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!

People always ooh and ahh over our Oliver + S samples when they come to the shop. Many customers have been inspired to learn to sew or get back into sewing because of these adorable designs. Oliver + S has 5 new patterns for the Fall, including 2 patterns for boys, and sizing expanded up to a child’s 8. They’re not just for babies anymore!

Our new staff member, Alana, sewed up the 2+2 Blouse. We chose Michael Miller’s Garden Tour for the body and a raspberry floral from their Pod Posey collection for the contrast. This pattern has the option of short or long sleeves and buttons up the back. The pretty A-line shape of this blouse gives your girl room to play while the sweet tie and placket keeps it pretty enough for a school picture. This project involves gathering, applying bias binding, making buttonholes, and setting in sleeves. Trying new techniques will expand your sewing knowledge and refine your finished garments. Comprehensive instructions and detailed diagrams are always part of the Oliver +S package. Remember, the Spool staff is always here to help in case you come across a bump in the road! Imagine your little girl heading off to school in this…completely worth it!

How pretty is this pillow?! Our friend, Megan, patchworker extraordinaire, whipped this up with the new Daisy Chain fabric from Amy Butler. I love it! If you been looking for simple ways to incorporate your sewing projects into your home, these pillows are a great place to start. They are fun to make and make great gifts!

Megan will be teaching a class to make this 9-patch pillow cover on Saturday, October 18th from 11AM-2PM. The cost is $24 plus materials. You will learn to use rotary cutter, construct a nine patch, and make an envelope style backing for the pillow. Please call the shop to reserve your space.

Denyse Schmidt’s collections always have a wonderful vintage feel. The prints are reminiscent of the 30’s and 40’s, but the colors are much more bright and modern. For her latest home dec line, Country Fair, she again draws inspiration from the 30’s, when “cheater cloth” was popular. Cheater cloth is fabric that has patchwork printed on it, ready for you to quilt. Patchwork Promenade is Denyse’s take on cheater cloth, where she takes prints from her quilting line, Katie Jump Rope, and assembles them into crazy log cabin blocks. So clever!

I took a yard and half (each repeat is one yard) for the front, pieced together the back from 3 yards of quilting weight cotton from Katie Jump Rope, and basted the layers together. I got out my trusty walking foot and machine quilted diagonal lines across my quilt. I thought about marking everything out ahead of time, but I decided to free hand instead. I think the off-kilter log cabin blocks are quite forgiving of my crazy quilting!

This whole process took a day’s worth of work, plus a few hours for hand sewing the bright red binding. I couldn’t be more pleased with this quilt! It was fun to see things come together so quickly, and now I can wrap up in a nice toasty blanket. I would like to do a hand quilted version of this as well, following the lines of all the blocks. I wonder how my family would feel about everyone getting a different version of this for the holidays? I know I would love making them!

Favorite Things Patterns is a new-to-us line that recently arrived here at the shop. Among them is the Prairie Girl Dress and Top. I had been looking for a pretty blouse pattern, and I definitely think this fits the bill. Tunics continue to be everywhere this season, and I think this gives a nice, shapely twist to the look. This piece slips easily over your head, forgoing the need for zippers or buttons, and ties at the back, giving a gentle waist definition. The gathers at the front accommodate the bust and accentuate the nice, flat skirt panel over the tummy. So flattering! It has two sleeve options as well: set-in like the ones in the photo or a ruffled cap sleeve. Either would fit easily under a cardigan, or over a long sleeve shirt when it gets a little chillier.

I chose Amy Butler’s Tree Peony fabric, for it’s sophisticated and feminine print. You can dress it up or down depending on your fabric choice. Make the dress version for work in a rich autumn tone, and make the top in a more whimsical print to pull a weekend outfit together. This was a fun sewing project, and it came together nicely in two afternoons. You should definitely give it a try!

Julie has been a very busy bee! After she recovered her kitchen chairs, she was back for more home improvement. She took, as she calls it, her sad blue chair, 5 yards of Drawing Room home dec fabric, and a staple gun and got crafty! Julie says that this is a huge improvement from the blue, and that she is very happy with the much needed update. She did a lovely job! The fabric choice is stunning, and the upholstery job neat and professional. Kudos, Julie!

Heather Ross’ new Mendocino line just arrived! I am really a little too excited about this fabric. I had a fascination with mermaids as a girl that started when I saw the movie Splash. My favorite Barbie was named Madison ( Daryl Hannah’s character), and I drew mermaids constantly. If I had a dress or quilt with these wonderful sea scenes back then, I would have been in heaven. Fortunately, my friend has a baby girl that I can sew for and hopefully inspire a love of all the things mermaid!

I was curious how Amy Butler’s Frenchy Bags made up, and the arrival of August Fields provided the perfect opportunity to find out! Michael made these up and did a lovely job. He arranged the pattern on the fabric beautifully- so professional! The elegant design of the fabric is a fitting complement to the vintage feel and pretty silhouette. Once these were cut out, they went together quickly and easily. One of the advantages to working with home dec weight fabric is that no interfacing is required, simplifying the sewing process quite a bit!

While I am the type to carry around enough stuff to warrant the gorgeous shoulder bag, I am totally in love with the cute little handbag. I like the idea of slipping my wallet and keys into this adorable purse and being ready to go. I’m not sure if I can pare it down enough, but carrying this sweet bag is certainly a good motivator!

Amy Butler’s new collection, August Fields has arrived! We chose our favorites in the orange and aqua colorways and couldn’t be happier. This is Amy’s latest Home Dec collection and let me tell you, this fabric is gorgeous. It has a wonderful, drapey hand and soft, smooth finish. The heavier cotton sateen is perfect for curtains and tablecloths, and soft enough for quilt backings. We’ve got corded pillows on the brain, and two beautiful handbags in the works that I’ll show you in my next post. Personally, I want to make EVERYTHING in that large scale flower print at the very bottom of the orange stack. First up, I think, will be an apron. What would you make?

This is our third ( but I’m sure not final!) project using Modern Flora fabrics. Michael was especially taken with this graphic blue fabric, so he made up an extra sturdy version of his Grocery Tote. He adapted this pattern from a vintage one, and it is has become one of our favorites. You only need 2 half-yard pieces of fabric; one for the outside and one for the inside. It’s a great size for fitting in all your snacks, and has a nice wide strap for a comfortable walk home. Perfect!

This is the same tote we make in our Learn to Sew Class. If you’ve been thinking of starting to sew, you can get a little inspiration from the fun fabric combinations our students have put together here. If you already sew, you can download the free pattern pdf from our left sidebar. Enjoy!