Linda and Louise Will Return to Asheville

Kung Hee Fat Choy!

May you have good luck and prosperity in the New Year!

Today, January 26, is an incredibly auspicious day....not only is today the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Ox but there was a New Moon Eclipse this morning, an event that happens only twice a year! We look forward to many exciting new beginnings.....

One of the exciting events this year is that Waechter's Silk Shop will be hosting Linda Lee and Louise Cutting's Sit & Sew Retreat on November 1-4. This is an amazing 3 days of sewing with two fabulous pattern designers and teachers who contribute regularly to Threads and who have collaborated on a new pattern line, SHAPES.

After arrival on Sunday evening, there will be a social gathering to meet your teachers and "classmates" you will be treated to a cocktail party at our shop while viewing the trunk shows from Linda's The Sewing Workshop Pattern Collection and Louise's The Cutting Line Design Pattern Collection.

During the Retreat, you will be working on a pattern(s) of your choice from The Sewing Workshop and/or The Cutting Lines Design with pattern adjustments and fitting help from Linda and Louise as well as fabric consultation. They will be demonstrating easy and time-saving sewing techniques such as fine finishing skills, hemming techniques, mitered corner techniques, proper pinning and pressing skills and sew much more!

Not only is the Retreat a fun learning opportunity, but you will also make new friends who share your passion for sewing beautiful garments. Check the home page on our website for further details and registration information for this fun fall fashion event in Asheville, NC!

Sew long for now,

Joyce

P.S.

This is one of the latest Shapes patterns by Linda Lee and Louise Cutting: Crazy Eight Top, a slightly trapezoidal rectangle folds like origami to create a simple one-piece top. The overlapping back falls in soft folds, the front hangs nice and straight.

It's a New Year!

Well, here we are in the New Year! Everyone is busy scurrying around making room for new fabric that will be arriving in the days ahead. In fact, we have our first box of fabric for 2009 waiting to be opened. We all love opening these packages to see what gorgeous fabrics are inside to set our creative juices flowing…a celebration of fabric!

We have new schedule of classes that will be starting the week of January 12. There is a line-up of classes in heirloom sewing including a studio class where anyone who has taken a class in smocking may come and share their work with other “smockers” as well as receive advice from Betsy Sherman, our expert in heirloom sewing.

We also have fitting classes with Susan Stowell and fashion sewing classes taught by Karen Bennett and Elizabeth Searle. Karen will be offering an adult beginning sewing class on Thursdays and an evening sewing class on Monday evenings. Elizabeth will also be offering technique sewing class and a youth sewing camp for young girls on Saturdays in March. These are only a few of the many classes that you will find on the Calendar of Events on our website – http://www.waechters.com/

Earlier this week, Karen mentored several young girls who wanted to learn how to sew. They brought their mother’s sewing machine, picked out their fabrics and Karen had them ‘stitching up a storm' in no time.

Their first project was a pillow case with three coordinated fabrics. Here are Audrey, Kelleigh and Jenna showing off their colorful pillow cases in beautiful cotton fabrics in pinks and greens.




At the close of the second day, Kelleigh, Audrey and Jenna modeled their skirts. Audrey had made her skirt project for a young friend. She even began sewing a second skirt before the class was over. Note the hot pink pom-pom trim on Kelliegh's and Audrey's skirts. Jenna chose a retro trim in greens, blues and browns to add zing to her brown and green polka dots. I believe these girls have the makings of "fashionistas." Well done. girls!



Saturday, I ran away with my friend, Jan, to a wonderful needlepoint shop in Rockhill, SC....Two's Company Needlepoint. Jane, the owner, has a large, full service store with four finishers. We hit it off from the start as we share the same belief of personal attention to customers' needs and prompt customer service. If you are a person who enjoys needlepoint, yarns and fibers, Rockhill is about 20-30 minutes south of Charlotte, you will find the shop at 352 E. Main Street. Phone# 301/327-2967. website: http://www.twoscompany.com/

Until next time, happy sewing,
Joyce