Newsletter from The Eye Of A Needle – May 2023

Newsletters

May 3, 2023

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Hello Lovely Ladies
Over the past couple of days it has felt more like the summer we haven’t had this year, but I guess psychologically we are conditioned to thinking that winter is on its way, and so we need to prepare for some inside winter projects for when it does get cooler. Do you have yours sorted yet?
I always have a few projects on the go at once, but I have promised myself that I won’t start another slow stitching project until my Stonefield quilt is completed. Having said that, as I come to the end of Block 10 – the last one of the Stonefield BOM’s, the thought of finishing 168 hexagon flowers as well as quite a few Flying Geese for the border, I’m thinking there might be room for another small evening project to break the monotony a little. Wouldn’t you agree?
Hmmmm… my days are already very full. We are starting to see a turn in the retail market with full classes and lots of new projects starting over the next couple of months.
In this newsletter you will also read about the annual Bernina Mother’s Day Sale which is on right now, until 21st May. There are some great discounts on some sewing machines and overlockers, as well as 20% off lots of accessories, so if you’re in the market for a new sewing machine, now is the best time of the year to buy a Bernina.

SEWING BEE FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

It was such a pleasure for us last Monday to hand over the first 4 completed quilts to the Insull family who until recently lived up the Esk Valley. The kids were so excited to each receive their very own snuggly quilt and the reaction of Joe (age 5) was priceless. It has been so heart warming to see the finished results, and the ladies in our Friday Sewing Bee team have really done an amazing job to create some beautiful quilts for some of the flood victims. We are also very grateful to Gayle Burns who has given her time and energy to quilt these beautiful quilt tops.
We currently have 12 other quilts completed and ready to distribute to several specific families. We will start to wind down our Friday Sewing Bee at the end of this month and focus on other weekly classes which are gaining momentum.

CRAZY PATCH CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

There has been a lot of interest in the Crazy Patch Christmas Stockings that Merynn Read has made. We have them on display in the shop at the moment. For the next 4 weeks, starting next Tuesday 9th May, our focus will be on making Christmas stockings with Merynn as our tutor. We will have kits available in several different colourways for you to purchase for this class and you can embellish the stockings using braids, doilies and threads. You may have bits from your own stash that you would like to add.
The workshop will cost $10 for each class and the kits will be $25.
Please register your interest before Friday for next Tuesday’s class.
A full list of requirements for the class will be available by the end of today.

OTHER WEEKLY CLASSES

Term classes started last week. There are still a couple of spaces available on Wednesday afternoons 1:30pm – 4pm and Thursday mornings 10am – 12:30pm for our ‘Drop In’ days if you would like to join us.
Your place in class will roll over at the end of each term, so you will have first priority to renew your spot for the following term. These classes will cost $50 per term.

I am considering adding a dressmaking class to the Term 3 agenda. This will most likely be a Tuesday evening class where you bring your own patterns to sew and I will help you with the construction and fitting if you need it. We will be adding more dressmaking fabric to our range over the next few months and we will also start stocking sewing patterns down the line as well.
If you are interested in Dressmaking classes please come and see me. Evening classes will only go ahead if I have 6 or more keen regular students. Classes will cost $100 per term and will probably run from 6-8pm.

BY ANNIE CHANGING STATION

For those of you who know of babies on the way, the ByAnnie Changing Station is a brilliant practical present to gift to any new family with a baby. I have just made my second ‘Changing Station’ but have told my family they can’t have it yet because I need a sample for the class, so I will hold on to it until October!
I have found with making anything ‘By Annie’, it is best to get the cutting out and quilting done before you come to the workshop. This means you can focus on the bag construction in class, but it usually takes 2 full days to complete the project.
I have set two Saturdays aside in June for a Changing Station workshop – Saturday 17th and Saturday 24th June from 10am – 4pm.
Class fee will be $40 and we do prefer you to buy your pattern and fabric from The Eye Of A Needle please.

FREE MOTION QUILTING WORKSHOP

There seem to be lots of you who need some practical tips on free motion quilting! The girls in our Crazy Color Mystery Quilt class were let loose this week to use the free motion embroidery foot with some interesting results. They say you should limber up with at least one glass of wine before you start free motion quilting. It does require some practise, I must say!
I am creating a class where you can master some of these skills.
You will start with a pre-printed panel to practice on, and will then progress to your own sample piece where you will learn to stipple and make your own patterns. From here you will have the skills to be able to free motion quilt a simple panel that can be made into a cushion or simple bag.
You can do this class using any brand of sewing machine but you will need to have the corrrect embroidery feet.
The first class will be on Saturday 20th May from 10am -3pm. Class fee $40 + fabric requirements.

Make the most of the Bernina sale and stock up on some free motion and couching feet while you can get 20% off!

Those of you who are not into free motion quilting may prefer to use rulers for a more structured look. I am about to book Carol who worked for me in Taupo, to come over and take a Ruler class, probably in July. If you are interested in doing a ruler class with Carol, please register your interest with me first, and if I get 6 interested ladies in the next week, I will book Carol in for a Saturday workshop mid July.

It wont be this exact panel, but will be something similar!

Just a word to our Taupo Bernina customers…If you have bought a Bernina sewing machine from us in the past 2 years, you are entitled to 2 free services in the first 2 years of owning your machine. Please don’t take your machine to another Bernina store as you will most likely be asked to pay for that service.
If you would like us to service your machine, we are in the process of organising a drop off depot in Taupo. We will pick up your machine, service it, and have it back to you within a week, but it must be booked in.

I will be in contact with those of you who fall in to this category – and if you need firmware updates on your machine, we can also do this for you at the same time. Please phone or email me if you need to take advantage of this service. The depot will be available for drop offs early in June. Our landline here in Hastings is 06 870 3155.

I’m hoping to be able to make time to get over the hill for the Aotearoa Quilt Festival in Rotorua in 2 weeks time. I hope to see some of you there; its always inspiring and motivating to see what other clever people have been making.
Take care and keep warm and cosy as we head into cooler days

Happy Stitching!

Kay

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