Reaping what you sew

While the sign and name are quite eye-catching, most people in Newton are already familiar with Crazy Redhead Quilting. The small business recently moved from its former location at a small church on East First Avenue to a large building on the Newton town square.

The shop’s owner, Laura Jochems, said what prompted the move was the need for more space. Jochems opened her original store more than nine years ago. A small church with a few hundred square feet of space seemed like a reasonable size.

While Jochems loved her old building and location, it didn’t have the space necessary to grow.

“I used to have my online and retail products at two different locations,” Jochems said. “I used to have to go back and forth to put big orders together. It took me so much longer than it should have.”

Jochems’ new town square location has more than four times the space and is able to combine Crazy Redhead Quilting’s online and retail merchandise.

“I have a 63-foot-long wall to display every shade of fabric available,” she said. “It even gives me the space to display my mini sewing machine collection.”

The church location closed its doors May 1, and the new town square location opened June 2.

“It took us a little more than a month to move in and make everything look nice and ready for customers” Jochems said.

Just after reopening for business the store took part in the All Iowa Shop Hop, an event that helps “brick and mortar quilting and sewing stores thrive” and ensures “passion for the sewing arts remains ignited for generations to come.”

“No two quilting stores are the same, the amount of different fabrics, thread and machines available at different stores is mind-blowing, so passionate quilters with time on their hands like to go to all the different shops in their area and the Shop Hop was a good way to attract those traveling quilters,” Jochem said.

For more than 25 years Jochems worked as an office manager but decided to quit to begin working as an assistant at a quilt shop and sell sewing machines.

“Quilting started as a hobby of mine, so it seemed reasonable to start working in the industry professionally when I wanted a change,” Jochems said.

Her passion for quilting originated with the women in her family.

“When I was little my aunt was the biggest quilter in my life, and by the time I grew up my mother-in-law was making them. She used to give me these little gifts and wall hangings she had made for every holiday,” Jochems said.

After working in the industry for several years, Jochems decided to start her own shop. She then bought and moved into an old church building.

Erin Yeager, the executive director of Newton Main Street, praised Jochem for the move and bringing more diverse businesses to Newton’s downtown.

“Laura has been really good at bringing in out-of-town customers to the downtown,” Yeager said.

Not only has the move improved business behind the scenes, but the eye-catching sign and central location is also attracting far more walk-in customers. Jochems also credits the increase in business to the pandemic and stay-at-home orders.

“A big part of the increase has been because of COVID and mask making. So many people have gotten into sewing as a hobby over the past year because of the pandemic,” Jochems said. “My online store has been swamped with orders from all over the county. People are looking for a way to pass the time at home and quilting was it for many, especially younger people.”

With the end of the pandemic in sight, Jochems says the store will begin hosting events and classes again very soon, with several targeting new quilters. A beginners quilting class and monthly embroidery classes are events to look forward to in the near future.

On Aug. 28 there will also be a “day at the fair”-themed class, and Sept. 18-19 will be a Halloween quilting and crafts project class. Dates for Christmas-themed classes are to be posted soon.

Jochems encourages anyone who is interested in quilting — or even just sewing — to come and ask questions.

“I’ve been doing this for a lot of years and I can probably answer any questions customers have.”

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-4687 ext.6531 or at aknipfel@shawmedia.com