Happy Birthday America!

It's July, and we are definitely in Summer now! Happy 4th of July! We are so blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave! I hope you are all enjoying some great summer activities and vacations. Since I have this week off, I am enjoying some rest as well as some work to get more settled in my new home. It is feeling more and more like home, as more pictures get placed on the walls and family activities fill the house with love and laughter. 

So what's new at Sew Katie Jean? Well, if you can believe it, we are filling our shelves with Fall and Christmas fabric! It's Christmas in July as they say on the Hallmark Channel and in quilt shops! We have to have time to get those holiday projects started and finished before the holidays. I hope you will come in and see what's new. We also have more fun classes planned for you.

Besides more fabric, we are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of me owning the shop. It has been a wonderful 2 years, and I have learned so much and achieved so many goals that I set for myself when I started out. As the 3rd year in business starts, I have started to make new goals and plans for the year ahead. I also want to say a special thank you to all of the Sew Katie Jean staff, for helping to make Sew Katie Jean the special place that it is for our sewing community. To celebrate our anniversary, we are having a special anniversary sale July 8-12. 

Anniversary Sale:

Tuesday, 7/8: 20% off all yellow fabric

Wed., 7/9: 50% off panels excluding holiday

Thurs., 7/10: 20% off backing fabric, bring in your finished top to find the perfect backing!

Friday, 7/11: 20% off 1 notion of your choice and a free fat quarter with purchase.

Saturday, 8/12: 20% off 1 item of your choice, excluding classes and quilt samples.

All of our quilt samples from the past year will be on sale and ready for you to purchase during our anniversary sale.

Window Block: Year of Color: Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

Our colors this month are Red, white and Blue in salute to America! You will receive a white-on-white star fabric for your background, and you will add red and blue from your stash. Window blocks are due by July 31st 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.

July Classes and Clubs:

Make-It Take-It: Call Me Bag: Thursday, July 10 and Thursday, July 24, 5:30-8:30 pm

We will continue with our By Annie Basics series this month at our Make-It Take-It Class. we will be making the "Call Me" cell phone, name tag bag. This little cross body bag is great for quilt retreats, baseball games and concerts, as well as amusemnet parks or anywhere where you need your ID, a little place for a card and some money and your phone. Join us for an evening of friendship and sewing as we create this fun and functional bag. This class is offered 2 different evenings this month, and dinner is included.

Linda Ballard's Enjoy Quilt Class: Saturday, July 12, 10-3:

Linda Ballard will be returning with a new original quilt pattern called "Enjoy." Linda created this quilt using 30s style fabrics leaving room for some beautiful quilting in between. Our class fee is $60, which includes the original pattern from Linda Ballard. Class is from 10-3 pm.

School of Sewing: Level 1, Tuesday, July 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 5:30-8:30pm:

We will have our Beginning Sewing Class again this month. We have a full class for July, but we are always taking sign-ups for future classes. We are also offering this beginning quilting class in October and January.  This class has 4 sessions, meeting Tuesday nights, to complete 4 different projects. Our instructor is Rita Traxler, and she will instruct you on sewing skills to complete each project. The projects for level 1 are: a pillowcase, a drawstring bag, an apron and a zipper pouch. Cost is $164.95, which includes the book. 

Moroccan Sampler Block of the Month: #7, July 15 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 "Aunt Dina." Remember to bring all of your fabric and blocks you have started and completed, as well as your 4 1/2" square ruler. 

My Grown-Up and Me: Summer Break Edition: Quilt Class: Wednesday and Thursday, July 16 and 17, from 10-4 pm:

This month our junior sewists will be making a quilt! this is a 2-day class, where the students will learn to cut, piece, sandwich, quilt and bind a small quilt. The cost is $90 for 2-days instruction and the quilt pattern. Donna Bengle and Marcie Morrill will be our instructors once again.

Quilt-As-You-Go Strip Quilt Class: Saturday, July 19, from 9-3:30 pm:

Elizabeth White will be back this month to teach this fun and beautiful strip quilt! Elizabeth has previously taught the orange peel, sea glass, and fall leaf classes. In this class, you will learn how to strip quilt and join your strip blocks. Cost is $30 plus supplies.

Betty's Vintage Baskets Class: July24, 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 4.

Shimmer Summer Quilt Class: Saturday, July 26, from 9:30-3:30 pm:

Come make this colorful and fun summer quilt with Barbara Carlston. She will instruct you on efficient cutting strategies, use of the Bloc_Loc HST rulers, and chain piecing. Cost is $49, which includes the pattern. 

X-Block Technique Class: Tuesday, July 29 from 10:30-3:30pm:

 Isn't this a fun and modern quilt? Come learn how to use the X-Block ruler to make this quilt and more. Betty Kisbey will be here to teach this technique class. The cost is $51.95, which includes the ruler.

Christmas in July: Chili the Reindeer Quilt Class: Wednesday, July 30, from 10-4 pm:

Let's get in the mood for Christmas with this fun and easy Christmas quilt! the pattern is by Villa Rosa, and we are going to add a little more Christmas color! I will be teaching this class, and we will have kits available! Cost is $30, plus supplies. Quilt kit sold separately.

Intro to Wool Applique: Thursday, July 31, from 10-3 pm:

Intro to Wool Applique is one of our most popular classes, and we are so pleased to offer it again. I have just started learning wool applique myself; and I can tell you, I am enjoying it so much! It is a great evening activity for when you want to sit and make something creative, while relaxing on the couch. There is such a variety of stitches to make and they are so beautiful. Diana Meier will be here to instruct you on how to get started. Cost is $50, plus supplies.

Upcoming Block of the months and Kits:

Critter and Clover is a Wool Applique Block of the Month that starts in August. Registration is due in July. Cost is $109.25, plus tax, which includes the pattern book, embellishment thread kit and the first month's kit. August-April 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 do payments until Dec. 1st. Kit includes 22 3/4 yards of Lori Holt's newest line of fabric called "Farm Fresh." 

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

7/9: 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.

7/8 & 7/15: 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.

7/11, 7/18, 7/25: Friday Girls (Closed Mini Groups): Meets Every Friday, except the fifth Friday.

7/11: 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.

6/28: 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. 

7/10: 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.

7/23 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.

7/22: 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 August:

Check our online calender In August for more great classes, including Beginning Piecing and Quilting by Laurie Johnson, Tuffet Class by Diana Tatro, Mesh Tote Bag by Rita Traxler, Intro to Landscape Quilting by Pat Visher and an End of Summer Saturday Sew Day!

Remember to enjoy each day, soak in the sun and this season of summer! 

Tammy