A new do-it-yourself shop is moving into downtown Greenwood. Made Sewing Studio, 8408 Greenwood Ave. N., will charge sewers an hourly fee to use the shop’s array of sewing equipment — from dress forms and cutting tables to sewing machines and sergers — while staff provides help if needed.

Made is moving into the spot formerly occupied by Steven Cole Salon. It plans to open Nov. 1.

Made Sewing Studio is between The Pig ‘n Whistle and Cobblestone Furniture.

The shop also will have a fabric store and “stash” consignment area, where “fabric hoarders” can unload some of the material overwhelming their sewing room at home.

“Sewing can be a lonely sport, so I’m looking forward to providing a place for people to gather and learn and sew together — without having to lug a sewing machine to a friend’s house or sew on the living room floor,” Owner Carisa Brunner said in a press release.

Brunner learned to sew at the age of 8. She attended the London College of Fashion’s graduate program, then spent one season working in the Seattle Repertory Theatre costume and craft department. She then received her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University.

Brunner wants Made Sewing Studio to be a resource for sewers and crafters of all skill levels. The store will offer a wide range of classes, including: Intimates: Fancy Panties; Knits: Day to Evening Vest; Patternless Sewing: The Maxi Dress; Fabric Basics; Alterations; Fitting Basics; Fashion Styling and Accessorizing; Jean Sew Along; Home Made: Gumdrop Pillows; and Kid Made: Masks Workshop for children 6 and up.

The fifth annual “Destination: Yarn” tour takes needle crafters on a journey to 25 locally-owned yarn stores all around Puget Sound, including The Fiber Gallery at 7000 Greenwood Ave. N.

The yarn tour is Thursday through Sunday. Stores will stay open late and offer discounts, freebies and prizes. Pick up a tour passport at any store on the tour.

Every year, thousands of the nation’s 38 million needle crafters take on the tour. Fans young and old will visit anywhere from a handful to ALL of the stores on the tour with a chance to win a special prize for those that hit all 25 stores in just 4 days. Just last year, stores on the tour opened their doors over 7,500 times during Destination:Yarn. While some crafters will drive the tour solo, many are loading up the van or bus to bring their own knitting and crocheting communities from store to store.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has delayed implementation of a law that could have forced some local crafters of kid stuff to implement costly lead testing or be considered illegal. There’s more in the P-I. One person quoted in the article said the law hurt many of the people who are trying to make kid-safe products.

“The irony is that many people who make handmade items do it specifically because they know those will be safe,” said Adam Brown, a spokesman for Etsy, a popular Web site offering handmade goods by 200,000 sellers.

The CPSC has granted a one year delay on testing and certification for crafters and childrens’ garment makers.

A couple months back, Wendy Powell at Childish Things raised alarm about the law, saying it could put consignment stores out of business as well. The CPSC later offered clarification on that point, saying consignment stores didn’t have to test their inventory, but that they should not sell items that were above the legal limit. But researching whether every used item is legal or not could pose its own challenges, one would think.

Thanks, Travis, for flagging the story for us.