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The Fabric Merchant
CALL 1.417.622.0012

*BITTERSWEET QUILTS * THE FABRIC MERCHANT * MISS KATE'S QUILT SHOP*

2024 January - March newsletter

DISCLAIMER!  Right up front, our attorneys require us to inform the reader this is a combined newsletter from our family of quilt stores because quite frankly, I'm not creative enough nor do I have enough time to hammer out three newsletters.  Just all the information in one place.. in one email.  You're welcome!  The location indicator BSQ or TFM will be listed beside each class name.

    • SOUPER SALE (I know the Super Bowl is the next weekend)-BSQ & TFM
      February 3, 2024 in-store only       

      •          30% discount on all regular priced cotton yard goods
      •          1/2 yard minimum cut for discount to apply
      •          wide backing NOT included
      •          six self-contained meal soups donated
      •          no other discounts apply
      •          regular store hours of 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Bittersweet Quilts/The Fabric Merchant

      ABSOLUTELY NO EXPIRED FOOD ITEMS.   THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! 

    • All donations to Bittersweet Quilts will be given to Seneca Food Pantry.  All donations to The Fabric Merchant will be given to Watered Gardens.  This is an annual event and really makes a difference to area families!  
        

2024 Friendship Block Swap-BSQ

February 14 (Valentine's Day)  - June 14 (Flag Day)

$15.00  Membership (for mailing/sorting)

$3.50    2024 Friendship Block Swap Roll (32  1.5" Half Square Triangle)

The Quilted Moose in Gretna, NE, Li'l Red Hen in Paola, KS and Bittersweet Quilts have teamed up for this exciting Friendship Block Swap!  Join the fun as quilting enthusiasts come together to exchange 1.5" half square triangles made with 1800's reproduction fabrics for a beautiful tapestry of color.   This will be an amazing collaboration between quilters from at least three states.  The "2024 Friendship Block Swap Membership" fee and "2024 Friendship Block Swap Roll" are also available online so anyone from anywhere can join in the swap.  Once the June 14th deadline arrives, all three stores will get together and mix all the triangles for the swap.  At that time,  each participant will be mailed back as many triangles as submitted.  No need to worry about the quality of fabrics etc as there will be strict rules in place for quality control.  I'm super excited about this and I hope you'll join in.  For more information, visit 2024 Friendship Block Swap .  (I,A)

FAT TUESDAY-BSQ/TFM

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

One day only, single precut fat quarters will be $2.00 in honor of FAT TUESDAY.

PSA. Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday coincide this year so this may not be the year to give up chocolate for Lent.

Bittersweet Retreat-BSQ

April 11-14, 2024 OR April 18-21 OR April 25-28, 2024

$225 (all inclusive)

Registration for the 14th Annual Bittersweet Retreat is now open.  With three weekends to choose from, there is certainly a weekend that will fit your schedule.  Creativity, connection and camaraderie.  Nestled in the beautiful, rolling Ozark Hills, Ozark Camp and Retreat Center allows each retreater to unplug and unwind.  This weekend is perfect for the beginning quilter and the seasoned quilter alike.  The weekends are filling up quickly so please don't put off registering especially if you have several in your party.  For more complete information and registration visit 2024 Spring Retreats (B,I,A)  

WHAT'S NEW?!

So glad you asked.  Bittersweet is expecting at the end of January.  We are expecting our first Innova longarm quilting machine.  Now, both The Fabric Merchant and Bittersweet Quilts will be able to fulfill your quilting needs. 

We now have a Featherweight Shop within Bittersweet Quilts where Featherweight enthusiasts can buy common parts and accessories for their little Featherweight babies.  We will be adding inventory so if there are items you feel we should carry, please let us know.

As we ramp up our calendar of classes for 2024 you can expect to see Wool Applique', Beginner Quilt Piecing, Machine Maintenance, Foundation and English Paper Piecing, T-Shirt Quilts, and sew much more.  More batiks from Hoffman, Coming Up Roses and Flower Girl are some of the fabric collections on order due to come in soon.

Calgary BOM-BSQ

$21/month/6 months

March-August

Calgary is a six month, batik, Block of the Month available in two colorways - beautiful caramels and chocolates and timeless teals.  This BOM is available in store or online with shipping.  The pattern Calgary is $40 and must be purchased separately.  We do this in case the customer already has the pattern or wishes to do both colorways.  The Calgary BOM is also available to be purchased immediately as a kit in its entirety for $167.25 which does include the pattern.  To sign up for the BOM, you must call the store and ask for Robbi, Margaret or Joy. (I,A)

FEATHERWEIGHT CLUB-BSQ

February 1, 2024 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

March 7, 2024 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

$5.00

Facilitator:  Robbi

Beginning Thursday, February 1st and continuing the first Thursday of each month, Bittersweet Quilts will host a Featherweight Club.  The only requirement is that you bring a Featherweight (any color) to sew with or show off. This Club is meant to be a time to meet, collaborate and connect with other Featherweight enthusiasts.  Some months will be a time to sit and sew while other months we may cover Featherweight maintenance or other requested topics of interest.  Bring your own lunch.  (B,I,A)

quilt 'til you wilt-BSQ

February 5, 2024 from 9:30 - 3:30 pm  March 4, 2024 from 9:30 - 3:30 pm

Facilitator:  Robbi

Let's face it, we can all sew at home but getting to sew is sew much more fun.  Plus the guilt of housework isn't staring us right in the face.  quilt 'til you wilt will be an open sew day meeting the first Monday of each month for encouragement and fellowship.  And who knows, maybe we'll finish a project or two along the way.  Bring your own lunch.  (B,I,A)

On a personal note.....

Donna turns 80 years old this Friday, January 26th.  Happy birthday Mom!  She has been the rock steady at Bittersweet Quilts for the last nineteen years.  I have resigned my position as a traveling sales rep to focus fully on Bittersweet Quilts, The Fabric Merchant and Miss Kate's Quilt Shop inside Silver Dollar City.  Hopefully this will mean a quarterly newsletter and a regular schedule of inspiring classes.

Borders, Backing and Binding Class 2024-TFM

Saturday, March 16, 2024

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Instructor:  Rocci

$25.00

Learn the art of attaching borders without puckers and ripples, how to measure and cut quilt backing and how to bind your quilt with accuracy.  An orphan block of your choice will be used to create an adorable hot pad using these techniques taught in the class.   Also, please bring a quilt top to measure for borders.  To sign up online visit Borders, Backing and Binding (I,A)
 

Foundation Paper Piecing Class For Beginners-TFM

Saturday, January 27, 2024

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

$25.00

Instructor:  Rocci

Foundation Paper Piecing can be a love hate relationship but it doesn't have to be.  Paper piecing is a great technique to know for intricate patterns with points like "New York Beauty" or "Mariner's Compass".  Rocci will demystify the process as you learn to make a paper pieced star using the combined instructions from “Ultimate Paper Piecing Reference Guide” By Carolina Moore and “Show Me How To Paper Piece” By Carol Doak.  To sign up, go to Foundation Paper Piecing for Beginners (I,A)

Sewcial Club 2024-TFM

Date: January-December 2024
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $14 (includes catered lunch from Panera)

Sewcial Club is a creative sewing club which meets the third Thursday of each month.  Bring your sewing machine and sew on new or unfinished projects.  Meet new sewists and gain creative quilting and sewing ideas.  Come and be sewcial as you enjoy your craft!  For more details and to sign up follow the link Sewcial Club 2024 (B,I,A)

Yellow Brick Road-A Class for Beginner Quilt Piecing-TFM

Friday, February 16, 2024 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm AND Saturday February 17, 2024 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

$50.00

Instructor:  Rocci

Pick fat quarters and you're well on the road to a fast and fun quilt!  This super simple quilt is rotary cut and strip pieced.  A tried and true pattern, perfect for beginners!  A basic knowledge of sewing is required.  Piecing techniques from rotary cutting to squaring up blocks will be taught.  This is a two day class in order that techniques can be mastered and a finished product made. Bring your own lunch or eat downtown. For specific information click on the link Yellow Brick Road-A Class for Beginner Quilt Piecing (B,I,A) 

Dear Jen Club-TFM

Beginning March 5th and continuing the first Tuesday of every month

9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Facilitator:  Robbi
$5.00

I love all things Jen Kingwell!  I am drawn to every single one of her ridiculous books; Gypsy Wife, Green Tea and Sweet Beans, Dear Jen...  But I have to say, her designs feel overwhelming.  If you love her fabric and books as much as I do, let's get together and make a quilt using the Dear Jen book.  This pattern booklet is a puzzle of beautiful blocks; a signature style of Jen's!  I need the power of peer pressure and collaboration on this one.  There are 72 blocks in total.  This may be a short lived experiment or a long lasting collaboration.  Let's do this!  (I,A)

Building Blocks 2024-TFM

February 3, 2024 (first meeting of 2024)

10:00 am to 11:30 ish

$ 35.00 (Membership fee and includes pattern)

Facilitator:  Rocci/Patty

Building Blocks 2024 is our version of a Saturday Sampler.  We meet on the first Saturday of each month.  For 2024, there are three color options.  Upon paying the membership fee, each participant receives the first month's pattern and block.  Each month thereafter the Building Blocks Kit is free if all rules have been met.  To view a complete listing of the rules and to sign up, see Building Block 2024.  (CB,I,A)

 

Happy quilting!

Robbi

 

B(Beginner), CB(confident beginner), I(Intermediate), A(Advanced)

 


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The Fabric Merchant

120 S. Main St., Joplin, MO  417-622-0012
Monday through Saturday, 9-4
Parking is in the back.  Look for our quilt block above the back door.
Don't park in front, unless you don't mind having car towed or worse yet...hit. 
It's a traffic lane.







Information

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Parking

There is parking in the back of our building and can be entered from 1st or 2nd street alleys. Look for the deck with white french doors and the quilt square above the doorway. There is limited parking on 2nd Street.  There is no parking directly in front of the store. Thank you, we are worth the parking effort.

Contact Us

Phone: 1.417-622-0012
Email: thefabricmerchant@yahoo.com
Address: 120 S. Main St.
Joplin, MO  64801
Open: Mon-Sat, 9:00-4:00

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