2025 January - March Newsletter

BITTERSWEET QUILTS * THE FABRIC MERCHANT * MISS KATE’S QUILT SHOP NEWSLETTER

January - March 2025

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DISCLAMER: Our attorneys require us to inform the reader this is a combined newsletter from our family of quilt stores. This saves us time and saves you from receiving three emails with three different newsletters. 
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**BSQ - Bittersweet Quilts and TFM - The Fabric Merchant.
B - Beginners, I – Intermediate, A - Advanced**

FAT TUESDAY-BSQ/TFM

Tuesday, March 4th, 2025

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

Building Blocks 2024-TFM

March 1, 2025 (first meeting of 2025)

10:00 am to 11:30 ish

$ 32.00 (Membership fee/pattern)

Facilitator:  Robbi/Patty

Building Blocks 2025 is our version of a Saturday Sampler.  NOW is the time to invite your friends to this first meeting.  We meet on the first Saturday of each month.  For 2025, there are three super duper 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 2025.  (CB,I,A) 

2025 Spring Retreats

Retreat 1: March 20-23
Retreat 2: March 27-30
Retreat 3: April 3-6

Can you believe Bittersweet Quilts will be hosting the 17th annual Bittersweet Retreat!  Cost per retreat $225 (all inclusive).  For more information, click the link 2025 Spring Retreats above to register for one of our retreats and get the complete information.  Retreats are held at the Ozark Camp and Retreat Center, nestled in the beautiful, rolling Ozark Hills.  Each weekend is a time to unwind and unplug from the busyness of life.  Retreats are perfect for beginning quilters or seasoned quilters alike. We have many repeat retreaters, it's just that fun - relaxing, laughing, learning and sewing without interruptions and meeting new friends!
If you've never been, you're missing out! 

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Classes, Classes and More Classes!!!!!

We look for new ways to encourage our quilters to learn new and innovative ways to make new blocks.  You can visit each class listed on our website for more information and registration. Some classes may be listed as 
free, but we will still need you to register so we have an accurate count for the class.  Be sure to 
visit the website for more information and registration. If you’re just beginning to quilt, or an 
intermediate or advanced quilter we have a class for you.  Classes are held at either Bittersweet 
or the Fabric Merchant as noted beside the class title.  We also have our sewing clubs listed below as well. 

Storm at Sea Class (TFM)                                       
Date: February 15, 205
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 
Cost: $50                                                                                                    
Instructor: Margaret
Limit: 6

Join Margaret in making this beautiful table runner.  You will learn how to make a square-in-a-square block.  It is an easy looking unit that never comes out quite right. With Margaret's teaching it will come out right, not quite right!  The Diamond Rectangle quilt block is a timeless, graphic design that packs a punch. With its bold diagonal lines contrasted against the sturdy rectangle frame, this block makes a statement in any quilt design. The best part is that it's simple to sew but looks complicated and striking. The Storm at Sea makes for an exciting quilt pattern, full of movement, all due to the juxtaposition of square and rectangular blocks. Your eyes try to tell you there's curved piecing, but there's not a curved seam in the quilt, not anywhere! (I,A)

Split Rails for Beginners (TFM)
Date: February 22
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm 
Cost: $50                                                                                                       
Instructor: Patty
Limit: 8
In this class we will get your familiar with your sewing machine and teach some basic terminology that you will need to know as you continue to sew and/or quilt. You will learn the difference between ironing and pressing as well as how to accurately cut strips and square up your blocks. You will also learn how to sew an accurate 1/4" seam which is used on almost any quilt pattern. We will talk about the basic tools needed for beginning quilters and how to use each of them. The Split Rail pattern will be included in the class.

3 Yard Quilt
Date: March 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 
Cost: $50                                                                                                       
Instructor: Jeanne
Limit: 6

Enjoy taking 3 different fabrics and creating a beautiful quilt top while learning new techniques and brushing up existing skills. When we are done with the class you’ll have 2 blocks put together and be on your way to having an awesome project.

2025 Friendship Block Swap-BSQ

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

$15.00  Membership (for mailing/sorting)

$3.50    2025 Friendship Block Swap Roll (32  1.5" Half Square Triangle)

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 with our Friendship Block Swap.  The "2025 Friendship Block Swap Membership" fee and "2025 Friendship Block Swap Roll" are also available online so anyone from anywhere can join in the swap.  Once the June 14th deadline arrives, triangles will be mixed and sorted.  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 2025 Friendship Block Swap .  (I,A)

WHAT’S NEW IN FABRICS???

Check out these new fabrics that we have available for all our quilters.

Andover Fabric Beach House by Laundry Basket

Meet Edyta Sitar, designer of the Beach House fabric collection.  She is the founder and   owner of the Laundry Basket Quilts. Her passion for fabric begain when she used her mother's drapes to create her first fabric project.  Lucky for us, her mother recognized her passion for fabric.  After marrying into the Sitar family, she was introducted to the family tradition of quilting. Quilting enables her to express herself.  She says that "this is a Cinderlla dream. Being able to do what I love and share this love with others."  She has published numerous books, has been featured in many magazines, as well as having her quilts honored in displays around the world.

Just look at these beautiful colors! The tranquil colors remind you of the seaside with the blend of blue, cream, and a  yellow-gold accents.  We also have these two pieces in 108" backing

Moda Fabric Tango by Kate Spain

An interesting fact about Kate Spain is that as a child she carried a sketch pad with her at all times. She attended Rhode Island School of Design, earning a BFA in Graphic Design. 

 Kate has worked in developing and expanding her unique styles.  She is quoted as saying " I am so happy to create collections exclusively for Moda and to share them with you and other quilters and crafters around the world.  I’m an avid gardener and much of my inspiration can be found in Nature – an unlikely color combination that catches my eye, close-up views of flowers and foliage, or in the random patterns and compositions that create rhythm in the landscape. In my studio, I try to translate these natural inspirations into artwork. No matter where I begin my design process, I always end up in a new place. It truly is an adventure that I’m excited to embark  on again and again. I hope you enjoy where your creativity and wonder take you, too!”

The Tango collection has the color range that includes blush pinks, deep teals that blend with the golds, turquoise, and reds.  

                          

                             

 Moda Fabric Farmstead designed Stacy Iest Hsu 

Stacy Iest Hsu (pronounced Stacy East Shoe) Farmstead design embraces the farm life. This fabric pulls inspiration from the everyday chores and animals that you would find on a farm. This collection is one you don’t want to miss. She has been designing for almost 20 years. Growing up on her parent's farm Stacy dreamed of becoming a designer. Stacy moved to San Francisco after finishing college to try to become a designer. She wasn't sure what area of design she wanted to pursue, so enrolling in a local school she focused on textile and surface design. She knew she had found what she was meant to do. Designing for Moda was a lifelong dream for her Stacy tends to design whimsical and sweet fabrics.  She also loves designing novelty prints, as well as developing projects for all ages in her cut and sew panels.  

Moda Fabric Maeve designed by Crystal Manning

Maeve fabric collection is bursting with florals, butterflies, and whimsical snails, each print is a tapestry of nature’s wonder. The rich color palette featuring regal purples, rustic reds, gleaming golds, and warm rusts, evokes the cozy embrace of fall. Designed to bring quilter’s joy and brighten homes.

Crystal Manning grew up in northern Missouri where she discovered passion for art in her younger years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Missouri State University and minored in Art Design. In 2015 she bought her first sewing machine, taught herself how to sew.  She quickly became acquainted with Jack, yep, "Jack the Ripper". Although she was a graphic designer for 10 years, she began using her art and design skills to create surface and textile patterns. Once learning how to sew, she discovered sewing and fabric design were her new passion Crystal lives in Kansas City, Missouri where she continues to create new designs for licensing. Nature is her favorite source of inspiration as she loves flowers, birds and cheerful colors with a vintage vibe.

                          

Aboriginals M&S Textiles Australia

Aboriginal fabrics come from M&S Textiles of Australia, "Where Dreams Come Alive." These designs are created by Australian natives and showcase their beautiful artistic styles. The Australian
Aboriginal fabric is designed in Australia by talented artists (many without formal training) and printed in South Korea on high quality 100% cotton. We have a lot of new aboriginals for you to choose from. 

 SEWING CLUBS: We have our regular sewing clubs available this year.  We feel that our quilters enjoy these meetings so will continue to offer them.

 Sewcial Club (TFM)

Dates:  Third Tuesday of the Month           
Times:  9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost:  $15 (includes catered lunch from Panera)
Instructor:  Patty

Sewcial Club is a creative sewing club which meets the third Tuesday of each month.  Bring your sewing machine and sew on new or unfinished projects.  Meet other sewing enthusiasts and gain creative quilting and sewing ideas.  Come and be “sewcial” as you enjoy your craft. 

 Did you know........

It was July 2005 when Donna and Robbi opened Bittersweet Quilts.  The building was previously Barlow's Bittersweet Gifts and Tea Room.  Locals knew the building as Bittersweet, so the name was incorporated into the current name.    
The business began with approximately 800 bolts of fabric and now carries around 3,000 bolts.  Raymond joined the team in 2008, after retiring and began his encore career of sewing repair at which point sewing machine sales and service was added.  Robbi ventured out into opening two other shops, The Fabric Merchant in downtown Joplin and Miss Kate's Quilt Shop inside Silver Dollar City.  Along with fabric, books, notions, classes, sewing machine sales and repairs, quilt retreats are held every year in the spring and fall.  This year marks the 20th year of being in business at Bittersweet Quilts!  

Robbi's Remarks:

My youngest child gave me a quote; "The days are long but the years are short."  How very true.  It is remarkable to think Bittersweet Quilts will have been open for twenty years on July 13th.  Many things have changed over the years but a few things have remained constant; our commitment to our customers.  We are committed to providing quality products to our customers with great customer service.  This will always be our goal.  From the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you for twenty amazing years!


  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and New Year.  I finally found a rope long enough to "wrangle Robbi" and we are off to a big start in 2025! We're in the midst of inventory and that's lots of fun....... not, lol.  Stay tuned quilters, 2025 is going to be bigger and better than ever! 

                                                                                                      Sheryle aka Robbi Wrangler