As you are baking pies, setting the table and welcoming family and friends for the weekend, we want to wish you a happy holiday. We are so thankful for getting to know all of you these past few months. It is wonderful to meet so many creative people!

Spool will be closed Thanksgiving day, but will be open for our regular hours of 11-6 throughout the weekend. If you’ve wisely taken Friday off, come sew with us, or bring the family by - we’d love to meet them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brand new from Indygo Junction is the Gathering Jacket. With all the get-togethers on the horizon in the coming weeks, wouldn’t it be nice to have a swingy handmade jacket by the door? This jacket will layer easily over a sweater & jeans, so you’re not overheated going from holiday errands to holiday parties. Add a pretty scarf and you’re done!

The festive autumnal fabric is from Joel Dewberry’s Ginseng line. This fully lined jacket comes in 2 lengths (this is the longer one), to tailor to your height or style preferences. Simple raglan styling makes the sleeves a cinch to attach. Gathers at the neck and pockets pull the look together, and have you looking good and feeling comfy!

Quilting Arts has released a brand new magazine called Stitch. When I went to Quilt Market recently, the cover caught my eye, which is saying something because there is a lot to see there! Stitch is exploring a modern take on sewing by including projects for crafting and garment sewing, as well as quilting.

I, for one, am obsessed with the wrap skirt on the cover, and if that weren’t enough, there are 4 other skirt patterns to choose from. The patterns are included as a center insert, printed on real pattern paper so you don’t have to go to the copy shop to blow them up!

With patterns for baby, home and accessories, Stitch will definitely keep you busy! Perusing a few pages will kick start your gift list, and the gorgeous styling is sure to inspire!

There’s nothing like adding a little handmade goodness to your holiday table - besides the delicious dinner, of course! Placemats and tablecloths are simple projects that can make a big impact on your special guests.

I have always thought that the method used to piece quilt binding is so clever and attractive. I decided to put that cleverness to work for my table setting project, using pretty shades of orange combined with gingery neutrals for an autumn harvest feel. Here’s how to make your own:

First, I cut six 2.5 inch strips from selvedge to selvedge. Sew 2 strip sets with 3 fabrics each.

Next, I trimmed one end of each set. I placed the sets right sides together, with the top set perpendicular to the bottom. I drew a diagonal line across the square formed by the intersecting fabrics. Be sure to draw line from the upper left corner to the lower right. Stitch on the line.

Then, trim the excess triangle a 1/4″ from the seam.

After I opened my new strip and pressed the seam allowance to one side, I cut the strip to 18″. Using the bottom of the diagonal as my center, I measured 9″ from this point and cut on each end. Then I repeated these steps to make a second strip to become the bottom half of my placemat. Sew the strips together and you have a placemat top!

To finish up, cut a backing fabric to the size of the placemat top, about 12.5″ x 18″. Put the 2 panels face together. I added a lightweight batting to mine, which I cut to size and layered on top of the backing.

Stitch 1/4″ around the perimeter, leaving a small opening. Turn the placemat inside out, and
press. Then, stitch all the way around the edge again with 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat this process for as many table settings as you need, and then set the table!

For the tablecloth, I used Michael Miller’s Organic Cotton Gingham. Since tables tend to be bigger than fabric widths, you can use these pretty strips of color at the seams. I calculated the length I needed, in this case 72″, and cut two 72 inch pieces from selvedge to selvedge. With leftover strips from my placemats, I used the exact same process featured above, except with individual strips, to make the colorful panel running down the seam. I sewed this strip to one long side of each panel, and then hemmed all the way around. Done and done!

Treat yourself to some craft time, and treat your guest to a gorgeous, one-of-kind holiday table! As always, we’d love to see photos of what you’ve made. Enjoy!

A cheerful tablerunner is a simple way to decorate your home and mark the change of the seasons. Have it be the centerpiece of your holiday meal, or liven up the table by the front door (you know the one where you toss your keys!). It feels good to see things you’ve made being used and enjoyed in your daily life. It’s even better when friends and family are truly impressed at your craftiness! I made this table runner using the (not so) tricky “Disappearing Nine Patch”. No, it’s not a mystery novel, it’s a quilt block! This technique is so simple and turns out looking so complex; everyone will think you are a quilting master! Here’s how you do it:

First, make a nine patch!
I love bright colors, so I used my favorite teals and tangerines from Michael Miller and Sandi Henderson. Using 1/2 yard of 3 fabrics, I had plenty to work with. Fat quarters would also work wonderfully for this project. My block size for each fabric was 4″. Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, the finished nine patch was 11″. I made 4 nine patches total.

Second, cut the nine patch into quarters. With your trusty rotary cutter and grid ruler this is easy enough, right?

Third, reorder the blocks into four patches. Play around and see what type of design you like best. I liked that my gingham squares met on the diagonal, breaking up the strong pattern a bit!

Then, sew your four patches together in one long row. I added a 2.5″ border (1/4 yd of fabric) all around, and cut backing (1/2 yard) and batting to fit the top. I stitched in the ditch with my machine, and then used my pretty teal gingham to bind the whole thing together. My finished measurement was 14″ x 44″. I had fun making this, and hope you do too!

Marianna brought her awesome version of the Oliver + S Tea Party Sundress for show & tell. So much fun! She made it for a friend’s daughter, who, I’m sure, will love it. What little girl (or her mom) wouldn’t love a pretty little dress covered in cheerful birdies?! Marianna used Park Slope fabric for the skirt and a delicious orange Shot Cotton for the bodice. She found the pattern easy to follow, and likes the versatility of the style. As her little friend grows, she can easily layer it over pants, keeping this soon-to-be favorite in rotation a while longer. Thanks for sharing, Marianna! This dress is top notch!