Time to Give (to yourself by giving to a charity and taking classes and to others with handmade gifts) at Intown Quilters!

     Thanksgiving is over (and the leftovers are gone), which means our attention is shifting to the next big date on the calendar: Giving Tuesday, which is today … and the perfect day to give back to a charity. We would love for our IQ customers to support one of our favorite charities: Chris180, The Southern Poverty Law Center, and Friends of Refugees. Bring or email us proof of your donation to one of these organizations, and we will put points equal to your donation into your IQ account to help you reach your reward coupons that much faster!

     The gift-giving holidays are coming up in December and even if you don't have time to finish something to give your loved ones, you can still give handmade this holiday season! Pick out the pattern and materials you plan to use, wrap as a gift and include a note explaining your intention to make the perfect handmade gift for the recipient. It's a great way to give handmade while also giving yourself a little more time to make the perfect gift!

    We are excited to announce IQ's first visit from an international knitting teacher! Kate Atherley, of Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet fame, will be teaching in the shop during the last weekend of January (1/27-1/29). We are still working out all the details, but we’re planning four or so different two-to-three hour classes on a variety of topics, as well as possibly a lecture opportunity. Save the date and email us if you'd like to be added to our priority notification list when we start class sign ups.

     Thanks to everyone who's already dropped of toys for our annual Toys for Tots drive at IQ. Don't forget we'll give you 5 points on your IQ card for each toy you donate between now and 12/15. The organization has a high need for gifts for older kids: sports balls and equipment, craft kits, art supplies, etc.

     Stop in with your WIP for any of our three sit-and-stitch sessions: tonight from 5-8 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This week, you can also stop by for knitting help after 11 a.m. today, after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and all day Saturday.

     Watching the news this week, I was struck by a segment about "porch pirates" stealing packages delivered while folks are at work. If you are in need of a safe place to have your holiday packages delivered, we are willing to receive them here at IQ and you can pick them up any time we are open. Just send us an email to let us know it's coming.
     Happy stitching,

*Class cancellation policy: You can cancel a class up to two weeks prior to class for a full refund. We will only cancel a class if we have to. If you miss a class we can try to get you in the next class with a fee (fee is determined by the length of the class) to cover the lost spot in that class.

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Quilting/Sewing Classes

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2016 Block Swap
Now through 12/18 $5
Our Quilt Boss, aka Taffy McLaughlin, is at again: She's launched another block swap! If scrappy, fun quilts made with friends are your thing, you won't want to miss out. The 2016 Block Swap features a square-in-a-square block that finishes at 5" (yours will be squared up at 5-1/2"). Read all the details and join the swap fun here. Taffy made a display explaining the process of creating the block for the swap. Stop by, check it out and sign up!

Sit & Stitch
Fridays, 11 am-2 pm
Drop in any time during the posted hours for some quilt piecing by hand fun with friends! (We recommend bringing a snack so you can pop downstairs for a quick bite to stay energized for a full day of stitching.)

Knit Tee
Saturday, 12/3, 11:30 am-12:30 pm $10
Make an easy knit tee using your sewing machine or serger. So quick and easy, you won't believe it! This is a hands-on class with additional preparation required prior to the class. Pattern not included in class fee. Taught by Mary Abreu.

Introduction to Hand Embroidery
Saturday, 12/3, 1:30-4:30 pm $45
Have you been admiring all the patterns available that incorporate embroidery designs into quilting, bags, kitchen accessories, etc? Patterns from designers like Crabapple Hill and This and That are bringing us a new, fresh approach to using embroidery in our quilting and sewing. In this class, we will discuss transfer techniques, fabric choices, and basic embroidery to get you ready to make your own project. Taught by Wanda Earley.

Fabric Pinwheel Ornament
Sunday, 12/4, 2-5 p.m. $35
Turn fabric squares into eye-catching holiday decorations! Fabric folding and a little bit of hand sewing become fabulous pinwheel Christmas ornaments in just three hours. Taught by Gloria Engebretson

Missy Mouse
Saturday, 12/10, 10:30 am-5:30 pm $65
Whip up your own Missy Mouse to bring the holidays home this year -- and every year! This six-hour class includes a lunch break (bring your own sack lunch). Instructor will provide a kit; $25 kit fee payable to the instructor on the day of the class. Taught by Gloria Engebretson.


Crazy Quilt
Sunday, 12/11, 1:30-5:30 pm $45
Do you like the look of crazy quilt blocks but just don’t know how to tackle them? Or maybe you’ve learned the foundation pieced way but would love another options? Wanda will teach you how to make a crazy quilt block using paper piecing. This is a great way to make fun, scrappy blocks. Wanda also will show off some blocks that have embroidery on them so you can get some ideas of how to embroider yours and she may teach two different embroidery classes (one hand work and one machine work) so let us know if you have interest in an embroidery class specifically for crazy quilt blocks. Taught by Wanda Earley.

Perfect Binding by Machine with Flaun Cline
Sunday, 12/11, 1:30-4:30 pm $45
Join Flaun Cline of iPleadQuilty as she teaches you how to machine-sew quilt bindings for a fast, attractive finish! Flaun's binding expertise will help you perfectly attach your quilt bindings with your sewing machine.

Modern Favorites
Sunday, 12/18, 2-5 p.m. $35
We are happy to offer three classes based on our teacher Patty Murphy's new book, Piecing Makeover. Each class will go over a variety of blocks in a specific section of her book. You can come to all classes or just one! The third class in the series is Modern Favorites. In this 3-hour class, Patty will show you how to make some of quilters' favorites like hexagons, triangles, and work with y-seams.

Beginning Quilt Making
Sundays, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5 & 2/19, 1:30-5:30 pm $120
This class fills up quickly so don’t hesitate to sign up! Learn to make a lap size quilt from beginning to end. In this class, the intimidation of quilting will be eliminated. You will be taught many techniques and rules, such as cutting, strip piecing, seam allowance, pin-basting, quilting, binding and more. The class is taught in 4 sessions (4 hours each) and requires homework and a sewing machine. A sense of humor is also helpful. Taught by Lisa Kaupp.

Hand Quilting
Saturday, 1/21, 1:30-4:30 pm $45
Learn to hand-quilt. This class will introduce you to hand-quilting stitches. You will also learn about the different types of frames, batting, needles and threads used in hand quilting. This class does not teach you to piece anything, only to do the quilting stitches that hold the three layers of a quilt together. Taught by Sheila Blair. Limit 6