Dear Friends,

It's that time of year again! ByAnnie.com is holding their annual Local Quilt Shop Contest, and we would like your vote! Whether or not we "win", we always love reading all your comments about why you voted for us.

Quilts of Valor is looking for more volunteers! Although they usually meet during the week, they will meet on Saturday February 1 for the QOV National Sew Day. 

Happy Sewing!

-Marianne

Quiltfolk Issue 33: New Mexico has arrived! 

One look through this issue, and it’s easy to understand why New Mexico is called The Land of Enchantment. The state’s breathtaking views, rich history, and, of course, the stunning quilts and their talented creators are sure to leave you captivated. Though it’s often portrayed as an arid desert, New Mexico boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the US, with everything from expansive, red-hued deserts and lush grasslands to mesas and towering, snow-capped mountains. The landscapes of New Mexico feel almost otherworldly. 

And speaking of the otherworldly, New Mexico is also home to one of the most famous conspiracy theories—the Roswell incident. In 1947, a United States Army Air Forces balloon allegedly crashed near Roswell, sparking rumors of a downed extraterrestrial spacecraft.

Over the years, the Roswell story has grown into a mix of mythology and mystery, analyzed by everyone from social anthropologists to skeptics. As you know, Quiltfolk loves a good tale, and this issue is full of them. While they do not have any extraterrestrial sightings to report, we think you’ll agree—New Mexico’s quilters are out of this world.  

Bill and Weeks from the Modern Quilt Studio have put out Transparency Watercolors, and we've brought in a few to plump out our color walls.

Making Music from Benartex features... you guessed it, musical stuff.  We have horns, tossed instruments, wavy keyboards, and colorful musical symbols.

We've gotten in some princess, castles, and swirls.  Hurrah!

Use the Applipops Rings, starch, iron, and pop out! It’s that easy! Want to see Applipops in action? Watch a how-to video here. Applipops are made of beautiful stainless steel that will not stain, corrode, or rust. But remember, because they are metal, they will get hot after prolonged contact with the iron. Let them cool down before picking them up, please. 

I could not resist these two jewel-toned blenders!

Classes

Get it Done is back! Gather up your unfinished sewing  projects and bring them to Capital Quilts on January 31st. Enjoy time you can dedicate to getting those projects DONE! Kat will be here to offer suggestions, guidance, and support.

Join Linda and the QOV group on 2/1 to make a Quilt of Valor. These quilts are tremendously important to the men and women who serve our country in the military.  Help us support our vets by making a Quilt of Valor.  The group will make one quilt.  All fabric is provided.  Just register for either the morning or the afternoon session, then bring your sewing machine, supplies, and lots of energy!

Relax with fellow quilters on the evening of Friday, 2/7 for a virtual quilting bee. Settle into your favorite sewing space with your favorite Zoom-compatible technology for 2 hours of stitching and chatting. Everyone will have a chance to talk about what they’ve been working on and pose questions to the other quilters. Each month, a guest speaker shares her enthusiasm for an aspect of quilting – a designer, a technique, a hot topic -- with lots of inspiring ideas and photos.

NEW CLASS ALERT! Elizabeth is teaching a "Fast and Easy Tote" on February 9th.  You'll be amazed at just how quick this is to make, and will soon be making them for all your friends.

Have you been wanting to learn how to longarm? Well, here is your chance! Cynthia is teaching Getting Started: The HandiQuilter Longarm on 2/11 for all those interested in renting our machines to finish their quilts.

Pro-Stitcher Premium is the program that we use to computerize the longarm stitching, instead of using hand-guided free motion. If using these designs interests you, you need this class on 2/11!

Come in on 2/12 to work on Quilts for Kids. All fabric is provided. These quilts are donated to local kids in need. Lots of fun is always the rule in our free Capital Quilts workshops.

Karen has offered to teach a special "Valentine's Day" class. Scheduling means that the class is happening on Saturday, 2/15. This is a great class if you avoid patterns with curves. Methods for fabric preparation, accurate cutting, pressing, handling, and accurate piecing of curves are demonstrated. The “kiss” block uses a traditional Drunkard’s Path (or quarter circle) block. This special occasion class includes the “kiss” block pattern and options for putting more “kisses” together into a larger quilt. 

Linda is offering a Reversible Bucket Hat class on 4/12.  In class you will have the option to cut out your fabric by hand, or you can use the Accuquilt die. The pattern is included with the class. Be warned: they're like potato chips. Once you make one...

CLUB INFO

It isn't too late to join one of our clubs! Most still have spaces available. If you are interested, please call the shop or stop by, as there is no way to register online for a club that has already started. Many clubs offer reduced registration fees for students starting after January.

Click on the Club name to learn more.

Second Saturday Club

Area 51 UFO Club

Men's Quilting Club

Longarm Club

Prostitcher Club

Hand-Piecing Club

English Paper Piecing Club

Lancaster-Lebanon Quilt Show

Lebanon Valley Expo Center

80 Rocherty Rd. Lebanon, PA 17042

March 26-29

More being scheduled!

CQ Cares (Community Sewing Projects)

We have free pillowcase kits available! We donate all pillowcases to Ryan's Case for Smiles, who in turn distributes them to children battling serious illness. Pick one up next time you're in the shop, then complete it and return on your schedule. Alternately, use your stash and any of the Million Pillowcase Project patterns.

For those who want to sew placemats for Meals on Wheels and/or Iona House from their stash, click on the picture for the beginner-friendly Charm Square Placemats pattern, or you can use your own pattern. We also have free kits in the shop.

Please return all completed placemats to Capital Quilts.
Thank you for your continued support of the Capital Quilts Cares program. 

We have free small kennel quilts kits available. These little quilts are sent to shelters who take in pets displaced by natural disaster. To quilters, they are a great beginner project, a use for leftover fabric, and a place to practice free motion skills. To use your stash, visit www.kennelquilts.com