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Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question for the answer.
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How do I redeem a JTD GIFT CARD someone gave me?1. Click the "CREDIT / DEBIT or GIFT CARD Payment" button on your CART CHECKOUT page. 2. This will lead to a section where you must fill in all your name and address information. 3. Referring to the picture above, locate the "REDEEM A GIFT CARD" option in the ORDER SUMMARY in the light gray box. Click on it to enter your gift card code number.
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What if I cannot find a kit for the pattern I want to purchase?We are proud to offer exceptional products, including wool, kits, notions, and patterns you won't find anywhere else. Our small size ensures that we can maintain complete control over the quality of each item we produce, ensuring that you receive nothing but the best from JTD. We're sorry that we can't provide a kit for every pattern we have. While we cannot create a custom kit for you, we're confident that our extensive selection of wool in our WOOL department will have virtually everything you need to make your project a reality.
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Are patterns available in PDF format?We do not sell in PDF format for three reasons: First, we love the shops and shop owners we sell to. We want to honor our partnership with them, so we will not sell our patterns for less than what they offer in their stores. Second, our patterns are on large sheets of paper that most standard home printers cannot print. We use large sheets of paper, so there is less gluing and piecing of sheets on your end, thus making the process as user-friendly as possible. Third, sadly, folks have circulated our PDF patterns to friends via email. This unfortunate practice undercuts the quilt shops we love and our online store.
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What will I get when I order a pattern(s)?You will receive the following in a resealable crystal clear plastic bag: • a clear color cover photo • a full-size design sheet clearly labeled • "Helpful Hints" to get you started • easy to follow user-friendly instructions • a materials list • full-size template pieces sheets (in reverse for your fusible web or freezer paper), also clearly labeled
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Do you sell your kits to other shops?Our kits are exclusive to us, and we take great pride in their quality. If you purchase a kit of one of our designs at another beloved shop, it is their kit, and JTD has no affirmation of its caliber. Please contact the shop if you have an issue with their kit.
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Do you accept returns?If you're not satisfied with the purchase for any reason, please feel free to contact us. We want to make sure you're happy with your order. You can return the item up to three weeks after delivery. Once we receive the product within that timeframe, we'll check it over. If everything checks out, we'll issue a full refund for the item returned.
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What are the finished dimensions of each pattern/design?The dimensions are stated in the description of each design on our website.
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How soon will I get my order?We usually send your order the same day you purchase (Monday - Saturday). Providing the US postal service is running smoothly (non-holiday), it usually takes two to six days to get your order in the continental US, depending on how far away you live from Vermont. Alaska and Hawaii will take up to 15 days. Please note: The USPS is sporadically running slower due to an increased volume of online shopping and worker shortages. Please understand that we cannot hurry the postal system. We have no affiliation with it. Once your order leaves us, we have no control over its speed coming to you or what happens to it. We will provide you with a TRACKING number that we will send to the email address you give us when you place your order. We will even send you another email when your order reaches your mailbox.
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Do you ship outside the United States?We do ship internationally! When you place your order, our system automatically calculates the shipping costs to your location. We use USPS for international shipping as we've found it to be the most cost-effective option, and it can help save you from tariff charges. We can't wait to get your order to you!
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Do you sell wholesale to shop owners?Yes, Jerome Thomas' patterns are found throughout the world. We welcome wholesale pattern orders, provided you have a resale ID number. We love doing business with shop owners. Let us know how we can help. Click HERE to start the process.
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What is the shipping rate?Our patterns are available in select shops worldwide. However, we realize that not everyone lives near these shops. We do our best to keep our shipping costs low and fair. Order price and weight factor into your shipping costs; the more you order, the more advantageous the ratio becomes for your shipping charge. It is a tiered flat-rate system. By doing our shipping this way, those who live further away from us (Vermont) do not get penalized with a higher shipping cost because of distance. Those who live near Vermont will receive your items faster. We always send you a TRACKING NUMBER and an email when your order arrives.
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Which side of the wool is the "good" side?Both sides look the same on most wools. As a rule of thumb, Jerome always looks for the fluffiest side, where the wool weft doesn't show as much.
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What should I use as a backing for my finished piece?Jerome prefers to use a piece of wool that matches the background as his go-to backing. However, craft felt in the same color, found at hobby stores, is a great substitute as it doesn't fray and gets the job done. Another excellent choice is a good quality flannel that is not prone to fraying. Your choice will depend on your budget and what you have available.
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Why do you sometimes layer your wool pieces?There are TWO reasons for this. 1. One of Jerome's pet peeves when placing a piece of wool partially over another piece is seeing the edge outline of the bottom piece showing through the top piece. Why not add extra wool to the underpiece to eliminate the edge line? It is an artistic preference. 2. This layering treatment also gives a more three-dimensional effect.
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How do I select wool, and how should I process it?Our wool sources are from New England, New York, and the Midwest. Jerome is fortunate to live near Dorr Mill Woolen Store. When selecting wool, you want to look for 100% woven wool that feels light to the touch, NOT dense or too coarse. Avoiding loose woven wool, plaids, or large patterns would be best. They tend to unravel and fray easily when stitching. The success in the wool for appliqué is how you felt it (full/wash it) at home. Toss your wool into your washing machine set to HOT water on the LONGEST cleaning/agitation setting, preferably on the permanent press cycle. You want longevity of agitation, which will felt your wool to fluffiness. Then, throw your wool into your dryer with some dryer balls to continue the agitation of the felting process (an old pair of jeans also works). We have already felted your wool if you purchase a kit from Jerome Thomas Designs.
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What is the quality of your hand-dyed and mill-dyed wool?The wool cuts we sell and use in our kits at Jerome Thomas Designs are of the BEST quality. Jerome loves hunting for and testing wool. All the wool we offer has already been felted/fulled for you through our process. Your wool will be ready to use when you receive it. Our hand-dyed felted/fullled wool is excellent for rug hooking, wool appliqué, penny mats, and other fiber arts projects. Each piece of hand-dyed JTD wool is dyed in ¼ and ½ yard cuts. This allows batches to be as uniform as possible. That said, mottling, marbling, and depth of color will vary from batch to batch, but the tones will remain very close. Also, remember that different monitors/screens may show colors in slightly different images. Jerome Thomas Designs is fortunate to have partnered with an exceptional artist. Cyndy has been dying wool for over thirty years. During that time, she gave numerous classes and presented at countrywide shows (and continues to do so). Cyndy is an accomplished rug hooker who has been featured in several national publications.
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What are your wool kits like?Looking for high-quality wool kits to fuel your creativity? Look no further than our JTD Kits! We're proud to offer thoroughly washed, felted, and steamed wool of the best quality. Plus, some of our kits even feature our hand-dyed wool, giving you even more options to choose from. Each piece of wool is cut precisely to the measurement specified in the Materials List, so you can quickly start tracing and stitching. And with labeled wool pieces, you won't have to guess which piece goes where. Remember that patterns are sold separately, but we often offer them as a duo option for some savings. Start creating your next beautiful masterpiece today with our high-quality wool kits!
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Is there a true brilliant white?No. Wool is a natural material; even the fleece of "white" sheep is not white. Our "Elusive Bright White" comes close to what you may seek. Wool is acidic in nature. Never bleach your wool––it will lead to disastrous results. White wool is very translucent. If you are using white wool as a backing, Jerome highly recommends using an interfacing on the back. Doing so allows another layer of white to brighten the wool to its full potential. Click the buttons below to learn about these two products we offer.
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Size 12 or Size 8 thread? Which should I use?Size 12 = TWO strands of embroidery floss. Size 8 = THREE to FOUR strands of embroidery floss. Jerome prefers size 12 Valdani threads for stitching and embellishing his pieces. Size 12 is not too heavy, so it does not weigh down your pieces with bulky stitches. He also uses embroidery floss when necessary and occasionally opts for size 8 Valdani thread for embellishments. This showcases the flexibility in thread selection, as there's no right or wrong answer. The key is to experiment and find what works best for your eye. Jerome Thomas Designs has a large selection of Valdani threads to browse. Click HERE to visit our Valdani Thread Department.
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What floss/thread should I use? What needle is best?What floss/thread should I use? Use whatever thread or floss that suits your aesthetic. Jerome stitches his pieces down with TWO floss strands in SIX strands (DMC). He likes the look, unlimited colors/hues, easy availability, and the cost. He also uses size 12 Valdani pearl cotton thread for the same purpose. His embellishment stitches are floss or a size 8 or 12 (Valdani) thread. Jerome has Valdani signature collections. These collections (solids and variegated) contain the color palette of threads for the wools he often uses in his designs. He also has seasonal JTD Valdani Collections. See the pictures below. What needle is best? Well, like thread/floss, that is up to the stitcher. Jerome uses Jeana Kimball’s Foxglove Cottage line. They are sharp, have an elongated eye, and work best for his hand. He recommends sizes 7 - 11. Jerome generally uses size 8. We also sell Jeana's Needle Sampler, so you can try which works best for you. We sell them all HERE in our NOTIONS shop. These are my preferences. You may find yours are different. That is okay. That is the wonderfulness of the art form. Experiment. Have fun!
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Blanket Stitch vs. Whip Stitch?It ultimately boils down to personal preference. Both stitches, the Blanket Stitch and the Whip Stitch are acceptable. However, Jerome favors the Blanket Stitch over the Whip Stitch when attaching his pieces to a project. Although the Whip Stitch is quicker, the Blanket Stitch securely wraps around the perimeter of each piece, reducing fraying. As a result, every piece looks well-framed and neat. Depending on the wool, the Whip Stitch may slice through your wool's edges, causing it to split and fray.
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What resource does JTD recommend to learn stitches?Practice makes improvement. JTD has a simple stitcher's guide in the NOTIONS department that shows several basic stitches (see below). YouTube and the internet also have many videos on learning stitches. Here is one Jerome used when he was learning. Click HERE for Mary Corbet's free video clip tutorials.
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Do you have notions?We have an extensive NOTIONS department. We never sell anything we have not tested or used at Jerome Thomas Designs. Let us know if there is something you would like but do not see.
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How do you make a sleeve for a rod hanger?We often receive inquiries about how to create a sleeve for a rod hanger. There are various methods to do this, but we would like to share how we make a sleeve for our designs and the hangers we use. Please click the button below to view our process from Fons & Porter. Ensure that you scale the size to fit the dimensions of your project.
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Where does the inspiration for Jerome's designs come from?Jerome grew up in Vermont's country mountains and farmlands, surrounded by nature and its beautiful vistas. He taught primary school for 32 years in his hometown, where Jerome still resides. His lifelong immersion in the natural world has stitched its way into Jerome's design aesthetic. As a young boy, a local newspaper named him "Nature Boy" for his love of rescuing and caring for injured creatures. Being a veteran teacher, his creations also possess a storybook quality, bringing you into the simple tales his designs tell. He loves creating and sharing with others through watercolor paintings, stained glass creations, ornamental gardens, sketches, and wool appliqué designs.
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Where has Jerome Thomas Designs been published?Jerome's designs have been featured in and graced the covers of Better Homes & Gardens~American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine, and Wool Works magazine.
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Is Jerome Thomas Designs a brick-and-mortar store I can visit?The Jerome Thomas Designs studio is an online business. We are not open to the public?
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What if I have a question not stated here?We welcome any and all questions so that you will be happy and confident with your purchase. Please EMAIL us, and we will get back to you shortly.
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