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Quilting Matters

May is for Makers

May 05, 2016

May is for Makers LRStitched

Quilting is not only my business, but it's my hobby. I crave it. I love cutting up fabric and sewing it back together again. I am a maker. I'm also a teacher, and I'm passionate about designing patterns and teaching all of you tips and tricks that keep you inspired to cut up fabric, sew it back together again, and just keep making.

I'm not alone in my passion. There are many makers like me that are passionate about teaching and sharing. Many of us love to share fun projects and free tutorials on our blogs, despite the time and preparation involved, because each of you appreciate and learn from them. Unfortunately, offering everything for free isn't sustainable for any of us. Over the years, bloggers have helped rejuvenate the quilting and sewing industry (in addition to many other crafts) with valuable content. Many of us have revived or discovered our love of quilting through amazing bloggers like Amy Smart, Lee Heinrich and Jeni Baker. Through the internet, we've also been able to learn from quilting masters like Sharon Schamber, Alex Anderson, Sue Nickels and Bonnie K Hunter, all from the comfort of our home. 

Somewhere along the way, we've gotten use to getting way too much for free. And now "the balance between what we expect for free and what we are willing to purchase" is a bit, well, unbalanced.  Free tutorials are great, but shouldn't they be a treat? Like the cherry on top? I think so. I strive to stay teachable. Learning new tips, tricks and techniques is so much fun for me, which is one reason why I love buying patterns from independent designers. I know how much time, effort, cost and heart goes into creating an independent pattern. Whether or not we sell a million, we put the same amount of love and passion into our designs - our only hope is that they inspire and motivate you to make.

Lindsey at LR Stitched created the May is for Makers campaign to support independent designers who infuse creativity, inspiration and institutional knowledge into our craft. Through the campaign, Lindsey is pledging to buy a new pattern from a different independent designer each week during the month of May. I'm joining in, and I hope you will too. With each purchase, we are collectively telling the designer that their work matters. We are also validating all of the time and effort that they put into their brand. No candle ever went out from lighting another. Let's share our light and love! As Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced says so perfectly, "Consider buying a pattern as a way of saying thank you for a free tutorial you learned from, or a free pattern that you especially loved—after all, that free tutorial or pattern was probably only made possible by that designer's paid patterns." (Thank you Lee!)

Each Friday I will purchase a new pattern from a different designer and will share it on social media with the hashtag #mayisformakers. I hope you'll join in and share the pattern that you chose by tagging your post on Instagram or Facebook with the same hashtag. 

Happy Quilting!!
~Cristy 

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Podcast Episode 3: Quilt Shows and Competition

December 17, 2014 6 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Gosh, it's been such a long time. I'm sorry for being absent for so long. I think I need more hours in my day so I can write more blog posts and tutorials, and record more podcasts for you.

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Podcast Episode 2: Fabric Preparation

September 25, 2014 4 Comments

Hello!!!

My second podcast episode is posted and ready for you to take a listen!

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How to Spin Your Seams - Video Tutorial

September 17, 2014 11 Comments

Hi Everyone!

I have a brand new video tutorial showing you how to manage the seams of a block by nesting and spinning the seams. By nesting and spinning your seams, you'll have a block that not only looks wonderful but is strong and will quilt easily. 

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Introducing my new Podcast!

August 26, 2014 2 Comments

I just recorded my very first podcast! I'm still figuring everything out, and have to get it approved by iTunes. Hopefully that process doesn't take too long. 

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