Sewing with Friends

Sewing with Friends is this Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.  We start at 10 AM and go to 4 PM.  Sue Pedersen will be available from 12 noon to 4 to help you with projects and questions.

Bring your equipment, projects, a snack to share and all your friends!

 

Have a Sew-Sew Holiday!

Burlington Electric Quilters wishes you the best and most joyous holiday season.  

Our Holiday Hours:

  • Dec. 24-26 – Closed
  • Dec. 27 – 29: 9 AM to 5 PM
  • Dec. 31: 9 AM to 2 PM
  • Jan. 1-2: Closed
  • Jan. 3-5: 9 AM to 5 PM

Our Thursday hours are changing to 9 AM to 5 PM.  If you need a late-afternoon or evening appointment, give us a call for special arrangements.

 

 

 

Black Thread

One of our customers had problems using King Tut black thread this week.  The thread broke more than King Tut threads of other colors, and since she was doing a large quilt, we ended up frustrated before we finished.

I have since done some research on black thread and want to share what I learned.  In general, it seems like black thread is more over-dyed than other colors, in order to get the black color.  This applies not only to quilting threads, but other black threads, such as embroidery threads, as well.  Cotton threads tend to be more fragile than other colors because of the amount of dye used.

There are a few ways to deal with breakage of black thread.  Some quilters suggested putting the thread cone in a plastic bag and storing it in the freezer for several days.  This won’t solve problems in the moment, but if you plan to use black thread, let me know a few days before your appointment, and I’ll try this.

Other suggestions include liberal use of Sewer’s Aid and a larger than normal needle, storing the thread in the original wrap to keep the moisture content in, slowing the stitching down, and loosening the quilt sandwich.  And if you want to use black thread without the risk of breakage, I also stock Superior Thread‘s OMNI thread – a poly-wrapped poly core thread.

Our Statler patterns are now online!

To see all available Statler patterns, click on the menu item “Statler Pattern Catalog”.  Each of the links on that page bring up approximately 100 patterns that are available.  Pattern designations are as follows:

  • e2e
    • edge to edge patterns.  This includes patterns that are nested when set up.
  • b2b
    • border to border – patterns that can fit inside a border.  Contains no nested patterns.
  • blocks
    • patterns or motifs that can fill a block. Includes squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, etc.
  • border/corner
    • these patterns can be used to quilt a border separate from the interior of the quilt. Most of the border patterns also include a corner pattern that can be used with the border.
  • sashing
    • similar to borders/corners, but smaller and less complex.
  • posts
    • similar to blocks, but smaller and less complex.

January’s AccuQuilt Project

This month we are featuring the Wonky Heart GO! die on our AccuQuilt Studio 2 cutter.  Bring a Layer Cake or 35 10″ x 10″ squares and cut the pieces out using the Wonky Heart die.  Swap out the centers and sew the pieces together to make the blocks; add sashing and a couple of borders and you are done!

Here’s the quilt I made for new baby Anne Elizabeth.  Love the soft colors of orange and aqua in the Layer Cake, Lullaby, by Kate and Birdie Paper Co. I got mine from amazon.

 

This lovely collection of fat quarter batiks came from equilter.com. The combination of lights and darks makes it perfect for the Wonky Hearts quilt.

Sign up for an hour on the AccuQuilt cutter for $10, and add an extra $5 if you want supervision in sewing one block together.

We’re Expanding!

Take a tour of our new space – it’s right next door!

The new community fabric stash

The Studio Stash

This is our new community stash. Pick a fabric, leave something from your stash, or both! We’re looking for a volunteer Stash Steward to keep the stash organized.

 

 

 

 

Accuquilt Studio 2 Cutter

Better cuts make better quilts! We have an Accuquilt Studio 2 cutter with over 80 different block patterns and lots of fun appliqués, including Sunbonnet Sue and Gingham Dog. New patterns are coming out all the time. Rent the cutter and get a jump on your next project. Schedule your appointment now!

Accuquilt Studio 2 Cutter
Accuquilt Blocks
Accuquilt Appliqués
Some of the block patterns available
Quilt made using nine of the block patterns

T-shirt Press

Got lots of t-shirts?  Make a quilt in a jiffy with the t-shirt press.  Allows you to easily add interfacing to your t-shirt cuts without gumming up your home iron. Schedule an appointment today!

Sewing with Friends space

Bring your machine or borrow one of ours. Includes large cutting tables, a big ironing board, and a design wall. See Sit’n’Sew under “Calendar” on available times.

Snack and Storage Room

We have a microwave and small fridge, plus space to eat and socialize.

Calendar

Sit’n’Sew
2nd Tuesday
 10 AM to 2 PM, 4th Thursday 4 PM to 8 PM, or 3rd Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM (More dates may be added based on demand)
Begins Oct. 10. First come, first served. Up to 8 people at a time.
Bring, a project to work on, see what others are doing, bring a snack to share. Work alone or with friends. Transport your sewing machine or use one of ours – we have a Pfaff or a Baby Lock for your use.
Cost: $5/hr per person or one session per month free with subscription

Project Classes
Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
Subscriptions get a reduced price.

  • Oct. 28 – taught by Kit Ryan – Topic to be announced.

Subscriptions

$150 per year per person. Entitles you to:

  • 1 four-hour session on the Accuquilt cutter per quarter.
  • 1 four-hour session on the T-shirt press per quarter.
  • 1  Sit’n’Sew session per month.
  • Reduced prices on project classes.

Note: does not apply to longarm quilting classes or longarm quilting rentals.

Back to School special!

Whether your children are back to school or you’re just starting to turn your mind to holiday presents, September is a month to kick your quilting into high gear. To help you out, we are offering 9% off all month on studio time and on the quilting charge of drop-off quilts. Call to schedule your appointment today!