kim exshaw- exshaw quilts

About Kim Exshaw

Meet the Designer

I’m Kim, the quilt designer behind Exshaw Quilts. I design beginner-friendly quilt patterns rooted in traditional blocks, especially those steeped in history and story. I love naturally dyeing my fabrics—indigo most of all—and finishing my quilts with big stitch hand quilting for texture, softness, and soul. I live rurally in Northern British Columbia on a small homestead with a 90-year-old log cabin, the only place I’ve ever truly felt at home. My work is shaped by that landscape and life—simple, intentional, and made to be used, loved, and passed along.

My mission is To introduce others to quilt making—and help them fall in love with it the way I did.

My mission is to help makers slow down and reconnect with their craft through intentional, soulful quilting. I design patterns that build confidence and offer low-commitment projects: quick wins that are beginner-friendly, giftable, and satisfying to finish. Rooted in classic blocks, hand stitching, and thoughtful construction, my designs are meant to feel timeless rather than trendy. Whether you’re making your first quilt or your fiftieth, I want the process to feel grounding, approachable, and deeply rewarding.

grandma olga stene

My Story

How it Started

In 2020, I launched a home décor knitting and crochet business after more than 40 years of making with yarn—it felt natural and joyful. When my niece was expecting a baby, I crocheted her a blanket, but worried about tiny fingers catching in the stitches, so I decided to make a quilt instead. That single decision changed my life. I fell in love with hand stitching, with the slowness of it, and once I finished, I couldn’t stop—designs poured out of me and I knew I had to follow them. Quilting also brought me back to sewing after years away; it reconnected me to my Grandma Olga, who I once shared that love with, and helped heal the grief of losing her. When I quilt, I feel close to her again—and that feeling is stitched into every piece I make.

CORE VALUES

nostalgia

Storytelling

Slow

Community

Quilt patterns made by a quilter, for quilters.

"Very well done and edited pattern." — Ruth of QBPN

"I love this pattern, it had easy to follow instructions and it was so much fun to make!" — Cathy

“Such a fun pattern. I’m working on this right now. Excellent instructions.” — Monica

IN THE PRESS

Featured in trail blaz-her magazine, canvas Rebel Magazine, Bold Journey Magazine

nice to meet you

fun facts

  • I need to create every day.

  • Freedom, community, beauty, power.

  • I was asked to feature my quilts in TrailBlaz-Her Magazine. I’ve also been interviewed by Canvas Rebel Magazine and Bold Journey Magazine.

  • I love quiet mornings wrapped up in dog snuggles with a hot coffee in my hand.

Quilt Patterns