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!

One of the best things about Fall is wearing scarves! You can never have too many, because you just can’t know what your mood will be when you walk out the door. We got a recent shipment of Kaffe Fassett’s Shot Cotton, and the deep hues made me think autumn. Shot cotton is special because the warp and weft yarns are 2 different colors woven together to create a special depth, a “shot” of color. When the edge of this fabric ravels, you can see a bright contrast to the body of the fabric, like in the photos below. Normally you would just see a tiny bit of this in your seam allowance on the inside of your project, but I thought it would be fun to bring it out and play it up.

These scarves couldn’t be simpler to make! I took a yard of 2 fabrics and cut them in half lengthwise. I then sewed 2 short ends together ( there is no “right side” to this fabric) with a 3/4″ seam allowance and then sewed the seam allowances down flat. I threw them in the washer and dryer and after a light pressing - Voila! - a beautiful, totally reversible Fall scarf is born! You can coax the edges to fray more by pulling on the cross threads, or embellish with embroidery thread. The fabric is lightweight and gauzy, so it easily wraps around your neck, and can be comfortably worn indoors. There are so many possibilities to make this scarf your own! We took our favorite combinations and kitted them up. Each kit contains 2 “fat halves”, a 22″ x 36″ piece of fabric, of Shot Cotton. These amazing colors colors are perfect for adding a little autumn flair! See more photos here and have fun!

Our sister store, Loop, is always having amazing guest teachers come to visit. With Loop being a yarn shop, these classes involve knitting. No surprise there, right? Well, get this - Leigh Radford, author of One Skein, Alterknits, and now Alterknits Felt, will be teaching a class at Loop with no knitting skills required! Her Felted Ornament and Jewelry Workshop is perfect for the non-knitting, yet super crafty fiber lover. Sound like anyone you know? I thought it might! Leigh was the Art Director for Interweave Knits for many years, where her designs were regularly published. Now she writes, designs, and teaches across the country. This is a rare opportunity to learn from someone whose interdisciplinary approach to crafts is inspiring, beautiful, and incredibly creative. Check out this class description:

Felted Ornaments/Jewelry Workshop $70

Session 1: Friday, October 31 from 6 to 9 PM
Session 2: Sunday, November 2 from 2 to 5 PM

Learn to transform colored roving into beautiful felted balls that can be joined together to create one-of-a-kind ornaments, garland, jewelry or perhaps a pincushion. Students will also learn needle felting techniques to embellish felted balls with contrasting colors. Alternatives for incorporating beads and/or embroidery will also be covered. Class materials are included.

So fun! Acquiring a new technique can bring a whole new dimension to your crafting. I know I’ll be there Friday night, and if you want to be too, please call Loop at 215-893-9939 to reserve your space. Leigh will be with us all weekend and you can see her full class offerings here. See you soon!

With this chill in the air, it’s no secret that summer is over. Awww, sad! The upside is that our summer hours are over too. Spool is back to being open 7 days a week, from 11-6. We’ve just added new sessions at our class page, giving you sewing options nearly every day in November. As always, we welcome you to use our spacious studio, big cutting tables and sewing machines during our Open Sewing Sessions. Explore your creativity and come sew with us!

Penelope (P. for short) is one of the most stylin’ kids I know! She is about to become a big sister, like at any moment, and her mom, Jessi, has been doing some serious nesting. Quilts, baby things and clothes for P. and her older brother have poured out of Jessi’s sewing machine. She picked up the fabric for the new Oliver + S Playdate Dress 2 days ago (one day before her due date) and kindly brought P. in to model. She chose Heather Ross’ Mendocino mermaid fabric and a polka dot from Anna Maria Horner’s Garden Party Collection. Jessi did a beautiful job with the sewing, and P. looks amazing in it. I think the floral pants and red sneakers really complete the look. P. will be wearing this to the school picnic today, if her new sibling doesn’t make an appearance! Thanks for sharing, Jessi. I looking forward to meeting the newest addition to your crafty clan!

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!

Jill handquilted this beautiful pillow cover! Isn’t it fantastic? She has been a wonderful student at many of our sewing classes. I love it that she took what she learned from her beginner’s quilt and made something so lovely and all her own. This is exactly what I hope will happen when people take our classes. You can see another (slightly blurrier) photo I took of the whole cover here. Kudos, Jill! Thank you for sharing this with us.

If you want to learn to handquilt, new sessions of Beginning Quilting are starting in the next few weeks. New Learn to Sew dates have also been added to the schedule. Classes are a fun way to expand your skills and meet other crafters. See you there!