Welcome October!

I love the month of October! It ushers in Fall at full swing, with sewing Fall projects, visits to the pumpkin patch and Apple Hill, as well as more opportunities to make memories with our families. I also love October because it is my birthday month! This year's birthday will be extra special, as I will be celebrating at my 40th High School Reunion with my childhood best friend, Pam Foster (Hanson). I have some wonderful high school memories from Mariposa, California, attending high school at the Home of the Grizzlies. I was involved in everything I could possibly fit in my schedule. Living in a small town, I was so thrilled to have lots of things to do! I had great teachers, and I had many friends who I attended school with since kindergarten. I was truly blessed by the great foundation of a loving family and a great education.

Now enough about me, let's see what's going on at Sew Katie Jean in October! Along with our regular classes and clubs, our Fall and Halloween fabric will be on sale for 20% for the month of October.

October Window Block: It's a Pumpkin Patch!

This month we are celebrating National Pumpkin Day on October 26. The pumpkin is also a favorite Fall decoration, and there are plenty of tasty pumpkin recipes, including pie, soup, and coffee! Join us in filling our window pumpkin patch by making a pumpkin block. For $5 you will receive the directions to make a pumpkin block and a fat quarter of background fabric. Blocks need to be turned in by Thursday, October 31st at 5 pm.

October Classes and Clubs:

Journal Cover: Collage Slow-Stitch; Oct. 3, 10-4 pm

Laura Callahan will be here to teach this hand sewing project using collage slow stitch. This is a creative technique, using fabric and thread. The cost is $30 plus supplies.

Fall Leaf Quilt; Saturday, October 5, 10-3pm

This cute Fall leaf quilt is perfect for advanced beginners. You will be able to make most of this quilt in a day. Elizabeth White, known previously for teaching the orange peel and sea glass quilts, will be here to instruct you on making this beautiful addition to your Fall decor! Cost is $30, plus supplies.

Month 4 of the Woodland Birds Christmas Row-by-Row is 10/10 and 10/24 from 10-4: 

Laurie Johnson will continue with Rows 4 and 5 this month, which are the wreaths and the stars. The ladies in the class have been working hard on their birds from last month. They will be finished with the quilt top in time for Christmas!

Make-It, Take-It Class: Design Boards, Thursday, Oct. 10 from 5:30-8:30pm:

This is is our monthly Make-It, Take-It Class that we hold in the evening. We will be making design boards. Design boards are great for arranging your pieced blocks on, while you are sewing your pieced blocks together. I will be serving chili dogs and cornbread for dinner. This is just as much a social time as it is for sewing something fun! Come join us for a fun evening of sewing and friendship. The cost is $35, plus tax, which includes the design board and dinner. 

Beginning Piecing and Quilting Level 1: Oct. 12, 19, and 26 from 10-3:30pm:

In this class, you will learn the best practices from choosing fabric and thread to measuring and cutting, pressing, piecing, squaring up and quilting. Laurie Johnson will be the instructor. The cost is $90, plus supplies.

Laura Heine Collage Applique Class: Oct. 15, 16, and 17, 10-4 pm:

Nancy Mayer will be back this month to teach this 3-Day Class on Laura Heine patterns. These are wonderful artistic pieces to make, while encouraging your creativity. The cost is $90 plus supplies.

My Grown-Up and Me: Owl Pillow: Thursday. Oct. 24 from 4-6 pm:

This month our junior sewists will be making an owl pillow to snuggle as the weather gets a little cooler. This project was another one voted on by our juniors during their summer classes. The cost is $30, plus supplies.  Marcie Morrill and Donna Bengle continue to be our great teachers for this class.

Linda Ballard's Slash Your Stash; Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 10-3 pm: 

Linda Ballard is back by popular demand for this 1-day class. You can use your stash to make this quilt or buy some new fabric, whichever you choose. Linda will show you how to make "new" fabric out of your scraps to create these one-of-a-kind blocks. You can do a Christmas theme like this sample, or make it up as you go! Whatever you decide, you will have a great time learning from Linda Ballard, as she is knowledgeable, kind and funny! Cost is $70, which includes the pattern.

3 Yard Quilts: Baubles; Thursday. Oct. 31 from 10:30-3:30pm:

Betty Kisbey will be here once again to lead our 3 yard quilt enthusiasts. This time the group will be making this fun holiday quilt called "Baubles," which is in the 3 yard book called "Make-It Christmas" (the 2024 edition). The cost is $30, plus the pattern book.

Monthly Clubs and Sew Days: 10-4 pm, Cost $10:

10/1 & 10/8: Tuesday Girls (Closed Mini Group and Open Sew Day): Meet the first and Second Tuesdays of the Month. This group has room for a few more sewists to join their Tuesday sewing group. Cost is $10

10/2: Villa Rosa Club: Open to all Villa Rosa Pattern enthusiasts! Come work on your Villa Rosa patterns during this open sew day. Cost is $10.

10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25: Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meet Every Friday, except the fifth Friday.

9/28: Bridle Path Block-of-the-Month Pick-up and Demonstration: 9 am with Shirley Cox (We had this early due to Shirley being out of town)

10/9 and 10/29: Open Sew Days: Open Sew Days are for anyone who has a project to work on. These open sew days fills up quickly, so it is a good idea to register ahead

10/12: Tinsel Block-of-the-Month Pick-Up

10/22: Hand Sewing Club: This club is for hand sewing enthusiasts. If you love to embroider, do wool applique, sashiko, or any hand sewing varieties, you are welcome to join us. No machine sewing on this day. Cost is $10.

10/23: Lincoln Farm Girls and Farm Girls 2: We are combining these two Lori Holt Clubs. Lincoln Farm Girls will meet the 4th Wednesday of each month starting this month. Cost is $10.

Barn Star Shop Hop Block of the Month: This month the Barn Star Ladies will be traveling back to Quilt Culture for their kits. For November and December, if you signed up at Sew Katie Jean, we will see you back here at Sew Katie Jean to pick up your kits.

Looking ahead...

1) Please mark your calenders for our Holiday Hop on Nov. 1 & 2. We will be partnering with Runs With Scissors and Fabric Garden for a great Shop Hop experience!

2) For 2025, our Block of the month will be Amish With a Twist 5. We are now taking registration for this 10-month program. You can register online now for $30 plus tax. The monthly kit fee will also be $30 plus tax.

3) Sew Katie Jean Retreat: We will be having our very own Sew Katie Jean retreat Feb. 28- Mar.3. the cost is $460, which includes a 3-night stay at the Mercy Retreat Center in Auburn and 9 meals. A deposit of $260 is due by the end of October. Registration packets can be picked up in the store.

Happy October! I hope to see you in the shop soon!

Tammy