Intown Quilters

Malka Dubrawsky's new line

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

A Stitch in Color was flying out the door yesterday. One customer bought 20 yards of it! Don't miss this fun line!

Washi!

2012-01-18T16:20:00.001-05:00

Look what came! Rashida's new line!

We are back open for the New Year!

2012-01-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Hi All,
We are back open!
The upstairs is pretty ship-shape. The downstairs needs to have everything put back in place, since we only got it back inside late last night. Hopefully we will get to that tomorrow.

We will try to post a few pictures tomorrow so stand by for those.

This weekend is Taffy's introduction to her new A Year of Scraps club. Taffy will meet folks at 11am in the classroom, where she will discuss what her club will be about.

Happy Thursday evening!

Shop Make-over

2012-01-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

Today we did a major purging on the bottom floor of the shop. Tomorrow, we will flip the upstairs. I wonder where everything will be when we are done? Not sure. We think we have a plan, but you know how it is when you start moving things around......you never know how it will end up.

We will keep you posted. Plan on visiting soon after we open on Thursday the 5th at 10am to see how it looks.

On the 12th day of Christmas....

2011-12-31T08:34:00.002-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.....30% off everything in the shop! Come stock up. We will be open today, Saturday from 10a-4p and then we will be closed until Thursday January 5th so we can count our inventory and do a deep cleaning on the store. We will open the 5th at 10am.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 11th day of Christmas...

2011-12-30T08:53:00.002-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.....30% off everything in the shop the last two days of the Christmas sale! Come stock up. We will be open today, Friday from 10a-6p and then tomorrow from 10a-4p. We will then be closed until Thursday January 5th so we can count our inventory and do a deep cleaning on the store. We will open the 5th at 10am.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 10th day of Christmas...

2011-12-29T08:56:00.000-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.......30% off the Flower World corner (which includes Amy Butler, Tula Pink and Valorie Wells, among many others), plus 30% off all patterns and magazines, 30% off all black and white fabrics, 30% off all batting, 30% off any bolts you end in the shop, all notions, books, and Asian fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more for free and 10 pre-cut fats for $25.

We open today at 11am and close at 5pm. We will then be open Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 6p and the 31st from 10a to 4p. We will be closed 1/2 through 1/4 and will re-open with regular business hours on Thursday January 5th! Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 9th day of Christmas...

2011-12-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.......30% off all patterns and magazines, plus 30% off all black and white fabrics, 30% off all batting, 30% off any bolts you end in the shop, all notions, books, and Asian fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more for free and 10 pre-cut fats for $25.

We open today at 11am and close at 5pm. We will then be open Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 6p and the 31st from 10a to 4p. We will be closed 1/2 through 1/4 and will re-open with regular business hours on Thursday January 5th! Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 8th day of Christmas....

2011-12-27T07:09:00.000-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.......30% off all black and white fabrics, plus 30% off all batting, 30% off any bolts you end in the shop, all notions, books, and Asian fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more for free and 10 pre-cut fats for $25.

We open today at 11am and close at 5pm. We will then be open Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 6p and the 31st from 10a to 4p. We will be closed 1/2 through 1/4 and will re-open with regular business hours on Thursday January 5th! Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 7th day of Christmas....

2011-12-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.......30% off all batting plus 30% off any bolts you end in the shop today, all notions, books, and Asian fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more for free and 10 pre-cut fats for $25.

We open today at 11am and close at 5pm. We will then be open Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 6p and the 31st from 10a to 4p. We will be closed 1/2 through 1/4 and will re-open with regular business hours on Thursday January 5th! Happy New Year!

Discounts cannot be combined and there are no rain checks so get in quick to get the things you want before they are gone.

On the 6th day of Christmas....

2011-12-23T09:55:00.001-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me, 30% off any bolts you end in the shop today, plus 30% off all notions, books, and Asian fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more for free and 10 fats for $25. Last chance to take advantage of these deals for gifts so come by today.

We will be closed tomorrow and Sunday for the holiday and will re-open on Monday at 11am.

Have a great holiday weekend!

*discounts cannot be combined

On the 5th day of Christmas....

2011-12-22T09:03:00.001-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me, 10 fats for $25, plus 30% off all notions books and Asian Fabrics, plus buy any 4 yards of the same fabric and get 2 more yards for free. Come stock up!

On the 4th day of Christmas.....

2011-12-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.......

How about a backing sale? Do you have quilt tops started or how about kits bought that will need backs? Well, this Wednesday 12/22, when you buy 4 continuous yards of fabric off of one bolt, you will receive 2 more yards for free. You can do this multiple times, so come stock up.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas....

2011-12-20T07:15:00.000-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me....

30% off all notions, 30% off all books and 30% off all Asian fabrics, so stock up for you next Asian project or gets some gift fabric for your friends and family who love those Asian prints.

Happy 3rd Day of our 12 days of Christmas sale!

Day 2 of our 12 Days of Christmas Sale!

2011-12-18T22:30:00.001-05:00

Day 2 is Monday December 19th.

Today, Sunday December 18th, was 30% off all notions so tomorrow Monday December 19th will include 30% off all notions and books. Books are also a great thing to give as a gift or to own for your own library. This is the perfect time to pick up that book you've been thinking about to get ready for some projects for the winter months when it is nice to stay inside and sew and quilt.

We will see you in the shop!

12 Days of Christmas sale!

2011-12-17T21:51:00.000-05:00

We had a great Demo Day today in the shop.

Tomorrow, Sunday 12/18, starts our 12 Days of Christmas sale. Since there is till time to shop for holiday presents we will put notions on sale for 30% off. Notions are a great thing to give your crafty family and friends. Everyone could use a new rotary cutter, blades, a mat, pins, all kids of things every once in awhile. They do wear out and fresh ones sure are nice! Tell your family and friends if you are wishing for some of these things, too. What better time to buy them, when you can get them on sale!

Have a great Sunday!

Holiday Demo Day

2011-12-16T20:24:00.001-05:00

Happy Holidays folks! We are trying to get back to blogging regularly. We will get started this holiday season with a blog post about the Holiday Demo Day we will be having on this Saturday at the shop from 11a-3p.

The staff at IQ will be showcasing quick and easy holiday decor and interesting gift items to give you some ideas for last minute decorating and gift giving. You will recieve 20% off on any items that are demonstrated during the demos.

Send your family and friends to buy you gifts also. You can email us or give us a call if you would like to give us a list of things you wish for.

Watch this blog, our twitter and our Facebook for the sale each day for the next 12 that we are open.

We will be closed 12/24 and 12/25.

Hours 12/26 from 11a-5p.

Open 10a-6p from 12/27-12/30.

Open 12/31 from 10a-4p.

Closed 1/1/2012-1/4/2012 and then open again for regular hours on 1/5/2012 at 10am.

Come see us!

2011-11-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

We are just back from the International Quilt Market in Houston where we go to see all the latest in our trade.
These are some pictures from the Kaffe Fassett booth, one of our favorites.
We will be hanging some new quilts of Kaffe's next week in the shop since he was nice enough to loan them.

More from Mary

2011-09-14T06:28:00.000-04:00

Well the preparations for the East Cobb Quilt Show got in the way of posting our Tuesday Tip yesterday so here it is a day late.

I hope you all are planning on attending the East Cobb Quilt Show this weekend. There will be some great quilts to view and a nice vendor market.

Ready to get started tracing your pattern? The great thing about Easy Pattern is how easy it is to use. If it's wrinkled or creased from the bolt, simply use a medium iron to press it. Press your original pattern then lay it flat on a light-colored surface (if you're tracing a tissue pattern). If you don't have one, lay down a layer or two of Easy Pattern and then the pattern to make it easier to see the lines. Use pattern weights or something heavy to help keep the tracing material from shifting while you trace. I like using a ballpoint pen and acrylic ruler for tracing. The pen works really well in the Easy Pattern without bleeding through to the original. The ruler makes it easier to keep straight lines nice and straight. Make sure to copy any pattern markings like notches, grain lines, etc., and label each piece with the pattern information (pattern number, company, pattern piece number, etc.). I also like to date each piece so I can check current measurements against the pattern before I start to sew if it's been 6 months or more since I've traced it.

Tuesday Tip

2011-09-06T08:32:00.000-04:00

Mary Abreu is helping us with tips for sewing with clothing and accessory patterns this week.

She says "I always recommend people trace their sewing patterns with Easy Pattern or a similar pattern tracing material instead of cutting the original pattern. Most boutique patterns are printed on a heavier paper stock and require tracing for use. I also trace traditional tissue paper patterns because the tracing paper is more durable than the tissue. In both cases, the tracing paper makes it easy to make fit modifications on garments (I nearly always need to add length to the bodice of any garment I sew for myself). I can also make multiple sizes from the same pattern because the original is intact (perfect for those perennial favorites of my daughter)."

This pattern tracing material is similar in texture to lightweight interfacing so it does not tear easily and stores very well. It is also quite inexpensive so is a good way to make your sewing easier and to extend the life of those patterns you love.

Tuesday Tip 8/30

2011-08-31T20:29:00.000-04:00

Well, this has been a crazy week at Intown Quilters with employees out of town and sick while the customers seemed very keen to come visit us, so I totally forgot to post the latest Tuesday Tip until now.

This is the last of our August machine quilting tips. Generally, the tips relate equally to straight and free motion quilting, but the big fun is in free motion.

Make a game of it. There are several things you can do to make quilting easier.

First, start and stop as seldom as possible. This reduces the number of knots and trying off. Plus it takes less time, makes the quilt stronger and gives you smoother lines.

Plan your pattern ahead of time. You can just do this mentally, sketch it on paper or actually mark the quilt top. But plan it in a continuous manner. Sometimes you will actually quilt part of a design in one direction and complete it on a second pass around or on the return.

A quilting design (such as stippling) that does not cross previous quilting is more forgiving in that small puckers are not noticeable. If lines cross, small puckers become stitched pleats.

With free motion, practice, practice, practice so you can sew forward, backward and sideways. Use a clear free motion foot so you have a good view of where you are going and where you have been.

Have a good week folks!

Tuesday Tip late in the day

2011-08-23T20:06:00.000-04:00

It’s still August so we are continuing our machine quilting tips.

This week’s tip: stop sewing when you reposition your hands.

Sounds basic, doesn’t it? It is as simple as ”don’t take your hands off the steering wheel” and how many of us have done that?

Let me just tell you that nothing good is going to happen to your quilt if you keep sewing as you reposition your hands. This is especially true when the feed dogs are down.

Picture it. The feed dogs are down and you are doing free motion quilting. You are wearing finger tip grippers or quilting gloves to control the movement of your quilt. And then you lift your hands up to reposition them. Who’s in charge? Gravity? Inertia?

Remember, with the feed dogs down, your hands are the feed dogs. If they come off the quilt, there is no driver. Stop sewing before you lift your hands. Stop with the needle down. Every time.

Reposition your hands and start sewing again.

I have found that I have trouble controlling the first stitch when doing free motion. The first stitch tends to be too big …a real “toe catcher”. To overcome this first stitch tendency, I try to take one stitch in place as I start sewing after repositioning my hands. This helps me control the start up stitch. Try it. Practice.

Tuesday Tip

2011-08-15T20:46:00.000-04:00

In August, we are talking about machine quilting. The hints from Taffy McLaughlin apply equally to straight and to free motion quilting.

If possible, set your machine in the needle down position. That means when you stop sewing, the needle stops down, in the quilt, holding it in place. This will save you worlds of trouble and jerky stitch lines.

If your machine does not have a needle down setting, you can accomplish the same thing by manually turning the handwheel until the needle is securing the quilt.

Do this every time you stop sewing. Make it a habit. If you get up from your chair, it could be days before you return to your quilting. With the machine needle holding it in place, your project will be waiting just as you left it.

Tuesday Tip

2011-08-09T08:11:00.000-04:00

Taffy's second August post is about choosing a quilt back.
Many people buy yardage for a quilt back just because it is on sale and without a clue as to the quilt it will back. This may be doing the quilt a disservice.

Backs are like binding in that they can contribute to a quilt’s design and its overall success. First and foremost, a back will “shadow thru” a quilt top and batting. A dark color or bold pattern will be apparent on a light quilt. Pick a back that is compatible with your quilt top.

In addition, the back influences the color choice of the quilting thread. Top and bottom threads should be similar or the same to prevent tiny pops of contrasting thread color from showing on either side.

Beginning machine or hand quilters may want to choose a busy or patterned quilt back to hide the stitching. As skill increases, a less pattern back will highlight the quilting. Also keep this in mind when sending a quilt out to be quilted. If your are paying for custom longarm quilting, choose a back that will show it off.

Good quilting will make the front and the back of your quilts equally beautiful!

Taffy McLaughlin

Intown Quilters

August 2011

Tuesday Tip

2011-08-02T14:43:00.000-04:00

In August, Tuesday Tips will focus on machine quilting, thanks to Taffy McLaughlin, our resident machine quilting expert and teacher.

Our first August tip deals with those pesky rats’ nest thread globs that glom to the underside of your quilt when your begin quilting.

What really happens is that your spool thread (the top thread) is pulled down by the bobbin thread and tangles into a mess. So here is a way to prevent the globs in the first place.

When you begin to sew, straight stitch or free motion, hold the spool thread (the top thread) end in your left hand and turn the needle down and up one time. Still holding the spool thread end, pull it gently and the bobbin thread will come up thru the quilt (similar to when you pull the bobbin thread up from the bobbin when you put a new bobbin in). Use a pin, seam ripper, scissor tip or other small tool to ease the bobbin thread end to the quilt surface, so then you have both threads on the top of the quilt.

Now hold both thread ends tightly and begin sewing. The threads can’t tangle because you are holding them!

Tips on Tuesday - Quilt sizes: How to Measure for Specific Projects

2011-07-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

The great folks here at Intown Quilters have asked me to talk to you about quilt sizes and designing your own unique quilts. One of the first steps in designing your own quilt is to decide on the overall size of the project. If this quilt is meant to be a wall hanging only, then you can make it any size that will fit in the space where it will be hung.

However, if this quilt will be used to cover a bed and keep people (or dogs) warm, then you need to start with the mattress.

If possible, I always measure the bed where the quilt will be used. Begin by measuring the width and length of the mattress top. Next decide how much of a “drop” you want on the quilt. This is the length you want the quilt to hang down on the sides.

Depending on the bed height, whether I want side rails to show, if a dust ruffle will be used, etc. I generally use a drop of 10 – 16 inches. If the quilt is just for show, then it’s all about that, but if people will actually sleep in this bed, then you want to make sure there is room for them under the covers and for the quilt to still hang over the edge a bit.

I also usually plan for the quilt to be either flush against the headboard with pillows/shams on top, or to start right at the edge of the pillows. This depends on the design and how important it is to see that upper border. If you are making a lightweight quilt that will be used as a bedspread (that is with pillows tucked inside the quilt) then you will need to allow for this as well.

When I’m making a gift, I sometimes have to rely on standard sizes. Unfortunately mattress sizes are less standard than they could be – especially when it comes to how deep they are. The Mattress depth can range from 9 to 16 inches and box springs and the bed frame will raise the whole bed even farther off the floor. Additionally toppers like memory foam or pillow top can add 2 – 4 inches to the depth of the mattress. Despite these challenges, here is some information that will help.

Mattress Sizes

Description

Size in Inches

Crib (Baby)

27 to 28 x 50 to 52

Twin

39 x 75

Twin XL (dorm bed)

36 to 39 x 80

Full (double)

54 x 75

Queen

60 x 80

California King

72 x 84

King

76 x 80

Commercial Quilt Sizes

Description

Comforter

Bedspread

Packaged Batting

Crib (Baby)

36 x 54

45 x 60

Twin

65 x 88

81 x 107

72 x 90

Twin XL (dorm bed)

Full (double)

80 x 88

96 x 107

81 x 96

Queen

86 x 93

102 x 112

90 x 108

California King

King

104 x 93

120 x 112

120 x 120

Fons & Porter Standard Quilt Sizes

Description

Crib (Baby)

30 x 54

Twin

65 x 95

Twin XL (dorm bed)

Full (double)

80 x 95

Queen

86 x 100

California King

King

106 x 106

The same basic measurement guidelines can be used to plan for any quilting project, like this couch throw. My one rule of thumb – a bit too big is better than too small when it comes to a quilt. And if you have any doubts, talk with one of the helpful staff at Intown Quilters. They will be happy to give you the benefit of their experience, and the shop has some great books and classes that will help you to grow your quilting skills.

Kay Stephenson blogs at Stitching Times.

Guilds that meet at IQ

2011-07-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

Have you thought about joining a quilt guild but haven't found one yet? There are several that meet at Intown Quilters. Guilds are a great way to meet other quilters, get inspired, inspire others, learn new things, gain confidence and just have fun. You do not need to be a sewer or quilter to join a guild, just interested in sewing and/or quilting. Guilds are a great way to get yourself acquainted with the craft so that you have some ideas of what you are interested in when you get started.

This week we're launching a weekly profile of the guilds that meet at Intown Quilters. We're kicking it off with a peek at the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild, which returns to IQ on Saturday the 30th. Watch for more guild profiles to come and try to visit each to see which of them you might enjoy joining.

Intown Quilters is welcoming back a familiar guild to our store. The Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild was started over a year ago in conjunction with a larger modern quilt guild movement started in Los Angeles. During this time, the ATLMQG has grown and developed its own unique focus on modern fabrics, piecing, and quilting.

The guild hosts monthly meetings, sew nights, an upcoming quilting retreat, and lots of guest speakers (including members of the guild). One of the best parts of their monthly meetings is the amazing show-and-tell the members bring. Intown will host meetings on the following dates: 7/30, 10/1, and 12/3 at 10:00 am. Although the guild has membership fees, your first meeting is always free. If you would like more information about the guild and want to see what they are up to visit their website.

Christmas in July

2011-07-22T16:31:00.000-04:00

It's time, yes it is, for our one day Christmas in July Celebration tomorrow 7/23.

We'll have demos between 11am and 4pm, projects featuring our fab holiday fabrics, kits and more, all at 20% off. It's a great way to gear up for your holiday sewing and beat the summer heat. We think you'll love the new holiday project samples and the demos are sure to be a hit, too. We can't wait to see you! Don't miss out on getting a discount on your holiday projects early enough to actually get them made in time for the holidays!

Tuesday Tip

2011-07-19T10:55:00.000-04:00

Well, today is Tuesday and we need a tip.

Before we get there, I can't stress enough how much folks need to get their machines serviced. I was helping with our kids' camp this past week and on Friday several machines were acting up. Every one of them needed a little servicing attention. Every one!

Take care of your machines!

Now for this week.......guess what, I decided to reread all the comments from last week's tip and I think you guys need to read them all so our reader feedback will be this week's tip.

And, guess who the random winner is of our comments last week? Kay Stephenson, you get to bring that vintage singer in to see Steve. You can come on Friday around noon or come any time the week before and leave it for him. He usually finished machines on the same day Friday he starts working on them unless there is something really wrong or there is a part he does not have, but he does keep a lot of parts in stock.

Ok, folks read all the comments below and have a great week! Don't miss our Christmas in July fun this Saturday the 23rd from 11a-4p!

Nancy said...: If we learn by our mistakes one thing I learned is - If you have an electronic machine don't disconnect your power cord from your MACHINE when you finish sewing or when there is bad weather. Disconnect it from the wall. I burned mine up and had to purchase a new one.
July 14, 2011 9:34 AM
Jerri said...: I haven't really noticed any problems with my machine, but it's been several years since I've had it serviced. There is a little red thread poking out from the bobbin area that I can't quite get to budge, so it's probably just a matter of time til something bad happens!
July 14, 2011 10:05 AM
Lynne Leavell said...: I had a problem with fabric feeding through my machine, so I took the throat plate off and cleaned out a major dust bunny and now it feeds fabric really well. It has been years oh wait I don't think I have ever had a sewing machine serviced. My husband keeps telling me to but I just keep on sewing. Thanks for the helpful hints.
July 14, 2011 10:49 AM
Mitzi said...: I need to have my machine serviced. I change my needle with every new project I start and I use good thread and that seems to help cut down on problems for me. Thanks for the giveaway - very generous!
July 14, 2011 10:51 AM
Marie said...: Thanks for the tips. I agree with Nancy that unplugging your machine from the wall during bad weather or when on vacation can be a lifesaver. I had my last machine tune up last August but am thinking it'll soon be time for another one.
July 14, 2011 11:00 AM
Becky said...: I had Steve service my machine on Tuesday at Patchwork Cottage. I didn't realize he was at your shop on Friday.Cleaning and oiling a machine just makes it hum. A new needle every couple of bobbins is a great idea, too.
July 14, 2011 11:23 AM
NancyJane said...: Thanks for the tips, especially the one about the foot pedal that keeps on going. I'm having that problem now with my Janome. Sounds like I need to have it serviced!!
July 14, 2011 11:23 AM
MotherMotherOcean said...: I will sew and sew and sew and then realize that I forgot to add a little oil. It makes all the difference. Thanks for the other suggestions!
July 14, 2011 11:29 AM
Kay Stephenson said...: I have several machines, but my favorite is a vintage Singer 15-91 that my Aunt found on an auction for less than $5. She is a wizard with these old machines and had this one sewing perfectly when she gave it to me. However, I've done something to it and now I can't lower the feed dogs. With these old completely mechanical machines, it's easy to turn a screw so far in one direction that things just come undone :-) I'll have to stop by and see if Steve can sort it out for me.
July 14, 2011 11:29 AM
Elaine said...: I had my machine serviced about 6 months ago but continued to have some issues. Since I usually sew with my walking foot attached, I took it off while trying to figure out what was wrong. I finally figured out the walking foot was full of lint - I ran a pipecleaner into the various openings and almost had enough lint to stuff a pin cushion! And the problems I was having disappeared! I didn't realize the walking foot needed routine TLC just like my machine.
July 14, 2011 11:54 AM
Lisa Marie Mosley said...: I had my machine serviced right at about a year after I purchased it but I was sewing alot and it was not sewing straight. It is time to get it done again. I think I sew often enough to have to get it serviced twice a year. If we are going to create with our sewing machines we have to keep then tuned.
July 14, 2011 11:55 AM
epban said...: I had my machine serviced about 8 months ago and had to replace the pedal! Now I have one of those pedal mats to keep it from sliding on the carpet. Hope this pedal lasts!
July 14, 2011 12:13 PM
Nancy said...: Thanks for the article - I never knew about the thread pulling. My machine probably needs servicing. LOL!
July 14, 2011 12:40 PM
Carol B said...: I hadn't thought about sewing every month to keep your machine running well. There have been long stretches of time that i don't use my machine, but no more! i will sew every month!!
July 14, 2011 1:04 PM
Nancy said...: I had my machine serviced 2 months ago. It had been more than a year and I knew it was way past time. I hated to give it up though. I was pushed to do it since the threader wasn't working and it was making me crazy!
July 14, 2011 1:14 PM
GeeMa said...: Great tips on maintaining your machine! I have three and they have all be serviced at various times. Nothing is more frustrating that trying to piece when the machine doesn't sew well.
July 14, 2011 2:38 PM
kelly said...: I have a vintage, all metal New Home machine that I use nearly every day. But it can need a little finessing sometimes. It's always a good idea to stop sewing if something sounds wrong...or doesn't feel just right, because usually it means something is wrong! I've learned this the hard way, but I've also made friends with my seam ripper over the years. I also have an industrial pfaff, and that's a whole other animal. The motor on that thing is crazy and it sews way faster than I could keep up with, so I have to be very deliberate. I don't think I could ever go back to using a plastic sewing machine after using my two beasts!
July 14, 2011 3:16 PM
Not Sew Ordinary said...: I grew up sewing but I guess the cleaning part was something my mom did when we kids weren't running around. I remember the first time I started having major problems and the first thing she did was take off the throat plate. "It does that?!?!" Yes, there was enough lint that it could have been a cat! Amazing how well it worked after that, haha. Now I think it is a cool trick so I clean it MUCH more often.
July 14, 2011 8:37 PM
alindbergh said...: My mother keeps wanting me to try out my great-grandmother's treadle. It's probably been 80 since it's seen action, let alone been serviced! :)
July 14, 2011 10:15 PM
rocky R. said...: I have never taken my machine to be serviced, mostly because it's a less then a year old. But I am constantly amazed at how many problems can be solved by taking off the throat plate and cleaning the lint out! I'm so glad I finally figured out how to treat my machine better!
July 14, 2011 10:26 PM
golden isis said...: The biggest thing I do to keep my little old machine humming is just keep the oil bottle next to her--and a big fluffy pipe cleaner helps me get the crud the little brush won't reach. Thank you for this giveaway!
July 15, 2011 2:40 PM
Leah said...: I really need to get my Brother machine in to be serviced. My husband says he can look at the manual and tell what needs doing and do it himself, but I'm not so sure. I have learned a lot reading all these tips - thanks!
July 15, 2011 2:54 PM
Palila said...: I've learned that my machine jams a whole lot less when I remember to put the foot down before starting to sew. I've put a big pink post-it on the front to help remind me! I last had it serviced 6 months ago.

Tuesday Tip on Thursday this week

2011-07-14T08:52:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks,

Well, today is Thursday and somehow this week has flown by without a tip on Tuesday. Sorry!

The tip this week is about getting your machine serviced. On Friday I spent some time with our in-house sewing machine repair man, Steve, of Keep on Stitching. My friend Amy brought in her machine because the thread was bunching up underneath her quilt and she was trying to quilt it and the thread would then break. While Steve worked on her machine, we used the cutting table in that room and had the opportunity to really talk with Steve about machines.

There are several things Steve said that I will tell you and several I have forgotten already so you might want to stop in and chat with him one Friday.

First off, it really is important to bring your machine in once a year, at least (if you sew a lot, more often is even better for your machine), for a servicing. I have noticed myself, that my new machine that I had only sewed on three times, was full of dust, when I went to put a new bobbin in for my fourth project. That means you all that sew more often than I do, must have very dusty machines. Now, I know we can clean that dust out ourselves, but I do not believe we ever get the dust out quite as well as a service person with that big blast of air from their machine.

More things Steve has talked about:

Steve also says that a sewing machine is like a car and needs to be run. He says you should run your machine at least once a month to keep things from drying out and going bad in your machine. So, even if you don't have a project, put it on your calendar (like giving the dog or cat it's once a month meds) to get some scraps out ans sew on your machine. Even better, once a month you could figure out a project to make and fell better about your sewing a quilting. No more "I haven't sewn or quilted in so long because.....", just do it once a month for your machine's health.

While on the subject of dust, apparently the foot pedal of your machine can also get filled with dust, especially if you sew on carpeting, so it is a good idea if you have carpeting, to get a mat for under your chair and pedal. what can happen if it gets too much dust you ask? Well, I now have heard of three people whose machines have kept sewing even when their foot is off the pedal. What did they find out when they took their machines in? They had to get a new pedal. Why? The pedal malfunctions when it gets too much dust in it for too long and it cannot be fixed.

When Steve got into my friend Amy's machine, he found that she was using the wrong size bobbin, even though it seemed to fit just fine and that her bobbin case was so worn that there were little grooves in it so the thread was catching in it. Steve said "Don't ever pull on the thread" when it bunches up under your project so tightly that you cannot even see the throat plate. You have to very carefully snip the thread away WITHOUT PULLING and then take your throat plate off and very carefully snip away all the threads wound up inside WITHOUT PULLING to clean it all out. Any pulling can force a piece of your machine out of whack and make it not sew well and then if you sew on it when it is out of whack, eventually you get wear marks on some of the parts that make sewing even less enjoyable.

A few little tips about thread. Steven says that different machines do like different thread so you just have to try out thread and if your machine seems not to like a brand, then stay away from it. A little tip from me about thread is to try to stick to the same type of thread in the bobbin as you are using in the top. It doesn't have to be the same spool or color but should be the same weight and brand if possible. If you find your thread breaking it might be different types of thread being used together. Also, if you find thread breaking, sometimes a spool of thread just will not sew well when it gets towards the middle. If I find things not sewing well and I have a skinny spool on my machine, I will use the rest of that spool to wind a bobbin and put a new spool on the top.

Take care of your machine so that you can enjoy sewing!

And, if you bring your machine into Steve to get it serviced before a beginning sewing or quilting class you will receive a discount from Steve, so bring it in! If you bring your machine in before any technique class to get it serviced and show us your receipt from Steve, we will give you a 10% discount on your next class.

We will do a random give away to one person who comments on this blog post. Tell us things you have found about your machine or experiences you have had with it. Also mention the last time you had your machine serviced. The winner will receive a 20% off coupon good towards a machine servicing with Steve at Intown Quilters and a $20 IQ gift certificate (not good with any discounts at IQ).

Have a great rest of your week!

A Fantastical Trip to Appleville

2011-07-06T11:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the wonky world of Appleville! A fabric kingdom that seems to marry Garrison Keller's bucolic Lake Wobegon and the whimsical world of Sponge Bob Squarepants.

Making your first quilt

2011-07-05T13:03:00.001-04:00

What do you do when you think you want to make a quilt?

We may be a bit biased at IQ, but we think you should always stop into your local quilt shop before getting started. Tell the folks there that you want to make a quilt and ask about patterns to look at. There are usually areas in each shop where they keep quite a few quilt patterns for you to peruse to get ideas and there a many books about quilting. Patterns and books will help you figure out approximate amounts of fabric you will need even if you don't use one of those patterns. You can first google and check blogs for designs you like and bring those patterns in, or even your own hand-drawn patterns, and then the shop employees can help you with fabric quantites (just please understand that figuring out qantities from drawings or patterns that do not already mention quantites, is hard, and we all ocassionally make mistakes, so please be understanding if you have not laready figured out your own measurements and yardages).

One thing to keep in mind when making a quilt and buying fabric, is that the fabric market is like the apparel market and fabric does go away so try to buy a little more than you need (including your back and binding) unless you plan on getting it done quickly, because if you go back for more in a month, your fabric may be gone.

Another option is to look to see if you have a chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild and try to attend one of their meetings.

It is nice to be able to talk your thoughts through with others who quilt, which can be done online these days, but we do think there is value in person to person contact for discussing how to get started.

Things you should have to make a quilt are:

1. A sewing machine in good working order. If it is a machine you have had sitting around or someone has given you, it is a good idea to get it serviced. Our local machine service repair man, Steve, says that sewing machines are like cars, if you let them sit and don't run them at least once a month, the parts dry out and your machine may not run properly and may even break down. You do not need a special machine with all the bells and whistles. A basic sewing machine is fine but it is pretty important to either be able to drop the feed dogs or cover them with a plate (in older machines) for free-motion quilting (any quilting with curvy lines). For free-motion quilting you will need a free-motion quilting foot and for straight-line quilting you will need a walking foot that fit your machine. It is also quite useful to have a 1/4 inch foot for your machine piecing as most quilt patterns call for a 1/4 inch seam and it is a little hard to sew a 1/4 inch seam with a foot that is bigger than a 1/4 inch.

2. Good cutting and measuring utensils are useful, specifically a rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat along with a long 6 1/2 or 8 1/2 inch by 24 1/2 inch clear acrylic ruler with measuring marks on it (we like the Creative Grids products).

3. Good quality all-cotton thread is the preferred thread for piecing quilt tops together because it wear on teh cotton fabric over time as much as a polyester thread does.

4. Good quality, all-cotton fabric is preferred for quilting and you really will find a better quality and better selection of fabric patterns at your local, non-chain quilt/fabric store (we carry fabrics that are not available for the chain stores to buy). There is a big variation in the greige goods that are used in fabrics and you can ususally be sure the quality is consistent to a point, at a small, local, quilt or sewing shop versus the big chains that carry different types of fabrics and different qualites within the types.

5. Batting in your choice of cotton, polyester, wool, bamboo, alpaca, silk and blends.

Tips on Tuesday - Needle Know How

2011-06-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

This week we're back on track with sewing tips and we thought it would be nice to talk about needles.

There are quite a few hand sewing needles and sooner or later you'll need one, but do you know the difference? After some research I realized that I do occasionally (gasp!) use the wrong needle for projects. As long as it works I'm relatively happy, and while I can't speak for all of you, I suspect you have from time to time been guilty of the same. So, what is the purpose of each needle?

If you are going to pick buy one kind of needle (not that we recommend that) the best needle to buy is a sharp. Sharps are good, all-purpose needles. As the name suggests they have a sharp point and are a medium length, compared to its shorter cousin the between (but we'll talk about that needle further down). Sharps needles are good all purpose hand sewing needles and work well for attaching bindings or other hand work. Sharps have a rounded eye and come in a variety of sizes.

Betweens were specifically designed for traditional hand quilting. The shorter shank provides good control and the needle is thicker than others, giving it strength to move between the layers of the quilt. The small size of betweens allows the quilter to make small, even stitches. Like a sharp, a between has a rounded eye making it easy for threading. You can buy betweens in several sizes, the smallest of which usually speaks to those that have been hand quilting for a while (or have really small hands).

Straw needles have a narrow shank and the eye of the needle is punched within the existing shank - that makes a straw needle great for hand applique since the eye won't hesitate when pulled through the fabric. Straw needles are also great for hand basting.

Long needles, or basting needles, are used to hand baste a quilt. The needles are long, hence the name, and the added length makes hand basting faster. The needles have a slender shaft to decrease movement between the three layers while basting. The larger eyes of long needles make them great for tying quilts, too.

Sashiko needles have significantly thicker shafts than traditional needles. The thicker shaft prevents them from bending and a larger eye enables the needle to be easily thread with perle cotton or embroidery floss. Sashiko needles are the perfect needle for big stich, Japanese sashiko or embroidery. Sashiko needles are available in several sizes. The shop typically carries a variety pack.

When choosing a needle size, it's best to consider the type of fabric you'll be using. In general, the lighter your fabric, the thinner the needle you'll want to use with it. We carry variety packs if you are unsure of the best needle. If you're unsure of the best needle, just try passing a few different-sized needles through an inconspicuous place on the fabric to determine the needle that passes through the fabric most easily and leaves only a small hole. Keep in mind that needle size increases as the number decreases so a 10 is larger than a 12 (I know, seems counter-intuitive to us, too).

Happy stitching!

New Window

2011-06-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

Today we had a new window put in.
Now we are waiting for the solar film to arrive so that can be put on. hopefully no fading in the meantime.
Watch for our Tuesday tip in the morning.
Patty is sharing with us tomorrow.

Broken Window

2011-06-26T22:25:00.000-04:00

Today I got a call from the girls at the shop before the shop was even open. They called to say that someone must have thrown a rock at one our big front windows. I went to see and sure enough, there is a massive spider web crack in one of the windows. The only reason it is not a big hole, is that the solar film on the window if acting like tape and holding it together.
My husband cut some plywood and boarded it up for the night and hopefully tomorrow the glass guys will come out and fix it.
Also, hopefully, the person will not decide to come back and do it again.
I am lucky they only chose to break one of the six huge windows I have.

2011-06-25T17:09:00.000-04:00

Look at this great hoop bag made by our customer Ellen using the 1001 peeps line.

Cute Samples

2011-06-24T19:49:00.001-04:00

Look at the cute samples we got in the mail today from Timeless Treasures made with Rashida's I Heart.... Line of fabric.
Soooooo fun!
Come see them and meet Rashida tomorrow.

2011-06-23T20:34:00.004-04:00

We have the front wall ready for our book signing with Rashida Coleman-Hale on Saturday from 3-5pm. Look at the great quilt Rashida made with her new I Heart... line of fabric by Timeless Treasures. She is working on a pattern for this fabulous quilt and all the other fun things on display are in Rashida's book, I Heart Patchwork that you can pick up at IQ. There are other really cute samples coming tomorrow.

We have a very limited number of books so come early to get yours. We will take special orders for books once we run out and will get Rashida to sign them for folks who get there late or cannot come.

Don't miss your chance to meet Rashida Saturday. She is sooooo nice and interesting!

2011-06-22T11:58:00.000-04:00

Look what's here at IQ!

Computer comes home today

2011-06-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks, Just wanted to update you all about my computer. I got my hard drive replaced under warranty at Onyx Consulting in Decatur and they were able to recover all my data, very quickly I might add.
Onyx Consulting is the best!

Tuesday Tip

2011-06-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

Hi folks,

Well, today's tip has nothing to do with sewing and quilting.

It is simply this.......back up your computer right away because it is so easy to put this off for another day and then out of the blue your hard driven crashes and you don't have your data and pictures anymore. AGH!

Next week, when I have my computer back, you will find a tip more suited to sewing and quilting.

Have a great week. Try to stay cool!

Rashinda Coleman-Hale

2011-06-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

We heart local author and fabric designer Rashida Coleman-Hale and we know you will, too! Rashida will be in the shop signing her book I Heart Patchwork on June 25th from 3-5pm so make plans to stop by and meet her. We will have a free gift for the first 30 people! Call, e-mail the shop or go to the website to order a book if you don't have one yet. Rashida's first fabric line for Timeless Treasurers, I Heart..., will be arriving any day now and we can't wait. And we're counting down the days until her Zakka Craft book releases this fall, too. Rashida is also a contributor in the new Modern Block Party book which also should be in any day now.

Tips on Tuesday

2011-06-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

This week we’re launching our Tuesday Tips blog feature. Each Tuesday, we’ll feature a tip you can apply to your sewing and quilting. Have a tip you’d like to share with the IQ blog readers? Email it to us at intownquilters (at) earthlink (dot) net!

Many folks suggest washing and drying your fabric before use and I have to say we at the shop agree, for the most part. All cotton fabric shrinks — and it all shrinks differently — so it’s a good idea to wash it before you start cutting and sewing. In the case of a quilt, you might end up with holes in the seams eventually, due to the stress of a tight fabric. Varying shrinkage may also cause your quilt to hang or lay funny. Pre-washing is also important when sewing clothing, since a garment may no longer fit following that initial washing. You also might see that the garment does not hang properly after is has shrunk.

When I wash my fabric, I wash it on warm, delicate, in the machine. I usually go ahead and wash my fabric with some other delicate laundry I have in similar colors because I like to conserve water and I actually think things dry less wrinkly if the load is medium size.

After the wash cycle is finished, I pull the fabric out of the washer, shake it hard to get out some wrinkles, tear or cut off all the hanging threads and then toss it in the dryer on the low setting. I put the timer on for about 5 or 10 minutes and check my fabric. If it is getting a little dry, I pull it out and lay it flat to dry the rest of the way.

If I don't have clothing to wash with my fabric, I always put a clean, dry towel in the dryer with my fabric to help it fluff dry. I’ve learned that without additional items in the dryer, the fabric just stays in a little bundle, flopping around, and then it comes out very wrinkly.

As a side note, if you are dealing with a fabric that might shrink more than others (like a shot cotton, a yarn-dyed fabric, flannels, knits, canvas, etc.), you should leave the fabric in the dryer until it’s completely to allow it to shrink as much as it will.

A visit from Jennifer Paganelli

2011-06-11T21:26:00.000-04:00

Well folks, it has been awhile since there has been a posting here. We will try to get back to it regularly.

We were very fortunate to have Jennifer Paganelli visit us recently. She is such a fabulous person, so genuine and so nice! Her book is beautifully fone with really fun projects in it.

We still have some signed copies available in the shop along with kits of her fun quilt she had made up with her latest Honey Child fabric line. Bright colors, just like we love!

Sale this weekend!

2011-03-11T22:33:00.000-05:00

In honor of the Sewing Expo in Atlanta this weekend, we are having a sale. All apparel patterns, velvet, voile, corduroy, knit and home decorator fabrics in the shop are 30% off*. Promotions and coupons may not be combined.

This is the perfect time to get started on some of those clothing items you have been thinking about making.

The price of cotton!

2011-02-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

We've been hearing rumblings from fabric manufacturers for months about cotton supply issues overseas. Severe weather in China and Pakistan -- the leading cotton producers in the world -- led to lower-than-expected yields at a time when the global demand for cotton was rising. According to a Jan. 11 article in Inc. magazine "the price of cotton has risen from about $0.84 per pound in July, to a peak of more than $1.50 in November. Today, prices hover around $1.30." (Click here to read article, Clothing Start-ups Seek Solutions as Cotton Prices Climb)
    Clothing manufacturers like The Gap, Anne Klein and Hanes began talking months ago about price increases as a result of the rising cost of the raw materials -- namely cotton fabrics -- used to produce their apparel. If you've shopped for clothes, towels or other home goods lately, you may have noticed larger numbers on price tags already.
    Cotton fabric is the foundation for our much-loved hobby and the quilting industry unfortunately is not immune to the problems facing manufacturers around the world. The bottom line: Fabric prices are increasing. You can click here to read what many of your favorite cotton quilting companies have to say about this issue in and article in the American Quilt Retailer.
   What does that mean for you as a customer of Intown Quilters? The fabric that's already in the shop will not be increasing in price. There are thousands of yards of fabric on order that will be sold at 2010 pricing, which is already at higher prices than previous years. There will be an increase in fabric prices this year as manufacturers raise wholesale prices. Most companies put their higher prices into effect in the last two months.
    I know the past few years have been difficult for many and am committed to keeping prices as low as I can, but changes are coming. Intown Quilters will continue to provide the highest quality fabrics in the colors and prints we all love. Your continued support of the shop has helped us do this for the past 8.5 years and we hope that patronage will help us keep you sewing for years to come.

Soul Blossoms

2011-02-02T21:55:00.001-05:00

Amy Butler's newest line, Soul Blossoms, has arrived and wow! It's beautiful! I can't decide which color way I like best - Bliss or Passion. Joy is pretty nice, too. I suppose if I had to choose one, well, I can't do that. I'll just take some of ALL of them home with me.

You should come by the shop to see these beauties in all three palates. In the meantime, here's a sneak peak to get you salivating. You can get free posters, patterns and lots of inspiration at Amy's website, too, www.artofthemidwest.com

Amy's new line is sure to get you excited about your newest project! I know we can't wait to play!

Happy sewing, and don't forget about the block of the month starting NEXT Saturday! See you there!

2011 Block of the Month - Intown Style

2011-01-24T15:56:00.004-05:00

We like to mix things up at Intown Quilters. You know, put a little of our own zip, style, flair, whatever you want to call it, on projects. We saw the Michael Miller Clubhouse Block of the Month at Fall Market in Houston and thought it would be something new and fresh for the shop. But we like variety. We like change. Apparently we like to make things more complicated. So we got busy. Very, very busy. Along the way Taffy broke her wrist (ick!) but Patty managed to eke some time away from the kiddos (not that we had to twist her arm or anything) to finish what Taffy had started. We're pleased that we could get the center portion of our quilt finished.

Taffy, Mary and Patty will lead the Block of the Month at Intown. Class is the second Saturday of each month at 10 am. This dynamic trio will keep you in stitches! We hope to see you there! Call or email the shop to sign up before all the spaces are taken (and they are going fast!)

Here's the Michael Miller design. We're showing it in the blue/green palate so you can see a both color options.

On the 11th and 12th days of Christmas

2010-12-22T08:53:00.001-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me...a free yard of fabric with the purchase of any other five yards of fabric.

Come in today the 22nd or tomorrow the 23rd for your free yard (of equal or lesser value) when you purchase 4 yards of fabric. This a a great way to have a savings while buying some fabric for gifts.

We will be closed on Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th and then reopen on the 26th and 1pm.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-20T20:53:00.002-05:00

On the 10th day of christmas Intown Quilters gave to me.....
40% off flannel and minky.
Sent from my iPhone

On the 8th day of Christmas

2010-12-18T04:56:00.000-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me......

an end of bolt price in the sale bin of $4/yard.

On the 7th day of Christmas

2010-12-17T10:22:00.002-05:00

Intown quilters gave to me....

a book for a penny with the purchase of two books!

AND the holiday fabric is still 30% off.

On the 6th day of Christmas

2010-12-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me....

30% off all batiks today!

AND the holiday fabric is still 30% off.

2010-12-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

Scout came to visit today and loved Missie's jacket.

On the 5th day of Christmas

2010-12-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me......

10 fat quarters for $20! Wow!

AND

30% off novelty prints and holiday.

On the 3rd day of Christmas

2010-12-12T19:56:00.000-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me....

30% off all Asian fabrics, so stock up for you next Asian project or gets some gift fabric for your friends and family who love those Asian prints.

AND, I am putting even more fabric into the sale been this morning so come get first dibs on it.

On the 1st day of Christmas

2010-12-10T19:57:00.001-05:00

My quilt shop gave top me.......

How about a backing sale? Do you have quilt tops started or how about kits bought that will need backs? Well, this Saturday the 11th when you buy 6 continuous yards of fabric off of one bolt, you will receive a discount of 30% off that fabric.

AND.... don't forget 25% off of an item when you bring in a Toys for Tots toy. Actually, we will let you have multiple 25% offs for multiple toys, so bring those toys in this Saturday and Sunday.

AND.... don't forget that we have lots of fabric added to the sale bin!

On the 4th day of Christmas

2010-12-10T16:19:00.016-05:00

Intown Quilters gave to me.....

30% off all notions and EQ software.

AND....remember all the holiday fabric is also 30% off until we close on the 23rd. We have had lots of folks coming in for holiday fabric to make cute pillow cases for their friends and family this Christmas. What a great idea.

On the 2nd day of Christmas

2010-12-10T16:18:00.025-05:00

My quilt shop gave to me.....

3 yards of cotton quilters' weight or flannel fabric (or 1/1/2 yards of voile, velvet, the Japanese linen Kokka fabrics or knit fabric) with a $100 purchase.

AND, don't forget 25% off of an item when you bring in a Toys for Tots toy. Actually, we will let you have multiple 25% offs for multiple toys, so bring those toys in this Saturday and Sunday.

AND, don't forget that we have lots of fabric added to the sale bin!

The Winner of the last give-away

2010-12-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

OK, so I did my usual thing and forgot to go back and figure out who the winner was for a give away. I am sorry, folks! Life has been so crazy lately.I have just figured it out though.

The winner of the last give-away was Betsy, The Peculiar Homemaker whose blog I have enjoyed reading. I feel somewhat linked to her as she was a midwife and I used midwives to give birth to both of my children. I felt so strongly about having a midwife, that I put off having my second child until the one midwife in my town was back from her time off after having a baby, to even get pregnant.

Kudos to you Betsy for your time as a midwife and then kudos again for taking the time to be a mom at home! A girl after my own heart.

Come by sometime to get your free yard of fabric!

New New New!!

2010-12-02T10:16:00.000-05:00

2010-11-27T17:59:00.000-05:00

Well this message never made it onto the blog on the 22nd so I am adding it now. You can see the other two posts that went with it down below on the blog.
>

> Here is the final set of new Kaffe prints. There are a few of his Liberty prints mixed in.
> Since we only got two comments for our give-away, I am going to extend it for a week and add another thing to tell us about.
> Tell us either your favorite quilt from the new book or your favorite fabric from his latest collection.
> Come see them!
>

Sale at the shop this weekend

2010-11-26T16:05:00.002-05:00

In case you don't get our emails or don't read them, we are having a sale at the shop this weekend. You have to bring in a new unwrapped toy to get your sale but then you get 25% off your entire full price purchase.

2010-11-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

Look at these colors, too. My favorites!

2010-11-22T15:21:00.000-05:00

Check out the new Kaffe fabric that arrived on Friday. Isn't it amazing and so different than his usual.

Who's up for a challenge?

2010-11-18T18:56:00.001-05:00

The Intown Quilters Challenge kicks off today! We've selected 24 fabrics for the Challenge, which means you're guaranteed to find a fabric that will inspire you. Ok, so it is a crazy mix of fabric, but you only have to choose one. Simply use one fabric from the collection (1/2 yard minimum purchase) and at least one other fabric (1/2 yard minimum) from anywhere in the store. Then craft an entry with your two fabrics and any other fabrics you choose, for one of these categories: Quilt (a quilt of any size and any style), Non-Quilt (apparel, bags, accessories, or anything else you can think of) or Coffee/Tea Project (a nod to our 2011 Shop Hop theme, anything related to coffee and tea, like tea cozies, cupcake pin cushions, aprons, etc.). Turn in your item by March 1 (one entry per category). We will display all items for two to four weeks depending on the shop schedule in March. We'll award prizes to the top three Viewer's Choices in each category. The first prize winner in each group will receive a $100 gift certificate at the shop, 2nd will receive a $50 gift certificate and 3rd will receive a $25 gift certificate. Oh, and the folks who vote for Viewer's Choice will also be entered in a prize drawing for a $50 gift certificate. Sign me up!

Stop by the shop to sign up for the challenge. It should be fun!

Fine print: Sign up for the IQ Challenge when you purchase your fabric. We may not be able to fully display large quilts submitted for the Challenge. Voting in the Viewer's Choice is limited to one vote per person, per category. Intown Quilters cannot be held responsible for for any loss of or damage to entries.

Don't forget to make your comments about the Kaffe's Quilts en Provence post give-away.

Kaffe's Quilts en Provence

2010-11-15T20:41:00.001-05:00

When we were at market a few weeks ago, Liza Lucy offered us three of the quilts that were hanging at market, from the Quilts en Provence book, to hang in the shop for a few weeks. Of course, we jumped at the chance to borrow these three great quilts. Our nice rep for Westminster Fibers was able to get the quilts from merket at the end of the show and bring them to us on his drive back home from Houston. We now have them hanging in the shop.

This "Mexican Party" quilt pictured to the right is hanging on the front wall as you come in the shop and we have four kits cut for it. The kits include the bright fabrics set into the background and the binding fabric (we have made a few substitutions, but we think they might even be better choices than the originals). We have the GP71-Sweet Pea that is the background in stock but decided to leave that our of the kits in case folks wanted to pick their own background. We have this kit on our website at www.intownquilters.com if you want to purchase it online.

The other two quilts we have visiting include fabrics that are discontinued and we do not have, but we can happily help you pick a nice collections to make your own versions of any of the quilts in the book.

Have you all seen the Kaffe book Quilts en Provence yet? If so, tell us your favorite quilt from the book and would you make your favorite in the same fabric shown in the book or would you change something about it. Maybe the background color, the border, the over all color or nothing at all. We are really curious, so tel us please. If you haven't seen the book, come by the shop to look at it and tell us your favorite. We will have a give-away for one of the folks who writes in. Send us your comments and we will pick a winner on Monday, 11/22. How about a free yard of Kaffe fabric?

Divinity give-away winner!

2010-11-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

So, I did not get the winner posted on Friday and then tried to post from my phone, which did not work quite right so here we go again.

The winner of the Divinity fat quarter pack seen here is Nancy who made the 3rd comment about favorite designers. She said her favorite right now is Kim McLean who I also think is fabulous. We saw the prettiest quilt at market that Liza Lucy has been working on and talked to Liza about getting Kim's patterns in the shop soon, since she distributes them here in the US.

Watch for them after the new year.

We found another fun applique pattern designer at market this year named Kellie Wulfson of Don't Look Now!, seen in the middle of the picture to the left, in front of one of her neat quilts (pattern coming in the new year). Look at the segment of one of Kellie's other patterns, Lilly Pilly (we have it in the shop now), to the right with all the fun Kaffe prints in it.

Nancy, your fat quarter pack will be waiting for you at the shop the next time you are in. We will have it in the hold bin with your name on it. Congratulations!

2010-11-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

We missed seeing Mark in person this year at market. We caught sight of this version of Mark and decided we needed a photo with him.
Feel better Mark! Our thoughts are with you and we expect to see you in Salt Lake City again.

2010-11-02T14:52:00.002-04:00

Ok folks, so I never got the winner announced over the weekend but here is the winner.
Nancy, who made comment number 3 is e winner of the fat quarter pack seen in the picture. Nancy, email intownquilters@earthlink.net to work out getting your prize.

So we are just back from market and want to give away something fun we got in Houston.
Look at this lovely pack of the Sweet Divinity collection by Riley Blake.
Tell us who your favorite designer is this season and we will pick one of you to tale this fun pack home with you. We will pick on friday 11/5/10.
Get posting.

More to come

2010-10-31T11:32:00.000-04:00

Gorgeous Asian fabrics (including the most stunning stripes), coming for the new year!

2010-10-30T18:03:00.001-04:00

Look who we met.

2010-10-30T16:52:00.000-04:00

The line at Mary's book signing... And she thought nobody would come.

2010-10-30T10:57:00.000-04:00

Market has begun, the displays are divine.

2010-10-29T23:45:00.001-04:00

Yummy seafood at the Goode seafood restaurant in Houston with John and Winnie.

Meet Colette

2010-10-11T21:38:00.001-04:00

I'm a pretty shameless pattern junkie. It's definitely a close second to my fabric addiction. And my latest pattern fixation is the line of women's clothing patterns from Colette Patterns.

They've been on my radar for a while now but it's only recently that they've been added to the shop inventory. I love the somewhat retro styling of the patterns, the range of sizes and the silhouette, which looks very figure flattering. The patterns include dresses, a skirt, tops, a beautiful coat and even loungewear.

The Sencha top pattern is marked "beginner," so it's perfect for folks who may be delving into sewing clothes for the first time or after a bit of a break. I think it would look great sewn up with some of the luxe Radiance cotton/silk blends (they're tucked in over by the blenders) or even the lawns (this new one from Alexander Henry is begging to come home with me) and voiles (a beautiful neutral print from the Nest line by Valori Wells).

Baby Love

2010-10-11T21:24:00.002-04:00

Anyone who's ever brought a finished project into the shop knows how much we all love show and tells. It's one of my favorite things and the reactions of employees (and other customers) tells me I'm not alone.
Check out this awesome baby clutch ball Trisha Moorman brought in recently. She was picking up fabrics to make more and who can blame her? Wha a great baby gift! Trisha said the pattern is from an old magazine article and the balls are always a hit with recipients.
Thanks for sharing with us, Trisha, and letting us share with everyone else!

Block of the Month 2010, red colorway

2010-09-22T16:38:00.000-04:00

The red version of Intown Quilter's Block of the Month has finally been pieced. The many quilters who are making this quilt signed up before there was a quilt to see. We have all been surprised at the result. In addition to the usual 12 blocks BOM, there is a 25 block option.

Mennonite Relief Auction, Sept 17

2010-09-11T20:00:00.000-04:00

Taffy made this quilt as a part of this year's Block of the Month.The quilt, featuring Kaffe Fassett fabrics, will be sold on September 17 at the Mennonite Relief Auction. For information on the sale, see www.peachcobblersale.org.

Seuss!

2010-09-10T22:12:00.000-04:00

Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat is at IQ.

Don't miss it, because I thin the cat will be quick on his feet, jumping into bags right and left.

Don't you just love the crisp colors. Do they bring back memories?

The Cat in the Hat wants to see you at Intown Quilters.

Thing One and Thing Two are bumping into each other at IQ, hoping to get into some fun with all who come visit.

The sensible fish says, "come play with the Cat in the Hat before he makes a mess of the quilt shop".

A crazy summer at IQ

2010-08-31T22:11:00.001-04:00

Well, as you can see, there has been nothing posted for a long time. It has been a crazy summer for me, Sarah Phillips, and therefore for IQ, too.

I have spent the last year helping my son get through his senior year, apply to colleges and then get ready to go off to college in Brooklyn, NY.

Here is my boy to the right at graduation looking quite pleased with himself. Below is a view of NYC from the highway as we drove into town a little over a week ago.

Finally a picture of him on the campus at Pratt Institute before we left him there to start his life without us, again looking quite pleased with himself. He has been happy in Brooklyn so far. If he has been homesick at all, he has hidden it well.

Many of you knew that we had several young people working at the shop over the last year. This got started with a work/study class at my son's high school that a few of his friends were in with him.

We have lost all three of our young people, Louisa, Mahalia (who has been bugging me to update the blog) and Dalton, to college also, although we gained Chelsea Hellman last month. Mahalia is pictured to the left in the red graduation gown and is attending the University of Georgia in Athens, Louisa, to the right in her fun dress she made this summer with shop fabric, is attending Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville and Dalton, in the purple shirt, is attending Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah.

Now, I have gotten my daughter started in her freshman year of high school and I am trying hard to get things like the classes going at the shop. Watch out for classes on the website and in the emails soon.

In the meantime, we are also busy checking in new fabric daily and picking out fabric for new samples as well as for customers projects all the time. Here is Margie holding up a bunch of batiks for a photograph to send to one of our loyal Canadian customers who needed fabric for a class.

Next you can see a mixture of Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably fabrics that were also photographed for a long distance customer. They are really nice groupings of some of the latest fabrics from both of these designers in yellows and oranges.

We expect to get the new Cat in the Hat, Seuss Celebration, fabric line by Robert Kaufman Fabrics in next week some time. We will blog and email as soon as it is in the shop. It is so cute!

We are busy taking in quilts for the Georgia National Fair show this week. All entries are due by Friday of this week, so bring yours in.

In October we will have a booth at the Georgia Quilt show in Duluth. We are planning some great new things to debut at the show. Pam will be doing two demonstrations on the Floorquilts she teaches at the shop and will have new class dates soon. Plan on coming to see us at the show.

Watch for new updates on things at IQ and maybe we will get busy with a give-away idea soon.

Fun with Patty Young!

2010-07-08T15:31:00.002-04:00

We rolled out the red carpet Wednesday night for Patty Young, who drove down from Bloomington, Ill., with her husband Jon to visit the shop and talk about her career, pattern and fabric inspirations, and provide lots of great sewing tips for using her new knit fabrics for Michael Miller.
More than 40 folks turned out for the presentation, which was both fun and informative. We were treated to a sneak peek at a couple of her upcoming patterns for women (which had many of us at the event super excited), too.

She brought several samples from her line of ModKid Sewing Patterns, all made with fabrics she designed for Michael Miller. Even though I've heard Patty talk about her fabric at International Quilt Market, I still learned quite a bit about her design process and how her travels and experiences play into the fabric. She even teased us a little by telling us just the tiniest little snippets about her next line for Michael Miller. Not fair! Guess we'll just have to wait until the big reveal in October.

One of the highlights for me was a video Patty shared with five techniques for finishing the hems of knit garments. Even though I have sewn with knits, I do not consider myself an expert on the subject at all, and I found the information incredibly valuable. Patty promised that Jon will be editing the video so it's broken up into five parts and then posting it to YouTube. We'll definitely be sharing a link to the videos when they are up (and I think I'm going to work on some samples for the shop in the mean time so you can see them in person).
Following her presentation, Patty was kind enough to autograph her patterns and the copy of Where Women Create in which she's featured, as well as pose for pictures with everyone who asked. We even managed to get a picture of her with the IQ staff in attendance (I'll share as soon as I get it), taken right in front of the Patty Young wall at the front of the shop.

Thank you so much to Patty and Jon for coming to IQ on their way to Bernina University in Orlando! Thanks, too, to Michael Miller Fabrics (and Patty) for providing two fabulous door prizes (two stacks of knits, each with a ModKid pattern)!

And for those who've been waiting for it, Patty's new line of wovens -- Play Date -- is now in stock! We've even got some fat quarters cut and ready to go for those FQ-friendly projects you've got in mind.

An evening with ... Patty Young ticket give-away!

2010-06-23T22:36:00.006-04:00

Tell us what your favorite ModKid pattern is and how many of them you own. We will do a random drawing on Satruday the 3rd for a free ticket to the evening event with Patty Young.

We are so excited to be hosting a special guest at Intown Quilters next month!

Fabric and pattern designer Patty Young, one of the rising stars of the sewing world, will speak at the shop on Wednesday, July 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.!

A licensed designer for Michael Miller Fabrics, Patty also is the creator and designer of ModKid Sewing Patterns, a wildly popular line of children’s clothing, home and purse patterns that launched in 2009. Her newest endeavors include a full line of cotton interlock knits for the home sewing market.

Patty will talk about her design inspirations for both fabric and patterns, as well as provide practical tips for every home sewer, during this one-night only event (her first in Atlanta). Tickets are $15 (read below for a special ticket promotion) and seats are limited.

The entire line of knits by Patty Young and Michael Miller Fabrics is now in stock! The first sample -- a sweet skirt made from the ModKid Maya pattern -- already is on display. These cotton interlock knits are approximately 58” wide and feature prints, dots, solids and yarn-dyed stripes in a variety of colors. They’re perfect for all kinds of apparel projects, including the two new ModKid Sewing Patterns we have ordered, and would even make the softest, sweetest receiving blanket.

For a limited time, if you purchase two yards of these new knits at full price, you will receive a ticket to Patty’s July 7 lecture at IQ. You also may purchase tickets online.

Ho-ho-ho-holiday fabrics!

2010-06-17T20:21:00.003-04:00

Summer may just be starting and the thermometer may already be hitting 100 degrees, but it's never too early to begin those holiday sewing projects. The Halloween and Christmas fabrics have been rolling in, so there are plenty of prints to choose from, whether your tastes lean toward the traditional or the contemporary.

Just this week, the new Riley Blake line "Colorful Christmas" hit the shop. I absolutely loved the company's first Christmas line last year and wondered if the 2010 line would measure up. Needless to say, I've got big plans for this one. Sweet, a little whimsical and just lots of fun.

Dolly Dresses Kits

2010-05-14T22:21:00.001-04:00

For those of you who pre-paid for a Dolly Dresses kit, we now finally have them in stock and finished. If you did not pre-pay for one(we sold out of 30 of them before getting the fabric in), we do not have any extra at the moment. We are waiting for one piece of fabric and a piece of ribbon to come back in to finish more kits.
Please let us know if you would like to be on a waiting list for them. The best way to tell us would be to email at intownquilters@earthlink.net or to call the shop at 404-634-6924 to get on the list.

May- King's Crown

2010-05-14T22:13:00.000-04:00

Block of the Month kicked off on May 1st. The 2 colorways offered appear here. They are using some of the same Westminister fabrics but you can also spot the differences.

Intown Quilters not just for quilts

2010-05-11T21:11:00.000-04:00

The Lydia Dress by Pink Fig in fabric by Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably and two Little Prairie Girl dresses by My Favorite Things. This year sundresses are so popular.

Taffy's Block of the Month - Also in Reds

2010-04-14T07:57:00.014-04:00

The original yellow version is hanging in the classroom at the shop if you would like to come by and see it in person. Below are some blocks from the red version.

In response to customers' wishes, this BOM will also be offered in a darker red version. The red sample blocks have a very different look then the bright pastels.

Marypalooza

2010-03-20T14:55:00.004-04:00

It's a pretty safe bet that if you holler "Mary" at Intown Quilters, someone will answer -- and probably more than one person.
It was Marypalooza during Shop Hop today, with five Marys on hand to help customers pick out just the right fabric and patterns for their projects.
Of course we had to take a picture to document the occasion (that's this year's Shop Hop quilt in the background). Meet Mary Lou (from left), Mary M., Mary C., Mary and Mary A.

A blanket for the Little Folks

2010-03-12T03:00:00.003-05:00

The beautiful Little Folks voile by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit have been just a dream to sew. They have such a beautiful drape and are so incredibly soft that we knew they'd be perfect for everything from clothes to baby blankets.
This soft and sweet blanket uses some of our favorite voiles, including the Square Dance panels. It's backed with a coordinating flannel and requires no quilting or binding -- which makes it the perfect project for a last-minute baby shower gift.
You can see the shop sample at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo through Saturday at the Gwinnett Center (we're in booth 333), as well as pick up some of the beautiful voiles for your own projects.
We've also written up the instructions for making the blanket. Just click on the thumbnail of the pattern to start the download.

2010-02-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

Look at this great Mini Kyoko outfit made by Elaine Sabin, from the ModKid Boutique pattern of the same name. It is made with an Asian print for the main print with a Flora and Fauna pink and a black and white print as accents.

Elaine is working up a collection of samples for the shop. Come check them out.

Sneak Peak

2010-02-12T20:03:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peak of our shop hop quilt although the blocks you see here are from other shops not ours.

We have decided our quilt will also be one of our new Block of the Month quilts for 2010, where you will have the option of making the blocks in different sizes and then have the option of a couple of different settings to finish yours with.

Our new 2010 Block of the Months will begin in April so watch for more details then and be ready to sign up in March starting on shop hop weekend.

Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop

2010-02-03T21:45:00.000-05:00

Get ready to start following the Greater Atlanta Quilt Shop Hop Blog because we will start a series of give-aways in the hopes of getting some valuable advice about decorating for our individual shop themes from all of our wonderful customers and friends.

Block of the month 2010 is making progress

2010-01-30T09:12:00.000-05:00

I've made 12 blocks...actually it is 13. Or do we count the few that will be in a different quilt? If we count them all, I'm well over 20. Will they all become part of one quilt?

Cold Day Winner

2010-01-23T07:37:00.000-05:00

PKLaw from Michigan won the last give-away. Send us you email, pklaw, so we will mail you a Happy Feet pattern by Favorite Things.

Look at this great pillow that pklaw has as her profile picture. I just love the little center piece from Laura Gunn's line of fabric.

I am off to California today for a trade show, so I will not post until I am back next week.

You all have a great weekend!

Slippers on a cold day!

2010-01-15T17:16:00.000-05:00

Well, since there was only one poster, we will let her be the winner. Sue Jean has won so Sue Jean, you get to pick entrance into a Block of the Month(they are not all planned out yet if you want to wait) or the ten fats from one of the lines in the shop. Email us to let us know. Thanks for posting!

Snow days, cold toes. A bright pair of slippers will cheer you up and give you Happy Feet. "My Favorite Things, Happy Feet" pattern at $14.00 includes all sizes.

We think we will give away one of these great patterns to the next winner of our give-away.

Email us in your favorite thing you like to do on a cold day. On Friday 1/22 we will pick a winner. Post away, please!

Block of the Month 2010

2010-01-11T11:47:00.019-05:00

Well, we finally have a winner of the Gerta give-away. Julia Byrne, one of our local quilters, was the lucky winner. Julia, I agree with you. I am always glad I am not out in the cold in NYC.

Taffy says, a cold, snowy day is perfect weather for creating the Block of the Month 2010. Looks like a Kaffe Fassett year. In bright pastels no less. Watch the quilt develop as the blocks are made. Which blocks will actually make it to the quilt?

Please send us in your comments about what kind of block of the month program you would like to see at Intown Quilters, since we are trying to brain-storm a few new ones to start in April again this year.

We will pick someone on Friday the 15th, at random from the comments sent in, and that winner will receive their choice of free entrance into one of the block of the months that start this year, or 10 fat quarters from any cotton quilting line we carry in the shop.

January 5th, 2010

2010-01-05T12:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, we are carrying over the last give-away a little longer because I am sure many of you have been too busy to comment.

Check our the post on the Gerta Collection form January 3rd and make your comments to be elligible for the prize.

Also, we have just gotten in bunches of new fabric so come check it out.

Watch our for a new post in a few days!

The Gerta Collection

2010-01-03T16:32:00.002-05:00

First of all, let me announce the winner from the last give-away since it took me awhile to get back on the computer. Darcy, from Atlanta, won the Denyse Schmidt Quilt-It kit. Thanks Darcy for reading and commenting on the blog.

The new Gerta collection is out by Marcia Derse. We have it in and just love it.

Patty, Taffy, Mary and I met Marcia at Quilt Market this fall in Houston. All of us loved the line which is rare. We all have very different taste so almost never all agree about one fabric line. This is a rare one!

We got to take a picture of her in front of one of the quilts in her booth and took several other pictures in the booth. I just love the pillow in this picture here. The blue is so pretty with the other colors set into it.

We have kits for the Gerta quilt pictured below in the shop for just $70 including the binding. This is a really nice quilt and the perfect gift for many. Send us in your comments about how you celebrated New Years Eve and/or New Years Day. We will give away five fat quarters from this great new Gerta Collection.

New Years Give-away!

2009-12-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, everyone!

Back to the give-aways. The surprise give-away that we are giving out to one of the folks who wrote in about holiday gifts is a $15 gift certificate at Intown Quilters good in 2010.

The Gad-A-Bout Gal was picked as the random winner for this give-away. Email us your address if you want us to mail your prize or let us know if you just want to come down and get it sometime. We'll be glad to hold it for you.

Our next give-away will be this fun little kit to make a pillow in Denyse Schmidt's style.

Send us in your comments about your New Years resolutions. We will pick a random winner on New Years Day.

Have a great New Years eve and day!

We'll see you in 2010.

Description	Size in Inches
Crib (Baby)	27 to 28 x 50 to 52
Twin	39 x 75
Twin XL (dorm bed)	36 to 39 x 80
Full (double)	54 x 75
Queen	60 x 80
California King	72 x 84
King	76 x 80

Description	Comforter	Bedspread	Packaged Batting
Crib (Baby)	36 x 54		45 x 60
Twin	65 x 88	81 x 107	72 x 90
Twin XL (dorm bed)
Full (double)	80 x 88	96 x 107	81 x 96
Queen	86 x 93	102 x 112	90 x 108
California King
King	104 x 93	120 x 112	120 x 120

Description
Crib (Baby)	30 x 54
Twin	65 x 95
Twin XL (dorm bed)
Full (double)	80 x 95
Queen	86 x 100
California King
King	106 x 106