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Tuesday February 26, 2008 Edition
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New Haven Quilt Shop Is A Stop In The 2008 Shop Hop

Jean Clark at Knits & Bolts.
photo by Dale Piper
Jean Clark at Knits & Bolts.

Tuesday February 26, 2008

By Dale Piper

   Knits & Bolts, Jean Clark's fabric and yarn shop at New Haven Junction, will be five years old this June and is bigger than ever.  More than doubled in size, the shop has been dubbed the largest combined shop in Vermont by Jean's suppliers.  With an extensive line of quilting fabrics, Knits and Bolts also carries just about any kind of yarn a knitter could want.  The big thing this season is socks!  They are relatively quick and portable, and the shop carries the largest selection of sock yarn in the area.  Another very popular knitting project is hats for cancer victims who are undergoing chemotherapy.  Knits & Bolts is a drop-off point for the hats and carries a wide variety of yarns that are perfect for fashionable head decor. Jean recommends cotton yarn for spring- and summer-weight hats.

   The other side of the store is awash in bolts of fabric for quilting projects, with new ones arriving constantly.  The shop also features a full schedule of classes, from beginner sewing to intricate quilt patterns.  Jean is also increasing the number of daytime classes for people who prefer not to drive at night.  There are also fun events scheduled.  Quilt Camp is a weekend of sewing at the shop, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon with meals provided.  Another activity is the Strip Club, where a quiltmaker can purchase a packet of precut fabric strips to complete a really fun quilt top made up of the strips in a variety of colors.  Jean is planning to launch an online shop in the near future, as she already has customers from out of the area who have their merchandise mailed to them.  She takes great pride in keeping prices very reasonable while keeping quality high.

    Probably the biggest event is the Shop Hop, which runs from March 8th through the 16th.  During that time, quilters visit all fourteen participating quilt shops all around the state, having their “passport” stamped at each shop.  Those who complete the circuit of all fourteen are eligible to win a variety of prizes, from a basket of sewing goodies to a $500 gift certificate redeemable at any of the shops.  During that week each shop gives a participant a pattern, and once all shops have been visited the fourteen patterns can be combined to complete a quilt.  In addition, all participating shops have expanded hours during that week and are offering Shop Hop specials.

    The Shop Hop booklet, which includes all of the participating stores, can be picked up at Knits & Bolts, or at Thread Connections in Middlebury, another participating dealer.  Interested quilters can also log onto www.vermontshophop.com for more information.  


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