The students in Sewing Seeds Quilt Company Day Camp take to the sewing machines to finish their quilts. Each quilt is based on the same pattern, but each quilter chooses different fabrics to create a unique and personal quilt.

NEW ULM — This week, Sewing Seeds Quilt Company planted the seeds of sewing into the fertile minds of youth as part of the annual youth day camp.

Each morning for the last four days, Sewing Seeds’ basement was filled with young people crafting of their individual quilt projects. The goal of the camp is for each of the 18 students to complete a quilt in four days. The students learned to plan and use tools in the studio space to create the quilt.

This year, all the students created a quilt called “Shadow Dance.” Everyone used the same pattern, but students were free to pick their own fabric.

Co-owner of Sewing Seeds Ann Wendinger said it was fun to notice how each student chose the fabrics that matched their own personality.

“We’ve got quilts with wildlife to unicorns and everything in between,” she said.

Sewing Seeds Quilt Company has hosted this day camp since the business started. The notion of the day camp was to teach young people the basics of sewing. This was the seventh sewing day camp hosted by Sewing Seeds and the participation level continues to rise.

Shirley Wendinger was the lead teacher for the class, but several staff members and community sewers stepped in to assist the youth.

The day camp is open to all students who have completed second grade. The average age range is 10 to 14 years old, but a few non-traditional students join. Some of the students are returning campers who wished to make another quilt.

Katie Gieske is a teacher in Arizona who returned to New Ulm to attend the day camp. She returns to make a quilt every summer.

“It’s a great starter course,” Gieske said. She praised the instructors’ hands-on approach to the class.

“We create a quilt in four days. That’s crazy,” she said.

The success of the day camp has Sewing Seeds considering offering a second beginners class for the next-level students.