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Northwoods Quilt Trek – October 2-9, 2026

Celebrate autumn in Minnesota by joining us for the Northwoods Quilt Trek, a special shop hop along Highways 35 and 61 during peak fall color season. From Friday, October 2nd through Friday, October 9th, you’ll have the opportunity to visit 11 wonderful quilt shops from Lutsen to White Bear Lake.

What You’ll Find Along the Way

• Prize Drawings – Register at each shop for a chance to win a $75 gift basket.

• Exclusive Quilt Block - At each stop along the Northwoods Quilt Trek, you’ll receive a unique 12" quilt block pattern designed especially for the event. Love the block? Each shop will also have a coordinating kit available for purchase for just $5.00!

• Grand Prize – Complete the hop and to be entered into the drawing to win a JUKI sewing machine (valued at $1,799), generously provided by Country Loft Quilt & Design.

Participating Shops (North to South)

• 47 Degrees North – Lutsen

• Quilt Corner – Beaver Bay

• One Old Loon – Two Harbors

• StitchCraft Quilt Factory – Duluth

• Creations Quilt Shop – Duluth

• Quilted Dog Quilt Shop – Cloquet

• Quarry Quilts & Yarns – Sandstone

• The Cutting Edge Quilt Shop – Rush City

• She Shed Quilts – North Branch

• Country Loft Quilt & Design – Almelund

• Affinity for Quilts – White Bear Lake
   

  This year, every participating shop will have guaranteed Northwoods Quilt Trek hours, making it easier to plan your route! All 11 shops will be open Monday–Friday from 10:00 am–5:00 pm and Saturday–Sunday from 11:00 am–3:00 pm. 
  
  Affinity For Quilts will be open additional hours during the Quilt Trek. Be sure to check our complete hours listed below as you plan your visit!
  
  Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy Minnesota's fall beauty, stock up for the winter season, and support your favorite small-town quilt shops.  
  
  Dates:  October 2nd - October 9th, 2026
  Northwoods Quilt Trek Hours:  Mon-Fri10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-3pm
  Affinity For Quilts Hours:  Mon-Sat 9am-5pm  Sunday October 4th 11am-5pm.

Top-A-Long Sewing Adventure

We’re excited to bring back the Affinity For Quilts Top-A-Long for another season of sewing, sharing, and quilting fun! Our last Top-A-Long was such a wonderful experience, and we’re looking forward to gathering our quilting community together once again.

If you’re new to the fun, a Top-A-Long is a collaborative sewing experience where quilters work on the same quilt top or runner each month. With the cooler months ahead, it’s the perfect excuse to spend a little more time in your sewing room while being part of a fun quilting community.

Over the next seven months, we’ll make a different quilt top or runner each month using patterns from Villa Rosa Designs. Along the way, we’ll also introduce you to some of the talented designers behind these popular patterns. We encourage you to shop your stash and finally use some of those special fabrics you’ve been saving for just the right project!

On the first Saturday of each month, we’ll gather at Affinity For Quilts for our Top-A-Long event. You’ll receive that month’s FREE pattern, enjoy show-and-tell from the previous month, and see the new sample quilt or runner revealed in the shop. And there’s a little mystery involved—you won’t know which pattern we’re making next until the meeting!

Can’t attend in person? You can still participate! We’ll mail your free pattern so you can sew along from home. Send us a photo of your completed quilt top or runner by text or email, and you’ll be included in that month’s prize drawing.

Finish your project each month and you’ll be entered to win a fun quilty prize!  Plus, quilters who participate throughout the seven-month Top-A-Long will have a chance at our grand prize: one lucky participant will have the quilt top of their choice professionally longarm quilted, courtesy of Diana!

Whether you join us at the shop or sew along from home, we hope you’ll be part of another season of sewing, sharing, stash-busting, and quilting fun at Affinity For Quilts!

Kick-off Date:  Saturday, October 3 , 2026
Time:  9:30am
Instructor:  Diana Wendorf and Becky Umenthum
Class Fee:  $20.00  (includes monthly Villa Rosa pattern)

Sashiko Club

Join our Sashiko Club! This is an instructor led open stitching group. During your time together, you will work on your own individual projects and get tips and pointers from other stitchers, and our talented instructor Tammy Berry. During each club Tammy arrives prepared to share patterns, techniques, or a project she is working on. Stitchers are welcome any time throughout the year. Join us for every session or for a few sessions as your time allows.   

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Time:  9:30pm-12:30pm
Instructor:  Tammy Berry
Class Fee:  $15.00

What to Bring:

• Your Singer Featherweight sewing machine
• Sewing supplies and materials for your current project
• Any finished projects you'd like to share with the group
• Your enthusiasm and love for sewing!

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
Club Leader:  Diana Wendorf
Club Fee: $15.00

Scrappy Half-Rectangle Triangle Quilt
Foundation Paper Piecing

Have you been curious about foundation paper piecing but aren’t quite sure where to start? This beginner-friendly class is a fun, approachable introduction to the technique—and a great way to put some of your favorite scraps to work!

Using Leila Gardunia’s Scrappy Half-Rectangle Triangle Foundations Pad, you’ll learn the basics of foundation paper piecing while experimenting with fabrics, colors, and block arrangements.

You’ll also get to try freezer paper foundation piecing and compare it with the traditional method. Pre-printed freezer paper foundations and the materials needed to try this technique will be provided in class.

In this class, students will learn how to:

• Understand the basics of foundation paper piecing
• Create accurate half-rectangle triangle blocks
• Try both traditional and freezer paper foundation piecing
• Use scraps, prints, and solids in different color combinations
• Arrange finished blocks in a variety of creative layouts

Turn your blocks into mug rugs, table runners, a quilt, or something completely your own. Once you learn the technique, the possibilities are nearly endless!

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 9:30am–4:30pm
Instructor: Susan Drabek
Skill Level: Beginner Paper Piecing
Class Fee: $70.00

Starburst Tree Skirt

Add a handmade touch to your holiday decorating with the Starburst Tree Skirt! This beginner-friendly foundation paper piecing class is a great opportunity to learn new techniques while creating a beautiful tree skirt to enjoy for years to come.

In this class, students will learn how to:

• Build confidence with foundation paper piecing
• Use chain piecing to make construction more efficient
• Accurately align angled pieces for precise piecing
• Bind angles that are different from the traditional 90-degree corners

Whether foundation paper piecing is new to you or you'd simply like more practice, this festive project is a fun way to build your skills and create something special for the holiday season.

Class Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Class time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Instructor: Susan Drabek
Class Fee: $70.00
Skill Level: Beginner Paper Piecing

Beginning Sashiko Class
Coaster Class

In this engaging class, students will learn the art of Sashiko, a traditional Japanese running stitch embroidery technique. Led by Tammy, an expert in the craft, participants will enjoy a morning exploring the fundamentals of Sashiko stitching.

During this class, students will focus on the intricacies of the Japanese running stitch, while working on a pre-printed coasters project specifically designed for beginners. This hands-on experience provides an ideal starting point for those new to Sashiko, allowing them to develop essential skills and techniques in a supportive environment.

Beyond learning the basics, students will discover the versatility of Sashiko stitching as Tammy will share her knowledge, offering invaluable tips, tricks, and insights to help students refine their stitching proficiency.

With minimal supplies required, participants can easily immerse themselves in this wonderful hobby creating beautiful hand-stitched pieces.

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: Tammy Berry
Class Fee: $35.00
Skill Level: Beginner

Big Giant Quilted Bow Class
Go big with the Big Giant Beautiful Bow! This fun, oversized project is perfect for making a statement on your front door—dress it up for the holidays, add a festive touch for a party, or create one in seasonal fabrics to welcome a new season.
In this class, students will learn how to:

• Experiment with quilting stitches on a smaller project
• Sew and manage multiple layers of fabric and batting
• Use a turning tool
• Create simple patchwork and piecing
• Turn and topstitch for a finished look

Choose from a reversible patchwork, wholecloth, or reversible hybrid version and have fun making your Big Giant Beautiful Bow uniquely yours!

Class Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Class Time: 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Instructor: Linda Heimerl
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Class Fee: $45.00

Boro Sashiko

Discover the beauty of Japanese hand stitching in our Boro Sashiko class with instructor Tammy Berry. Using fabric scraps and Sashiko embroidery supplies, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind textile art piece inspired by the centuries-old tradition of Boro Sashiko. This slow-stitch method embraces visible mending, raw edges, and a hand-sewn aesthetic, making each creation truly unique.

Whether you’re completely new to Sashiko or looking to expand your stitching repertoire, this class will guide you through essential techniques while encouraging creative expression. You’ll learn how to layer fabrics, experiment with stitch patterns, and repurpose your favorite textiles into something beautiful and functional.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to prepare and layer fabrics for Boro Sashiko project
• Boro Sashiko stitching techniques
• Creative ways to repurpose and reuse fabric scraps
• Tips for achieving balanced and visually appealing designs

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Instructor: Tammy Berry
Class Fee: $35.00
Skill Level: Beginner

Flash Monday – November

Cut It Out Scissors Case – A ByAnnie Pattern

Keep your favorite scissors safe and stylish with this quick and practical project! In this Flash Monday class, you’ll create a handy scissors case using the Cut It Out pattern by ByAnnie—perfect for tossing into your sewing bag or keeping tools organized at home.

This beginner-friendly project is a great introduction to working with Soft and Stable and simple bag-making techniques, all in a fun, low-pressure class setting.

In this class, students will learn how to:

• Work with ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable for structure 
• Create and apply binding to finish edges 
• Install a simple closure (magnet snap or ByAnnie snap) 
• Use helpful tools like double-sided tape and a stiletto for cleaner results 

You’ll leave class with a finished scissors case and a project you’ll want to make again for gifts—or to keep all your scissors organized!

Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
Time: 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Instructor:  Lisa Giebink
Skill Level:  Beginner Bag Maker
Class Fee: $15.00

• Add a professional finishing detail with a zipper overlay
• Attach binding to neatly cover the raw edges of a drop-in lining
• Use a simplified method for attaching a rectangular bottom to a rounded bag body

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Instructor: Ruth Thompson
Class Fee: $60.00
Skill Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate