Quilters Threads Newsletter
 October 1, 2007

http://www.quiltersthreads.com

Online Class Offerings Now Available for Registration


Quilters Keep Learning Program

In response to requests from our customers, we will offering a few select classes this fall. Classes will start October 12. Sign ups are available immediately The classes are 4 weeks in length and will cost $40 each. These classes are designed for the quilter who wants to learn a new skill.  Only 2 more weeks to sign up! An added bonus is that you will have something that you can use for a Christmas present if you wish,

The classes being offered this session are:

Artistic Free Motion - Instructor Lynn Majidimehr- teacher and the owner/designer of LAM Designs

Do you ever wish you could free-motion quilt? Join my free-motion quilting class and learn how! We will work on large collection of quilting designs, from the simple stipple, to the fantastic feather. Each week you will learn more, and your confidence will grow as you practice your quilting. If you wish, you may also start a stitch sampler to use as a springboard for ideas when you are working on quilts in the future.

Dyeing for Some Color - Fabric Dyeing 101 for Beginners - Instructor Cherie Ekholm - owner of Farm Fresh Textiles

As the days grow shorter and the sun shines less, dyeing is a great way to bring color and light into your day. In this class we will explore simple dyeing techniques for fabric and yarn using Procion MX dyes. In addition to four different techniques (two for fabric and two for yarn) we'll discuss safety concerns, must have and optional supplies, and variations on each type of dyeing. No experience necessary, just pull on some gloves and old clothes and join us for fun, color, and a new textile fixation.

Beginning Machine Applique- Instructor Kris Jacobsen

Are you interested in Machine Applique but think you have to have an expensive sewing machine with special stitches? Or maybe you have tried using the fusible webs and not been happy with the results.
In this class we will explore the various types of fusible web and how to use them. We will look at the types of stitches you can use, from satin stitch to decorative stitches and we will throw in a few machine quilting tips for finishing.

Capturing the View in Fabric- Instructors Diane Harman-Hoog and Kathleen Headley of Quilter's Threads

This is so easy you will wonder why you have not done it before. It is so exciting to have a scene pop forth in fabric of a picture you loved. The Quilt of the Month in this issue was done by Kathy using these techniques.

Your First Quilt - Beginning Quiltmaking _ Instructor Diane Harman-Hoog

Even if you have made a quilt or two but would like some solid basic information on quiltmaking, or if it is your first quilt you will have no problem with this project. I will add some some more advanced techniques for those you are interested. This is a pieced quilt done in Diane's folksy style of teaching. No question is too elementary, and the quilt police do not pay visits.

Unlike the Quilt in a Day books promised, you cannot make this quilt in a day, but you can make a quilt in the month of classes. Makes a great Christmas gift or decoration for yourself if you want to choose appropriate colors for that holiday. Your choice of two easy patterns, or make them both.

I know that you will love all these classes. I learned to dye fabric from Cherie and what fun! Our goal as quilters is to make quilt addicts of everyone!! The first time I appliqued anything, I said never again. I cannot tell you how many applique projects I have made since that statement - maybe 200. The first time I paper pieced, I said never again, that is now my standard way of piecing. The difference is learning the right ways to do it, alternative choices to try and shortcuts. so sign up with us and explore!

 

Let's Talk About Thread
I get quite a few emails and calls asking what thread someone should use. Well, it all depends. There are really no hard rules, but I will be offering this two part series on thread decision making. I have been working on this for some time, giving a lot of thought. Of course, I always love calls to discuss thread choice. Call me at our toll free number if you need an opinion. This chart will be on our web site when I complete it. This is just the first portion of the chart and a sneak preview.Continued next newsletter

Thread chart continued next newsletter.

Announcing the Coat Contest Winner
The winner of our Grand Opening Coat Contest is Kathleen Lee. Her beautiful rendition of the Ultimate Jean Jacket is pictured here. She will receive a $100 gift certificate to use at http://www.quiltersthreads.com . Beautiful job, Kathleen.

Kathleen in Her Beautiful Jacket

 Jacket Back

Jacket Front Jacket Detail

New Contest Will be Announced

A new contest will be announced in the next newsletter. I have received some beautiful printed fabric panels designed by Eldrid Førde Royset of Bremanger, Norway and the contest will offer prizes for the use of these wonderful panels that feature boathouse scenes from Norway. If you have ever been to Norway, or have relatives with roots in Scandinavia these panels will be highly prized for their beauty and for the memories they evoke.

There is a series of 8 inch X 10 inch  panels available. There are 6 unique views.They are suitable for inclusion in needlework and for framing. I am going to do both with mine

The panels are $10 each. They are made by professionally printing photographs that have .made and manipulated by a true artist on a non-shiny satin fabric.

As soon as I identify a good framing source I will also be offering framed versions.

Here are a couple of samples of the 6 panels.

All the panels can be seen under gifts or Fabric Packs at http://www.quiltersthreads.com/gifts.htm

Hints From Diane
What to do with all those scraps? As I am cleaning up from a project, I toss my scraps into a wicker laundry basket. When the basket gets full, I pick a day when I either want to watch a movie on TV or when I am not feeling very well and I sort. I buy boxes of zip-loc bags at Costco.

Using a few large paper bags, I throw scraps into each bag by color. A bag for red, a bag for blue, etc. Then I take each paper bag and divide it by size or shape. The first time I did this, I used a Sharpie pen and labeled the sandwich size Zip-loc bags with labels such as 2 1/2 inch strips, larger than 3" square, etc. Now I have most of the labels I need so I put the scraps in the appropriate bag. I leave the bag open so that the fabric can "breathe". Then I put these small bags into medium sized plastic containers labelled by color - such as yellows and oranges.

It only takes 3 or 4 of these small bags full of scraps to make a lap size quilts. Amazing isn't it?

When the scrap boxes grow too full, I offer them to internet friends, or if I hear of a charity that can use them, I forward some on to them. My scraps go on to live happy lives comforting some one.

If you know of someone who would enjoy these scraps let me know and I will add them to my list. Perhaps I should start a scrap donation program.

 
Mourning the Passing of Summer
Well, it has happened. Instead of moving us gently into the fall, this year, summer came to a dead stop and we went shooting into fall with the momentum.
I first realized this had happened on my last trip to the grocery story with my husband, he has to do most of the grocery shopping for me, but this time I went along. When I went to the produce section to get fruit for my cereal, there was nothing suitable, the berries, peaches and nectarines had gone for this year. Back to toast with peanut butter
The heater just came on for the first time and I pulled out the flannel long sleeved nightgowns..
I have been gradually changing into long pants and a light weight sweat jacket from my T-shirts and shorts or pedal pushers.
Somehow the trees have started sporting clumps of orange or yellow leaves, in a few cases red. Now I have to look for a different indication of my daughter's driveway, the red maple is loosing its leaves.
Only someone who has experienced the changing of seasons in the Pacific Northwest will really understand why I am sad. We only had a few days of summer weather this year, it was a rainy and cool summer. And now it will be rainy, dark and cold for the most part until late spring. We do not have the really cold weather of much of the country, but cold enough.
My flowers are almost gone in my yard. The yard will now wear its somber clothes until March.
The neighborhood kids are back in school, no more happy sound of children playing.
I have to wait behind the school bus with its four red lights flashing as it lets off the little kids, This always happens when I allowed just enough time to get somewhere.
For me the fall is the start of another year, probably from all these years of starting school in the fall.
There is snow forecast for some of the higher passes and of course it is raining, sometimes it seems like it is always raining.
I have to remind myself that the rain makes the beautiful greens and the lovely flowers of the non-rainy season, however, the think about half the rain would do it this year.

Can you tell I am grieving its passing?

Now I remind myself that the season of family holidays is coming. I remember the excitement of the kids over Halloween and the hard decision of what to "be"' . I personally used to favor a gypsy costume when I was a kid.
I hope I get to see a little girl in a gypsy costume.
I hope we get snow this year - I love snow. When I lived in Colorado I looked forward to fall, winter and spring.
I hope we get some glorious clear "bonus" days this fall and winter to lift the spirits.
I hope I get my Christmas gifts made. Since the recipients get this newsletter, I cannot say what they are.
I hope I get long hours of quilting in.
I hope I can be with my family on these holidays.

So maybe this is the season of hope after all.

Preview of Grandma Diane's Quilt Patterns For Kids™
These patterns are in testing and will be available by the end of October

Roly-Poly™

Jaxon A. Cat™

My Little Piggie™

Clover in the Meadow™

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