March

Another short, cold winter month behind us feels good. March blows in some new goods at Stitches… and some new classes. Call or stop in to take a look and sign up for a fun learning session.

New Fabrics & Yarns
Botany by Moda (the whole beautiful collection)
Bernat Chunky Acrylics in new bold colors
Kroy Sock Yarn – self striping
Debbie Macomber Knitting Books
Knitting for your dog books
Don’t forget Gift Certificates for Birthdays & Easter

Upcoming Classes
Monday, March 1 6:30pm Patchwork Pals (Bethany Alliance Church)
Thursday, March 4, 11, 18, 25 2-4pm Socks on double pointed needles (Diane Thomas)
Saturday, March 6 & 13 1:30 – 3:30pm Landscape Applique (Caroline Gabel)
Wednesday, March 10 6:30pm Block of the Month
Saturday, March 13 10am – 3pm Mom ‘n Me –Beginning Quilting (Deb Steere)
Saturday, April 3 9am – noon Exploding Pineapples (Deb Steere)
Saturday, April 3 Chickfest (all day) Demonstrations, sales, drawings

Stop in for a cup of tea and a friendly visit.
We’re here to help you enjoy your fabric and yarn.
Have you considered making a capelet for that cool Prom Day? Or Wedding Day?
We have easy patterns for knit or crochet!!

From the staff @ Stitches...stay warm & keep stitchin'

Stitches....news.

Hello and happy winter! It looks like it will be a long one…perfect to knit, crochet, or sew, right? We have lots of project ideas for you so stop in anytime soon for a load of fun ideas. We have ongoing activities plus some new classes and products to pique your interest.
Ongoing:
Block of the Month -- 2nd Wednesday of each month Stars Around the Garden 6:30 pm
Thursday nights – knit and crochet around the fireplace 5 – 8 pm
New activities:
Tatting - 3rd Thursday of each month 7-8pm with Joyce Laffe
Knit together at 9th St Chautauqua – 4th Monday of the month 6:30 pm
Knit or Crochet Project Class – Thursdays 2-4pm & 6-8pm
February Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 10 Block of the Month 6:30pm
Thursday Feb. 11&18 Rolled Brim Easy Crochet Hat with Lynn Mullen 2-4 or 6-8 pm
Thursday, Feb. 18 Tatting with Joyce Laffe 7-8 pm
Monday, Feb. 22 Knit Together at 9th St. Chautauqua with ? 6:30- ? pm
Upcoming Classes & Events:
Thursdays, Mar. 4, 11, & 18 Knit Self-striping Socks with Diane Thomas 2 – 4 pm
Saturday, Mar. 6 & 13 Landscape Applique Class with Caroline Gabel 1:30-3:30 pm
Saturday, Mar. 13th Mom ‘n’ Me – Beginning Quilting with ? 10am-3pm
Saturday, Apr. 3rd Chickfest—all day fun activities at the shop
Saturday, Apr. 3rd Pineapple Block Quilting Class with Deb Steere 10 am – 12 noon

Sign up now by stopping in @ Stitches… or calling 641-228-3383 or email charlescitystitches@gmail.com
Stay warm, Holly & Lynn

New at Stitches :
Sumatra Batiks Self-striping sock yarn
Coffee Break collection Novelty Yarns by Dark Horse
Mother Goose Collection Tribeca Fabrics
Also new at Stitches…
Bargain bin and bolts at sale prices

Happy 2010 to all our friends from Stitches...

With the arrival of the deep freeze weather, what better time to knit, crochet or sew!?!
Come visit us for an idea, a new yarn or a new bundle of fabrics to keep those fingers busy. If you are looking for a fun social project consider “Block of the Month” or “knitting around the fireplace” on Thursday evenings. We have many ready-made gifts in our Boutique if you just can’t seem to find the right gift in you own stash or boutique.
In January on Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm Stitches… is featuring a class on a Surprise Baby Sweater taught by Margo Rottinghaus. It starts on the 7th. Sign up now.
Block of the Month is a great way to make your first quilt or your 50th quilt. Last year we had participants of all skill levels and had a great time. This year’s quilt is called “Stars Around the Garden” and we’ll be making 2 blocks per month for 7 months, then a month for appliqué and a month for sashing and borders. Come in for a look at the fabrics and sign up for the first class on January 13th.
New fabric lines include a coffee line, Mother Goose, Civil War Homefront, and flannels called Two in the Bush.
Watch for our bargain bin – coming soon and special sale on Christmas fabrics.

November

Happy and Gorgeous Autumn to you all! Hasn’t it been beautiful lately – temperatures, colorful leaves, sunshine squeezed in?! Gave us all a chance to clean up the gardens and plant some bulbs for Spring. Farmers are happier too. Should we dare wish for a few more days of Indian Summer?! We may pay for it sooner than we think!

There’s exciting news and lots going on in November:o Thursday night knitting & crochet around the fireplace 6-8 p.m.
o Class: Knitted/Felted Slippers–Nov. 5th & 19th, 6–8 p.m. with Joy & Vicki.
o Citywide Holiday Open House: Nov. 6th and 7th – Make it and take it—Pumpkin Potholder/oven mitt –kit $4—make a reservation and bring your machine.
o Next BOM ’09 meets Wed. Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. for sashing and borders

New Products have arrived in time for Holiday gift-making and décor:
o New Christmas flannels—red, green, gold, white (rag quilts & throws)
o Holiday panels: Grandma’s Gingerbread—wallhanging/table topper, stockings, gift tags, potholder & recipe—cute, fun, easy, quick!
o Great Collection of Holiday Patterns –Wall hangings, tree skirts, throws, table toppers & runners
o Holiday Kits: Thimbleberries Feathered Star—placemats and tablerunner; Thimbleberries Grandmother’s Garden—baby quilt, tabletopper
o Go Green with Yarn: Soy, Jade, Cotton, Wool—colors galore, great prices & selection
o Yarn Kits: Knitted/felted Christmas Stocking with pattern (U can do it!)

Seasonal Special: “Tiny Tots” fabric collection holiday priced at $4/yd. for gifts—anything red & green with yellow & blue accents: pajamas, pillowcases, stuffed toys, baby quilts & kits, valances & bed skirts.

Sign up Now for 2010 Block of the Month: “Stars Around the Garden” –a beautiful queensize quilt featuring pieced stars, borders & center ground, with appliquéd floral center medallion & corners, available in both classic darks and mid neutral/lights, in many size variations & combinations. Personal fabric choices from several collections ensures unique beauty. (Or you can supply your own fabric) Stop in to see the photo!
Coming first week of December: Stitches presents—“Gift Boutique” of handmade store samples & choice gifts reasonably priced for holiday giving.
“When time or talent prevent the making, shop at Stitches’ Gift Boutique
for a gift worth taking!”

Stop in anytime for a cup of tea or cider, some conversation, or quiet time to complete your holiday projects. You can reserve sewing space in our classroom with a phone call! Hope to see you soon! Holly Connor at Stitches 715 Kelly Mall, Charles City 330-2308. Regular hours Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving 11am – 5pm for holiday shopping.

October 2009 Newsletter

Here is just a quick update for October. We are trying to be as "green" as we can be at Stitches... If you have an email address but are still getting a newsletter through the mail please help us by sending an email to charlescitystitches@gmail.com and we will send the newsletter by email to save paper and postage. Thanks. If you lose the newsletter during the month you can also see it on our blog.
We are participating in the Scarecrow contest through the Chamber of Commerce. Come have a look at our display "Sew Spooky". We have lots of new fabrics and patterns and yarns. Come in for a cup of coffee, tea or cider anytime for a look, see. This is an exciting time to get your Christmas gifts underway. We now have all of our Stitching things together in our "Stitchery". These include counted cross stitch, floss, embroidery, Aida cloth, beading kits, iron-on transfers, etc. Coming in November will be our "Boutique" which will feature handmade gifts for sale.

Upcoming classes :
Oct 8th Beginning Tatting 7-9pm (Joyce Laffe)
Oct 14th Block of the Month 6:30pm
Oct 15th Beginning Tatting 7-9pm
Oct 17th Triple Express Quilt 10am-3pm (Deb Steere)
Oct 24th Card Tricks All Around Wallhanging 12-3pm (Ginny Young)
Nov 6th Turkey Applique 12-3pm (Ana Blickenderfer)
November (TBA) Knitting Felted Slippers (Joy & Vicky)
Christmas Stocking Class postponed (can be rescheduled)

We also have kits for Carpenter's Star, Ivy Trellis, Hopscotch, Turning 20, Halloween wallhanging, Yo-yo pumpkins, Christmas Stockings and more.

Come join the fun and make a memorable gift for you friends and family. Kits for all classes are available.

Stitches... 641-228-3383 or 641-330-2308

September Newsletter

Greetings to my Fiber Friends :
This is coming to you a bit late in the month due to my own medical mishap. A new knee is in place as of the 28th of August. I'm on the mend and hope to be good as new or better than before very soon. Thanks to my staff and dedicated friends business has gone on as usual and I hope to be back to part time very soon.

In the shoppe this fall there are many new fibers ((fabrics and yarns). Come in and check us out. In the fabric area we have some Wild Bunch Fabrics by RJR, Pandemonia, Gallery in Red by Marcus and a few others and more arriving weekly. In the yarn department there are some new Lion Brand Wools, Baby Bamboos in awesome new colors and lots of new patterns and books.

October 1st will be our one year anniversary and what a rewarding experience it has been for us at Stitches... Thank you all for your support, encouragement and patience during our first year. Watch for our anniversary specials and help us celebrate into our second year in business the weekend of October 1,2, & 3.

Classes at Stitches...
September 19th Brrrr! Wallhanging 10am-3pm (Deb Steere, Instructor)
September 26th Curves & Corners Tablerunner 12-3pm (Ginny Young, Instructor)
October Beginning Tatting Thurs. 8th 7-9pm, & 15th 7-9pm (Joyce Laffe,instr)
October 3rd If the Hat Fits Wallhanging>Buggy Barn 12-3pm (Ana Blckndrfr,instr)
October 17th Triple Expresso Quilt - Shake,Rattle,Roll 10am-3pm (Deb Steere,instr)
November Christmas Stocking Saturdays 2-4pm (Joy Frank,Vickie Schroeder,instr)
November 6th Turkey Applicque Wallhanging 12-3pm (Ana Blckndrfr,instr)
December Felted Slippers Saturdays 2-4pm (Joy Frank,VickieSchroeder,in
TBA Crocheted Table Topper (taught by Sue Ayers)
Reminder : Beginning Knit & Crochet taught one on one on Thursdays 6:30-8pm

Keep Stitchin'

Summer Newsletter from Stitches...

Quilters :
> With summer in full bloom, finally, outdoor activities are also in full bloom
but we're cool and busy at Stitches...even in the summertime. Stop in any time
for a cool drink and a relaxing stay "under the pergola:.
> From June 24 - July 3 we will have in-store demos of Flag Making. Using scraps,
make a quick, fusible crazy quilt flag - bring your red, white, blue and gold
scraps, buy a flag marked template for $1 and make your flag on the spot. Sew
or no-sew is up to you. Be ready for July 4th.
> Saturday, June 27th "Grids & Grommets Purse" class 10am to 3pm and we still
have room for you.
> July 30th will bring another class to make a table runner and placemats with
the 60 degree angle ruler. Special techniques for working with border fabrics
to creat easy, beautiful 6 sided placemats. Easy & quick.
> August 22nd will be a class on an easy, ruffled neckroll pillow. Lear easy,
techniques for ruffling, making tow-color ruffles, non-zip closure.
> August will also bring Linda Kamm to Charles City and she will give a workshop
that you won't want to miss called "Storm at Sea". Date is Wednesday, August
26th from 10am to 3pm. Lunch provided. Cost is $10. You will need a set of the
"Storm at Sea" Trimplates (available at Stitches...).
> Stop in and see all the new kits available for all sizes of quilts, wallhang-
ings, tablerunners, etc.
Schedule :
June 24 - July 3 Flag Week (Make It & Take It)
June 27 - Grids & Grommets (10am-3pm) Lunch provided.
July 8 - Block of the Month 6:30pm
July 30 - 60 Degree Angle Tablerunner & Placemats (12-2pm & 6-8pm)
August 12 - Block of the Month 6:30pm
August 22 - Ruffled Neckroll Pillow (10am-2pm)
August 26 - Storm at Sea Tabletopper 10am-3pm)

Knitters & Crocheters :
When it is too hot to work outside or your home just seems too confining come in to
Stitches... for a cool place to sit and knit or crochet. We have some new yarns and some great patterns and ideas for Christmas gifts. It is never too early to think about Christmas. Again, starting in the fall, we will be having monthly classes on Saturday afternoons, eg. Christmas stocking, socks on 2 circular needles, the Magic Loop, baby sweaters. Let us know what you would like to take for a class.

Happy crafting,
Holly