of the 1980s, there was one name that you found in all of the magazines and on everyone’s lips: Donna Karan. She was changing the way women dressed. She wanted to “to design modern clothes for modern people.” Karan became a presence in the fashion… Read on

Another MAKESHIFT thought- “No one can make NYC’ers sing and sew like Alabama Chanin.” –Nicole Mackinlay-Hahn Thank you again to Ellie Levine at STC Craft for compiling a beautiful summary of Makeshift 2012 events. [<a href=”http://storify.com/STC_Craft/makeshift” target=”_blank”>View the story “MAKESHIFT: Shifting Thoughts on Fashion, Craft, and DIY” on Storify</a>]

Today we share our final MAKESHIFT post (for this year) of observations and thoughts from participants. Many have already written, photographed, or posted about their experiences during the week. Compiled below are reflections and lingering thoughts to help continue our MAKESHIFT conversation into next year. Keep in mind (and close to heart) what is valuable… Read on

We finished our week of MAKESHIFT with Crafting Design, a chair workshop hosted at Partners & Spade in New York City. From the New York Times piece “Pull Up a Chair, Then Fix It” by Andrew Wagner: “Last Saturday, as part of a conference called MakeShift, Natalie Chanin, the founder of the fashion label Alabama… Read on

After taking time to reflect on our recent week in New York for MAKESHIFT, I’m already thinking about MAKESHIFT 2013. Here are some highlights from the conversation at The Standard Talks. We reported the MAKESHIFT events here on the blog throughout the week, and had great press coverage from the New York Times, Style.com, Page… Read on

Last Friday, before we left for New York for an inspiring week of MAKESHIFT, we received wonderful news: the cotton seed had been planted. The week before, Jimmy, K.P., and I met early in the morning at the site of the cotton field, prepared to spend the day planting. However, the soil needed to be… Read on

It’s a mouthful. But then, as people (and especially Southerners) do have an undying love for the complexity of words, stories, and the beauty of textiles. Last Tuesday night at The Standard, East Village, we were riveted by Jessamyn Hatcher’s stories of processing unwanted clothing in a clinic format. Today in New York City, you… Read on

Our sewing circle at The Standard, East Village was a rich mixture of folk from a range of professions and diverse lives. Cathy Davidson, one of our first time sewers, has written the most beautiful essay about her time with us and created a fantastic example of Reverse Appliqué as metaphor: Reverse Appliqué @alabamachanin or… Read on

Thank you to everyone who came out to The Standard, East Village Penthouse to sew for MAKESHIFT. Here are some images from the day. More of the conversation to come!

Crafting Fashion, a pop-up shop curated by Alabama Chanin and Billy Reid, featured designers- Alabama Chanin, Susan Cianciolo, HEATH Ceramics, George Esquivel, Hugo & Marie, Imogene + Willie, Pamela Love, Leigh Magar, Maria Moyer, Billy Reid, Albertus Quartus Swanepoel, Tucker, and Kenlynn Wilson. Thanks to everyone for the great turn out. And a bigger thank you… Read on

Among the most meaningful things I’ve ever found in a thrift store was a pair of dresses I unearthed at the Goodwill in Durham, North Carolina. One was a white summer dress with a fitted bodice and a full skirt dotted with embroidered flowers.  The other was a pink sequined number straight out of an… Read on

To begin the evening at MAKESHIFT @ the Standard Talks, Rosanne Cash opened with a performance of “Fair and Tender Ladies,” a traditional Appalachian folk song that has been recorded by many singers. The song had been performed by her step-mother, June Carter Cash. Rosanne began by sharing her thoughts on crafting and writing music. In turn, she asked the audience… Read on

We had the best intentions of posting lots of pictures and stories from our Makeshift event yesterday and the day just got away from us. There IS so much more to come and to write about, but for the meantime, here some great pictures of the making process at The Standard East Village on Tuesday… Read on

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and came out last night for MAKESHIFT at the Standard Talks. On behalf of myself and all of the panelists, we appreciate everyone’s enthusiastic response to MAKING. It was a beautiful evening. As a group, we crafted a song and sang together, finger-knitted, and shared our ‘worn stories.’ Throughout… Read on

Our conversation for MAKESHIFT is about finding the point where the professional worlds of craft, fashion, design, and DIY intersect. It is our belief that the simple act of MAKING will be found at that point of intersection. However, it is also our understanding that this convergence has yet to be defined, because there are… Read on

Cathy Bailey of HEATH Ceramics has frequented this blog for a number of years as a friend and a colleague. After loving her work (and her) from afar, we were fortunate to collaborate with HEATH Ceramics to produce a line of table and dinner wares that were launched last fall. Cathy (her husband, Robin), and I share… Read on

A few weeks ago, we took to the streets of Florence to spread wildflower seeds guerrilla-style. We tossed our homemade seed “bombs”, seed encapsulated clay balls, into alleys and onto vacant areas – hoping to add more color and beauty to our community. With the amount of rain that we have been receiving lately, every… Read on

When Andrew Wagner was asked to moderate the MAKESHIFT panel conversation as part of New York Design Week 2012, he jokingly insisted that he be considered MC rather than moderator. That’s exactly the type of robust, experienced personality I look forward to sharing the stage with next week at the Standard Talks, as we discuss the intersection… Read on

We left off two weeks ago in search of a two-row planter that will help get our cottonseed in the ground. Fortunately, we were able to find one locally. The planter’s shovels have been adjusted. The soil has been finely chopped. There have been conference calls between the field, the Factory office, and Kelly’s office in… Read on

John Bielenberg and his work with PieLab aren’t new to Alabama Chanin, or our blog. We were curious what John has been up to, so we caught up with him between his travels to learn more about Project M, PieLab, and recent goings on in Greensboro, Alabama. We also got our hands on a delicious… Read on

For the past few weeks, my mind has been on the subject of ‘craft’ even more than usual as I continue to work on MAKESHIFT: shifting thoughts on design, fashion, community, craft & DIY- a series of events, discussions, and workshops held during ICFF New York Design Week. How appropriate it is to have received… Read on

Last month, we introduced Jessamyn, a new contributor to this blog. Sharing the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fires cast a sad light on the history of labor laws in the U.S; however, she showed us how to find better joys in fashion, ecology, and ethics. She has since written about the meaning of D.I.Y…. Read on

Spending the past couple of days in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve seen firsthand the “making” spirit that defines the unique culture and character of life here. Alabama Chanin feels very connected to–and inspired by the creativity, craftsmanship, quality, and local manufacturing in this community. Watch Monocle’s video which highlights some of the craftsmen… Read on

Yesterday, a well awaited package was delivered to the Factory: organic, or “black” cottonseed, as I’ve learned it is called. In our effort to grow organic cotton, we’ve taken a step-by-step approach. We started with the seed, and now we move on to the land. We are learning as we go, and taking every experience… Read on

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Visiting Artist Series with Faythe Levine. It proved to be a fantastic evening of crafting, conversation, and Old-Fashioneds. In addition to the interactive crafting that ensued, Faythe held a seminar where she lectured on ‘Craftivism’, her work and travels (examples include urban camping in Detroit and a… Read on

What does D.I.Y. mean to you? I posed this question to Cathy Davidson, one of the world’s most important thinkers on education and the workplace in the 21st century. Her new book, Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn, is a must-read for… Read on

Thanks to Ari Weinzweig at Zingerman’s, I have been working on a “Vision of Greatness” for Alabama Chanin over the last few months (well, closer to a year to be more exact).  However, over the last few weeks, I feel that I made real progress and worked out a growth chart and mission statement that… Read on

Excerpt from *blue highways* – William Least Heat Moon – (Lovingly translated to typewriter by my friend Jeff) “I drove onto the Natchez Trace Parkway, a two lane running from Natchez to near Nashville, which follows a five hundred mile trail first opened by buffalo and Indians. Chickasaws called it the Peace Path. In 1810 th… Read on

As we started to learn about organic cottonseed, we discovered that there are significant challenges associated with seed supply. Our conversation began with industry leaders, as we had our fair share of questions. This week we continue our discussion on the process of growing organic cotton in an interview with Lynda Grose. Lynda has been… Read on

Living in a community that has an abundance of farmland and agriculture, one might not think that ‘guerrilla gardening’ is exactly required. However, like any community, The Shoals is dotted with the occasional abandoned lot and neglected space in our downtown area. And we are of the opinion that most any space can benefit from… Read on

For a small company in a small town, we’ve received quite a bit of media attention. This is particularly amazing when you consider our nonexistent advertising budget. With the exception of a couple of classified listings in our local paper, I can’t recall having ever purchased an ad. Even though we have been fortunate in… Read on

Our exploration into organic cotton growing continues. As we brainstorm, discuss, research, and learn all there is to know about growing our own organic cotton, we decided that the best place to begin is with a study of the seeds themselves. So this week Erin–who is new to our studio – dug in deep to… Read on

As Alabama Chanin has grown and evolved, we have built a business model that I strongly believe in. Many of you have been with us from the beginning, and many of you have found us along the way. On a daily basis, we receive a bounty of emails, phone calls, and letters. Here we have… Read on

When I returned to Alabama over a decade ago to start the project that has become Alabama Chanin, I had NO IDEA that this simple project would surround me with stories of cotton, mill work, and, quite honestly, the history of the small community where I grew up. This blog is proof to the fact… Read on

At the Factory, we play music to help set an inspiring tone for our work environment, and sometimes to just get us through the day. At any given time, you will hear a range of genres including folk, classical, rock, country, and independent artists. We don’t usually pick favorites, but The Civil Wars’ sounds are… Read on

Over the last weeks (and months), we have been introducing our new patterns, stencils, fabric designs, plus patterns from our newest book, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Hands-down, our Paisley has been a favorite new design and I was excited to see that EcoSalon even did a feature on this iconic pattern last week. As… Read on

I feel so honored and happy to introduce Jessamyn Hatcher as a new contributor to this blog (soon we will add a face to the name). Jessamyn has been a source of inspiration for me as I continue to learn how to frame the work that is so easy for me to DO, but so… Read on

Organic cotton is the heart of Alabama Chanin. It binds all aspects of the company: sustainability, fashion, DIY, and craft. All of our garments- couture or DIY- are made with these naturally grown fibers. We have examined the influence cotton has had on our community. We have thought about its global impact. We have voiced our… Read on

Fabric designs are the basis of all our collections at Alabama Chanin. Each design starts as a simple 10” x 16” rectangle of our organic cotton jersey that is embellished using a variety of techniques and manipulations that may include stenciling, embroidery, beading, and/or appliqué. My decision to use a 10” x 16” rectangle was based… 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

While working on some press and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages this last month, I came across some texts that date back across the decade of Alabama Chanin. In reading and going over some of these texts, I thought it would be a good series to share on our Sustainable Design Tuesdays. Here is one… Read on

Sometimes, the hectic nature of running Alabama Chanin makes me feel that we are all running at a frantic pace. I’ll be answering a ringing phone, hurriedly returning emails, picking up Maggie from school – then, I’ll glance up and notice that our Production Department is completely calm. They are moving fluidly along, peacefully and happily making, sewing, cutting,… 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

A big THANK YOU to Vogue for including our hand-sewn Indigo Star Quilt in this month’s issue.

From what I’ve gathered, Taos is a Magical Place. Natalie made a trip there not so long ago and came home breathless with tales of beauty and enlightenment. She was especially enthralled with the story of Mabel Dodge Luhan and the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. Her experience inspired a new series of workshops called Weekend… Read on

We all encounter bumps in the road, but with encouragement and tenacity, we persevere. Back in 2001, I faced one in my life. I returned to New York to continue developing my life’s work into what is now Alabama Chanin. At the time, I was living in the Chelsea Hotel on West 23rd Street while… Read on

On the 18th of November last year, Natalie held a Facebook Chat about Design Process + Manufacturing as part of her EcoSalon Post titled: From Field to Fashion. Here is a synopsis of the conversation that unfolded.  Keep the conversation going in the comments section of this post and come back each week to read… Read on

Check out our post today @ EcoSalon: Sewing for Humankind There was a time – not so long ago on humanity’s calendar – that sewing was not considered “women’s work,” but rather a tool for survival. Hunter/gatherers looking for food on a cold winter’s day, some miles from their camp, might have a shoe wear… Read on

When I began work at Alabama Chanin almost 10 years ago, I had no concept of what the company did or what it would eventually mean to me. I walked into my interview in my only suit, having answered an advertisement in the paper. As soon as I found out what the company did, I… Read on

In follow-up to our EcoSalon post last Friday on Punks + Pirates, Alabama Chanin (AC) held a Facebook chat with Richard McCarthy (RM) of Market Umbrella to explore his interesting perspective on cultural assets, punks, pirates and the Spanish Armada.  I was first made aware of Richard’s work at the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium last… Read on

They make fashion; they curate a magazine called “Zina Cava;” Maggie Gyllenhaal models for them; they are, in my opinion, the coolest duo to come along in the fashion industry in years. They host dinner parties instead of fashion shows and give away posters like the one below celebrating their 8 years in business. It’s the kind… Read on

Finding ways to use fabric scraps could easily be a full time job at Alabama Chanin. Hopefully, our company will one day be large enough to facilitate an entire scrap development team; however, right now we are moonlighters and dabblers in the art of manipulating scraps of our organic cotton jersey into a variety of… Read on

Most of you who follow this blog (or our 21 years retrospective) know that when I returned to Alabama in 2000, I didn’t have a grand plan to build the company that is now Alabama Chanin. Any plans I may have had seemed to fall away into something far larger than I ever anticipated. It… Read on

In follow-up to our blog post on Sustainism this morning, Alabama Chanin (AC) held a Facebook chat today with Michiel Schwarz (MS) to explore his manifesto – created with Joost Elffers titled Sustainism Is the New Modernism: A Cultural Manifesto for the Sustainist Era. The text below recaps the questions and answers that surfaced during… Read on

I had the opportunity to meet Michiel Schwarz last September when I spoke at the Hello Etsy conference in Berlin.   His purpose at the conference was to present his concept and book: Sustainism: A Cultural Manifesto for the Sustainist Era. The New York Times did a fantastic review of the book – calling out its… Read on

I have been revisiting our Wabi Sabi posts as I move into the holiday season and start to get my house ready for a slew of visitors. I am so excited to be cooking up a storm from all of our new holiday cookbooks, playing games, and laughing – but, first, my house needs a… Read on

If you have been able to read this blog without finding a comma splice and with only an occasional misspelled word, this is because of Sara Martin. Sara came to work with our company when she was a baby – not that she really was, it just felt that way back in 2003 when she… Read on

Thanks to everyone who reached out about and/or shared my post on organic cotton last Friday on @EcoSalon. For the sake of making a plea for organic cotton, here it is again… spread the word. xoNatalie Pound for Pound: I am pissed. It doesn’t happen often, but, it does happen. I grew up in cotton… Read on

I arrived in Alabama from New York on December 23rd, 2000, to start the project that has become Alabama Chanin. When I was writing the proposal for the project, I called my aunt Elaine to ask if she might help me find a house to rent near her, in the community where my grandparents had… Read on

My latest post for EcoSalon is about how good things – like good design – take time. Take time to have a read: Give The Story Time To Unfold And then let us know what you think… xoNatalie GIVE THE STORY TIME TO UNFOLD I found a letter that I wrote some years ago.  It… Read on

Preppy, the latest collaboration between Jeffrey Banks and Doria La Chapelle, arrived in our studio this week.  The lovely volume documents the evolution of this iconic style with images from the early 1900′s to my favorite Slim Aarons to the current Hilfiger campaign (shown above). The book is not a manual, but rather a brief… Read on

When introducing guests to our office staff, I always have to stop and take a breath at Diane Hall.  Over the years, she has just become so much to me and to all of our staff.  Like Steven, she has held just about every imaginable job and done or touched just about every task we… Read on

Packing my bags this morning in Berlin to head home – and later in the week on to our events in Marfa and Austin! Hello Etsy was amazing, inspiring, reassuring and _____ – fill in the blank. I had every intention to live blog my time here but have found that I need time to… Read on

When I think of the philosophy of wabi-sabi, Burning Man and a Mustang Convertible are not the first things that pop into my mind. However, it is this sort of dichotomy that seems to define Robyn Griggs Lawrence… environmentalist, mother, writer, maker, visionary, mover, and shaker.  Robyn has been kind enough to share a bit… Read on

So, how is it that I made it for half-a-century without owning my own tire gauge? Until last year, there was a full-service gas station that would graciously check my tires after a fill-up. Now, it is sadly closed. My Prius has a little sensor that tells me when my tires are not just right…. Read on

“a rectangle of cloth to wrap the baby, make the bed, grace the meal and honour the guest, to mop up a spill, encircle a waist, screen the window and admit the breeze, to proclaim a cause, to tend the corpse…” Gewn Egg, Second Skin, page 6.

The whimsical fabric creations of Stitch Magic are simply breath-taking. Alison takes inspiration from Colette Wolff’s sewing fetish book The Art of Manipulating Fabric, giving a contemporary spin to twenty beautiful projects, ranging from home decor to fashion accessories. Machine sewn projects include fabric necklaces with dainty button closures and hand embellished egg cozies that… Read on

This is my first installment of a new bi-weekly fashion column for EcoSalon. Material Witness will offers my perspective on the fashion industry, textile history and what happens when love for community trumps all. From EcoSalon – August 12, 2011 ONE WOMAN’S TESTAMENT TO THREAD AND NEEDLE As a designer and entrepreneur in the fashion… Read on

My son Zach’s lacrosse shirt from high school was re-fashioned following the pattern and instructions from Alabama Stitch Book. I am not sure if that stain is blood or juice and I prefer not to know. Choose your team and get started. This shirt was constructed many years ago using a beaded stitch of my… Read on

It is hard for me to believe that I am almost finished with my third book, now titled Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Had someone asked a decade ago where I saw myself in ten years, it certainly would not be lying in bed, reviewing and making notes on a “pass” (publishing lingo for a… Read on

I just arrived back from a whirlwind trip to  Penland School of Crafts. It is a remarkable, inspiring, and beautiful place. I found that here was something for each moment of the day and the time went by much too quickly.  Maggie insists that we are going back next year.  Indeed, we will. In our… Read on

DIY 20″ x 20 ” napkins with organic medium-weight cotton jersey and Crayola Fabric Markers.

“Despite the prevalence of green in nature, no single plant produces a color-fast, deep green dye. Until the invention of synthetic dyes in the 19th century, people around the world typically combined indigo blue with various yellow dyes to create green textiles.” From Green:  the Color and the Cause (Be sure to browse the entire… Read on

Paper Cutting:  Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft From the introduction by our friend Rob Ryan: “Were you that kind of child that ate your way all around the edge of the hole in the middle of a cookie bit by bit with tiny teeth in little nibbles…  I was always busy jumping over and around the… Read on

I own a lot of books on pattern design but British Textiles – published by V&A – is one of the loveliest I have seen for a long time. (It was at the bottom of the pile yesterday but is on top today.) The book highlights woven and printed fabric (embroidery is planned for an… Read on

It seems that I have been lost for the last months as I finish up – our new book – Alabama Studio Design (working title). Between writing (and re-writing) texts, working on the design, and taking some of the pictures, there seems to have been little time for anything other than family, garden and my… Read on

In the autumn of last year, I was contacted by a New York University professor from the Liberal Studies department named Jessamyn Hatcher.  She had gotten my email address from our mutual friend Sally Singer and wanted to know if we would be willing to discuss a field trip that she was planning with her… Read on

Thank you to everyone who came to our studio in Florence last weekend to participate in the Weekend Workshop.  What a great group… the stories, fellowship, sewing, and laughter were perfect. A special thanks to Amy for sharing the sewing of her beautiful wedding dress.  What a special way to start a lifetime of beauty… Read on

Subtraction Cutting School (published by the Center for Pattern Design) first came to my attention one afternoon in New York City when I had the chance to sit and talk with Timo Rissanen.  That afternoon, Timo had just moved to New York and began his post as Assistant Professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability at… Read on

One of the most amazing books on typography that I have come across in a long, long time… In Fraktur Mon Amour, Judith Schalansky has made a love letter to the (sometimes outcast) Blackletter or Gothic script. Judith’s collection of fonts is stunning – CD included. All 150 fonts included in Fraktur Mon Amour are accompanied by elaborate and beautiful… Read on

Thank you to Sara for showing me the work of Lauren DiCioccio and a new way to look at the everyday. Artist Statement: My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the… Read on

What to say about Anna Maria Horner? I love her. Not just because of her lovely fabrics. Not because of her books. Not because of her calming aesthetic. I just really love her. We have bonded (in short, stolen moments) over everything from food, family, work, studio, children (she has six to my two) and… Read on

It was very exciting yesterday to see our pieces at the press preview for the first ever Cooper Hewitt Global Triennial. On the second floor, and tucked into the Teak Room, Alabama Chanin pieces are hanging next to such noteworthy projects as The Girl Effect (shown above), The Story of Stuff, and Painted – the… Read on

Thank you to everyone who braved the weather and joined us for our Open House, Sample Sale and Earth Day Celebration over the weekend. (And to Butch and Robert Rausch for playing along…) It was lovely to open our studio and the event was so successful that we decided to go ahead and plan for next… Read on

Preparing for my journey to New York and looking forward to the adventure. Plan your adventure and journey to Brooklyn to join us for events@ Spacecraft and Etsy. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the… Read on

I love this story from Penelope Green: “A Veritable Vision in Five-Inch Heels“, New York Times, February 3, 2010: NEAR dusk on a recent winter Sunday, in a glossy and compact one-bedroom in Hell’s Kitchen, Michael Lisbona was drying the toe box of a Louis-style mule with a blow dryer. The upper part of the… Read on

True to my post on Monday (below), I am taking off early this week for a little family road trip… Have a great weekend. Happy trails – until Monday again.

Thanks go out to everyone @ Southern Living for the lovely piece in their February issue. We have gotten lots of emails and calls about the article. There have also been several requests for the play dough recipe that Maggie and I were making that afternoon when Southern Living visited… One of the simplest things to make… Read on

Something to think about on Monday morning – from the new issue of GOOD Magazine entitled “Slow:” The GOOD (and ReadyMade) Guide to Slowing Down Take your time: The GOOD (and ReadyMade) Guide to Slowing Down originally appeared in GOOD Issue 18: The Slow Issue. Use the table of contents below to navigate through the guide. … Read on

This is fantastic… via Style.com I am jealous and want my own film… stay tuned for ladies rocking & sewing.

Thanks to Sara for sending this along… Don’t miss #1- #4: THANK YOU to Ira Glass (yet again) for This American Life.

We have been getting many emails and questions about a post that appeared this week on Ecouterre.com entitled “Does the Art of Craft and Handmade Matter in Fashion?” My answers seemed to spur yet more questions… and a few angry emails. After mulling over these questions, I have to think about Gina and Linton Hopkins… Read on

Forgive me for taking a vacation just after the holidays; BUT, I am headed out today for my first vacation – on my own – in 10 years (snow permitting)… very excited & for good reason: Taste of the South @ Blackberry Farms Alabama Chanin donated one of our Textile Stories Quilts to the auction… Read on

And back to the thought of using what you have… Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing if we only brought products (things) into our homes that we wanted to keep for the rest of our lives?  And when those products and things become old, we simply recycle them into our own lives. So it is… Read on

Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so that each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry. – Richard P. Feynman My life tends to run in patterns.  Sometimes I dream of patterns. My favorite subject in design school was the study of pattern & repeat. One… Read on

In the next decade, I will sit at my table more often and think. In the next decade, I will sit at my table more often. In the next decade, I will sit… SIT : obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Sit, for sitteth. To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the… Read on

For me, this past decade was about learning to use the resources that I had readily available. My goal for the next decade will be about digging deeper to fully understand all of the resources that I have and then to use those resources wisely and wildly. It is my wish that we will use… Read on

Partners & Spade, Manhattan “Setting the Table,” from Maria @ Bureau of Friends: Have you ever noticed that most of the real action at conferences takes place in the lounges and walkways outside of the Main Halls and presentation rooms? There is absolutely a place and time for sit-and-listen audiences and there’s nothing like a… Read on

We use rubber stamps for so many things… the very first label I designed was a rubber stamp. We use them for letterhead, envelopes, presentation covers, business cards. This is a great resource and so easy to design your own: www.rubberstampchamp.com

While I love a good apron and The Gentle Art of Domesticity, cleaning has never been a particularly sexy task around our house. However, I loved the article below that ran in our local paper on Tuesday of this week. It makes me happy that living clean is going mainstream. Maggie loved mixing the ingredients with me… Read on

I stumble across more and more about Classicism these days. Stylesight writes about it this month:   “Words such as Heritage and Craftsmanship – ones that we have heard much of recently – are more than just the buzz labels du jour. Rather they form a bridge to a past many consumers look back at… Read on

Delicious airplane reading en route from Ketchum back home to Maggie (and, of course, Alabama): A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg

While looking out over the water from the balcony of a mansion on Shelter Island, Kurt Vonnegut tells his friend, Joseph Heller, that their host makes more money in a single day than Heller will ever earn from his novel, Catch-22. Heller responds, “Yes, but I have something he will never have.” Vonnegut questions, “What’s that?” “Enough.”… Read on

Thanks to Maria for sending over this fantastic review of Strategy for Sustainability: A Business Manifesto from Kevin Roberts at KR Connect: Nature’s 10 Simple Rules Adam Werbach’s book offers a great list of Nature’s 10 Simple Rules for Business Survival. In this list Adam draws from nature a tough bottom line for sustainable business. “Nature… Read on

Great to see Life After Sambo on the cover of Metropolis this month. The works are simply fantastic. Plan your road trip: Rural Studio Be inspired to make a difference. *Photo of downtown Newbern by Timothy Hursley

Thank you to Maria for sharing this story. Visit www.ted.com for more ideas worth spreading. Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity:  http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

Lost Labor: Images of American Workers 1900-1980 Shop Class as Soulcraft:  An Inquiry Into the Value of Work

John Bielenberg and Project M are serving up good pie in Hale County, Alabama this summer. Get involved with Project M this summer: Open Sourcing Project M The Project M 2008 Team, in collaboration with HERO, has created a permanent Design Lab space in Greensboro, Alabama. This light-filled studio building is situated on the HERO… Read on

Thanks to Tonne Goodman, all the folks at Vogue, and Jessica Alba for this lovely piece about Alabama Chanin and style ethics in the July 2009 issue.

The lyrical Esther spins her tales in watermelon sugar.  

Back from the wilds of southern Alabama and the Panhandle of Florida… The trip was too short – as always. Although the weather was not so great, the beaches are white as snow, the Apalachicola River soothing and the shrimp melt in your mouth. There is something about watching rain from a screened veranda that makes… Read on

I think that the first love of my life was a book. I am obsessed by books and once worked at Rizzoli in New York City just that I could get a discount and use my part-time paycheck to buy books. My daughter Maggie started young. Since her birth, she has been obsessed by touching, licking… Read on

In my next life I will be an oral historian and record the stories of my generation. Scott Carrier: Running After Antelope

I am, obviously, a bit behind in my efforts at blogging.  Or maybe there has just been so much good recently.    Either way, this great Op-Ed was sent to me by my friend Matthew from Savannah. It reminds me of Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell – which I have been heard to… Read on

I keep thinking, over and over again, about this quote that I read on Treehugger.com in the midst of the Earth Day celebrations: “Writing in Mother Jones, Joel Makower waves the white flag. Green consumerism, it seems, was one of those well-intended passing fancies, testament to Americans’ never-ending quest for simple quick, and efficient solutions… Read on

What can be said about quilting?  It is a process I love: the history, the stories, the fabrics, the people.  (I even made a documentary film called Stitch about old-time quilting circles.)  At Alabama Chanin, we even take vintage quilts, refurbish them and add the oral histories of textile workers, collected from my community. I am in… Read on

My holidays – up until Monday morning – were all about cookbooks. We made birthday dinners (Fried Chicken a la Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock), holiday brunch (Turkey Pot Pie a la Screen Doors and Sweet Tea), buttermilk rolls (The Joy of Cooking) back-yard picnics (Bunyan’s Barbeque and anything from White Trash Cooking #2), homemade truffles… Read on

While visiting Boston recently, my hosts at the Museum of Fine Arts gave all of the attendees this flyer about Furoshiki. The term describes “a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that was frequently used to transport clothes, gifts or other goods.” “Although there are still Furoshiki users in Japan, their numbers declined in the… Read on

It really is as good as they say… I am obsessed: Outliers: The Story of Success from Malcolm Gladwell

I have been traveling so much that it has been difficult to keep up with all of the inspiring people, places and things that have crossed my path these last months. I am looking forward to slowing down for the holidays to process. In Lincoln, Nebraska, I had the opportunity to tour the incredible International… Read on

On Saturday afternoon, I had the honor of touring the Edible Schoolyard and having lunch in the new Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School Dining Commons. Alice Waters, the Chez Panisse Foundation and a team of others are working towards changing the way we see the school lunch program in America. The program was inspiring,… Read on

Okay, what about a woman who can sing and cook, has her own radio program called “Apron Strings” and has a song about how it “Takes Balls” to be a woman? Check out Elizabeth Cook. Elizabeth has fans from all corners of the earth that make their own music videos to her songs. Check out… Read on

Our weekend workshop was a beautiful mixture of women from all walks of life. It was wonderful to hear our studio filled with laughter, chatter and, from time to time, the quiet hum of concentrated fingers at work. All of the projects are lovely and I am certain that the participants will be showing off… Read on

I guess that I am the last person on the planet to learn about printing fabric with Spoonflower – well, just happens that way sometimes… BUT, I have signed up on the list and can’t wait for my turn. Until then, I will occupy myself playing with these great instructions for making repeats in Photoshop:… Read on

Blair’s post – “Weeds” – seems especially fitting after reading this article by Tom Christopher for The New York Times Magazine: Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis? From the article: There are countless definitions of weeds, ranging from the hardheaded one necessarily observed by farmers, that a weed is any plant that interferes with… Read on

I received the most lovely pack of 3 x 5 photographs from Rinne in the mail a few months back. The photos were like a photo album from the last three years of my life and included our old offices, my daughter at three weeks old, and my grown son. But the loveliest of all… Read on

I am obsessed with ceremony these days: rites of passage, moments to reflect, moments to celebrate and moments to join inspire me. I occupy my mind with details, images and processes. Imagine my delight when Angie Mosier told me the story of cooking a wedding cake in New York City for Ted Lee (of Lee… Read on

This American Life is one of my all-time favorite programs. I subscribe to the podcast from iTunes that I can enjoy it any time I get the chance to listen for an hour. It is free of charge, inspiring and automatically loads to my library each week. Their episode “The Giant Pool of Money” is… Read on

I actually found some time over the weekend to sit down and read. Yes, it seemed rather shocking. Between digging potatoes, playing games, baking banana cake, laughing, loving, and a slew of other things, I just sat down, picked up a book that has been on the shelf for some years and started to read…. Read on

And in reference to actually being able to read… The new favorite book at our house: ABC’s by Charley Harper It is a stunningly beautiful book of alphabet and animals seen through the eyes of Charley Harper. We read it each day front to back, back to front and then front to back again. I… Read on

It has been a really busy week. I had intended to post every day about the wonder and beauty of our simple garden. Now it is Thursday and here you have the second post of the week. Perhaps there will be time to elaborate as the weekend approaches. This is the first year that I… Read on

I am inspired by my garden. These small beds that run around and behind my little house will feed my family this summer. Thanks to our compost, we are pleasantly surprised by all of the volunteer tomato plants that have sprung up in every spot that we spread this luscious soil. Maggie and I watch… Read on

There have been some questions recently about why I want the world to know that “I AM NO LONGER PART OF PROJECT ALABAMA.” While there is a long and delicate history behind this statement, the crux of the situation is this: Project Alabama started one day in the year 2000 as I hand-sewed a t-shirt… Read on

I grew up riding horses with my father and grandfather on our family farm in North Alabama. And although I still bear the scars from my first pony, to this day I have a deep, spiritual love for these majestic, beautiful, powerful creatures. An excerpt about Eight Belles from “The Last Lap,” Time Magazine, (May… Read on

I once wrote a piece called, Hero, for the now-defunct Girl on the Street blog. The writing of that post led me to learn more about Alice Waters, her involvement in the Slow Food movement and commitment to all things sensual: I received my copy of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse by Thomas McNamee this… Read on

We have choices in what we purchase, consume and choose to support every day. We vote with our dollars for the brand of clothing we like, for the types of food we want to eat, for the toys we buy for our children. This letter, from a former colleague, reminds me to think before I… Read on

My mother taught me that it’s important to use the beautiful things in your life every day. She gave me her first set of china with the one direction that I should use it and enjoy it, not store it in a closet. I have taken her advice to heart with all of the things… Read on

From Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin : Small is the new big. Recent changes in the way that things are made and talked about mean that big is no longer an advantage. In fact, it’s the opposite. If you want to be big,… Read on

I was lucky enough to see this inspiring exhibition Pricked: Extreme Embroidery – at the Museum of Arts & Design this morning… look for the catalog to come soon from their online store. The work is amazing.

All of us @ Alabama Chanin send a warm thank you to Penelope Green for this great article in The New York Times about the present, and future, of Slow Design as an extension of the Slow Food Movement.

A beautifully illustrated, and clever, look at our current production system:

My dear friend Sara Martin made the most amazing presents for her yearly holiday party. Everyone at the party received their very own Paint by Number portrait, painted by Sara and her husband, Kory. Sara shared this software with me which would be great for embroidery and needlepoint too: Paint By Numbers 2005 And here… Read on

“Even the simplest wicker basket can become priceless when it is loved and cared for through the generations of a family.” – Sister Parish Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design

I had the opportunity to visit all the folks at Patagonia yesterday. What an amazing group of people, an amazing place, and an amazing company. From the ladies in the sewing room to their organic cafeteria, I was floored at the knowledge, care and passion that infuse their lives. Patagonia has long been an inspiration… Read on

A must-read for everyone in or simply interested in the fashion industry.  Dana Thomas traces the amazing origins of luxury from the mid–nineteenth century to today. Straight forward and fascinating look through the walls of a closed industry. Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster

Built to Last by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras is one of the very first business books I ever read. I sat down at my desk one morning and got up when I finished reading. It was at a time when I was thinking about how to turn a “project” into the kind of business I… Read on

Our work in Alabama began with a T-shirt. Pietra Rivoli does an amazing job of defining the role this modest piece of clothing plays in today’s global economy: Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy And you can further explore the role of cotton in these books by Stephen Yafa: Cotton: The Biography of… Read on

As I recently learned at the Textiles Futures Salon2, there is still a long way to go to understand the materials that we use and consume. We have been using organic cotton for the last year and plan to make the switch to 100% Organic by the spring of next year. And although this is… Read on

This is a great volume about the variety of hand works that are being created today by a wide range of artists and artisans. The images are fantastic and each page makes me want to get started on a new project. Get your copy here: By Hand: The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art

Historical Fashion in Detail is another great source of inspiration for all of our hand work. The photographs are beautiful, detailed and a reminder of a time when articles of clothing were truly works of art. Get your copy here.