A Quilting Life Podcast · Sherri McConnell & Chelsi Stratton

Profitable Quilt Projects, A Potential Retreat and Finishing "All the Things"

July 29, 2024·55 min·5 clips

Sherri and Chelsea kick off a listener questions episode with excitement about new quilts and industry insights.

This episode of A Quilting Life Podcast features hosts Chelsea Stratton and Sherry McConnell answering listener questions about business and creative planning. Chelsea is a quilt pattern designer, while Sherry is a prolific quilter, designer, and blogger. They begin by sharing two new quilt projects, Harbor and Star Bright Too. Sherry describes Harbor, a quilt inspired by the Dana Point Harbor, incorporating motifs like flowers, stars, baskets, suns, and flying geese to represent seagulls and beach cottages. The quilt measures 52.5 by 57.5 inches and is fat eighth friendly. She notes it used a single width of Dresden cheater print for the backing, avoiding the need for piecing. The quilting was done by Val Krieger. Sherry also mentions Star Bright Too as a throwback project. The hosts then address a listener question about determining which quilt projects are most profitable to sell. They discuss the importance of considering both material costs and the time investment for making versus designing. Another question explores the potential of hosting a quilting retreat, with the hosts contemplating locations and attendee interests. They consider the logistics of teaching versus providing a communal sewing space. An interesting insight is their view that designing patterns often offers better financial return than solely selling finished quilts due to scalability. They suggest that project profitability isn't just about price but also about personal enjoyment and efficient process. The discussion on retreats reveals they are gauging listener interest for a possible future event. A memorable moment is Sherry's personal connection to the Harbor quilt, linking it to family memories like whale watching as a newlywed and trips with her granddaughter. The cheater print backing for Harbor is highlighted as a practical shortcut that enhances the final product. The tone is conversational and warmly educational, reflecting a mother-daughter partnership. The style is casual, blending project show-and-tell with practical business advice. This episode would appeal to quilters interested in the business side of their craft or those seeking inspiration from new quilt designs. Listeners looking for highly technical tutorials or political commentary would likely skip it.

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