Closed for New Years!

End of Year Sale!

Closed for Christmas

We're so grateful for your support this holiday season. Looking forward to another great year with you! Happy Holidays from the Two Thimbles Family to yours! 

Learn how to make handbags!

Learn how to make handbags from scratch!

Have you ever wondered about the process behind creating a handbag?  Want a bag with just the right combination of pockets, hardware and size....not to mention fabric choice?!

Handmade purses and totes have shown up more and more in recent years, and these aren't your grandma's shapeless shoulder bags. Techniques and products for creating gorgeous, modern handbags have become more accessible, and we're excited to share some with you through a lecture and class from Cheryl Kuzcek of Paradiso Designs.

Creating handbags from scratch allows for total customization to your personal preferences. Want a shoulder strap? You can add it! Do you love wearing bright-colored accessories? Build the body with neon fabrics! The entirety of the design is in your hands.

Cheryl, a master of handbag construction, will be in our classroom on the evening of January 11th for a free, relaxed discussion - all about creating beautiful bags from scratch. Grab a friend and carve out a bit of time in your calendar to learn about bag-making while mingling over food and drinks.  Give us a call to reserve your spot, seating is limited.

In addition, Cheryl will host a pop-up shop at Two Thimbles on January 12th. She'll have several of her pattern designs and pleather and hardware kits available for sale and lots of bag samples to showcase her awesome construction techniques.  Cheryl can assist you with fabric choice and construction advice to get the right combination of features and style!

Don't miss this chance to meet Cheryl and see her bags in action!

These two events are lead up to a class with Cheryl on Saturday, January 26th. In this hands on class, learn to sew pleather with confidence and enhance your handbag creations with some solid construction tips.  Cheryl will walk students through the different types and grades of pleather as well as the basics of cutting, correct tension and best stitch length for this unique fabric.  You'll also learn how to create a bag from scratch and leave with valuable tips, techniques and basic handbag design knowledge to create a bag of your choice!  

Join Cheryl in the 2T Classroom for a Paradiso Designs Discussion: 

Friday evening January 11, 2019 

Call 360 715-1629 or stop by the shop to reserve your spot!

Pop up Shop:  Saturday, January 12, 2019 10am - 4pm

Handbag construction class: Saturday, January 26, 2019 9am- 4pm

Last minute inspiration?

Brimfield Ornaments by Jane

Are you on the final count down for the holidays?!  Sometimes last minute projects are just the idea you needed or...maybe just the distraction you were hoping for?



















 Here is a little mix of projects we've been working on, some English Paper Piecing - the Brimfield block mixed with circles and some itty bitty hexagons mixed with embroidery!  The stitchery design is a pattern we stock from Plumcute Designs!

A Winter's Stitch by Karla and 2T

And if you need some ideas to finalize your holiday decor and packaging...

A rainbow of stockings by Kami

Iron on decals for pillows and bags 

Wool charms to get creative for one of a kind ornaments or monograms - great to embellish with sequins, fancy stitches and all kinds of creative possibilities!

Wool charm pack

We hope you're warm and cosy in your sewing space!  We'll be open through Sunday the 23rd with regular store hours.  Closed on Monday and Tuesday!

New Fabric mixed in!

We've got some odds n' ends to fill in some gaps on the shelves.  A mixed selection of multiple lines for our reproduction collection.  Some of these are timeless motifs that combine well with more contemporary lines.  Polka dots are timeless for sure!

Scrappier Dots by Judie Rothermel

Baltimore House by Paula Barnes for Marcus

Baltimore House by Paula Barnes 

Gathering by Jill Shaulis

Wisdom by Nancy Gere

Shirtings from Washington Street

Some of our shirtings have been speaking the low volume language and have been showcased in some 'modern' quilt projects too!

Sarah French by Nancy Kirk

And these soft prints make us think of spring gardening and that is a good thing now that winter storms have started to roll in.  

Down by the Veggie Patch / Hatched & Patched

We hope you have time to finish all the projects on your list for 2018!  We are looking forward to lots of new exciting projects and opportunities in the New Year....so we're busy plotting and planning our 'make it now' list too!   

Waxer (waxed) Canvas in the shop!

It's a great time to be a quilter/sewer what with the quality of today's fabrics, computerized sewing machines and don't even get me started on notions (think rotary cutters)!! Lately I've really been enjoying working with fun new products like cork, Kraf-tex, faux fur, etc.  But, my latest obsession is the gorgeous roll of walnut-colored waxed canvas that's just arrived in the store!!

It's a Robert Kaufman product, 100% cotton and 57" wide.  I knew immediately that a messenger bag MUST be made for my college student!  I've attached a link to a free pattern/tutorial from Sewspire that I'm going to use.

We'll share our completed version soon, so stay tuned....

P.S.  Please share your ideas for using waxed canvas on our Facebook page!! we'd love to see what you're making!

Playing with Reproduction Fabrics 2019

Can't decide which of our programs you'd like to participate in? 

Hope's Journey is based on Betsy Chutchian's latest book and the Circa 1880 Club is working from a program designed by Pam Buda.  See our previous post for photos and specifics, or go to our classes page on the website!

Still have some questions or need additional information?!  Call or email us to register for the Program-Kick-off-Orientation to be held on Monday, December 3, 2018.  

Sharon & Lee will host an informational show-n-tell that will include all the details of these two exciting year-long programs!  There will be treats and exclusive shopping opportunity as the store is closed to the general public that day.  No fee required for the orientation but space is limited!!  Don't hesitate to call or email us to reserve a spot!  

Playing with Reproduction Fabrics in 2019

We've got 2 exciting programs for reproduction enthusiasts coming in 2019!  Hope you'll find time in your calendar to join us.  Here's the scoop!

Hope's Journey Sewcial
1st Monday of each month
12 months, starting January 7, 2019

Come and join the camaraderie of a sewing bee!  Sharon will host our group on a monthly journey of small piecing based around the new release "Hope's Journey" by Betsy Chutchian.  You can choose which blocks, how many, whether to make the small quilts and the big quilt or pick and choose blocks and projects as you go!  Lots of options to create a quilt that fits your interest.  The sampler style large quilt reminds me of the fabulous "Gone To Texas" quilt and is versatile in both size and setting layouts so you can really create a unique quilt that works for you.  We'll have some added fun each month with history lessons, show and tell, a few guest speakers and lots of ideas to keep you sewing all year long!

A great opportunity to refine your sewing skills and enjoy the tradition of sewcial sewing.

If you can't participate in the our monthly sewcial, we'll be offering some fabric starter bundles and monthly small quilt kits for our long distance stitchers.


Circa 1880 Club at 2T
3rd Thursday of the month
12 months starting January 17, 2019

This new program is based around some tiny blocks....made into a big quilt!  Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts has designed this project with a master plan for one big scrappy quilt and 6 smaller exclusive projects to create over the course of a year.  Of course you could turn your blocks into smaller projects or arrange them in a different setting.  Club members will have some additional perks like access to a private Facebook Group hosted by Pam Buda, some special guest speakers and product demos....and the option to trade blocks to expand your scrappiness! 

If you choose to participate in the monthly block trades, each participant will have trading standards and use the same setting fabric so you'll have some consistency for your blocks while adding variety to the scrappiness.  Lots of options for how many blocks will be traded, and we can even register to swap with other participating shops!

The project is designed to be created a bit at a time - Pam advocates for an hour a day - so you really can work this into your existing projects and enjoy the fun of fussy cutting fabrics, trading blocks and sharing the process with some like-minded reproduction fabric enthusiasts.  What's not to love?!

Small monthly project

For those of you who are long distance, this program can be modified to suit your needs as well - we'll have block trading options available for you and the Facebook Group will be accessible to all our participants!

Our class space is limited so sign up today, stop by the shop on or you can register on line!

After Market ~ What's New

Another trip to Houston has come and gone and this one seems to have put me further behind at this already overscheduled time of year!  Finally I have an excuse?!  As always, Quilt Market was full of inspiration, a respite from home and business obligations and an opportunity to take a fresh look at the world of quilting.  There is so much on display it is quite an overload and combined with the added bonus of some amazing quilt exhibits it is always a trip to revisit for weeks afterwards!    

Of course, I'm partial to the display of 1876 Centennial quilts, (a big shout out to Anne Dawson as the exhibit was selected to move on to Quilt Festival in Chicago!!) and the exhibit of Antique Quilts of the British Isles sponsored by Moda and Antique Textile Company was outstanding.  

Here are a few pictures from Quilt Market - from favorite quilts on display to fabric and pattern designer showcases!  

Janet Clare Machine Drawings

Military Coverlet by Isabelle Muzeau

Antique English Regency by Mary Gibbs 1812

Betsy Chutchian for Moda

Denise Burkitt for Freespirit

Kathy Doughty for Freespirit

Sew to Grow patterns

And now that my bags are unpacked and I'm getting to the bottom of the paperwork stack - the fun ideas and new products I spied at Quilt Market are starting to surface and the goodies I stowed away in my extra bag are finding their way onto the shop shelves with the new product orders coming in daily too! 

The rain is here to stay and it's a perfect time to get some stitching going!  We hope you'll stop by the shop soon and discover some of our latest finds! 

Thankful

Just a quick reminder that we will be closed this Thanksgiving, November 22nd! 

In honor of the holiday season, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support of our small business. We appreciate all of our customers (that’s you!) not only today,  but throughout the coming year. 

Shopping local plays a vital role in fostering the community we live in. Shop small this Saturday to show your appreciation for your favorite local businesses. 

New Fabric Additions

Sometimes there are just too many choices and not enough shelf space!  We have lots of variety in fabric styles right now, with different color combinations keeping things interesting.  These collections suit a range of projects - quilts and home decor as well as wearables.  You can spruce things up with a few decorative pillows or feel festive with a new funky apron to help get you in the mood for some holiday baking.  

Fish Hope

Voysey V&A by Moda

Artisan Crossweaves

Diaphanous by In the Beginning

Diaphanous by In the Beginning

Harriet's Handwork by Betsy Chutchian for Moda

Marsha Derse for Windham

Art History Marsha Derse

Luggage Tags & Wallets

We've been playing with cork fabric and Kraft-tex!  These products are pretty amazing to play with - you can color and print and decorate the Kraft-tex product as well as through it in the wash.  Both of these products come in natural kraft color and fabulous color options!  

Make a luggage tag from your scraps!  Just add a little Kraft-tex and clear vinyl to the mix!

Love these unique fabrics but just not sure what to make with them?!  Come check out some new corks and some fun, free and super quick patterns for wallets, luggage tags and holders for your passport, credit cards  and business cards!  Is it too soon to start thinking of holiday gift ideas?    

New Fabric

I hope you need a new project to work on - we have too many fabrics and too many ideas to get them all done!  We've pretty well covered the spectrum of fabric styles below and a few of the prints are heavier weight cotton and linen blends - perfect for a new handbag or tote!   What projects are on your list to make?  Already tackling holiday gifts or do you prefer the last minute scramble to make all the things?!

Manzanita Grove

Manzanita Grove

Rosewood by 3 Sisters

 Free Spirit Designers

 Free Spirit Designers

 Kaffe Shot Cottons

Kaffe Extra Wide

 Cotton and Steel Freshly Picked

 Cotton + Steel Front Yard

Freespirit

Freespirit

Kaufman Linen/Cotton blends