SCtMQG MEETING Notes April 11, 2026

24 Guild Members attended.

FYI:  May 9 Meeting Prep

o   May 9 is the last chance to bring in your blocks for the country’s 250th anniversary. Quilt blocks are to measure 12.5” square .

o   2025 Round Robin reveal (just top ok).

o   Extended sew with shared food provided by Members.  (NO PINEAPPLE!!)

o   Book Mark exchange …please include your name and the name of your recipient. Wrap if you like.

o   Spring Sleep-Away Retreat May 14-17. 

April’s meeting included a Special Guest: Scott Fortunoff, President of Jaftex Fabrics[1].  He started quilting about 6 months ago.  At a one-week class in AZ, Scott met Amy, a new SCtMQG Member, and they discovered they live 2 streets apart.  Taking serendipitous advantage, he was invited to our meeting and Amy interviewed him. 

Thank you Scott, for sharing your company with us, the stories and its product.

Scott’s great grandfather started the business using a cart in NYC.   In 2018, the business purchased Free Spirit and its warehouse.  Now Scott and his brother Greg run the business.  They do seek input from their retired father, especially since he stays in touch with “his people,” from his time in the business.

Scott has experience in finance and also a law degree.  He pointed out that law impacts everything in the business: working with designers, production, etc.  Not surprising, the background in finance helps with running the business.  Scott’s role focuses on selling; key is sales, social media, marketing.  He oversees the warehouses in the Carolinas.  His brother oversees production, primarily in Korea and Pakistan.  It’s a good balance.  4th generation may be sons Brett and Aaron.

OPPORTUNITY: “Scott Sent Me” – visit as many shops as possible in e.g. 3 mo. There will be prizes.  Many prizes.

QR code - visit the shop – he (and team) seek to help get customers into shops

Scott often visits shops; he seeks opportunities to help the shops sell fabric.  One approach is that Jaftex offers lots of free patterns.  They see their role as helping the shops succeed, which means their fabric is being sold.

Biggest challenges lately;

Tariffs – annoying.  Trying to get the money back.  Semi-calm.

Prices increased.

War and its impact.

Designers to move to Pakistan.  Does anyone remember any more detail about this? If not, I’ll remove it.  Seems unlikely that all designers would up and move continents. 

In hot zones – impact depends how war plays out but fabric is not likely to go away.

Shot Cottons:

Pepper Corry has a line of shot cottons – slightly heavier weight than Kaffe’s.

About Fabric –

o   68 square vs 60 square threads meaning how many threads per inch.

o   20 or 10 thread refers to its thickness.

How does Jaftex choose designers?  Many approaches:  agencies, designers… there are a zillion ways. House lines by staff (using fake names)….Acquire companies e.g. purchasing Free Spirit from Coats & Clark. email “not working” (?) 

Amy Butler – doing own thing.  H&H Chicago[2]. 

Digitally printed fabric – they are doing more of this now.

In this case, a collection is 10 pieces.  While the traditional fabric printing approach has an 800 yd production minimum (15 yds per bolt), digital allows smaller runs of 300 yds.  Traditional printing allows only 18 colors (this infers more for printed fabric and it makes sense; is there a color limit for dyeing?)  Inventory needs careful control to avoid close-outs (reducing price to draw down inventory).

Digital printing requires different dyes as they are dropped on the fabric and tend to sit on top.  While sewing, white base may come thru, i.e., needling.  A couple of Guild members commented that the fabric fades more quickly than traditional fabric.

Color cards are made for each collection. The cards show the fabrics and ways it/they could be used; this often includes  free quilt patterns.  “We kill ourselves making the cards.”

New fabric lines are released by Jaftex Fabrics  in Jan, Apr, Jul, and Oct with 15 per company.  Typically they pre-sell 4-5 months before their production and place orders based on the interest shown.

New lines typically comprise 10 designs with a minimum of 1000 yds each.  35% of customers buy 1350 yds for delivery in 3-4 mo.  When it comes in, the Jaftex company ships 1250 yds.  That leaves 100 yds for pre-orders or restock/online sales.  This approach helps manage inventory better than previously.  A key need is to avoid the cadence of close out (sequential drop of price). 

That means there are usually 300-400 fabric lines/year.  The all-time most popular fabric is Tula Pink. 

Sales Reps and Distributors.  Multi-line Reps.  Shop pays $5/yd; Jaftex gets at $4/yd.  All sell to customers.

Henry Glass designs offer 24” panel with only 8 yd/bolt. 

Influence on merchandising in shop?  Relationship with shops impacts quantity sold.  It’s cyclical with stores.  (What gets said in room, stays in room.  (Juicy stories sometimes.))

With Free Spirit, Scott set up a trip to go see Kaffe.  Spent a long time talking with Brandon.  A tour of the house revealed a mosaic seaglass floor and led to sensory overload with beauty everywhere.  Kaffe is a machine, always working, sewing. 

They had him enter and sit in a chair in the middle with all their technical people, lawyers, and acountants around …he said yes to everything.

With Tula Pink, the first introductory call was bad especially due to the bad connection.  People from both sides were talking at the same time. 

Jaftex has not incorporated organic fabric into the business.

The store in Colchester, CT is the store Scott supports; there’s something at Colchester in September.  Tims Holz design.

Jaftex receives unsolicited designs often, even daily.  90% of time not dot and/or lines.  From the Design, they build a fabric group.

Who decides on designs?  Group think (not his language)

Is there special fabric for an anniversary?

There is fabric from 80th, 85th, & 90th anniversary.

Grandfather’s scrapbook includes lots of historical information.  Second fabric with 21 different companies …

96th anniversary this year.  Sales to the garment industry also. 

If not this job, then what would you do?  - Scott’s been in the industry more than 10 years.   He would like to do more charitable work.  For example, they adopt Guilds to whom to provide fabric for the Guild’s charitable work.

Activity Updates

Nancy took a Paper Piecing class last month.  There’s almost always more than one way to do something.  The best way to do it/something, is to enjoy doing it and the results. 

Show and Share –  fine quilts as always

Good Works

We’d like to collect scraps, leftovers, no-longer-loved fabrics for the Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport.  They have a program to give immigrant women fabric & sewing machines.

Swanson’s fabric – pounds of fabric

Sew Power – menstrual pads for e.g. Africa

Tails of Cloth, Eden quilt via EPP, can purchase Pay for Piece

Cindy Griselda…(what about her?)

Class for bags…

Kona Cottons…kit for Half Square Triangles…

How to make Binding from a couple of Fat Quarters.

Committee Reports:

Programming:

-        May reminders:  2025 Block Round Robin Reveal; top only is fine

-        Book Mark Gift Exchange – wrap if you like; please include To: and From:

-        250th anniversary 12 ½” Wonky Star Blocks due

-        At May meeting, some will plan the layout for the Wonky stars quilt.

-        June:  “Something in the Air” 18” wall hanging

-        Terrie re: Spring Retreat.

-        Watch emails.

-        Angels will be in this retreat (stay tuned)

There may be an Opening in CCTMQG class/workshop (I did not see it on their website)

March? Sunday Mother’s Day – Improv Dresdren Plates  $100. 37 (is this correct or was it part of the address?) Greenwoods Road.

Sit N Stitch

·       Tuesday, April 28th

·       6 – 9 pm Weston Public Library

·       Would like to continue collecting squircle blocks for a charity quilt

2026 – Upside [or is it UPCYCLE] Round Robin – collect fabric in box already; probably need to remind Members what “upcycle” means here

Rachel Derstine : Programs is assessing the interest in bringing Rachel in to give a  lecture/workshop – “Keep It Simple but Pack a Punch”  options half/full day via Zoom.  Improv, fusing, …

           How many interested?  Up to 25.  Need 20 to break even.

Saturday Zoom class and not on meeting day.  Nov 7th ?... 14 raise hands showing interest.

Fall Retreat:

Sign-up if interested in sleep-at-home retreat.  Oct 3-4, 9-5pm.  Fairfield Fire School building, exit 19 near I-95 (near Penfield Beach).  As this will be a Guild fundraiser, we will need to open enrollment to non-members July 11, 2026.

Anticipated fees (via cash, check, Zelle):

·       Members $150 for 2-days, $85 for 1-day 

·       Nonmembers $175 for 2-days, $95 for single day.  

·       N= 24 … is this the number needed to achieve our financial goal or is this breakeven?

·       Non-refundable but spot transferable with approval. {rather than sounding nit-picky controlling, should this read “transferable to guild member at same fee, to non-member with increase to non-member fee due the Guild.}

Payment in July; will open to non-members if insufficient committed Guild Members.  (As there was a question about Member fee vs that for a non-member, a separate meeting will be called involving Board and Programs). 

This retreat is anticipated to be a money-maker to provide funds for Guild use:   charity quilt supplies, entrance fee to what?, MQG dues, PO Box, retreat prize table (thank you for any donations of gently loved items (? Does this mean member donated gently used items)…))

The retreat location, a is the Fairfield Fire Training School; it is a good location:

·       Open Sew - whatever you want

·       Tons of restaurants nearby

·       Food delivery options 

·       One day participation option

Organizers:  Brenda, Stef, Loralee. 

Charity Quilts:

15 quilts ready to deliver. 

Committee is using a new process to keep track with a bit more detail.

Pouch with label.   If you want/can, attach label (if not, no guilt).  Leave pouch with quilt for inventory oversight.

Treasurer

Completed yearly paperwork.  Sent in IRS form.  Filed Financial Statement with MQG.  Paid for Guild MQG renewal. 

Q1 Summary (lite); not a formal accounting exercise.  For Your Rough Idea only.

Q1 INCOME

Q1 Expenses

Dues

$ 2490

MQG Registration Renewal

$ 799

Jan Improve Letters Class

$   875

Jan Improve Letters Class

$ 800

Spring Retreat

$ 5110

Spring Retreat (includes $500 spent in 2025)

$ 618

Show @ Westport Library Sales

$  248

Fall Retreat

$ 37

Donations

$  505

Community Building

$ 34

Charity works

$ 244

SewPowerful Supplies & Shipping

$ 140

Technology (Website, URLs, Zoom)

$ 456

$ 9228

$3128

‍ ‍

[1] JAFTEX CORPORATION is the parent company to brands Fabric Editions, 3 Wishes, Free Spirit Fabrics, Blank Quilting Corporation, Studio E Fabrics, Henry Glass Fabrics, and A.E. Nathan.

[2] H&H is an industry trade show, nothing to buy there but visitors typically place orders.  It originated with yarn and expanded to include fabric and other fiber arts (embroidery,..).  As I searched to find info about H&H, I stumbled on this entry.  It’s a review and includes photos and comments about some of the 2025 quilts.  https://thenotsodramaticlife.com/5-quilts-you-wont-want-to-miss-from-paducah-2025