Hello
I just wanted to share a little of what is planned for 2025. I am sorting lots of classes for both stores and hope you are as please with the mix as I am, and I am trying some new things. We now have a great dress making teacher in both stores, as well as our quilting and crafting, overlocking and embroidery teachers. Woo Hoo :)
Before I launch into all of the fabulous classes we have planned, I wanted to let you know about some new Christmas fabrics that have arrived. These are $22/m or the panel is approx. 55cm and is $12.10. Stock is extremely limited and available in both stores. While you may be running out of time for this year, you can't say I didn't give you plenty of time to prepare for next year !!
This panel is also available and is approx 55cm and is $12.10
Now onto classes...
I will start with some school holiday workshops we have planned in January.
Crystal will teach this lovely little laminated pouch in Sylvania on Friday 17 January from 10am until 2pm. The tuition fee includes a base kit. To learn more and / or book either head into the shop or use the link for the website.
Sarah will teach a tote bag class in Lindfield Tuesday 21 January, 10.30am - 2pm. If there is interest this can be taught in Sylvania as well. If you have 3 or 4 teenagers who are interested please ask. The tuition fee includes a base kit. To learn more and / or book either head into the shop or use the link for the website.
The last school holiday class is a little more complicated. We will be making a zippered pouch that is pieced and quilted. This is a longer class and ideally you would have basic sewing machine skills. It is a full day in Lindfield on Thursday 23 January from 10am until 4pm. This can also be run in Sylvania if there is interest.
Mainstream classes start slightly ahead of schedule this year, with Vicky teaching the Dream Big Free motion and ruler work quilting workshop Friday 31 January and 28 February. This is a 2 day workshop and includes the panel basted with wadding and backing ready for class.
We recommend some free motion quilting skills for this class as it is quite detailed.
This is in our Sylvania store but can run something similar in Lindfield if there are 3 or more of you interested.
We are trying something a little different this year - Sew 25 Club. This is a monthly sit and sew class in each shop. There is a pack of patterns - one per month - and you as a collective can make your way through the patterns and support and encourage each other. We will be in store to support you too, if there are any tricky questions. The first class dates are below.
The pattern pack is available in store or through this link. Below are some of the patterns in the box.
You can buy the patterns and do them at home, if you prefer.
I am running my beginner's basics overlocking class again in both locations. The first class is in Lindfield, but then they continue through the year. I have scheduled a couple in school holidays and on weekends if teachers and students are interested in upskilling.
Crystal will be running some ByAnnie Sit and Sew classes where she will be in the room and able to guide you through your half done projects, as well as encourage you on your new ones. We will help you match the ByAnnie bag pattern to your sewing skill level and take you beyond that. These classes always book fast. Here are the first few dates.
Specific ByAnnie project classes will also be run in both stores. I will cover them in the next newsletter, but you can go and have a look here if you want to see what is available so far.
There is one in February in Lindfield - the Zip it up pouch
If you are a beginner patchwork sewist, Janne is teaching a modern sampler in Lindfield
In this series of 5 classes, you will learn a variety of patchwork techniques. This is a machine pieced class. If you do want to learn hand sewing to make the quilt, you need to be aware there is a lot more homework that you will need to do. You are welcome to do so. We are giving 2 day options here.
A Saturday
Classes 1 and 2, February 8 and 15
Classes 3 and 4, March 8 and 15
Class 5 , April 5
And a Thursday
Classes 1 and 2, February 13 and 20
Classes 3 and 4, March 13 and 20
Class 5 , April 10
10am - 2pm each day
Ian is going to teach you how to maintain your modern Bernina machine at home. He has a couple of date options in each location. They are below with the locations. The fee includes a little cleaning kit.
I will be running Sewing Machine Club in each location. This is a monthly class. Sylvania has a daytime and evening class, and Lindfield has a daytime class. I have allocated an evening class, in case there is interest this year. In the first class we will look at the hand look quilting stitch. A kit is included in this class. The aim of these classes is to "make you" try new things on your machine. While the project might not be exactly what you want to do, it is a mini project to ensure you try different techniques, change settings on your machines and increase your machine proficiency.
We are lucky to have Lorena Uriarte back in store on both a Wednesday and a Saturday monthly. Here are her February dates.
You are welcome to work on any of her patterns or she can help you with a project that you are working on and take it closer to completion. Hand and machine sewists are welcome.
Our social sewing groups will continue in Sylvania next year. You have a choice of a Monday morning weekly
A Tuesday afternoon weekly
A Tuesday night fortnightly - contact the store for this class
We have a new offering in 2025 which is a Wednesday night fortnightly. This class is aimed at teaching and helping you with dressmaking. Chris is a very experienced teacher and dressmaker and we are lucky to have her.
Overlocker Club
I am doing this a little different this year and we are making the Amanda Murphy Bloom and Grow quilt using a variety of overlocker stitches and techniques. You receive the pattern in month 1, so if you miss a class, it is not the end of the world. You have the pattern and can do it at home and ask questions as they arise. The above links have the dates for the year.
Machine Embroidery monthly classes are back in each shop. We will be running the OESD My Happy Place program, which is a series of skill building blocks, that teach you both about what you can do on your machine, as well as stabiliser types and uses. A stabiliser pack will be required each month, and I am kitting these instore so you can buy just what you need and test them. If you love them, you can then buy a roll :) . This will be in addition to the class fee and I am trying to have these costed for our return in January. You select and bring your own fabrics, and we have a large selection in store we can help you choose from if you do not own any. You can make the quilt or break it down into smaller projects. We do not have 13 classes scheduled at this stage (see the over) as I want to see how we progress through the year and adjust / add as necessary.
The first classes are in February and the full year of dates can be seen in these links.
We are running a Slow Stitchers' Club where you can come and be supported by a teacher, Vicky in Sylvania and Janne in Lindfield. The content of the class and the timing varies between the 2 locations, but both teachers have a wonderful skill base and you will totally enjoy yourself. You can bring your project or we will have pattern and fabric suggestions, you can purchase.
Here are the first dates and details for each shop.
Do you have a bit of a stash of fabrics? Shh I won't tell anyone, but I will help you make your way through it. We are running a "When life gives you scraps" class. Each month a pattern will be included in the fee and you will be told what size to cut your fabrics and bring them along. You can share with others in the room so that you get the right mix of colours between you all. There will be a range of patterns throughout the year that allow you to either upsize the project (into a quilt) or downsize the project (into a bag or cushion) to suit your needs and style.
First class
This is only scheduled for Sylvania, but I can add a Lindfield class if there is interest.
Deborah Louie will be teaching you all things machine applique in her 2 day workshop in March. She will show you how to make the most of your machine stitches to applique in 4 different styles. Her monthly classes are very heavily booked for 2025 so we have added an assortment of specialty workshops between the 2 stores. This first class is in Sylvania.
She does have a book to support this class as well. It is a great resource to use at home after class or if you can not make the class.
We have 2 promo days, one in each store to show you the wonderful Brother sewing and quilting machines. These are Feb and March.
I am going to leave it there for classes, as that takes us to around the end of February. Yes that's just the tip of the iceberg!! There are lots more on the website if you want to know more before the next newsletter.
Now onto specials
Baby Lock have lots of their feet on special for 20% off.
And so do Bernina !
If you can't find what you are looking for in these links or would prefer to buy in store please contact us, These specials finish at the end of the year.
I will post a separate newsletter with machine specials because there are heaps. If you are looking for a new machine, overlocker, embroidery machine, long arm quilting machine or coverstitch machine please contact us and we can help you.
I'm leaving it there for now as it's almost the weekend. Yippee.
Thanks for all your support
Merry Christmas
Bernadette
I would definitely be interested in the class, ‘quilting with free motion and rules’ to be held at the Lindfield shop sometime in January! Please!