Coming in like a lion–classes next week at Sewtropolis!

Whew! As everyone digs out from the last storm, we’re gearing up for spring with our March classes! Check out these classes – all happening the very first week of March!

March 1st – Perfect Wrap Dress

We’ll kick off the month with the Perfect Wrap dress – perfect for Spring! This super flattering dress is easy to make (no zippers or buttons!) and is as comfy as it is cute. The class is two parts, so make sure to get registered and make it to both sessions. We’ve graded the class as a level 3 – it’s perfect for students who’ve taken Sewing Essentials and one of our level 2 classes (apron? pajama bottoms?) and are looking for the next project. The class is taught by Patty – here she is modeling her version in a lovely double gauze from Echino.

March 2nd – Sewing Essentials

Dying to make the wrap dress, but can’t remember how to wind your bobbin? Sewing Essentials is perfect for you! Half the class is devoted to a full review of the sewing machine including threading, bobbin winding, cleaning and oiling. During the second half of the class we’ll put your new knowledge to practice and make some funky pillowcases that fit a standard size pillow. Great for beginners or those who want to brush up rusty skills. Bring your machine so you’ll know what to do when you get back home, or use one of ours.

March 3rd - Hostess Apron

OK, we’re all about spring, but Mother’s Day and Father’s Day will be here before you know it! Take our Hostess Apron class and get your gifts ready early. Make mom’s from this gorgeous fleur de lis cotton and make dad a barbeque-ready from this woodsy cotton laminate – both fabrics from the Kate Spain Central Park line from Moda. This is a level two class – so if you’ve graduated from Sewing Essentials, you’re ready to tackle the Hostess (or Host) Apron!
  

March 5th – Quillow

At the end of the week we’ll hold the Quillow class… what’s a quillow you ask? Half quilt, half pillow, this level two class is perfect for beginner sewers who’ve taken the Sewing Essentials class and are looking for a fun project to sew for kids. We’ll be using Valori Wells’ Blissful Turnaround pattern.

March 5th – Pincushion of the Month Club

Rrrawr! This month’s pincushion of the month club features lion and lamb pincushions! These simple and adorable pincushions are almost too cute to stick a pin in! Learn how to play with a bit of yarn to make a mane or some wooly fleece and have fun making faces out of buttons! Workshops are open to all levels and last for one hour where we’ll go over the specific techniques for the month’s pincushion. Kits are available for an extra fee with all the materials to make a lion and lamb of your own and your class fee includes two hours of Q&A Studio Time to use anytime during the month of March – the perfect amount of time to make a lion and lamb of your own!

Registration and materials.

Whew! That’s a lot going on in one week! To register, call the shop (612-827-9550) during business hours – Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. In most cases, materials are not included in class fees. We offer a 10% discount on materials purchased at the shop for a class.

See you next week!

What's Black and White and Soon To Be Swapped!

The Minneapolis Modern Quilters are doing a swap and challenge on Thursday, I recently blogged about the challenge if you'd like to read 'the rules'. I have so much fabric in my stash that I thought I would use up what I had. Unfortunately once I started cutting into it I discovered that the 1/4yard cuts I had were cut 9"x44" and not fat quarters which are 18"x 22". Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but the rules say that the fabric has to be washed.... which then made it fray.  I then ended up getting only 4 strips instead of the 6 I needed from each of my scraps - which means I was 'forced' to use this beautiful fabric we have at the store called Dilly Dally by Me and My Sister.

Squaring up fabric straight off the bolt is a whole lot easier then squaring up fabric once it's been washed.  Here's how I squared up the fabric after I washed it. 

I folded my fabric matching up the selvages first.  I then folded it in half again. 

All wrinkles should be smoothed out.

I then lined up the vertical lines on my ruler with the folded edge. 

I cut off just the frayed edges of the fabric. (waste not, want not)

If you're ambidextrous you should be able to make the next cut without flipping the fabric.  But since most of us aren't ambidextrous I flipped the fabric.  I then measured in 3" with my ruler and cut my first strip.  If you are cutting more than one strip you will repeat this step for as many strips as you need. 

If you did this right, when you open your strip it should be straight and not wavy.

I'll be taking the top fabric and the bottom fabric for the exchange.  But I'll also be bringing the two in the middle as extras - because we're allowed to do that.  :-)

In case you didn't read the post about the exchange, everyone is welcome to come to the meeting.  It starts at 6:30 and goes till 8.  Bring a Fat Quarter if you'd like to be entered in the fat quarter drawing.

Do-It-Green Workshop - Repurposed Sweater Tutorial

If you missed out on today's Do-It-Green upcycling, repurposing and clothing swap at the store you'll be happy to know that there was such a good turnout that I'm sure we'll be doing it again soon. 

At the workshop I promised to blog about how I turned a old out of fashion sweater into a sweater that I'll actually wear!  (which is the whole purpose behind repurposing).  

Supplies you will need:
old sweater
thread
scissors
pins
sewing machine or serger

Before we begin, here is the before picture of me wearing a sweater that is in no way, shape or form flattering on me at all.

Lay your sweater out on a flat surface and start cutting!  

First, start with the sleeves, you can either leave them long or short or do what I did and make them 3/4 length.  This is your sweater make it work for you!  

Next if your sweater has a turtle neck like mine you can either leave it or cut it off.  I chose to cut mine off because I plan on wearing this sweater in the Spring when the weather turns warmer.  If you decide to leave the neck intact, you'll cut right through it in the next step. 

Next I made a cut about 3" - 4" off center to the left from hem to neck.  If you decided to cut the neck off - this is where you'll do it.

You're now ready to sew it all back together.

Once again, starting with the sleeves I used the serger to finish the edges.  You don't have to use a serger - a simple zigzag on a conventional machine will work. 

 I then serged (or zigzaged) around the bottom edge, up one side of the front, around the neck, and down the other side.  Doing this will ensure a nice 'finished' look for your sweater. 

Next, pin the two front edges together - with the insides t ouching.  Now stitch (serge or zigzag) starting at the bottom edge of the sweater, working your way towards the neck and stopping about 4" - 6"  from the neck line.  (Where you stop will depend on how low a cut you are comfortable with - again this is your sweater - make it work for you)!

Here is my "after" sweater - now this is something I will wear! 

Thanks again to everyone who attended the Do-It-Green workshop. 

For a tutorial on how to make leg warmers out of a wool sweater check out my personal blog.

Minneapolis Modern Quilters February Challenge

Hi all,
The Minneapolis Modern Quilters are putting together a new Swap and Challenge for February.  If you don't know what a swap and challenge is let me explain it to you.  Everyone brings the pre-determined fabric requirements to the meeting (in this case it's two or more fat quarters that "read" Black, White or Gray.  We all swap our fabric with one another so that everyone ends up with a bit of everyone else's fabric.  We then go home and make something. 

The cool thing about this group is - it doesn't have to be a quilt.  We did a swap and challenge last year - exchanging strips of polka-dot fabric.  What was so cool  was that even though we all walked away with the same fabrics we all created entirely different items!  I created this strip quilt. 

You can see what the other members made by visiting our Flickr site.  

If you love quilting this group is a great group to get involved in.  What is super neat about it is that most are on-line in one way shape or form.  There are a few that have blogs (see sites below) and are very active on-line.  I have really, really loved getting to know this group of women, they are all so creative!  I really encourage everyone who even dreams of quilting to come to a meeting and see for yourself.  

In the meantime here are the rules for the Februray swap.  Hope to see you soon! 

SWAP
Start with two (or more) fat quarters that "read" BLACK, WHITE or GRAY. Print should be in these colors, too. No solids, please.

Wash fabrics.
Cut into strips that are 3 inches wide/ 20 inches long. You should end up with 5-6 strips per fat quarter.

We are swapping 10 strips - 5 from two fabrics. If you submit more, you may duplicate fabrics. (Each swapper will use at least two different fat quarters!) - You will get the same number of strips that you swap.

The swap will happen at the February meeting. If you are unable to be there, but want to swap, please send Elise Peters a email (elisepeters@mac.com) and she will send you her mailing address.  If you choose to participate this way you must send a return envelope and postage. All mail in strips should be received by Tuesday, February 15th.

CHALLENGE
Once you have received your swapped strips, add one additional SOLID fabric to finish the "top" of your project. (You may add others for your backing and binding!)

There are lots of ideas for black and white quilting projects on flickr!

Complete your top for the May meeting.

If you have questions about this swap-challenge, let me know! We are hoping to get at least 12 participants, but more would be great! 

Want to check out the group at:  https://www.bigtent.com/groups/modquilt 
Other members of the Group who are also blogging about this project are:
Marie @ http://craftymsp.blogspot.com/
Annik @ http://www.minimushrooms.blogspot.com/
Karen @ http://www.badlandsquilts.com/

Nikol @ http://hubbahubbadingdong.blogspot.com/