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Dear Sew Kind Friends,
My sincere thanks to my staff for doing a great job keeping the shop running smoothly while I visited Spain with my daughter last week. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, touring the Gaudi buildings and parks in Barcelona, the Dali museum in Figueres, and the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. Serendipitously, there was a Basque festival going on in Bilbao last week and the whole town was in party mode, with parades, wandering minstrels, log cutting contests, water polo in the river, fireworks, and good food and drink. We considered Bilbao a place we might like to live – until we looked up the climate of the region and discovered that its rainy season is 7 months long! August is a great time to visit there.
Row by Row 2019 is nearly at an end! The final day is next Tuesday, September 3. After September 3, we will sell the 2019 patterns and kits in the shop only (not online) while supplies last.
Our monthly Sit-N-Sew event is tomorrow evening, 5-9. It is free! Bring your own project and sewing needs and some food to share with the others who come. Make new friends and enjoy being with others who share your passion for sewing.
To wash or not to wash; that is the question. “Do you prewash your fabrics?” is a great conversation starter! There are reasons to do so and reasons not to do so, of course. I personally do not usually prewash unless I need to get the shrink out (for clothing, mainly) or if the quilt is for a baby or other person whose skin may be sensitive to the chemicals in the fabric. I ALWAYS check dark fabrics (especially red, blue, and purple) for bleeding by cutting off a small bit and placing it in a white bowl with hot water and a drop of laundry detergent and swishing it around. If the water changes color, I treat the fabric with a dye fixative such as Retayne. I also recommend washing dark fabrics and light fabrics separately. If a dark fabric sneaks in there with the lights and causes some discoloration, try washing the discolored lights with an oxygen bleach product. I also recommend using a product called Synthropol in the wash when you wash a completed quilt for the first time. Synthropol is a special detergent that suspends dye particles so that they do not reattach to fabric.
Announcement: We've added a Rag Basket class on Saturday, August 31 at 2:30pm. Make your own rag basket in this popular class! They're great for storage, gifts, etc. Sign up online, at the shop, or by phone 301-527-0598.
You have more than 4 weeks to complete our Book Cover Challenge! Be inspired by a favorite book and design an 18” x 24” quilt that represents the book, like a piece of cover art. Bring us your completed quilt not later than September 30. We will hang the quilts in the Gallery during Quilters’ Quest. I think that is appropriate for the Quilters’ Quest Book Tour theme, don’t you? Prizes will be offered. There is a small $5 registration fee. Call or visit the shop to register to participate in this fun event!
LABOR DAY: Capital Quilts will close at 4:00pm on Monday, September 2nd.
We have three available Quilt Appraisal appointments with Phyllis Twigg Hatcher on Saturday, September 7th.
Quilters’ Quest is just 6 weeks away! Reserve your seat on our bus now so you are not disappointed later. We travel to all 10 shops in 2 days, October 14 & 15, provide lunch, snacks, and a hostess with the mostest to take care of your every need.
Thank you for shopping at Capital Quilts!
Go ‘n’ piece,
Alison
SHOP OPEN LATER HOURS:
We are always open until 9 on Fridays; when we have an evening class, we keep the shop open until 9 on that day, too. Upcoming evenings when we will be open until 9pm: August 29 and 30, and September 6, 10, 11 and 13.
IN THE GALLERY: You have just a few more days to come and see Nancy Sharp’s delightful and improvisational quilts. They will be on display through the end of the month. It may set you on a whole new quilting path!
In September, we will feature the wonderful quilts of Bobbie Korengold.
HANDI QUILTER FLOOR MODEL SALE: Handi Quilter longarm machines for less!
Simply Sixteen: MSRP $5995, now $5,100
Amara: MSRP $11,995, now $8,499. Your choice of a 10’ or 12’ frame.
Forte with ProStitcher: MSRP $24,495, now $18,495. Your choice of a 10’ or 12’ frame.
We will install your machine free of charge and provide a free lesson on its basic use and maintenance. There is a separate free class for the ProStitcher.
VENDOR SPECIALS IN AUGUST
ACCUQUILT:
Machine Special: August 1-31, receive $100 off the purchase of a GO! Big Fabric Cutter Started Set at the register! Present a completed coupon (we have them available in the shop) at the time of purchase.
Rebate on All Fabric Cutters: August 14-31, get a $30 rebate on GO! Me, $75 on the GO! fabric cutter starter set and the Ready Set GO! Ultimate Cutting System, and $150 off the GO! Big Starter Set. You must send in the rebate form and a copy of your receipt to AccuQuilt to receive the money back. May not be combined with the GO! Big special detailed above.
JANOME:
Summer Scratch Off Giveaway! Come in for a demo and instantly win a prize with the Summer Scratch Off Savings Giveaway! While supplies last. We don’t always remember to offer the Scratch Off Coupon, so please remind us.
SEW STEADY:
Sew Steady has a Versa-Table & Travel Bag Bundle on sale through 8/31/19. Use the 16” x 13.5” base only for small spaces and small projects. Easily extend to 16” x 27” for bigger projects and spaces. Includes: 8 Legs, 2x Acrylic Leg Locks, Grid Glider, 15″ x 20″ Teal Bag + BONUS Polish Kit. $199, made to order.
CLASSES:
Register for classes online, in the shop, or by calling 301-527-0598. Please register early; we need at least 3 people to make a class happen. If the class is cancelled by Capital Quilts, you will get a refund. If you let us know you can’t make it at least 8 days in advance of the class, you will get a store credit. Cancellations 7 or fewer days before the class are not refundable, but you can try to find someone to take your place. If there is waiting list, we’ll try to help with that. The Supply List for each class may be found on our website at the lower left-hand corner of the class page. You may have to scroll down to find it.
Our free Sit and Sew session is coming up on Friday, August 30, from 5-9. bring your project to work on, and perhaps a snack to share with your fellow sewists. Capital Quilts provides space and beverages. First come, first served.
Make a Rag Basket on Saturday, August 31 at 2:30pm! Rag bowls have been made since the beginning of time, it seems. Bowls that are wrapped into a coil have been found in many archeological digs going back for centuries. In more recent history, rag bowls were made in Appalachia along with rag rugs that were known to hold up over time. Rag bowls are sturdy, versatile and fun to make. This class will provide instructions for making a small bowl and hopefully have you leaving with your bowl and all you need to make more.
Debra Ball will show you how to turn a favorite t-shirt into a keepsake for a special person. Learn how to stabilize the knit fabric, add a flanged border, and make an envelope-style pillow cover. The techniques taught in this class are the same ones used to make a T-Shirt quilt. T-shirt Pillow is being offered Wednesday, September 4 at 12:30.
Karen Fricke is teaching her popular Beaded Sampler class again, starting on Friday, September 6 at 2:30pm. You can add interest and excitement to quilts, bags, clothing, buttons, and more. Make a 9-patch block (or purchase one from the instructor) and fill each piece with a different beaded stitch. You’ll go home with a sampler and printed directions for making each stitch. Your class kit includes beads, beading thread, beading needle, pages of instructions, and a metal ring to bind your booklet.
Want to finish your own quilts? Take Getting Started: The Handi Quilter Longarm on Friday, September 6, 6-9. Barbara Bean will go over the basic functions and maintenance of the Amara and Forte machines. Completion of this class enables you to rent our machines to quilt your own quilts.
If you are comfortable with the basics of ProStitcher and would like to learn more, register for Custom Quilting with ProStitcher on Sunday, September 8, 1-4. Elyse will go over how to fit quilting designs to blocks, triangles, sashing, and borders; how to size, align, and skew; crop out areas of the quilting design for appliques and embroideries; and fitting border corners and “chunking” borders.
Elyse is back on September 10 to teach Art & Stitch: Getting Started. She will go over the basics and the most often used tools and techniques and help you create your own Edge-to-Edge quilting pattern. This class is suitable for both beginners and as a skill builder for intermediate users.
The next session of the Capital Quilts Complete Course of Quilting begins on Wednesday, September 11. There are two times available: the afternoon, 2-4, and the evening, 6:30-8:30. Choose one of the two. Jan Wisor teaches the afternoon course and Betsy Kulamer the evening one.
Here is a fun new table runner to make. The Take Five Table Runner is based on 5” squares. You can adjust the size by adding or subtracting squares. Best of all, there are no seams to match! Pam Blodgett teaches this great project on Thursday, September 12, 10:30-12:30.
CAPITAL QUILTS CARES:
All events are free and fabric is provided. You need bring only your sewing machine, neutral thread, and sewing supplies. Please register for each workshop so that we know how many to expect. Coming up:
Interfaith Works Women's Center Quilts: Sunday, September 15, from 12-3. Join Billye and Lori to make quilts for the women at the shelter.
Ryan's Case for Smiles: Help us make pillowcases for Ryan's Case for Smiles, a volunteer organization solely dedicated to helping kids feel better to heal better. While other great organizations focus on research and finding a cure, they work to improve the quality of life of children and their families as they undergo treatment. Colorful, fun pillowcases are a part of this mission to give children an emotional boost and remind them that they are not defined by their illness. Friday, September 20 at 10:30am.
Small Kennel Quilts: We are always accepting small kennel quilts, and we always have free basic kits available for you to take home to make and return to us. (They're great stashbusters, too!) They are a perfect little project for practicing your quilting skills! We receive requests from shelters for completed kennel quilts on a frequent basis, and hurricane season is here!
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
We have 16 new colors of Palette by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics. Palette has the perfect color blenders for all your quilting and sewing needs. These solids have a subtle movement that will add depth to any project. $10.99 per yard.
Snow Days from Henry Glass features whimsical snowmen and a modern, "folksy" feel. Panel, $9.50 each. Yardage, $11.99 per yard.
Meridian from P&B Textiles will transform your next project with its gorgeous geometric circles. Enjoy the bright and bold paired with the deep and dark colors that make this line POP. This is truly a unique collection that can take your project to the next level. $12.99 per yard.
Also from P&B are these two bolts from the Flora Fantasia line. Bright, alive, and digitally printed, these petals seem to jump off the fabric! Pastels add a touch of softness to an otherwise bold palette. $13.50 per yard.
Wool Scrap Bags from Moda are back in stock! These affordable packs are a great way to get all the wool colors you need. Each bag contains a half-pound of assorted high-quality wool scraps. $24.99 each.
SAVE THE DATE:
• September 14: Bobbie Korengold lecture at 3
• September 21-22: Friendship and Eternal Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Linthicum, MD
• October 11-20: Quilters' Quest
• October 14 & 15: Capital Quilts' Quest Bus (reserve your seat today!)
• November 1-3: Everybody's Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Westminster, MD
• November 2: Heather Kojan Lecture/Trunk Show, 12-1
• November 4: Heather Kojan Workshop “Five Easy Geeses”, 11-3
• November 16: LickinFlames Trunk Show, 3-5
COMMUNITY CORNER
Join the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Baltimore Constellation Chapter for a very special event! Heather Hook's “Closet of History: a Timeline of Embroidery & Fashion in the 19th Century” on Saturday, October 12th at the Chartwell Country Cub (no stairs!) in Severna Park. Heather will be sharing a large portion of her 4000+ antique clothing collection with participants. Learn about the rise and fall of women's fashions in the 19th century, with special emphasis on embroidered pieces. Lunch will be served. $40 per person. Please contact Leslie Carson (lcarson55@aol.com) for additional information or to purchase tickets.
Capital Quilts has supported Friends of Montgomery County Animals in the past by donating pet beds and promoting events for them. FMCA is celebrating their 45th year anniversary, and invite you to join them at a wine tasting event at the Olney Winery on September 15th. Tip: online tickets are less expensive than they will be at the door. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and 5 tastings are included with the price of your ticket, in addition to a $3 voucher good toward the purchase of your first bottle of wine and a chance of winning a fabulous wine basket! Silent Auction and fun items for sale to benefit FMCA. Visit www.olneywinery.com/events/fmca for more information and ticket sales.
Are you part of a group that needs a meeting space? Capital Quilts is happy to rent you its classroom for just $25 an hour. It’s a great space for sewing bees, small sewing, knitting or other craft groups, and kids’ sewing parties. Our staff is on hand to assist you. You can bring food and drink (just please keep it in the classroom!).
BLUE BAG BONANZA
August’s prize is a "Dash Flow" charm pack from Dear Stella, and a Quilts and More Magazine.
To be entered in each month’s drawing, bring your Capital Quilts Blue Bag with you when you shop. Make sure you show it to the staffer at the register! Upon completion of your sales transaction, your name will be put in the jar for the drawing at the end of the month. The more you shop, the more chances you have to win. Don’t have a Blue Bag? Purchase one at the shop, by phone, or online for just $4.99. We save all of the entries for the year, and at the end of the year we draw a Grand Prize Winner from all the entries.
Our thanks to everybody who shops at Capital Quilts and who participates in the Blue Bag Bonanza.
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