Keep calm and sew on

Owning her own business was a priority for Laura Jochems, and after thinking about what brings her joy she settled on a favorite hobby — quilting. Crazy Redhead Quilting opened in 2012 and, after a move about eight years later, is thriving in its downtown Newton location.

“I started in a little church down the way,” Jochems said. “I had worked in a quilt shop before and sold sewing machines, as well, and I decided it was time for me to be my own boss. I purchased the church and we had eight successful years there.”

The unique building on East First Street was lined with fabrics and notions with the basement holding a couple of longarm quilting machines. While it had plenty of charm, it also limited growth for the business.

When COVID shut down the world, Jochems was busy making a big move. She expanded her business from the 1,300 square feet at the church location to almost 6,000 square feet in the space formerly filled by the bridal shop on the southwest side of the square.

“It has been a great move,” Jochems said. “Before, you had to know the quilt shop was there. Now, we have quite a bit of traffic that just comes in. It has been really convenient having the other businesses to draw from.”

It didn’t take Jochems long to fill the larger space. From a vibrant selection of fabrics, including cottons in every shade of the rainbow, cuddle, flannel and wool, along with embroidery merchandise and quilting supplies, there is plenty to meet a wide range of creative sewing needs.

For those looking to get started in quilting, Jochems can be a seasoned guide. Classes are available on occasion but she invites people to walk in and ask any questions they have.

“We can definitely get you started if you came in. We have a great beginning quilt book and we are always here for advice on how to do something,” Jochems said.

Whether starting from scratch and picking out a pattern and fabric or choosing a pre-cut kit, new quilters can jump in with no experience.

“You start with making your quilt which can be as simple as getting pre-cuts and sewing them together,” Jochems said. “They come in 5x5, 10x10, strips — those type of things. Once you get it done there is finishing the quilt. You can finish it on a regular sewing machine but it is easier and looks a little more professional to put it on a longarm.”

A longarm is a large sewing machine — it can fill up a room with a 12 foot frame — that can sew across an entire quilt. After pinning on the backing, pinning the top and the batting, the longarm moves the sewing machine over top to finish the quilt.

“There are machines that are computerized. I always call it an embroidery machine on steroids. It is the same type of machine as an embroidery machine, it just does a bigger pattern,” Jochems said. “You program a pattern in and you can custom quilt it to do a block at a time or do an edge to edge pattern from the left side of the quilt all the way to the right side.”

Patterns are endless and can be specialized by the user. From hearts, flowers, ghosts, Christmas trees or a unique line pattern, the quilting can be as unique as the quilt pattern itself.

While it might seem a little overwhelming to beginners, Jochems contagious enthusiasm for quilting will give anyone the confidence to jump in head first. The love she has for what she does shines through the entire shop.

“I love to see what people make and I love to help them pick out their fabrics and plan what they are doing,” Jochems said. “It is a very rewarding hobby. To see the smile on their face when they make something and say ‘Look! I can do this’ — that’s huge.”