There is a Women’s Tea scheduled for March 8th, which is our normal ‘2nd Saturday’, so we moved our March Creative Workshop to March 15th.  It will be from 9:30 – 2:00 pm, and these are the new lessons:

Sewing:

We’ll be doing a quilt by Fons & Porter called Junctures!   On page 5 of the pattern is the fabrics requirements for a baby/lap size quilt, or see below.  They are listed as black, white and gray, but you can use any color theme you would like!  Think of them as light, medium and dark!   You could also mix colors, such as red/pink/purple, or blue/green/aqua!  I think the stripe adds to the charm of this quilt, so try picking that first, then find coordinating colors!   Please feel free to use your imagination!

Stripe: 1 yard
Light print: 1 fat quarter
Dark print: 1 fat quarter
Medium print: 5/8 yard
Backing: 1 3/8 yards

Crochet:

We will be doing three different patterns for crochet pocket scarves.  Please bring size H crochet hook, and in worsted weight yarn, 7 ounces of your main color, and 2 ounces in a contrasting color.  The contrasting color will be for a stripe in the scarf, and the cuff of the pocket.

Jireh Sports

We are working on Jireh Sports hats & scarves!   The meter is up for keeping tally of how many are made on the Jireh Sports Progress page.   Check back periodically to track how many we have so it will be easy for you to see what we still need.   Our goal will be to have most of them made by the end of Summer, so we don’t have a ‘crunch’ time in November and December.

What Project do You want to Work On?

We offer lessons in sewing/quilting and knitting/ crochet every month!   Please remember that regardless of the ‘lessons’ at a particular Workshop, please do come and work on any project you would like!  Come be a part of the social time, we want you there to enjoy the fellowship!   So, you may work on the lessons, or any other project you would like.   See the Current Projects and Patterns pages to see all of the Projects!  We have several that are ongoing, and you’re welcome to work on any of them.

Creative Workshop!

For our February Creative Workshop, which is on February 8th, 9:30 – 2:00 pm, these are the new lessons:

Sewing:

Do you have quilt blocks, but then don’t know what to do next?**   Or you want to try adding sashing (which is a narrow strip between squares), but don’t know how?  Trying to figure out how to put a border on?   What’s an easy way to assemble a quilt?  What’s a quick, easy quilting technique to finish it all?  These are some techniques that can add that pazazz to your quilt … and they’re easy to do!

Sashing, borders, completing a ‘pillowcase’ style finish, quick and easy quilting techniques.   I found that the Wonky 9 Patch is a very busy block, and when you put the blocks side by side, it’s too busy!   Sashing, especially in a solid color, will break up the busyness, and create a pleasing quilt top.

** If you would like to participate, and are working on quilt blocks, plan on having at least 8 completed so you can start adding the sashing. You will need at least 3/4 to 1 yard of your sashing fabric for a baby size quilt.   Often a solid, or semi-solid fabric (subtle print or batik) works well.   If you’re not sure, let me know, and we can go to the store and ‘audition’ fabrics to see what will work well for your quilt.  Often, I choose the sashing and/or border fabric after I’ve finished the blocks!

Knit/Crochet:

Crochet this month – Easy Diagonal crochet baby/child’s blanket or adult lap robe.

For the small size blanket (36″ X 47″) for a baby/child or an adult lap robe the materials you will need are:
20 ounces worsted weight (4) yarn in colors of your choice, crochet hook size H‐8 (5 mm), tapestry needle.

For the medium size blanket (42” X 57”) for a child or an adult lap robe the materials you will need are:
24 ounces worsted weight (4) yarn in colors of your choice, crochet hook size H‐8 (5 mm), tapestry needle

Please note: For both of these, feel free to use a variety of yarn colors to use up your stash, odds and ends, and leftovers. Change colors as you go along and not necessarily where directed to in the pattern.   The pattern starts at one corner, increases each row to the widest point, then decreases down to the fourth corner.   With two or more colors, the stripes are on the diagonal for an interesting effect.

Getting A Head Start!

We will be getting a head start on one of our biggest projects: Jireh Sports!   I know people have already been working on some hats and scarves, and that’s great!   Sometime in the next several weeks, there will be a ‘meter’ of sorts to track how many we have so it will be easy for you to see what we still need.   Our goal will be to have most of them made by the end of Summer/early Fall, so we don’t have a ‘crunch’ time in November and December.

We are also working on several projects for Riverview Cancer Center: chemo caps, shawls, lap robes, and heart shaped pillows.

See the Current Projects and Patterns pages to see all of these and more!   Please remember that regardless of the ‘lessons’ at a particular Workshop, please do come and be a part of the social time.   We want you there to enjoy the fellowship!   So, you may work on the lessons, or any other project you would like.    We have several Projects that are ongoing, and you’re welcome to work on any of them.

Welcome 2014!   We are working very hard to make 2014 better than 2013! 
– We have a nice variety of projects to do
– New lessons for sewing, and we are adding lessons for knitting and crochet!
– No last minute deadlines – Yay!

We want your creative juices flowing with creativity and enthusiasm!   How can we help you do that?   There’s a brand new Calendar page; the Current Projects page will have new updates; the Patterns page will have new patterns added – some are new links, some are original patterns.   Keep your eyes on these pages, as they will be changing as new content is added!

Now, with this in mind, please check more often on these pages to see exactly what we’re doing each month.   That will also decrease the number of emails you get!   🙂

By the way, have you looked at the Gallery page recently?  It’s completely updated, and there are bunches of new pics on there of everything you have made – it’s beautiful, and there’s a lot!

Creative Workshop

Our next Creative Workshop will be on January 11th from 9:30 to 2:00 pm.          

A new sewing lesson will be an easy Wonky 9 Patch Quilt.   You will need 10-12 coordinating fat quarters or the equivalent.  If you use scraps, each scrap will need to be large enough to make at least two 10″ squares.   If you have a 9.5″ square cutting ruler, please bring it, you will find it very helpful!

Another idea!  I’m bringing fat quarters that will be available if don’t have enough, or if you would like to ‘swap’ for a different color that goes with your color scheme.  This will be a practical way to apply color theory – AKA, putting colors together!  I think it will be fun!  You’d be amazed at what unexpected colors go together!

New knitting & crochet lessons will include an easy Crochet Hooded Scarf / easy Knit Hooded Scarf.   You will need about 8 ounces of worsted weight yarn in one color, or a total of 8 ounces in 2 or more colors for a multicolored or striped scarf.   You will also need size 8 knitting needles, or size H crochet hook.

*** Since we are having sewing, knitting and crochet lessons, we are going to stagger them so you would be able to participate in all of them if you would like!

Please remember that regardless of the ‘lessons’ at a particular Workshop, please do come and be a part of the social time.   We want you there to enjoy the fellowship!   So, you may work on the lessons, or any other project you would like.  We have several Projects that are ongoing, and you’re welcome to work on any of them.

Christmas is coming, the new year is approaching fast, and we’re trying to keep up with everything!   As you look around the website, please look at the new Calendar page.  We’re just building it, so things are still being added; check now and then for changes and/or updates. 

Our Wrapping Party went great!   Thanks to everyone who helped out!    We had more than 15 who attended, and the wrapping went really fast!

Creative Workshop
This coming Saturday, Dec 14th from 9:30 to 2:00 pm, is our next Creative Workshop, and we will be working on the children’s stockings for Wheeler Mission.   Please join us, they’re very easy, and it will be fun making them!   We have some holiday fabric, and you’re welcome to bring your own as well.   Remember you sewing machine, coordinating thread, scissors, etc.

Please remember that regardless of the ‘theme’ of a particular Creative Workshop, please do come and be a part of the social time.  We want you there to enjoy the camaraderie!   So, you may work on the stockings, or any other project you would like.  We have several Projects that are ongoing, and you’re welcome to work on any of those, even getting started on some of the new projects for next year.