Joshua Dunn on Memory Quilts, Space, and a Quiltmaker Magazine Feature

About Joshua

Joshua Dunn is the quilter and designer behind Lifting and Stitching. Based in North Carolina, he creates modern quilts inspired by the cosmos, where memory, color, and story meet. His first pattern, A Trip Around the Universe, drew on the James Webb Telescope's Cosmic Cliffs image, and his work has been featured in quilt shows. His pattern Snapshot, a memory quilt, appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine alongside a designer spotlight.

In this episode

• The memory quilt in Quiltmaker Magazine, and the story behind it
• How quilting keeps Joshua connected to his mother, who was a quilter herself
• The way he uses quilting to explore his love of outer space
• His path as a newer pattern designer, from quilt shows to a magazine feature
• Why quilting stays a creative outlet rather than a full time job, and what that gives him
• A look at his life beyond the sewing machine, including weightlifting and his approach to healthy eating

A few takeaways

• A quilt can hold memory and connection, not just fabric and thread
• You do not have to quilt full time for it to be a meaningful part of your life
• Designing from what you love, whether that is family or the stars, gives your work its voice
• Sharing your designs can inspire others to start creating too

Connect with Joshua

• Website: https://www.liftingandstitching.com/
• A Trip Around the Universe pattern: https://www.liftingandstitching.com/atatu
• Snapshot in Quiltmaker Magazine, Summer 2026 (digital available now, print on newsstands June 16): https://www.quiltingdaily.com/product/quiltmaker-summer-2026-digital-edition/
• Etsy shop: https://liftingandstitching.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftingandstitching/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@liftingandstitching
• Patreon: https://patreon.com/liftingandstitching