SSQS Journal
Issue 65 January 2023
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Hello Everyone and Welcome 2023!
Beginning a Quilt is like starting out the New Year. We all start the Quilt with resolution and hope for a perfect quilt. We all must choose what works for us to make the Quilt(Year) a great one. Some choose a pattern to be a guide. Some choose to read the pattern and plan their steps carefully. Some choose to skim the pattern, read the pictures and go for it. Some choose to have no pattern at all. All are ways to start.
Some are careful to wash and press out the wrinkles in the fabric before cutting. Some dive in straight out of the stash not letting a few wrinkles get in their way. All are still fabric.
Some cut the pieces carefully so no mistakes can be made. Some just cut and if mistakes are made they will make it work. All are still cut.
We all piece together those bits of fabric to make a block, to make more blocks, to make the rows, to make the Quilt top. Some piece slowly with perfection in mind, some piece with speed to complete the task and some piece to feel at peace. All are pieced.
With quilt tops completed, some are perfect and square, some quilts are put together quickly, ready to start the next one. Some may not be perfect but they will try again. All are completed.
With the Quilt top completed and half way through, it's time to think how you will quilt this quilt. Some will choose straight stitching. Some will choose to be free with the motion. Some will choose to hand it over to someone who can help them finish. Some will put it in the closet while they think about it, All are quilted (except for the one in the closet but it can wait until you are ready).
We are thankful to be to this point, the Quilt is almost done. We need to finish the Quilt by cleaning up the edges and creating a binding to bring the Quilt to a finish. Some choose to bind their quilt carefully. Some do the best that they can to hold it all together. Some choose to get this part over because they hate binding! All are bound.
Finishing a Quilt is like finishing the year. We all choose our method and our techniques to get through it. All are good!
Happy New Year Quilters!
May all your Stitches be Sweet,
Joan
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Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop
Celebrate our 6th Anniversary!
With the turn of the calendar, Sweet Stitches will celebrate its 6th anniversary. As we begin our seventh year in business we are very grateful for our wonderful team, customers and friends who support us.
We look forward to what 2023 will bring!
Please join us for our
Annual Anniversary Sale
January 4 - 7, 2023
25% OFF
Fabric, Books, Notions, Patterns
*$8.00/Yard (35 - 40% OFF)*
Large Selection of Christmas Fabric
25% OFF
AccuQuilt Dies, Cutters, Cubes and Companion Sets
25% OFF
Daylight Lamps
25% OFF
Horn Sewing Chairs
Holiday Pricing carry over on all
Sewing Machines and Horn Cabinets!
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Joan's First Friday Demo Day Videos will continue in 2023. Her very first video was released in April 2020. This January will be the 34th edition!
The early videos were released on Facebook but soon moved over to our YouTube channel that currently has 544 Subscribers and the December video was viewed over 2600 times!
Check your inbox on Friday, January 6 for a new video link. Or you can Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be notified as soon as the video is uploaded!
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National Sew Day
February 4, 2023
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National Sew Day for Quilts Of Valor is celebrating it's10th year on Saturday February 4.
Block Kits
This year Sweet Stitches is cutting block kits for you to sign out, take home, sew up and return to the shop. All of the blocks will be donated to Quilts of Valor. For each block you finish and return by 4:00pm, Saturday, February 4 you will be entered into a drawing to win one of three gift cards to Sweet Stitches. Block kits will be available for pick up starting January 16.
Sew-in
On February 4, Sweet Stitches will host an all day sew-in where 12 quilters can sign up to spend the day sewing for Quilts of Valor working on donated and precut block kits to assemble quilt tops. These quilters should bring their machines, neutral color thread and basic sewing notions. Also bring a lunch or take a break and go out to eat with a friend. We would like quilters who sign up for this free day of sewing to be able to commit to stay and sew most of the day from 10:30- 4:00. We have blocks to get done! If you are interested please Call the shop 219.250.5942 or stop in to sign up.
All of the blocks and quilt tops will be donated to our local Quilt Of Valor Group, String-A-Long Stars & Stripes, to present to local veterans to honor and thank them for their service to our country.
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2023 Pre-game Mystery Quilt Party
It's Time for Our Annual Event!
Sunday February 12, 2023
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Calling all Players for the Sweet Stitches Seventh Annual Pregame Mystery Quilt Party!
The kick-off will be Sunday February 12 at Noon. The game ends at 5:00 pm just in time to get home for the Super Bowl. Every half hour the players will receive a new clue to work towards the goal of building a mystery quilt in an afternoon. Coach Joan will provide your playbook (instructions) to allow you to prepare your pieces ahead of time and then clues will be provided during our event so you can piece your mystery quilt.
As always, we will have lots of Food, Fun, Friendship and Sewing!
We look forward to seeing you on Super Bowl Sunday!
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Lakeside Block of the Month
Block #7 is Ready. You can stop in the shop at any time as of January 3 to pick up your fabric kit.
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With the turn of the calendar, our class schedule is full for January. We hope you can join us for some fun projects or to learn a new skill. For 2023 we will continue to schedule Sweet Retreat Days as they have been a big hit and lots of fun.
In 2023 we will continue to meet with our Featherweight Club and with our Accuquilt GO! Play Days and Project of the Month series!
If you are interested to explore our classes and schedule, click the link below that will take you to our calendar or you can find the calendar and a list of classes on our website by clicking 'Classes' in the top banner.
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Project of the Month
Darla has worked hard to create a series of projects for 2023. Each month you have the opportunity to work on a new, small project that incorporates the accuquilt cutting system and for 2023 the theme is "Seasonal Skinny Quilts".
You need not own a cutting system, our dies and cutters are available to use in class.
For our first AccuQuilt Project of the Month in 2023 (Jan 12) The project will be a skinny quilt named "Love Notes" that is a cute project that will be a nice wall hanging all ready for Valentine's day.
This Class is Open to everyone, you need not have an Accuquilt Cutting System
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Accuquilt Go! Play Days!
All throughout 2023, Go! Play Days will be dedicated to a Christmas Mystery.
Each month a new block, row or boarder will be presented. At the end of the year you will have a Holiday quilt top!
Go! Play Days are for those who own an Accuquilt cutting system. You will need your cutter and various die sets throughout the year. Supply lists and instructions will be provided each month.
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General Maintenance and proper technique are critical for optimum performance of your sewing machine and project outcome.
It's Chilly outside - Don't let your Machine Freeze
We are in the middle of winter and it's cold outside. This means you need to give some thought to your sewing machine if it happens to be traveling with you and especially if you leave it in the car for any extended period.
Sewing machines do not like the cold. If your machine was in an unheated area for some time, give it a chance to warm up before you begin to use it. The grease and even the oil will be cold, stiff and will not have the same lubricating properties as they do at proper room temperature and this can cause excess wear on parts.
Your machine, if it is cold and brought into a warm area, can sweat. Just like your ice tea glass in the summer builds up condensation on the outside of the glass, so too can your very cold sewing machine when brought in to a warm humid area. Even a small bit of condensate moisture can create an issue for electronic parts.
If your machine has spent a few hours in the cold, give it 20 minutes or a half hour to acclimate before you flip the switch.
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Have a question about Machine Maintenance? Feel free to stop in and ask, we are happy to assist with helpful advice to keep you sewing. |
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Quilters of all skill levels can find encouragement, inspiration and creativity at Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop. Located in Chesterton, Indiana just a few miles from the natural beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park, Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop is your destination for fabrics, notions and all things quilting. We carry a wide variety of brights and batik fabrics as well as notions, patterns, books and Elna/Janome sewing machines. Our large classroom offers students everything they need to learn and grow their quilting talents. From fabric selection to project advice to training on your new machine, our friendly, knowledgeable staff is ready to assist. Stop by the store or click the "Shop Online" link to view our wide variety of products ready to ship direct to your door.
Sweet Stitches Quilt Shop
1575 S Calumet Rd.
Chesterton, Indiana 46304
219.250.5942
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