Once Upon a time in the little town of Clarinda Iowa...
A country school teacher decided that children were missing something in their education. She in turn set her mind to inspiring children to learn about the farm land, animals, and other aspects of their life that a formal education didn't necessarily teach.
She focused on Head, Heart, Hands and later Home. Her work later became the 4H that many children know and love today.
In the spirit of this when my husband and I moved to Clarinda Iowa from Omaha, Nebraska to open our quilt shop Handcart Quilts and Yarns we decided to continue her work focusing mainly on home especially around quilting and other sewing projects.
Our dear friend Lexy Davies and her girls who live, eat and breathe all things 4H were quickly struck with the same passion and before you knew it we were getting quilts ready for County Fair.
Kambrea age 16 at the time made a Hunter Star Quilt where she got a purple ribbon at County Fair and a Red at State.
Karissa age 15 at the time made a Funky Log Cabin getting a purple ribbon at County Fair and went to state where she got a blue ribbon ( top honors)
Kandalyn age 12 at the time hand embroidered her center and surrounded it with Drunkard's Path blocks! She received a lavender at County Fair
2015 Fair Quilt "Memory Lane"
Karissa age 16
Fair Quilt "Letters From Home" Karissa Age 16
Kambrea age 17 Auction Quilt for
Iowa Poultry Queen
"Hen House Home"
Kandalyn age 13 "Soldiers and Stars"
2015 Fair Quilt
Kandalyn age 13 and her Drunkard's Path
2015 Fair Quilt "Supernova"
The 2015 Fair Quilts started in March and Karissa and Kandalyn are doing two quilts and Kambrea made a quilt to be Auctioned to pay for her Poultry Queen Competition expenses.
We have calls all of the time to help kids with their quilts for fair. Unfortunately parents and grandparents think that they can do the work or that we will do the work for them. I have pretty strong opinion on kids doing their own work.
The kids that learn with us pick their pattern, find their fabric, cut their quilts using the AccuQuilt, thread their machines and even clean them.
They sew every stitch and rip out just as many.
They are learning that not doing something right the first time typically means extra work down the road. They are also learning that all things can be fixed with a little hard work.
Quilts are honest. You can tell us that your stitches were good and they may look right at a glance but when a quilt starts to go together and the rows are not lining up the kids find out pretty quick that they are only cheating themselves.
Some of our sewers are precise.....
Others are perfectionist... ( yes.... Brie, Scarlett's daughter, likes paper piecing.... she is 8 )
and some (cough cough) figure that if you don't see the mistake from 100 yards away then it's OK ;)
These girls were the pioneers of what was to become the kid's guild. Before you knew it we were having our first meeting of The Teenie Stitches Kid's Quilt Guild. We recruited our friend Scarlett who is our resident Featherweight enthusiast and we were ready to go!
Now the kids in our little town are not lacking in after school programs, dancing, swimming, FFA, 4H, band, track and even a Lego Club rein supreme so finding the right day was a bit of a bear but we settled on the 3rd Monday of every month in the shop at 5:30. Sometimes that means the kids need to come and do homework with us at the shop.
Our First meeting was filled with 21 kids ages 6-17. We talked a little about what a guild is gave them each 2 Fat Quarters to create something for show and tell at the next meeting and then turned them loose on the Handi Quilter Machines. (not threaded of course) 
As in all things kids we were not sure what our numbers would be the next meeting. We thought maybe some kids would have decided this was not for them but others might tell their friends.
We are now, after 5 months at 40 kids and growing.
This was the perfect first quilt and although we saw some rather inventive ways to speed up the hand embroidery process. What can I say..... These kids are nothing if not efficient when it comes to getting out of work they maybe are not completely in love with.
Our next meeting was about getting their sewing machine driving lesson and getting their permits. If you are teaching your kids how to sew I recommend clicking HERE for diagrams and even the permit shown above!
Our current project is a Quilt of Valor. We hope to give it to a person who has served our country at our annual Independence Day Festivities in the near by town of New Market, Iowa. ( Which includes pie making contests/ auctions, tractor pulls, a parade, draft horse pulling contests and other wholesome family activities not to mention FIREWORKS!)
Our goal is to teach these kids not just how to quilt but the spirit and community of quilting. We are not just teaching stitches. I hope we are teaching independence, problem solving, geometry, charity, teamwork, and other life lessons. I hope that the boys and girls that quilt with us will make great friendships and memories and that they will learn valuable life skills.
We are passing on a tradition as old as time. Keeping this great art alive while bettering our youth.
When we hang their quilts in the store window they come and take pictures with it. I hope they feel accomplished. I hope that they know that with the help of good friends, a decent sewing machine, and a seam ripper all things are possible. 
On June 30th we will be making the 2.5 hour drive to
Missouri Star Quilt Company so the kids can meet
Jenny. They are pretty excited to meet her because we watch her videos all the time. One of our little sewers Cloe already met her and was the star of show and tell.
We would like to help other shops start Teenie Stitches Guilds all around the US so if you would like some help give us a call!
Lets get America's kids quilting !
You can contact us on our Facebook by clicking HERE
