Enjoy Summer Camp at Mary Jo's

Experience something different this summer, and learn how to master a new skill at summer camp at Mary Jo's Cloth Store!

Mary Jo’s Quilting Summer Camp

Who: Kids 9 and up

When: Monday – Thursday, June 23 – 26 & July 21 – 24

Camp includes fabric kit and thread

*In this camp kids will learn all key steps while making their first quilt. Camp includes fabric kit, with thread, and a BL9 Bbay Lock sewing machine.

Pricing: $230 with take home machine and fabric/thread kit

Mary Jo’s Sewing Summer Camp

Who: Kids 9 and up

When: Monday – Thursday, June 16 – 19 & July 14 – 17

Camp includes fabric kit and thread

*In this camp kids will learn all key steps while making fun projects. Camp includes fabric kit, with thread, and a BL9 Bbay Lock sewing machine.

Pricing: $230 with take home machine and fabric/thread kit

Using Your Serger to Sew Stretchy Fabrics

The overlock machine, or serger has certainly improved garment construction with its speed and professional finishing ability; but many sewers are in a quandary about how and when to use different serging techniques and stitches.

For best results with stretch fabrics, serge the seams and attach ribbing using a 4-thread mock safety stitch. The extra row of stitching adds the strength that a stretchy seam requires. The 4-thread safety stitch works particularly well with two-way stretch fabrics, such as spandex, and is the perfect seam for bathing suits and leotards.

Control the stretch of knit, loosely woven and bias-cut fabric by reinforcing seams with twill tape, Stay-Tape (a fine sheer tricot), clear plastic, or a serger-tail-chain.

Feed the Stay-Tape through the slot of a standard presser foot on your serger (if it has a slot through which to feed the tape – as do the Baby Lock sergers) while serging the seam.

In this short video you will see Pam Carter, Sewing Center Director at Mary Jo's Cloth Store demonstrate how to serge a seam in knit fabrics with Stay-Tape.

http://youtu.be/beFi7ZXUsX4

For more serger tips and techniques, join us on April 11-12, 2014 for our Serger Event featuring Baby Lock expert Joan Friedrich. To learn more and to reserve your seat, call 704-861-9100. 

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Quilting Classes at Mary Jo’s

Our store has been a flurry of activity with customers buying fabric and supplies to make Christmas gifts and buying gifts for a special sewing someone on their list. 

Our sewing lounge has been humming like Santa’s workshop with students cutting, sewing, laughing and creating beautiful things! 

We thought you would enjoy a peek inside at one of our recent classes, where quilters gathered together to work on this cheerful Christmas tree quilt design.

Class instructor Aimee Griffin has years of experience as a quilter and teacher.  Students love Aimee’s fun personality, enthusiasm and extensive sewing knowledge.  Here Aimee is helping a student with the layout of her quilt pieces.

In our quilting classes you will learn techniques for selecting fabric colors and patterns, how to cut and use your fabric efficiently, sewing methods and the tools and supplies used by quilters to make quilting easier.

One of the exciting parts of attending a class is that you get to be with others who share your love of sewing and quilting.  

It’s fun to chat about your finished (and unfinished!) projects, ooh-and-ahh over fabrics and make new friends. You will be inspired by each other’s creativity!

Would you like to learn to quilt?  We have the perfect class to help you get started!   In addition to quilting, Mary Jo’s also has classes that will teach you how to make clothing, crafts, tote bags, curtains, pillows and more.   Be sure to check the class schedule often, as new classes are added every month or call 704-861-9100 to sign-up today. Click [here] to view the latest class schedule. 

Countdown to Christmas: Faux Fur Throw

We continue our countdown to Christmas with a great gift idea that you can make for your family and friends. Faux fur throws are a hot trend in home décor because they add a texture and romance to any room. 

You will see them them thrown over the back of a sofa, draped over a leather chair or at the foot of a bed. Faux fur throws are the perfect, cozy little blanket for watching television, reading a book or taking a nap. 

To make your own faux fur throw, begin by selecting your favorite faux fur for the front.  There is a tremendous selection at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store, from solid colors to realistic animal prints.  Keep in mind that faux fur with a short pile will be easier to sew, especially if you are inexperienced with sewing faux fur.  

We selected a faux chinchilla that is silky, soft and oh-so irresistible! For the lining we chose a red satin from the Mary Jo’s bridal department. Red is perfect for Christmas, but any color would be lovely.  

If you don’t want to make a color-statement, choose a warm brown or black lining.

Step 1:

Cut a square for the front and back.  We cut this throw 54 inches x 54 inches, which used exactly 1½ yards of the fur and satin material.  Serge the edges of the fur, and the satin if needed.  Mark the center of each side.  Place the fur and satin face-to-face, line up the corners and center marks and pin together.   Then secure in-between the pins, keeping the fur stretched taut between the pins while pinning together.

Step 2: 

Sew around the edges using a ½-inch seam allowance.  (Test stitching on a remnant of fur and satin to determine the best settings for your machine).  Leave a small opening along one side for turning.

Clip corners and turn right sides out.  Hand stitch the opening closed with matching thread. Your fur throw is finished!  

You will want to keep this gift for yourself, or make two, one for you and one for a friend, even your furry friends will love this cozy throw.

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Sewing Classes at Mary Jo’s

This week we are featuring holiday sewing projects and kits from our classes; a soft Santa chenille fabric panel and “Feather Fancy”, a quilted, applique wall hanging.

Santa Chenille Panel

In this class students learned how to make chenille by sewing and cutting layers of fabric.  Before sewing, multiple layers of fabric are basted together. 

Then the panel is sewn with rows and rows of parallel seams and the top layers are carefully sliced between the stitching. 

The secret is to sew on the bias or diagonal of the fabric grain. 

This allows the cut fabric edges to slightly fray and soften without completely unraveling.  

As you can see this Santa is very warm and fuzzy!  The same technique can be used to make throws and baby blankets.

Feather Fancy Quilted Wall Hanging

This beautiful Christmas wall hanging is made with a technique called raw-edge appliqué, where the pieces are cut and applied to the base fabric with an iron-on fusible. 

This saves time and is so much more accurate than trying to pin all those small pieces in place.

Imagine how long it takes to cut all those little shaped pieces!  Students were lucky to have a faster process, a wonderful tool called the AccuQuilt® Go! fabric cutter.  If you have a quilter in the family, this is probably at the top of their Christmas wish-list! 

If you would like to make the Feather Fancy wall hanging, the kit is available at Mary Jo’s and includes a full size layout diagram, illustrated instructions, and sewing tips.

Bring a friend and join us for a class this December!  You can learn how to make Christmas projects, gifts and so much more.  

Be sure to check the Mary Jo’s class schedule online or call 704-861-9100 to sign-up today.

Mary Jo's Biggest Fabric Sale of the Year is Coming

You will not want to miss out on Mary Jo's Cloth Store largest sale of the year, Black Friday! For two days only, Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, enjoy immense savings on Baby Lock Sewing Machines, fabrics, notions and more. Doors open at 9 a.m. and free shipping is available to all online customers. 

Join Mary Jo's newsletter for exclusive prices on all featured Baby Lock Sewing Machines. Register Here.

Calling All Embroidery Fans

Mary Jo’s second specialized club launches this month

The holidays are slowly starting to creep up, which means there is no better time to get a jump start on making sure all your home décor and gifts are ready to go! 

Mary Jo’s Cloth Store is again partnering with BabyLock Sewing Machines to launch a specialized Embroidery Club. 

Each month, join Pam Carter as she demos new and exciting Embroidery projects. Much like the Serger Club, the Mary Jo’s Embroidery Club creates the unique opportunity for embroidery fans to the learn the latest news, features and accessories of their machines while enjoying hands on experience from the professionals.

The inaugural club meeting is Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., at Mary Jo’s.

Members will learn how to create the perfect home décor with a burlap pillow tutorial featuring framing patterns and an array of handy fonts. A small monthly fee is required. To register for the Mary Jo’s Embroidery Club, please email Aimeeg@maryjos.com.

Calling All Serger Fans

An exciting new club launches at Mary Jo’s

Mary Jo’s is partnering with Baby Lock Sewing Machines to launch the area’s first local Serger Club. Each month, learn the latest features, news and accessories for your Serger machine and enjoy hands on experience with the professionals. Join Pam Carter as she demonstrates a new Serger project every club meeting.

Why sign up for the club? It creates the unique opportunity for Serger lovers from all over the state to ask questions and study from industry leaders in an intimate setting. No matter the brand of the machine, the Mary Jo’s Serger Club will help everyone dust off their closet-machines with exciting new techniques and ideas.  

The inaugural club meeting is Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., at Mary Jo’s. 

Members will learn how to spice up home décor with Serger pin tuck and Serger wave tuck tutorials. A small monthly fee is required. To register for the Mary Jo’s Serger Club, please email Aimeeg@maryjos.com.

Halloween Goodies From our Friends at Baby Lock

Time to Bring the Sewing Machines out of Storage

Sewing makes a comeback among a younger generation

For generations the art of sewing has been handed down from family member to family member. Over the past several decades, the time honored tradition of a mother passing her sewing machine to her daughter has almost disappeared entirely. This skill, which was common among most grandmothers, suffered a decline during the later part of the 20^th century.

Things are changing. Aimee Griffin, Mary Jo’s Cloth Store’s Sewing Director, said the store’s traditional older clientele are now being joined by clients in their teens, 20s and 30s.

Makinzy and Andrea.

During Mary Jo’s inaugural holiday event earlier this month, 9-year-old Makinzy accompanied by her grandmother Jeanette, saved her money to buy her first sewing machine. 

Excited about making her purchase, Makinzy saved $100, just enough for the BL9 Baby Lock machine. The entire team at Mary Jo’s was so taken with this little girl’s enthusiasm for sewing that they presented her with a $500 machine instead.

‘The look on her face was priceless,’ said Andrea, the Mary Jo’s team member who sold Makinzy her machine. ‘To have someone that young and excited about sewing, it is inspiring to us!’

A lot of young mothers now want to learn how to sew clothes and make curtains or quilts for their families. Whether it has been spurned on by Pinterest (an online website which features multiple do-it-yourself projects), or by the national economic climate, an increased interest in sewing is evident.

Starting this weekend, Mary Jo’s and the Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont organization are partnering together to launch a series of sewing classes specifically tailored to the Girl Scouts. The hope is to inspire younger girls with a passion for sewing and creating. It has been too long since a Girl Scout was able to sew her own badge onto her sash.

Check back for more information on the Girl Scouts and their classes. Also if you are interested in signing up for a class the online schedule can be found at maryjos.com/sewing-class-schedule.