American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast

We know, we know. Spring is still a month away, but, we wanted to do a fun spring cleaning episode early, because our “31 Days to an Organized Sewing Space” Challenge begins March 1. We share details in this episode, as well as easy ideas for cleaning and freshening your sewing space. We also give tips for strip piecing and binding, explore the history of potholder quilts, and share the story of a...

For many of us, quilting cotton is our go-to when we’re making projects. But there are so many fun types of fabrics in the market, and some of these specialty types of fabric are being made with higher quality and cuter materials than we may have seen in the past. We talk about the different kinds of fabric you may want to consider when sewing your next project, as well as tips for smooth sewing....

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, we wanted to share some ideas for how to give from the heart. We share ideas for personalizing gifts, supporting sewing charities, and making handmade items even more meaningful. We also chat with Wise Monkey Quilting quilt shop, share listener sewing tips we love, and announce a new quilt-along. For more resources from today's show, visit the show...

It's a very special episode. It’s our 500th podcast episode!! We can’t believe it. After more than 11 years, we’ve hit this momentous number. And to celebrate, we asked our listeners to submit quilting questions for us to answer. We’d like to thank the countless people who have been involved in this podcast over the years – so many amazing guests, hosts, sponsors, and staff members have worked inc...

January is a popular time to organize your home, and we’ve spent the last four podcast episodes talking about storage, organization, and decluttering! (So, if you’ve missed any, you can still go back to listen in!) On today’s show, we’re tackling how to make room for sewing no matter the space you have – and also, how to capitalize on that space with storage and furniture ideas. We also talk to th...

Sometimes the perfect storage items are found at your local home decor store or are even something you already own. On today's show, we're sharing 15 ways to transform common household items from every room in your house into creative organizational solutions. We also share some cutting tips to speed up the sewing process, and announce a fun new sew-along! For more resources from today's show, vis...

The ultimate sewing room means something different to every quilter. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sewing spaces. Each quilters’ needs and décor styles are different. We’re going to take you on a journey to discover your dream sewing space, so you can then take some small steps to make that dream a reality. We’re also sharing a helpful trick to finish your UFOs faster, some storage...

Happy New Year! 2021 is finally here! And let’s hope it’s a more positive year than the previous one. We wanted to start out this year on the podcast in a way that’s both inspiring and motivating and that included some of our favorite things: playing with fabric and meeting new quilting friends. So, we’re starting the show by giving some tips for organizing and decluttering your fabric stash – we...

Happy (almost) New Year! We made it through 2020 -- what a crazy year. We hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and was able to take a little time to relax, reflect on the past year, and even make some goals for the upcoming year. A popular resolution many quilters make is to finish UFOs or unfinished objects. So, we're sharing some great tips today for tackling your UFOs and getting them organized...

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Or for us quilters, let it sew, let it sew, let it sew! Winter is prime quilting time, so today we’re sharing some benefits of sewing during the colder months. We also chat with Serendipity Quilt Shop, share details about our 2021 UFO Challenge, and give an e...

We’re a little more than a week until Christmas, so it’s crunch time for all those still making holiday gifts and decor. But our staff is here to offer a few tips for kicking holiday sewing stress, so you can be productive while still enjoying the holidays! We also share some uplifting stories of quilters making a difference, a project our staff member is working on, resources for identifying anti...

According to a 2020 study, 67% of U.S. households or about 85 million families own a pet. That’s a lot of pets! So the odds are that many quilters listening right now are sewing in a space that has an animal. Owning a pet is so rewarding, but we know that our pets can also present some problems in our quilting lives, so we're excited to discuss some tips for sewing with pets! We also chat with the...

For many, a sewing machine is an important relationship you have (and some of you may even have names for your sewing machine), so it’s a good idea to take the time to get to know your machine and strengthen that bond between you. We also share some amazing stories of how local quilt shops are continuing to get creative in this pandemic, sewing hacks from our listeners, tricks for trimming your bl...

November is sometimes seen as a time of reflection and gratitude, so on today’s show, we’re exploring what we and our listeners are thankful for in our quilting lives. We also chat about different types of scissors, a fun project a staff member is working on, tips for washing wall quilts, and ideas for your quilty holiday wish list! For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here:...

On today’s show, we’re talking about precuts: why we love them, tips for using them, and how we store them. Many quilters love precut fabrics, so this is our little ode to them. We also chat with Jessica VanDenburgh of Sew Many Creations. You’ll love hearing all the tips she shares about bag-making, using cork fabric, and more. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: www.a...

‘Tis the season of giving! The holidays are a meaningful time to sew for a charity. Using your talents to help others will spread cheer to your community and those in need. Especially this year, it seems like many people need a little lift in their spirits, and nothing shows you care more than giving a handmade item. On today’s show, we’re giving some tips for finding a sewing charity to support a...

On today’s show, we’re acknowledging the resourcefulness many of us feel around the holidays. When budgets are tight and we’re short on time, we may need some good make-do hacks for our projects. That’s why we’re sharing some MacGyver sewing tips to help anyone that finds themselves in a pinch for that last-minute holiday sewing. We also chat with the amazing Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin – it’s...

On today’s show, we’re giving tips for sewing with children – this is especially handy if you’ll need to entertain kids or grandkids around the holidays. We’re also sharing the do’s and don’ts of displaying antique quilts, tips for planning your handmade holiday gift-giving, and some favorite quilty products on our wish list. We also chat with Calico Crossing from Lockhart, Texas, about a fun way...

This episode is all about scraps. If you’ve been wondering how to get started sorting and organizing your scrap bins, we’re offering some basics. We also chat with Jessica Vetor, a scrappy quilter and pattern designer, who has lots of fun tips and info to share. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-podcast/episode-485-sort-...

No quilt police! We’re tackling a controversial topic today: quilting rules – and which ones our staff and listeners are breaking! (From serious offenses to more tongue-in-cheek rules we ignore, this discussion is one many quilters will relate to.) We also share stories of quilters making a difference in their communities, a staff member’s birthday challenge, a variety of cutting tips, and ideas f...

As we prepare for what could be a long and possibly lonely winter of being quarantined, we wanted to share some ideas for hosting a virtual quilt retreat. Hopefully it inspires you to connect with your quilting friends in a new way and still get your sewing fix. We also share a project one of our staff members is working on, some basic info on different types of pins, tips for binding (we promise,...

On this episode, we share three techniques for basting a quilt (we give the pros and cons, so you can find the right method for your project). Then we share the story of a quilt shop owner who pivoted her business during the pandemic with creative and fun ideas that encouraged her customers during a hard time. We also talk about creative ways to upgrade a rolling cart for your sewing space.  For m...

Now that the weather is getting cooler and we’re spending more time inside our sewing rooms, we wanted to share some things we’re obsessed with now. Our staff shares a few trends, fabric, and products they can't get enough of -- we hope you find something you’re excited to add to your quilting life, too! We also chat with Christian Henry from The Featherweight Shop. He shares about the history of...

On today's show, we share tips for adding borders to your quilt without annoying waves or puckers. We also chat with the amazing Sandra Johnson about sashiko and boro stitching, as well as how Sandra is empowering herself and others through her creations and teaching. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-podcast/episode-480...

On today's show, we're sharing some tips for getting your projects organized before the busy holiday season starts. We also chat with Susan Cleveland of Pieces Be With You. Susan is an award-winning quilter, respected teacher, and designer of tools that add really special touches to your quilt. For more resources from today's show, visit the show notes here: www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/q...