KetchikanCrafts.com: Shop for your Quilting needs, Bernina Sewing Solutions & General Crafts

logo

Rainforest Crafts Newsletter	Issue 2 January 2012

in this issue

:: Adult Classes

:: Young People Classes

:: Charlie's Corner

Quilting in the Rain Ketchikan Quilt show is coming up. We have entry forms available to pick up. Entry forms are due by February 10th.
Ocean Wave Quilt Guild in Sitka is having their 30th annual Mother's Day Quilt show May 1-14. We have contact information for anyone who is interested in entering a quilt.
Rainforest crafts will be hosting a free introduction to essential oils class on January 28 at 6:00 p.m. A great opportunity to learn about doTerra essential oils, a natural healing alternative. Learn how they can help you and your family. There will be door prizes.
Some of our great glues, ModPodge, and glue dots have arrived and hit the shelves.
If you are wanting to take our queen of bags Zippy Strippy class you need to sign up soon or it will be canceled.
Be sure to check our Facebook pages for class pictures, internet specials, and happenings.

Adult Classes

Art and Sewing

Zippy Strippy Bags Jan. 21: 10:30

Instructor: Dena Smith Fee $25

Our Queen of Purses has done it yet again with this stupendous and yet easy to create travel bag. These nifty little bags are not only cute but a great way to use up fabric stashes or leftovers from Bali Pops. The bags come in three handy sizes for you to choose from. Use them to protect items in your purse for travel or storage. Don't be afraid of that zipper, Dena says with this pattern it is easy.

Drapery Studies

Jan. 24: 2-4 or 5:30-7:30

Instructor: Robin Walker Fee: $35

Do you have difficulty drawing people's clothes? Despite the belief of most art schools, people seldom go around nude. Learn how to draw clothing, curtains, tablecloths, flags in the wind, and sometimes draperies can take a starring role in themselves.

Let's Twist Jan. 28: 13:30-5:30

Instructor: Gail Alguire Fee: $25

Enjoy making continuous pinwheels. This fast and easy project gives the appearance of being really difficult without the headaches. Experienced and certified quilt instructor Gail Alguire will help walk you through this fanciful wall hanging. Come into the store and see the adorable sample.

Needle Turn Appliqu�, 2 Fabric Appliqu� Quilt

January 29: 11:30-5:30

Instructor: Pat Palkovic Fee: $30

Another chance to learn Needle Turn Appliqu�, a hand appliqu� technique that allows you to make beautiful quilts and wall hangings while traveling or sitting quietly at home. We will start out with a simple irregular shape to master turns, curves, and lines. Then we will move onto our 2 Fabric Appliqu� Quilt; a technique that creates beautiful quilts without much fuss or muss.

Soft Pastels

Jan. 31: 2-4 or 5:30-7:30

Instructor: Robin Walker Fee: $35

You've seen soft pastels in the work of Ray Troll. This vibrant medium is sticks of nearly pure pigment that work dark to light with soft blending and directional strokes.

All about my sewing machine.

February 1: 2-4:00 or 5:30-7:30

Instructor: Kelly Spencer

Fee: $25

Did you buy your machine at a box store and receive no instruction in its use? Or did you find it at a garage sale for a great price? Our sewing machine expert Kelly Spencer can help you through basic machine maintenance and care. He can show you how to thread the machine, wind the bobbin and many of the uses and functions of your machine. So dust off Grandma's hand-me- down and come on in and start utilizing it to it's fullest.

Braided Rug February 8 and 10: 5:30-8:30

Instructor:Pat Palkovic Fee $25

Braided rugs are a tradition look that many people have grown up with. If you have always like the look of braided rugs but never known how to make one now is your chance. Using new or reclaimed fabric you can create anything from a hot pad to an area rug. Strips can be of wool, flannel, cotton or other recycled fabrics that can be cut into strips from 1.5 to 2.5 inches depending on fabric density and turned into these classic treasures. This is a requirement to take the Braided bowl class.

Jumping Jacks

Feb. 12, 11:30-5:30

Instructor: Pat Palkovic Instructor Fee $25

Come learn how create this lively quilt. Kaye Wood's pattern uses unique rulers to make complicated angles simple in this quilt that jumps with movement and excitement. Rulers will be available for use with the class. These are the easiest fan shapes you will ever make. Come and see Pat's sample in the store

My Bernina Feb. 15: 5:30-7:30

Instructor: Kelly Spencer

Fee: free

This the first part of a series of classes devoted to helping you get the most out of your Bernina. Helping teach you about your machine, it's stitches, feet, capabilities, and basic maintenance. Bernina has some of the best machines out there make sure you are using its full potential. Kelly makes things simple and easy to understand. He can answer any of your questions and help with specific needs.

Young People classes
Sewing and Make and Take

January 20, Friday 3:30-5:30, Cost $10.00

Class: Grocery Tote: Go green with this simple lined bag. Heavy nylon handles help you to carry everything from ballet clothes to groceries. In this class you will use a rotary cutter, sew in layers, and attach handles. Ask to see our samples.

January 21, 1-3:30 Cost $5

Snowflake window clings. Snowflakes made from fabric paint in a variety of colors can be drawn over glass. When it dries, they will make great window clings for any glass surface in your house.

January 27, Friday 3:30-5:30, Cost $10.00

Class: Circle pillow: In this project you will create a small circular pillow. You can make it all in one color or with different colored sides. This circle pillow project will help you learn how to sew curves.

January 28, 1-3:30 Cost $5.00

Penguins,

Create adorable penguins out of paint, water bottles, Styrofoam balls, baby socks and googly eyes.

February 4, 1-3:30 Cost $5.00

Heart glitter shakers.

Using foam and see through plastic create hearts with centers filled with glitter. You can add these to cards or use them as gifts for your favorite Valentine.

February 10, 4:00-5:30 Cost $10.00

Class: Introduction to sewing Square potholders: Create a square quilted potholder from your choice of fabrics. The insul-bright batting is including in the class fee. A review of machine use and parts will help you to complete this project whether or not you were in the first class.

February 11, 1-3:30 Cost $5.00

Pop-up cards.

Come create fun and simple Valentine pop-up cards. Using easy techniques make hearts pop-up, swirls bobble, and hungry candy eating creatures.

February 17, 4:00-5:30 Cost $10.00

Simple waist apron with pocket: Make a waist apron for you or your Mom or Dad. This apron is great for cooking, grilling, or just plain fun. Choose fun and interesting fabric to create something unique. Learn how to add pockets, create your own bias. You should have some knowledge of basic sewing machine use or have attended one of the previous Young People classes.

February 18, 1-3:30 Cost $5.00

Popsicle puppets:

Come and color creatures, give them googley eyes, and put them on Popsicle sticks to give them a life of their own.

February 25 No Make and Take

Charlie's Corner

Thread

There is much to said about thread and I may not get through it in one week. Ok, so we talk about thread for several weeks what else have we got to do anyway.

I come before you admitting that I am as thread junky and I have no intentions of changing. Thread, to me represents the wonderful spectrum of colors and what I would imagine the desire for a large bag of wonderfully colored marbles may have been for the men in our lives.

Store your threads in a way that it might inspire you when you look at Them. Remember to keep them out of direct sunlight and away from too much dust (in my house that second part is pretty impossible). I know that many of us have had thread that we got from our moms or aunts or yard sales etc. and that is fine but please test it to see if it is rotten and if it is, do yourself a favor and pitch it. To test pull the thread out and put a length (10-12 inches) in both hands and give it a snap, if it breaks too easily it may have dry rot. It also makes a dull snap rather than a crisp one. You will soon be able to recognize the feel and the sound of a good snap.

The larger the weight number the lighter the thread is. For instance a 12 wt. similar to a Sulky Blendables (100% cotton) is heavier than say a 30 or 50 wt. Light threads are good for "fancy stitching" where you may not want bulk i.e. Embroidery or specialized stitching. I believe the Mettler poly sheen is lighter wt. than the silk finish. Both great threads.

I use the poly sheen for embroidery or for fancy stitches and for top stitching on a quilt. Any place that I want that thread to stand out. I use the silk finish for regular sewing and piecing projects.The colors are wonderful and clean.

Those of you who know me know I love love love the Sulky Blendables for just that extra pop. They come in wonderful variegated colors and are easy to use. Just remember that you will need a larger machine needle. I think they recommend a 16 but I have also used a 14 with them. If you do not want the extra bulk or stiffness that the blendable may cause, just use a lighter weight thread in the bobbin. I generally use them in top and bottom as well, with no problems but if you are using a light weight fabric, try Blendables on the top and a mettler silk wrap on the bottom.

Cotton thread is probably the easiest thread to work with and there are some purists out there that wouldn't use anything else but most of us use all kinds of threads just for different things. I occasionally use a cotton on top and a poly blend on the bottom just because it gives me nice flat seams. Flatter seams are helpful if you have a pattern where there are a lot of intersecting pieces. Poly is a good option for folks that are less comfortable with their sewing machines, easy to sew and looks like cotton.

I will talk about some other threads next week.

Charlie

btw my hot tip for this week is, make your pet a really nice bed out of two oval pieces of fleece, Lay the pieces together and clip the two pieces at the same time. This will look like fringe. Clip the edges in about 4-5 inches and tie one of the top strings and one of the bottom strings together in a knot. Work your way around the oval and before you tie the last 10-12 inches stuff it with leftover batting or craft stuffing or an old comforter. Tie the remaining 10-12 inches and wa la our pet friends have a new bed. AND if the stuffing is washable, then the whole thing can be washed. (Depending on the size of your pet you may not want to use your home washer).

Sew, sew till next time

Thank you for supporting local businesses and shopping here at Rainforest Crafts.

Sincerely,

Kelly Spencer and Friends
Rainforest Crafts