About Village Stitchery

How Village Stitchery Began

 

Hi there — I’m Sandy Richard. My sewing journey began in seventh‑grade home economics, where I first learned to sew on my mom’s 1950s Singer. That little machine made it possible for me to practice at home, and before long I was making most of my own clothes and even a few for her.

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Fast forward to 2008, when health challenges brought my years in the fitness industry to an unexpected close. Suddenly I found myself in one of those “What do I do now?” moments that make you look inward. I had always wanted to learn how to quilt — it fascinated me to no end — so I upgraded my very outdated machine and got to work.

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By then we had eight grandchildren, soon to be ten, and I began making quilts for all of them. Some ended up with three each within five years. I made many more during that time as well, including charity quilts. Though I’ve always enjoyed piecing, it was the quilting itself that tugged at my heartstrings. I quilted everything on a domestic machine, learning from anyone willing to teach me. Eventually, the limitations of quilting larger pieces on a domestic machine pushed me to take the next step: a sit‑down longarm. Now that felt more like it.

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I dreamed of starting my own quilting business, but I didn’t yet have the confidence to work on other people’s quilts. So in 2016, Village Stitchery was born — not as a quilting‑for‑others business just yet, but as a place for alterations and repairs while I continued sharpening my quilting skills. Within a couple of years, I got brave enough to take on customer quilts, diving right into custom quilting and commission work. What a blast I was having.

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Like many quilters, I longed for a stand‑up longarm on a frame — a dream I wasn’t willing to give up on. I knew it would come eventually. And… it did. Village Stitchery is now the business of my dreams, thanks to the wonderful people who have trusted me with their quilts, the quilting community that shares its knowledge so generously, and my very supportive husband. Village Stitchery would not be what it is today without all of you. I truly love what I do.

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Where We Are Today

 

Village Stitchery has grown into more than a longarm quilting studio — it’s a creative home for quilters near and far. The studio has expanded to include an online store, giving customers a way to enjoy the fabrics and projects we love from wherever they are.

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Tuesdays at the Village is one of the ways we stay connected. Each week we share a fresh inspiration project and a one‑day special that brings our quilting community together, whether you visit in person or follow along online.

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What Makes Us Unique

 

The heart of Village Stitchery is the people — the creativity they bring, the love they pour into their work, and the joy they find in the art of quilting. The soul lives in what they create: the quilts, the projects, and the stories stitched into every piece. And the legacy belongs to those who receive them, cherish them, and pass them down to the next generation.

You can see this legacy come to life in our Legacy Quilt Gallery, where the fruits of so many labors of love are shared and celebrated.

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Professional Memberships

 

To stay connected with the quilting industry and continue growing in my craft, I maintain active memberships with:

• American Quilter's Society

• Quilter's Groove Creative Design Society

• Quilter's Apothecary

These communities keep me inspired, informed, and continually learning — all of which I bring back to the work I do here at Village Stitchery.

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Stay Connected

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