What is that cool breeze I feel coming through my window this morning? Can it be a reprieve from this Summer’s crazy heat? I can actually believe that Autumn is coming! It’s a good thing, since I’m so excited to share our new, fun Fall class schedule! We are offering new projects, like the Windmills Quilt shown above, as well as more sessions of our most popular workshops.

Make a new dress or handbag for a new season. Try quilting on for size and decorate your home. Meet new friends and work with new fabrics. Most importantly, make time for your crafting this Fall!

Be sure to call the shop to reserve your space! See you soon!

This weekend we are having a class to make this pretty tank. Using Kwik Sew 2498, you can mix and match 4 different versions of this versatile top. You will work with a pattern, make facings and buttonholes, depending on which style you choose. This class is great for beginners and a fun project to stitch up for more experienced sewers.

We love the spaghetti strap version paired with a sweet skirt or layered under a cardi when the AC is turned on too strong! The curved neckline and wider strapped version ( shown here in stripes) looks great with jeans, and can have a plain or buttoned up back. Whichever version you make, you will be grateful for this cool top in this hot summer!

If you’d like to join us, please call the shop to reserve your space! Here’s the details:

Simple Tank
$45 plus materials

Saturday, August 7: 12-4PM

Materials: Pattern, thread, .75- 1.5 yards of fabric depending on size. All materials are available for purchase at Spool. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for class sessions.
$45 plus materials

See you soon!

July is here! So fast! The last week of June was hot and humid, like only a Philly summer can be. Thankfully, the weather has cooled and now that it is gorgeous and in the 70s, I can think again! This is weather for walking around in town, enjoying the sights. For me, that almost always means coming home with a sunburn. I have taken to wearing a hat while I’m out and about, and it has helped quite a bit in not having a red nose and MORE freckles!

Since it has been so warm, I chose the breathable Essex linen/cotton blend to make my Kwik Sew 3699 chapeau! I lined it with a pretty grey & yellow dot from Laura Gunn’s Poppy collection. I have a real soft spot for yellowy greens. They just epitomize Summer, don’t they? This light color is pretty and deflects that hot sun, plus it looks good with red hair!

Once I cut out my pattern & fabric, this hat took less than an hour to stitch. Since the linen content makes for a sturdier fabric, I only interfaced the brim, so it wouldn’t fall in my eyes. If you were to use a regular quilting cotton weight or one of our Shot Cottons, like I did here, you would definitely want to use a featherweight interfacing, to give it a bit of shape. I can roll this up and put it in my purse and it still comes out looking great!

Now, if you made this hat in Nicey Jane cotton laminate, you would have a super cute rain hat! The weather can change on a dime in the Summer months. Last week, we had a crazy storm that came out of nowhere and lasted only 20 minutes! Now, while this hat may not protect your whole ensemble from a torrential downpour, it will at least save your hair-do and keep the rain out of your eyes. To me, that’s always the worst part of getting stuck in the rain – sporting “the bedraggled look” after the storm has ceased!

If you’d like to make a hat of your very own to protect that beautiful face, join us for class next weekend! Please call the shop to reserve your space. See you soon!

Sun Hat
Sunday, July 11: 1:30- 3:30PM
$25 plus materials

Materials: Pattern, 1 yard fabric total, 3/4 yards interfacing, thread. All materials are available for purchase at Spool. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for class sessions.

New skirts! This style is in all the shops this season, and I think it’s adorable. Accentuating the waistline with wide belts and waistbands is a trend I can get behind – so flattering. We used Erin McMorris’ s Go by Bike print and Kaffe Fassett’s Bekah for our skirts. I can picture the first one being worn to an afternoon lunch, while the second can go out for a night on the town. Since this skirt is so quick to make, you can have one for whatever mood strikes you!

Using just 1.5 yards of fabric, 3″ wide elastic and Kwik Sew Pattern 3744, we made our own version of this popular look. Summer style should be all about ease, and this skirt’s elasticized waist can be worn high or low, cutely and comfortably. It even has a pocket for carrying small essentials. You can make this in an afternoon, and get a good understanding of gathering and sewing with elastic, and wear it out that night!

Join us in class to make your very own own skirt of the season. Please call the shop to reserve your space. See you soon!

High Waist Skirt
$45 plus materials

Saturday, June 19: 12-4PM- next week!
Saturday, July 10: 11-3PM
Tuesdays, August 10 & 17: 6-8PM

Materials: Pattern, thread, 1 yard of 3″ wide elastic, 1.5 yards of fabric, optional sew on snap for rosette. All materials are available for purchase at Spool. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for class sessions.

Our Summer Class Schedule is up! We have exciting new offerings, and have added more sessions of our most popular classes. Be sure to check out the one session Saturday workshops, specially designed to accommodate busy Summer schedules!

As always, please call the shop to reserve your space. See you soon!

Nothing says relaxed summer style like a wrap skirt! Versatile, easy to wear and easy to sew. We made ours using Kwik Sew 2954 and Kaffe Fassett’s Roman Glass print.

The slimmed down a-line shape of this skirt, combined with waist darts, gives a more flattering appearance. Finish it with a waist facing and simple tie closure. I dig the 70′s vibe this skirt is giving off, and I know it will look amazing with all the wedge heeled sandals I’m seeing out there!

This pattern is a great first step into garment sewing. We’re having a class starting up in June – you’ll have this done in time to wear to the 4th of July picnic! Please call the shop to reserve your space. See you soon!

Wrap Skirt
$45 plus materials

Sundays, June 20 & 27 12:30AM -2:30PM

You should be familiar with sewing machine basics to take this class. We recommend purchasing your fabric ahead of time, so that it can be laundered in time for class.

Materials: 2 – 3.5 yards of fabric depending on size and length, pattern, thread. All materials are available for purchase at Spool. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for class sessions.

Sunday is the first day of my weekend, and when I left the shop on Saturday I asked Olga & Elizabeth to cut and arrange a new Piano Keys Quilt using my fave Shot Cottons du jour. Look what was waiting for me on the design wall when I arrived at the shop this morning!

So lovely! All I wanted to do was sit down and start sewing it together right away. I decided to stay my course, however, and snapped a few photos to share instead! Check out that gradation of color in the border, creating an orderly frame for their favorite pairings at the center. Fantastic! The saturation and depth of the Shot Cotton colors get me very time- I think it would be impossible for me to NOT adore something made with these special fabrics. Great job, Olga & Elizabeth!

It’s amazing how completely different, but equally strong, it looks from my last Piano Keys quilt. This pattern lends itself so well to larger prints, but I’m glad we decided to see what it looked like in all solids. With the cutting and piecing so simple, it gives you a great opportunity to concentrate on playing with pattern and color to your heart’s content!

If you like the looks of this quilt, we are holding a workshop starting this weekend, taught by the pattern’s designer, Sujata Shah. There are only a few spots left, so be sure to call the shop to reserve your space. See you soon!

Piano Keys Quilt
$65 plus materials

Saturdays, May 15 & 22: 11AM-2PM

Materials: Pattern, 10 fat quarters or 1/4 yards, thread. 3 yards backing, 60″ x 60″ batting. Finished size: 44″ x 48″. Pattern includes instructions for a 72″ x 80″ version as well. All materials are available for purchase at Spool. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for class sessions.

I was just wearing my winter coat 4 days ago, and now it’s slated to hit 85 degrees here in Philly today! Crazy! When the temperature rises this way, it can only mean one thing – time for new skirts!

I have been seeing fuller skirts in all the stores lately, and Kwik Sew 3637 fits right in! We made ours in Laura Gunn’s Poppy Print, and I love how well the design highlights the large scale pattern. It has a side zipper closure and is put together with minimal pattern pieces, helping your project come together quickly and easily. Feminine and fashionable, don’t be surprised if you want to do a little twirl while wearing this skirt!

If you’d like to try your hand at making this pattern, we are having a class starting next weekend. This is a perfect project for new garment sewers and a fun wardrobe addition for more experienced seamstresses! Please call the shop to reserve your space.

Here’s the details:

Circle Skirt
$65 plus materials

Sundays, May 9, 16 & 23: 12:30- 2:30

You should be familiar with sewing machine basics and have completed at least one other small project to take this class. We recommend purchasing your fabric ahead of time, so that it can be laundered in time for class.

Materials: pattern, thread, 3- 3.75yards fabric depending on size and length, 7″ zipper

See you soon!

I had the pleasure of seeing Jay McCarroll at our Kaffe Fassett event this past weekend. He loves Kaffe’s fabrics too! Much to my delight, he wanted to know when he could teach another class at Spool! We put our heads together and decided on May 1st. It is coming up quickly, but I know that Jay’s fans will want to make time to sew with him in his new Mystery Class!

Jay is Project Runway’s first season winner, recent winner of Celebrity Fit Club (wait ’till you see how great he looks!) and designer of our favorite fabric lines: Garden Friends, Woodland Wonderland, and Germania. Jay is known for his amazing sense of color, unique point of view, and fun loving nature.

When you come to class, Jay will hand you a “mystery bag” full of materials to make a top secret project. (Here’s a hint: When you’re laying out in the park, you sometimes need somewhere soft to lay your head!) Jay will be your guide, sharing his methods of design, embellishment, and fabric selection. It promises to be a wonderful class in experimentation and color, so be prepared for an adventure!

Here’s the details:

Saturday, May 1: 1-3 PM
$50. Mystery materials included.

You will need to bring your favorite selection of buttons (at least 5), thread, and an open mind! You should be familiar with sewing machine basics to take this class. Use of our sewing machines, rotary cutters, scissors, mats, and rulers are included for the class session.

Class size is limited, so please call the shop to reserve your space today!

Our Spring class schedule is up! We’re so excited about our new offerings, and have added more sessions of our most popular classes. Make a cozy quilt, dress up in a pretty skirt, and decorate your home for a new season. We even have a class to make a great summer shirt for the fellas!

Classes are fun way to improve your skills and meet other like-minded crafters. Call the shop and reserve your space today!