The Cotton Patch: March 2022

3/31/22

The Underground Shop Hop Starts Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the day! Grab your quilting friends and come visit eight wonderful Willamette Valley shops on the Underground Shop Hop! Grab your passport from any participating shop:

Yankee Dutch Quilting & Dry Goods (Brownsville)
Finally Together Quilts (Lebanon)
Quilt Loft (Albany)
The Purple Frog (Jefferson)
The Cotton Patch (Keizer)
Will N Beez Quilts & Coffee (Salem)
Grandma's Attic (Dallas)
Sew It Seams (Philomath)

REMINDERS:
All shops will be open minimally Monday-Saturday from 10am-5pm - stores may choose to be open on Sundays but it is not required, so check with them on their Sunday hours in advance.

During the shop hop each shop will stamp your passport and give you one free kit for a 12.5" block. Turn your completed tickets in at the end of the Shop Hop and get a chance to win a $200 shopping spree ($25 for each shop).

Pay close attention to the Underground Shop Hop Facebook Page every day during the Shop Hop - there will be a "secret code" posted daily for you to tell each shop for a special deal or freebie! Each shop will have something different, so it pays to play! If you don't personally have a Facebook page, it is a public page you can view (but not comment on), or grab a friend to help you out!

There's more yet! Create a quilt of your own design using all eight blocks from the shops and send a picture in to the Underground Shop Hop Facebook Page (hosted in October) for a chance to win two additional prizes - one $200 shopping spree ($25 for each shop) and one $600 shopping spree ($75 for each shop)! This year some shops will be featuring bonus blocks (optional and for purchase) to help make designing a little easier.

3/29/22

Backing Day is Thursday, March 31st!

Here's a reminder from your friendly neighborhood Cotton Patch that Backing Day is this Thursday, March 31st!

If you're new here and don't know what Backing Day is...

Bring in your finished quilt tops (100% complete, no more borders to add, done) on the last day of the month and receive 25% off your backing of choice, even Clearance!

The usual rules apply:

If the last day of the month falls on a Sunday when we're closed, then Backing Day is the day before (Saturday).
Discount valid on single-fabric backings only. Sorry, this is not valid on several cuts of different fabrics for a pieced backing.
Sale prices not combinable with any other offer (this includes deals from Five Stars, redeeming points, and coupons)
Sale prices good in-store only on the sale day and limited to stock on-hand.

We can't wait to see what you've created - see you on the 31st!

3/10/22

Coming August 2022: UFO Challenge!

We're not talking about that kind of UFO sighting (if so, we have some questions)

If you're a quilter, odds are good you have some UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) lurking around your sewing space somewhere. Diane was in her sewing room recently and observed an unfinished project that is so old the fabrics are being reprinted. Heck, I have some UFOs from WELL before I graduated college...in 2010...UFOs. All the cool kids have them, and beginners will have them eventually.

But why though? Why do we stop working on projects we once started with gusto? Maybe we fall out of love with the colors or prints. Maybe we bit off more than we could chew at the time. Maybe life got busy or weird and we had no choice but to set it aside. Maybe we got the top done but lose motivation when it comes to getting it quilted and bound. There's as many reasons as there are leaves on trees.

So what happens then when we get a pile/box/cabinet of stuff we haven't finished? Designate it as someone's inheritance? Probably not. But what we can do is reimagine it. Just because you start a project a certain way or with certain fabrics doesn't mean it has to stay that way until you get the will to finish it. Consider changing it up - consider swapping the pieces you're not wild about with something you like more, changing how you arrange your blocks, and changing the finished size. Start a California King and lost your want to? Finish it as a lap quilt. Don't like the fabrics anymore and wonder what on earth you were thinking? There's no shame at all in breaking that project apart and putting the fabric back into your stash to live another day.

2022 is all about making use of what we have and taking new approaches to familiar things. So here's our challenge to you (yes, you!):

UFO Challenge at The Cotton Patch

August 13, 2022

Finish your UFOs - as many as you want - and bring them for Show and Tell!

Let's celebrate our creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness in reimaging our UFOs with some good eats and prizes (not more fabric, Promise! Think tools and useful notions to help get through that Stash)!

Don't worry - we'll be walking our talk too...Diane and Lauren will be working on their own UFOs to share!

3/7/22

The Underground Shop Hop is Back!

After a couple long years, it's time to get hopping. Join us and seven other Willamette Valley Shops on a much needed and overdue shop hop starting April 1 through April 9, 2022.

All shops will be open minimally Monday-Saturday from 10am-5pm - stores may choose to be open on Sundays but it is not required, so check with them on their Sunday hours in advance.

As usual we have a color theme, and this time we're Back in Black, baby! During the shop hop each Station (shop) will stamp your Ticket (passport) and give each passenger one free kit for a 12.5" block. Turn your completed tickets in at the end of the Shop Hop and get a chance to win a $200 shopping spree ($25 for each shop).

3/4/22

Last Call! Freestyle Block of the Month Starts Tomorrow!

How It Works

1. Come to the shop on the First Saturday of the Month for class at 10:30am

2. Stop by the register to buy your pattern for $3.50 (or one regular priced, pre-cut Fat Quarter if you prefer. You'll get a ticket for door prizes. This is not a grab and go type of program - class is free and lasts about an hour. If you can't make it on class day, the block is $5
3. Grab a seat in the classroom - class starts at 10:30!

4. We'll go over what's new and then how to do the block. We'll go over anything that might be a new skill or something you'll want to be attentive to. Then, it's time for Show and Tell, and door prizes!

5. Go forth and be creative...and get your block done before the next class!

6. Bring you finished block back to class for Show and Tell the following month and get entered into the drawing for a free backing and other cool prizes. But you have to bring your finished block to class to get entered in the drawing!

Things to Know

- There are nine total blocks. You may do as many or as few as you want.

- There will be a free chain block provided at the end of the program to help you make the quilt bigger if you choose to.

- Class will have door prizes as always! However, you will only get entry into the bigger drawing if you bring in your finished block from the previous month for Show and Tell. Blocks are available for pickup on the First Saturday during class for $3.50, and $5 after class. We understand this may not be convenient for all, but this program doesn't operate on sign ups or larger fees so it helps us stay organized.

This is a great opportunity to dive into a Block of the Month and use your stash at the same time. We're excited to see how this new approach comes to fruition - no two quilts will be the same and all of the different interpretations will be awesome to see! Plus... have we ever mentioned we love fabric?! Seeing a little bit of everyone's stashes is going to be very cool. We hope you join us!

See you tomorrow!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This information originally went out on 3/2/22 via our Newsletter. Over the last couple years, we have had some really unkind messages come our way. While the vast majority of feedback we get is positive or constructive, we have had some really hateful comments thrown in there. We are always completely fine with constructive feedback (I mean, hey, we're human and humans are imperfect), but we received a couple responses to the Block of the Month information that went far beyond constructive criticism and went right into blatant mean spiritedness. That is absolutely unacceptable, and we will not tolerate that behavior towards any of our staff for any reason. Our goal for the shop has always been to make quilting accessible and affordable for anyone who wants to join in, and that is what we will continue to strive for.

3/1/22

Featured Color of the Month - Aquamarine!

It's time for the next color of the month! Last month we did Amethyst, so I bet you can guess what this month might be...

Aquamarine

It's March's birthstone and it's a semi-precious form of Beryl. It ranges in color from greenish blue to blue. Its name comes from the Latin aqua (water) and marina (sea), and has a strong association with the ocean both literally and metaphorically.

Aquamarine is also known as the Sailor's Stone, and the ancient Greeks and Romans believes it would help protect sailors from storms and provide them safe passage to their destination. It was believed to relieve seasickness and calm the rough waters. It was also thought to be the treasure of mermaids. The stone today symbolizes calmness, courage, clear thinking, cleansing, and purity.

For the whole month of March, our white cabinet will be decked out in everything Aquamarine!

Consider working aquamarine into one of your quilts! It is beautiful and tranquil on its own, but looks fabulous with a contrasting color. If you have aquamarines that tend toward blue - try throwing in an orange. If it tends more toward green, try something more red. Coral always looks amazing with aquamarine too. Here are some palettes to inspire you!