Northcott Fabrics

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I reached out to Northcott in Ontario Canada this week for clarification on pending tariffs and history of the company. They were super at getting back to us quickly.

"All our fabric comes from overseas. It doesn’t go to the USA first. We bring goods from our USA Warehouse to fulfill orders when the Canadian warehouse is sold out."
I think it goes right past our town by train on the way to Ontario where it is then sorted into their warehouse and finally distributed to all the Canadian shops.
Pretty sure we could round up some quilters in our town that would be happy to meet the train to welcome it to Canada! LOL

"Northcott is a Canadian-owned and operated business founded in 1935."

Northcott site has a great article on how to use an awl to increase your efficiency as well as your quality of work!
Click on the link below to read all about it:

The History of Turkey Red Fabric

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We live in a world that is infatuated with colour, and perhaps no colour has influenced the world of quilt making more than Turkey red. Since the early nineteenth century, the combination of Turkey red cotton and white fabric has been a classic colour scheme. Aside from the simple and graphic appeal of the contrast, quilters loved Turkey red because it was colourfast and did not fade.
In terms of fabric, Turkey red is exclusively attributed to bright, clear, cherry-red cotton. However, this colour is the result of a unique dying process, which began in India and moved west to the region around Turkey and Greece known as the Levant. It was a costly and complex method involving up to seventeen steps, with many steps repeated multiple times. Until the process was refined, it took up to twenty-five days to produce this brilliant red colour on cotton.
To read this fascinating article on the red and white quilts through the years click on the read more button.

Donna Fleury

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Donna Fleury created this gorgeous quilt using Kaffe fabrics with bold dotted background. The bright colours with the strong background work so well!
She came in to quilt it with help from Mr.Bill using the E2E design Seamless so as to not add more pattern on top of what is already there. Top thread is Glide Mint.

Thank you to Donna for inspiring us all!

Marg Kinney

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Marg Kinney created this gorgeous Southwestern themed quilt using the free pattern from Robert Kaufman called Garden Tiles.
The pattern is fairly easy to do and a great way to use a collection of themed fabrics. Quilt finishes at 62" x 85".

Link to the pattern download:
https://www.robertkaufman.com/assets/pdf/Garden-Tiles.pdf

Marg chose the E2E quilting pattern Fort which has a modern geometric design to it. Thread choice is Warm Grey 6.

Thank you to Marg for sharing with us all.

Melody Swanson

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Melody Swanson started with her large stash of batik fabrics and created this incredible quilt by joining random pieces together.
She then surrounded them with the framing pieces for this fantastic finish! We were just gobsmacked at the quilt and how a simple design can really shine!
Melody's quilt finished at 88" x 93" and she is considering adding to it. She chose a poly batting as she wanted a puffy look.

Melody's choice of quilting pattern is Double Bubble for a fun all over design to lock down every seam. The thread could have been almost any colour but Glide Dijon was the winner.

Thank you to Melody for inspiring us all with your talents!

Debbie Dobson

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Debbie Dobson is here with her gorgeous Butterfly panel quilt.
Yes, this one starts with a panel and with very clever blocks and sashing the panel goes from a 24" panel to a 53" x 65" wowser of a lap quilt.

Appropriately enough, she chose Butterfly Waltz for the E2E design and Glide thread colour Marine for the top.

Thank you to Debbie for sharing with us all! You are amazing!

Debbie Dobson

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Debbie Dobson again but this time with a Janson Yenter pattern from In the Beginning Fabrics. Urban Jungle is stunning with all the deep rich colours and the artwork is amazing. Cityscapes, florals and I believe there is even a cat in there walking on the sidewalk!

Quilt finished at 54" x 74" and is a bit of an older one. I do love the way the patterns doesn't have you cutting all those amazing fabrics too small. Let them really stand out!

Quilting design chosen is Double Bubble and thread is Glide Fuchsia.

Thank you to Debbie for again really giving us all the push to get those projects done!

Michelle Allen

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Michelle Allen designed this quilt herself using Tilda and Laundry Basket fabrics!
All bias edges, a gorgeous palette of fabrics and perfect joins of her blocks!
To top it all off, she had enough fabrics left over to make a lap quilt!!!
Holy toledo that is well done Michelle!

This quilt is a big one finishing at 100" x 112". The quilting design chosen is Bubbles with glide thread Warm Grey 6 for the top.

Thank you to Michelle for sharing your amazing creation with us all!

The Grand Star

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Have you always wanted to try a largish star quilt?
Been a bit intimidated? Looks can be deceiving and we have found a free pattern from Robert Kaufman.
This one finishes at 75" x 75" with lots of room to make it bigger or perhaps you want to make it a rectangle for the bed?
Your fabric choices will be 3 meters for the background but everything else is pretty manageable. at .25 meters. Notice that one star point is in the pink and the other in green so that might help in choosing your fabrics. You will also need .6 (24") for the binding.

Click on the link below if you are interested in the free pattern:

Wide Backing

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We have had quite a few new Wide Backings arrive at the shop.
Very exciting as they are all so very different! Could be my attention span when I place orders too?
We have Bliss from Northcott which is always popular. We have flowers (of course) by Lewis and Irene, Moda Grunge 108" in what they call grey, but I would say is a soft Denim Blue, Moda Collage, my personal favourite, and is shown in this article, soft purples by Benartex as well a gorgeous spring green.
Check them all out in the shop or online by clicking on the Read More button:

Monday Morning with Paulette

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The Amazing Paulette Eccleston is back to doing Sew Your Stash projects the last Monday of each month.
She is amazing with her designs and ideas to use up your stash!
The next one is March 31st and it is a gorgeous one. Check it out and let me know if you need a pattern.

The last Monday morning of the month, Paulettle Eccleston will be showing one of her scrap quilts with instructions for how to put the block together!!!
Next quilt is Monday March 31st.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be kept in the loops as to all the shenanigans going on at the Shelf.
Click on the Read More button to go right to our YouTube Channel!

Tips and tricks, inspiration, trips down memory lane and of course there are bound to be some giggles in there.

The patterns will be free but I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to attach to the video.
In the interim you can email me to request the pattern and I am happy to forward you the pattern.
info@fabricshelf.ca

Click on the Read More button to take you right to the You Tube Channel

Sewing Machine Repair

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Now is a great time to get your machine all tuned up and ready for the upcoming retreat season, upcoming graduations and weddings or baby time. There is always a reason for quilting!

Hector, Tammy, Kyla and Ai are fabulous machine technicians with fast, reliable service.
Truly a family business, they are well versed on most brands of machines. Sewing machines and sergers are their specialty.

Fast service and warrantied.
Prices on machine services are as follows:

Under Warranty                                       No Charge
No Service                                               $45 Min. charge
Sergers and Electronic Machines         $150
Basic machine                                        $110
Embroidery & Bernina Series 7             $180
Longarm (NOT APQS ) + Industrial       $150  
              
Scissor sharpening                                  $10
Pinking/ Hair dressers/Spring Loaded    $12
Medical/ Vet Scissors                                $15