A Quilting Life Podcast

By Sherri McConnell & Chelsi Stratton

Hobbies

What's A Quilting Life Podcast about?

Discussions on quilting, fabric, inspiration, creativity and more. Hosted by mother and daughter Moda fabric designers Sherri McConnell and Chelsi Stratton, A Quilting Life Podcast with Sherri & Chelsi is a series of light-hearted and informative conversations that provide the listener with quilting industry news, quilting tips, and creative inspiration.

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LAST EPISODE

Giving Thanks and Gifts for...

11.27.2023

In this episode, Sherri, Chelsi, and Billy tell what they are grateful for this year in their quilting lives. Sherri and Chelsi then share some great gift ideas for fellow quilters this holiday season. All the products shared on today's ...

A Quilting Life Podcast episodes:

11.27.2023 Giving Thanks and Gifts for Quilters In this episode, Sherri, Chelsi, and Billy tell what they are grateful for this year in their quilting lives. Sherri and Chelsi then share some great gift ideas for fellow quilters this holiday season. All the products shared on today's ...
11.13.2023 2023 Quilt Market Recap and The State of the Quilting Industry In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi recap their recent trip to Houston, Texas, for the 2023 International Quilt Market. They share some new quilting products they were introduced to and a great new book authored by Lissa Alexander and Susan ...
10.30.2023 Improving Quilting Accuracy, Customer Feedback Influence, and Determining Fabric Yardage In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer some new listener questions. Some topics discussed include improving quilting accuracy, how sales reports and customer feedback influence future pattern and fabric designs, determining yardage for a pre-cut-friendly quilt pattern, starching fabric, and ...
10.23.2023 Holiday Preparation, Two-Tone Quilts, and Quilt Market Anticipation In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming holiday season. They also discuss two-tone quilts and what they are most looking forward to at the International Quilt Market this year. For complete ...
10.09.2023 Quilting Fails, Overcoming Your Inner Critic, and Progressing as a Quilter In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share some of their past "quilting fails." They share what some of their past failures were, and what they learned from these previous mistakes. They also discuss how they have overcome their inner critic ...
09.25.2023 Precut Fabric Extravaganza In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss everything there is to know about precut fabrics. They first name and give the measurements for all of the Moda precut fabrics before diving into all the different ways they can make a ...
09.11.2023 Quilting on a Budget and Fall Sewing 2023 In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss all things Fall sewing. They share what fabrics they plan on sewing with this Fall and what projects and fabrics they plan on displaying in their homes. They also talk about other designers' ...
08.28.2023 Sarah Hart-Unger of Best Laid Plans In this episode, Sherri welcomes Sarah Hart-Unger of Best Laid Plans to the show. Sarah is the host of the Best Laid Plans podcast and the co-host of the Best of Both Worlds Podcast. Sarah is a mother of 3, ...
08.14.2023 Creativity and Creative Practices to Become Your Best Creative Self In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss some of their favorite creative practices outside of quilting. They share how exploring other creative avenues influences their fabric and pattern designs. They also discuss how to take creative resets when they feel ...
07.31.2023 Linen in Quilts, Finding the Right Quilting Chair, and Project Management Strategies In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer some new listener questions. Some of the topics discussed include nesting seams, king-sized quilt options, making a quilt pattern multiple times, helpful items for quilt retreats, bamboo batting, best quilting chairs, and more! ...
07.24.2023 New Strawberry Lemonade Fabric Collection and Strength in a Creative Community In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss their new fabric collection, Strawberry Lemonade. They give some insights into the inspirations that went into designing this line. They share their favorite prints and talk about a couple of new colors that ...
07.10.2023 Gifting Surprise Quilts and When Tragedy Strikes, Give a Quilt In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss how to go about surprising someone with a new quilt without them knowing. They give some ideas on determining the right color and size of the quilt you plan to make without the ...
06.26.2023 Sewing while Traveling, Ultimate Summer BBQ Menu, and Favorite Outdoor Activities In this summer-themed episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss sewing tips while traveling or on vacation. They talk about past experiences while flying with sewing machines, fabric, quilt patterns, and notions. They also discuss whether it is possible to sew while ...
06.12.2023 Sewing with Shoes, Socks, or Barefoot? Keeping Seams Flat, & Quilt Guild Workshop Ideas In this episode, Chelsi is back and feeling better than ever! Sherri and Chelsi first give some updates on their current, and upcoming, summer quilt alongs. They then answer some listener questions that were saved for when Chelsi returned. They ...
05.29.2023 Managing Multiple Projects at Once, Paper vs PDF Patterns, and Fabric Variety In this episode, Sherri is joined by Billy as she answers a batch of listener questions. Sherri previews her upcoming Happy Go Lucky quilt along that starts on Thursday, June 1st, 2023. Billy also shares an excellent listener quilt and ...
05.22.2023 Elizabeth Chappell of Quilters Candy and the Craft to Career Podcast In this episode, Sherri welcomes Elizabeth Chappell of Quilters Candy and the Craft to Career Podcast to the show. Elizabeth is a quilter, a fabric designer, a pattern designer, an author, an entrepreneur, and a podcaster. Elizabeth also helps like-minded ...
05.08.2023 Quilting Finds the Internet and Technology in Quilting In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss how the internet has changed the landscape of quilting. They share how quilting blogs, tutorial videos, online quilt shops, and other innovations have helped quilting progress over the last 25 years. The hosts ...
04.24.2023 Playing Thread Chicken, Bliss Quilt Kit Giveaway, and Favorite Hobbies In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi announce a fun giveaway sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop. We will select three lucky listeners that will receive a free Bliss quilt kit and pattern set. Be sure to leave your comment telling what ...
04.10.2023 Quilting Trivia and "Billy Knows Quilting" In this episode, Sherri tells how she received a notification of a package that was to be delivered to her home from Moda Fabrics. However, this package was not addressed to her or Chelsi, but rather to Billy. What was ...
03.27.2023 Sewing Room Refresh, Spring Traditions, and Our Trip to the Beach Cities Quilt Guild In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi recap their recent trip to the Beach Cities Quilt Guild in Orange County California. They share some beautiful quilts the women in the guild brought to show during their visit. They then discuss Spring ...
03.13.2023 New Bountiful Blooms Fabric Collection and What to do with New Fabric In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss their brand-new fabric collection, Bountiful Blooms. Chelsi gives her insights into what went into the design process of this collection and Sherri shares a few of her new quilts in Bountiful Blooms. They ...
02.27.2023 Tips for Pressing Seams, Holding on to Fabric, and Designing Unique Quilt Patterns In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer the remaining listener questions they had left in their queue. Topics discussed today include cutting accurate flying geese blocks, beginner tips for pressing seams, quilt patterns that resemble other quilts, suggested rulers for ...
02.13.2023 Valentine's Day Quilts and Life Lessons Learned from Quilting In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share some of their favorite Valentine's Day quilts, fabric, traditions, and decor. They then discuss, with Billy, how relevant a holiday Valentine's Day truly is and ask for feedback from listeners as to what ...
01.30.2023 Curating Fabric, Quilt Border Options, and Choosing the Right Batting for your Quilt In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer a fun new batch of listener questions. Some of the topics discussed include future fabric lines in 2023 and 2024, curating fabrics for scrap quilts, quilt border options, working with bias binding, identifying ...
01.23.2023 Dealing with Sewing Funks and How to Get Out of Them In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss what to do if you fall into a sewing funk. They share their past experiences dealing with sewing funks and talk about what some of the causes tend to be. They then give ...
01.09.2023 Realistic Goals and Expectations for New Quilters In this episode, Sherri shares some of her favorite recent reads and previews this year's A Quilting Life mystery block of the month sew-along. Billy then shares a couple more quilted Hanukkah small projects that viewers sent into the show. ...
12.26.2022 2022 Podcast Outtakes Reel Enjoy this compilation of outtakes from this year's podcast recordings. Not everything goes perfectly each time we record and not everything always makes it to the final cut. Thank you to everyone who has downloaded or watched the podcast this ...
12.12.2022 Grading 2022 and Looking Ahead to 2023 In this episode, Sherri, Chelsi, and Billy review some great listener feedback they received from the last episode. They then grade themselves on how they did with their 2022 goals and set some new goals for 2023. New Livestream Start ...
11.28.2022 Managing Fabric Stashes and Taking a Dream Quilting Class In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share tips for building and managing fabric stashes at the end of the year. They also discuss who they would take a quilting class from if they could choose any quilter from the past ...
11.14.2022 2022 Holiday Prep Special In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share tips on Holiday prep. They discuss how they manage their Holiday quilting projects and other business responsibilities. They then share some of their favorite Holiday traditions, memories, decor ideas, and foods. Use code, ...
10.31.2022 Growing as Fabric and Pattern Designers, Tips for Ordering Fabric, and Other Dream Jobs In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer new listener questions. First, Billy reveals the results from the scrappy vs coordinated quilt vote from episode 67, and Chelsi and Billy bury the hatchet, for the time being, after their favorite MLB ...
10.24.2022 Favorite Fall Fabric, Costume Making, and Halloween Traditions In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share some of their favorite newly released fall fabrics. Sherri then recounts her memories of making many different Halloween costumes for her children throughout their childhoods. Sherri, Chelsi, and Billy then share some of ...
10.10.2022 Using Leftover Fabric and Preparing for a Mystery Block Quilt Along In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss options for using leftover fabric from different collections when you are not looking to make a scrappy quilt. They also share some tips and ideas for being better prepared when you participate in ...
09.26.2022 Fall Sewing and Traditions In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi recap a recent trip Sherri took to Utah for the Garden of Quilts festival. They also share some fun new finds and feature two lovely listener quilts. Lastly, they discuss their favorite Fall traditions ...
09.12.2022 Quilter Susan Ache @yardgrl60 In this episode, Sherri welcomes the prolific quilter and stitcher Susan Ache to the show! Susan is known by many in the quilting community as @yardgrl60 on Instagram. Susan shares how her quilting journey began and how she implements quilting ...
08.29.2022 Quilt Retreat Tips, Being Intentionally Scrappy, and Summer 2022 Wrap-Up In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer a fresh batch of listener questions. Some topics included in these questions are: How to overcome the hesitation to attend a quilt retreat, how to submit a question to the podcast, ideas for ...
08.22.2022 Outdoor Quilt Display, Storage Ideas, and Negotiating Decor with Significant Other In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss unique ways to display quilts outdoors and throughout a home. They also share their ideas on best-utilizing space when storing quilts and recommend useful pieces of furniture for quilt storage. Lastly, Billy inquires ...
08.08.2022 How to Start a Business in Quilting and Enhancing your Sewing Experience In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share their best tips for someone looking to start a business in the quilting industry. They discuss what they wish they had known before they began their businesses and provide helpful ideas and information ...
07.25.2022 Simply Delightful Fabric Collection In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share their brand new fabric collection, Simply Delightful. Sherri and Chelsi discuss the inspirations that led them to design this fabric line and preview some of their favorite new colors and prints that are ...
07.11.2022 10-Day Quilting Challenge, Ideas for Completing WIPS, and Mid-Year Goal Review In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share a fun 10-day quilting challenge that Sherri is currently participating in and blogging about. Sherri also shares a great idea for completing works in progress she recently heard from her friend, and long-arm ...
06.27.2022 When to Shelve a Project and Listener Tips In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share some helpful listener tips they have received from prior episodes. They then discuss when it might be an appropriate time to shelve a quilt project if you feel you have hit a wall ...
06.13.2022 Summer Sewing and Christmas in July In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss their summer sewing habits. They share how summer sewing is different compared to other seasons, creating summer project lists, and decorating for the 4th of July. They also discuss "Christmas in July" and ...
05.30.2022 Staying Motivated to Quilt, Plaid Fabrics, and Managing Sewing Room Time In this special 5th Monday bonus episode, Sherri and Chelsi answer listener questions and share another exciting giveaway for copies of the Quilts & More Summer 2022 Magazine. Billy also announces the winner of the Ecopeco cutting mat giveaway from ...
05.23.2022 Essential Skills for Quilters of all Levels In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi announce an exciting giveaway for a brand new Ecopeco cutting mat. They then discuss the most important sewing skills that quilters of all levels should have as they work their way through their quilting ...
05.09.2022 Creating an Ideal Sewing Space In this episode, Sherri, Chelsi, and Billy respond to some of the great feedback they got from their previous two episodes. Sherri and Chelsi then discuss how to create an ideal sewing setting. They look back at when they first ...
04.25.2022 Finding a Quilt Retreat, Using Precut Fabric, and What is Saving Our Lives Right Now In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi discuss ways to find, or host, a quality quilt retreat, the benefits of using precut fabric when piecing a quilt, and how they distinguish what constitutes Spring and Summer fabric. They, along with Billy, ...
04.11.2022 Our Quilting Lives: Remembering the Past and Planning for the Future In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi look back at the early days of their quilting lives, prior to starting their quilting businesses. They then try to envision what their future quilting lives will hold in-store when they decide to step ...
03.28.2022 Our Favorite Quilting Things and Swoon Quilt Stories In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share many of their favorite quilting notions in a special "Favorite Things" episode. They also do a deep dive into the Swoon Quilt pattern by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms, after receiving multiple questions ...
03.14.2022 Our Newest Fabric Line, Emma In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share their brand new fabric line, Emma. Sherr shares who Emma is and why designing this line was so sentimental to both of them. They then give a preview of each of the new ...
02.28.2022 Quilts for Gifts and Charity, Substituting Quilt Blocks, and Seam Pressing Advice In this episode, Sherri and Chelsi share their thoughts on pressing seams in quilts, substituting quilt blocks in quilts, and give ideas on gifting and donating quilts. They also share an update from a viewer with ideas on cleaning vintage ...

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