February News 2025
Happy February! We hope you love sewing and quilting as much as we do!
The Month of February always makes me think of love and my mom, whose birthday was on Valentine's Day. For 56 years of my life I celebrated 2 occasions on Valentine's Day, first my mom's birthday and then Valentine's Day. I still catch myself as I plan for that day, since my mom is in Heaven now. The best thing I learned from my mom was unconditional love. My mom and dad, who adopted me, couldn't have loved me more! I always felt loved and accepted and knew they would love me no matter what! Until I got older, I didn't realize the world was not that way and how blessed I was to have been raised in such a loving environment.
Well, here at Sew Katie Jean, we strive to create just such a loving environment. We want all of our customers to feel loved and supported as they visit our store and take classes in our sunny, sewing room. We hope you feel the love, too!
February Window Block: The Color is RED for our Card Trick Block
We were so excited by the response last month with over 50 people purchasing the block and over 60 blocks being turned in! Let's keep the momentum going with this month's window block. It is a traditional card trick block. Please use only red as your color, no pinks or purples. Window blocks are due by February 28 at closing time, which is 4 pm due to our SKJ Retreat. First prize wins the blocks, second prize is 4 free fat quarters and 3rd prize is a $10 gift certificate.
February Classes and Clubs:
Valentine Paper Piecing Class: Saturday, Feb. 1 frm 10-3 pm:
Barbara Carlston will be here to teach another Holiday Paper Piecing Class this month. This beautiful Valentine Bow-Tied Heart Block is paper pieced, and the pattern is by "Pieced By Numbers" and Beth Maddocks. Later in February, there is another class we are offering for your Spring time decorating!
School Of Sewing: Level 2: Meets Tuesdays, February 11, 18, 25, and March 4 from 5:30-8:30pm
The School of Sewing is for beginners who want to learn how to sew! This class is level 2, for those who have completed level 1. Rita Traxler, along with her assistant, Jane Lowas, will continue to teach our newest members in our sewing community. During this 4-session class, students will make a pillow, a tote bag, a purse, and placemats. The cost is $140.00 plus supplies.
Nirvana Bag Class: Thursday, Feb. 6 from 10-4 pm:
Got an extra jelly roll you don't know what to do with? Or, you need a really cute, new bag? Come make this Nirvana Bag with us. We have a new teacher, Carey Munn, who brought this great bag into the shop, and said she would love to share it with others. The cost is $40, which includes the pattern. I have a finishing kit, which includes the leather handles and buttons for $24.99.
Intro to ByAnnie Bags: Clam Bag Class: Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10-3 pm:
Are you ready to learn how to make a ByAnnie Bag? Ruth Shields will be here to teach you the steps from the very beginning. After you make this cute and functional Clam bag, you will be ready to tackle the more challenging bags, like the "A Place For Everything Bag." Cost is $40, which includes the pattern.
Turning Corners Quilt Class: February 13, 20, and 27, from 10:30-3:30pm
Turning Corners is for the intermediate level quilter who wants to learn new techniques, including putting blocks on point and combining them into a quilt. Betty Kisbey will be the instructor for this 3-session class. The cost is $100, which includes Betty's original pattern.
Make-It, Take-It: 10 Minute Table Runner: Thursday, Feb. 13 from 5:30-8:30pm:
At this month's Make-It, Take-It, I will be teaching the "10 Minute Table Runner." I have seen these before, and my mother-in-law made me a couple of them a long time ago; but I had never made one for myself. This is a fun and easy pattern that could easily be made for gifts and different seasons during the year. It does take longer than 10 minutes, but we will get it done during our class. This class also includes dinner, and we will be having heart-shaped pizza and salad. The cost is $30 plus supplies.
Point of View Folded Table Topper: Saturday, February 15 from 10-3:30pm:
There were several people making this cute table topper at Christmas time, and we thought, why not make it for any time of the year? This table topper has a lot of folding and pressing and then quilting in place. Ashlee Swain will be the instructor for this class. The cost is $46, which includes the pattern with the interfacing.
Moroccan Tiles Quilt Sampler; Tuesday, February 18, from 10-4 pm:
This is month two for the Moroccan Sampler. Laurie Johnson will continue with block two, which is the Broken Wheel Garden Tile. This class is full, but look for it to repeat again in the future. It is a great skill builder!
Intro to Wool Applique: Wednesday, February 19 from 10-3 pm:
Have you been wanting to learn the beautiful art of wool applique? Well, why not learn from the best? Diana Meier will be here once again to teach this beginning wool applique class. You will be making a wool block with a flower, learning the applique process and decorative stitches. The cost is $50, plus supplies.
Easter Bunny Paper Piecing Class: Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10-3 pm:
Wouldn't this adorable little Easter Bunny be a cute addition to your spring decorations? We love to offer these Holiday Paper Piecing Blocks to help you hone your paper piecing skills. Barbara Carlston, who teaches our Introduction to Paper Piecing Classes, will be teaching this class. The cost is $38.99, which includes the pattern. Also, the cute racks you hang these cute blocks on, are available for purchase.
My Grown-Up and Me Class: Thursday, February 27 from 4-6 pm:
This month, our junior sewists, aged 8-18 years, accompanied by an adult, will be making a St. Patrick's Day Pillow. Marcie and Donna, our instructors, will be using a quilt-as-you-go template, like we did for our mug rugs during our holiday gift making. The cost will be $40, which includes all the supplies this month (picture coming soon).
Scissor Sharpening at Sew Katie Jean:
Just a reminder that we offer scissor sharpening by Herzog Surgical. February is a great month to love your scissors and get them sharpened! We also offer sharpening for pinking shears, which is the same cost as the large scissor pricing. Scissor sharpening is usually completed within a week.
Monthly Clubs and Sew Days: 10-4 pm, Cost $10:
2/5: Villa Rosa Club: Open to all Villa Rosa Pattern enthusiasts! Come work on your Villa Rosa patterns during this sew day. This club fills up quickly, so you must register before attending.
2/4 & 2/11: Tuesday Girls (Closed Mini Group and Sew Day): Meets the first and second Tuesdays of the month. This group has room for a few more sewists to join their Tuesday Sewing Group. Check online for availablity.
2/7, 2/14, 2/21, 1/28: Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meets Every Friday, except the fifth Friday.
2/1: Amish With a Twist V, Block-of-the-Month Pick-up and Demonstration: Meets the first Saturday of each month from 8:30-9:30am with Shirley Cox.
2/12: Open Sew Days: Open Sew Days are for anyone who has a project to work on. These open sew days fill up quickly, so you must register ahead.
2/26 Lincoln Farm Girls: This is our Lori Holt Group where we sew all things Lori Holt. This group meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. This is a popular club, so be sure to sign up early.
2/25: Hand Sewing Club: 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. Please register ahead to make sure we have room for you.
Looking ahead to March:
Sew Katie Jean Retreat: We will be heading out for our very first Sew Katie Jean Retreat at the Mercy Center in Auburn on Friday afternoon, February 28. The shop will close early that day, at 4 pm, and we will be closed on Saturday March 1. There will be 23 of us going this year. If you missed out this year, we will be offering another one next year, so stay tuned!
Local Quilt Shop Contest: Voting is open from January 25-February 28: Please remember to vote for Sew Katie Jean as your favorite local quilt shop. You can vote at lqscontest.com/vote
National Quilting Day is Saturday, March 15: We will be celebrating National Quilting Day at Beerman's Plaza in Lincoln. There will be local guilds attending and displaying their opportunity quilts. Sew Katie Jean will also be displaying several quilts arround the plaza made by our many teachers. Additionally, there will be hourly drawings for prizes and activities for kids from 10-3 pm.
Upcoming Classes in March: Make sure you check out our online calender for classes scheduled for March. Some classes coming up next month are: A Place for Everything Bag, Laura Heine Collage Class, and a Square-in-a-Square Technique class.
Mark your calendars for Quilt Rush 2025! It is the 25th anniversary of the Quilt Rush Shop Hop, and it will take place form April 10-13. Ten shops will be participating, and there will be some great prize baskets available to win for those shoppers who visit all 10 shops.
I also want to let you know that I will have a Wool Block of the Month Available Soon! The pattern is Folk Art Sampler by Bonnie Sullivan. Remember to watch me on Facebook Live for weekly updates.
That's all of the updates for now. I hope you have a blessed February feeling loved by your local quilt shop, as well as your friends and family!
Tammy