Hand-dyed wool and reproduction cottons at The Woolen Needle in historic Williamsburg, Iowa, remind crafters of a simpler era. The shop has supplies for quilting, rug hooking, penny rugs, and punch-needle projects.
Front row, from left: Sandy Marine, Julie Zuber, and Mary Blythe (owner); second row: Erick Wolfmeyer, Carol Zuber, Annette Boland, Carla Brinkman, and Robin Blythe.
Owner Mary Blythe dyes about 12 to 15 yards of wool a day. The Woolen Needle houses more than 1,100 yards of fabric and has an additional 3,000 yards stashed upstairs.
Add personality with pattern instead of texture. Quilt tester Laura Boehnke used reproduction prints from Silk Road collection by Benartex. For a quicker finish—and a super sleek look—Laura machine-appliquéd each shaping using color-coordinated thread. To keep things minimal, she did not add vines to the corners.
Contact The Woolen Needle to purchase a copy of Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Quilt Sampler magazine. Issues are also available at your local quilt shop, on newsstands, and online.