COLORADO CITY
A few months ago, the Greenhorn Kickers 4-H Club’s new clothing project leader, Donna Thomas, spoke to Kelly Mattson of Kelly J’s Sewing Center and Quilt Shop about the girls enrolled in her project.
Thomas was asking Mattson if she could bring the three girls in her project to tour Kelly J’s fabric shop to learn about sewing tools, notions, and fabric. She also asked if the shop had a sewing machine they could rent for the girls to use.
Mattson wholeheartedly welcomed the idea of the girls' tour, and word began to spread about the sewing project being offered. By the time Thomas and the girls went to Kelly J’s, there were seven girls ranging between 3rd and 6th grade enrolled in the clothing project. Imagine the girls’ delight when Cheri Walker, who was working the counter at Kelly J’s that day, told them there was a sewing machine to be donated to them.
Walker shared, “The girls were so cute; they had such a good time picking out fabric for their pillowcases and were so excited to learn about the machine going to them.”
Mattson said, 'Kelly J's is dedicated to helping the next generation appreciate, learn, and love the skill of sewing.
Sewing skills will come into everyone's life at some point.
Knowing how to use a sewing machine can open a world of creativity and expression.
We're happy to encourage a new sewist anytime we can.
It's wonderful to know that providing a sewing machine for a young person to use might open doors to learn, succeed and grow.'
Thomas said the group desperately needed the donated machine, and the seven girls are working at their project meetings using Thomas’ machine, the donated machine, and two of the girls' mothers bring their machines.
Thomas says that as the girls become more proficient and can work independently, she will let the girls who do not have a machine take the donated machine home with them to work on their projects. The girls are starting on small projects and working their way up to making what they will display at the Pueblo County Fair in July.