Stitchin' Post in Sisters

Emerge from the "Cocoon" of winter into the warmth of spring!

Spring is in the air and Val's new line of fabric "Cocoon" begins arriving this week!  Cocoon is rich with vibrant colors for spring & summer, beautiful butterflies (both large and small) and playful swirls that just make a girl want to dance!

Here is little Miss Vi doing just that...
in her new Twirl Skirt
made with coordinating Cocoon fabrics!

Valori was a guest blogger at FreeSpiritFabric.blogspot.com on April 5th.  You can read what she has to say about her new fabric line and download a free pattern for her April Little Tote.  In addition to the new fabric line, Valori will be unveiling new patterns and sewing cards at Quilt Market in May.  Here's a sneak peek at what's coming:

Val's little kitchen helper, Miss Livy, wearing her new apron...(mommy has one, too!)

 

A little "road trip" project...

 

 

Jean has recently been doing a bit of teaching on the road, but travel time doesn't keep her from being productive!  She made this sweet little pincushion on an airplane trip last week.

 

 

The project uses very few materials and is extremely portable!

Use Fabric Basting Glue by Sewline (shown above) to tack down wool pieces until the stitching is complete...no pins required!

Come into the Stitchin' Post to pick up a free pattern for this project.  (Sorry, not available for download!)  For our long distance customers, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Stitchin' Post
Attn: Pretty Pinkeeper
PO Box 280
Sisters, OR  97759

Val's new "Girlfriends" patterns are here!

Valori has been working in collaboration with Nick Coman to develop a new series of fashion patterns called Girlfriends.  The first patterns in the new series are designed to work with Val's wonderfully soft & drapey jersey knit fabric! 

Introducing the first two patterns in the  Girlfriends series: "Sondy" and "Isabelle".

The Sondy Top is an up-tempo style with a cowl back neckline and three-quarter sleeves.  It can easily be lengthened into a tunic or a dress.  Pattern includes all sizes from Small to XXLarge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Isabelle Skirt is a six gore style with a little bit of a flip at the hemline.  The elastic waistline makes it easy to construct and comfortable to wear.  Make it with one fabric or several.  Pattern includes all sizes from Small to XXLarge.

 

 

 

 

 

Girlfriends patterns started with a desire to create fresh everyday wearables with a boutique feel...All of our designs have a little bit of whimsy to make them stand out in a crowd, without being a “statement.” We have used the most current fabrics available (and we think the nicest!) to give you a starting point, be creative! We hope you enjoy wearing our designs as much as we have enjoyed creating them.
~ Nick and Valori ~

Click here for Val's tips on working with jersey knit!

 

 

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

...these are a few of my favorite things! 

In case you couldn't make it to our Holiday Open House (click here to see Facebook photo album), I thought I would share some of our creative gift packaging ideas!  We wanted to give you ideas for gift wrapping that incorporate the use of fabric...afterall, that's what we do here!

Of course the obvious thing to do with fabric is make reuseable gift bags.  Easy to make AND eco-friendly, we offer two great patterns from Valori Wells Designs:

  
          The Project Bag $3.00          and             Petal Pouches $10.95

Here are some clever ways to incorporate fabric in your gift wrapping by using fusible web:

Adhere fusible web to the wrong side of fabric and peel off the paper backing.  Fabric is ready to iron on boxes and cardstock. 

Cut out alphabet letters to "monogram" a package, spell out the recipient's name, or cut out seasonal words like Joy, Merry, Bright, Ho Ho Ho...lots of fun possibilities!

Fuse fabric to the lid (or both lid and bottom) of a plain gift box.  This makes a pretty box that can be used again and again.

Fuse fabric to cardstock and cut out templates for cute decorative boxes or renaissance-style gift cones.  You can also cut out pretty fabric gift tags.

 

Futher enhance your "handmade" gift wrap by embellishing with buttons:

 

Find fun items to tie your package together...pom poms, yarn flowers, sparkly fibers and specialty ribbons.  We sell the pretty "holly leaf" ribbon (shown below) here at the Stitchin' Post.

Make "peek-proof" gift wrap, by sewing your gift shut.  Place your gift between two layers of brown paper and sew around all four edges~ there will be no peeking until Dec 25th!  

One final idea to share...building on the idea above, you can help someone count down the days 'til Christmas by sewing  a special treat inside numbered packages.  Hang them from a tree, the mantel, around the room, you decide!

Hope these creative gift packaging ideas bring some smiles.  Enjoy the magic of the season!

~Tamra

 

 

Karavan is Here!

Val's new line of fabric, Karavan, arrived today!

There are many new samples of quilts, bags, little wallets, and
stuffed animals made from the colorful, new line of fabric:

 

"Elsa" made with Karavan flannel and "Little Wallets" made from cotton.

 

New "Josie Bag" made with hand-embroidery embellished front panel.

 

New samples of "Nested Bag" made with Karavan fabric.

 

New samples of "Petal Pouches" and "Project Bags" made from Karavan fabrics.

It is always fun to take favorite tried-and-true patterns
and revive them with fun new fabrics!

Time for new school clothes!

It's time for back to school shopping.  I remember how excited I was as a child, when it was time to go shopping for new school clothes...I loved it!  Out with the old, in with the new~ a whole new wardrobe! (Boy I'd love to go "school shopping" NOW...as an adult!  Out with the old, in with the new...it would be great!)

Anna posted this darling skirt on her blog at wooliemammoth@blogspot.com.  She made the "Twirl Skirt" using Val's new Sewing Card and Dr. Seuss fabric.  This is just too stinking cute Anna!   

BTW~ Anna will be having a Blog Give Away this week, sponsored by the Stitchin' Post.  She has four of our Custom-Cut Charm Packs to give away!  Look for details on her blog later this week!

Happy Sewing~

Tamra

 

Fully stocked!

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2011
is almost here and we are fully stocked!
(and stoked!)

I thought I would share some eye candy today:

New samples on loan from Sue Spargo~

Lots of colorful notions~

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Books~

A little bit "kitchy"~

Fun for fall~

  

Christmas just around the corner~

"Prince Charming" from Tula Pink~

"Polka Dot Garden" from Jennifer Jangles~

And of course, "Wrenly" from Valori Wells~

I could go on and on...

but really, you just need to be here!

School's out...how ya gonna keep the kids busy?

This week, we want to bring you a series of ideas for keeping the kids entertained this summer.

Idea #1~

Kid's Sewing Camp

June 13th-17th, 2011 (9am-Noon)

Kids (ages 10 and up) will be learning the basics of machine sewing while making four fun projects:

• Pillowcase
• Journal Cover
• Project Bag
• Cell Phone Tote (which also makes a great holder for an iPod!)

All of these projects are from Valori's line of Sewing Cards and are simple enough to do in a couple of hours (or less!)  Even if your kids can't come to Kid's Sewing Camp, you could make these projects together at home!  Who better to give your special kids the life-skill of sewing? 

 

Do you have "orphan" blocks?

Do you have blocks left over from finished projects?

Option #1:

"Hot Spot" by Pieceful Designs~  Jackie made these tile trivet covers from blocks she made in Dear Jane Club.  She knew she would never make the Dear Jane Quilt, so now she has a way to use all the 4 1/2" squares she finished...by just adding a black border, she now has very Amish-looking trivets for the kitchen. (Inside the quilt block is a ceramic tile that puts a barrier between your table top and your hot pot.)

Option #2:

Karla Alexander will be here this Wednesday, May 25th (1-4 pm) to share techniques designed to use left over blocks and turn them into something you will actually like!  The demo is free; just stop by.  Bring a couple of leftover blocks and a note pad!

Karla will also be the guest speaker at Guild Night Out later that evening (6:30 pm.)  She will be sharing samples and helpful tips from her new book Stack the Deck Revisited.  The event is free; but please call the store (541-549-6061) to reserve a seat.

 

 

 

Pretty Perfect Pocket Purse

Dawn just finished making this super cute "Pretty Perfect Pocket Purse."  The pattern is from Jane Sassaman; Dawn used fabrics from Jane's newest collection "Garden Divas."