Dear Fabricologists,
A big thank you to the Village Piecemakers Guild of Poolesville, MD for inviting me to speak at their guild meeting this week! Kat went with me, and we enjoyed seeing everybody and being able to share stories and information with the guild. Great show and tell, ladies!
If your guild would like to have us come give a talk and have a conversation at one of your meetings, please let me know. We offer a pop-up shop as well, which we can also do at retreats.
 Announcing a NEW Block of the Month program: Travel Through Italy, this year’s Aurifil Thread Club, with me as your travel guide. This is a 12-month journey to 12 cities in Italy, with a new block and three new large Aurifil 50wt thread spools each month. Each month we will introduce a mini-collection featuring a new hue. Each month you’ll receive your Aurifil Thread pack, directions to make a block, and a fabric pack with which to make the block. We’ll meet on the first Thursday of each month, beginning March 5, at 10:30, for about an hour. If we find we need more time, then we will carry on! I’ll talk a bit about the month’s city and go over how to make the block. March’s city is Milan, home of Aurifil Thread. Milan introduces a trio of grays, cool tones inspired by a brisk walk through the city, down narrow cobblestoned streets with the noise of trams and weaving vespas giving way to the morning bustle.
This is a subscription club, meaning that each month we will charge your credit card $39.95. Come next February, you’ll have 36 large spools of beautiful 50 weight thread, 12 blocks, and a year of Italian travelogues! Sign up today online, in the shop, or by phone 301-527-0598. Thanks for joining us!
1st Saturday Club members: If you need to learn more about using the Studio 180 Wedge Ruler before we start to make the Alaska quilt, sign up for Pat’s workshop, Alaska Specialty Ruler Class. The class meets on Sunday, April 5, 2-5. The maximum number of students in this workshop is 12. If a second session is needed to accommodate all those who want to take this class, we will schedule another workshop.
 For the past few years, ByAnnie.com has shown love to local quilt shops across the country with their Local Quilt Shop Contest. ByAnnie.com is dedicated to local quilt shops and the diverse cultures they provide to the sewing community.
As well as supporting creativity, by opting to shop local you are helping to enrich your local economy. If you haven't already done so, please consider voting for us in the ByAnnie.com and Patterns By Annie LQS contest! Simply head to https://www.byannie.com/LQS-Contest, click on "+ Add", and type in Capital Quilts. Then, complete the form and click "Submit". This year, Free Spirit Fabrics and Schmetz Needles are also contributing to the prize packages! Remember that when we win, you win, too!
So many of you voted for us last year that we were able to bring you a trunk show, and based on your feedback, we are now scheduling By Annie classes.
Capital Quilts IS NOW CLOSED ON MONDAYS. We are doing this as a cost savings measure. Our online shop is still open 24-7!
As always, thank you for supporting Capital Quilts with your dollars, your online voice, and your energy. There are lots of places and ways to shop these days, and I appreciate your choosing to shop at Capital Quilts to keep our wonderful community here for all to enjoy.
Go ‘n’ Piece,
Alison
IN THE GALLERY
Drop by to see quilts that have been made as models for past classes. Most of them are available for sale.
SHOP OPEN LATE
Capital Quilts is always open until 9 on Friday evenings. In the upcoming week, we will also be open until 9 on Wednesday, February 19.
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
 You've asked for more wide backs, and Northcott has sent some! We have two bolts of Stonehenge; one navy blue and one in blues, lavenders, and greens. For you more modern people, we have Dream Weaver in greys. $19.99 per yard.
"Zinnia" precuts are now available! These prints in shades of fuchsia, orange, and purple may be purchased as either 5" charm squares for $10.99, or 2 1/2" strips for $43.99.
Finally, golds, rust, geometric lines, and subtle earth tones comprise Speakeasy, a sophisticated batik collection designed by Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis for Island Batik. $13.99 per yard.
ACCUQUILT
Take 20% off GO! dies and cutting mats through February 17. Some exclusions apply. In stock items only.
HANDI QUILTER
The Capri has arrived and is set up right by our front door. It is a BIG machine for SMALL spaces. Price: $7,995. I’ll include the VersaRuler and a 12” straight ruler for FREE if you purchase before March 15th!
Handi Quilter ProStitcher owners: Handi Quilter is replacing the Art & Stitch software with their own Pro-Stitcher Designer software. If you are already a Pro-Stitcher owner, you can take advantage of a limited-time offer and save almost $400. Until June 30, 2020, purchase your digital copy of Pro-Stitcher Designer for just $199.95. Visit the new www.ProStitcher.com to learn more. While Art & Stitch is still in existence, Handi Quilter will no longer support it.
JANOME
We are having a Janome Floor Model Sale on 3 selected machines here at Capital Quilts. The 15000, Skyline S9, and 500E (embroidery only) machines are on deep discount, nearly half off in most cases. These machines are floor models, lightly used and well cared for. A free lesson in the use of the machine is included.
Janome is celebrating its 99th anniversary in 2020. To celebrate, they are offering great pricing and bundles on most of their machines. Check out the brochure in the shop or at www.janome.com. If I don’t have a particular model in stock, I am happy to order one for you.
• Save $500 on the new Continental M7 or the top-of-the-line quilting machine, the 9450, and receive a gift with a value of $1,001 that includes a roller bag, the Kimberly Einmo Block of the Month, 3 Kimberly Einmo rulers, and a Kimberly Einmo jelly roll.
• Save $300 on your purchase of the embroidery-only Memory Craft 550E and receive the Acufil Quilting Kit, AcuStitch Software, AND the new Artistic Digitizer 1.5 for FREE, a $1,734 value.
• Save $300 on the MC6700P, a workhorse of a machine that sews 1200 stitches per minute.
These are just three of the many machines Janome has placed on sale and in most cases bundled with freebies. It’s a great time to buy a Janome!
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 of the class fee. If you let us know you can’t make it at least 8 days before the class, you will get a store credit of the class fee. 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 a 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.
Get help sandwiching your quilt at Sandwich Night on Friday, February 14, at 6, 7 or 8 o’clock. Contact the shop or go online to make an appointment. Bring your pressed quilt top, batting, backing, and basting spray or pins. If you are going to have your quilt quilted on a longarm, you do not need to sandwich it.
Can’t make it to Sandwich Night? Come on Tuesday, February 18 for Sandwich Day! Appointments are available at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Contact the shop or go online to make your appointment.
Make a pin to showcase the Loony Lady in you in Pins With Attitude, Thursday, February 20, 5:30-8:30. Karen Fricke will show you how to use a beading needle and how to make crazy hair. Let the world see the Wild Woman, the Awesome Aunt, or the Crazy Cook that is you…or a friend…
Do you know someone who would like to learn how to sew? Learn to Sew meets on Saturday, February 22, 2:30-5:30. Lora Houck will teach the students how to use a sewing machine, basic information about fabric, how to press fabric, how to sew a straight and a curved line, and how to “unsew” a seam. Make a pillowcase to take home!
Lois Sumser shows you how to make a unique bowl out of clothesline and fabric strips in Rag Baskets, Friday, February 28, 1:30-4:30. This is one of our most popular classes!
The February Sit-n-Sew is on Friday the 28th, 5-9. Bring your project, your supplies, and some food to share with your fellow sewists. Capital Quilts provides beverages. Free!
Kathy Barden is teaching Running With Scissors on Saturday, February 29, 1-4:30. This By Annie tool case is a companion to the Take a Stand Tote. Unzip it and drape it inside out over the Take a Stand tote to give you easy access to your tools. Please note the new date, as this class was originally scheduled for the 15th.
CAPITAL QUILTS CARES All CQ Cares events are free, and we provide fabric and patterns. Please bring your sewing machine, neutral thread, and supplies. Please register for each event online, by phone at 301-527-0598, or in the shop so that we know how many to expect. Thank you!
Interfaith Works Women’s Center: Help us make string quilts for this women’s center in Rockville. The quilts are given to the women for their beds, bringing a cheerful atmosphere to an otherwise rather drab room. The next workshop is led by Billye Roberts on Sunday, March 1, 12-5.
Quilts of Valor: The next QOV workshop will be on Friday, March 13, 12:30-3. Help us make quilts that will comfort our veteran service men and women.
Walker Bags: These bags attach to walkers and wheelchairs and are useful for carrying keys, wallets, tissues, and more. They will be donated to local senior centers. Jan Wisor leads this workshop on Saturday, March 28, 1-4.
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. (The quilts are great stash-busters, 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. Shipping these kennel quilts is expensive for us; we appreciate any cash donations, no matter the size, to alleviate this. Thank you!
COMMUNITY CORNER:
Visit the Mansion at Strathmore Feb 29–April 19, 2020 for Working with the Muse, presented by Studio Art Quilt Associates.
Members of Studio Art Quilt Associates, numbering more than 3,400 artists, teachers, and quilt enthusiasts, are dedicated to the production and evolution of contemporary quilt design. Artists focus their talents on the craftsmanship of each quilt, often incorporating hand-dyed fabrics and surface designs. The results are an astonishing tribute to the ever-changing fine art of textiles.
Generous support for this exhibition is provided by Karen Lefkowitz and Al Neyman
Opening Reception Thu, March 5, 7pm
Artists in Fiction Book Club Wed, March 18 & April 15, 3 & 7pm
Bilingual Talk & Tour for Kids Sat, March 28, 11:30am
Curator’s Tour Sat, March 28, 1pm
Visita del Curador en Español sáb, 28 de marzo, 2pm
BLUE BAG BONANZA
February’s prize is 2 Creative Curves rulers by Virginia Walton and her pattern, “Windmills in my Garden”, plus a sample of fabric by Figo.
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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