{in the know} Coats & Clarks celebrate 200 years

In 1812, the year Louisiana became a state and Napoleon invaded Russia, the Coats & Clark thread story began in Paisley Scotland. Two hundred years later, the company is still going strong.

To commemorate this historic milestone, Coats & Clark launched a virtual history museum, www.CoatsandClark200Years.com, which chronicles the early days of the company coupled with the events of the era. From the early development of cotton threads to inventing thread for the first sewing machines, and engineering threads for the new millennium, the interactive site allows visitors to download their own thread trade cards and history book, listen to music and post their own stories about Coats & Clark.

Downloadable PDF featuring history of Coats & Clark

Share Your Memories

Join Coats & Clark in 2012 to celebrate and share stories of how thread has impacted your life with memories of sewing and quilting projects you have created. Through July 31, 2012 submit your sewing story at www.CoatsandClark200Years.com and be entered to win one of ten Coats & Clark 200th Anniversary prize package with a retail value of $200.

Compete to Win Design Challenge

To continue the celebration of this historic anniversary, Coats & Clark has joined SINGER®, and BurdaStyle, to sponsor Amy Barickman’s Vintage-Inspired, Modern Style Design Challenge. Amy invites sewing enthusiasts to design a wearable fashion project where winners will be evaluated on a list of criteria to show off their creative skills. Participants compete for a chance at winning cash and prizes.

{cute stuff} Everyone is reading FabShop News

Not only do shopowners read FabShop News, so do their pets!

Little Quilt‘s owner Mary Ellen says her cat, Gracie, is interested in FabShop News, too!

{mind the app} Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool for Android and iOs

Two years ago, C&T Publishing launched it’s Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool for iOS, and today it released it for the Android platform. With more than 100 traditional quilt blocks, it allows quilters to quickly calculate fabric yardage on-the-go. The guide features rotary-cutting directions and over 500 options for making blocks, plus bonus reference tables.

Available for $3.99, the app can be downloaded to you Android device through the Google Android Market Page and Amazon Android App Store, as well as for iOs devices at the iTunes App Store.

{look-out} Ann Kelle’s Jingle

Christmas is barely out of the rear-view mirror, but we’re already looking forward to 2012′s Christmas fabric collections. Ann Kelle‘s new Jingle collection from Robert Kaufman Fabrics is now available for wholesale with delivery to stores in May.

Kimberly Jolly designed a layer-cake/pre-cut friendlyquilt using the collection that is available for your use. Check out their page for kitting instructions.

(photos courtesy of Kelle Boyd, annkelle.com)

Pat Bravo releases Maxi dress and Bo Peep skirt patterns

Pat Bravo is proud to release her two sewing patterns, by request of her current followers, and invites the new ones to make themselves the super comfy and trendy Maxi dress, next to the mega-flirty and easy-to-make Bo Peep skirt.

This Maxi dress is truly the look of the season. The floor-skimming dress features an empire waist with a contrasting band that creates a relaxed and fun and flattering silhouette in every body type. Its versatility allows you to dress it down during the day, for a beach-y effortless look. Or dress it up and accessorize it for a night out.

Here comes the queen of skirts: The Bo Peep skirt, featuring double layers & a gathering detail. This flirty high-waist, and flattering skirt is as easy to wear, as it is to make. This is definitely not your common skirt. You will not only fall in love with its unique stylish look, but with its versatility and ease as well.

Each pattern comes in a CD format with a PDF file, featuring 40 pages with detailed instructions supported by full color diagrams, step-by-step pictures and real-size printed pattern pieces.

The Maxi dress and Bo Peep pattern are already hitting stores now! And they are available exclusively through Art Gallery Fabrics.