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Stitchin’ time: New shop offers quilting classes

  • Published
  • By Becky Pillifant
  • 72nd Force Support Squadron Marketing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  The faint humming of sewing and embroidery machines can be heard coming from the R and B Quilt Shop located in the Services Mall, Bldg. 478.

This unique little shop opened in March and is filled with quilting fabrics and supplies such as fat quarters, quilting kits, jelly rolls, quilting tools, quilts, bags, totes and daytime and evening instructional classes.

The shop offers beginner daytime quilting classes on a come-and-go basis during shop hours. Cost is $60 for 12 hours of instruction in which students complete a 40-by-60-inch lap quilt. Hours of operation is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays.

Students in the evening class said they have fun and do a lot of laughing. "Some of us keep coming back and we learn a lot from others and get great support," one student said.

Classes are offered in the Arts and Crafts Center sewing room from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays. Instructor Becky Mizell has made more than 5,000 quilts during the past 17 years and has been an instructor at arts and crafts for the past two years.

"I love quilting and all the quilts I make are made with love," said Mrs. Mizell.

Mrs. Mizell said she can cutout and layout the pieces of a queen-size quilt and sew them together in two and a half hours. "What takes the most time is the top stitching, which is done with the long arm machine," she said.

The shop also features personalized embroidery on all types of bags and totes etc. In the near future watch the Tinker Take Off for T-shirt quilts, appliqué and embroidery machine workshops.

Starting June 1, the quilt shop will offer a make-it and take-it workshop from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. Students will make pillow shams in this class and do not need any quilting or sewing experience. For more information or to register for classes, call 243-8204.

Sign up now for the Double Wedding Ring Queen size quilt workshop offered from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evenings in the sewing classroom, starting July 14 through Aug. 11. Cost is $160 and all supplies are included. Students in this class must have taken Mrs. Mizell's beginning course. There is a minimum of four students and a maximum of 10.