The Quilt Scouts Podcast

Grab your comfiest quilt and a warm drink because today’s episode is extra cozy. I’m chatting with Abby Luchsinger of Abby Maed (pattern designer, Art Gallery Fabrics fabric designer, Nine Patch Quilt Collective pal, and now… published author!).

We talk all about Abby’s brand-new book Cozy Quilts for the Modern Home, including what it felt like to finally hold the physical copy (spoiler: newborn baby energy), why the book is organized by seasons, and how she designs quilts and fabric with real-life making in mind. Plus: creative ruts, mom-life rhythm, and a lightning round that reveals Abby’s one-word creative season right now: playful.
In This Episode, We Chat About:
How Abby describes what she does and why she keeps it open-ended for whatever comes next
What it’s like to write a book over nearly two years and then finally hold it in your hands
Why seasonal structure made sense for Abby (Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons = big inspiration)
The surprising deeper meaning behind the Watercolor Hearts quilt
Design “rules” she loves to break (multi-sizes, multi-colorways… maximum options, maximum effort)
The hardest part of creative business life as a mom of four (and the constant balancing act)
The best surprise: the deep friendships that come from the quilting community
Upcoming: Abby’s Social Bee Collective collection Summer Homestead coming in March
QuiltCon Heads-Up ✨
Abby plans to be at QuiltCon and will do a meet & greet / book signing at the Art Gallery Fabrics booth on Saturday (time is approximately 2pm—check her updates for the final details).
Links + Resources
Abby Maed Website: abbymaed.com
Instagram: @abbymaed
Book: Cozy Quilts for the Modern Home
Where to buy: Abby’s site (signed copy if you’re in the US), plus Amazon, Barnes & Noble, C&T Publishing, and additional international retailers listed in Abby’s IG book highlight.
Contact Abby:
Quick question: Instagram DM (@abbymaed)
Longer question: email [email protected]

Episode Summary
Quilts aren’t fragile museum pieces — they’re meant to be used, washed, loved, and lived with.
In this episode of the Quilt Scouts Podcast, Megan explores some of the most adventurous Quilt Scouts badges — the ones that get you out of the sewing room and into the world. From hiking with a quilt for photos, to picnicking in the park, to bundling up under the stars, this episode is all about using quilts to collect memories instead of dust.
Megan shares personal stories, the origins of several early Quilt Scouts badges, and why these experiences “count” just as much as precision piecing or perfect points. If you’ve ever wondered whether quilts are really meant to touch grass… this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Talk About:
Why some Quilt Scouts badges are intentionally “sideways”
Letting go of the idea that quilts are too precious to use
Quilts as everyday companions — not just display pieces
Hike for Quilt Photos and why it was one of the very first badges ever created
How taking quilts outside changes how we see them
Quilt Photography as a way to document, not perform
Learning to photograph quilts honestly — indoors and outdoors
Picnic on a Quilt as iconic quilt usage (and a sweet mom-and-kid picnic memory)
How quilts naturally create gathering spaces
Stargaze on a Quilt, space-nerd energy, telescopes, and glow-in-the-dark patches
Using quilts for warmth, grounding, and stillness
Why the quilts that matter most are often the most used
Favorite Takeaway
Quilts are made to be washed.
They’re made to be repaired.
They’re made to collect memories — not dust.
Badges Mentioned in This Episode
Hike for Quilt Photos
Quilt Photography
Picnic on a Quilt
Stargaze on a Quilt
(You don’t have to earn them all — just pick one and go.)
Episode Sponsor: HelloFresh
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Ready to Take a Quilt on an Adventure?
You don’t have to hike miles or camp under the stars.
Just choose one quilt.
One small adventure.
And let your quilt be part of your life — not just your sewing room.
🔔 Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future campfire chats. Leaving a review is one of the best ways to help other quilters find this podcast.
🌲 Show notes, badges, and more: quiltscouts.com
Until next time — happy trails, Scout

In this episode of the Quilt Scouts Podcast, I’m sitting down with Amanda Langner-Hurewitz, owner of Hangin' by a Thread in Lafayette, New Jersey and the Quilt Scouts Base Camp leader behind one of the most joyful, community-driven camps out there.

We talk about how her shop came to be, what it actually looks like to host a Base Camp, and why quilting spaces don’t have to be serious, stuffy, or intimidating to be meaningful.

This is a cozy, honest campfire chat about creativity, teaching, building community, and making room for fun — snacks, champagne, and all.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
How Hangin' by a Thread grew from a garage business into a thriving quilt + fiber shop
What a Quilt Scouts Base Camp really is (and what it isn’t)
What a typical Base Camp meeting looks like at Amanda’s shop
How Base Camps help build genuine friendships and low-pressure community
Why Quilt Scouts feels different from traditional quilting guilds
Making space for beginners and experienced quilters
Teaching skills without perfection or hierarchy
Why it’s okay to “suck at something and still enjoy it”
Amanda’s favorite Base Camp moments (including some very chaotic binding lessons)
What’s coming up next at Hanging by a Thread — retreats, classes, and big ideas
Featured Base Camp
Hangin' by a Thread
📍 Lafayette, New Jersey
🧵 Fabric + yarn shop offering quilting, garment sewing, knitting, crochet, and fiber arts classes
🎖️ Quilt Scouts Base Camp — meets the first Wednesday of every month
How to Visit or Connect with Hangin' by a Thread
Website: https://hanginbyathreadnj.com
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @hanginbyathreadnj
In-store: 11 Route 15, Lafayette, NJ 07848
Shop in-store and Quilt Scouts members get 10% off
Shop on-line and use the code QUILTSCOUT10
Joining a Quilt Scouts Base Camp
There’s no special signup process to “join” a Base Camp. You simply have to be a Quilt Scout member and attend events hosted by your local Base Camp shop.
You can find Base Camps (and learn how to start one) at:
👉 quiltscouts.com/base-camps
Episode Sponsor
This episode is supported by HelloFresh — because we have zero time for dinner drama.
Use the link 👇 to get your first HelloFresh box FREE and take one thing off your mental load. https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/MzU1OTcwNjczLTAtNC0xNi1VUw
A Friendly Reminder
Quilt Scouts is about curiosity, community, and trying new things — not being perfect, productive, or “good enough.”
Badges are earned, not owned. Snacks are mandatory. Drama is optional.
Love the Podcast?
If you enjoyed this episode:
Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future campfire chats
Leave a review — it helps other quilters find the show
Share the episode with a friend who could use a little creative encouragement
You can find more episodes, show notes, and Quilt Scouts resources at 👉 quiltscouts.com

Until next time —
Happy trails, Scout

Buying quilting tools can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re just getting started. In this episode, Megan breaks down quilting tools through real experience instead of product hype. She shares which tools genuinely helped her early on, which ones she bought too soon, which ones she thought she needed (but didn’t), and how she decides now whether a tool is actually worth buying.
This isn’t a shopping list or a product demo. It’s honest trail notes from a quilter who’s learned — sometimes the hard way — that confidence doesn’t come from owning more tools, but from using the right ones at the right time.
If you’ve ever wondered:
What quilting tools are actually necessary
Which upgrades are worth it (and which can wait)
How to avoid regret purchases
How to make quilting feel easier instead of harder
This episode is for you.
Key Takeaways
Your first tools don’t have to be your forever tools — they just need to help you start
Some upgrades (like good thread or a walking foot) reduce frustration more than they improve “skill”
Not every popular tool earns a permanent place in your sewing room
A simple decision-making filter can save you money, space, and mental energy
Tools & Topics Discussed
Starter quilting tool kits
Rotary cutters (45mm vs 28mm vs 60mm)
Cutting mats (small vs large, rotating vs stationary)
Quilting rulers (everyday vs specialty)
Thread quality and why it matters
Pressing tools (wool mats, irons, clappers)
Foundation Paper Piecing tools
Specialty rulers (HSTs, Stripology, flying geese)
Sewing machine upgrades
Walking feet and quilting without marking lines
Resources Mentioned
HelloFresh
Get your first box FREE using the link below — an easy way to reduce decision fatigue during busy creative seasons:
👉 https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/MzU1OTcwNjczLTAtNC0xNi1VUw

Aurifil Thread
Megan’s go-to thread for piecing and quilting — strong, smooth, and reliable (no coupon code, just genuine love).

Quilt Scouts
Want more structure, support, and fun quilting adventures? Quilt Scouts is a membership for quilters who want to learn, experiment, and feel less alone while doing it.
👉 https://quiltscouts.com
Let’s Stay Connected
Website: https://quiltscouts.com
Instagram: @quilt_scouts
Email: [email protected]
Call to Action
If this episode was helpful, tap Follow or Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

And if you have a minute, leaving a review is one of the best ways to help this podcast reach more quilters who could use a little creativity, community, and encouragement.

Quilting can be a mental escape… but as Ann from Crafty Moose Quilts shares, it can’t always be the physical escape your body needs. In this honest, hope-filled conversation, we talk about chronic illness, injury, grief, and what it really looks like to make quilting sustainable—through adaptations, support systems, boundaries, and seasons when rest isn’t optional.
Key Takeaways
Self-care for quilters is bigger than the sewing room: quilting can be soothing, but your body still needs movement, fuel, hydration, and rest.
Adaptation is a skill (and asking for help counts): from reorganizing your space to outsourcing parts of the process, small changes can protect your body and keep you creating.
Grief is real—and you don’t have to “set up camp” there: Ann shares practical encouragement for navigating limitations, finding moments of joy, and rewriting the story you’re telling yourself.
Guest Information
Ann (Crafty Moose Quilts) is a quilt pattern designer, t-shirt quilt maker, and the owner of a small online fabric shop known for beautiful quilt kits and practical, beginner-friendly resources—especially for quilters who want structure, clarity, and confidence.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Cozy Earth – the bedding brand mentioned in the mid-episode break Get 20% off with this link: https://cozyearth.com/SFMHKJVH
Crafty Moose Quilts website: craftymoosequilts.com
Ann on Instagram: @craftymoose_quilts
Quilt Scouts: quiltscouts.com
Mentioned by Ann: T-Shirt Tiles patterns (available via Crafty Moose Quilts)
Mentioned in conversation: Happy Camper fabric collection
Mentioned in conversation: Stargrove pattern (featured in the AGF lookbook for Happy Camper)
Quote referenced: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” — Henry Ford

If you enjoyed this episode, follow or subscribe to the Quilt Scouts Podcast so you don’t miss future campfire chats—and if you have a minute, leaving a review helps other quilters find this community too.
Social Media & Contact Info
Website: quiltscouts.com
Instagram: @quiltscouts
Email: [email protected]