Show and Share Time!

Betty W. brought in her completed Mystery Quilt for us to see. This picture looks like white background but it was really a very pretty light blue paisley print. Very nice. Thanks for sharing, Betty!

We will be doing a special exhibit of these Mystery Quilts at our June 20 Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt show.

Tasty Reuben Soup

This recipe is shared by Bonnie Nelsen

Tasty Reuben Soup
4 cans (14 1/2 oz each) reduced sodium chicken broth
4 C shredded cabbage
2 C uncooked medium egg noodles
1 pound reduced fat turkey kielbasa or Polish sausage, halfed and cut into 1" slices.
1/2 C chopped onion
1 t caraway seed
1/4 t garlic powder
1 C (4 oz) shredded reduced fat Swiss cheese

In a large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until cabbage and noodles are tender. Garnish with cheese.

Yield 10 servings

Can substitute meat for hamburger or park sausage.

One more day!

Such a fun event! Saturday is the last day of the Central Iowa Spring Scavenger Hunt Shop Hop!  10 am to 5 pm

Sugar and Spice

This was my Sunday Sewing last weekend. I modified patterns from circa 1980 to come up with these. I am finding that even children's style changes over the decades. Collars were bigger and skirts were fuller - - - .

Anyway, we have this fabric in stock and I drafted a pattern with cutting templates and very basic instruction. This pattern assumes you know the very basics of construction sewing, like how to do facings and ruffles, and sells for  just $3.95.

Shop Hop Dates!

Be sure to note these dates. Earlier today I posted the correct dates with the incorrect days! This is a Thursday, Friday, Saturday event.

Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm

Friday, 10 am to 5 pm

Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm

Looking forward to seeing all of our old friends.

Official Kick Off to Spring!

March 26, 27 & 28

Thursday 10 am to 7 pm ~  Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

Adel Quilting & Dry Goods Co 

Creekside Quilting - Clive 

The Quilt Block – West Des Moines 

Quilter’s Cupboard - Ankeny 

Quilt Connection – Ames 

Pick up a game sheet for the Scavenger Hunt at any of the participating shops. 

Prize drawing for $75 basket from each shop with grand prize of 5 yards of fabric from each shop! 

Plus 15% discounts and refreshments

For more news from Adel, check the website for the freshly updated newsletter.

This is our gift bag. Bag full of fun is retail value $75 and you can win it by just visiting us in Adel!

Day Trip Tour of Kalona Quilt Country

We are now taking registration for a bus trip day tour to Kalona Iowa quilt country, 

Saturday April 18, historian Michael Zahs will guide this tour.

Initial plans are:

Leave Adel at 7 am

Arrive in Kalona at 9 am, just in time for warm donuts from an Amish bakery.

Then a tour of the Kalona Quilt Museum and a few of the Amish run businesses. The day will also include shopping in some of the area Amish Country stores and quilt shops.

At some point, we will have a full homemade sit-down meal in an Amish home followed by more shopping  and then back to Adel by 9 pm.

Fee for the day is $90. That includes everything - bus, bus driver tip, tour guide, quilt museum entrance fee, warm donuts and sit down meal and the whole event will be narrated by Mr. Zahs.

Call now to register, 515-993-1170

Drawing Prize Winners!

The prize winners from our National Quilting Day drawings: - - 

Becky Glade

Debbie Allen

Marilyn Coulter

Stop in to collect your prize and thank you to everyone for shopping in Adel!

Open Sew Pics

If you missed Open Sew this month, this is what you missed! Thank you to Jackie Orton for taking and sending me these pictures.

Drawing Saturday!

Celebrate National Quilting Day in Adel with us on Saturday, March 21. Sign up for our prize drawing and check out our new spring samples, fabrics, patterns, books and magazines. Plus cupcakes!

Bus Trip Sneak Peek - - - -

Many of you will remember when Michael Zahs spoke at Sisters of the Cloth. There was some conversation of him taking us on a guided bus tour of quilt country in and around Kalona, including a traditional meal in an Amish home.

I have just spoken with Michael and he is working on a proposal. 

This tour will be open first to Sisters of the Cloth members and then to the public.

Stay posted because it could be as early as April!

Saturday, March 21 - National Quilting Day

Saturday, March 21 is National Quilting Day. Check out this link to the National Quilting Association website for an interesting read on the history.  Would our great grandmothers be impressed to see the skill they passed down get such national recognition?

Happy St Patty's Day!

Quilt Circle of Friends Update

March meeting:

Normally on the 3rd Monday of the month, the March meeting of Quilt Circle of Friends will be one week later. 

We will meet on Monday, March 23 in the shop at 6 pm. All are welcome to join us. 

Holy Scrap

It's the 15th! Time to check in on our Holy Scrap quilt.

You should now have the center row completed, 20 rows of 4 -   
2 1/2" squares per row. This month, we will make the on point rows that go on each side of the center row.

Note: finished size is 32" x 40"

The two on point sections each use 10 units that are 5 - 2 1/2" squares wide. If you have any left over units from last month, add 1 random 2 1/2" square to each and use those. If not, start from scratch to make 20 units, each with 5 - 2 1/2" squares.

In addition to the 20 - 5 square units, you will also need 4 units that are 3 squares wide and 4 - 2 1/2" squares.

Now it's time to pick the color for the little side setting triangles (shown in white in the quilt sample). If you want to be REALLY scrappy, you could use several different prints of the same color. For example, several different tone on tone whites. I think it's best to stay with one color, though, as this piece helps define the pattern of your quilt.

Picking the color for your side setting triangles will be your opportunity to make this quilt your own. Try laying out your pieces and looking at them through a camera lens. Is there a color that jumps out? Maybe it is bright yellow, pink or even black. 

In my quilt, I see a lot of red which is no surprise as I love red. You can never go wrong with white or cream, though. 

Take a look at these two quilts, just as examples for choosing setting fabric color.

              Modern twist with grey - -- 

                       Crisp and classic with white. 

By the way, this is another great scrap quilt that would accommodate your 2 1/2" strip sets. All you have to do is count. The white sashes are cut 2 1/2" wide. The white squares in the last border are also cut 2 1/2". Everything in this quilt above is cut 2 1/2" so, all of the rows fit together. Every piece is an increment of 2 1/2".

There are a couple ways to make the side-setting triangles. The way I will show uses a little bit more fabric but, it's more accurate and easier. We are using up scraps anyway, right?

Since I chose red for my setting triangles, I need 24, 2 1/2" squares of red. 

Stitch a 2 1/2" square of your setting color fabric to each end of each of the row units and stitch the rows  as shown here.

Notice, you start with a 2 1/2" square of the setting fabric. Center it on the first row. Then center the 1st row on the second row and center the second row on the third row. 

After that, you have 10 rows the same length. Add rows as shown, stair stepping down, always moving down one block. If you need to, re-press the seams in each row in opposite directions so your seams will easily snug together.

After adding the 10 long rows, end as your started by centering the last three rows on each other. Make two of these sections.

Don't trim yet. We will talk about that next month. See you then!

footnote: These instructions are for the Holy Scrap quilt in the size as shown. I plan to keep adding to my strips and make a much larger quilt. I may even add more sections, using parts and pieces that I have collected in various exchanges over the years but never used. I'll keep you posted! Send me your pictures, too!

Baby time -

This is why I missed Open Sew this week - - 

I spent a few days with Click N Clack - - - and their brother, Jack

Calling Sisters of the Cloth

Time to start planning for our Sisters of the Cloth series of classes coming in July, September and November.  This group of quilting sisters will gather to listen, learn and enjoy each other's company - - third Saturday, 10 am to noon - - at the Adel Library. No prior experience required.

As part of these classes, we provide instruction, fabric and supplies to make quilt blocks by hand.  Some members work on their blocks in class, some bring their own hand sewing and some just enjoy sitting and absorbing all the creativity in the air.

These are Patchwork of the Crosses blocks made by Carol Harriman. Note how much character the fussy cutting adds to this block. She and I are both members of a Facebook group that focuses on this block pattern. This group includes quilters from all over the United States and several other countries. It's a real treat.

Patchwork of the Crosses is also the block we will feature for our hand work in our 2015 Sisters of the Cloth series. I have so much to share with you!

These bolts, above and below, just came in today and we will start playing with them soon as our feature fabric for S.O.C.classes.

Class registration for all three classes is $35 and includes speakers, sewing supplies, hand-outs, door prizes and refreshments.

Last year, we reached our max of 40 members. So, if you are interested, register soon. Call us at 515-993-1170.

Bring a friend or come by yourself. There are no strangers in this circle of friends.

OPEN SEW!!

It's that time again! Thursday and Friday this week at the Adel Library, 10 am until the last stitch is made. Join us - no fee.

Sock Kniting

Today is the first March meeting to learn sock quilting. Thank you to teacher, Julia Swallow, for sharing her talent.

Free Class:   Knitted Socks for Beginners

Must know knit and purl stitches.

Teacher: Julia Swallow, quilter and knitter

Where: Adel library upstairs conference room

When: 10-12 (mornings) March 10, 24, April 7 and 21 (Tuesdays)

What to bring:

1.       Sock Yarn.

My favorite is Opal. It changes color as you knit for fabulous results. Check with Yarn Junction in Valley Junction or Heartland Fiber on the square in Winterset.

2.       Knitting needles, size 1 or 1 ½ , double pointed.

·         The size depends on your gauge. If you knit a little tighter then 1 ½ is better.

·         Needle size can be affected by how the particular type of yarn knits up. Yarn store employees can help you with this.

·         The bamboo needles are very nice since they don’t slide out of your knitting as easily.

3.       A darning needle to stitch the toes together when done.

4.       Hot or cold beverage. The library allows it, I asked.

Class size is limited to 8. Call to reserve a spot.

Julia Swallow,   515-988-2906

Any port in the storm - - -

Pin Cushion Pizazz!

Aren't these just Adorbs? Fruit shaped pin cushions and just $4.99 each.

 and the old standard, tomato pin cushion, $3.99 each.

Back in stock, Ewesful Pin Cushions made from wool, $16.95 each and last forever. I have one of these next to my long arm and have used it for my extra long pins for about 15 years.

Not only cute but handy wrist pin cushions. I wear one of these when I pin rows together. I go back and forth to the sewing machine for the next row or maybe borders, and always have my pins with me. $8.99 ea.

Pam's Afternoon Delight

Pam G. had us put together a whole quilt kit for her rather than do this as our block-of-the-month. She had a deadline to get this done earlier for a granddaughter's wedding gift. After this picture was taken, this quilt went home with Jess for machine quilting.

Masterpiece, right?

New Batiks from Hoffman!!

We are expanding our line of batiks. Here is the March shipment with more coming in April, May and June!

Don't these look like Spring? Love this texture.

Also have the whole line of special edition batiks by Hoffman on order. It's a beautiful collection of blues (sorry Celia), designed for the Row by Row Experience. 

Cozy Quilts Block of the Month!

This is a new block-of-the-month type project we are starting this month. The difference is, it's not a block and it's not each month!

This program includes the three small quilts shown above, the two on the wall and the star quilt hanging over the edge. Customers pick up kits every other month. Start now and have three gifts made by the holidays.

These projects are affordable because they combine a cotton pieced basis with 100% wool and heavy flannel applique. Come in and take a look. Really cute.

Register for this BOM, purchase the book and get 25% off the price of the kits. 

New Spring Line

Carol P. made this beauty as a shop sample quilt for us. The pattern is Stash Stars from Atkinson Designs. This is an especially appealing pattern because the stars "float" making it easy save the star points.

For the back, we used this sweet Moda print of Love Birds.

Diana W. made these two baby quilts for us. This pattern, Play Mates, is $12 but, there are three options. See the Whale and Turtle here. The third option is an elephant. Plus this pattern includes a large set of alphabet templates so you can applique the babies name across the top section.

We used Dream Poly batting and Nemo flannel on the back to make it a soft and cozy quilt for baby.

Same for this one - Dream Poly bat and fun frogs for the back.

 

We recently added these two Little Snappers to our line.These little kits include pattern, front, back, binding and the hanger! All for just $12.95 each.

- - - - and here are two more.  Approximately 6" x 14" each, these kits combine cotton piecing with wool felt applique.

Another of our own patterns, we are calling this one The Heart of Iowa. The rhinestone marks our home town. This 12" square is perfect to hang from a counter stand and features the Iowa fabric for the background.