Archive for the ‘Our Community Support’ Category

We Make Mistakes So You Don’t Have To!

Saturday, July 6th, 2013

This cautionary tale comes from our dear Margaret. When she finishes her quilt top, we’ll ask her to send us an updated picture:

There are a few lessons in life that you “get” to learn the hard way in order to never make the same mistake again:

Forgetting to back up your hard drive

Forgetting to put postage on your tax forms

Forgetting your passport at home on a trip to Ireland

I can add one more to the list….

Recently I started the Pathfinder Quilt that was printed in the Winter 2012/2013 International Quilt Festival magazine. This quilt is to be a baby quilt for my first ever nephew and rightfully I was excited to start. I had carefully gathered my chosen fabric and with rotary cutter in hand I delved into the cutting process.

The pattern has two template pieces included in the magazine. I dutifully followed the direction and enlarged them both to 110%. I then cut out eighty (eighty!!) pieces of each template. Whew! One of the pattern pieces is an arc about an inch wide. I sewed the 80 arcs together in groups of four to make 20 circles. WHEW! I then had to sew each of those circles onto precut circles, forming an outline. I had never sewn curves before but figured that if I followed all the directions as I had so far that easing the seams would be a piece of cake! I pinned about six circles ready for sewing and started my machine.

The first circle looked…funny. I thought that maybe I just needed more practice easing my seams. The 2nd and 3rd did not get better. I kept going, though, determined that I would master this. I started to doubt my abilities though. Maybe I was actually a bad seamstress! Maybe I wasn’t as good as I thought I was! My confidence was eroding away with every seam and pleated circle. It was horrible.

After the six I just KNEW something had to be wrong. One quick Google search later provided the answer:

there was a misprint in the magazine and the arc template was printed incorrectly.

The right circle is smaller than the wrong circle….

Insert frustrated scream of rage here.

I was able to download the correct arc template but damage had already been done. I had lost 2 yards of material and about 7 hours of my time. The pain of the loss was horrible.

The good news is that the correct arc template DOES work and two days later (after the appropriate grieving time) I was able to start cutting and sewing again.

The other good news is that I have learned a VALUABLE lesson and one that hopefully you won’t have to learn the hard way.

When doing a pattern for the first time, especially if it is a new pattern from a magazine or a website, I recommend doing the following steps:
1) VET YOUR PATTERN: Before you start cutting or even buying your fabric do a quick internet search on the pattern to see if there are any notes about a misprint or errors. If it’s from a magazine, check the magazine’s website. If it’s a website, check to see if there are any pattern updates. Spending 20 minutes searching can save you hours in loss time.

2) MAKE A SAMPLE BLOCK: You can do this with scrap material so you don’t waste perfectly good fabric or you can do it with fabric you intend to use. Either way, go through the steps to make ONE block. This will let you know right away if there’s any problems with the instructions and it will also let you know if there’s anything “tricky” that you might not have been prepared for.

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The completed squares are now ready to put together. What fun fabrics Margaret chose!

3) NEVER DOUBT YOUR ABILITIES: One of the worst things I did was allow myself to sew six circles before I thought something was wrong with the pattern. I kept thinking that I was the problem, that my lack of skill was what was wrong. If I had stopped after the second circle I would have saved a lot of my time.

The best of luck to all you and I hope you never have to learn this lesson the hard way!

Margaret Bridge

About “Licensed” Fabrics

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

From V.I.P.’s Countryside – Hautman Collection

New Pieces has received a few bolts of fabric over the last few months with this statement (or similar) on the selvedge.  It turns out the debate over control of the design of fabric that goes into your project is again warming up.

Here’s the history:  There has always been an issue regarding the use of commercially licensed fabrics in quilts and other textile-based crafts.  A few years ago there was a frou-frou about Amy Butler designed fabrics and others that were re-worked designs from a vintage collection, or from unknown vintage designers. The link above is to a summary blog post on that issue which includes many useful links about fair use and copyright. (The blog is called “True Up” and the blogger is listed as “Kim” – more information when I have it!)

So here’s the new issue:  We are receiving fabric  — currently from only one or two sources — that isn’t licensed or even very singular in design. Sharona has been asking our distributors for clarification, and I have been doing some research. For us it’s not sufficient that the manufacturers and reps  “think” the statement is not a problem our customers need to worry about. The definition of “individual consumption” is unclear.  It may be that personal use, or a gift given to a family member is not a problem — or that a few items on Etsy.com, or a few dozen for the church craft-fair. My personal belief is that it’s an unenforceable standard just intended as a warning or threat, and that a few years from now the issue will be clear and settled…

In the meantime:  New Pieces has taken the position that we will not currently order fabric with this statement (or similar) because of the confusion surrounding this issue. If fabric so marked arrives in the store we will return it to the manufacturer.  We confess to having a handful of bolts on the shelves already, and we can’t send them back. We trust in the intelligence and discernment of our customers to make informed decisions about what constitutes fair use, and will point out the warning when we see it.

If nothing else, we have the makings of an interesting discussion — We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and admit to the inconvenience it has caused us.

Have you Made a New (School) Year’s Resolution?

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

There’s a new school year right around the corner — Children are sharpening their pencils and laying out outfits and backpacks for return to the local grade schools. High school students are upgrading their high-techery and scuffing their shoes for an optimal first-day cool.  UC Berkeley is filling up, and classes start on Thursday; many of us have college students long gone for the Fall term. It was 78 degrees (F) in Berkeley today — a sure sign that the cool Summer weather is coming to an end, and a hot Bay Autumn is at hand. It’s time to get started, on something!

Becky Keck showing off a Freshly Quilted Work of Art (FQWA)

What’s your plan? Are you ready to do something new (or get back to doing something you used to love before life got so hectic?) Why not make your New Year’s Resolution NOW, at the beginning of the school year — instead of waiting until January when days are short, veggies are scarce and hibernation beckons?

Maybe this is the year you join a quilt guild; you can choose from the likes of  EBHQ , a venerable and powerful local group that meets in Kensington, the last Monday evening of the month (August 29th), or East Bay Modern Quilt Guild, a smaller newer group that meets at New Pieces on the last Tuesday (August 30). Here’s a list of other Quilt Guilds in the area, if you’re from farther out. You could finally take that class you’ve been meaning to at New Pieces. Maybe you can just make a promise to make yourself, and your sewing, a higher priority than it may have been lately.

Now is a perfect time to think about sharing a quilt or your skill with others:

You can make something for a loved one. You can teach a loved one, or an acquaintance, or a a classroom full of children to make something.

You can donate a quilt to either Quilts4Japan or Children’s Quilts/EBHQ . Q4J has collected hundreds of quilts to send to those in need; Children’s Quilts has packets of pre-selected, pre-cut fabrics available (free!) for you to assemble. You can pick one up at New Pieces Quilt Store; you can also drop off donations for either group at the Store, any time we are open.

EBHQ members can show off a quilt at the November meeting (“Show-and-Tell”) or start planning to display one in Voices in Cloth 2012 a sensational biennial quilt show to be held on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.

There are so many other ways you can share your skills and knowledge. We just want to give you a little nudge, and encourage you to get started on what’s next. We’re living in challenging times. Sewing something is a calming, reassuring, affirming way to deal with uncertain times. Quilting is good for us and for everyone.

Happy New Year!

Quilts4Japan Update

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

 

July 28th UPDATE FROM QUILTS FOR JAPAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the months since the horrific earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, Quilts4Japan has inspired acts of (not-at-all) random kindness by several hundred quilters. Check out Quilts4Japan on Flickr for a really lovely collection of pictures of  the quilts, so far.

Many of the quilts come from the Bay Area, but the project is broadening. Using local volunteer resources and an outpouring of support. Eve Kushner and Gail Shea have coordinated collection and shipping of about 400 handmade quilts so far. Distribution is being handled by  Patchwork Tsushin magazine of Japan. The need for comfort and quilts remains unabated. If you have considered donating a quilt to this project, DO! If you haven’t started that quilt yet, DO! If you are unable to make a quilt at this time, but still want to contribute to the project, please contact Gail Shea via quilts4japan.org.

Thank you Gail, Eve, and everyone who has contributed to Quilts4Japan, so far.

QUILTS FOR JAPAN

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

 

This is the message that goes with the quilt you donate to Quilts4Japan.org. The character is “heart”, and there is a message of good will and support. It can’t get much simpler than that.

Please visit Quilts4Japan.org for information on how to help give warmth and hope to survivors of the recent disasters in Japan.

Quilts4Japan is a Berkeley based organization. Gail Shea is coordinating quilt donations, and Eve Kusner is handling transportation  and distribution. If you drop your donation off at New Pieces, we will be sure to take a picture for the Flickr.com group!

Happy Old Year/Happy New Year!

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Welcome to the last week in December, a lull in the action between holidays for many… while still an exciting,  stressful, houseful for some. Even the most joyous holiday can wear out the “we” and leave you with a need for a little “me” time.

At New Pieces we are enjoying this quiet week, and invite you to come see us. What better time to start thinking about a new project for 2011 or to get insight on finishing an old project?  We are here for you this week, even if all you need is a little fabric therapy break from your blessed family holidays. This week we’ll have tea and cookies, so stop in between 10-6:00 pm any day through Thursday  (We are closed New Year’s Eve and Day — back again January 2). Come see us!

New Pieces Staff