NEWS FLASH!! The following classes are in the process of being scheduled. Contact me if you have date preferences or are interested in signing up.

Cup Cozies 2hrs $10
Cup cozies are used on hot cups like you get at the filling station. They protect your fingers from cups a little too hot to handle. Can cozies help to keep the can cold. Cup cozies also lessen the drippy condensation on cold cups. We will make one of each. Trust me…you will want one! Then others will see yours, and…well you know where it goes from there!

Serger Quilt 3hrs, 2 sessions $30 total
I love this quilt, but it can be tricky. I learned the hard way not to combine a first time serger user with this pattern when using flannel. So we are going to do this class in flat cottons, and you are going to fall in love with it! The shop’s Bon Voyage batiks or the northwoods A Simpler Time collection would be perfect for it. The quilt comes together very fast if you are like me and go for those immediate gratification projects.

Serger Rug 3hrs $15
Here is another easy and cute project. Ruffled strips are a snap with adjusted differential on the serger. The bias strips are attached to the old fashioned striped cotton ticking, giving you a ready-made straight line to follow as you sew. This is a great rug for the bath or kitchen and it wears well. Just toss it in the washer when it is time for a cleaning, and watch it get better with age.

4-Sided Placemat 2hrs $10 plus template
With just a flip your placemats can show a new season, theme, mood…or just another clean placement! This class walks you through the technique of making one 4-sided placemat.
 
UFO Sew In 3hrs FREE
(will typically include Show & Tell and Tool Time)
3 hours or ? I’ll be there as long as you’re there. Bring your unfinished objects and let’s enjoy the time together. Bring anything you want to Show & Tell…along with any new tools or gadgets. We will use this time to keep up with new tools and hints for those you’d like to have added to the shop.

Tool Time 2hrs FREE
(Usually paired with UFO Sew In)
Are you a gadget person? Or, do you just like to see new tools in action so you can decide if it is for you? Join us in Tool Time to see what’s new or to discuss what you would like to have in your tool chest. Someone may have another idea you like better. The event is great for keeping in touch with tools to make your sewing easier or more enjoyable, and you stay in touch with your sewing community as well and make new friends. It’s great for the shop because I learn about the new things you would like to see.

Photos on Fabric 2hrs $20 includes class supplies
http://thecommonthreadmerc.com/wordpress/main/scheduler-calendar/scheduled-classes/photos-on-fabric/ We will go over photo preparation, fabric sheet options, transfers vs. printing on fabric, and we will print in one of two optional methods. You will see what is involved in creating your own fabric sheets and what happens if you use muslin vs. a fabric with an existing design. Lots of artsy opportunities here. In our small class setting, I will take time with you to show how the photo can be manipulated prior to printing for interesting effects, or just to improve the quality of the image. I have some great books for sale on the topic for all skill levels.

Machine Stitch Journal 2hrs $10 includes supplies
I finally made one of these a couple of months ago and learned a lot more about my machine and where to use these stitches in the process. I tried the stitches in different sizes, different backgrounds, and different threads. It really made a huge difference sometimes. I put it in an acetate cover and filed it away in my 3-ring binder. I’ll add to it over time as I learn new techniques. Let’s get yours started! You can borrow some of my specialty threads, but you will need to bring your own special needles per the supply list.

EQ 7 Introductory Class 2hrs $10
Have you gotten rusty in working with EQ software? This class will navigate the screens through the start to finish cycle of designing a pattern and viewing the resulting cutting templates and fabric requirements. We will also touch on scanning your own fabric into the application.

Create a searchable craft reference 2hrs FREE
FREE event to show you how to use Microsoft OneNote as an electronic 3-ring binder to categorize your ideas and paper resources…on your computer. This application is already on many of the newer laptops if Microsoft Office is installed. If it isn’t, I will walk you through the process of downloading and installing a demo version that is good for 60 days. This is such a great application for organizing your information resources that I want to spread the word. When your information (including pictures and scanned magazines and patterns) is loaded and referenced through OneNote, you can use its search functionality to find that article that you can vaguely recollect.

Sewing Machine Maintenance 2hrs $14
Sharon Wick has a popular class for going over general maintenance of your sewing machine. Time to get those dust bunnies out…the right way. Having close experience across a variety of machines across manufacturers, she will show you all kinds of tricks to keep your machine humming for years. I will have my vacuum available with the tiny attachments if you care to use it.

Hand Embroidery Introduction 3hrs $5
What a deal…purchase the Bareroots Favorite Embroidery Stitches and pay just $5 for this 3 hour introductory class. We will provide the basics on hooping, fabric, flosses to use, and practice the stitches. Start a stitch journal and watch your technique develop. Purchase of the book entitles you to a $5 fee for the candle mat as well! The $5 is a per class day fee for this special arrangement.

Hand Embroidered Valentine Candle Mat $5 per day, 2 days
Purchase the Bareroots Favorite Embroidery Stitches and pay just $5 per instruction day. This little spiral bound book from Bareroots is a great reference for beginners in hand embroidery or those that do not embroider on a regular basis. It includes a great pattern for a candle mat that would be great as a Valentine project. Perfect for a dresser and a little antique trinket dish! (total $10 plus book)

Crazy Quilting Introduction 3hrs $23
What a nice little cozy for your iPhone or Blackberry! This crazy quilted PDA cover is a great way to learn the technique. And there are soooo many options for embellishment! . You will have the opportunity to practice a few embroidery stitches. For those that would rather use your machine’s decorative stitches, bring some muslin or dark solid color to trial the ones you want to use. Be forewarned that previous students switched to handwork in class due to the nature of the learning process. Just to make it fun and interesting, a communal “stash” of fabric, laces, floss, beads and other embellishments will be available and included in the price of the class, or you can buy your own in advance. The new Kashmir V and Luna Notte collections will be in by class time if you prefer to use those instead (purchased separately)! Class fee includes fabric, embroidery floss and embellishments. A lot of value in the price.

It’s Quilting Cats & Dogs – No it isn’t raining…It’s quilting cats and dogs!
Purchase the book and all related projects are $5 for each project day. What a cute, cute, cute little book! I fell in love with it at first glance and wasn’t disappointed when I settled back in the chair and took in each page and pattern. Purchase the book and line up for the $5 class days for the following projects:
Change Purse 3hrs at $5 per day for 2 days (total $10)*
Block of the Month Lap Quilt 2hrs for each of 6 month of BOM dates (total $30)*
Crazy Quilted Friends Hand Bag 2hrs at $5 a day for 2 days (total $10)*
Journal Cover 3hrs, $5 total*
Sewing Bag 3hrs at $5 per day for 2days (total $10)*

• The $5 per day fee is applicable if you have purchased the book from my shop

Introduction to Needle Punch Embroidery 2hrs $10
Needle punch embroidery is miniaturized rug hooking…too easy…and so much fun! You poke the needle through the back of the fabric and the loops form on the other side. In and out…it’s that easy. The project is small, so you see it take shape quickly. We will practice the punching on a separate piece of fabric and then move to your background soon after. You’ll walk away from the class well on the way to completion.

Patriotic Needle Punch 2hrs $14
Once you have the technique down and just want a class to practice joining techniques, this is a great one. The small piece is a beautiful rendition of the waving American flag.

Introduction to Needle Felting 2hrs $10
Barbed needles are repeatedly inserted into natural fibers (usually wool) to mesh them together and form designs. Come by the shop any time to do a quick practice, but sign up for this class to learn the full technique of creating a design and 3-D effects.

Introduction to Applique – Cotton 3hrs $21
There are lots of options when doing applique with cotton, such as raw edge, fusibles, machine stitched, needleturn, etc. This class covers a number of techniques as an introduction to when one or another may be more desirable technique for its effect.

Pet Lover Applique 3 hrs $5
I love the Darcy Ashton animal appliques. They are whimsical and cleverly life-like. Join me as we make a single raw-edge applique panel and embellish it a little with embroidery and needle felting. It makes a great framed picture! Fee is plus the price of the Darcy Ashton book of your choice.

Introduction to Applique – Wool 2hrs $14
Wool applique is so easy! There is less concern about edges because the wool felt does not ravel. It takes so little for the end result to be spectacular…embellished or not. A dash of whimsical embroidery or needle felting makes it a delight. Come to the class and see what you are missing…and get hooked!

Introduction to English Paper Piecing 3hrs $21
Instructor Sharon Wick gives us some practice with English Paper Piecing as we make this GrandMother’s Garden block and applique it to a kitchen quilt or trivet. Students love this class..creative and relaxing. Fee includes paper pieces shared in class.

Quilting on Point 2hrs, 2 sessions $20
This table runner is a great size to work on perfecting your skills of working on point. What is all this “on point” stuff about. Take this class and be on the way. See the shop quilt called Newlyweds for an example of a larger quilt done on point.

Quilt as you Go Table Runner 2hrs $10 plus fabric kit
This is a striped table runner, very easy to make. It is fun and quick, and a cinch to match with your decor. Sometimes these sewing projects are just an opportunity to feed the need to sew and kibitz.

Double Cross Table Runner 3hrs $21
This is a very pretty pattern, and a good one to get some experience in on rotary cutting different shapes and practicing your piecing accuracy.

Lil Twister Technique 1.5 hrs $10
Have any leftovers from your charm packs? You just need 4 charms to do this little table top quilt. No charms? OK, then just a 5″ square of 4 different complementary fabrics will do. This is a sweet size to learn how to use the Lil Twister ruler that is the rage right now. Trust me, it isn’t likely that you have ever cut pieces with a similar method. Very unique! Lynn Ray will lead the class and put a fresh spin on pinwheels. This little quilt is about 12″ square.

Lil Twister Tessellation Wall Quilt 3 hrs $21
Time to hit your stash of charm packs (or get one at the shop)! Lynn Ray will lead the class in using the Lil’ Twister ruler and put a fresh spin on pinwheels. The wall quilt is 31″ square.

Multi-media Collage 2 hrs $10
This is a fun project! We will use a little of this and that to make a collage of home sweet home remembrances or we will showcase anything else special that you want to adorn. I was talking about this class the other day when someone mentioned an old quilt that was too damaged to display whole. This is a great opportunity to use a section of the quilt and position other embellishments around it. I’ve seen them flat-framed and shadow-boxed, and they are lovely. It’s a great creative outlet, and you will be surprised in the end how bits of this and that come together to make something truly special.

Fabric Beads 1.5 hours $12 Supplies included
This is a fun one. The fabric beads may become earrings, a bracelet or necklace, charms or fringe on a fancy bag…or even a zipper pull. Have you heard about foiling? We’ll do a little of that too. Supplies are included, but if you have any silky fabric that is real colorful, bring it along to see an extra effect. You would only need about a 5″ square. Come and learn this technique…you will be surprised how simple it is and where you will find places to use them. It doesn’t require an investment in getting started either!

Coiled Coaster or Trivet 2hrs $10 plus supplies
This is a newer approach on wrapped cord projects. The cording has a fusible coating, and the fabric wraps the cord along the length of fabric instead of coiling the fabric around and around the cord. We will use one cord thickness for the coasters and a heavier one for the trivet. You will do one or the other for class. A cute housewarming gift or one to share during the holidays.

Charities:

Little Dresses for Africa 3hrs FREE plus your own cases
(paired with ConKerr Cancer pillowcases)
This is a new charity for the shop in 2011. Use your pillowcases and modify them to add draw string closures for the neck to make a little sundress. They go to little girls Little Dresses for Africa is a charity that provides relief to the children of Africa. Simple dresses are made out of pillowcases and distributed through the orphanages, churches and schools in Africa to plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy!
http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/

ConKerr Cancer 3hrs FREE plus fabric (yours or mine)
(paired with Little Dresses event)
Bring your sewing machine or use mine. Serger available also. Bring your fabric or completed pillowcase or buy discounted children’s fabric. Lots of cute and reasonably priced designs. Or, just help us with the preparation, folding, ironing, etc.