Quilting History: From the 1930s to Today (Part 2) with Emily of Patchwork Revival
04/06/2026 | 58 mins.
In this special crossover episode, I’m joined by Emily, host of the Patchwork Revival podcast, as we continue our conversation on the history of quilting in America.
This is Part 2 of our series, so if you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, be sure to head over to the Patchwork Revival podcast first—we cover early American quilting through the 1930s and set the stage for everything we dive into here.
In this episode, we pick up in the 1930s and explore how quilting evolved through the Great Depression, World War II, the Quilt Revival of the 1970s, and into the modern quilting world we know today. We talk about how quilters adapted during times of scarcity, how community shifted from small local groups to nationwide connections, and how quilting grew into the creative, expressive craft we love today.
We also chat about quilting co-ops, feed sack quilts, the rise of quilt guilds and shows, and how television (hello PBS!) helped shape how generations of quilters learned new skills.
This episode is all about connection—how quilters have always found ways to gather, create, and share knowledge, even as the world around them changed.
In This Episode, We Cover: Quilting during the Great Depression and WPA-era programs Feed sack quilts and resourcefulness in times of scarcity Quilting co-ops and community-based income The Quilt Revival of the 1970s and the Bicentennial The rise of quilt guilds, shows, and exhibitions Learning through television with early quilting shows How quilting shifted from necessity to creative expression
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned: Listen to Part 1 on the Patchwork Revival podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patchwork-revival-a-quilting-podcast/id1729505286 Patchwork Revival Podcast: https://patchworkrevivalstudios.com/podcast Patchwork Revival Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patchworkrevivalstudios Patchwork Revival Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PatchworkRevivalStudios International Quilt Museum: https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org A New Deal for Quilts by Janneken Smucker Old Patchwork Quilts and the Women Who Made Them by Ruth Finley The Romance of the Patchwork Quilt in America by Carrie Hall & Rose Kretsinger
Let’s Keep Exploring: If you loved this episode, come join me inside Quilt Scouts where we turn ideas like this into hands-on projects, badges, and creative adventures.
And if this episode sparked something for you, I’d love to hear—what part of quilting history surprised you the most?
Catalog Your Quilts & Preserve Their Story with Kiley Ferons
04/02/2026 | 43 mins.
What if your quilts could tell their full story—who they were made for, what season of life you were in, even the fabrics you used?
In this episode, I’m joined by Kiley Ferons, founder of Kiley’s Quilt Room and co-creator of the My Quilts app. We’re diving into something many quilters don’t think about until it’s too late: documenting and cataloging your quilts. Kiley shares how her quilting journey evolved from longarming to pattern writing, fabric design, and now building a quilting-specific app with her husband. We talk about why quilt documentation matters (especially for future generations), how quickly quilt stories can get lost, and how to start cataloging your projects in a way that feels simple and sustainable.
If you’ve ever forgotten when you made a quilt—or who you gave it to—this episode is your gentle nudge to start preserving your quilting legacy, one project at a time. In This Episode, We Cover: Kiley’s quilting journey (longarmer → pattern designer → fabric designer → app creator) The inspiration behind the My Quilts app Why documenting your quilts matters more than you think What happens when quilt stories aren’t preserved What to include when cataloging a quilt (photos + details) How to track works-in-progress and finished quilts The social and community features inside the app Built-in quilting calculators and tools Simple tips to start cataloging without overwhelm 🛠️ Resources & Links 📱 My Quilts App https://myquilts.app 🧵 Kiley’s Quilt Room https://kileysquiltroom.com 📸 Modish Quilter Magazine (mentioned in episode) https://modishquilter.com 🏛️ Quilt Alliance https://quiltalliance.org 🏛️ International Quilt Museum https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org 🎒 Related Quilt Scouts Resources 🏕️ Quilt Scouts Membership https://quiltscouts.com 📓 Quilt Scouts Badge Logbook https://quiltscouts.com 🎖️ New Badge Alert! This episode pairs with a brand new Quilt Cataloger badge all about cataloging your quilts—because your projects deserve more than a dusty pile and a vague memory 😉https://quiltscouts.myshopify.com/products/quilt-cataloger
💬 Favorite Takeaway Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of documenting all your quilts? Start with one. Just one project is enough to begin building your quilt story. 🔔 Don’t Miss an Episode If you loved this episode, make sure you’re following along so you never miss a new campfire chat. New episodes drop weekly (unless it’s my birthday… then we celebrate first 🎂).
From Fabric to Friendship: Sandy Weise of Little Sandy’s Quilt Shop
03/19/2026 | 38 mins.
What really happens inside a quilt shop?
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Sandy, owner of Little Sandy’s Quilt Shop in Arvada, Colorado—a cozy, community-centered shop that started as a spontaneous idea and quickly became something much bigger.
Sandy shares the story behind opening her shop during a season of life that was already full (hello, five kids 😅), and what it’s actually like to run a quilt business—from inventory and emails to balancing family life and the unexpected emotional role quilt shops often play.
We talk about how quilt shops become more than just places to buy fabric. They turn into gathering spaces where friendships are formed, stories are shared, and people move through some of life’s biggest moments—new babies, grief, celebrations, and everything in between.
We also dive into: What surprised Sandy most about owning a quilt shop How quilting helps people process life and tell their stories Why shopping in-person hits different than online What it looks like to run a Quilt Scouts Base Camp without a classroom space Creative community experiences (like stargazing on quilts under the Colorado sky ✨) How small shops create big impact in their local communities
This episode is a love letter to local quilt shops—the heart, the people, and the magic that happens between the bolts of fabric.
Resources Mentioned: Little Sandy’s Quilt Shop website: https://littlesandysquiltshop.com Little Sandy’s Quilt Shop Newsletter: https://www.littlesandysquiltshop.com/newsletter.htm Little Sandy’s Quilt Shop on Instagram & Facebook: @littlesandysquiltshop Quilt Scouts: https://quiltscouts.com Garden of Quilts (Utah event) Lori Holt fabrics (Bee in My Bonnet)
Connect with Quilt Scouts: Join the Quilt Scouts membership: https://quiltscouts.circle.so Follow along on Instagram: @quiltscouts
Listener Love: If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow the podcast and leave a review—it helps more quilters find their way to the campfire 💛
Happy trails, Megan
Preserving Quilt History with Carolyn Ducey of the International Quilt Museum
03/12/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
What does it take to preserve quilts for future generations? In this episode of the Quilt Scouts Podcast, I’m joined by Carolyn Ducey, former curator of collections at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Carolyn spent 27 years helping grow and care for one of the largest publicly held quilt collections in the world, which now includes around 9,000 quilts and textile objects from across centuries and cultures. We talk about what visitors can expect when they step inside the museum, how quilts are preserved and cared for on an institutional level, and why quilts are such powerful historical documents. Carolyn shares practical advice for preserving quilts at home, including how to protect textiles from light damage, why quilts should be refolded regularly, and why archival storage matters for heirloom pieces. We also dive into the importance of labeling your quilts. Carolyn encourages quilters to document the who, what, where, when, and why behind their quilts so future generations — and future quilt historians — can better understand the stories behind the work. If you can’t visit the museum in person, the International Quilt Museum offers many ways to explore its collection virtually, including an online quilt database, virtual exhibition tours, recorded lectures, and educational resources about quilt history. This episode pairs perfectly with the International Quilt Museum Badge and Quilt Historian Badge inside Quilt Scouts. Resources Mentioned in This Episode International Quilt Museum https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org Plan Your Visit https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/visit Current Exhibitions https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions World Quilts (educational quilt history resource) https://worldquilts.quiltstudy.org Quilt of the Month newsletter https://www.internationalquiltmuseum.org/about/quilt-month International Quilt Museum YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/internationalquiltmuseum Quilt Index (quilt research database) https://quiltindex.org Craft in America https://www.craftinamerica.org Enjoy the episode? Follow or subscribe to the Quilt Scouts Podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. Leaving a review is one of the best ways to help more quilters discover the show. You can find more from Quilt Scouts at quiltscouts.com.
Stargaze on a Quilt: Light Pollution, Dark Skies, and Quilting with Sarah Martin
03/05/2026 | 33 mins.
In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Martin, Chief Development Officer at Dark Sky International, a global nonprofit working to reduce light pollution and restore our connection to the night sky.
We talk about: What light pollution actually is The five principles of responsible outdoor lighting How artificial light impacts wildlife and even scientific discovery How to find International Dark Sky Places around the world Simple ways to advocate for darker skies in your own neighborhood
Resources Mentioned in This Episode Dark Sky International Website: https://darksky.org Find a local chapter: https://darksky.org/who-we-are/chapters/ Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting: https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/ International Dark Sky Places interactive map: https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/ Community advocacy toolkits: https://darksky.org/what-we-do/advancing-responsible-outdoor-lighting/darksky-outdoor-lighting-codes/ “How to Talk to Your Neighbor” guide: https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/light-pollution-solutions/lighting/my-neighbors-lighting/ Capture the Dark Photography Contest (submissions open in June, winners announced in August) https://darksky.org/what-we-do/events/photo-contest/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darksky_org
International Dark Sky Week April 13–20 Dedicated website with toolkits, trivia night guides, book display ideas, and community event resources https://idsw.darksky.org
Stargazing App Star Guide (mobile app for identifying stars, planets, and satellites)
Books Sarah Recommends Sleepless by Annabel Abbs-Streets Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion
Want to Keep the Adventure Going? Quilt Scouts is an online membership for adventurous quilters who want more creativity, confidence, and connection — one badge at a time.
👉 Learn more and join here: https://quiltscouts.com
Welcome to The Quilt Scouts Podcast, a weekly podcast for adventurous quilters who want more creativity, confidence, and connection in their quilting life.Hosted by Megan, founder of Quilt Scouts, this show is part campfire chat, part creative field guide — designed for quilters who love learning new techniques, trying new ideas, and finding joy in the process (even when the seams don’t line up perfectly).Each Thursday, you’ll hear cozy, honest conversations about quilting, creativity, and community. Some episodes feature interviews with quilters, designers, and shop owners sharing their stories, lessons learned, and “scout wisdom.” Others are solo episodes where Megan dives into quilting mindset, skill-building, and the behind-the-scenes world of Quilt Scouts.This podcast is for you if:You love quilting but feel creatively stuck or burnt outYou’re craving quilting community without the pressure of perfectionYou want encouragement to try new techniques, fabrics, or creative challengesYou’re short on time and want practical, approachable ideasYou’re a quilter who enjoys a playful, supportive vibeExpect episodes about:Quilting techniques and creative skill-buildingSewing room organization and workflowGoal setting and finishing projects without guiltQuilt design, color, and creative confidenceStories from quilters at all stages of their journeyGentle nudges to step outside your comfort zone and try something newThe vibe is warm, lightly nostalgic, and encouraging — like chatting with a good friend who totally understands your fabric stash and will hype you up while also daring you to explore a new creative trail.Whether you’re a beginner quilter, a longtime maker, or somewhere in between, The Quilt Scouts Podcast is here to help you stitch with more confidence, curiosity, and joy.New episodes drop every Thursday.Pull up a chair, grab your favorite quilt, and come join us around the campfire.
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