Innovation and invention are the key components for Grace Company, a veteran in the quilting industry with a new building in West Jordan, 6748 S. Redwood Road. There has been a great transformation for quilting due to technology that has made quilting easier for those who enjoy the craft of quilting. 

The driving motivation for Grace Company, who celebrated its grand opening event in April, was to solve an existing problem with hand quilting frames.  

”It’s the same drive that motivates us to create each new product: how can we help a customer do something better, easier, faster,” said Jaren Gibson, president of Grace Company. 

Jim Bagley, the founder and owner of Grace Company, designed his first frame in 1985 and named it “GraceFrame,” after his mother. Bagley’s mother told him there needed to be a better quilt frame to sell. Grace had a need to have a quilting frame that solved basic problems with fabric. Bagley came up with his invention and solved those problems.

Bagley wanted a frame that can help a customer do something easier, doesn’t hurt your back and is faster. With his engineering mind, he created the frames and started selling them in the quilt shop where his mother worked at Mormon Handicraft. 

He came up with the Z shape so the customer could raise up the frame and sit up to it and not lean over, it would be easier on your back.  

“What are the ergonomic things that our quilters are dealing with that we can overcome for them? That is what we continue to ask ourselves, so people can be comfortable and they are not straining.” Gibson said. 

Bagley began to produce more wood frames, and worked out of his in-law’s garage until the demand required a bigger space. He created several models of hand quilting frames and unique square quilting hoops. The company grew into a line of machine quilting frames with unique features to make quilting more efficient. 

In 1990, Grace got into their own 7,000 square-foot building. 

Bagley took his product to the national show in Houston where he received national attention and started signing up quilt shops across the country. 

In about 2000 they began doing more than woodworking. Bagley liked working with plastic and started making construction toys, including a new toy called knuckle-struts. They decided to make a store front of toys for the business as well. Ten unique different lines of toys were invented. They sold on Amazon, are now getting their foot in on retail stores.  

In 2014, Bagley got his own building and expanded his product line. Hand quilting and woodworking is where their roots are. They adapted to machine quilting where the market was heading. Everything now is made of metal, plastic, and everything is custom designed to do the job.

“Now you can do your stitching much quicker,” Gibson said. “Our goal at Grace Company is to make these systems that usually cost $10 to 20,000, but we make it so a hobbyist can afford it. We came up with a system that is about half that around $5,000 dollars.” 

In 2020 they needed a new building because they ran out of space and bought the building they are in at 6748 S. Redwood Road after a two-year process. They remodeled a Target building and have a sales team, engineering and marketing departments. There is a second floor with accounting and tech support. 

Their machines come in from overseas and have full quality control over them. Then the machines are sent out to the market. 

“For parents who would love to get their kids away from electronics and get their kids back into a hands on kind of toy where they can learn from and have fun with,” Gibson said. 

The store is set up so kids can go try out the product. 

“The kids can go in and play with the toys and see if they like them,” said Jordan Rasmussen, head of product and design. 

Rasmussen heads up the operation of Jim Bagley’s inventions. “With the toys that are created, the children can build and create their own stories wherever their imagination takes them,” he said. The toy store is open from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  

At Grace their aim is to get people to take classes on a big scale with people all over the country. They do focus groups all the time quilting and sewing. 

They have a weekly stream that they do online for quilters. Instead of guiding it with your hands, you can speak with all your creations on screen, then press the play button and let it quilt for you. “It's a fun art form and it's amazing to me what people can do with fabric. It’s a great way for people to have a creative outlet.”  Jaren said. 

Grace Company wants to reach out to schools and give classes to students, and they have toys for the children. 

“This is what Jim envisioned, is to bring quilters in, and help them get better at their craft, leave with more skill and confidence. It’s great if they buy our products or if they have their own, now they will know how to use them. It is great to create a fun class experience,” Gibson said.  

“Innovation is the driving force behind Grace Company. Jim has done a great job replacing himself with smart engineers, and they continue to solve problems. Jim's frugality and his smartness with money has helped Grace Company become what it is today.” Gibson said. 

 To know more about Grace Company, go to www.graceframe.com.