Beginning with choosing materials and continuing with each stitch, crafters infuse their creations with personality and style. There’s a lot of satisfaction when designing and making an item. Whether you’re shopping for a bespoke piece, or want to acquire crafting skills of your own, get inspired by these local artisans.
Rebecca Botvin
Becca Bee Designs, Wyomissing, etsy.com/shop/beccabeedesigns
“I knit or sew every evening. It helps to quiet my mind, and I enjoy the rhythm it creates,” says Rebecca Botvin, owner of Becca Bee Designs. “I learned the basics of sewing from my mom, but I learned construction and technique by taking an evening class at the vo-tech when I was in high school.”
It took Botvin practice to learn these skills. “I became much more proficient when I was in college and started sewing my own clothes.” She also learned the lesson that the right materials are an essential part of a successful garment.
As an adult, Botvin learned to knit. “My grandmother, Babci, was the only one in the family who knit, and she tried for years to teach me. I’m left handed, and I remember her setting up a mirror to reverse her hand motions. We didn’t get very far.” A few months after Babci died, Botvin took a class at The Yarn Gallery, West Reading, where she learned the traditional right-handed method.
When designing patterns, Botvin gets creative. “Most of the patterns I use are cobbled together parts of already existing ones. There’s a lot of trial and error.”
For tools, Botvin recommends “a really sharp pair of steel sewing scissors — they’re like a chef’s knives.” She also likes an interchangeable bamboo needle set for portability. “It’s only the size of a hardback book.”
Hoppin Hat.
Brave the chill with playful headgear. Botvin’s hand-knit bunny hat features a delightful rabbit face and long ears. Dangling ties and bushy pom-poms keep the hat secured with style. Grey Bunny Hat, teen sizes, $50, Becca Bee Designs
Party Print.
Designed and sewn by Botvin, these whimsical pink poodles make every day festive. Wear this dress in cooler weather with leggings or tights and a long-sleeve shirt or cardigan. Custom Party Poodle Dress, available in sizes 3-8, $90, Becca Bee Designs
Heather DiFabio
Spinning Sheep Designs, Birdsboro, shopspinningsheep.com
“I learned to knit and crochet from my grandmother. Funny thing is that I knit right-handed and crochet left-handed,” says Heather DiFabio, owner of Spinning Sheep Designs in Birdsboro. DiFabio attributes this to the way her grandmother demonstrated these skills. “When my grandmother taught me to knit, she taught me while I was sitting in her lap. When she taught me to crochet, she taught me while facing her, so I mirrored with my left hand what she did with her right hand.”
DiFabio loves creating her own patterns. “I could wander through the yarn aisles at a craft store for hours thinking up different new ideas to make with the yarn,” she says.
DiFabio thrives on the trial-and-error process, and she always has an idea in progress. “I love sitting down and working on new stitch patterns until I find something that I love.”
While she’s happy to work with all kinds of yarns, DiFabio says, “I love the softer, natural fibers like angora or alpaca.” DiFabio also prefers natural materials for her crafting tools, like bamboo knitting needles.
One of her latest designs is a rainbow baby blanket. “I had this idea bouncing around in my head for a while until I was at the craft store one day and all of the colors came together. It quickly became one of my favorite pieces that I’ve made!”
Handmade Hood.
Crocheted by DiFabio, this cold weather accessory is the perfect complement to your favorite pea coat. The scarf features an attached hood to keep you extra warm and stylish. Purple Hooded Scarf, $74.95, Spinning Sheep Designs
Fall Essential.
This skinny scarf adds style without bulk. Hand-knitted by DiFabio, the orange yarn captures the feeling of fall. The long fringe adds pizzazz and pairs well with shirts, vests and jackets. Orange Skinny Scarf, $39.95, Spinning Sheep Designs
Gail Kessler
Ladyfingers Sewing Studio, Inc., Oley, ladyfingerssewing.com
“Designing fabric is both exhilarating and challenging!” says Gail Kessler, owner of Ladyfingers Sewing Studio in Oley. Over the course of her career, Kessler has created more than 140 colors of Dimples for Andover Fabrics. “Because it is a business, there are deadlines to be met, and because there are so many steps to the ‘concept to cloth,’ it takes upwards of a year or more to see the finished product.” Once her design is available for sale, Kessler experiences the rewards of her hard work. “The most exciting part of designing fabric is seeing what people do with it! Some of the quilts and garments made from my fabric designs continue to amaze me!”
Kessler’s family inspired her interest in fabric arts. “While my mother was an excellent seamstress, my love of quilting came from my grandmother. She didn’t really teach me, but let me watch her quilt,” says Kessler. “I started quilting when I was pregnant with my first son, mostly self-taught, but also by taking classes whenever I could.”
After acquiring sewing and quilting skills, Kessler started teaching. For 30 years, she’s taught students online and at Ladyfingers Sewing Studio. “I teach on craftsy.com and have over 750,000 students enrolled in my Piece, Patch, Quilt - Beginner Quilt Making Skills Class.” For those who prefer in-person experiences, Ladyfingers Sewing Studio has a dedicated classroom and ongoing classes.
Creative Shades.
Designed by Kessler, each brilliant color measures 18” x 22.” This “tone-on-tone” fabric is a harmonious alternative to solid colors and is perfect for crafting quilts, scarves or bags. Jewel-colored Dimples Fat Quarter Bundle, $52.99, Ladyfingers Sewing Studio
Sunny Starter.
Skip the preliminaries and get sewing. This table runner kit features pre-cut fabric strips. The cheerful sunflowers will fill you with pride when you look at the finished piece. Patchwork Sunflower Table Runner Quilt Kit, $39.99, Ladyfingers Sewing Studio
