Bring in cans & Get a Discount

For every can good you bring in today, Thursday December 1, 2011, you'll get 5% off your purchase up to 25%! All can goods will be donated to local charities!

Updates for Everyone!

In the last couple of weeks, Pfaff has released a new update for the Creative Sensation, Creative Vision, Creative 4.0, and the Creative 2.0. Go to this link http://www.pfaffusa.com/19823.html and click on the machine that you need to update. It will then tell you what is new on the update and how to update your machine. You will need to have the previous update on your machine if you want to use your USB stick to update. If not you will need to use the cable. Call us if you have any questions. Ohio 937-433-7474 Kentucky 859-264-7472

Happy Sewing!

Trick Or Treat

Are you looking for a fun project to do Saturday October 29 and live in the Lexington, KY area? Come hang out with me and make this super cute trick or treat bag just in time for Halloween. We will be doing embroidery so you've got to bring your machine and I must be able to load the appliqué embroidery design on your machine. Call me to sign up 859-264-7472.

Anita Goodesign Advent Calendar

Everyone has done so well today in the advent calendar class. Christmas will be magical this year.

Classes, Classes, Classes!

We've got classes for every interest and skill level. And everyone is having fun, making beautiful projects, and learning new things. If you get a chance check out the new fall class newsletter at www.sewalotonline.com. Also, look at the calendar, we've added a few more. So pack up and come in for some time with fellow hobbyists and sewers.

Oh My Gosh! The Creative Sensation is Amazing!

So much wonderfulness, I don't know where to start. First the screen is amazing, 33% bigger then the Creative Vision, bright and beautiful! Then the features, so many features! Stacking stitches, shaping with applique, the feeding system. I sewed two triangles starting at the point and it fed like a dream. It comes with a straight stitch needle plate and a quarter inch foot. Do you believe that?! The luggage. Wheels are attached!!!! Handles on the sides!!!! Only with the creative sensation! We've only spent just a little time with the machine but I can tell you that we are extremely impressed. Over the next three days we will be getting close and personal with it and have more to share.

News You Could Use

So for those of you who are proud owners of the Quilt Artist or the QuiltSew Clever recently there was a new update. First, if you didn't know this it is so awesome. Second, if you haven't yet done it, go do it now Quiltsew Clever or Quilt Artist. They've gone in and corrected some things and made it even more user friendly. So if you've not updated your unit yet, I highly recommend that you do. Also, I learned today that you must have your remote attached to your motor box when updating and you must reset to factory settings. I found this out when a customer brought her remote in to the store to update and then had an issue. But don't fear, all she had to do was update again at home with the motor box attached and now everything is again running smoothly.

The point to my rambling is that it's very important that you update your machines when a new update comes out. These updates will help with software problems, update with new information, and make your machines more user friendly. So if you've got questions about machine updates check out your machine model on the manufactures website. If you purchased your machine from Sew-A-Lot and need help getting it updated let us know. We're glad to help.

Only 2 more days for Mail In Rebate

We only have ONE more Creative Vision 5.5 with the full brand new machine warranty left in stock! And there are only two more days to get the $500 mail in rebate from Pfaff on this machine. We are offering $3000 off the MSRP plus for only two more days you will receive the $500 mail in rebate. If you are interested call me, 859-264-7472.

Click here for more details!

Fabric Sale Today!

Don't forget... Come in today or tomorrow and get 20% off everyone bolt of fabric you finish. There are tons of 1, 2, & 3 yard bolts available.

Help us make room for all of the new fabrics!

Happy Birthday

So my niece Madi had her 4th, can you believe it, 4th birthday. How do they get so big? So Lesley decided to make her the cutest birthday outfit. She used the Girly Skirt pattern from Pink Fig. And then she took a t-shirt she got at her favorite place, Old Navy, and put the cute cupcake applique on it. The applique came from the Petite Collection Cupcakes from Anita Goodesign. So super cute and Madi loved it!

Have you seen the new Creative Sensation yet!

Click here for more information!!!

Holiday Hours

This holiday weekend we hope that you spend time relaxing and enjoying your family and friends. Our holiday hours will be as follows...

Monday July 4th

Lexington Closed * Centerville Closed * The Viking Store in Joann's 9am-6pm

Christmas In June?

I know it's early for Christmas but "Santa", I mean Steve, the UPS man, brought us all of this wonderful Christmas fabric today in Lexington. We've had the jelly rolls and layer cakes for about a month, so we are so happy that the yardage came today. We received Jovial designed by Basic Grey and Grace designed by Three Sisters from Moda. Also, I got the Centerville stores Nancy Halvorson Jingle All the Way quilt quilted this week.

Don't worry I'm not wishing my summer away. I'm just getting jump start on my Christmas present making. If you also would like to be so productive, come in and visit us to stock up on all that is Christmas. And if you are in Ohio and would like some Jovial or Grace just call us and let us know. I can bring it up to you. If you're not close to either store, just call us we will ship!

Interchangeable Tote class was a success!

So Melinda had her Interchangeable Tote class today at the Lexington store. And they turned out beautifully. Angie, her mom, and Carol did a fabulous job and finished class early to boot. These purses are so cute and fun to make. If you're interested in the pattern stop by either location and we'll fix you up.

Introducing the ambition line

Click here for more information!

The Power is Out In Centerville

Because of the awful storms yesterday, DP & L is shutting off our power to fix issues and get other people up and running in Centerville. They just called and informed us that they will be shutting off our power at 3:30pm today and if won't be back for 2 hours. So Sew-A-Lot Centerville is closing at 3:30pm Thursday May 26th. We'll see you again tomorrow!

Adventures in Reno

If you came into the store last week you knew that I was gone. Carmon, Steve, & I ventured to Reno, NV to see, touch, and experience the new Designer Diamond deLuxe. That's right we went to the Husqvarna Viking 2011 Convention. We had a fabulous time taking classes on the new features of the Designer Diamond deLuxe including the deLuxe Stitch System, Design Positioning, Design Shaping, Tapering in the Hoop, Embroider Buttonholes in the Hoop, Undo/Redo in Embroidery Edit (One of my favorite features), Design Stitch Out Order, and the Smart Save Feature.

Not only are these wonderful new features available on the new Designer Diamond deLuxe but the majority of these features are available in a software update for existing Designer Diamond customers. (The update will not include all of the new stitches or the deLuxe Stitch System update.)

As you can see, Carmon and I spent time learning about the new Designer Diamond deLuxe. Join Carmon Thursday May 26 from 1p-3p at our Viking location inside Joann Fabrics 2270 Miamisburg-Centerville Road Dayton, Ohio 45459 to learn more about the new products available from Husqvarna Viking. Current Designer Diamond customers will also be able to get the new software update put on their machines. You will be able to download the update this week through the Smart Update, but you will NOT be able to do it via the USB stick. The update is so large that you will have to do it with the USB cable.

Some thing else that is wonderful from the convention is the new 9.3 update for all of the 5D Suite and Professional software. This update will give you the ability to create your very own cutwork embroidery designs with a new addition in the Design Creator module. You will also be able to take cutwork embroidery designs and in put the cutwork needles into them so that you no longer have to remove your hoop to cut with scissors. WOOHOO! This was wonderful. I took a software class to learn how to use these two modules and was totally impressed. So if you've got 5D Professional or 5D Suite you will want to go to your Smart Update and get the new 9.3 Update. It is also a large update and if you don't have a fast Internet connection it will take awhile to download. You can come in to any store location later this week and will can help you but call first and make an appointment so someone can give you the time to get you updated.

Paducah and Pie!!!

So if you are a quilter you know that this weekend is the Paducah Quilt Festival. As you can see, some of our customers and staff have ventured down and are enjoying not only what the festival has to offer, but they are also partaking in what else....pie! Thanks for the photo Dottie, Joan, Sherry, Denice, & Nancy! Feel free to pack some pie back with you and, of course, some new quilt project ideas!

Just One Star or Maybe 103

Moda had a challenge to make 1800 Just One Star quilt blocks for 100 Quilts of Valor quilts to be completed by Flag Day. A customer brought this to our attention and we decided to chip in and see what we could do. And between sewing in Lexington last week and Centerville yesterday, plus customers doing their part at home, we collected 103 Just One Star blocks. This was such a fun project and we were happy to donate supplies and a space for people to participate in this charitable event. We are sending our blocks today but if you are out there and still want to help, just have them in the mail by Saturday. Thank you to all that came out and helped with this cause.

Just One Star Pattern

Because this went to so well, I'm thinking of maybe doing a charity sew once a quarter at each store. If this is something you would be interested in let me know. Also, let me know of any charity sewing projects that you know about. Again thank you to all that came out and helped!

Need a Present for that High School Graduate

It's graduation season! Life transitioning and new beginnings. How exciting. For all of those high school graduates finishing one chapter and preparing for the next, it's an exciting time. When ever people graduate from high school my mother makes this easy but useful project for all those heading off to college in the fall. It's a laundry bag. It's a very useful, personal gift that everyone who's ever gotten one from my mother has loved.

Here's how you do it:
You'll need 1 yard of heavy weight cotton fabric (this piece was perfect)
2 1/4 yard of Cotton Cording (I used 5/8")
A sewing machine with a good button hole stitch (I used the Quilt Expression 4.0)
A serger with a three thread overlock stitch (I used the Coverlock 3.0)

Optional an embroidery machine for the students monogram (I used the Creative Vision of course)

First sew across the top of what will be your bag with your serger to give the fabric a finished edge. All you have to do is fold the fabric right side together and sew with your serger across the bottom from fold to selvage and then up the side. Flip inside out and you'll have a bag.

Now fold down the top of your bag down inside about 1" and press. Flip this back out and mark where you will put your two buttonholes. You will make your button holes based on the size of your cotton cord. Stitch two buttonholes upright about 1" apart. Remember when you make buttonholes it's always good to use a stabilizer for beautiful buttonholes. Cut open your buttonholes. Then flip back down into the bag and straight stitch in place.

Once you've done this you will put a safety pin on one end of your cotton cord and feed it into one of your buttonholes and come out the other side, tie and you're done.

Now if you have an embroidery machine just use a tearaway stabilizer and make it more personal with an monogram. I made my monogram using the Monogram Wizard in the 5D software.

My mother would then get a laundry basket and put the bag, laundry soap, fabric softener sheets and a roll of quarters in it. Perfect useful, personal present!

Just One Block

Have you heard about the Just One Block project from Moda? They are asking people to make a quilt block with a pattern that they provide, write your name and the state you live in on it and then mail it to them untrimed. They will then make quilts that will be donated to Quilts of Valor. Their goal is to make 100 quilts.

We at Sew-A-Lot would like to help them reach their goal. Join us Wednesday April 20th 10am-6pm in Lexington or Wednesday April 27th 10am-5pm at the Centerville store to help reach this goal. We will provide the machine, block kits and patterns, you just need to provide your skills to make Just One Block. You will sign it and we will then collect and ship them to Moda. If you can't make it, print off a pattern and make a block at home. You can drop them off at the Lexington store by April 20 and at the Centerville store by April 27, if you would like us to ship them for you.

New Moda at Sew-A-Lot

We just got a shipment of Moda fabrics, Rose Parade, Summer Breeze, & a new line from 3 Sisters, Grace, that isn't even on Moda's website yet. Also, some Joel Dewberry's Avery 2 at the store in Lexington. Come check them out but you better hurry these are so fresh and springlike that they will not last long.

New Book have arrived at Sew-A-Lot

These are the newest books from C&T Publishing. There are some great selections this month. If one of these titles interest you, come into Sew-A-Lot and purchase a copy.