Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop February 2018 Newsletter

SSQS Journal

Issue 6 February 2018

Hello Sweet Stitches Friends,

For some of us winter is full of wishing for sunny days and warm weather especially when we have a cold, snowy winter like this one. For me, I like to enjoy each season as they come and for what they bring. Nothing makes you and your loved ones appreciate those quilts you have spent hours creating like these cold winter months. Cuddling on the couch at the end of the day with your favorite lap quilt and something warm to drink or adding another quilt to the pile on the bed for extra warmth, you just can't beat a good quilt that you have made!

Here at the shop we are looking forward to February being filled with all the quilting things we love. We have First Fridays Demonstration Day coming up and we are Crazy in Love with Crazy Quilts! National Day of Sewing will be a day set aside for sewing quilt blocks so we may wrap a veteran in thanks.Our annual Pre-game Mystery Quilt on Super Bowl Sunday is a fun way to get a quilt top done and ready to quilt before the big games whistle even blows. The winter months can also have us itching to get out of the house and what place better than heading to the Quilt Shop with a friend  to soak up some bright, happy color and maybe even learn something new. Be sure to check out our class calendar for upcoming classes and events for February and March!

May all your stitches be Sweet,

Joan

National Day of Sewing - February 3rd

Our first Quilt of Valor event for the year will be The National Day of Sewing which will take place on February 3, 2018 from 10 am until 4:00 pm in the shop classroom. The National Day of Sewing takes place at this time every year as quilters, quilt groups and shops get together to make quilts as a nation. This is our second year hosting this event at our shop and we would love to have our customers and friends join us.

Come into Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop on Saturday, February 3, 2018 between the hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm to sew a "String" quilt block for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Our classroom will have Elna sewing machines set up for you to use and all materials will be cut and ready for you to sew. Members of the String-A-Long Stars & Stripes Group will be there to help anyone wanting to make a quilt block to honor a veteran.

As a thank you, everyone that participates February 3rd will have their name in a drawing for one of three Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop Gift Certificates ($25.00, and $15.00 and $10.00 gift certificates) We will draw names at the end of the day. (winner need not be present). We will give the winners a call and certificates can be picked up the following week during our business hours.

We look forward to hosting more QOV sewing events throughout the year and working towards covering all our veterans in thanks!

Pre-Game Mystery Party - February 4th 

There is still time to join our team on Sunday, February 4, 2018 for our second annual Pregame Mystery Party! We have 3 draft picks open on the team as of writing this note so call the shop there still might be a spot to sign up for or register on our website.

The kick off starts at Noon and the game ends at 5:00 pm just in time to get home for the Super Bowl. The shop will open at 11:00 am so you can huddle up with your fellow players, find your position and get your machine set up for the kick off clue at noon. Every half hour from 12:00 to 5:00 you will receive a new clue to work towards the goal of building your mystery quilt. Your mystery quilt top should be complete by the end of our game day. The mystery quilt will be a finished size 64" x 82" quilt -  a nice lap size quilt for cuddling on the couch.

Sign up for the team by calling the shop or online here.

This  team event is limited to 11 players, so sign up soon! Sign up is $25.00 for the day and it must be paid to hold your spot. Each player will receive a list with fabric requirements and pregame prep work you will need to complete before game day comes around. There will be half-time food and drinks provided for our players and a little signing bonus for each player that day . So sign up soon, pick those team colors, get your game plan together and join Coach Joan on the field for a day of fun!

Sweetheart Deal on Machines - Sale

Running through Valentines Day, all Elna sewing Machines will be an additional 15% off the already low Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop display Sale Price! In addition, we have selected a machine to be our “Special One and Only”.

In Stock we have an Elna eXcellence 780 

This Machine is Elna’s TOP OF THE LINE sewing and quilting Machine.

•   Quilters will love the full 11" of bed space to the right of the needle.
•   Exceptionally smooth quilt piecing with the 780's Integrated Adjustable Feeding (I.A.F) system.
•   10 Built in LED lights and a retractable High Light™ provides a shadow-free workspace,
•   A 3” x 5” LCD touchscreen allows easy Navigation through the many features offered in this machine
•   Built-in superior needle threader makes threading easy
•   Automatic presser foot lift
•   350 built in stitches including Elna exclusive Heirloom stitches and 11 buttonholes
•   Variable zigzag / tapering for creative thread painting
•   91 needle positions with 0.1 mm increments
•   3MB memory and USB port
•   Stitch composer software

We want you to fall in love with your machine and this sale will make that easy.

If you have any thoughts of stepping into one of the best sewing and quilting machines on the market, this is your opportunity. We have ONE machine. We cannot offer this price on any orders or new shipments of this model. This machine is ready for a new home and many years of quilting. Elna rules say that we cannot publish pricing online so stop in the shop to see this machine or call for pricing and information.

To learn more about the eXcellence 780 CLICK HERE

Block of the Month - Sadies Keepsake       

For those of you participating in our Hand Embroidery Block of the Month Sadie’s Keepsake your Month 6 Block is now ready and available for pick up on or after February 2.

Block of the Month - Mystical Prism       

For those of you participating in our Mystical Prism Batik BOM, your Month 2 Block is now ready and available for pick up on or after February 2.

First Fridays

 

Our “First Fridays” Demonstration Day is February 2, 2018 from 10:30 am - 11:30 am in the shop classroom. Our theme for the Demo is Crazy In Love with  Crazy Quilts with Heather Bessler author of “Antique Crazy Quilts and Their Stitches”. Heather’s love of Crazy Quilts runs deep and her beautiful quilts are a testament to them. If you have a favorite crazy quilt in your collection bring it in to share with Heather and the group. Join us for this and every free Demo Day on the First Friday of each month. In March our Demo will be Totally Tubular Quilting!

We will be presenting Block 2 of our Mystical Prism Block of the Month right after our First Friday Demo at 11:30 am. Joan will have block construction tips to share with those who are participating in the Mystical Prism BOM program.

The classroom will be open for Free Sew Fridays after the Block of the Month Construction Tips for anyone who wants to stay and sew the day away until 4:00 pm so bring your projects, machines and meet other quilters!

Class Schedule for February and March

    

We have published our new class schedules for February and March so be sure to check out the new schedule by clicking the link here.

In February we have a Beginner Hand Embroidery class with Heather Bessler author of Antique Crazy Quilts and Their Stitches. Heather will be giving our First Fridays Demonstration on February 2 at 10:30 am on Crazy Quilt Construction and her beginner class in hand embroidery can get you stitching up a crazy quilt of your own. We will have the Chopsticks quilt class in February which uses the 12.5”- 60 Degree Triangle Ruler by Creative Grids that many of you already have in your ruler collection. The February Glimmer Quilt class that uses the Super Sidekick ruler by Jaybird Quilts is on the calendar in February and this same ruler that makes the Glimmer quilt also makes the Cookie Cutter quilt that will be featured in our March classes. Of course our usual suspects will be on the calendar - ABC’s of Free Motion Class,  Cutwork Applique, Hand Quilting and Beginning Quilting Classes too.

General Maintenance of your machine is critical for optimum performance. Just like any mechanical device, a sewing machine can last for many years and provide countless hours of excellent operation provided the basics of machine maintenance are applied. 

Tip: Stay Sharp my Friends, Stay Sharp! 


Of all the many parts that make up a sewing machine, very few parts actually contact your project and fabric. These contact points are critical for a successful outcome and none more so than your needle. While any guideline provided must come with multiple caveats, a good rule of thumb is to change your needle at least every 12 hours of sewing time. (i.e. 12 hours of machine running time). Consider the math, if you are sewing at an average stitch per minute (spm) of 400, your needle will impact your fabric, batting, interfacing, stabilizers over 280,000 times during that 12 hours of operation. That is a lot of impact and use! For the best outcomes, it is necessary to change your needles.
One more needle tip - if you are using an adhesive such as Steam a Seam or other adhesive products, it is likely that your needle will develop a film and become tacky. To minimize the problem, allow the adhesive to cure. Sewing soon after application is a sure way to end up with a sticky needle!