American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast

Quilters have long been known for their sustainable practices – they save the smallest of scraps, they “make do” in their projects, they repurpose clothing or feed sacks, and more. So as green living continues to be more popular and more important than ever, it’s no surprise that many quilters are asking themselves what steps they can take in their sewing lives to make a difference. We share 11 ti...

If your sewing room feels more like a museum than a functional work space, consider getting a keepsake box. We share tips for how to select a box, what types of things to put in it, and how to clear your work space from unused (but still loved) objects. We also share what an editor is working on, details of a fun new Sampler quilt we're hosting, how quilters are helping Ukraine, and tips for basti...

In honor of the Academy Awards, our staff shares their thoughts on what quilty award they'd win. It's nice to take the time to be proud of yourself, be impressed with your skills, and not be afraid to share it with the world! We also chat with Jen Kingwell, an Australian fabric and pattern designer, a quilt shop owner, and author. Jen shares about her journey into quilting, the inspiration behind...

It's our 550th podcast episode!! We can't believe it. After more than 12 years, we've hit this momentous number. And to celebrate, we asked our listeners to submit quilting questions for us to answer. On this episode, we answer questions related to a variety of topics including choosing fabrics, fixing blocks that aren't the right size, organizing pieces for your blocks, getting a vintage sewing m...

Everything old is new again. And hand quilting is no exception! This traditional quilting technique is making a comeback for newer quilters. Learn the tools needs to try hand quilting and the basics to marking designs on your quilt. We also share how to write on fabric, the sewing tools we're loving right now, and how perfectionism may be keeping you from finishing your projects. For more resource...

Bias edges are prone to stretching and distorting, which can cause problems if you're not careful working with them. We share 5 tips for cutting, sewing, and pressing shapes with bias edges for the best results. We also share listener emails, highlight a Georgia quilt guild doing great work for their community, give tips on getting the crinkle look in your quilts, and showcase a monochromatic quil...

Get creative with your quilt backings! We share the basics of assembling your backing, choosing fabrics, and personalizing it, so you love the back of your quilt as much as you love the front. We also chat with Kim Smith Soper, founder of FeelGood Fibers, a website for buying and selling pre-owned fabric. Kim also leads decluttering coaching sessions and shares lots of tips for organizing a space...

We asked our staff to share the quilting product that changed their life. From rotary cutters to irons to quilting planners, they share a variety of products they can't imagine living without. We also share tips for working with precuts. And we chat with Donna Redman, the owner of Stitches 'N Tyme quilt shop in Oakfield, Wisconsin. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: h...

To celebrate Valentine's Day, we talk about the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, and how you can use your quilting skills to give love to others in their specific love language (acts of service, receiving gifts, words of affirmation, quality time, and physical touch). We also give a tip for using a timer to finish projects faster and share products we're loving right now. For more resour...

Since February is the month of love, we wanted to talk about ways to show your sewing supplies some extra TLC this month. They work so hard for us, and in some cases, we may not be treating them as nicely as we could be. We share tips for cleaning and storing your cutting tools, ironing supplies, sewing machine, and more! We also chat with Charisma Horton, a talented designer, longarm quilter, and...

When we're imagining our dream sewing spaces, we spend a lot of time thinking of what we want our spaces to be. But we also need to consider what we need our spaces to be. In this episode, we're asking questions to dive deeper into your personal sewing style, so you can find storage solutions and set your room up for sewing success! We also share what to do with quilts you no longer want, how to i...

As you're cleaning and organizing your sewing room this month, you may come across unfinished objects or finished quilts that no longer bring joy. We share how to identify those projects and what you can do with them if you decide to let them go. We also share three makers we love following on Instagram, stories of quilters helping those experiencing homelessness, and details about our next sew-al...

January is a time when many people set goals for the year. Our staff shares their big quilty goals for the year -- everything from learning new techniques, finishing UFOs, and making bucket list quilts. We also chat with health and ergonomic expert Rose Parr of Healthy Quilting. Rose shares her best tips for staying healthy in your sewing room, so you can pursue your quilting hobby for years to co...

Looking for more space for your sewing supplies and projects? We share ideas for making the most of your closet storage -- everything from hangers, shelves, cubby storage, pegboards, and more. We also share tips for achieving a square up quilt and for saving money in your sewing room. And if you're on the lookout for new storage products, we share our favorites! For more resources from today's sho...

Did you make a New Year's Resolution to tackle your pile of UFOs (unfinished objects) in 2022? We have 10 tips to help you finish those quilts once and for all! We also share ideas of what to look for in your next iron, how to organize and store works in progress, and we chat with Clare Neff of Village Quilts in Canfield, Ohio. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: https...

We share about different apps on your phone or computer that can be used in your sewing room, including those for entertainment, calculator, color palette creation, project tracking, and more. We also share how to save money in your home with sewing supplies, creative ways to label quilts, and how to store wool projects. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: https://www....

Merry Christmas! Our staff shares holiday traditions, handmade gift ideas, and their favorite quilted Christmas decor. We also chat with Sherri Falls of This & That Pattern Company. Sherri is a prolific sewer, pattern designer, and author with a special love of holiday designs. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-p...

Sewing is a stress-reliever, so we need sewing more than ever when things get busy. So we came up with the idea of doing "12 Days of Christmas Sewing" to make the most of the frantic holiday season. We give ideas for pairing sewing time with a festive Christmas activity. We also share stories of quilters making a difference in the community, details of a closet reorganization, what a staff member...

We're in the final countdown for making Christmas quilts and holiday gifts. If you're crunched for time and need to finish projects fast, we're have tips to make quick work of basting, quilting, binding, and more. We also chat about conquering works in progress, share a holiday color trend and info on thimbles, and give tips for how to build your fabric stash. For more resources from today's show,...

Learn how to document your quilts, so that their basic information, their stories, and their connections with others are remembered and shared through generations. We also share listener-submitted sewing hacks, tips for saving money in your sewing space, and quilty items on our wish list. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more...

This week is Thanksgiving in the United States, so we're reflecting on the good things in our lives and sharing the quilty things we're thankful for. We also chat with Jenny Doan, the founder of Missouri Star Quilt Company, a well-known YouTube personality and quilter, and now author. We discuss her new memoir, How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith & the Power of Giving,  For m...

Many quilters make test blocks to try their fabric choices or instructions before they dive into making a quilt. But what do you do with these leftover blocks? We have some great suggestions to share in this episode. The we chat with Ashli Montgomery, the founder and CEO of the non-profit Quilt 2 End ALZ, which focuses on connecting quilters who have been touched by Alzheimer's, as well as educati...

Quilters always have the greatest tricks for making parts of the quilting process easier, faster, or more efficient. On this show, we share some of the best sewing tips and tricks submitted by our listeners. We also share a few fun online events we're hosting to get you in the holiday spirit and a mistake our editor made in her sewing room. Then we chat with Kirsta Meadows, the store owner of All...

Each of us develops a unique sense of color, design, and style that we bring into our lives -- not just in the quilts we make, but in our wardrobe and our home. On this episode, we're sharing how to find your signature color palette and put it to good use in your sewing room! We also share some sampler quilts and wish list products we love, give details about our Random Acts of "Quiltiness" Day, a...

Fussy-cutting refers to the process of selectively cutting pieces from fabric to highlight a certain design or motif. We're sharing tips for adding fussy-cut fabric to your quilt, including choosing fabrics, making your own cutting template, sewing them into a quilt, and working with panel prints. We also chat with Riane Menardi Morrison (of Riane Elise) about hand-quilting, her design process, an...