This past weekend I visited the Barnes Foundation, a unique gallery just outside of Philadelphia. Founded by Dr. Albert Barnes in 1922, the gallery is home to a remarkable sampling of impressionist & modern paintings. In addition this fantastic collection, the grounds contain a lovely arboretum, tended to over the years by Mrs. Barnes. As a city dweller, it was wonderful to stroll amongst giant trees from around the world, check out the koi pond, and even get a few mosquito bites! Who knew I could be so outdoorsy (wink!)?

Inspired by my nature walk and some new arrivals at the shop, I put together my Arboretum fabric bundle. New prints from Art Gallery Fabrics Naturella collection are on the left, paired with my favorite fabrics from Erin McMorris’ Wildwood line on the right. These summery hues would make perfect placemats and napkins for outdoor dining, or a pretty patchwork cover for your sketchbook. Can’t you just see yourself touring the grounds, taking notes in your botanical journal, wearing a big straw hat? I thought so!

Unfortunately, Philly has entered the rainy portion of our Summer. Fortunately, new patterns from Amy Butler have arrived just in time! The Rainy Days and Little Splashes Jackets are just what I’ve been wanting! Using the new cotton laminates, Amy Butler gives us patterns for two cute coats- one for ladies and one for girls. Mother/daughter ensembles, anyone? The fun colors & prints of our laminates are perfect for brightening a gloomy day.

Both styles of jacket are fully lined with either quilting cotton or, for a heavier jacket, home dec weight fabric. This is quite a nice feature if you remember wearing unlined raincoats as kid – sticky! chilly! Wouldn’t this be great lined in flannel for the rainy Fall days? Cozy!

If you haven’t worked with the laminated fabrics before, don’t be scared! The fabric is actually quite lightweight and easy to work with. There are three things to remember when stitching with this fun fabric.

First and foremost, don’t touch the laminated side with a hot iron! It will melt! Try to finger press whenever possible, but when you do need to press, use a dry iron on a low setting and press on the unlaminated side of the fabric only.

Second, pin holes will not disappear, so only pin in the seam allowances or use paper clips!

Lastly, sewing on the wrong side of this fabric is a cinch, but sewing on the laminated side can be a little trickier & stickier! We have had great success using walking foot for topstitching. The walking foot has feed dogs that work in conjunction with the feed dogs on your machine to move the fabric through at an even rate. No slipping & sliding! This is a super helpful attachment to have for a variety of projects, especially if you want to machine quilt at home. A teflon foot will work beautifully as well. If you’re in a pinch, masking tape on the under side of your regular presser foot will do.

If you keep these three things in mind, your sewing experience will be much easier! Now, it’s time to pick out the fabric for your new raincoat!

There’s new fabric in the shop from the talented Valori Wells! As soon as I saw Nest, I knew you guys would love it. If there’s one thing we like at Spool, it’s a sweet birdie print! Pair that with a soft, light palette and you have a fabric line that is totally worthy of your nest.

I could see this as pretty pillows and a Springy, cuddly, sofa quilt. It would be wonderful in a nursery; curtains, bumper, crib skirt- the works! Or, for when you need to carry part of the nest with you, make a pretty Birdie Sling with birdie fabric. What would you make?

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.

We love Erin McMorris! Her previous collections, Park Slope and Wildwood, quickly became shop favorites and her new line, Weekends, promises to do the same! Her gorgeous colors and lively patterns announce that Summer is here! Picnics in the park, rambling roses and leisurely bike rides all around!

How amazing is that citrus green! The little diamond pattern looks almost like cross stitch. So cute!

Bicycles are a big deal here in Philly, so I knew we had to have that cute bike print in every colorway!

I made up weekend snack-inspired bundles for both shops: Limeade, Butterscotch Sundae, Plum Popsicle and Peach Cobbler. Yum! We have every fabric in every color, so I’m thinking I need to start a new quilt project today! What would you make?

Isn’t this dress amazing? It’s the new Empire Evening Dress pattern from Anna Maria Horner. I read on Anna Maria’s blog that the skirt from this dress was originally a quilt top, and she had to quickly fashion a bodice for it during a photo shoot featuring her fabric line. Once the photos came out, people REALLY wanted the pattern, and she happily obliged. I’m so glad she did!

There are 4 versions included in the pattern; 2 strapless & 2 with straps, both in long and short lengths. While I love the zig-zaggy full skirt in the cover dress, I decided to try a more simple style for our dress. We used Micheal Miller’s Ta-Dot in a gorgeous teal. The result is flowy, feminine, and all around cute. I think this could easily be a candidate for your everyday summer uniform. Hot weather will be no sweat ( literally) in this cool and comfy frock!

My favorite part is the pretty bodice detail. It really gives the simple shape of the dress something extra special. It’s an easy detail to sew as well! Anna Maria’s instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, making the sewing just as enjoyable as the wearing of your new summer dress!

How cute is this fabric?! There are hedgehogs, owls, and lovebirds abound in this new Japanese inspired prints from Michael Miller. I adore those scarf wearin’, apple eatin’ hedgehogs- they look like they’re having so much fun!

I wanted to make something to show off this collection’s awesome zakka style! This group of zippy pouches & purses from Kwik Sew 3651 has been on my mind, and the little change purse & ID holder shows off the tiny prints wonderfully. So adorable!

One of our fabric bundles would make many a zippy pouch – you even have time to whip one up for Mom for Mother’s Day! What would you make with these little guys?

The Ice Cream Dress is finished! This super cute frock is one of 3 new Oliver + S patterns released this month. When I saw the illustration on the cover, I knew it would be the first sample we would make!

We chose Kaffe Fassett’s Serape Stripe, and a pretty lavender Shot Cotton to make our version, and Elizabeth got to stitchin’! I love the summery colors, and the horizontal striping. Simple to sew and extremely wearable, I can see this being a girl’s summer uniform. Oliver + S sizing now goes up to age 12, so older girls can get in on the fun! Believe me, there are lots of ladies at the shop that want this dress in their size!

The dress closes at the back of the neck with a single button. So cute! Didn’t Elizabeth do a great job matching up those stripes? Impressive!

These pockets are my favorite detail on the dress. I love the little dip at the center and how it echoes that same shape on the yoke. Girls need pockets to keep their tiny treasures and these are just the right size!

There’s no doubt this is a perfect summer dress! The only question is, which flavor Ice Cream would you choose?

A new issue of Stitch Magazine is here! I always look forward to its arrival and this issue does not disappoint. The Spring theme is details, and there are skirts, handbags and housewares all beautifully adorned with applique, beading and ruffles. You can learn to work with vintage patterns and trims and try your hand at embellishing with lace.

My favorite projects are in the Modern Baby section. Take your pick from a girl’s wrap dress, child’s flight cap (designed by our pal Betz White), or baby alphabet quilt. There’s even an exclusive Oliver + S pattern for a sweet ruffled halter, and an interview with Liesl!

This issue will keep you busy for while, so you might want to clear your calendar! Have fun!

Kaffe Fassett has done it again! I believe that there can never be too many stripes in your life, and I have a feeling Mr. Fassett shares my opinion. Just look at his new Ikat Stripes! In six colorways, this fabric has a solid color weft and multi-colored yarn dyed stripes running through the warp. The result is a gorgeous depth of color and a pretty, lightweight fabric. The feel is similar to his Shot Cottons, but with a little more body. This would be amazing for summer skirts and blouses – nice and cool. Of course, I just wanted to mix it up with my favorite Shot Cottons and make a new quilt!

I paired a shade of Shot Cotton with each Ikat Stripe and got busy. Since I wanted it to be a simple quilt with the fabric doing all the work, I chose my old friend the square as my inspiration! Elizabeth quickly cut it out and then we spent some time at the design wall. We decided on a dynamic diagonal stripe (of course!) to highlight the rich colors. Love!

After layering a thin batting and backing with Kaffe’s Plink print, I quilted a wonky nine patch pattern with a saffron yellow thread. Lord knows I enjoy a stripey binding, so I finished it off with his woven stripe. Kaffe- tastic!

Perfect for cuddling up on a chilly night, the finished size is about 40″x 52″. The beachy feel would be perfect for a shore house throw, or a quilt for a summer baby. Kits for the Ikat Stripe Quilt are available in the shop, and each one includes the pattern free! Fat quarter bundles full of just stripes are on hand as well. What would you make with your stripes?