Halloween is a big deal at Britex! That's why we're supplying you with so much more than just materials this year. The mask-making workshops on October 25 are guaranteed to inspire and transform. A mask is perfect for those that want to keep it simple, but still want to play. It can also be an impressive finishing touch on an already elaborate costume. The workshops are back-to-back on Saturday morning starting at 10:30 and 11:30 and the cost is $15 per person. Get the details and register HERE.

If you are a long-time customer than you probably already know about our fabulous Halloween staff costume contest that takes place every year. Take a look at last years costumes and see for yourself how committed to a good costume Britex staff can be! Join us on October 25 to vote for the winner and enter for a chance to win a $100 Britex Fabrics gift certificate.

Here we go! The Britex workshop space is in full swing this fall with workshops taught by fashion designers, mixed media and textile artists all offered on our 4th floor.

On September 6, the interdisciplinary artist Katrina Rodabaugh, will be sharing with us the very traditional craft of sashiko embroidery through the modern approach of a mini quilt. The lovely thing about sashiko is that once you learn the skill, you can upgrade almost any textile creation. Learn more and register for Katrina's sashiko mini quilt workshop here. Continue Reading

Welcome to Lisa Solomon's studio. Lisa, who is teaching the Hand Appliqué workshop on August 16, welcomed Britex to her studio in Oakland. We have been searching and researching local designers and makers to teach at Britex. Many weeks ago, we set out to find visual artists working with fibers and textiles who would be interested in sharing their 'outside the box' approach to making. Lisa was an obvious perfect match. She is a mixed media artist with lots of teaching experience. She exhibits her work both nationally and internationally and is the author of Knot Thread Stitch – exploring creativity through embroidery and mixed media [Quarry]. Continue Reading

How was our big workshop space launch party, you ask? Amazing!

 

These ladies were spectacular, making our party a huge success. Each one offered their own unique glimpse into sewing, and consequently, there was something to inspire every type of sewer. Continue Reading

Wow! SFMade Week was a blast! Thank you to all that made it out to any of the many workshops, tours and celebrations that took place around town last week.

Our lovely friends at Bluxome Winery welcomed us at Masters & Makers on Tuesday with our very awesome and educational Textile Station.

 

Simultaneously, a special SFMade tailored Warp x Weft took place here at Britex. Three Babes Bakeshop treated us to locally grown and baked apple pies graciously delivered by Good Eggs.

 

We concluded with an After-Hours Textile Tour on Thursday with, of course, drinks from Bluxome Winery.

  Guess what? Britex is a proud supporter of Sewing Indie Month happening right now! Sewing Indie Month is an online party with 21 independent sewing pattern designers and their best friends (that would be you)! In the organizer's own words... "Sewing Indie Month is all about making new friends and sewing great garments. See, when you’re an independent sewing pattern designer sometimes you really wish you could ask your fellow designers’ advice, or even just commiserate about how little sleep you get when there’s an error in one of your patterns. That can seem weird and presumptuous though, asking a stranger, a competing business owner, to chat about certain things they’d rather keep private. But that’s the great thing about being an indie designer, your fellow designers aren’t your competition, they’re your allies." You won't want to miss the sewalongs lead by some mighty awesome bloggers (including our very own Guest Blogger Laura Mae). Sewalong themes and blogs follow: Indie Love Affair - Wanett of Sown Brooklyn Dressed to the Nines - Laura of Lilacs and Lace Everyday Casual - Jenny of Cashmerette Pattern Hacking - Rhonda of Rhonda’s Creative Life The best part is that you can participate and win! Continue Reading

 

Kick off SFMade Week by joining us at Bluxome Street Winery to celebrate all things made masterfully, locally.  Enjoy demonstrations, samples and conversations with some of your favorite producers, alongside WesBurger fare, Bluxome wines and Magnolia brews (benefitting SFMade). Admission is free — come make and partake!

53B Masters&Makers
Tuesday, May 6th from 5-8PM
Bluxome Street Winery — 53 Bluxome Street (btw 4th and 5th St in SOMA)

all evening long…
Blackbird Guitar—Big Sound, Small Body
Britex Fabrics—Textile Station: Focus on Fiber
Crooked Nest—Bromeliads & Bolts
Magnolia Gastropub—Drink Beer, Benefit SFMade
WesBurger—Burgers & Fixins (think, fried McVicker’s)

plus…
5:20 SF Milk Maid—DIY Cheese: From Udder to Fork
5:40 ForeignSpell—Palatable Printmaking
6:00 ForageSF—Cure Your Own Meat w/ Wild Herbs
6:20 Foggy Notion—Fun with Mason Jars
6:40 McVicker’s—Pairing Your Pickled Favorites
7:00 Bluxome St Winery—Barrel Sampling
7:20 Dandelion Chocolate—Bean to Bar & In Between
7:40 Raff Distillerie—Gin is to Absinthe as Bummer is to Lazarus

What's a Textile Station?
We’re so glad you asked! Our new Textile Station is a way for you to test your fiber knowledge. See and feel raw fibers—silk, wool, cotton and flax—and try to guess what fabrics are made from those fibers. Here’s a hint…there may be some trick blends.

SFMade presents a week-long celebration of San Francisco’s vibrant manufacturing sector: discover locally made products, the people who make them, and where to buy them. SFMade Week is seven days of education, exploration, and innovation, designed to celebrate and heighten local awareness and understanding of the local manufacturing sector and the companies and people who bring locally made products to fruition.

Tour some of the City’s best known and emerging artisan manufacturers’ factories. Take classes and pick up a new craft with your favorite manufacturers across the city. Taste, tour, and toast during these special events with independent wineries and breweries. Wednesday, May 7, build a vibrant manufacturing sector with us, and come to SFMade’s Annual Fundraiser, Ramp It Up!

As SFMade members and SFMade Week sponsors, Britex is adding to the celebration with a Warp x Weft: Textile 101 (May 6) and an After-Hours Textile Tour (May 8).

Register here >

 

So much more in happening during SFMade Week.
Learn More >

The April 16 Warp x Weft workshop has a pie sponsor! The reason why we're so excited is that the pies are being donated by the babes of Three Babes Bakeshop. They are one of our favorite pie makers in all of San Francisco, using only organically grown ingredients.

If you don't already know the babes, they can be found at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and on Good Eggs.

Thanks Three Babes Bakeshop. Our night will be so much sweeter for you.

 

 

 

 

Here it is---the much discussed Britex After-Hours Tour. So what happens during these evening hours is no longer a secret. First, visitors are greeted and helped to a fine selection of cheese and an assortment of drinks from white wine to sparkling cider. Geana Sieburger, Britex's educator and programs gal, leads the tour floor by floor starting with a quick chat about what attracted everyone to the tour. Continue Reading