2018 A Year in Review

We love the end of the year when we can look back and reflect on all the incredible things the year has brought us. 2018 was our 12th year in business and things have certainly grown and changed a lot since we first opened our doors. We feel so proud of what we have built here in Denver and the community that surrounds us around the country and the world. You all make it possible for us to open our doors every day, so a big ‘Thank You’ to our customers and hardworking staff for making Fancy Tiger what it is today!

2018 brought the release of our most challenging and versatile pattern to date, Brome! In June we released our 5th garment sewing pattern designed by our own Amber Platzer Corcoran. 

In addition to Brome, Amber spent her fall designing all kinds of yarn-y goodness starting with our latest knitting pattern, Hjarn. Kits for these textural, colorwork hats are available in three striking colorways now but stay tuned for more exciting Hjarn related news in the next few weeks. 

For the first time ever we have ventured into punch needle design with the Orbs, Peaks and Geo Pillow Kits. Amber’s three unique pillow designs dance the line of playful and modern with a blend of geometric and naturally inspired shapes that combine in a variety of color palates to suit the style and decor of any home. We are so excited about this new addition to the Fancy Tiger brand. Thanks for a wonderful response so far. We are so glad you are loving them as much as we do!

This year was truly a year for learning and growing at Fancy Tiger. We are completely proud to say that we brought a record number of guest instructors to Denver in 2018. We launched Fancy Tiger Craft Retreats in 2017, but 2018 has really been the first full year of operation and we are so happy with its success. Being able to expand our workshop and retreat offerings has been an amazing gift. Here are some of the amazing instructions that came to teach at Fancy Tiger: Andrea Mowry, Bristol Ivy, Anna Maltz, Andrea Rangel, Carolyn Friedlander, Sonya Philip of 100 Acts of Sewing, Cal Patch, Amy Chapman of Cloth Habit, Megan Shimek, Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, Ellie Lum, Marisa Morrison of The Neon Tea Party, Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino, Kelli Ward  ofTrue Bias, Emily Katz of Modern Macrame, Anne Weil of Flax and Twine, Camille McMurry of the Carnaby Yarn Co.

This year we skipped our winter-time sweater knit-along (stay tuned for more exciting knit-along related news coming soon), but we didn’t want to skip the KAL fun all together!  This past fall we hosted a KAL for our new Basecamp Socks pattern. Tons of people participated and many people tried knitting socks for the very first time! 

We released a ton of free tutorials and patterns this year as well! It is truly too many to name them all (check out a full list of tutorials here) but here are just a few of the awesome free things that 2018 brought. Thank you to all the amazing and talented people that lent us their skills and time in order to make these possible.

Pom Pom Tassel by The Neon Tea Party  .  Friolero Mittens by Rae Gronmark of TruSpark Designs  .  Abbey Road by Keely Shaw   .  Basecamp by Kaylee Lockhart  .  Holiday Fringe Scarf by Jaime Jennings  .  Willoughby Nesting Bins by Caitlin Vannoy  .  Be Good Wreath by Kaylee Lockhart  .  Pussyhat Patchwork Tutorial by Amber Corcoran  .  Fancy Holiday Stockings by Lauren Wright  .  Half Square Triangle Infinity Scarf by Caitlin Vannoy  .  Elemental Zip Pouch by Kaylee Lockhart

Travel is always one of the highlights for our year. In 2018 we made three inspiring, craft-travel trips. This year Amber was able to travel with Bob and Shawna on a week-long pilgrimage to Quiltcon 2018 in Pasadena, California to visit their Quiltcon entries. It was a week full of amazing quilty inspiration.

In March we visited the Faroe Islands on a whirlwind three day trip with our friends Kate, Courtney, and Meghan of Kelbourne Woolens to learn more about Navia and the yarns that they produce.  It was in just a few days but it was packed with all our favorite things; sheep, wool, hiking, and delicious food.

We were also lucky enough to take a grand 2-week tour around Portugal. You can read all about it here, but it is safe to say it was a trip full of inspiration, learning and laughter with friends. 

Thanks for making 2018 a spectacular year. We already have some awesome things planned for 2019 that we just know you are going to love.