FIBERWORKS - THE FLYING NEEDLE
January 2010 319-352-5464 Vol. 17 No. 2
Out of local area use 1-800-307-4103, E-mail info@myfiberworks.com
Hours: Tue - Fri 10:00 - 6:00 (Thurs till 8:00), Sat 9:00 – 5:00 www.myfiberworks.com

Super Sunday, Feb 7th: Don’t PASS on this 15% off pre-game sale from 12:00-4:00. SCORE savings on all regular priced items in the store. Refreshments served. If you can’t get into the store that day and want to order by email or on-line just put the words Super Sunday on the subject line or in the comment section and we will give you 10% off your order.

Kissing Pillows Update! A HUGE thank you to all who responded to our call for help in stitching pillows for the military unit to be deployed later this year. We have over 1300 units out to be stitched. Be sure to turn them into Fiberworks when you have completed the cross-stitched front so we can assemble them into pillows.

Block of the Month begins: We have decided to do a quilt from Elisa’s Backporch called Many Paths All Around. Finished size is 66” x 85” and has 12 blocks all done using the Drunkard’s Path template but set differently so each block is unique. I will be making the model using batik fabric but you may have your choice of what kind and colors you would like to use. I plan to use 7 dark fabrics and 3-4 similar lights, although you may use all the same of one of the values or use lots of colors for a scrappy look. Just tell me what you like. It will be $12.00 per month and will include all the fabric for the front of the quilt, pattern and template. You will furnish your own binding and backing materials.

Mark your calendars for this event: On April 8 – 10 the Love to Shop Hop Trail will be full of mystery, fun and bargains. Get your card stamped (pick one up at the first stop) and look forward to 20% off quilting fabrics, patterns and books at all seven shops; a mystery pattern; and door prizes or gift certificates to win.

Mark this one, too: The spring on-line needlework show will be April 15th – 20th. This is your chance to see what going to market is like only without the traveling. If you don’t have access to a computer, you may use the one here at the shop to make a list of things you just have to have. While you can’t buy directly, you can look at a myriad of patterns, threads and fabrics for your stitching stash enhancement. When you find what you’d like, let us know and we will order for you.

If you would like to shift to an email newsletter, please let me know at info@myfiberworks.com. Then be sure your spam filters will allow an email from us addressed to simmerk@neiasynod.org, as I send this to myself so your email address will not show to others.

Free patterns: Thanks to Paw Printings, Heartfelt Designs and Val’s Stuff.

TECHNIQUE TIP: Downloadable Apps

Last month my CD player at the shop gave out after 16 years of soothing my soul during work. Maybe this was a sign I shouldn’t be singing along to my favorites or maybe Jeanne got tired of listening to my generation’s music. Hey I tried to throw in some classical for her. Anyway, I shucked out the money for an Ipod from the Christmas bonus and put my CD’s on it for music. Now I am opened to the world of “Apps” from the Itunes store. Being a stitcher, of course, I went to see what might be interesting in these categories. Prices mostly ranged from $3.00 up to $10.00.
There were a few that might be worthwhile. For quilters, there are a couple of stash listers. You can take pictures of every fabric in your closet or on your shelf and take them with you when looking for coordinates. There is an application that includes sizes of common quilt sizes and the setting for triangles when setting blocks on point. This one had a 3 out of 5 star review and best of all was FREE. The one with the best reviews was C & T Publishers Quick and Easy Quilt Block Tool which says it is an innovative application for planning quilt blocks. It has 102 of the most popular pieced blocks in 5 sizes of each design with detailed construction diagrams, cutting instructions and yardage requirements.
For knitters, there are some to help you keep track of where you are in your pattern. The free one only does one project but the $3 one would do several. Reviews ranged from “I loved it” to “needs updates”. The “how to” I found was very basic with only one pattern for knit, one for crochet, one for embroidery. There is one with a variety of crochet stitches.
One called Needlepoint Encyclopedia might deserve a different name. It had other techniques like knit, crochet, tatting, white work and netting but not much that I saw on needlepoint. For needlepointers, SuZy’s Portable Stitches is now available and has a 5 star review. It has a good index and nice diagrams for many needlepoint stitches. Certainly the future will bring more resources that will be available as downloads. For a traveler these can be helpful in that books for reference won’t have to be carried on the journey. Now, how do I turn this on again?

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Class Schedule: I have scheduled a couple of classes which have been requested. If there is some other technique you would like to learn, call me at 319-352-5464 or come in to pick a project and schedule a time when you can come. I would like at least two people in a class, three or four would be more fun, so invite a friend or two to come with you. Costs will be set depending on the project materials and instructional book or pattern plus a small teaching fee.

These are some of the classes we have offered before: counted cross-stitch, beyond cross-stitch which would include adding specialty stitches, stamped cross-stitch/embroidery, canvaswork - needlepoint, hardanger, pulled thread, drawn thread, bargello, petite point on silk gauze, knotted work, smocking, temari balls, knitting, crochet, duplicate stitch, myreshka drawn work, tatting, bridge stitching (darning stitch), beadwork (peyote, herringbone, right angle weave, square stitch, brick stitch), huck embroidery (Swedish weaving), Brazilian embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, punch needle, locker hook, stumpwork, blackwork, beginning piecing for quilting, paper piecing for quilting, fusible applique, crazy quilts, bargello quilts, felt applique, free lace for scarves/shawls, framing and mounting tips, finishing pillows, finishing standups, finishing in a box shape, tassels, etuis, stitch notebooks.

If you already know how to do a technique but would like to pick a harder project or make a conscience effort to work on a specific one – new or already started, let me know and we can have a dedicated stitch-in with help available as needed. We offer a place to stitch without interruption from children, spouse, phone (if you turn your cell off) and have the expertise to assist you. Learn something new this year and finish at least one started piece!

Saturday, Feb 20th – 1:00 – 3:00 – Beginner class in Brazilian Embroidery. Use beautiful rayon threads to do surface embroidery in a lovely floral design of three jasmines. This is a very dimensional technique with bullion knots, a few french knots, stem stitch and satin stitches.
Kit fee includes a small embroidery hoop = $22.00.

Saturday, March 20th – 12:00 –3:00 – Beginner class in Blackwork. The blackwork stitches will be done on 14 count Aida cloth with embroidery floss. While traditionally it is done with a black thread on a white ground, you may choose two contrasting colors for your project. Blackwork is done with either a double running stitch, also called a Holbein stitch, or with a backstitch. The outside perimeters of the design are stitched first and then filled in with a variety of patterns. Your fee includes the New Anchor Book of Blackwork that has 48 different filling stitches graphed in it. Class fee = $25.50.

STITCH–IN --- 2ND THURSDAY NIGHTS ---- FEBRUARY 11th and MARCH 11th from 5:00-8:00
Come for all or part of the evening.
(Free counted cross stitch lessons on these nights – just let me know you’re coming.)

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WHAT’S NEW! –
Kits: Hob Nobb – More Doodles and new button accented simple designs; Lizzie Kate – New Giggle Boxers – Waste of Makeup & We’re Not Gossiping; Bent Creek – Photobooths – Frank n Boo, North Pole Party, Love Happens; Heart in Hand – Soulmates, Snowgazer; Drawn Thread – Carnelian Rose Biscornu; Trilogy – Winter Trio; Just Nan – Charm Pin Snow Owl, Humbug Winter Hearts with Snowflake Pin; Victoria Sampler – Basic Hardanger kits with no cutting; Fabric: SPX – Precious Moments Noah’s Ark panel and coordinates, Counting soft book with John Deere tractors; Avlyn – Fix It with bolts and tool stuff for the guys, Blank – Shade Cascades – these have four different values of the same color running lengthwise; Benartex – Tried and True. Other stuff: Fiskars – Scissor set with 3 ½”, 4 ½” and a curved blade pair; More colors of Delica size 11 seed beads and 4mm square beads; Beadsmith - larger bead sorter/counter.

QUILTING: Bobbie G: Sleepy Time, Snowfolks; Jeri Kelly: Every Month Table Runner; Cheryl Phillips: Quilts Without Corners Encore; Turning Twenty: Slapplique; Joined at the Hip: Iowa Wind Farm.

CROSS STITCH: Blue Ribbon Designs: Just Add Tinsel, Winter White Wonderland, Autumn Leaves and Sunflower Seeds; Bent Creek: Hark, Christmas Cat, Uber Christmas Tree, Christmas Branch Owl; Shepherd’s Bush: Santa’s Coming; Homespun Elegance: Cinnamon Stick XXII Santa and His Toys, Joyous Heart, Mr. Candy Cane; Heart In Hand: What Makes It Autumn; Lizzie Kate: 1st 3 “Green” Flip Its, Time for God, Live Simply, Dogs Leave Paw Prints; Blackbird Designs: Splendid September, October Harvest; Imaginating: Nativity Trio, Snowflakes are Kisses, Winter Sentiments, Gingerbread Fun; Sue Hillis: Poinsettia Santa, Christmas in the Kitchen; Prairie Grove Peddler: Little Candle Mats American Sheep, Red Houses, Colorful Cats, Christmas Ornaments; Cross-Eyed Cricket: Berry Nice Indeed, All Through the House; Erica Michaels: Happy New Year and Valentine’s Day Bits; Cedar Hill: Peace on Earth; Little House Needleworks: Ornament series Fa La La, Pear; Pegasus: Popular Dogs 4; Milady’s Needle: Halloween Rules, ABC123, Winter is Past; Jeannette Douglas: Seaside Stitches Accessories; Calico Crossroads: Devil Cat’s Food, Fantastic View; Bobbie G: Firefighters, Love Always; Glory Bee: Cupid, Quaker Gameboard; SamSarah: Alphabet Baubles N is for Nautilus, O is for Owl; Sunflower Seed: Celtic Christmas; Val’s Stuff: Kitty Kalendar Jan & Feb; With My Needle: My Needle’s Worke Box; Szulet Creations Barbara Ana: several cute biscornus; Vickery Collection: Cumberland Cross.

OTHER: Hardanger: J Designs – Hardanger Holiday Ornaments; Canvas: (Guides) Ruth Dilts - Needlepoint 101 & 102, Ann Strite-Kruz - Canvas Applique; I. Dettelbach - Creating Contemporary Bargello; Caroline Mitchell – Autumn Glory, Golden Reminiscence; Needle Delights – Color Delights Purple, Galaxy; Felting: Bernat - Fun Felting.

Happy Stitching! Happy Valentine’s Day – we love you all. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER:
Please note the date on your mailing label. Your subscription will expire a year after that date unless you let me know you would like to keep receiving the newsletter. Please keep me advised of any address changes, as well. Thank you!

Fiberworks
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