I hope you all had a most enjoyable holiday season, and are still basking in the enjoyment of the beginning of a new year.  We had a great December here at the store and enjoyed a little time away.

We’re back in action now, with new things coming in a few times a week lately, and getting ready to start up classes again.  See the Classes and Events page for the class list…

We have been having some trouble with our website.  You may find funny little symbols tossed into the text here and there.  We are working to get it looking back to normal.  Thanks for your patience and understanding.

What’s new?

Like I said up there, we’re receiving new things in all the time and just this week received a nice little selection of Asian-styled cotton prints.  We also got to unpack a group of new Alexander Henry prints, including an old favorite around here–”bird seed.”  It’s an adorable bird print that we’ve had in past, but not in this same color.

Our bins holding the fabric on tubes are packed to the gills right now.  This means there’s a wide array of new things, not only cotton prints.  Some of my personal favs from that batch include this luxurious fleecy knit in grey and sagey/ olive green…it’s nice!  Also there is a darling corduroy print, some very spring-y (season, not coil), fun prints, and lovely new knits, including an Italian wool red/ cream stripe knit and an ultra fantastic rainbow stripe knit with metallic gold…screams summer if anything does!

Organic cotton!  Yes, we’ve greeted the arrival of some new products that many of you are sure to be as excited about as we are.  There is a trio of beauties including a fleece, a nicely thick terry and what they call “sherpa”–looks like a knitted sweater on one side and a cozy blanket on the other.  It’s all quite lovely.

New Marimekko is here too.  Just before the holiday arrived a collection of new designs from those super modern, cool designers we enjoy oh so much.  We’ve brought back some prints we’ve had in the past, including the city drawing, but in black, white and grey, and the continuous tree branches with spring green buds.  There are also some new full panels featuring various naturescapes.  They’re amazing.

And, flannel…we’re just now unwrapping some fabulous flannel prints from Oregon designer Valori Wells.  They are perfect for a cozy warm pair of pajamas (I’m watching little snow flurries right now), or a baby blanket. 

So, if you haven’t been in yet this year, you just may want to come by and see all these new, great pieces for yourself!

Other hot items new to the store…

Amy Butler’s new sewing patterns are great and here.  There are two bag patterns and to top / tunic patterns.  Sure to please!

New books on toys, sewn projects using felted wool (we’ve had a number of you ask how to work with “shrunken sweaters,” this should give you a lot of great ideas and techniques), an excellent quick reference book from Vogue, with all the super useful tips from Vogue Sewing, but smaller, less expensive, and quicker to flip through.

Tuesdays, February 5^th and 12^th,  6:30-8:30pm

Do you love wearing skirts? This class will be great for you! Learn how to take basic body measurements and relate that to flat pattern making. Create a basic skirt pattern and learn techniques to manipulate patterns to create the style of skirt that you designed.

Skill level: beginner 

Instructor: Christina

Instruction cost: $40

Sundays, February 10^th, 17^th and 24^th, 4:30-6:30 pm

You know the one-that ever-useful tote that everyone could use.  This is a “learn to sew” class, which means all you have to do is get a hold of a working machine (and a manual if you’re not so sure how to use it).  We have a sample of the tote in the store for you to check out.  It’s a timeless classic really.  Have fun picking out two complementary fabrics and in the end you’ll have a great shopping bag, beach bag, go-anywhere bag that you can proudly say you made yourself! 

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: Sally

Instruction cost: $60

One Night- Tuesday February 19^th, 6:30-8:30 pm

Ok, so maybe you’ve been wooed by all those great embroidery transfers out there, or maybe you’re into making your own designs…and you wish the finished project looked as cool as it did in your head.  Learn an assortment of stitches, and how to keep the backside looking just as fine as the front! 

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: JoLyn

Instruction cost: $20

Thursdays, February 21^st and 28^th, 6:30-8:30 pm
This class is designed for students to develop a basic front & back bodice. You will learn how to take measurements of the upper half of the body and relate it to flat pattern making.  You’ll be whippin’ up those customized tops in no time!

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: Christina

Instruction cost: $40

One Night-Sunday, March 2^nd, 4:30-6:30 pm

Are you ready to learn zipper applications? Come learn easy ways to sew zippers in your garments and craft projects. In this hands-on class, we will cover centered zippers and lapped zippers, making you ready to tackle any project that calls for a zipper, from a throw pillow to a prom dress.

Skill level: advanced beginner

Instruction cost: $27 (includes a $7 materials fee)

Instructor: Sally

Thursdays, March 6^th and 13^th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Do you love wearing skirts? This class will be great for you! Learn how to take basic body measurements and relate that to flat pattern making. Create a basic skirt pattern and learn techniques to manipulate patterns to create the style of skirt that you designed.  

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: Christina

Instruction cost: $40

Sundays, March 9^th and 16^th, 4:30-6:30 pm

One of Amy Butler’s newer designs, this is a great size shoulder bag, with a little flair!  We have a great sample of it made up in the store for you all to see.  You’ll learn to follow a pattern, put in a magnetic snap closure, and other basic construction techniques.  With this two-fabric design, you don’t have to pick just one print for your bag.

Skill level: Advanced beginner

Instructor: Sally

Instruction cost: $40

Tuesdays, March 18^th and 25^th, 6:30-8:30 pm

This will surely become your new favorite pastime!  We have a few in store samples, including one “in progress” so you can see the process more up close.  It is a stitch work that creates little loops of thread so your finished project looks like a little mini carpet.  We’ve used the chic, contemporary designs of Wool and Hoop’s Katherine Shaughnessy for this technique and they look fantastic! 

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: JoLyn

Instruction cost: $40

Wednesdays, March 19^th and 26^th, 6:30-8:30 pm
This class is designed for students to develop a basic front & back bodice. You will learn how to take measurements of the upper half of the body and relate it to flat pattern making.  You’ll be whippin’ up those customized tops in no time!

Skill level: beginner

Instructor: Christina

Instruction cost: $40