3 Weekend Sales & 1 Starts Today! Plus, Your Wool Questions Answered.
We just received a huge shipment of wool and it got me thinking about what a wonderful medium it really is. We humans have been washing, weaving and wearing wool since 10,000 BCE. It's warm, natural, sustainable and versatile. It's texture is unmatched and it accepts dye in a unique way, creating rich color. It only makes sense that it should be an important part of the textile arts. Whether you're using wool to piece an entire quilt top, create pattern through wool applique, or even hook a rug, there are a few frequently asked questions we can answer when it comes to working with this beautiful fiber.
P.S. We're in the midst of a Woolie Weekend Sale! Today & Tomorrow, January 19 & 20, Enjoy 20% off wool kits and wool yardage cut from the bolt! Online shoppers, use code WOOL20 for the same great deal! Some exclusions may apply, may not be combined with other offers. Discount does not apply to hand-dyed wool by the ounce or wool BOM kits.
Is there a difference between wool felt and felted wool? Yes! While their origin is the same (wool roving), they are completely different textiles. Felted wool is woven wool yarns that are washed in hot water and dried on high heat. This contracts the wool giving a loftier texture and mats the fibers in a way that reduces fraying. Wool felt, on the other hand, is made from wool fibers (not yarns) that are matted, condensed and pressed to form a flat medium. There is no weave in wool felt.
What type of wool do we carry? 100% wool in the most wonderful woven textures. They arrive from the mill rolled onto bolts by the yard (shown above). At 58"/60" wide, they are ideal for sewing projects of all kinds; garments, home decor and our favorite -- quilts. Wool on the bolt is unfelted and sold by the yard at the shop. We even offer a selection online to which we are continually adding new options!
A portion of the woven wool we receive is then hand-dyed by our own Marianne Michaels and Kathy Shinners to create a spectrum of colorful wool unique to our shop. How do they do it? Acid dyes are used in a high temperature dye bath to penetrate the protein-based wool fiber. Various color "recipes" are combined to achieve a broad selection of color and visual texture. No two pieces are exactly alike! Part of the beauty in hand-dyed wool is the individual character found in each piece. Felting the woven wool is part of the hand-dying process. We offer hand-dyed, felted wool (shown above) in flat folds, large scraps and "wee woolies" (tiny scraps) all sold by the ounce.
What can be made with wool? If you can sew it, wool is a possibility! At the Corn Wagon we love to use felted wool to applique on wool or cotton backgrounds. The wool is easy to cut and can be left with a raw edge. It's very forgiving and can be "sculpted" in a way that cotton applique pieces cannot. Quilts, table toppers, pillows, ornaments, wall decor... the list goes on and on.
The two wool applique projects shown above are available as kits! A Snowman's Love is a cute ornament project from Jerome Thomas Designs that can be displayed all winter long. Lil Anderson made our sample complete with embellishment stitches and tiny buttons. The Hello Snow Pillow by Primitive Gatherings is a fun example of using felted wool on a cotton background. We have kits for this one too!
Can you even believe the cuteness factor on this Scalloped Snowheads Mat by Buttermilk Basin? It's a great example of using wool applique on a felted wool background. Elizabeth Nesbit stitched this one up and added clever embellishments like scarf fringe, hat pom poms, and teeny buttons. Wouldn't you know it, we have kits!
And finally, how does wool rug hooking work? For this explanation, I recommend getting in on one of our rug hooking classes. How many of you would be interested in us offering a YouTube tutorial all about primitive rug hooking? It's fun, easy and, like most textile arts, addicting. We even have a free club that meets once a month here at the shop where you can bring your rug hooking projects and spend an afternoon with other wool enthusiasts! Check out the details here.
What other questions do you have about working with wool? Ask one of our team or send us an email and we'll do our best to keep you up to date with the latest and greatest in woolie projects!
SPRING S.A.B.L.E. SALE!
Vendor registration will open online under "classes" Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. (01/22/24)! Our Spring S.A.B.L.E. Sale will be held Saturday, June 1st, 9 am - 2 pm, rain or shine (set up begins at 7:30 am). If you're a quilter who is ready to part with a portion of your glorious stash, this is a fantastic way to ensure it goes to a loving home where it will be appreciated. Mark your calendars and come see what treasures you may find!
Our Wooly Weekend Sale is just one of three sales happening over the coming weekends!
Help us Celebrate Local Quilt Shop Day with our Essentials Sale next Friday & Saturday. January 26th & 27th you can load up on all the essentials with 20% off Notions, Books and Patterns! Online shoppers use code ESSENTIALS20 those dates for the same great sale.
Then kick off February with our I LOVE FABRIC Sale! Friday & Saturday, February 2nd & 3rd, we're taking 20% off our selection of Valentines Day Fabric yardage. Online shoppers use code ILOVEFABRIC on those dates. We're taking it a step further in-store and including any fabric or kit that contains red!
Upcoming Sales & Events
Magic Word Monday
This Monday's Magic Word is "WOOLIE" Enter the magic word as a coupon code online 01/22/24 to receive FREE SHIPPING SITE-WIDE! Local customers can repeat the Magic Word at the register on Magic Word Monday and show that you follow us on social media for 20% off one regular price item of your choice! Some exclusions may apply. Cannot be combined with other offers. We will not hold items or pre-cut yardage for this special offer.
Handwork Club
Every Tuesday, 10:00am - Noon
This delightful weekly club is for anyone who would like to work on a hand stitching project while learning new hand stitching skills. It's a great chance to finish our own projects and relax with a fun gathering of sewing friends. No fee to attend. Simply come and join us!
Wrong Price Wednesday!
Every Wednesday our pre-cut fat quarters are only $3.00! Regular Price $3.75.
Time Out at the Wagon (Open Sew)
Every Wednesday, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Put yourself in Time Out at the Wagon in our School House located directly behind the quilt shop! At times we all need time out from housework, phone calls, and everyday responsibilities. Bring your current sewing project to “Time Out at the Wagon” and do just that. Marsha is looking forward to being in Time Out and hopes lots of you will join her.
Thank you for supporting your local brick-and-mortar quilt shop!
We feel honored to be part of such a wonderful quilt-making community.
We hope you'll visit us again soon,
Jen and the Girls
at Corn Wagon Quilt Co.
We would love to hear from you!
801-491-3551
cornwagonquilts.com