FIBERWORKS - THE FLYING NEEDLE
June 2007 319-352-5464 Vol. 14 No. 4
Out of local area use 1-800-307-4103, Fax# 319-352-4897, E-mail fiberworks@forbin.net
Hours: Tue - Fri 10:00 - 6:00 (Thurs till 8:00), Sat 9:00 – 5:00 www.myfiberworks.com

Ridiculous Day: This is your lucky day! Starting at 7:07 AM on Saturday 7-7-07 Waverly merchants will be on the sidewalks with bargains galore. Roll the dice for a discount on regular priced merchandise inside. Roll a 7 and double your discount to 14% off. Join the fun – kids have activities in the park by the river. Waverly’s summer festival, Heritage Days, will be July 13-15.

Gigi Learns How to Knit: Waverlyite Karen Thalacker has written a fun book of story and instructions to teach children how to knit. She is challenging kids and parents to knit a dishcloth, 2500 of them, to be given to Self-Help International to be used in Ghana, West Africa and Nicaragua, Central America. In the quest to ease hunger the care packages include a cup, a spoon and a dishcloth. If you’d like to contribute one, send it to Fiberworks and I will deliver to Karen. Visit gigiknits.com to see how to join the Kindness Club.

Christmas in July: To help you get ready for all your hand made Christmas gifts, we are offering 15% off all Christmas theme patterns, fabrics and supplies to stitch for your special people. Dates are from July 7-21. It’s also time to sign up for the Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament magazine. Reserve your copy now for Sept.

Iowa State Fair Quilt Contest: Iowa State University is celebrating its 150th birthday with special quilt and quilt block contests at the state fair. For details, Iowans go to : www.iowastatefair.com/competition/pdfs/Fabric%20and%20Threads07.pdf.

Trunk shows coming: Watch for models from Handblessings in September and Rosewood Manor in October. Come in to be inspired.

Congrats to Alan: Our last child (yipee) graduated from Wartburg College on Memorial Day weekend. He is looking for a job with his Business Management/Computer Science majors. If you need a bright new employee, give him a call at 319-230-8233 and put him to work – please.

Free patterns: Thanks to Little House Needleworks and Dreams of Stitches for #3 of 5 called Homegrown Lessons. Design size of combined patterns is 124 sq.

FOR SALE: Panasonic FP-3270 B/W copier. One tray - adjusts from invoice to ledger size, bypass capacity 50 sheets. Has been under maintenance all it’s life – full extra cartridge - $50.00. Call Fiberworks.

TECHNIQUE TIP: QUILTING STYLES.
You have just finished piecing a lovely quilt top. Now comes the decision of how to quilt it. First is the choice to do hand quilting or quilting by machine. There are people who have long arm quilting machines that usually charge by the square inch if you don’t wish to do the quilting yourself. Some church ladies groups also do hand quilting for others, as well. No matter if you do it yourself or have someone else do the quilting you will need to decide what pattern you want. A meander pattern looks like a squiggly line that winds around but doesn’t cross itself. Stipple quilting is similar but is closer together. These may be done over the entire quilt top or just in the background around motifs. Crosshatch or grid quilting is done on both diagonal directions or vertical/horizontal with the lines equi-distance apart forming diamonds or squares. They may be single or double lines. These are usually just in the background and not over shapes in your blocks. Outline quilting goes around pieced or applique shapes about a ¼” away from the shape and echo quilting repeats the shape in the same way waves radiate from a stone dropped in water. The repeats may be equally spaced or varied distances. Stitching in the ditch is quilting on the actual seam lines of the pieces. Overall designs can be shapes like fans or clamshells that repeat throughout the quilt. Stencils can be used for blocks or borders where the quilting lines are channel cut out of plastic. These lines are transferred onto the fabric with a marker that disappears or washes off. Some examples are feathers, hearts, stars and flowers. There are also patterns that can be done with a continuous line so you don’t have to stop and start the pattern all the time. If you decide not to quilt you can always tie. Check batting to see how far apart you should knot. We like to use a double strand of #3 pearl.

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Class Schedule: One half of the class fee is required at the time of registration to hold your place. Please register at least two weeks in advance of scheduled dates to allow for ordering of supplies in time for class. Fees are for instruction and supplies. Please add 7% tax to fee if you mail it in. There are no refunds for class fees once I have ordered supplies, but you may reschedule a makeup time at your convenience.

Thur. July 12th 9:00–12:00 or 6:00-9:00 P.M. – Rise & Shine Wool Applique: Simple embroidery stitches finish off this piece accented with star buttons. Hand-dyed wool from Weeks Dye Works will be used to make your sunshine. Exclusive design from SamSarah - approx. 5” x 7”. Class Fee = $27.50

Sat. July 14th 9:00-12:00 – Summer Breeze Tuffet: Learn how to sequence over-dyed threads and construct a tuffet accented with 2 tiny pearl buttons. Special Edition Summer Breeze silk from Dinky Dyes, pattern from The Cat’s Whiskers and 28 count Mint Green Cashel linen make up this fun and quick to stitch piece. Makes a great pin cushion. Class Fee: $34.00.

Thur. July 19th & 26th 9:00-12:00 or 6:00-9:00 – Peacock Stitching Chair: This is so cool! I just did it for a class so I could stitch one. Again a combination of over-dyed silks from Dinky Dyes (purple, gray, blue) and pattern from The Cat’s Whiskers on 32 count Pearl Grey Belfast linen will make an unusual accessory for your stitching place. The chair has a drawer under the seat for storage with a matching scissor fob and scissor pocket on the back of the chair. The first class will be stitching instructions and the second will be chair construction. There are a few easy specialty stitches and alphabet & peacock motifs used. Finishing templates and chair feet are included in kit. Class Fee = $66.50.

Sat. July 21st 9:00-11:00 – Felted Shoulder Bag: A small bag that is already felted will be the base for learning to felt a design on the front. All the needles and roving are in the kit. Choice of design at registration – great teen class. Make a little bag to carry when you don’t need to bring “everything and the kitchen sink”. Felting was all the rage at market. Class Fee = $35.00.

Sat. July 28th 9:00-12:00 – Oh So Sweet: Make a 56” x 64” quilt in a strip piecing technique. Similar to that used to make a bargello quilt except all the strips are the same width. Kit comes with pre-cut fabric strips ready to sew together for quilt top and border. Design looks harder than it is to construct and creates a rainbow look. Just the right size for baby or lap throw. Bring rotary cutting supplies & sewing machine. Class Fee = $59.50.

Thurs. August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 5:30-8:30PM – Advent Calendar: This design from Judy Whitman will be sure to become a family heirloom. This is more of a stitch-in project than a class. The first four sessions will be stitching the background and 24 square ornaments to count down the days until Christmas. The last session will be finishing instructions. Several edge alternatives are possible. Each ornament is a very simple design with a charm and a touch of bead for embellishment worked on 30 count linen. Your choice of DMC, Sampler Threads, or Weeks Dye Works floss. Class Fee = $92.00 (DMC) $117.00(OD).

Thur. August 2nd 9:00-12:00 – Beaded Diamond Drops: Done in a brick stitch these elegant drops can be used for Christmas ornaments, fan pulls or just decorative accents. Book contains other beginner bead pieces. You will need to choose 3 contrasting bead colors at registration. Fee: $39.00.

Sat. August 4th 9:00-12:00 – Crochet Illusions: A fun hot pad that looks striped from one angle and when tipped an apples shape appears. All stitches are single crochets or chains – easy. Class Fee = $20.00.

Thurs. August 9th 10:00-11:30 – Button Lollie: Make a pin for your purse or coat with fun buttons from Just Another Button Co. This one is called Wild Pumpkin with a fallish flavor. Pile them on for other occasions or seasons after you get the hang of it. Class Fee = $24.00.

Sat. August 11th 9:00-12:00 – Zippa-De-Do-Da-Bag: Lots of choice on fabric and design on this little quilted shoulder bag. Piece material from 4 coordinating fat quarters to make this beginner level pieced quilted bag. Bring sewing machine and neutral thread. Class Fee = $40.00.

Sat. August 18th & 25th 9:00-12:00 – Patches Canvas: Worked on 24 count Congress Cloth with 4 skeins of Caron silks, this piece is a study in stitch combinations. Your garden design will be your own depending on how you stitch your 12 x 12 squares. Background may be left unstitched. Class Fee: $55.50. 10” x 10” stretcher bars or scroll frame helpful.

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WHAT’S NEW! – Lots - Here’s a few:
Kits: Just Nan – Queen’s Bird Box limited edition – all have been sold from JN – we have four + silk pack; Mill Hill – Outside the Box series – Sung as a Bug, 3 Appalachian Santas, Winter Holiday pins, Holiday Harmony ornaments, Autumn Harvest pins, Keeping Cool bellpulls – 3 snowmen & 3 nutcrackers; Sweetheart Tree – G is for Grapes, H is for Hearts, Pirouette in Purple; Bent Creek – Summer Ewe, The Big Zipper and the 2nd part, Garden Trellis; Lizzie Kate – Banner Year Summer & Autumn Boxer Jr; Shepherd’s Bush – Sisters, A Friend, Pumpkin Hill, Glory Fob (just right for the new flag Gingher scissors), Soft Spring, Glad Heart, Land That I Love, Life & Liberty; Prairie Schooler LE Santa 2007 kit; SamSarah – Pearls Boo, Twinkle, Mom, Dad complete with tiny frames; Sunshine Needlearts – Evening Elegance bracelets. Other stuff: DMC variations floss 12 new colors, new colors of Sampler Threads, Weeks Dye Works and Crescent Colors; more Delica and Blue Moon beads; Silamide beading thread + colors, magnetic clasps; Showoff Pens; Daylight Flexilens colors; Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 booklight; Sudberry boxes – octagon, round (both lined), Nantucket creel purse; Quick Start squares. Fabric: Cuddly Quilts kits 30” x 36”.

QUILTING: Thimbleberries: Fiddle Dee Dee, Fatty, Fatty, 2 x 4, Christmas Street, Building Blocks+; That Patchwork Place: Sudoku Quilts; 3 Swan: Butterfly & Dragonfly; 4th/6th Designs: Purple Haze, Cotton Candy, Caramel Latte+.

CROSS STITCH: Mirabilia: Mermaid of Atlantis; Praiseworthy: Beehive Garden; Homespun Elegance: Stitcher II, Meowy Time Jul/Aug; Just Nan: Bellemeade (3rd house), Summer Spell; Lynne Nicoletti: Fairy Tale Fortune Teller; La-D-Da: This is the Day; Calico Crossroads: Flower Fun, Paper Chase; Sisters & Best Friends: All My Love; Blue Ribbon: Into the Ark; Lizzie Kate: Flip It Bits Jun – Oct; Rosewood Manor: ABC Tapestry, Inspiration, Lilies, Claret; Imaginating; Bless Our Home, Bird Lightables; Sue Hillis: Stitcher’s Apron; Glendon Place: Bless This Home Sweet Home; Silver Lining: Bed of Roses; Keslyn’s: Golden Meadow, Poppies+ Bent Creek: Love You Mom; Fly a Kite RedThread Snapper; Waxing Moon: Nuts About Autumn; Stitchy Kitty: The Cat/Dog Did It; Workbasket: Quaker Teddy Bears; My Big Toe: I Corinthians, Reflections, Gordian Knot, Death By Chocolate; Passione Ricamo: Queen of the Fairies; Ink Circles: I Still Do, This Heart of Mine; Heirloom Embroideries: Charmed Dreams, Medley; Vintage Bliss: several; Papillon Creations: Lover’s Knot, Alphabetissimo; Liz Turner Diehl: several old world gardens; Victoria Sampler: M is for Mother, N is for Nurse, Blue Carnations; Chatelaine: Egypt Garden,Nantucket Violet Basket.

OTHER: Hardanger: Hanky Panky – Hardanger Attraction, Vintage Hardanger Doily, Ornaments 13; Cross N Patch – Christmas Tree Lane; Judy Dixon – Morning Light, Mohair Elegance+. Beading: Rollason – Beg Guide to Bead Netting; Davis – Beader’s Reference; Little Bead Boxes. Canvas: Kick Back – several squares, Pieces of Africa; Shenandoah Stitchery – Daphne, Arabella, Carnival; From Nancy’s Needle – Summer Sunburst; Finger Step – Imperial Garden Butterflies (3); Caron – Patches, Hydrangea; Carolyn Mitchell - Crazy & Parallel Dreams, 4 smaller ones; Laura Perin – Mardi Gras, Victorian Ribbons; DebBee’s Designs – Black Magic. Blackwork:: Tam’s Creations - 4 Seasons.

Happy Stitching!

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