Dear Friends,

We have recently updated our You Tube page by adding what we hope are helpful videos. Please let us know if there are other quick technique tutorials that you'd like to see there. 

Did you know that there are a multitude of different bobbins? They all pretty much look the same, but load the wrong bobbin in your machine, and it will create havoc! You may get tension problems, birds' nests, random jumping bobbins, and more. We get a couple of machines in each week for service that had an incorrect bobbin installed. If you do not have your users manual, or cannot find it, please ask Kat or me to assist you in determining what bobbin you need (we will need the make and model number). Even within the same brand of machine, different bobbins may be required depending on the model.

 Happy Sewing!  

-Marianne

 PROJECT DRESS A GIRL: There is still time to submit your Dress A Girl Dress! Simply follow one of the patterns on the Dress A Girl website (or use another pattern that ticks all their boxes) and submit the dress here at Capital Quilts before October. In return, we will give you a coupon good for 15% off*! Be sure to follow @marisews_inspiredstitches on Instagram for more patterns and live dress unboxings.

*Restrictions apply. Discounts may not be stacked or combined in any way, and may not be used on: machines, previous purchases, special orders, services, classes, furniture, and anything already on sale.

Katie Pertiet's newest collection for Wilmington Prints called Garden Grace creates a serene and elegant aesthetic, featuring a repeating stripe, floral toiles, five text prints, white flowers, lush green leaves, and delicate butterflies. 

Cool Treats - an Otter Quilt Pattern includes the instructions to create a unique quilt featuring otters eating ice cream in two sizes, 70.5” x 70.5” and 40.5” x 40.5”. This quilt is traditionally pieced. The pattern is laid out in a way that also allows you to create any of the three different otter blocks (15” x 30” each finished) and ice cream cone block (15” x 15” finished) individually for other projects or different quilt layouts. A background fabric cutting guide layout is also included to make the most of your fabric while cutting for the large quilt. 

We have restocked the Klimt Gold Tree of Life panel.

Classes

Gather up all your unfinished sewing on September 20th and bring it to Capital Quilts.  Enjoy time you can dedicate to getting those projects DONE!  Kat will be here to offer suggestions, guidance, and support.

If you're just getting started in quilting, or want to brush up on basic skills, we have 2 spaces available in our Complete Course of Quilting! This 10 week course starts on September 21st.

If you want to learn to use our longarms (and then rent them to finish your own quilts), you must first take the classes that teach you about the machines.  Getting Started: Long Arm Rental Class and Getting Started: Prostitcher Premium (the computer program) are scheduled for the rest of the year: 9/30, 11/3, and 12/8.

Debra is teaching Posh Penelope starting on October 7th. This is a fun, scrappy quilt that combines a love for curves with on point sashing and cornerstones! Come to class and find out just how easy it is!

On October 9, Karen Kehl is teaching her popular Holiday Choice Table Runner. This pattern can be made for Christmas, Hannukah, Epiphany, or adapt it for Kwaanza!

Jan is teaching another class, starting October 14th! The Adventureland Quilt is a fast and easy strip piecing design that is perfect for the confident beginner, or a seasoned quilter that wants a quick baby/throw  quilt to gift. The last session will be a bonus project to use up the scraps leftover from the Adventureland Quilt. The project is a Scottie Dog pattern using 2.5” squares to form an adorable Scottie stuffed animal to keep or donate to NIH Children’s Inn. This is a free pattern from Denyse Schmidt Quilts that will be provided to the students. 

Weave strips of fabric together to create a snowflake ornament to hang on the tree, a wreath, the mantle, or other decorative endeavor! You can also use these snowflakes in place of a bow on a gift. Once you know how you'll want to make more. We will provide each student with a pattern and ONE kit to make in class. Debra B leads the way on October 18th.

Betsy firmly believes that the Ruby Apron is perfect for anyone -- with a few modifications. It looks fantastic in any striped fabric, but you can also mix it with prints or solids for the bib, straps, and pocket facing. The straps cross over at the back like a French smock apron. The pattern has an optional back belt, but you can use ties instead. 

In the first class session on 10/18, we will focus on fabric and design options, so you can choose your customizations. Then we will prepare the pattern pieces so you can cut them out at home. You don’t need to have your fabric selected when class starts – there will be time to shop during class when you have selected your customizations. In the second class, we will sew the pieces together to make a finished apron.

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s stresses?

Discover the joy of calming your mind through the art of making.

Quilt artist and mindfulness teacher Lauren Kingsland offers a fresh approach to managing stress and finding peace through hands-on creativity.  Her recent book Hands On Mindfulness is included in the class, and is the perfect guide for finding an accessible, joyful path to mindfulness through the creative process.

Join her at Capital Quilts on October 20th, when she will guide you through making your own labyrinth or spiral piece by hand, and talk about how you can incorporate mindfulness into your creativity through handwork.

There is one seat available in the Walking Foot 101 class scheduled for October 24th. In this class,  you will: install your walking foot, test thread tension, learn to start and stop; learn several methods for marking a design on your quilt sandwich; and fill six squares with different walking foot designs: straight lines, regular grids, irregular grids, triangles, curves, and spirals.

The H Bag is amazing! It is easy to make, comes in two sizes (Regular and Jumbo), and it is so versatile that you will be amazed at all the different things you will be carrying with it. It's perfect for the farmer's market, the beach, or carrying your sewing projects! Cathy will show you how on October 25th.

Laurie is teaching another hand-piecing class. In this class you will make a 40" Mariner's Compass Medallion, suitable for a wall hanging. If you are interested in expanding your piece into a larger quilt, Laurie can make suggestions for borders! Class Starts November 7th.

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.

We have placemat kits available at the shop; please stop by to pick up one (or two). For those who want to sew from their stash, click on the picture for the beginner-friendly Charm Square Placemats pattern, or you can use your own pattern.

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 disasters. 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