August 2024 Newsletter

Woohoo, I think we are still recovering from our busy July here on the Ridge! What a month we had!  We had the best time at The North East Ohio Quilt Show in Wooster, Ohio.  It was our first year, but we will be back.  The booth we had was awesome and so busy.  We also provided 40 beautiful BERNINA machines for the two great classrooms.  The classes were very, very popular and kept us hopping.  It was great seeing SEW many friends. Make sure you mark your calendar for the 2025 show: July 17 to July 19, 2025. 

The following weekend was our 39th Anniversary Party and Sale. Thank you Walnut Hollow Parochial School for the wonderful breakfasts and lunches!  If you did not stop by, you truly missed out.  The lunch stacks and homemade cookies and pies were wonderful. They have already agreed to join us in 2025!  This year our Grand Prize was the BERNINA 790 Plus.  Congratulations to our 2024 Winner, Grace Weaver of Wilmot, Ohio!

We also had another star among us. The new BERNINA 990 was on display, and boy is that a beautiful machine! We are anxiously awaiting the delivery of the first machines from our pre-sale. If you haven't had the chance to see this amazing machine, please stop by and see our store’s floor model.  She is gorgeous!  We are offering a special event, “Stitchwise: The Ultimate BERNINA”, on October 1. There will be two sessions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During this event, our good friend Kathy Shalda will lead us through a lecture/demo of the BERNINA 990 and all of its amazing features.  Kathy is also offering a Serger Showcase of the BERNINA L 890 on October 2.  This hands-on event showcases the BERNINA L 8 overlockers and various presser feet and accessories. During the event, you will explore several cutting-edge serger techniques, including the twice-as-nice stitch, flatlock seaming, and serger fringe. All these techniques come together in a wall-hanging project inspired by Barbara Goldkorn’s wall-hanging organizer. 

Right after we cleaned up from the Anniversary Sale, it was time for the beginning of the All Ohio Shop Hop, which goes until September 30th.  We look forward to your visit and have lots of goodies to share with you. One of the Ohio Shop Hop quilts was designed by our own Joanne Hubbard. Her quilt is on display, and kits are available.  We have plenty of magazines, shop hop fabric, and much more.  Stop by, take a selfie, and grab a cold water!  

BERNINA is Blooming with FREE Gifts! Purchase the BERNINA of your dreams and receive a wonderful gift package. These awesome deals go through the entire month of August.

• Purchase a B 790 Pro or B 590 and receive Sewing, Embroidery, and Quilting Gift Packages, valuing $4,221

• Purchase a B 570 QE or QEE or  B 770 QE Plus E and receive Sewing, Embroidery, and Quilting Gift Packages, valuing $4,221

• Purchase a B 570 QE or B 770 QE Plus and receive Sewing and Quilting Gift Packages, valuing $1,722

• Purchase a B 500 E or B 700 E and receive an Embroidery Gift Package, valuing $2,499

• Purchase a B 535 E and receive a Sewing and Embroidery Package, valuing $3,144

• Purchase a B 480 or B 535 and receive a Sewing Package, valuing $645

• Purchase a L 8 Series and receive a Serger Package, valuing $1,149

• Purchase a Q Series Sit-Down Longarm and receive a Sit-Down Gift Package, valuing $2,100

• Purchase a Q Series Frame Longarm and receive a Q Series Frame Gift Package, valuing $3,300

The August Sew Savvy Block is all about couching, making your own custom cord, learning various couching techniques, and free motion couching. In this block-of-the-month series, you will create a fun, nine-block crazy patch wall quilt while gaining skills that you will use in all of your sewing projects. Each month Susan offers multiple uses for featured sewing machine feet, decorative stitches, needles, specialty threads, and more! You can also use your blocks as stand-alone mini-quilts, decorator pillows, tote bags, etc. All makes and models of machines are welcome! Join us August 14 for all the couching fun!

The Practical Digitizing series is starting on August 27. Class #1 focuses on lettering and design alignment and where to download fonts to be used with BERNINA 9 Software. Students will leave with valuable resources that were not included in the Mastery Classes. Please bring a laptop (with software installed and working) and a mouse. Please have completed Mastery Class #1 and #2 prior to this class.  If you have questions, please feel free to call. Betty also offers something for our advanced digitizers.  On September 5, join Betty for Advanced Digitizing - Stumpwork.  In this class, students will learn to digitize stumpwork. They will create a 3D design in which fine wire is sewn onto the fabric. If the student has access to the cutwork tool, they will also learn how to digitize cutwork to cut the flower petals from the fabric.

Carol will be busy in September! September 3 and 4 are all about her awesome card classes. On September 3, join Carol for Embroidery Card Class 201 and end your search for the perfect card for a friend or relative. With Donna Rauff’s techniques and designs and your embroidery machine, you can make beautiful, one-of-a-kind personalized cards. On September 4, Carol presents Holiday Sentiments Cards Class. Holiday Sentiments is all about helping you with the written sentiments on all the major holiday cards you create throughout the year. In this class, you have a huge “bank” of digitized words to mix and match to create what you want your card to say. In other words, you build your own sentiment. Because these words are all separate, you can arrange them in a pleasing manner wherever they will fit on your particular card. This allows you more freedom! This class includes your card kit, list of the words in alphabetical order, a PDF of the written instructions, and a list of the 180 sentiments Donna has developed. Your card making options will be endless!

Carol returns September 9 and 10 for the very popular Everything But the Machine Tote class. This tote is a must if you take sewing classes, like to sew and travel, or attend retreats where you need to bring everything. All of your sewing tools and notions can now be tucked away in an organized fashion in the 5-drawer case that has an adjustable strap so you can carry it in your hand, on your shoulder, or not carry it at all by using the trolley sleeve!

We are super excited to present our 3rd Annual Runway at the Ridge and know that you are going to be amazed when you see the entries. There’s still time to purchase your audience tickets. Not only will audience members enjoy seeing the entries; while enjoying delicious beverages and appetizers, they will be voting for the Viewers’ Choice Winner. The event will be held September 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm here at Chestnut Ridge Sewing. Categories include Youth Designer’s Choice, Adult Designer’s Choice, Quilting (piecing AND quilting), Bag, Apparel, and Embroidery. If you are participating in the All Ohio Shop Hop, why don’t you plan your travels around this event and end your day here?

Additionally, we have a very special workshop September 17th-19th. This is our first Color Confidence Workshop with Gerald Schwab.  Kick your color mojo into gear! This class is one in which you will explore color, fabric, and piecing techniques, so it will be a combination of exploration and play. Students will gain a deeper understanding of contrast and value, identify color inspiration in the world around them, and how to use technology to help plan and make their quilts. Space is limited for this workshop, so don’t wait to register!

Take your free motion quilting to the next level with ruler work!  We are honored to have Libby Van Treese with us for two sessions of Ruler Work for Q-Series Machines.  Libby is offering two sessions on October 4: October 4th Morning Session and October 4th Afternoon Session.  In Ruler Work for the Q-Series, you'll learn how to use both a straight ruler and the Good Measure Clamshells to create quilting designs. You'll also learn how to use a straight ruler to "stitch in the ditch", and unleash your creativity by using Good Measure Clamshells in new ways to fill blocks or create borders. Learn how to navigate straight-line quilting, how to quilt around curves, and find new ways to enhance your quilting with the use of ruler templates! This is a technique class.

Our first session of Claudia’s Creation Workshop is full; however, we do have a few spots left for her second session, running October 17 through October 19.  Join Claudia for her newest design Autumn Skies or you can work on any of her workshop-exclusive designs. This 3-day workshop will transform your embroidery forever.

The Berlin Grande Retreat is just around the corner!  Join us for our 3-day retreat with Janine Babich, Charisma Horton, and our very own instructors: Rhoda Beachy and Elisa Milano.  This year, you will complete a new Janine Babich embroidery design, a quilted table runner designed by Charisma Horton, and a fantastic serger project.  This event includes all kits and supplies, lunches, and use of BERNINA machines. We also have a block of rooms available at the BERLIN Grande at our special CRS Rate!  Only 9 spots available.

Save the date for our Krista Moser Retreats in 2025!

Enjoy fun new items coming to CRS!  For our Longarm quilting friends, we are excited to announce that we will be carrying Superior So Fine! thread. This is 50 weight, 3 ply, matte-finish, and lint-free polyester thread. So Fine! thread is designed for any type of sewing on a home or longarm machine. Its uses include quilting, sewing, and bobbin thread. So Fine! cones are even compatible with all sergers.  

The BERNINA Special Edition Red Walking Foot #50 will soon be hitting our shelves and online store! Call for availability.

As you can see, exciting things are happening at the Ridge! We are currently looking for a full-time Sewing Machine Technician/ Delivery Driver (no experience required).  Click the link for a complete job description and application. Join the amazing team at Chestnut Ridge Sewing!

We look forward to seeing you for ALL of our upcoming events! 

Enjoy the beautiful August weather, but be sure to

take time to go inside and create something!

Dawn, Mike, and the CRS Gang!