Templates

For a while, I thought templates were for weenies. Turns out, TEMPLATES ARE TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!! My totally sweet mama got me hexagon templates for my "grandmothers flower garden." Templates, as I now know, are for smart people who want to save time.

The templates are clear, so hard to see in a photo, but so
 nice when you're cutting the fabric.

The other tool you see here is for marking 1/4 inch in from your corner, whatever the shape. I used the Hex to mark every corner of every bit of fabric. That sounds tedious, BUT I knew exactly where to start and stop my stitching. No tucks or folds. They all came together beautifully on my machine. I think the traditional way to do this design is by hand with paper cutouts. This method saved me loads of time!! Besides my hand-stitching isn't very straight or even.

Have you used templates before? Did you like them?

By Cassie Grace

Thoughts on Grandmother's Flower Garden

If you haven't been in the store lately, there is a new quilt hanging from the rafter's showcasing a "Grandmother's Flower Garden" style. Before I knew it was called that, I just thought of it as honey combs or octagons. My grandmother made one, but as it started to fall apart from years of use, so my sisters put it in a shadow box with sewing notions for my mom to hang above her sewing machine.

This was made by Pat. (Unfortunately I don't  know her last name!) Thank you!

Anyway. I think they are super cool and I happened to snap a picture a while ago of one that was with super modern colors and fabrics. After I saw how it could be styled differently, I decided that I gotta learn how to do this! We had a class scheduled for today, but I think we'll have it again in the next month or two. 

What do you think about taking classic patterns and sewing them with modern fabrics? 

By Cassie Grace

A March Medley of Classes

Hey Ya'll! 

I was sick all last week. Must of been something that's going around, but I'm feeling much, much better and I have to say I'm pretty excited for March. We have a good variety of classes. If you didn't catch the Beginning Sewing or Quilting last month, it's starting up again in March. We've got a class on those fabulous Poof-Pillows and a class on that classic hexagon pattern called "Grandmother's Garden." (Isn't that just a perfect project for spring??!!!) 

Be sure to call or come on in to sign up!

Cassie Grace 

Ps. If you want more info just click on this link: www.valliandkim.com/classes

Pps. We can't wait to see you in class!!!!