Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays:

It's the Holiday Season! I hope this month brings you joy and peace and time with family. Hopefully your sewing machine is humming along and you are getting your gifts made for your loved ones. Here at Sew Katie Jean, we have some extra sew days to help you finish up your projects, and we have gift cards and gifty items for your sewing friends.

Thank you to everyone who came out for Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday. I feel so blessed to be part of the Lincoln Downtown Community. We enjoy a great partnersip with our neighboring businesses, and I appreciate how we all support each other! We have more events coming this month in Downtown Lincoln, including the tree lighting on Dec. 5, the parade on Dec. 7 and Second Saturday Shopping on Dec. 14. So, you will have more chances to shop local and get some more of your Christmas shopping done.

Final update on the CASA Stocking Drive: We collected over 600 stockings between Sew Katie Jean, Runs With Scissors and Fabric Garden. We also collected several bins of stocking stuffers! The kids will truly be blessed this holiday season by all of your generosity. I am so grateful for our loving sewing community! Thank you so much!! 

In this month's newsletter, I will let you know about the coming events this month, as well as a sneak peak into January's classes so you can plan ahead.

December Window Block: Baubles!

This month we are decking the halls with baubles! In keeping with our Holiday Hop theme, we are making ornaments for our window. Thanks to designer Lorna Mc Mahon from Sew Fresh Quilts for allowing us to use her pattern. All window blocks are due by Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 pm.

December Classes and Clubs:

Intro To Wool Applique: Thursday, Dec. 5 from 10-3 pm:

Our Intro To Wool Applique Class is quite popular! This month's class is full, but we are starting a waitng list for our next class on Wednesday, February19. Diana Meier teaches the beginning steps and techniques for wool applique in this class. The cost is $50 plus supplies. 

Introduction to Foundation Paper Piecing Class, Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10-3pm:

Barbara Carlston will be back to teach this introduction class on foundation paper piecing. Barbara uses the Wensley Dale Pattern from Jen Kingwell to introduce students to the world of paper piecing. It's a great pattern to teach the basics! This class is full, but we have another class on April 19. Please call the shop if you would like to get on our waiting list. 

My Grown-Up and Me: Holiday Gifts-Saturday, December 14 from 10-3:30pm

Our My Grown-Up and Me Class this month is on a Saturday, and we will be making gifts to give our loved ones. The kids, with the help of their grown-ups and teachers Marcie Morrill and Donna Bengle, will be making key fob wristlets, dish towels and a mug rug. The cost is $50 and all supplies are included. Just bring your sewing machine and sewing tools.

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

12/2 & 12/10: 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

12/4: 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. This month we are having a potluck, so bring your assigned dish.

12/6, 12/14, 12/20: Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meet Every Friday, except the fifth Friday.

12/14: Bridle Path Block-of-the-Month Pick-up and Demonstration: 9 am with Shirley Cox. This will be the last pick up for this Block of the Month! I want to remind you that I have 108" backing fabric for this quilt available for purchase. We are doing the demo the second saturday because the streets will be closed for the parade.

12/11, 12/12, 12/18, and 12/21: Open Sew Days: Open Sew Days are for anyone who has a project to work on. These open sew days fill up quickly, so it is a good idea to register ahead.

12/19: Hand Sewing Club (this date is different due to the store being closed for the holidays): This club meets the 4th Tuesday of each month, and it 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.

12/17: Lincoln Farm Girls (This is a different day this month due to the store being closed for the holidays): 

This is our Lori Holt Group where  we sew all things Lori Holt! Lincoln Farm Girls meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. Cost is $10.

Barn Star Shop Hop Block of the Month: We are happy to welcome back the Barn Star Ladies for one more kit! The author of the Barn Star Book, Shelley Cavanna, just moved her studio to Lincoln, and we are working on a date to have her here to do a talk about her book and new projects. Stay tuned for more details.

Looking ahead to January 2025:

1) 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, which includes the pattern. The monthly kit fee will also be $30, plus tax, and it includes the fabric for the top of the quilt and the binding. We will need to keep your credit card on file, as it will be charged the first of each month for the fabric kit.

2) Moroccan Tiles Quilt Sampler: Laurie Johnson will be teaching this advanced beginner class. It will be a monthly class to learn new techniques, while making a new block for the sampler. Techniques include: traditonal piecing, foundation paper piecing, curves, and much more! The monthly class fee is $35 per month, which includes the pattern. Fabric supplies are not included.

3) School of Sewing Level 1, Tuesday, January 7, from 5:30-8:30 pm:

Rita Traxler will be back again, with her assistant, Jane, to teach this beginning sewing class. You will make four projects during this 4 week class: a pillowcase, an apron, a drawstring bag and a zipper pouch. The cost is $164.95, which includes the book.

4) Beginning Piecing and Quilting: January 4, 11,18 and 25, from 10-3:30pm:

We have reworked our Level 1 and 2 piecing and quilting classes into one, 4-week class. encompassing all of the skills from level 1 and 2. The end product is a small sized quilt from "It's Sew Emma" called Confetti Star. Laurie Johnson will be the instructor. The cost of the class is $140 plus supplies.

5) Ultimate Travel Bag Class: January 9 and 23, from 10-4 pm:

This is an amazing travel bag you can make yourself! Ruth Shields will be the instructor for this By Annie Bag Class. This is an intermediate level class, so at least 1 other By Annie Class is required before you take this class. This is a two-day class, and the cost is $99.99, which includes the pattern.

6) Snowman Applique Wall Hanging; Jan. 15 and 24 from 10-4 pm:

Enjoy the winter months with a cute snowman applique wall hanging. Stay tuned for a sample coming soon on my Facebook Live-Tammy on Tuesdays. Rita Traxler will be here to teach you applique techniques, as well as some quilting! The cost of the class is $80 for this 2-day class, plus the pattern.

7) 3-Yard Quilt Class with Panels: Friday, Jan. 31 from 10:30-3:00pm:

Betty Kisbey will be back this month to teach this 3-yard quilt class using panels. The cost is $30. You choose the pattern based on the panel square size you choose. Betty has an informational handout to help you find the right pattern for your panel squares. 

8) Tuffet Class: Jan. 16 and 30; 10-3:30pm:

The Tuffet Class is back in January. It is full, but we have two more classes scheduled for later in the new year. If you are interested in the class, please call the shop and get on our waiting list.

9) Scissor Sharpening:

With all of the cutting you have been doing for your holiday projects, your scissors might need some sharpening for the new year. We partner with Herzog Surgical, Inc. for our scissor sharpening. The turn around time is about a week. See the chart above for pricing.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I pray God blesses you all with sweet famiy time and blessings for 2025! Thank you for all of your support in 2024, and I look forward to a new year of sewing and fun events!

Tammy