October is Here!

October is one of my favorite months of the year! Not only is it in my favorite season-Fall, but it's my birthday month! In October, because it is my birth month, I always reflect on how blessed I was to be adopted. I had two loving families-- one who loved me enough to give me up to a family who could raise me; and the second one who loved me unconditionally, even though I was not their blood relative. I was privileged enough to have found my birth family just 6 years ago, and I gained 3 new siblings! My mom raised me to believe everything was in God's hands, and I know it to be true even today. So, as October begins, I hope you will look for the many blessings in your life.

At Sew Katie Jean this month, we are enoying more fun classes, fabulous fabric, and gearing up for our Holiday Hop in November. I hope you will visit us this month and join in some of our fun!  

 Window Block: Year of Color: Yes! Black is a Color!

Our color this month is black. The color black occurs when all wavelengths in the visible spectrum of color are absorbed! You will receive a fat quarter of white with black stars for the background fabric, and you can use black (not grey) from your stash or pick out some black fabric at Sew Katie Jean. The block is a variation of the pinwheel block. Window blocks are due by Friday, October 31 at closing time. First prize wins the blocks, second prize is 4 free fat quarters and 3rd prize is a $10 gift certificate. Remember, we are doing a year of color, so make one block for the shop and one for you to make a year of color sampler quilt.

October Classes and Clubs:

Tuffet Class: Thursday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 16

Our Tuffet Class begins tomorrow, and we still have room for you to make this special heirloom project! Diana Tatro will be here once again to instruct us on how to make these wondeful tuffets. Cost is $117, plus tax for the class and the finishing kit is $170.

Beginning Piecing and Quilting: 4 Saturdays; Oct. 4, 11,18, and 25, 10-3:30pm:

Do you sew, but haven't learned to quilt yet? Or, are you a self-taught quilter who might need some in-person guidance by an experienced quilter and teacher? Well, this is the class for you! Laurie Johnson will be here once again to teach our Beginning Piecing and Quilting Class. She will teach you about fabric choice, measuring, tools, cutting, piecing with accuracy, sandwiching your quilt, quilting and binding. Cost is $146.50, plus tax, which includes the pattern. 

School of Sewing Level 1: Tues., Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, from 5:30-8:30 pm:

This popular class is back! We offer this class 3 times a year, along with Level 2. Rita Traxler is the instructor, along with her assistant Jane Lowas. You will make 4 great projects, all while learning many new sewing skills. The projects for Level 1 are: a pillowcase, a drawstring bag, an apron, and a zipper pouch. The cost is $164.95, plus tax, which includes the book.

Intro to Foundation Paper Piecing: Thurs. October 9, from 10-4 pm:

This is an introduction class to Foundation Paper Piecing. Barbara Carlston is the instructor, and she uses the Wensleydale Quilt Pattern from Jen Kingwell to teach you the methods of foundation paper piecing. This is a great pattern for beginners, as it provides lots of repetition, which is what is needed to learn this process. The cost is $63.99. 

Make-It, Take-It: Pumpkin Hotpads, Thursday, October 9 from 5:30-8:30pm

This month at our Make-It, Take-It Class we will be making pumpkin hot pads. These are so cute and easy to make. We will enjoy making these cuties, along with friends and dinner. I will have chili and cornbread for our Fall dinner. Cost is $30, plus supplies.

Free Motion Quilting Level 2: Wed., Oct.15 and 31, from 10-3 pm:

Last month, we enjoyed Free Motion Quilting Level 1 with Loretta Saenz, and this month we are offering 2 sessions of Level 2. Loretta will continue instructing you on differnet free motion motifs and techniques, including circles, leaves and swirls. Level 1, or the equivalent, is a prerequisite of this class. Cost is $50.

Moroccan Sampler Block of the Month: #10, September 21 from 10-3 pm:

Laurie Johnson will continue working with her Moroccan Sampler students this month, and they will be working on their next block, which is called "Godey's Star." Remember to bring all of your fabric and blocks you have started and completed, as well as your Add-a-Quarter Ruler and your 6 1/2 square ruler. 

Linda Ballard's Latitudes Quilt Class: Wed., Oct. 22, from 10-3 pm:

We are pleased to welcome Linda Ballard back to Sew Katie Jean again this Fall. She will be teaching her Latitudes Quilt Pattern, and it is gorgeous! Come join us for a day of learning new techniques and tips, as well as enoying Linda's spunky personality! Cost is $60, which includes the pattern. 

My Grown-Up and Me: Candy Corn Pillow; Thursday, Oct.23, from 4-6 pm:

This month our junior sewists will be making a cute candy corn pillow! We will add a new skill with some hand embroidery for the decorative stitch. The cost is $30, plus supplies. This class is for junior sewists and their favorite grown-up who sews. Don't have a junior sewist to bring, but want to make a candy corn pillow for a loved one, you can join us, too! 

Betty's Vintage Baskets Class: October 23, from 10:30-3:30pm:

Betty Kisbey will be here to continue instructing her students on her vintage basket quilt. The ladies are on month 5 of 7.

Pizza, PJs and Playing With Fabric Night: Sat., Oct. 25, from 5-9 pm:

Our evening open sew night is back! We enjoy these sewing PJ parties every few months at Sew Katie Jean. Bring whatever you want to work on, wear your favorite PJs and come enjoy pizza with us. Cost is $20.

Reversible Holiday Apron: Thursday, Oct. 30, from 10-4 pm:

Come make this reversible holiday apron with us! Rita Traxler will be here to show us how to make this apron from her original pattern design. You can make it Fall on one side and Christmas on the other, or choose non holiday fabrics for just as much fun. cost is $47.99, which includes the pattern.

Block of the Month News:

Critter and Clover (1 spot left!) is a Wool Applique Block of the Month that started in September. Registration is due now. Cost is $109.25, plus tax, which includes the pattern book, embellishment thread kit and the first month's kit. September-May is $24 per month for the monthly wool kits. 

Farm Fresh is Lori Holt's new Sew Along beginning in January of 2026. We are taking preorders for kits. Cost is $315, plus tax. We can take payment in full, or accept payments until Dec. 1st. Kit includes 22 3/4 yards of Lori Holt's newest line of fabric called "Farm Fresh." 

Block of the Month for 2026: A Road Trip:

We are now taking registration for our Block of the month for 2026! Shirley Cox will be leading us on another adventure, but this time it is a quilting adventure through the United States. We are using the pattern, "A Road Trip," by Kate Colleran and Kate Silvers, and the fabric line is Shadowplay by Maywood Studio. This is a 12-month commitment. Registration is $50, due before January 1. The monthly kit cost is $40, due on the first of each month. A credit card will need to be kept on file for automatic billing each month.

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

10/1: 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 it is a good idea to sign up early.

10/7 & 10/14: 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, so spots will open as availability permits

10/3, 10/10,10/24: Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meets Every Friday, except the fifth Friday.

10/1: Folk Art Wool Block-of-the-Month, Pick-up and Demonstration: Meets the first Friday of the month from 4-6 pm with Pat Hertema. (This month we are meeting the first Wednesday).

10/4: Amish With a Twist V, Block-of-the-Month Pick-up and Demonstration: Meets the first Saturday of each month from 8:30-9:30 am with Shirley Cox. 

10/8, 10/17: Open Sew Day: 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. This month we have 1 extra day on Friday, Oct., 17, from 10-4 pm.

10/29 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.

10/28: 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 remember to sign up ahead, as this class fills up quickly.

Looking Ahead to November:

Check our online calender in November for more great classes, including Santa in the Window Quilt Class, FMQ 1, T-shirt Quilt Class, Laura Heine Collage Class, and a Christmas Folded Star Table Topper Class. We also have our Holiday Hop on Nov. 7-8 and we will be at the Pioneer Quilt Show on Nov. 14-15.

Wishing you all a Happy Fall and Hapopy halloween! See you soon at Sew Katie Jean!

Tammy