Packs, packs and more packs!

We have just added a nice variety of fat quarter and 1/2yard packs to the store.  These packs are great to add some variety to your stash or to fill in some missing colors.

We are also offering some special  themed fat quarter packs, but quantities are limited so if you see something you like grab it because it might not be there long!

All packs are economically priced not to break the bank.  So stock up now and save.

It's That Time of Year!

The holidays will soon be upon us and it's time to get all those gifts floating about in your head,  made........this year!  We have some great holiday fabrics, traditional and retro, that are perfect for:

placemats and napkin:

aprons:

and pillowcases!

And don't forget your favorite pets!  Wouldn't this make a great stocking for Fido....filled with homemade dog biscuits no less!

All these fabrics and more at great prices!

Enjoy,
Chris

CLEARANCE .....RIVERWOODS FABRIC

All of our Riverwoods fabrics are now $5.00 a yard and under.  You will find lots of great fabrics like.................

Marblecake Blenders in a full spectrum of colors..................

 Or children's lines like wacky Surf n' Safari.................

Or Cap Nappin' ........................

Or something more eclectic like Katmandu............

You are sure to find something to fit your sewing and quilting needs in these Riverwoods fabrics.  And at $5.00 a yard or less you'll want to stock up!

Enjoy,
Chris

Riley Blake 'Nantucket Summer'

We have finally gotten in our bolts of 'Nantucket Summer' by Riley Blake Designs.  This fabric is so pretty in this pink, green and brown colorway.

Riley Blake Designs is a new line for us, but they have been around for a little while and are slowly gathering quite the following.

They're designs are fresh and fun, with a little retro thrown in for good measure.

You may want to check out their website for the online classroom and their blog has a free pattern for 'Baskets of Nantucket'.  I am sure we will be carry more of their fabric in the future!

Enjoy,
Chris

Pillowcases with French-seams

I bought.....yes, you heard me bought a new bedspread.  We were is desperate need as the 30's pinwheel quilt I made 16 years ago had seen better days......MUCH better days.  It was time for retirement and a new look.

I have no time nor inclination to make a queen size quilt, so off to Target I went.  And for a mere $50 and 1/2 hour of time a got a nice reversible two-tone aqua quilt.  It was just what I wanted, perfect color and everything, it just needed wild pillowcases to punch it up a bit.

Pillowcases are the easiest thing to sew and if you're like me and don't have a serger, french-seams are a nice was to finish the seams.

Here is a quick tutorial for making pillowcases with french-seams.

For one pillowcase cut the following:
Body Fabric: 25 1/2" x 41"
Accent Fabric: 1 3/4" x 41"
Cuff fabric: 10" x 41"


Making the Pillowcase Body

Attach the accent strip to the cuff and press the seam to the accent strip.  Attach the body fabric to the accent strip.  Press the seam to the accent strip.  Your pillowcase now looks like this:

Make sure that all edges are even, trim if needed.  It seems that after I don't how many years of sewing and quilting I still have trouble with this.....I think I cut something wrong!  So pay attention as you cut!

Press the raw edge of the cuff under 1/4" (sorry about the pic, my battery was fading fast).

Fold the cuff to the inside, covering the accent seam up to the stitching.

Use a few pins on the wrong side to hold in place making sure the accent seam is covered.  The turn to the right side and pin (remove the pins from the back BEFORE you start to sew).  Using matching thread, top stitch along the accent strip about an 1/8" from the edge.  This is what the front should look like:

This is what the underside should look like:

Making the French-Seam

Fold the pillowcase in half, WRONG sides together, lining up raw edges on 2 sides.  Stitch a very narrow 1/4" or 1/8" seam on these 2 sides.  Although hard to see, it will look like this:

If you had sewn a 1/4" seam, carefully trim to 1/8".  Turn pillowcase inside out.  Make sure corners are poked out and square.  Press along the stitched seam so it is nice an flat. Stitch approx. 1/4" to 3/8" along the seamline, encasing the raw edge.   It should look like this on the inside:

Turn the pillowcase right side out and your done!

Here are my fabulously LOUD pillowcases, made from Michael Miller's Feelin' Groovey fabric available at The Cotton Loft, of course!

Now go and make some WILD pillowcases for your bed, or your teenager's, or your toddler's or anyone's!

Limited Special Additions

I just posted some great charm pack bundles in the "Limited Specials'" on The Cotton Loft.  These are all Northcott packs.  Each consists of enough packs to make a nice lap quilt.  So if you love romantic florals check these out!

New Robert Kaufman Fabrics

We received in some great new fabrics from Robert Kaufman last week.

Forest Fun



Sometimes it is very hard to find nice fabric for young boys that isn't too babyish or girly. I think that this line, Forest Fun, by Kaufman fills the void nicely. The critters are cute without being overly cartoonish and the color scheme of deep blue, green, orange and brown is perfect for boys.

Although a small line, the two main fabrics are of a nice scale to be featured in larger squares of some of the more simple quilt patterns. The stripe has enough movement and interest to be used as frames, borders or binding. Add one or two blenders to these fabrics and you can make a fantastic quilt for your favorite little guy.


Night and Day


Sometimes one piece of a fabric line really grabs you, and these large florals from Kaufman' s Night and Day collection just about knocked me off my feet! I had to have them. I just love the large scale black and white flowers with the pop of taxicab yellow here and there.

I am actually thinking of making a skirt out of the white and a dress out of the black.

Quilting cotton.......it's not just for quilting anymore!

Check out these and other new fabrics under Recent Additions on the site!