Holly Quilt Shop

10/15/2026

Earlier this week, we replied to a customer who shared how the gifts she’s made hold special memories for her, too. It got us thinking about how much we get back from the things we make and give. Maybe it’s time spent sewing with someone, choosing fabric just for them, or seeing their face light up when they realize how much of them is reflected in the gift.

Do you have a project that holds a special memory? If you’d like, share a photo and the story behind it in the comments. We’d love to hear it!

10/14/2026

Looking for something fun to do in Holly this Saturday? Join us at Holly Quilt Shop for our Stitch or Treat workshop!

We’ll be making a Halloween treat bag, and supplies are included. Come enjoy some sewing time and make something cute for trick-or-treating!

Find the details and sign up here:
https://hollyquiltshop.com/workshop-calendar

Questions? Give us a call at 248-264-3400.

10/13/2026

I’m really looking forward to getting started on holiday crafting! We’re having a Fabric Ornament Workshop at the shop!

We’ll be creating these beautiful fabric ornaments. They’re made from strips of fabric, and they turn out so pretty. You can hang them on your tree, use them as a unique package topper, or gift them to a friend.

Here are the details:
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
$30 per person (all supplies included)

Spots will go fast since space is limited to six people.
Register now on the website:
https://hollyquiltshop.com/workshop-calendar

10/12/2026

Sometimes a quilt top just needs a border to pull it all together. If you’ve ever tried a few different fabrics around the edges, you know how much that choice can change the look!

A border frames the quilt, much like a frame around a picture. It can bring out a color that’s already in your blocks, give a busy pattern some space, or continue the patchwork right out to the edges.

It also adds size, but wider isn’t always better. A wide border becomes a big part of what you see. Sometimes a narrow strip is all you need.

Borders have been part of quilt designs for more than 200 years. In medallion quilts, the design starts with a center and grows outward through rounds of borders. Those borders are a big part of the quilt itself.

The Smithsonian has one from 1790–1800 with a small center made of four triangles, surrounded by four pieced borders. Another from 1835–1845 has a Star of Bethlehem in the center with plain and pieced borders around it. Quilters were putting plenty of thought into their border choices back then, too!

If you’re unsure what your quilt needs, lay a few fabric options beside it and step back. Try a narrow border, then a wider one. You might be surprised which one you like best.

Do you stick with the borders in the pattern, or do you like to change them up?

10/11/2026

A big thank you to everyone that helped make bags or brought in donations! 💕

We aren’t stopping our support and will continue to accept donations and will still be making bags at the shop. Contact us for more information or to let us know when you can help sew! 😊

We would love to give a huge shout out to Holly Quilt Shop, Ethos Yoga, Winglemire Furniture, Totes and Aprons by Sue, all of the ladies who spent hours and hours sewing toiletry bags and collecting donations, and to the community for donating all of the items to fill the bags. Your donations were able to help us raise over $32,000 for HAVEN. We appreciate your support more than you know!

10/09/2026

We get asked all the time about workshops for beginners who want to learn how to quilt. We’ve been looking for a way to teach those basics with a project that feels manageable, and these Shuffle Mats are just the thing!

Our Learn the Basics: Fat Quarter Shuffle Mats is a three-workshop series where we’ll walk you through cutting, piecing, pressing, quilting, and binding. You’ll make your own mats while learning each step, with plenty of time to ask questions and get comfortable with the tools along the way.

We’ll meet on three Saturdays:
October 24, October 31, and November 7
Each workshop begins at 2:30 PM.

The cost is $100 for the entire series, and one registration covers all three dates. All project supplies are included. We’ll use the instructor’s pattern during the workshops, with the option to purchase your own afterward if you’d like to make more.

This series is for those learning the basics of quilting and is not intended for experienced quilters. Please make sure you can attend all three dates before signing up.

If you’ve been waiting for a place to start, we’d love to have you join us!

Find the details and register here:
https://hollyquiltshop.com/workshop-calendar

10/08/2026

It’s Sew & Tell Thursday!

The air is starting to get crisp, and you know what that means… it’s almost our time to shine! A chilly day, something warm to drink, and a little time at the sewing machine? Yes, please!

There’s a lot less guilt about staying inside when you’d need a coat to go out anyway. And that fabric we’ve been collecting? We were just preparing for sewing season. 😉

What are you working on this week?

10/05/2026

That soft, puckered texture a quilt gets after its first wash is called crinkle, and many quilters love it because it makes a new quilt feel cozy and lived in.

Crinkle happens when the fabric and batting shrink slightly around the quilting stitches. The amount can change depending on the fabric, batting, quilting density, whether the fabric was pre-washed, and how the finished quilt is washed and dried.

Closer quilting usually creates smaller, more even texture. Wider quilting can create a softer, puffier look. If you prefer a flatter finish, pre-washing fabric and using materials with lower shrinkage can reduce the effect, but it may not remove it completely.

Do you love that first-wash crinkle, or do you prefer your quilts smooth and crisp?

10/03/2026

Sometimes it is nice to get out of the house, bring your sewing machine, and spend an evening visiting and creating with other quilters.

We have two free Open Sew evenings coming up:
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 20
5:30 to 8:00 PM

Bring any project you are working on, or come help us make tote bags for HAVEN . These totes will be filled with toiletries and given to domestic violence survivors. All of the supplies needed to sew the totes will be provided, so you can simply sign up and come help.

No time to sew but still want to be part of it? We are collecting toiletries to fill the finished totes.

Recommended donations include:

• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Hairbrushes
• Combs
• Deodorant
• Hand creams
• Other personal care items

Learn more about HAVEN here:
https://haven-oakland.org

Open Sew is free, but space is limited, so please sign up through our calendar:
https://hollyquiltshop.com/workshop-calendar

If you have questions about the tote project or donations, call us at 248-264-3400.

10/02/2026

Halloween will be here before we know it, and we have such a fun afternoon planned at the shop! Our Stitch or Treat workshop is a kid-friendly sewing workshop where everyone will make their own Halloween treat bag, perfect for carrying all those goodies on Halloween night.

All of the project supplies are included, even the fabric. Just come ready to sew, and have fun.

Details & Registration here:

Join us for a fun Halloween sewing workshop and make your own trick-or-treat bag, perfect for carrying all those Halloween goodies! This workshop is kid-friendly, making it a fun seasonal project for young sewists. What’s Included: All project supplies are included with your registration, includin...