As a crafter, do you look forward to a bit of chill in the air? I admit that I’m growing excited about wearing my shawls and sweaters, and I’m more than ready to start snuggling up with my quilts! Read on to find ideas for your autumn!

With my new email service, I’m redoing how the newsletter looks. I’m going to split it into Yarn News, Thread News, and Fabric News, so read on to find the section that interests you. (And if you do it all, you’ll want to read it all!) This will be my largest newsletter of the fall, but I’ll also be sending out updates for new fabric or yarn that comes in, or things that might come up that aren’t included here.

If you’re getting this newsletter, you signed up either in the store or online. If you no longer want to receive it, just hit the unsubscribe button at the end, and you’ll be taken care of. But I do hope you want to stay!

Schedule an Appointment to see all the New Stuff!

My hours are 6 days a week by appointment. You’ll find that you love coming in that way. You’ll have my undivided attention, as together we find exactly what you need for your projects. Think of it as going to the hairdresser, to the Genius Bar at an Apple Store, or getting a massage (only with brighter colors!).

Signing up is easy. You can click on this link (the “calendar” page of the website), or you can give me a call at 814-238-4151. The appointments are listed between 10:30 and 2:30 (later on some Thursdays), but I’m available in the shop most days from 10-5. Call for times not listed on the calendar.

I sometimes step out if I don’t have an appointment scheduled. If I’m not working that day, my helpers do go home when the appointments are over.

I love providing better service, and appointments have been a new key to that for my small business. I appreciate your so cheerfully adjusting to this with me!

Yarn News

Join the Local Yarn Shop Day Knit Along: September 12

Every April for the past few years, there’s been an event called “Local Yarn Shop Day.” As you may recall, this past April had a wee bit of disruption, but we here at Stitch Your Art Out decided to continue on with our plans for the Pennsylvania Road Trip mystery shawl. (That turned out to be a terrific knit-along!)

The rest of the knitting world is celebrating Local Yarn Shop Day on Saturday, September 12, this year. Why not have two local yarn shop days in one year? While we can’t have a typical event at the shop, I do have exciting plans for September 12! I’ve just designed a new shawl called “Between Transitions.” It uses any type of yarn, and provides a way to transition beautifully between stripes with slipped stitches. I hope you love it as much as I do! Here’s my high-school buddy Katherine modeling it.

Katherine used Ultra Alpaca and Sesame from Berroco. I made my own in Malabrigo Rios. You can use any yarn you wish! Make an appointment to come in and buy the yarn for Between Transitions, and when you do that, we’ll add you to the Zoom class for no charge (or give you that much credit if you've already signed up). (Working from stash? That’s fine. The class will then be its regular price of $28.) The class will be held from 1-4 on September 12. The shawl is super-easy to make; at the class, I’ll show you a bit more about what I was thinking when I designed it, plus give a few tips.

Make an appointment to come in and see all the stunning colors! We’ll help you put together a beautiful combo for your own shawl.

You can go ahead and get the pattern on Ravelry here. It’s only $2.99 until the end of the day on Sept. 12, so grab it now!

Sock Club

Eleanor will take her class outdoors, and you’ll enjoy making socks while the weather is still comfortable. She’ll be in touch with you about the meeting place and the patterns you’ll be using. Time: Sundays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, 1-4 p.m. We will still wear masks and will social distance during class. Cost: $38 plus supplies. Need sock yarn? We have so many beautiful colors for you!

Sign up here!

 Knitting 101

Want to learn how to knit? Or need a refresher after many years of neglecting your knitting? Take our beginning-knitting course. You’ll learn how to cast on, knit, and purl, and you’ll start a scarf.   Price: $38 plus supplies. Supplies: Easy Looped Scarf pattern by Really Clear Designs, appropriate yarn and needles. Make an appointment before the class, and we can help you find just what you need! Times: Join Cindy Mitchell in this outdoor class on Saturdays, Sept. 19 and Oct. 3, from 1-4 p.m. We will still wear masks and will social distance during class. Cindy will be in touch with you about a meeting place. Sign up here.

Fair Isle 101

Fair Isle looks so scary! All those colors and shapes! But it’s easy. Cindy Mitchell will show you all the tricks, and at the end of the session, you’ll leave with a headband that’s almost complete—for real. Yup, in one day you’ll be a pro! Price: $28 plus supplies. Supplies: Really Clear First Fair Isle pattern, two colors of worsted-weight yarn, a size 5 and a size 7 circular needle, both 16", stitch markers. Make an appointment, and we can help you find just what you need! Join Cindy Mitchell in this outdoor class on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1-4 p.m. We will still wear masks and will social distance during class. Sign up here.

Hat 101 (Quick-Knit Hat)

You’ve learned how to knit, but you’re still a bit shaky about purling. You’ve never knit in the round on circular needles, let alone used double points. Well, then. It’s time to make a hat! Let’s do this! Cost: $32 plus supplies. Supplies: Quick-Knit Hat pattern by Really Clear Designs, yarn and needles as described in the pattern. Make an appointment, and we can help you find just what you need! Time: Mondays, Oct. 19 and 26, 6-8 p.m. This class will be on Zoom. Sign up here.

Color Blast Scarf

Anne Van Aelst was taken with this beautiful scarf. It’s easy, and you’ll enjoy not only learning, but a pleasant chat as you knit. Cost: $28 plus supplies. Supplies: The pattern is on Ravelry here. Anne used 3 skeins of Silk Garden in the main color and 2 skeins in the contrast color. An equivalent amount of any self-striping yarn will work! This class will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6-8 p.m. Sign up here.

Fino Shadow Cowl

This beautiful cowl is a wonderful way to play with colors, using simple knit-purl combinations. Anne Van Aelst cleverly revised the pattern a bit to create not just stripes, but shadowed squares. Join her, and she’ll give you these bonus directions. Cost: $28 plus supplies. Supplies: You can pick up the pattern on Ravelry. You’ll need at least 2 contrasting colors of any fingering-weight yarn, and needles as specified in the pattern. Join Anne on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 6-8 p.m. on Zoom. Sign up here.

Thread News

Cross Stitch 101

Learn to do counted cross stitch! It's such a relaxing craft--the beautiful combination of easy, but requiring concentration. You may choose any kit that you like to get started. We'll have the class on Zoom on Tuesday, December 15, from 6-8 p.m. Sign up here.

Fabric News

Wow, have quilters and sewers been busy! It’s been amazing how many of you have been making masks. At first, it was by necessity. Now, it’s become a fashion statement, and I’ve enjoyed seeing all your choices.

And now that masks have finally caught up a bit, I’m seeing people making quilts again. Set up a time to come in and see all the new fabrics! Here are just a few. And I have more coming each month this fall!

I’ve been making masks myself. I first came up with a tied one because elastic was unavailable. I found that even after it was, I preferred the ties to having something around my ears (for any length of time).

But the ties became annoying, too.

So I invented a mask that was fastened by wrapping it around the head and connecting the ends with Velcro. It works! I have the written pattern in the shop, or you can get it online here. I also have the plastic nose-pieces and the Velcro, which I sell by the yard. If you haven’t sewn much, you might want to take my mask class, below.

Cynthia’s Favorite Mask Class

Cynthia spent many hours refining a mask that would stay up, was easy to get on and off (the secret is Velcro!), and would reduce the fogging of glasses. This class will use Cynthia’s Favorite Mask pattern. To take the class, you must know how to use your sewing machine and must have sewn at least one project. If you have sewn only simple masks up to now, this one would be a good next step. (And if you’re interested in sewing garments, there are a few garment techniques in this pattern.) The Zoom class will be October 5 and 12, from 6-8 p.m. Cost: $35 plus supplies. Supplies: Cynthia’s Favorite Mask pattern, available as a download here, a quarter yard of batik fabric, a quarter yard of a print fabric, and a quarter yard of fusible interfacing. Two inches of Velcro, and a nose wire. All of these are available at Stitch Your Art Out. Make a shopping appointment here! Sign up for the class here.

Quilting 102

You’ve learned a little about quilting, and now it’s time to up the game. We’ll learn how to cut layers of fabric, to work with triangles, and to match at corners. Note that we will not be quilting this project in the class—just piecing the top. Cost: $38 plus supplies. Supplies: We’ll be using the 3-in-1 quilt pattern, which you can get either at the shop or online here. You can make this pattern in any size you’d like. The pattern will give you yardages; we’ll help you with color combos! Time: Tuesdays, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, on Zoom from 6-8 p.m. Sign up for the class here.

Hexies (English Paper Piecing)

Our wonderful teacher Mary Beth Lemmons loves nothing more than hand stitching. In this class, she’ll show you how to make and attach hexagons. Make a mug mat—or a whole quilt! Hexies are a wonderful way to use scraps, or to feature those fun little motifs from a novelty fabric. No quilting experience needed! Cost: $28 plus supplies. Supplies: Hexie papers (we recommend the 2" ones to start), thread, needle, and coordinated scraps of fabric. The class will be on Zoom on Monday, Nov. 16, from 6-8 p.m. Sign up for the class here.

Flying Geese Ruler

Flying geese seem as though they shouldn’t be a problem. You’re just sewing a few triangles together! But that’s exactly the problem. Triangles love to stretch. This ruler solves it all. You’ll have accurate geese, and they’ll fly happily across your quilt! Cost: $28 plus supplies. Supplies: Creative Grids flying geese ruler (we have them for sale at the shop), scraps of fabrics. Time: The class will be held on Zoom, Thursday night, Nov. 12, from 6-8 p.m. Sign up for the class here.

New Quilting Pattern

I’m starting to put some of my quilting designs up on the website. I’m super excited that the block of the month we originally called Kaffe and Friends is now available as a pattern. Click here to purchase it online. Want a paper copy? Talk to me. I have them coming soon and will put you on the list.

Stay tuned for more of my quilting patterns, coming this fall!