English Paper Piecing

Have you got spring fever?  Ready for some color in your world and a new sewing skill?  Jane is teaching an introductory class to english paper piecing and she has certainly got plenty of tips and experience to share.  Jane has completed several quilts with a variety of shapes and has really worked to refine the process to help ensure fabulous results.  There is no end to the design options and paper piecing shapes that have come on the heels of the La Passcagalia Millefiori craze.  This little quilt of Jane's, below, is perfect for an early spring - it features some glorious peppered cottons and 1/2 inch hexagon shapes!  Not your Grandma's flower garden for sure. This is the last chance to sign up - we hope you can make the date, because once you get a taste of EPP, you'll be hooked!

Friday, March 10th 10am - 12pm

Sign Up

And if you're looking for some bright color to combat the winter blues - these ombres might just do the trick?!

Gelato Ombre Elite fabrics

Boho Fusion Floral

Mixed Bag

Lots more fun stuff coming in - we have some coated laminates in neutral dots and fun geometrics for a change and a few new knits as well.  The Delilah TOM program is underway so we'll be getting some blocks up on the wall soon...what are you working on in between the snowstorms?!

Scissors Sharp?

First Friday reminder!!!  

Scissors Sharpening Service

Drop off your scissors by Friday (First Friday of the Month...that means March 3rd!) and you'll have them back and ready for cutting on the following Wednesday!

Do you love vintage bark cloth?  These gorgeous fabrics are inspired by the barkcloth of the 1940's and 1950's - each detail was considered carefully in creating this range with an authentic and vintage voice.  Cathi Bessell-Browne, better known as Gertrudemade has been working with vintage barkcloth creating fabulous 'frocks' in the Australian outback - this is her debut line Outback Wife.  These are handprinted floral designs printed on an exclusive cotton barkcloth base - extra wide at 60inches, and 100% cotton.  This is a gorgeous weight fabric, perfect for wearables, pillows and bags or ...quilts.  Lovely with denims and chambrays and there are a couple of yarn dyed plaids that mix in fabulously.  We are so pleased to carry these and look forward to Cathi's next release.

Outback Wife

YarnDyed Plaids Outback Wife

Spring is surely coming and this wool appliqué project from our local designer Suz is perfect to keep you busy stitching until Easter!  We have a few wool fabric packets and the applique pattern available!  This version has a few floral cotton prints added to frame the stitchery and it would sure be a fun piece to frame up and display!  

Rosalie Rabbit applique approx. 9x10

And perhaps more appropriate for this winter weather we've been having - the wooly block pattern and wool appliqué kits are available for sale now as well.  You can find it on the website or stop by the shop and pick one up if you missed your chance during the Wooly Block event.  

Wooly Block pattern designed by Suz Litzsinger



Yep, another snow day here in the great Pacific Northwest!

February 28th 2017

Delilah Template of the Month Program

Delilah ~ The Template of the Month (TOM) program created by Jen Kingwell is just around the corner!

The kick off is March 2017 for this 12 month program. A limited number of stores are participating – so this is a great chance to be part of a bigger event through your local quilt shop.   It's not too late to start now!

Each month you'll receive a block pattern and associated acrylic templates. Block sizes range from 6 to 12 inches, and setting blocks are 3 inches and each month you'll make a few blocks.  The quilt is super scrappy, great for building skills and you could always get creative and make it your own ~ add a border, change the layout, repeat blocks, you name it!  

Delilah by Jen Kingwell 

Finished size approx. 66 x 69

We still have a few spaces left to fill in the program, and you can register to receive monthly fabric stacks that will be similar to the flavor of Jen's version - but with a 2T spin.   Here is a peak at one of our first blocks!  

Delilah 2T month one

It's not too late to join the fun - there will be lots of online sharing and we're also planning a monthly sewing support session with Jan Hudson.  You can register for the monthly templates, sewing session and our fabric bundles here!

New Fabric

Oh yes - we have it covered!  The whole spectrum of bright and fun and basic...these are just some of the latest items we've put out on the shelves.  If you can't make it to the shop - we're always happy to help over the phone.  So if you see something on the blog that you like - give us a ring and we'll get a package on it's way to you!

Black and Collection by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman 

Ellie Elephant organic knit Birch Fabrics

Sleeping Porch for Windham Fabrics 

Kaffe/Anna Marie Horner/Amy Butler for FreeSpirit

Batiks from Anthology Fabric

Wovens from FreeSpirit

I'm looking forward to see how customer's mix and match these fabulous prints and wovens - will it be quilts or wearables?  Of course some fresh napkins to spruce up the dinner table would be nice as well!

Fabric Therapy Anyone?

Quilters are generous with their quilts, their time and their materials - we appreciate hearing about all the great contributions and gifts our customers share with others, and we really enjoy seeing our customers share the gift of learning to sew and quilt with others.  We hope your new year provides lots of opportunities to share and promote the joys of fabric and quilting!  

We want to give a big shout out to all of you who are so generous with your time and materials as you contribute to so many worthy causes and provide quilts to friends and family both in need and in celebration all year long.  Quilts certainly make the world a better place! 

Here is a quick recap of some of the community activities we supported in 2016 with our store projects and quilts:


The La Conner Quilt and Textile MuseumBlaine Fine Arts AssociationThe Firs KidsCampfire Samish and Camp KirbyMoonlight Quilters GuildLove Inc of Whatcom County

We have been adding to the shelves and trying to carve out some time to stitch up some fresh samples, some how with our extra snow days I seem to be further behind than ahead!  We hope you have had a chance to catch up and get organized, meet all those new year's resolutions and move right on to starting something new?!

Baltimore Blues by Barbara Brackman for Andover

Garden Notes by Kathy Schmitz for Moda

We know we're quilter's and not photographers - these prints below really are deep black!

Lampblack designed by Kathy Hall for Andover Fabrics

We have been expanding our selection of knits - and there are some amazingly great patterns for both children and women's clothing that you might just want to give it a go!  A simple receiving blanket with a bias trim edge is a very handy gift for summer babies too!

Stella Knits 60 inches wide 

Please stop by soon and show us what you're working on, what you've completed ...or what you have planned for 2017!  

Hearts and more

Have you been creating a valentine for someone special?  These heart projects are on display again and we've been adding some bright pops of color - florals and geometrics and the latest digital prints to the store shelves.  This felt heart garland is a quick option and you can find the tutorial here on Betz White's website. 

This little wall hanging is a great project for mini-charms, and of course you could go bigger with regular size charms squares.  The project pattern is here:  pixelated heart

Pixelated Heart

We are offering a new service for your scissors...we've arranged for a monthly pick up and Caleb will take knives and scissors - so mark your calendars, drop your items off for sharpening and get your sewing tools back in prime condition!

One Sharp Guy

Sharpening Service provided by Caleb Hilton

Leave your items the first Friday of the month and 

pick up on the following Wednesday.

24 hour service available on request

Here are some of our latest additions to the shelves - we need to find some sewing time soon!

Crab Shack Digitally Printed for Andover Fabric

Sundance by Sue Daley for Riley Blake

Tide Pool Designed by Kate Nelligan for Moda

The lovely Elizabeth's Dowry collection is pretty spectacular too! 

Winter Blues?

Are you surviving our crash course in winter weather?!  I think the roads are improving rapidly now, and eventually our parking lot won't be the snowfield that it has been.  Whew, I know I am ready for the kids to go back to school for sure.  Hopefully you have stayed warm and dry and stitched up a storm this past week - which means you may just be in need of a new project?!

EPP 101 with Jane Buys is back!

An introductory class where you will learn a variety of methods from our local expert! We'll provide a 1 inch hexagon to get you started OR if you have a particular project or paper piecing shape that you want to work with, please bring it and you can get some personalized instruction too.

Friday March 10th 2017

10-12pm

Cost: $25.00

Sign Up

Spinning Stars with Suz Litzsinger

A great class to play with color and not stress about your sewing. This quick to complete design can be completed in many sizes, from baby quilts to bed size. Great for scraps or focusing on your favorite colors.

Sunday March 12th 2017

10:30-5pm

Cost: $35.00

Sign Up

We have been receiving our shipments regularly despite the fabulous weather - and these lovely books from Quiltmania are perfect for contemplating some fresh ideas.  We also have Edyta Sitar's latest book, Little Handfuls of Scraps in stock.  

And some spring florals with a touch of gold metallic and a fresh minty background would make a fabulous valentines presentation don't you think?

On Trend from Riley Blake