Patchwork Revival: A Quilting Podcast

Did you know that early colonial bed quilts were expensive status symbols — not the scrappy patchwork we picture today? In this special two-part collaboration with Megan of the Quilt Scouts podcast, we're taking our amateur but incredibly enthusiastic look at American quilting history: where it actually came from, which parts got romanticized over time, and how we can imagine what we think was really happening in the sewing rooms and quilting bees of the past.

 

In Part 1, we cover quilting as an ancient technique used for everything from clothing to armor, the shift from whole-cloth luxury quilts to accessible patchwork as U.S. fabric mills grew, how quilting bees were genuinely skilled community labor, and the Civil War–era quilters who used their craft for activism and fundraising. We wrap up just as the world of published patterns and quilt kits begins to bloom.

 

Head to Part 2 on the Quilt Scouts podcast to hear what happened next — and visit patchworkrevivalstudios.com for full show notes and links!

 

Don't forget to subscribe to the show so that you never miss an episode! Hop down to leave a review when you're ready, and then check out my shop - listeners of the pod get an exclusive discount with code: REVIVAL

This episode is different—and I think it might be one of my favorites! It's a story that is best heard in a cozy place where your mind can feel safe to wander and imagine all the things you hear. 

It's the story of a woman who grew up in times past and how the life she lived always included quilting. 

At the end of this episode, I tell you who this woman is. I think you'll want to stay for it.

This Episode Explores:

What it looked like to build a life by hand

How a simple quilt kit shared between sisters grew into decades of quilting community

The Sunshine Quilters: their history, their quilt shows, and what they built together

How one family's decision to honor a legacy changed everything

Why quilting is, and has always been, a way of saying I love you in stitches

Resources: Use code REVIVAL for 15% off at www.patchworkrevivalstudios.com

Subscribe to the Patchwork Revival Podcast for weekly episodes on quilting tradition, history, and legacy. Visit YouTube for visual references.

In this episode, I explore the intersection of quilting and activism throughout American history. I'm not here to share my personal political views or tell you how to vote. Instead, I'm examining how quilters—especially marginalized communities—have used fabric and thread to tell stories, support causes, and make their voices heard when society tried to silence them.

Find show notes HERE for a visual guide for this episode, and to find links to some of the resources referenced in this episode.

I walk through four powerful historical examples: the 1836 Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society fundraising quilt with its heartbreaking poem about enslaved children; the Hoosier Suffrage Quilt featuring nearly 300 embroidered names of women fighting for the right to vote; Jessie Telfair's bold Freedom Quilts made after losing her job for registering to vote during the Civil Rights Movement; and the monumental AIDS Memorial Quilt, the largest community art project ever created.

We discuss a framework for approaching activist quilts, explore subtle political expression through motifs and pattern names, and address the discomfort that can arise when viewing quilts with bold messages.

Whether it makes you uncomfortable or inspires you, this conversation is meant to honor the generations of quilters who came before us and used their art to document what history books so often overlooked.

In This Episode:

Why "quilting isn't political" dismisses centuries of tradition

How marginalized communities used quilts to tell their stories

Framework for understanding and approaching activist quilts

The 1836 Anti-Slavery Society fundraising quilt

The Hoosier Suffrage Quilt and women's right to vote

Jessie Telfair's Freedom Quilts and the Civil Rights Movement

The AIDS Memorial Quilt: 54 tons commemorating 110,000+ lives

Subtle political expression are more common than you might think

Normalizing discomfort when viewing activist quilts

Why every quilt reflects the maker's worldview

More Resources for you:

The International Quilt Museum's work linked HERE

Partisan Pieces: Quilts of Political and Patriotic Persuasion (July 2020), The International Quilt Museum

 

Connect With This Episode:

Subscribe to the Patchwork Revival Podcast wherever you listen, share this episode with a friend, or leave a rave review!

Don't forget, podcast listeners can enjoy a 15% discount in my shop using code REVIVAL - thanks for being here!

How do you document the quilts you make for future generations? In this episode, I talk with photographer and marketing coordinator Carissa Ramirez about the intersection of photography and quilting, sharing practical tips every quilter can use to capture their work authentically.

Carissa shares her photography journey from teenage experimentation to professional work, revealing how she developed her signature true-to-color editing style.

We cover essential quilt photography techniques including chasing natural light, managing harsh sun and low-light situations, using props for composition, photographing quilts in authentic use, and understanding color perception. 

We also discuss the realities of creative business—social media pressures, fair pricing, sustainability, and gatekeeping in creative communities. 

Whether you're documenting quilts for your own records, building a portfolio, or preserving family textile heirlooms, this conversation gives you practical tools to start today.

📝 Find show notes here: https://patchworkrevivalstudios.com/podcast

📸 Check out Carrissa's work : https://www.instagram.com/picsbycarr/

In This Episode:

Why analog quilt journals matter for legacy

Carissa's photography career journey

How to chase and manage natural light

Solutions for low-light quilt photography

Managing harsh sun and sunset conditions

Using props effectively in quilt photos

Color theory basics for photographers and quilters

If you loved this episode, be sure to follow the show and share with a friend! Let's keep building our cozy corner of the quilting community ❤️

Use code REVIVAL for 15% off at www.patchworkrevivalstudios.com

In Part II of this Patchwork Revival Podcast series, I’m sharing more stories from the Sweater Weather Sampler Sew Along—because the first episode only scratched the surface.

Find Show Notes and more at: https://patchworkrevivalstudios.com/podcast

What began as a group sampler hosted by The Nine Patch Quilt Collective became a meaningful quilting community experience. Quilters from all skill levels shared stories about confidence, creative growth, frustration, and why they keep coming back to their sewing rooms.

This episode isn’t a sew along recap.
It’s a conversation about why quilting community matters—why progress photos, unfinished blocks, and stitching alongside others (even from afar) make a difference.

If you love quilting podcasts about community, creative process, sew alongs, and the real experience of being a quilter, this episode is for you.

 

We’re Covering:
• Quilting community and connection
• Sew along experiences and lessons
• Progress over perfection
• Why quilters keep showing up
• Stories from the Sweater Weather Sampler Sew Along

 

If you would like to share your quilting story, I’d love to hear it! Send me an email at: [email protected]

 

If you loved this episode, but sure to follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming weeks! Share with a friend to help continue to build our little corner of the quilting community ❤️

🛒 Shop now with 15% off using code REVIVAL - my little way of saying THANKS for being here! 🫶🏻

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patchworkrevivalstudios/