SSQS Journal
Issue 48 August, 2021
August 2021
Hello Everyone and Welcome August!
 
July flew by so fast and I don't know if we have caught up yet. There was so much planning and preparation for the Kokomo Show in June and July. The planning, cutting, sewing, quilting, cutting kits, cutting half yard cuts and basically packing up a good portion of the shop to set it all up again at the show. It’s a lot of work getting ready for a show but it was a great show this year and so nice to see everyone. Larger booths, lots of shops and a variety of quilting styles and tastes at each booth. The crowds were big, it looked as though people were just happy to be out again with friends and fellow quilters spending the day seeing new things and finding quilting inspiration and treasures to take home with them. Thank you to all our friends and customers who made the two hour trip down to Kokomo to support us and all the other quilt shops there. We all appreciate it so much!
August is sure to be a busy month too. We are starting to get New Sewing Machines finally after months with little inventory. The machines are going out the door almost as fast as they are coming in. Thank you to all who have waited so patiently. If you are thinking of getting a new sewing, quilting or embroidery machine come in and see what we have in stock. More fabric lines are coming in now each day with Christmas and Fall fabrics coming in almost everyday. Some of this fabric feels new to me too! Fabrics have been on back order so long I almost forget what I had ordered! Now we just need time to sew up some project samples for the holidays ahead. Later this week I will be sharing some ideas with you all for Table Runners and Toppers in the "Runner Round Up"- First Friday Demonstration Day coming up August 6 by video. Lots of Holiday and Everyday Projects to share. We have many of the Runners on the Class Calendar and Kits in the Shop to choose from or let us help you put your own color spin on your next table runner project.
So much going on at the new shop these days too, each week it looks more and more like the shop we had envisioned from the start as more and more work is finished up. We received good news in the month of July from the town that we will be able to use the big sign out front of the new shop so we will be even easier for customers to find! Work on the outside front of the building will be happening soon so you will be able to see the progress along with us. It's all happening and coming together. We look forward to the day we can open the doors and share this new space with all our friends.
 
May All Your Stitches be Sweet,
Joan
New Building Construction Update
We continue to make progress on our new building. Over the last month all of the wall board was completed the base paint was applied as well as installation of the new drop ceiling and the new interior doors and trim. Also last month we had our public meeting with the town of Chesterton and were officially granted a variance for the use of the large sign in the front yard. We are currently working on our design and are very pleased to have the ability to use the entire sign to promote Sweet Stitches. Beginning this week the crews are working on the prep work for the new floor and we are readying for the build out of the front porch and new entry doors for the building. We look forward to this big step in the process as more than anything, this work will transform the building from a basic warehouse into a welcoming retail space. We have a good bit of work yet to do but our goal is the same - to move into the new space in late September. And because we are asked everyday, the new building is right next door to our current shop, the new building is only 90 feet away! We must have been busy this month, we only have a few pictures to share:
Drop Ceiling being installed from the vantage point of the new front door
More drop ceiling and a view of what will be the new pattern wall on the right.
View from the back of the shop looking toward the soon to be new entry doors.
Runner Round Up
Our theme for the First Friday Demonstration Video will be Runner Round Up. We have a whole herd of Runner ideas for you from the everyday to holiday. Join us for some rootin tootin runner fun!

The First Friday Demo Day Video will be provided by email tomorrow morning, Friday August 6. Stay tuned!
For now we plan to provide First Friday Demo Day by Video. Once we have had the chance to move to our new location (Right Next Door!), we will decide if, how and when we might bring Demo Day back into the shop.
Go! Play Day! for August

Darla Says "Let's get to the Point" 
This Accuquilt Go! Play Day! Video will most certianly be on point and help you sharpen your skills. Stay Tuned!

AccuQuilt Go Play Day Videos are sent exclusively to those in our AccuQuilt Owners Club on the third Thursday of each month.
Sweet Stitches offers a variety of classroom instruction for beginners through advanced students. If you have been planning to take a class this summer, we encourage you to sign up soon. Our class schedule is jam packed for August. As we move past the first week of September, we will curtail our classes as we prepare and ready for our move. So now is the time to sign up and take that summer class you have been planning for.

If you are interested to explore our classes, 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.

Sweet Stitches Back on the Road
Sweet Stitches is planning a few trips out of the shop to attend quilting events as a vendor.
Kokomo One Stop Quilt Shop Hop

We would like to thank everyone that made the trip to Kokomo for the One Stop Shop Hop July 23 and 24 at the Kokomo Event & Conference Center. What an amazing turnout - everyone was ready to get out and enjoy some shopping and the company of others. What a busy couple of days!
Kokomo Booth
Joan had the booth looking awesome at Kokomo this year. Thankfully the organizers had increased the booth space for all vendors to allow more space for people to move about. Not sure you could move about once the booth got busy though!
String-A-Long Guild Retreat
Friday September 10, 2021
Saturday September 11, 2021

Geneva Conference Center
5282 N Old US Hwy 31,
Rochester, IN 46975
Niles Piecemakers Quilted Treasures Quilt Show
Friday October 15, 2021 ~ 10am - 5pm
Saturday October 16, 2021 ~ 10am - 4pm

​Hope Community Church
2390 Lake Street, Niles, MI 49120
A Little Further Down the Road...
March 2022 - Visiting the Krazy Quilters - Winamac
June 2022 - Appleseed Quilt Show - Fort Wayne
Machine Minute
General Maintenance and proper technique are critical for optimum performance of your sewing machine and project outcome.



Wonky Bobbins
This month we want to talk about bobbins. As we sew, bobbins become that item of frustration when they run out, we wind it quickly and get back to sewing. Most sewists give little thought to the lowly bobbin. Yet, if you expect quality stitches, you will need to pay a bit more attention to that bobbin.

In past Machine Minutes we have talked about winding the bobbins and the proper look and feel for a well wound bobbin. This month, however, we want to discuss the bobbin itself. When is the last time you discarded a bobbin? By the looks of some of the bobbins that come in with our service machines, not too often. In order for a bobbin to work properly, it must conform to a proper shape and fitness. If your bobbin is bent or wavvy (speaking of the metal bobbins that are still used in many types of machines) or warn, chipped or cracked (speaking of any plastic bobbin) it is time to pull it out of the rotation and retire it. Damaged bobbins do not rotate correctly, they do not feed thread smoothly and as a result stitch and tension related issue will be evident.

Take a minute, look over that pile of bobbins and if you find a few that have hit the floor, were chewed on by a pet, or whatever the circumstance are no longer in proper shape, find 'em a new home as they will no longer serve their purpose for your sewing projects.
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 Lakeshore, 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
Chesterton, Indiana 46304
219.250.5942
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