NEW HAMPTON - Students sit poised behind sewing machines and squares stacked according to color. Judging from the piles of cloth, this group favors bright colors. Lime green polka dots. Faded purples. Yellow and blue stars.

On the wall hung a finished quilt, representing what each boy and girl will attempt to make at Kids Camp. The piece is friendly and colorful, with a border of cows on skis.

Wednesday, Denise Sinnwell, owner the Quilter's Window in New Hampton, addresses her pupils. Some have helped with Grandma's sewing projects. Others don't know a thimble from a bobbin.

Scissors? Check.

Thread? Twelve-year-old Jackie Heying can't find that item.

"Were we supposed to bring that?" Jackie, of New Hampton, asks.

The answer is 'no.' The shop provides thread, Berninas, snacks and instruction on how to make a quilt in two days.

"We are going to go step by step so we keep people together," Sinnwell says.

The Quilter's Window opened in June at 101 E. Main St. The corner shop, named for it's large display cases, offers weekly classes and in-store sewing sessions.

"I love to see when people get done with a project, when they learn." Sinnwell said.

The New Hampton native, in the dental profession for 13 years, dreamed of turning her quilting hobby into a business. She learned to quilt from her fifth-grade teacher.

"I don't know if it had anything to do with being 40, but I decided if I'm going to do it, now would be a good time," Sinnwell said. "It was a family effort."

She and her husband, Bill, purchased and renovated the downtown building. Her parents, Chet and Doris Finnegan, and neighbors Donnie and Donna Schwickerath helped, too.

Sinnwell, who used to work at the Pine Needles Quilt Shop in Cresco, also took advice from her former boss, Jill Reicks. Reicks, a Johnny Appleseed of sorts when it comes to helping plant and pass on quilt shops, turned her Cresco shop over to another employee, Marcia Nagel.

The Quilter's Window adds to a niche market of specialty shops that includes scrapbook, gift and wedding stores, said Bob Soukup, director of economic development in New Hampton. Classes bring new people to town.

Quilters of all ages and skill levels grace the Quilter's Window. Young people also are taking an interest in the craft, said Sinnwell's mom, Doris Finnegan.

"Years ago the women just did it at home, because they had to. Now they do it as a relief," Finnegan said.

Finnegan, who doesn't sew, offers encouragement and a helping hand to the fledgling quilters.

"I'm good at ripping," she said. "If anybody needs something ripped, I can help."

Neat patterns and bright colors and innovative sewing techniques make quilting, and quilts, attractive to some.

"I think they are cool, because they take pieces of cloth and they put them together," said Jessica Baker, 11, of New Hampton. She signed up for the class with her twin sister, Rebecca.

Jessica glances at the sewing machine's pedal.

"It's so tempting to push it to the bottom," she said.

Alex Jacque, 12, of Denver, wants to uphold a family tradition held by his grandmother and aunt.

"It'll be a lot handier when your grown up if you know how to sew," Jacque said. "Like if your pants ever rip. Or you can make blankets."

Jacque's friend, Jon Reins, 8, of Waterloo asked to sign up and may soon add sewing to his activity list that includes football.

"He wants to be involved in everything," Reins' mom, Nicole Fordyce said.

Regulars at the Quilter's Window hope row after row of cloth and finished products decorating store walls and young pupils bent over patterns will inspire new quilters.

"I think the history and the heritage of quilting is wonderful," Sinnwell said.

"And anybody can learn to do it," added helper Jan Finnegan.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1570 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com