Loose Threads & Stitches: A Quilting Podcast

Feeling holiday pressure to quilt your way into being enough? It’s time for a reality check—quilting burnout isn’t festive.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE Christen from I See Stars Quilting opens her heart in this honest holiday chat about the emotional labor behind handmade gifts—and how to reclaim joy and sanity without ditching your creativity.

💡 EPISODE TAKEAWAYS The truth about handmade guilt and emotional gifting Why “not everyone gets...

Feeling rushed by the holiday season already? You're not alone — but what if this was the year you did less and enjoyed more? Let’s stitch some sanity into the season.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Christen from I See Stars Quilting walks you through six cozy, heart-centered ways to make this “in-between” season feel more peaceful and joyful — without a single frantic to-do list in sight. If you’re already eyeing the peppermint mocha creame...

Ever walked into a quilt show and felt both inspired and a little “not good enough”? Let’s talk about it.

💡 EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: A mindset shift from comparison to celebration Why small local quilt shows are the heart of the quilting world How every quilt—flaws and all—tells a powerful story A hilarious “flying goose vs geese” moment you don’t want to miss Gentle encouragement if you’ve ever felt like your quilt “isn’t good enough”

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Math doesn't have to ruin your quilting joy. In this episode, I’m breaking down quilt math into easy formulas so you can skip the stress and keep on stitching.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: If quilt math has ever made you second-guess your creative flow, this one’s for you. I’m sharing the exact simple methods I use to calculate quilt backing, binding, and borders—no spreadsheets or stress required.

💡 EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

My sanity-saving fo...

Ever dump your fabric stash out and feel totally overwhelmed? Here's how to build a quilt color palette without stress — using a simple method that works every time.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:

Christen shares her personal process for choosing colors and prints that feel cohesive, creative, and full of joy — even when your stash feels chaotic. This one's for any quilter who’s ever felt stuck at the starting line.

💡 EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: The...

Let me say something kind of spicy today: your fabric stash isn't a problem! It's not a burden, but a source of quilting inspiration. Let's celebrate our sewing room organization and quilting tips, because our quilt fabric collection is actually one of the most beautiful things about us as quilters! ✨

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Christen from I See Stars Quilting shares a heartfelt, funny, and empowering message for every quilter who’s ev...

🫶 Your creative voice matters — not because it’s perfect, but because it’s YOURS. ✨ Tell me in the comments: What makes your quilts feel like you? (Color choices? Improv? Polka dot bindings?) Let’s celebrate the things that make your quilting voice shine 💛

P.S. Need a cheer squad? Come join us inside the Stitch Sister Inner Circle → https://stitchsisterinnercircle.com __________________________________________________

Ever look a...

Ever felt like making friends as an adult quilter is awkward and weird? 🧵🙋‍♀️ Me too. But here’s your reminder: it’s also brave and so worth it.

💛 Which tip from today’s episode are you going to try first? Post the thing? Say yes to something awkward? Find your stitchy weirdos? Tell me below — I’d love to cheer you on.

✨ PS: I’M GOING ON STAGE! I’m speaking at Quilt Festival and QuiltCon this year (EEK!) — if you’ll be there, pl...

Ever felt guilty for stepping away from your sewing machine? Here’s your warm, heartfelt reminder that quilting—and your creativity—will always welcome you back.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: I'm sharing a vulnerable and beautiful update on why I took an extended break from YouTube this summer, what I did instead and what it means to come back to quilting without guilt. If you've been feeling "behind" creatively, this one's for you.

💡 EPIS...

You made it. Through the fear, the guilt, the overwhelm. This is your warm, cozy recap of the Get Out of Your Own Way series — and a gentle invitation to keep going.

📚 READY TO GO DEEPER? Christen’s book Quilt Create Thrive is part journal, part pep talk, and part creative reset. It’s available now in ebook or paperback: 📘 Grab it on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4lvaJjq

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: I'm walking you back through the key takeaw...

If quilting has started to feel like pressure instead of play — this is your permission slip to fall back in love with creating. No rules. No guilt. Just joy.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: I'm wrapping up the “Get Out of Your Own Way” series with a tender, playful reminder: you don’t have to finish your UFOs, pick the “right” fabric, or prove your productivity to earn creative joy. Let’s return to quilting that feels good.

💡 EPISODE TAKEAW...

That half-finished quilt in your closet isn’t a failure — it’s just a pause. Today we’re rewriting the story around unfinished projects and quilt guilt.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: If you’ve ever stumbled across a long-lost work in progress and instantly felt shame… this is for you. I am shareing a vulnerable, empowering look at why so many of us carry guilt for our UFOs — and how to release it without losing your love of quilting.

💡 EPI...

Do you have fabric you love too much to cut? You’re not alone.

Let’s talk about how decision paralysis is quietly stealing your creative joy — and what to do about it.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:

I am opening up about the emotional tug-of-war so many quilters face: loving beautiful fabric but feeling too scared to use it.

If you've ever stared at your stash and felt frozen, this one’s for you!

💡 EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

What “fabric hoarding” ...

Feel like everyone else is making flawless quilts at lightning speed?

It’s not just you. Today we’re blowing the lid off the biggest myth in quilting.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: This episode is for every quilter who's ever looked at Instagram and thought, "Mine doesn't look like that." Christen gets real about comparison, the highlight-reel illusion of social media, and how to reclaim your creative joy right where you are.

💡 EPISODE TAK...

If you've ever stalled out mid-quilt because it wasn't looking "right" or feared you'd mess it up—this one's for you. Let's talk perfectionism, progress, and why your quilt is already enough.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: I am sharing the messy, heartfelt story behind a baby quilt that never made it to the shower—and what it taught me about fear, perfectionism, and the real reasons we sometimes get stuck. If you have high standards but ofte...

Ever feel like you should be quilting but end up scrolling or cleaning instead? That’s not laziness — it’s creative overwhelm.

🎙️IN THIS EPISODE: In this heartfelt kickoff to our “Get Out of Your Own Way” series, Christen shares what’s really happening when quilting feels impossible — and how to gently begin again without shame.

💡EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: Why “lazy” is a lie you can stop believing What creative blocks are trying to tell...

Ready for some cozy stories? Today I'm answering some fun questions, from my biggest sewing mistakes for beginners to the one quilting tool I'd save from a fire! Let's dive into some thread filled tea and lighthearted cozy chaos.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Join me for a cozy, chaotic, and super fun Q&A where I spill the thread on embarrassing quilting mistakes, favorite tools, fabric obsessions, and the rule I love to break. If you’v...

Ever feel like your quilting style keeps changing? From scrappy chaos to soft comfort — you're not alone (and you're not doing it wrong).

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: Christen opens up about the beautiful, messy evolution of her own quilting journey — and invites you to explore yours too.

Whether you're in your solids-only era or your floral maximalist phase, there's space here for you.

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: What quilting “era” are you...

Do you daydream about sipping tea in a cozy cabin while your dream longarm hums in the background? Let’s finally talk about your quilting bucket list — the big, bold, beautiful dreams that live in your heart (and maybe your Pinterest board).

🎙️IN THIS EPISODE: Christen from I See Stars Quilting invites you to get real about those quilting dreams — from museum-worthy quilts to retreats and sewing rooms straight out of a Hallmark mo...