Skip Navigation Website Accessibility

Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop March 2021 Newsletter


 

SSQS Journal

Issue 43 March 2021 





 

Hello Everyone and Welcome March!

We hope everyone had a chance to take in some of the sunshine last week after all that snow the week before. It was nice to hear the birds chirping - let's hope that is a sign that Spring will soon be here. I think the warmer weather and sunnier days ahead will help boost spirits. It's been a year now and we have become used to our new normal. We are all coping with it the best we can, some days better than others but making it through all the same. We see a lot of you weekly sometimes monthly and you share your ups and downs with us as our shop is more than just a place to get quilting supplies, it's in itself its own little community where friends gather and share their quilting and their lives. Let's face it, this has been one crazy, scary year. We have seen tears, we have heard your worries, your struggles and you have heard ours. It hasn't been all bad, we have still managed to laugh, joke and take a few minutes out of the day to enjoy each other's company. I think it's important that we all need to continue to be there for each other, we need to stay supportive and we need to keep encouraging each other to keep going. Our goal at the shop is to help everyone stay inspired even on those difficult days, to keep your hands and your minds busy with making and creating Quilts. I think the creativity of Quilting has helped see many of us through the uncertainty, it's helped us find a sense of peace and has kept us connected through our love of fabric and making. What a wonderful thing Quilting is, sewing together colorful pieces, creating lasting friendships and getting us through the tough times - thank you Quilting!

May all your stitches be sweet,

Joan





Friday, March 5, 2021

Our March Demo Day theme is "Beautifully Blended" we are talking fabric blends to blending fabrics for beautiful art quilts, bags and quilting projects. We will throw it all in the blender and call it Quilt Happy Hour with lots of tips, tricks and techniques to help you mix some fun into your quilting.

Friday Demo Days are a little different now but we don't want you to miss out on what's new in the shop so we produce a monthly video so you can watch at home. Be sure to stop by the shop to see the projects in person and pick up items to make your own projects.

A link to the Demo Day Video will be provided on the morning of March 5th.



Our owner's group Go! Play Days! will continue in 2021!

Accuquilt cutter owners receive a link to a new video each month featuring tips, tricks, and project ideas presented by Darla. The Go! Play Day! video link is delivered by email exclusively to our owners inbox.

Stay tuned for the Go! Play Day! video on the third Thursday of March because Darla has a fun project blooming!

CLASS CALENDAR


Sweet Stitches offers a variety of classroom instruction for beginners through advanced students. We continue to add new project classes to the calendar along with many of our favorites. If you are interested to explore our classes, click the link below that will take you to our calendar or you can find the calendar and a list of classes on our website by clicking Classes in the top banner.


Please note that for the foreseeable future our Covid rules will remain in place so we all stay safe. We will have a maximum number of Three people in our classes and masks will be required for class participants and instructors. 

Click Here for the March Class Calendar


Progressive 5 Month Block of the Month
Coffee House

The first block sets are now available for those that have signed up for the Coffee House Block of the Month. Joan has selected a beautiful colorway for this fun and dynamic quilt and has her Coffee House quilt top on display in the shop.  Each participant received an email that contained a link to a short video tutorial reviewing the first months block and providing tips and tricks for success.

Future blocks will be available on the fourth Friday of each month along with an email and a tutorial video from Joan to help guide your progress.

Joan's Coffee House Quilt Top:




A Machine Minute

General Maintenance and proper technique are critical for optimum performance of your sewing machine and project outcome.

A wound bobbin is good, an uptake lever wound with thread, not so good...

We have been pulling a lot of thread off of uptake lever assemblies of late. When thread is not fully inserted in and through the uptake lever it can fall back and become wrapped around the lever mechanism. This issue tends to show itself with machines that have a small check spring on the uptake lever. If the thread fails to pass by the check spring it will fall back to the bottom of the uptake lever and when you begin to sew the thread is wrapped around the posts that connect the uptake lever to the upper shaft.

While usually not a major issue, we have seen several machines with so much thread wrapped around the posts the the movement of the lever is restricted and it becomes bent. The thread wrapped around the mechanism also absorbs any lubricant and can leave the parts open to premature wear.

Take your time when you thread your machine. Make sure the presser foot lever is in the up position and slow down to be sure you properly thread your machine. We perform this routine so many times it becomes automatic but automatic does not always translate to accurate.





 
Quilters of all skill levels can find encouragement, inspiration and creativity at Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop. Located in Chesterton, Indiana just a few miles from the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop is your destination for fabrics, notions and all things quilting. We carry a wide variety of brights, batiks and reproduction fabrics as well as notions, patterns, books and Elna/Janome sewing machines. Our large classroom offers students everything they need to learn and grow their quilting talents. From fabric selection to project advice to training on your new machine, our friendly, knowledgeable staff is ready to assist. Stop by the store or click the "Shop Online" link to view our wide variety of products ready to ship direct to your door.


1585 South Calumet Road  Chesterton, IN 46304
219.250.5942
www.sweetstitchesquiltshop.com

Follow Us on Facebook