Racing Needles

Have you selected a project to work on during the Olympics?  Many knitters are joining the Ravellenic Games amid some controversy (click here to read about it).


It's fun to start a project during the Opening Ceremonies and try to finish before the end of the Closing Ceremonies.
Being an indecisive multi-tasker, I am starting THREE projects! Does that make me a triathlete??
I am not trying to finish them all before we leave London, but I plan to get a large part of each done.  I'm not totally unrealistic!

Project One: Knitting--Owlie Socks.  Click here to see my Ravelry page for these socks.  Don't look at all the other unfinished projects I have listed there!  I can't wait to get to the beaded part!

Project Two: Smocking--Honeycomb Smocked Bishop. That is the piece of floral fabric on the right.  Obviously I haven't cut out the dress yet, so I'll sprint to the cutting table during commercials to cut out my fabric and sew my seams before I start smocking!

Project Three: Applique--Block 2 of this quilt.  All applique is glued to the background. Now my favorite part: the handsewing!

My hubby just called down to let me know that the Opening Ceremonies are beginning.  Leave a comment to let me know what YOUR Olympic project is.  If you put it in writing, you're committing to that project!  After all, I have narrowed my focus to just three projects for the next two weeks!  That is an Olympian accomplishment for me!!

Off to work on those Owlies!

Martha

We're Pinning

Pins and tags

No, not THAT way!  We're busy safety-pinning these cute discs to bolts of fabrics as we get ready for tomorrow's sale!  All fabric will be 20% off, but the pinned fabric is a steal!

All yarn is also 20% off, including the 20 DIFFERENT COLORS OF LADDER YARN that arrived Tuesday!  Many other yarns are marked with bigger circles and bigger discounts!

The sale runs July 5 through July 14.  Every afternoon from 4-6 p.m we'll be serving ice cream and our wonderful teachers will be showing off their summer projects, so stop by for a sweet treat. 

New "Ladder" Yarn

Hope you are all enjoying the day!  I did some gardening this morning before it got too hot and now I'm spending the rest of the day in my sewing room!!

Take time to make a few stitches,

Martha

New Fabric Friday on Sunday

Riley Blake Christmas

 I think the heat got to our delivery folks this week--they brought us Christmas fabric at the beginning of the week and fun, beachy fabric at the end of the week!  Cute Riley Blake Alpine Wonderland and elegant Sentiments by Three Sisters for Moda. 

Riley Blake

Three Sisters from Moda

These sweet summery fabrics are from the Seaside Collection by Riley Blake.  Click here to download a free quilt pattern using these fabrics!  You might see one of these hanging in the shop soon!

Seaside From Riley Blake

Cute, vintage-y Seaside

 I'm making a sweet smocked dress from this magazine out of two of these prints.  More about that another day.  Stop by and I give you a preview!


Take time to make some stitches today,
Martha

Have Needle, Will Travel!

Trip Projects

    Are you planning a trip this summer?  If you're like me, you plan your "trip projects" before you plan your trip wardrobe!  I left for a BIG trip at the end of May--a long plane ride and then a two weeks sightseeing on a bus through the countryside.
    I packed two embroidery projects and one knitting project in my carry on.  I pre-cut my embroidery floss so that I wouldn't have to carry scissors on the plane and downloaded my knitting pattern to my Kindle Fire. I thought I'd get lots done!  I forgot how tightly people are packed into planes now and bumpy the plane ride can be and how I would need to sleep some of the time...

    Well, I came home with a few stitches made on one of my embroidery projects and half of my knitting project finished.  The only time I had to work was at the end of a looong day of touring, and easy knitting was all I had the energy for while watching a little TV with foreign subtitles before bed.  I did enjoy storing my pattern as a PDF on my Kindle: no piece of paper to keep up with!

My unfinished Wingspan

Wingspan has been a free Ravelry download for some time now and is such fun to knit!  Karen Johnson finished hers first and will be teaching this for us in July.  Come let her help you get started on your very own traveling Wingspan!

Karen's finished Wingspan!

I'm off to get caught up on my embroidery now!
Have a great day and take time to make a few stitches before the day is over,


Martha

New Fabric Friday

You might think that it's the beginning of summer, but in fact, it's the beginning of the holiday fabric season!
Since early May the Fall, Halloween, and Christmas fabric has arrived one sweet box at a time.  We have been nicely surprised by what we ordered back in December and January!  Our friend Patsy says that we should take pictures as we order, but that would require more organization than we are capable of, plus I like seeing the new fabrics with fresh eyes when we open the boxes!!

Here's a preview:

Jolly Holiday by In The Beginning Fabrics

This Jennifer Jangles fabric comes with coordinating ceramic buttons!

Moda Halloween!

Moda Christmas!

Makes me want to plan a new, far-into-the-future-project.  Fall and Christmas seem such a long way off...

Enjoy your weekend,
Martha

oops!

Two corrections to the class schedule posted yesterday:

Beginning Knitting meets June 14, 21, 28, and July 12 from 6-8 p.m.
Beginning Crochet meets June 12, 19, 26 and July 10 from 6-8 p.m.

I'm not REALLY jet-lagged, but I'm using that as my excuse!

Have a great weekend,
Martha

June Class Schedule

Knitting Classes

Beaded Purses  $35 plus supplies.  2 sessions.  Saturday, June 23 and 30, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Instructor: Karen Johnson.

These sweet beaded purses make an unusual necklace you'll enjoy wearing.  Stop by the shop to see a sample.

Knitting Socks using the Magic Loop--Top down  $40 plus supplies. 3 sessions, Thursday, June 14, 21 and 28, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.Instructor: Martha Neely. 

Sock knitting is the perfect take-along project! In this class you will learn to knit socks from the cuff down using a long circular needle. You must know how to cast on, knit, purl, and rib.

Coming in July - Christmas Stockings! Thursday, July 19, 26 and August 3, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. $30 plus supplies. 3 sessions.

Learn to knit a Christmas stocking with intarsia and get ahead of the rush. Instructor: Kathy Parcell.

Beginning Knitting  $45 plus supplies.  4 sessions.

Thursday, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 6:00 - 8:00p.m.

Learn the basics of knitting!  You will learn to knit and purl, do many pattern stitches and follow a pattern. You will be ready to begin a project of your choice after this class. Instructor: Karen Johnson.  

Knitting Workshop $10 for 1 session or $30 for 4 sessions:

Tuesday 10:00 a.m. - noon or

Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. or

Thursday 1:00-3:00 p.m. or

Friday 10:00 a.m. - noon

This is the "clinic" for all your knitting emergencies! Get help on your project or pick a new technique to learn. For those who already know the basics.  

You must call to register for workshop each week, space is limited.

Crochet Classes

Beginning Crochet  $45 plus supplies.  4 sessions.

Tuesday, June  5, 12, 19 and 26, 6:00 – 8:00p.m.

Learn the basics of crochet. You'll crochet a sampler with different stitches and learn to read a pattern. You will be ready to crochet a simple project after this class. Limit 4.  Instructor: Karen Johnson.

Quilting Classes

Carpenter's Star

New! Carpenters Star!  $50 plus supplies.  Friday, June 15, 22 and 29; 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

This class is for the confident beginner! The quilt features half square triangles and is stunning in two colors. Instructor: Laura Patridge.

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather - $30 includes kit for 1 bird.   This is a one session class to learn how to make cute bias birds.  Stop by the shop to see the sample. Instructor: Kathleen Baden.

Monday, June 11, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Appliqued Chicks Quilt- Beginner Hand Applique  $50 plus supplies for 2 sessions: 

Chubby Chicks!

Wednesday, June 13 and 20, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.             

In this class you will learn hand appliqué, a new way to piece half square triangles and much more to make a cute (really cute) quilt.  Stop by the shop and see the quilt.  Instructor: Kathleen Baden.

New! Machine Appliqué $55 includes kit. Saturday, June 30, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

This beginner class will be taught by Theresa Johnston-Crews. In this class you will learn how to prepare your fabric and applique pieces, stabilize your templates and stitch them down. Wallhanging kit provided for this class.

Classes for Smocking and Embroidery
New Pattern!

New! Pillowcase Dress or Bubble $35 plus supplies for two sessions, Tuesday, June 19 

and 26, 6-8 p.m. 

If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at sewing, this is the class for you! 

These dresses are so cute and quick to make. Let us know if you’d like to use one of our classroom machines, or bring your own.






Smocking Workshop - $10.00 per session 
Mondays 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursdays 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

Come join Martha for some quality sewing and smocking time.  

Work on the project of your choice and enjoy the fellowship of others.  Call the shop at least one day before the session to reserve your space.

Christmas Sample

New! Embroidery Workshop $15 per session plus supplies Meets monthly: Friday, June 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m. 

Join us on the third Friday of each month for stitching time and fellowship! Start a beautiful embroidered Christmas sampler with the group or get help with embroidery you are 

already working on. Each month Martha will teach you a new embroidery technique or tip to make your stitching more enjoyable.  Come see what everyone is making. 

Coming in July:   

Gardener's Alphabet Embroidery!