Dear Friends,

So, when we were at the Northern Shenandoah Quilt Show, we got to talking with Joan from Bucklebee Tools, and she has agreed to teach more Happy Feet Sneakers classes here at Capital Quilts!

Two classes with instruction are available: Friday, September 25 or Saturday, September 26. Spend the day making a pair of real sneakers, with quilted uppers and rubber soles. If you’ve been saving a bit of favorite fabric for a special project, Happy Feet sneakers are absolutely special. Your class fee covers your seat in class, instruction, soles, insoles, eyelets, instruction book, and cardstock pattern. Shoelaces will be available to purchase from the instructor.

Joan is once again offering a Sneakers Studio Session on Sunday, September 27. This session will not have any formal instruction, and is intended for those who have already made sneakers, and are looking for time and/or tools to make/finish more.

Thanks to all of you who responded to my questions about the Pizza Box Challenge and the retreat day. We are planning on starting the Pizza Box Challenge as soon as possible, and hope for a May first start date. We will keep you updated, as that is only a week and a half away!

Thank you for being a part of our community. You make it possible for us to be here! 

-Marianne

ps. If you are participating in Stacey Lee's Comfort Cases Quilt Drive, please work on sewing in April; we will collect quilts in May. Refer to Stacey's FAQs for details.

Classes

Relax on the first Friday of the month (5/1) 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.

The bucket hat is back on April 26th, and you have time to make a wardrobe of them before it gets truly hot. Linda will take you through making a reversible bucket hat. In class you will have the option to cut on your own or use the Accuquilt die. 

Sew Kind of Wonderful's newest tool, the Quick Straight Ruler (QSR) is designed to help take the guesswork out of half square rectangles. Debra has used this ruler to make Northern Lights, and will show you how you can make your own aurora borealis quilt starting on May 5th.

Join our Capital Quilts Cares group to make Quilts for Kids on May 6th. All fabric is provided, just register and bring your machine!

SPECIAL EVENT

On May 6th, you can meet the author of Dresden Quilt Blocks Reimagined, Candyce Copp Grisham, and get your book autographed by her. You may bring in your own already-purchased book, or purchase one on the day of. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Learn to Longarm! Our Getting Started: Longarm Rental Basics is being offered on May 11th. This class is required for anyone who wants to rent our longarm machines. One seat is available.

Join Linda and our Quilt of Valor group on May 11th to make a quilt for a veteran touched by war. These quilts are tremendously important to the men and women who serve our country in the military. All fabric is provided. Just register for the workshop, bring your sewing machine, basic sewing supplies, and lots of energy!

Do you know someone who is graduating, and you want to make them a T-Shirt quilt? We have the class for you! Debra Ball will show you how to make the most of your T-Shirts in class starting May 14th.

Don't forget that we offer Sandwiching Services (quilt basting) every month. Typically, four "appointments" are available each month.

Quilt Shows

Four County Quilters Guild Quilt Show

5/15/26 - 5/16/26

Quilts by the Bay Annapolis Quilt Guild Show

6/19/26 - 6/20/26

Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza

9/17/26 - 9/20/26

Faithful Circle Quilters Quilt Show

10/22/26 - 10/24/26

Everybody's Quilt Guild Fall Harvest of Quilts Show

11/6/26 - 11/8/26

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