A Common Thread Summer 2012 Newsletter by Jan Raith

portland, oregon 97224

a common thread

15230 SW Sequoia Parkway, Ste. 100

a common thread

Summer2012 HANDI QUILTER MIELE

JANOME

BERNINA

Classes & Events www.acommonthreadsewing.com

{503} 624-7440 {800} 915-6789

www.acommonthreadsewing.com

come see us! Monday thru Thursday | 10am - 6pm Friday & Saturday | 10am - 5pm Sunday | noon - 4pm

april 28 & 29 | open house | fri & sat

101 Guide Class #1: Getting Started With Your New Machine

a common thread

102 Guide Class #2: Understanding Sewing Machine Memory Functions and Fonts

691 nature's beauty in appliquĂŠ

103 Guide Class #3: BERNINA Stitch Regulator

When you purchase a sewing machine or serger from A Common Thread, we provide you a series of New Owner Classes designed to provide you with the knowledge to get the most use and enjoyment from your new machine. We encourage you to take these classes within the first six months after purchasing your machine. Can you take the classes again? Yes, if you find that you need a refresher we will be glad to have you come back to class.

If you have purchased a machine from another dealer within a 100-mile radius and would like to take our classes we do offer an adoption program that will include classes and warranty for your machine. Please ask us about our adoption program.

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104 Guide Class #4: BERNINA Artista & 8-Series Functions Monday June 4 | 6:15-8:15 pm Monday July 16 | 6:15-8:15 pm

106 Guide Class #6: BERNINA Artista & 8 Series Embroidery Monday June 11 | 6:15-8:15 pm Monday June 23 | 6:15-8:15 pm

Serger Guide Classes: 131 Sunday June 10 | 10:00am-1:00pm 132 Sunday June 24 | 10:00am-1:00pm 133 Sunday July 1 | 10:00am-1:00pm

1010 Handi Quilter rental training

new owner classes

Monday May 21 | 6:15-8:15 pm Monday June 4 | 2:00-4:00 pm Monday July 9 | 6:15-8:15 pm Sunday July 29 | 10:00 am-Noon

Our Handi Quilter is available to rent once you have completed our Handi Quilter training class. Linda Humfeld will cover the basics of preparing your quilt, loading it on the Handi Quilter and machine operation. We limit classes to 4 students.

Wednesday May 16 | 6:15-9:15 pm Wednesday June 13 | 6:15-9:15 pm Wednesday July 18 | 6:15-9:15 pm Cost | $45

957 Brazilian Embroidery Skill-Building Groups

Work on your own choice of projects. No pre-registration, the fee of $5 is payable to the instructor. Choose from the following dates and times: Monthly First & Third Mondays | 10am – Noon 2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 6:30-8:30 pm Second Saturday | 11:00am-1:00 pm

947 Beginning Brazilian Embroidery: Brazilian Embroidery uses beautiful

unique threads and stitches to give your project texture and dimension. This class is a perquisite for joining other classes or groups.

Project: Simply Irresistible Sundays | 1pm – 4:00pm May 20 May 27 June 3

Project: Pin Cushion Sundays 1pm – 4:00pm July 15 July 22 July 29 Cost | $45 plus kit fee

944 Brazilian Embroidery Beyond Basics: Project: Hearts Moving beyond the basics this intermediate design will feature additional stitches and techniques. Monday May 14 | 1pm – 4:00pm

hand embroidery

brazilian embroidery

hand work

858 Beginning Hand Embroidery with Bonnie Fletcher Learn the basics of decorative hand embroidery, an art form by itself or a

wonderful addition to any sewing project. Learn the basic stitches you’ll need to get your first project started. Wednesday June 20 | 10am-Noon Wednesday July 18 | 6:00-9:00pm Cost | $30

860 Hand Embroidery Skill-Building Groups with Bonnie Fletcher

Work on your own choice of projects. No pre-registration, the fee of $5 is payable to the instructor. Choose from the following dates and times: Monthly First & Third Mondays | 10am-Noon 2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 6:30-8:30 pm Second Saturday | 11:00am-1:00 pm

Cost | $45 plus kit fee

951 Brazilian Embroidery Mastery Class Project: Reverie

Cost | $30 plus kit fee

reverie

Learn shading, padding, cast-ons and two buttonhole techniques for this beautiful advanced design. Sunday August 5 | 1pm – 4:00pm Sunday August 12 | 1pm – 4:00pm

monthly programs 203 Rhapsody Block of the Month with Lois Keck & Katherine Schrader

While this quilt looks intricate, Katherine and Lois make it easier and fun. Learn new techniques and share your blocks each month. Enjoy watching each quilt develop as each student creates their vision of the same quilt. Fridays | 6:30-7:30pm June 15 | July 20 | August 17 Saturdays | 9:00-10:00am May 19 | June 16 | July 21 | August 18 Cost | Registration plus $5 first session-following sessions are free with complete blocks

436 Lone Robin Mystery Block of the Month with Helene Knott Join Helene Knott master quilter and

424 Hearts Block of the Month with Deb Cacciamani

Sarah Vedler has created this stunning appliqué quilt that is embellished with intricate textural detail, done the easy way, with machine embroidery. Deb is here to help you improve your machine appliqué and software skills while creating this beautiful quilt. Join Deb for the last two months of this series that meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Tuesday May 15 | 6:00-9:00pm Tuesday June 19 | 6:00-9:00pm

Cost | $35 per session

831 Judy Niemeyer Glacier Star Technique of the Month Quilt with Cathie Boucher-Sollman

Our class continues, each of us creating a gorgeous, individually unique quilt, all with Cathie’s help. Each month is a new technique & pattern. Join us in September for our Glacier Star Quilt Show. Tuesday May 3 | 6:00-9:00pm Tuesday June 7 | 6:00-9:00pm Cost | $35 per session, includes patterns and Quiltworx Club admission for that month.

837 Judy Niemeyer's Quiltworx Club with Cathie Boucher-Sollman

490 Journal Quilts Club with Helene Knott

Each month Helene will help you create personal, page sized Journal Quilts. Helene will be your mentor as you explore your creative side & learn a multitude of artistic sewing techniques. Confident beginners may join this informal series at any time. Tuesdays | 6:00-9:00pm May 1 | June 5 | July 10 | August 7 Cost | $30 per session

258 Dinner and a Movie

891 Strip Poker for Fun & Fabric

Let Julie deal you in for a night of fun and with a bit of luck you‘ll be taking home the winnings, fabric for your next quilt. Don’t feel like a winner? The way we play, you can never lose more than 8 strips. Admission is a total of 32 pieces of at least 16 different fabrics cut into 2 1/2” x 20-22” strips in the color theme of the month. The rules: only bring fabric you’d be happy to go home with, cut pieces precisely and keep your clothes on. Are you in?

Scrappy Quilt

Saturday May 19 | 5:00-7:00pm

Batiks

Saturday July 21 | 5:00-7:00pm

social sewing

Cost | FREE We provide the staff and the space and you provide the project! While not a class, our stitching social is an event where you can join friends or make new ones. Bring your project and our staff member is there for help as needed.

Please make a reservation, as seating is limited.

200 Wednesday Open Sew

Wednesdays | 2:00-6:00pm Cost | $10 per session

Our Kid’s classes are offered through the Lake Oswego Community Schools. They are open to students from any district. Our classes are designed for students age 8 and up. We are committed to sharing our sewing experience and our classes are a fun and creative learning experience for your child. Kid’s zone only please! We find the kid’s explore their creativity more without their parent’s help.

For information & registration please visit

www.losdcommunityschool.com Kids Learn to Sew: Pillowcase

Kids 8 & older will learn sewing basics as they create their very own pillowcase. All materials are included in the class. Please bring a bag lunch. Friday June 22 | 10:00am -2:30 pm

Kids Learn to Sew: Apron

Kids ages 8 & older will learn to sew an apron, with a gathered skirt & comfy tie waist. All materials are included in the class. Please bring a bag lunch. Friday June 29 | 10:00am -2:30 pm

205 Night Owl Stitching with Katherine Schrader

Kids Learn to Sew: A Zipper Pouch

Early Bird Club!

Kids Learn to Sew: A Modern Lap Quilt

Saturdays | 5:00pm-The Movie is Over August 4 | August 18 Cost | $35 per session

kid's camps and classes

just for fun

Summer (when it arrives) is beautiful in the Northwest. And to make the most of our beautiful patio, we are having dinner and a movie nights this summer. Join us for a barbecue & outdoor movie. Arrive early at 5:00 and sew until dinner, then sew some more until dark when we will have an outdoor movie on the patio. Seating is limited so please reserve early.

Kids age 8 & older will love this zippered bag. Made with two fabrics fused together & adding a colorful zipper, they can make more for gifts of all sizes. All materials included for the project. Please bring a bag lunch Friday July 20 | 10:00am -2:30 pm Kids age 8 and older will make a striped lap quilt with solids and prints. We do the cutting; the students get to focus on their design skills & sewing. All materials included for the project. Please bring a bag lunch. Wed, Thurs, Fri | 10:00am -2:30 pm August 1 | August 2 | August 3

245 Embroidery Software For Beginners

embroidery & software classes 209 Software Sampler with Julie Glenn

Learn new software techniques & fun projects from Amanda Whitlatch, BERNINA educator, each month in this exclusive Bernina webinar series. You will receive a CD with the video as well as instructions for the project. Return next month with your created project and receive a $10 credit towards a future purchase.

If you are new to machine embroidery & the world of embroidery software, come learn about the options available and receive a complimentary copy of BERNINA's ArtLink software program. This class will explore how to create your own thread inventory, manage embroidery files, download files from the internet and move files from your computer to your embroidery machine. Thursday Aug 9 | 10:30am – 11:30am Cost | $15 (Includes CD with ArtLink)

221 Machine Embroidery 101 for Beginners with Katherine Schrader

This class if for beginning machine embroiderers with all brands of machines. Katherine will cover the basics, needles, threads, stabilizers, as well as some problem prevention. No need to bring your machine, just bring your hoop.

208 embroidery tech workshop

Saturday May 12 | 5:15 - 7:15pm Cost | $30 each

This workshop series is designed for Bernina software owners of all skill levels. Join Jan Raith for an in-depth exploration of Bernina Embroidery Software and the Cutwork Software.

V6 Bernina Embroidery Software: Frills & Fills Thursday May 10 | 10:30am – 12:30pm 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Cutwork Tool: Three Dimensional Cutwork Flowers & Box Thursday June 14 | 10:30am – 12:30pm 6:30pm – 8:30pm Cost | $25

246 Tuscan Gardens Embroidery Project

Design a Tuscan Masterpiece combining embroidery designs from the Tuscan Gardens Embroidery collection. Artfully arrange smaller motifs using automatic tools from the BERNINA Embroidery Software into block-size beauties resembling tiles and porcelain plates. This workshop series will emphasize the digitizing of blocks and designing layout options using BERNINA Embroidery Software (V5.0 or V6.0). Sundays | 4:30 - 6:30pm May 6 | June 3 | July 8 | August 5 Cost | $25 per session

open studio with local national teachers

Machine Embroidery comes to life in this exclusive BERNINA webinar series. Watch and listen to BERNINA educator and embroidery expert, Kay Hickman, via webinar as she creates embroidery projects and shares her tips and techniques. You will receive a CD with a featured design and notes from the webinar. Return next month with your created project and receive a $10 credit towards a future purchase.

From Head to Toe: Learn techniques for embroidering caps and slippers Thursday May 17 | 10:30am – 12:00pm 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Under Wraps: Make a cover for a notebook (or an e-reader) featuring unique flap closures and special embroidery techniques to personalize your project. Thursday June 21 | 10:30am – 12:00pm 6:30pm – 8:00pm

If You Can't Stand the Heat, Make a Potholder: Functional, fun and decorative – these potholders are sure to spruce up your kitchen and make great gifts! Thursday Aug 16 | 10:30am – 12:00pm 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Note: No class in July Cost | $15 each (includes $5 CD)

victoria jones

all about me

452 Dragon Bones

If you're looking for a quilt for that favorite man in your life, this one has a lot of masculine appeal. Pull your favorite fabrics & add some contrast for the narrow strips and you've got a fun quilt for a new grad, groom, or dad! This technique of stacking and cutting can be as addictive as chocolate because each block will be a surprise. Thursday May 31 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Cost | $60

459 Pick A Project- Skinny Quilts and Table runners

Choose from four different but similar projects (Happy Jacks; Lollipop Garden; Flower Pops; Feeling Groovy) that will make a great bed runner, table topper, wall hanging, or enlarged into a full size quilt. Use fusible appliqué techniques to make this a quick and fun project. Thursday July 27 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Cost | $60

425 Arc-I-Tecture Table Runner

This dazzling project from the cover of Skinny Quilts & Table runners is much easier than it looks. As one of Victoria’s most requested classes, she shares easy tricks for the method used to create texture and dimension. This technique would be easily adaptable to quilts, clothing & other home decor projects. Thursday June 28 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Cost | $60

691 Natures Beauty in Appliqué

Tulip Place Mats (or pick your project from the book), a great update for your summer table. The project includes appliqué using an easy freezer paper method OR you could choose to do the appliqué with fusible web. This project would also make a great shower or wedding gift & don't forget about that new grad too! Saturday August 11 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Cost | $60

helene knott

Quilters Studio Machine Quilting Series Join Master Quilter Helene as she shares her secrets for Machine Quilting. Helene has created a series of classes to teach you her techniques for successful machine quilting Each class offers an in depth session of techniques she uses to create such beautiful quilts. Cost | $30 each class (additional work book fees payable to instructor in class.)

404 Machine Quilting Essentials

This class covers the basics of threads, needles, feet and stitches. Master straight line and stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on a simple quilt sampler you make prior to class. Sunday June 3 | 12:30-3:30pm

407 Drawn Line Patterns

478 Zen Quilting with Helene Knott

Zentangles’ are the hottest new trend in designing in a meditative approach to doodling, taking a basic simple form or shape & expanding on it to make creative designs. Zen Quilting is an improvisational method of stitching much like doodling with your sewing machine. This is not a class for raw beginners; students are expected to already have some basic beginning machine quilting skills. We will start by Zen Doodling on paper then transfer your design ideas to fabric, quilting your doodle designs on small layered squares. The process is fun and easier than in seems, you don’t need to have precise drawing skills, just have fun with pencil and thread. Sunday August 12 | Noon-4:00pm Cost | $45

This class focuses on quilting on drawn lines. Helene will cover effective ways to transfer the designs to your quilt, useful for both easy and complex designs. Sunday June 10 | 12:30-3:30pm

451 Freezer Paper Templates

Freezer paper makes seemingly complex designs a snap to apply your quilts. Best of all they take the math out of border designs. Helene’s class workbook includes designs for class and future use. Sunday June 24 | 12:30-3:30pm

452 Needle-Dancing

Explore the joy of dancing with your needle as you free motion quilt. Learn the stress free techniques for free motion quilting & template-free designs. Helene’s workbook includes designs for class and future use. Sunday July 15 | 12:30-3:30pm

453 Quilting Designs

The world is full of designs and texture that can be adapted for quilting. In this resource building class you’ll begin to assemble a library of designs that can take you beyond the ordinary and truly make a design your own. Design workbook fee to instructor. Sunday July 29 | 12:30-3:30pm

493 Machine Quilting Landscape Quilts

Learn to quilt your landscape or pictorial quilt top with confidence! Enhance your scene by creating textures and details with free motion quilting. Familiarity with using free motion quilting is a must! Saturday June 9 | 10:00am-4:00pm Cost | $60

418 Color Theory

Color confidence will change your quilting projects from ‘fine’ to ‘fabulous’! Helene will teach you basic properties of color and how to select color palettes as you create each reference workbook. She helps you study how color interacts from the artistic, scientific and psychological perspectives. The required Fabric Color Kit $30 is available at the store. $5 Workbook is required payable to instructor.

Tuesday May 15| 10:00am-5:00pm Cost | $50

sewing classes 445 Learn To Sew 1 with Katherine Schrader

479 Confetti Landscape

This class explores creating textural trees and foliage for landscapes with a ‘confetti’ technique from shredded fabrics. Not only does it make lovely trees for landscapes but for those who collect scraps it also makes use of fabrics that might otherwise be thrown away. You will start with a simple fused landscape background on which you will create confetti trees. Skill level: Confident Beginner Saturday June 30 | 10:00am-4:00pm Cost | $50

460 Hand Stitched Mini Molas

Molas are colorful reverse appliqué panels featuring folk art motifs that are made by the natives of San Blas Islands off the coast of Guatemala. In this class you will learn the basic reverse hand appliqué technique while making a small sample that you can use as a focal point for a larger quilt, a pillow, a bag or on a jacket or vest. There will be a variety of motifs based on Native American Art to choose from. Skill level: Confident Beginner and up. Saturday July 28 | 10:00am-4:00pm Cost | $60

541 Hand Appliqué

Helene teaches the needle turn appliqué method, as she finds it yields the smoothest curves and creates fine detail. In this class she will help you master the four elements for successful hand appliqué- convex curves, concave curves, points and valleys. You will stitch a reference sample. Sunday July 22| Noon-4:00pm Cost | $35

If you have never sewn before, or want a refresher of your sewing skills, we have the perfect class for you. Complete a project in each class as you learn new skills. Bring your own machine or borrow one of our classroom machines. Kit fee is $35. Mondays | 11:00am-1:00pm June 11 | June 18 | June 25 OR July 9 | July 16 | July 23 Cost | $45

689 Learn to Sew 2 with Katherine Schrader Continue on with more sewing skills, in this class you will make a pair of pajama pants or shorts. Bring your own machine or borrow one of our classroom machines. Kit fee $25. Mondays | 11:00am-1:00pm July 30 | August 6 | August 13 Cost | $45

301 Serger Project Party with Barb Thomas

Join Barb for a fun techniques class serging a pair of pajama pants, a skirt or a pair of shorts. Learn how to serge in elastic, & do a blind hem. This is a great class to revive your enthusiasm for your serger. Sunday July 29 | 4:30-7:30pm Cost | $30

585 Machine Maintenance with Barb Thomas Join Barb as she reviews how your sewing machine works and how to keep it performing at its best. Barb will also cover what to do with the most common problems that we see, as well as when to take it in for repair. This is a hands-on class, so bring your machine! Sunday May 20 | 4:30-6:30pm Cost | $25 Learn to Sew Classes also offered through Portland Community College. Go to: www.pcc.edu and look for our classes.

427 Mod Quad Quilt with Katherine Schrader

There is nothing square about this striking quilt! Black & White enhances your favorite color choice. You’ll learn easy block construction in the first session, and then pull it all together with Katherine’s own easy & dramatic border variation in the second session. Saturdays | 5:15-8:15pm June 2 | June 9 Cost | $45

458 Hawaiian Quilts the Easy Way with Julie Glenn

Traditional Hawaiian quilting is beautiful, but time consuming as it is created by hand. In our busy lives it is sometimes more fun to streamline a process and still get a beautiful result. Julie takes traditional Hawaiian designs and turns them into fusible appliqué, completed by machine. She shares her tips for perfect placement and stitching. Your pieces are cut by us before class so you will spend class time completing your project. Choose from Hula Flower, Palm Beach or Dancing Dolphins. Kit fee for appliqué is $15.99. You will need to purchase background fabric. Saturday June 23 | 1:00-4:00pm Cost | $35

405 Accidental Landscapes with Katherine Schrader

This simple landscape quilt is a fun way to get beyond a pattern & enjoy the freedom of cutting & piecing as you create your design. Where is your dream destination, the beach, mountains or rolling fields? Let Katherine help you create it.

Saturday July 14 | 1:00-5:00pm Cost | $40

billy whipple

quilting classes

677 Raw Edge Appliqué

This fast fun class will teach you the technique for raw edge appliqué. We will be providing kits with all you need to make a small project. You will learn to use the Accucut to cut your project out, fuse it to the background & sew it down.

Bring your own machine or use one of ours.

Thursday May 24 | 6:30-9:00pm Cost | $50 (includes kit cost)

676 Pineapple Express Table Runner

We loved this fresh, bright table runner so much we had to offer a class! Perfect for summer. The first week you will cut it out & make your pineapples and the second week do your raw edge appliqué. Saturday | 2:00-5:00pm May 5 | May 12 Cost | $40

401 Learn to Quilt 1

402 Learn to Quilt 2: Sashing, Borders and Binding

687 Tossed Taco Salad

Join Billie as she helps you use up all those fat quarters you have in your stash. This fast easy quilt can reflect your own creative style as you cut up your fat quarters then create a design just to your liking. Fridays | 6:00-9:00pm August 10 | August 24 Cost | $40

• Please arrive on time. • Check your class supply list well before class and assemble the materials required for your success. • Turn off your cell phone. If you must take a call please step outside. • Please no children in adult classes and no adults in the kid’s classes. • Please don’t talk while your instructor is teaching! • Many people are allergic to fragrance: please don’t wear perfume to class. • Please leave your work area clean, so the next student can enjoy class! • We make a commitment to our teachers and ask your commitment in return. Teachers spend a lot of time preparing for your classes; therefore we are unable to cancel and credit classes with less than one week notice for any reason.

dates to remember

• If you must cancel a class, allow one week notice for full store credit. If we cancel your class fee will be refunded.

community sewing groups

class policies

At a common thread, we are dedicated to supporting our local creative community. We host meetings for several local groups.

American Sewing Guild www.asg.org 3rd Sunday of each month | 2:00pm

Columbia Fiber Arts Guild Board www.columbiafiberartsguild.org 2nd Tuesday of each month | 10:00am

Machine Embroidery of Oregon & Washington www.sewmeow.org 2nd Tuesday of each month | 1:30pm

Project Linus www.projectlinus.org 3rd Thursday of each month | 1:00pm

blue bird bucks Blue Bird Bucks are available from Tuesday April 24 through Monday April 30, 2012. Purchase up to $300 in Blue Bird Bucks and save on everything in the store!

$100 Blue Bird Bucks cost $80 $50 Blue Bird Bucks cost $45

upcoming events at a common thread

Go back to School with us in September as we join

Superior University (Academia Supernus in Latin) School of Threadology. Earn your degree one project at a time. We supply the featured product. You complete the project. Each class teaches new techniques and skills and is suitable for all levels.

Hand Embroidery Blocks of the Month Beginning in September Bonnie & Polly will offer a block of the month program for Brazilian Embroidery. Each month complete a different heart to learn new stitches & techniques. Also starting in September Bonnie will be offering a hand embroidery block of the month, Snow Days From Crab Apple Hill. Currently Bonnie and Laura are working on their quilts, and we have several customers who have already completed theirs. Watch as we unveil all the different examples of this fun quilt.

heart block of the month

What color will you choose?

& events you won't want to miss! april 28 & 29 | open house | fri & sat

Frequency | Once a month for 60-90 minutes Materials | $35.00 per student/one time fee Includes the following: • Lab Book (3-ring binder with page protectors) • Superior’s new 96-page color booklet, What Makes Us Superior, which includes numerous Reference Guides • Superior Topstitch Needles

(assortment pack of five needles and includes four different needle sizes)

• One spool of Bottom Line thread which will be used on many monthly projects • Lab sheet for recording info when using each thread • Soft and Stable (18" x 58") to be used in numerous projects throughout the year. • The first month’s project Tuition | $25 per month. Includes the monthly project, featured thread and/or products for that month’s project, pattern, and instructions. And of course one of our great staff members to teach you how to do your project.Your Supply List- fabric for the project (we know you have plenty) & basic sewing supplies, sewing machine (or use one of ours).

Below are several examples of what you will create during your studies: Clutch Purse using Kimono Silk Decorative Pillow using Texture Magic Coaster using Razzle Dazzle Greeting card using Rainbows Pincushion using King Tut Craft Apron using So Fine #30 Water Bottle Cozy using Charlotte’s Fusible Web, Metallic, and So Fine #50 Thread Fabric using numerous threads and Dissolve-4X

Fall Open House | September 8-9 NW Quilting Expo | September 20-22 Sew Oregon Shop Hop | October 5- 21

(seating is limited to 20 students).

Preregistration is required one month in advance; we have to order your project. Sick, on vacation or just cutting class, we will save your homework for you.

At the end of the year graduate with an Associates Comprehensive Thread degree (ACT)