We're Going to the Islands!

All of us at Treadle are having a little difficulty coping with this long, frigid winter.

It's time to fight back.
Our weapon of choice? DENIAL!
Join us this Saturday, February 26, for a day dedicated to the power of imagination.
We will be serving tropical punch and cookies, playing calypso and reggae music and dressing in our summer finery.

All fabric and patterns will be discounted 20% and you may take an additional 20% off all sale fabrics.

Join us dressed in your best tropical duds ( long underwear optional, but encouraged ) and we will enter your name in a drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate. There will also be a prize for the most outrageous getup (extra points for creative use of coconut shells).
Judging will be purely subjective and photos will be posted (with your permission) on our Treadle Flickr page.

We hope to see you for fabric fun and camaraderie as we thumb our noses at the weather.

Snow Day

It's a Snow Day again!
Stay warm today, drink some hot cocoa, sew something cozy for yourself.
The Treadlettes will be at home doing the same.
We'll be open for regular hours tomorrow!

Book Review Corner

It's time for Book Review Corner again, here on the Treadle Blog.
Today's installment centers around the new book from Elizabeth Hartman, of Oh Frannson!, The Practical Guide to Patchwork.
Ms. Hartman is a very prolific quilter and designer, and this book has lots to offer quilters of all stages.
The instructions begin with the basics, how to sandwich a quilt, what kind of stitching to use while quilting, basic color theory, etc.
Personally, I am quite a novice quilter. I have made them, but my interest lies primarily in fashion sewing.
I was introduced to all sorts of interesting things through this book. These binding clips, which look like hair clips (but will snag your curly locks so beware) are an innovation that was new to me.

Also, adding this tiny flap before binding makes a quilt easy to hang on a wall. Genius.
Now to the designs - These quilts are clean, modern and range in difficulty from Beginner, through Confident Beginner to Intermediate.
The best part of the designs is this: for every design, she shows her blocks in two more permutations, so you could take the quilt in your own direction either with color, or shape of pieces.

It's so exciting when a designer will hand the reins over, and encourage you to use your own design sensibilities.



While we're discussion quilting, I wanted to call your attention to our Beginning Quilting class coming up in March.
Come join Melissa as she guides you through the basics of quilt-making from choosing fabrics to assembly and and binding.

Happy Sewing!

Craft Hope

Today I would like to call your attention to a wonderful group of bloggers who are making a difference out there.
Craft Hope is the brainchild of Jade Sims, and what began as an effort to do a little good out there has bloomed into 11 projects helping everyone from children at a Honduran orphanage, to a major online auction to benefit the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Their latest project is an effort to properly outfit midwives serving the many who are still without permanent homes in Haiti.
There is much more detail here.
I wanted to send out a call to those of you who have a little extra sewing time to join up and make some kits for these women who are helping mothers safely deliver their beautiful new babies.
Some good friends and I met last week to do a little sewing and do a little good.
We made tote bags, dolls, blankets and a few newborn hats.
We all thought of our own tiny babies when we were making these things, and filled the projects with love for the new babies who will use them.

Please head on over to Craft Hope and join their effort to make the world a little better.

Amy Butler Trunk Show

Hi All,
It's trunk show time at Treadle Yard Goods!
We have a huge selection of her great patterns, along with the new fabric line Soul Blossoms.
The patterns will not be discounted this time around, but we do have a few pieces from the "Love" line that are on sale by the front counter.
Many of the display pieces are from Amy Butler's new book Style Stitches, we'll have a copy on the counter for your perusal.




Come on by and take a look! I for one, have a deep need to make this little raincoat!

Fashion Sewing Club

Come join us and share your love of sewing.
Fashion Sewing Club is a monthly meeting (held the second Tuesday of every month) featuring garments, pattern modification and review, and the latest news in the sewing world.
Come meet the Material Girls as they provide tips, techniques and new ideas that are sure to inspire you.
High fashion, chic wear, proper fit, machine embroidery, children’s wear and Home Dec are just some of the topics we will explore. Whether you are an experienced sewer or just beginning – this club is for you! Bring Show and Tell!

The fee is $10 (however, your first meeting is free!) and can either be prepaid here or paid at the meeting. The next meeting is TONIGHT, January 11, at 6:30 p.m, and is held in Treadle 2. Please join us for the fun!

Cute Dress

Hi All,
This week I was working with my friend Jess, of My Friend Jess, and she had the most inspirational dress on. It was agreed, that she just had to share it here.The fabric is a wool boucle made up in a vintage, 1970's pattern. In true Jess fashion, pun not intended, she added the tree and bird outlines in felt.
Such a striking and whimsical way to let a garment make a statement.

Please don't hesitate to head on over to the Treadle Yard Goods flickr group, and share your latest creations!