Dear Friends,

Dress a Girl month is officially over, and I'd like thank everyone who participated in the Dress A Girl program! We received dresses from all over the country, each one lovingly and beautifully made. We are so grateful for the effort you put into them. Mari will be here this weekend to collect them. If you are still putting the finishing touches on yours, please get them here by Friday morning. 

During the Shop Hop, we got several requests to run the Holiday Choice Table Runner as a class. Well, we've had it on the calendar for several weeks now, but no one has signed up! This table runner is really great, just a small change in the pattern and color choice will make it appropriate for almost any December holiday.

Have you taken a look at the Adventureland Quilt? It's adorable! Jan starts teaching it starting October 14th. So far, we have one student. There's a bonus project, too, a spunky scotty dog, made from your quilt scraps. Jan is such a wonderful teacher, I hate to see this one get cancelled.

 Happy Sewing!  

-Marianne

HERE BE DRAGONS!

About a month ago, I talked about finding a new tool for burying threads, and this is it! Let me introduce you to the Snag Loop. Originally designed to repair snags in both woven and knit fabrics, quilters have discovered that this also worked beautifully for burying threads, especially if, like me, you have a hard time threading a needle. This is what Betsy is talking about in her video.

We've gotten in five bolts from Wilmington's Summertime Daydream by Jennifer Ellroy. This red, white, and blue floral collection is sure to please.

From Benartex, we have some gorgeous batiks! First up is Block Party, a take on a classic Mid-Century Modern motif, available in four colors.

And a whole slew of Bali Dots of various types: Big Little Dot, Dot Wave, Dot, Diamond Dot, and Variegated Dot!

We have two new Annabel Wrigley widebacks from Windham Fabrics. Have you ever been inspired by a quilt backing?

From Andover Fabrics, we have Good Tidings by Makower. This rich holiday collection features metallic gold details, two block panels, and an advent calendar panel.

Linear florals and geometrics are brought to another level with the drama of black and white in Garden at Twilight by Julie Lynch for QT Fabrics. A perfect choice for sophisticated, high style quilts, or trendy apparel and accessories. Infuse a pop of color here and there for projects with a designer's touch! There is a panel, and a free pattern, too!

In Zakka Sewn, beloved artist and fabric designer Rashida Coleman-Hale returns with an exciting and brand-new collection of 20+ stylish zakka projects. Each project serves a dual purpose, fusing functionality with timeless elegance and offering the perfect means to elevate your lifestyle with a modern flair. The contemporary color palette and chic handmade aesthetic will effortlessly guide you through the projects as you create quilts, home decor items, kitchen essentials, stylish bags, and more. The first three customers to purchase will also get a free fat quarter from one of Rashida's collections.

Classes

Relax this Friday night (10/3) with fellow quilters 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.

Gather up all your unfinished sewing on 10/10 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.

Join us to make a Quilt of Valor!

These quilts are tremendously important to the men and women who serve our country in the military. The group will make one quilt. All fabric is provided. Just register for the workshop on October 13th, bring your sewing machine, supplies, and lots of energy!

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.

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