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What's New at CQ 2/20/20


"The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within." William Cullen Bryant



Learn to hand-quilt!

Click here for details.

 

Dear Fans of Fabric and Thread,

I’ve had some questions about the 2020 Aurifil Thread Club: Travel Through Italy, the most often-asked one being “What do the blocks look like?” The answer is, I have no idea! Aurifil is releasing the blocks one month at a time. The first one, which we are doing on March 5, uses a string-piecing technique. The second one is a poppy and will use applique and thread painting. I am looking at this as a journey (in more ways in one) that may challenge our quilting skills, teach us some new skills, and promise something new each month.

Another question I’ve had is, “Will I be able to make a quilt with the blocks at the end of the year?” That is, of course, entirely up to you. The two blocks that I’ve seen so far are 12” square. Hopefully Aurifil will continue with that measurement, but there are ways to make a block be a particular measurement if they don’t. Each block will be a different colorway; you can see the colors in the marketing that Aurifil is doing online. I will try to use colors in the Capital Quilts blocks that work together, but in the end it will depend on what stock I have on hand. You can always make a block using your own fabrics. Use ours for practice!

We’ve also had people finding it difficult to sign up for Travel Through Italy on our website. If you are experiencing this, please call the shop at 301-527-0598 and we will register you.

This Block of the Month club will be a time for us to learn together and share with each other for an hour or two. I’m looking forward to meeting you and spending time with you as we explore Italy and sewing techniques. And you will have a beautiful collection of thread come this time next year!

Did you know Capital Quilts offers financing on Handi Quilter machines and on Janome machines over $3,000? Ask us about it when you are shopping for a new machine! Machines that are financed are sold at full retail price, because Capital Quilts has to pay all or part of the interest costs. Machines that are sold for cash or by credit card are discounted, usually about 20%.

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.

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.

If your guild is having a challenge and you’d like to hang the challenge quilts in our Gallery for a week or two, let me know!


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 26.


NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
For you modern quilters, we have twelve gorgeous, color-saturated bolts of Sun Prints 2020 by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics.  $12.99 per yard.

If you're a more traditional quilter, Chelsea from Northcott Fabrics is for you!  This 15 bolt collection features lilacs, violets, and bees in soft violet and greens. $12.50 per yard.

If you liked the Spin Basic prints we showed you last week, you'll love these strip sets and charm packs!  Each package contains 2 pieces each of 20 fabrics, and are die-cut for precision.  Charm packs, $10.99 each; 2 1/2" strips, $43.99 each.


ACCUQUILT
2/19/20-2/25/20: $50 off GO! Big (sale $549.99, regularly $599.99). Discount taken at the register.


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!

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. This offer expires on March 1.

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.

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! Skill level: easy.

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. Skill level: intermediate.

Got scraps? Especially batik scraps? Use them to make a Mini Mosaic with Kat Martinez on Tuesday, March 10 and 17, 10:30-12:30. Don’t have scraps? No worries! Kat offers small batik squares at a very reasonable price. These small quilts look lovely hanging on a wall in your home and make very nice gifts. Skill level: easy but fiddly.

NEW CLASS ADDED: Spend time with best-teacher-ever Kim Jalette to learn how to do English Paper Piecing in Stars of Savannah on Tuesday, March 10 and 24, 2-4. Make a small but beautiful quilt and get hooked on the EPP technique at the same time. It’s a two-fer! Skill lever: beginner and up.

Guess what shape the Banana Bag is? It doesn’t look like a rutabaga, I’m here to say. Phyliss Jaffe will teach you how to make this small zippered pouch that is perfect for transporting a rotary cutter safely, pens and pencils, make-up, or any other smallish item. Join us on Wednesday, March 11, 10:30-12:30. Skill level: confident beginner


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!


SAVE THE DATE:
     = March 21 & 22: Southern Comforters "Best Little Quilt Show in Maryland", Bowie, MD
     = April 16 - 18: Faithful Circle "Facets of Quilting" Show, Columbia, MD
     = April 24 & 25: "Quilt Like a Pro" Handi Quilter Education Event, Gaithersburg, MD
     = May 29 - 31: Quilters Unlimited "QU Goes to the Zoo" Show, Chantilly, VA
     = June 13 & 14: Annapolis Quilt Guild "Quilts by the Bay" Show, Annapolis, VA
     = October 8 - 12: Quilter's Quest


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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Capital Quilts website

HOURS
Monday-Saturday, 11-5
Sunday 12-5

CONTACT US

  • Tel: 301-527-0598
  • 15926 Luanne Drive
  • Gaithersburg, MD 20877

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