Quilting on the Side

Season 6 Recap - Our Longest Season yet!

Send us Fan MailSix 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 coaching with Dara Tomasson, a masterclass on summits and email marketing from Jamie Bright, a return visit with Theresa Benson (The AI Quilter) on navigating AI ethically in 2026, self-publishing powerhouse Kathryn LeBlanc, Monika and her Canadian subscription box business Quilt the North, mosaic appliqué artist Cindy of Patterns on the Prairie, and pattern designer Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches. They also revisit their h+h Americas thread — from booth planning and brochures to the show floor rapid fire episode to the full panel debrief — and reflect on the solo episode format they experimented with this season.Andi shares a sneak peek at her upcoming book, Quilting on Video, and the hosts close out with honest thoughts on a "Top 40 Quilting Podcasts" nod — and why they're taking it with a grain of salt. Need some more help starting a YouTube channel? Grab Andi's No-Fear Filming Checklist here.Season 7 is coming in August or September. Until then, there are over 100 episodes waiting for you.Chapters00:00 Celebrating Three Years of Quilting on the Side03:04 Highlights from Season Six Guests06:31 Exploring AI in Quilting with Teresa08:01 Kathryn LeBlanc: The Multi-Passionate Quilter09:47 Navigating the Canadian Quilting Business with Monica10:58 Building a Business Without Social Media: Joyce's Story12:33 Andi's Journey into YouTube and Book Writing13:19 Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches: Balancing Business and Life14:49 H and H Rapid Fire: Insights from the Trade Show17:37 Diverse Perspectives from the H and H Panel Discussion20:01 Recapping Season Six and Looking Ahead to Season SevenWant More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.

Was it Worth it? What 5 Quilting Professionals Learned at h+h Americas

Send us Fan MailWhat 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 actually like, mistakes and all.The prep stories alone run the full spectrum: Tori planned a full year out for a $2,500 booth, while Kaitlyn decided to go just two weeks before and scrambled through business-card drama to make it happen. From there, the group digs into what they did on the floor, how they're handling follow-up now that they're home (spoiler: a marketing coach admits she forgot to collect contact info), and the moments that made it all worth it - from Laureen getting stopped by a quilting-world celebrity to Brooke's big fangirl moment.They don't sugarcoat the hard parts either: the overwhelm, the exhaustion, an unkind vendor, and the honest question every side-hustler eventually has to ask — is this a business investment, or just a really expensive hobby? If you've ever wondered whether a show like h+h is worth your time and money, this conversation will help you decide.Guests:Kaitlyn from Fritsch in Stitches Laureen from Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts Brooke from Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches Chapters00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions02:31 Preparation for H & H: Different Approaches09:16 Experiences at H & H: Strategies and Insights28:50 The Importance of Follow-Up and Networking32:40 Navigating Post-Event Overwhelm41:17 Strategies for Effective Follow-Up44:39 Lessons Learned from Mistakes45:40 Highs and Lows of the Experience01:01:21 Reflections on Value and Future PlansWant More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.

h+h 2026 - Conversations from the Show Floor

Send us Fan Mailh+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. Did you hear that the Self-Publishing Incubator is open? Click here for more information. Guests:Barbie from The Quilting MillAnn from The Crafty MooseKaitlyn from Fritsch in StitchesTori from Self-Publishing IncubatorChrista from Christa QuiltsSammy from Sonder Quilt StudioLaura from Slice of PiTerri from Lizard Creek QuiltingBeverly from Flamingo ToesChapters:0:00 Introduction01:03 Barbie06:26 Ann14:38 Kaitlyn 18:47 Tori 20:31 Christa 23:58 Sammy 26:01 Laura28:47 Terri30:44 BeverlyWant More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.

Pixel by Pixel - How an Engineer Grew Her Quilting Business with Brooke Stambersky

Send us Fan MailWhat 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 project that big all the way through. They talk about how Brooke pitched quilt shops on her very first pattern with zero sales experience, why her Jeep-themed pattern Duck Duck Beep became her bestseller, and how she kept her business running smoothly through a cross-country move from North Carolina to Michigan.Brooke is a mechanical engineer and project manager by trade, and it shows. She breaks down how she plans her months, balances a full-time career with a side business, and built systems that let her show up for customers even when life got chaotic. If you've ever wondered whether you need to master social media before you can grow a real pattern business, Brooke's answer might surprise you.Don't miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.Chapters00:00 The Journey Begins: Discovering Quilting10:06 From Hobby to Business: The Transition18:10 Building a Brand: The Michigan Quilt and Beyond27:53 Marketing Strategies: Grassroots and Personal Connections34:58 The Power of Visibility in Pattern Design40:02 Navigating the Quilt Shop Landscape41:04 Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Side Business45:32 Managing a Business During a Major Move52:44 Engaging Customers Through Open Communication55:55 Exciting Future Plans and EventsConnect with Brooke:Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches WebsiteBrooke on Instagram Brooke on FacebookWant More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.

Why YouTube Is My #1 Platform for Quilting Business Growth

Send us Fan MailAndi 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. Don't miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.Chapters:00:00 – Our new podcast format 01:15 – YouTube as a primary social media strategy 02:30 – The case for live streaming (and why authenticity wins) 04:45 – Building community through live chat 05:42 – YouTube monetization explained07:45 – Content ideas: quilt-alongs and "Stitch Story" videos 08:04 – Why 8+ minute videos matter for ad revenue12:39 – Viral videos: luck, trends, and Andi's first viral moment 15:18 – Andi's biggest earner: the strip set video 19:10 – Resources: Join the fun in our Discord communityNeed some more help starting a YouTube channel? Grab the No-Fear Filming Checklist here.Want More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.