Quilting on the Side
Co-hosts Tori McElwain of HeyTori and Andi Stanfield of True Blue Quilts share real talk about what it takes to grow a successful quilting business while balancing full-time work, family life, and creative energy.Whether you're into quilt pattern design, longarm quilting, teaching workshops, or selling handmade products, you'll find practical tips and honest conversations here. We cover everything from digital marketing and course creation to time management and the mindset shifts needed to build a sustainable, fulfilling side hustle.This show is your go-to guide for running a profitable quilting business on the side - with encouragement, strategy, and...
What We Learned About Paying for Coaching
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Coaching can be a real shortcut or an expensive detour, and the difference often comes down to what you bring to it. In this episode, Tori and Andi share lessons from years of coaching programs, masterminds, and courses, including the ones that paid off and the ones that didn’t.Â
They talk about why most business systems are the same idea in different words, why it matters to choose a coach who understands quilters, and why you need to be ready to do the work instead of jumping to the next pro...
Teaching Is the Business with Lynn Christiansen
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Lynn Christiansen of Emerald Falls Quilts learned to quilt with a coworker, sewing a table runner in the school copy room. Years later, she left teaching behind to build a quilt business around what she loves most: teaching quilters.
In this episode, Tori talks with Lynn about how a wool applique class at her local quilt shop turned into a pattern business, why guilds are a strong place to start, and how the Wanderlust Quilt Society turns real-world travel into a community block-of-the-month. They also cover the Woolly Flourishes wool critters...
The Best Place to Show Up Online for Quilting Businesses
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Video is one of the few places where your quilting business keeps working for you long after you hit publish. In this episode, Tori and Andi talk about why YouTube is such a strong fit for quilt pattern designers, teachers, longarm quilters, and shop owners, and why Andi wrote a book about it.
Andi shares why video builds trust in a way flat photos can’t, how a well-made tutorial, like a classic nine patch, can keep driving views for years, and why quilters need advice from people in their own ni...
Building a Quilting Empire: Meet Carolina Moore
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Andi sits down with Carolina Moore — pattern designer, notion inventor, author, and newly minted YouTube Silver Button recipient — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable quilting business over time. Carolina shares the story behind her ever-expanding product universe (including her brand-new laser cutting venture, Clear Cut Quilts), why she's stepping back from guild lectures, and how an MBA and a lot of spreadsheets helped her make smart, scary business leaps. She also breaks down the math of pattern sales in a way that's genuinely useful for beginners. Tori...
Getting Started on YouTube: Quilting on Video
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Andi has big news—she's releasing Quilting on Video: Your Guide to Grow and Monetize on YouTube, and Tori puts her in the hot seat to talk all things video content.
After seven years and 18,000+ YouTube subscribers, Andi breaks down why YouTube isn't just another platform for quilters—it's one of the few places where your content actually keeps working years later. We talk about:
Why video matters for quilting businesses (it's visual, it's searchable, it builds real community)Specific YouTube strategies for teachers, patt...Behind the Scenes with Kaitlyn Fritsch
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Join the free "Do You Have a Book in You?" Webinar here: https://selfpublishingincubator.com/bookclassÂ
Meet Kaitlyn Fritsch, the technical editor behind dozens of published quilt patterns and books. In this episode, she walks through exactly what a tech editor does (and why your math is probably fine—it's the spelling that'll get you), how to know if your pattern should be a book, and how much it actually costs to have an expert review your work.
Plus: why finding time to write doesn't require a cab...
We're Back for Season7! Big Changes, Fresh Start, and Industry Events
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Season 7 Premiere: Big Changes, Fresh Start, and Industry Events You Can't Miss
Tori and Andi kick off Season 7 celebrating seven years of real talk about running a quilting business alongside everything else. But this is no ordinary season opener—both hosts are navigating major shifts in their businesses.
Tori's hitting a pivotal moment: her husband just retired from the military after 13 years of moving around. For the first time, she's thinking long-term about staying put, exploring local networking opportunities, and rethinking what staying in one location means fo...
Season 6 Recap - Our Longest Season yet!
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Six seasons. Over a hundred episodes. Three years of real talk about building a quilting business on the side — and Tori and Andi are not done yet.
In this Season 6 finale, the co-hosts take a walk down memory lane through what turned out to be their longest season yet — 21 episodes packed with guests, trade show adventures, solo experiments, and more than a few lessons learned the hard way.
They recap the full guest lineup from Season 6: a cross-promotion episode with Brandy Maslowski of Quilter on Fire, mindset and weight loss...
Was it Worth it? What 5 Quilting Professionals Learned at h+h Americas
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What happens when a tech editor, a marketing coach, and three quilt pattern designers and teachers walk into the h+h americas Trade show? These are five quilting business owners with wildly different game plans — and a lot of honest hindsight.
In this special panel episode, Tori and Andi sit down with three of the friends they spent the week with at h+h Americas in Chicago — Kaitlyn Fritsch of Fritsch in Stitches, Laureen Smith of Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts, and Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches — to recap what the show was ac...
h+h 2026 - Conversations from the Show Floor
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h+h Americas is a huge fabric and fiber arts industry trade show. Andi and Tori spent the week in Chicago and met a bunch of amazing people! In this episode, Andi walks the show floor and asks a variety of attendees about their experience. Meet longarm quilters, pattern writers, tech editors and fabric desigers. We hope you enjoy this peek behind the scenes.Â
Did you hear that the Self-Publishing Incubator is open? Click here for more information.Â
Guests:
Barbie from The Quilting Mi...
Pixel by Pixel - How an Engineer Grew Her Quilting Business with Brooke Stambersky
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What if the best marketing strategy for your pattern business had nothing to do with Instagram? Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches started her entire quilting business the old-fashioned way - walking into quilt shops, showing up in person, and letting her passion do the talking. Just relationships, discipline, and a really good pixelated Michigan quilt.
In this episode, Tori sits down with Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitichin' Stitches to hear how a doodle on grid paper became a five-year, 50-state pattern series — and what it actually takes to see a pr...
Why YouTube Is My #1 Platform for Quilting Business Growth
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Andi flies solo this episode to share why YouTube has been her go-to social media platform for the past two years — and why she thinks it should be on every quilting business owner's radar. From the nuts and bolts of monetization requirements to the surprising longevity of a single well-timed video, she breaks down what's actually working for her channel. She also gets real about viral content, keyword strategy, and why chasing trends is a trap.Â
Don't miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and ind...
Beyond Distributors & Social Media: How One Quilt Pattern Designer Built a Successful Business
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What do you do when distributors keep saying no and social media isn't getting your patterns in front of the right people? In this solo episode, Tori shares the story of Joyce - a pattern designer and client who built a growing pattern business by going straight to quilt shops with smart research, personalized outreach, and a willingness to put the actual product in people's hands.
Tori walks through Joyce's step-by-step approach: how she researched shops by studying what they featured (not just what they sold), wrote short introductory emails that...
Mosaic Applique and the Pivot That Travels with You with Cindy Bader
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What happens when the business you love physically can't come with you? In this episode, Andi sits down with Cindy Bader of Patterns on the Prairie to talk about building - and rebuilding - a quilting business around the realities of your life.
Cindy started quilting as a first-generation quilter on a $60 Walmart Singer that she had to spin the flywheel to start. Nearly two decades ago, worsening carpal tunnel pushed her out of a desk job and into a computerized longarm business she ran from home while raising three kids...
Media Kits, Elevator Pitches, and Cold Outreach for Quilters
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What actually goes into a media kit — and do you even need one? In this episode, Tori and Andi break down the nuts and bolts of building a media kit for your quilting business, from headshots and bios to class sample photos and social media handles. They walk through how your kit should look different depending on whether you're pitching a podcast, approaching a guild, or reaching out to a quilt shop — and why "make it about them, not you" is the thread that ties it all together.
Tori and Andi also...
From Accidental Pattern Designer to Subscription Box Creator with Monika Henry
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What does it look like to build a quilting business almost by accident? In this episode, Tori and Andi sit down with Monika Henry of Penny Spool Quilts to talk about her journey from a six-year first quilt (cut with cardboard templates and scissors) to running a pattern design business, teaching an improv quilting workshop, and launching a Canadian quilt subscription box that took off faster than she expected.
Monika shares the behind-the-scenes reality of creating Quilt the North — a quarterly subscription box featuring a Canadian pattern designer, curated fabric, and lo...
Pattern Designers + Quilt Shops: How to Build Partnerships That Work for Everyone
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In this episode, Tori and Andi dig into a topic they've been hearing about from both sides - the relationship between pattern designers and quilt shops. Are they competitors? Partners? Somewhere in between?
They break down the real economics of pattern design (spoiler: a $12 retail pattern doesn't go far at wholesale or distributor pricing), why most designers can't rely on direct-to-consumer sales alone, and what it actually takes to get your patterns into shops and distributors. Tori shares what she's seen at H&H over the past few years - including...
From Pillowcases to Publishing with Kathryn LeBlanc
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In this episode, Andi sits down with Kathryn LeBlanc of Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio (and author Kathryn Mykel) to talk about what it really looks like to keep reinventing your creative business when the thing that's working stops working. Kathryn opened a brick-and-mortar quilt shop with no money, no inventory, and no business background - then closed it right before COVID hit.Â
She pivoted to Facebook Lives and made more in two years than she did in five years with the shop. When that dried up, she went to school for s...
Quilt Market Is Gone. Now What?
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Quilt Market is gone. After decades as the destination event for quilting industry professionals, the fall show has been canceled indefinitely, and Tori and Andi have thoughts.
In this episode, they pull back the curtain on what the end of Quilt Market might mean for your business and the quilting industry as a whole, why it may not be the bad news everyone's making it out to be, and what it could signal about where things are heading. They dig into the shift from brick-and-mortar-centered business models to the rise of...
The Truth About AI's Environmental Impact for Quilters with Theresa the AI Quilter
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori welcome back Theresa Benson - the AI Quilter for a fascinating conversation about how artificial intelligence is showing up in the quilting world.
Since her last appearance on the podcast, Theresa has been busy speaking at guilds, mentoring quilters, presenting on the big stage at QuiltCon, and researching some of the biggest questions people have about AI.
Together they discuss:
• How AI is actually being used by quilters today
 • Why some of the enviro...
Stickers, Shaking Hands, and Sewing Seeds: Authentic Networking for Quilting Industry Events
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Taking your quilt business from a digital screen to a physical trade show booth can feel like a high-stakes challenge. In this episode, Tori and Andi pull back the curtain on the "messy middle" of booth prep and the vulnerability of being seen. You'll discover:
The "Top-Down" Strategy: How to design for visibility so your brand is seen from across the room.Pro-Tips on a Budget: Why wooden crates and magnetic LEDs are a business owner’s best friend.The Introvert’s Secret Weapon: How sticker trading turns awkward networking into a fun...Summit Prep Masterclass with Jamie Bright from Craft a Dream
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, hosts Andi and Tori interview Jamie Bright with Craft a Dream, a successful quilter and entrepreneur. Jamie shares her journey from starting quilting at a young age to building a thriving business in the quilting industry. She discusses the importance of marketing, collaborations, and organic growth strategies for quilters looking to turn their passion into a business. Jamie also provides valuable insights on how to effectively participate in summits and leverage them for business growth, emphasizing the need for alignment between presentations, freebies, and products...
Let us Reintroduce Ourselves: Meet 2026 Andi & Tori
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori reflect on their journey since the podcast's inception, discussing significant changes in their businesses, personal growth, and the evolution of their creative identities. Tori shares her transition to full-time coaching and the launch of her self-publishing incubator, while Andi highlights her success with YouTube and the development of her quilting patterns. They explore the realities of running a quilting business, the importance of work-life balance, and the lessons learned along the way, culminating in advice to their past selves.
...
Digital Marketing Basics for Quilting Businesses
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In this conversation, Andi and Tori McElwain delve into the essentials of digital marketing for business owners, focusing on how to effectively show up online. Tori shares her insights on the importance of building an email list, nurturing leads through content, and the critical role of launching products. They discuss strategies for managing multiple projects and the significance of documenting the creative process to engage audiences. The conversation emphasizes the need for a structured approach to digital marketing, making it easier for entrepreneurs to connect with their audience and drive sales.
...
Navigating Conflict in a Chaotic World with Dara Tomasson
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In this engaging conversation, Andi and our guest Dara Tomasson explore the complexities of navigating conflict, overcoming self-sabotage, and finding joy in business. They discuss the importance of emotional resilience, the impact of imposter syndrome, and the necessity of taking control of one's reactions in a chaotic world. Dara shares her insights on personal growth, the creative process, and the significance of community support in achieving success. The discussion emphasizes the need for continuous evolution and the power of choice in shaping one's path.
Passed Episode mentioned on this episode: How...
Get Found Online: Keywords and easy ways to use them!
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori McElwain delve into the evolving landscape of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and its implications for quilting businesses. Tori shares her insights gained from extensive research, particularly focusing on the integration of AI search bots into SEO strategies. The conversation highlights the importance of using relevant keywords naturally in content, avoiding outdated practices like keyword stuffing, and ensuring that businesses are visible across various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Tori emphasizes that while AI search is becoming more prevalent, the foundational...
Podcaster Meet-up with Brandy Maslowski, The Quilter on Fire
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In this engaging conversation, Brandy Maslowski, Tori McElwain, and Andi Stanfield explore their quilting journeys, the evolution of their businesses, and the impact of podcasting in the quilting community. They share personal stories about their first quilts, discuss the significance of color trends in quilting, and delve into the role of AI in their businesses. The episode also highlights their current projects, future plans, and the importance of community and creativity in the quilting world.
Don’t miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and in...
Balancing Life and Business | Season 6 Kick-off!
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In this episode, Tori and Andi kick off Season Six by discussing the challenges of work-life balance for entrepreneurs, particularly those in the quilting community. They explore the unrealistic expectations of balance, the importance of self-care, and the need to acknowledge tougher times. The conversation emphasizes the significance of structuring time for learning and creativity, utilizing time blocking for productivity, and the duality of being both a creative and a business owner. They also invite listeners to join Tori's upcoming book club and reflect on their own strategies for managing their time and...
Season 5 Recap
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In this episode, Andi and Tori reflect on their journey through five seasons of the Quilting on the Side podcast. They discuss the importance of community engagement, key business insights shared throughout the season, and highlight memorable guests who brought unique perspectives to the quilting industry. The conversation also touches on industry trends, the impact of AI, and preparations for the upcoming year, emphasizing the need for collaboration and support within the quilting community.
Chapters
00:00 Reflecting on Five Seasons of Podcasting
05:02 Engaging with the Community
10:50 Key...
Unraveling the Art of Graffiti Quilting with Karlee Porter
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Tori and Karlee Porter discuss the evolution of quilting, particularly focusing on graffiti quilting. Karlee shares her journey from working with long arm machines to developing her unique artistic style. The conversation explores the importance of community, the impact of self-publishing, and the accessibility of quilting machines. Karlee emphasizes the need for open-mindedness in the quilting world and the significance of balancing business with creativity. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Karlee's personal preferences and inspirations.
Don’t miss an ep...
How to Prep Your Quilt Business for the Holidays (and Survive the Slow Seasons)
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 In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Tori and Andi break down how quilt pattern designers, quilting teachers, and longarm quilters can prep their businesses for the busy holiday season - without being glued to their laptops. They walk through what really needs to stay consistent (like newsletters and YouTube), how to set up simple holiday sales systems on your website, and why December and summer slowdowns are normal in the quilting industry. You’ll leave with practical steps, data-driven ideas, and a mindset boost to help you ride the ups and dow...
Jessica Steele: The Intersection of Sports and Quilting
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, host Andi introduces Jessica Steele, a quilt pattern designer known for her sports-themed quilts. Jessica shares her journey from a hobbyist to a full-time business owner, discussing the inspiration behind her designs, the challenges of balancing family life with her quilting business, and her approach to marketing and social media. She also talks about her collaborations with other designers and her future projects, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the joy of quilting amidst the business aspects.
Don’t miss an episode! Like, co...
Virtual Quilting Summits: Andi in the Hot Seat!
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Tori interviews her co-host Andi about her experiences participating in four virtual quilting summits this year (2025). They discuss the rise of virtual summits in the quilting community, the benefits of collaboration, and the importance of audience engagement. Andi shares insights on preparing for a summit, the importance of follow-up strategies, and the role of lead magnets in building an email list. The conversation emphasizes the value of data collection and marketing strategies to maximize the impact of summits on business growth.
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Unlocking YouTube Success with Meredith Marsh
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori interview Meredith Marsh, a YouTube expert, who shares her entrepreneurial journey, insights on content creation, and the evolving landscape of video marketing.Â
Meredith discusses the importance of community building through memberships, the relevance of blogging alongside video content, and the impact of AI on content creation. She also provides practical advice for new YouTubers, strategies for working with brands, and guidance on choosing the right tools for online courses. The conversation wraps up with rapid-fire questions that reveal Meredith's personal p...
Collaboration Over Competition: Actions to help grow the quilting industry as a solopreneur
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori discuss the importance of building a community within the quilting industry. They explore mindset shifts necessary for collaboration, overcoming self-doubt, and creating a welcoming environment for all quilters. The conversation emphasizes the value of featuring each other's work, forming symbiotic relationships, and engaging in local business collaborations. They also touch on the significance of sharing platforms and personal stories, networking, and the need for fair pricing strategies. The episode concludes with a call to celebrate wins together and support one another in...
The Art of Quilt Design with Laureen Smith
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, host Andi and co-host Tori welcome Laureen Smith, a prolific quilt designer and former chemical engineer. Laureen shares her journey from the corporate world to quilting, detailing her early experiences with needlework and how they shaped her passion for quilting. She discusses her transition into quilt design, the challenges of working with fabric manufacturers, and her innovative approach to three-dimensional fusible applique.Â
The conversation also touches on the business side of quilting, including pattern writing and the importance of community engagement. Laureen's insights i...
Creative Solutions for Quilt Samples
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori discuss the challenges quilt business owners face with accumulating sample quilts. They explore various options for managing these samples, including giving them away, repurposing them into wearable art, and selling them. The conversation delves into the difficulties of pricing handmade quilts and the importance of finding the right market to sell them effectively. The hosts share creative ideas for repurposing quilts and highlight the significance of targeting affluent areas for selling quilts.
Chapters
00:00 Navigating the Quilt Sample...
From Hobby to Business: Our Chat with Tasha Haynes
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, host Andy welcomes Tasha Haynes, a passionate quilter who transitioned from a hobbyist to a business owner. Tasha shares her journey of starting quilting in 2015, the challenges of turning her passion into a business, and the importance of community in the quilting world. She discusses her experiences with selling patterns on Etsy and her personal website, the growth of her YouTube channel, and the balance of family life with her entrepreneurial endeavors. Tasha also offers valuable insights on lessons learned in business and the importance...
Lessons from 75 Episodes of Quilting on the Side
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In this celebratory episode of the Quilting on the Side podcast, hosts Andi and Tori reflect on their journey through 75 episodes, sharing lessons learned, the importance of authenticity, and the value of community. They discuss the challenges faced in podcasting, the significance of structure and organization, and how technology has aided their efficiency. The conversation emphasizes the power of real stories and the growth of their community, highlighting that success is not just about numbers but about meaningful connections.
Chapters
00:00 Celebrating 75 Episodes: A Journey of Perseverance
06:57...
The Crossroads of AI and Quilting with Theresa
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, hosts Andi and Tori welcome Teresa, the AI Quilter, who shares her journey from the semiconductor industry to the world of quilting and artificial intelligence. Teresa discusses her passion for teaching AI concepts to various audiences, including quilters, and addresses the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated art.Â
She emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and how it can enhance creativity without replacing the human touch. The conversation also covers marketing strategies for solopreneurs and concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Teresa's inspirations and i...
