Quilts From the Cabin Ep1 Quilting Podcast | Quilting Fabric, Stamping, Freebies Hand Quilting Chats
Welcome to the very first Quilts From the Cabin show notes. This episode is a cozy tour through my current makes—Ohio Star totes with hand-stamped linings, beginner-friendly pouches and potholders, a starry pillow parade, plus some real-talk on Kona vs Northcott solids, flannel experiments, and why big-stitch hand quilting has my whole heart.
Grab your free Crescent Moon Quilted Potholder pattern here and settle in.
Chapters
0:00 welcome + what’s inside
0:45 ohio star tote in indigo (hand-quilted panels)
2:40 tote #2 + hand-stamped beetle lining
4:55 how I stamp thrifted linens for bag linings
5:55 the indigo home collection story
8:05 zipper pouches (ohio star + sawtooth)
10:40 two-color quilts and traditional blocks
11:00 kona vs northcott: durability and price notes
13:45 flannel quilt experiment (pros/cons)
21:00 3-in-1 potholder set
23:10 pillow parade: stars, pebbles, and more
27:35 wild one pillow (range-running horses)
29:30 cattle drive pillow (modern geometric)
31:00 free pattern + subscribe
Show & tell: finished objects
Ohio Star Tote (hand-dyed indigo)
A roomy, beginner-friendly tote built from quilted panels, then big-stitch hand quilted before assembly. I lined this one with a quirky, leftover print—use what you have and have fun with the inside.
Pattern: Ohio Star Tote
fabric: hand-dyed indigo (you can sub any solid); lining from stash
notes: quilt panels first, then construct; it’s a great first bag if you’re new to quilted totes
Tote #2 with stamped lining
Same easy build, new vibe inside: my daughter hand-carved beetle stamps and we printed a thrifted tablecloth for the lining. Reversible in spirit and very budget-friendly.
How-to highlight: stamp white cotton or thrifted linens using fabric paint (or mix a textile medium into acrylics), then heat-set.
Pattern: Gathering Quilted Tote Pattern
Zipper pouches (Ohio Star + Sawtooth)
Quick gifts, great scrap-busters. One version is machine quilted, the other hand quilted with big-stitch for texture.
Tip: if you’re new to zippers, baste the zipper tape to each panel before final seams—it keeps everything aligned
Patterns: Sawtooth Pouch Quilt Pattern and the Ohio Star Pouch Pattern
3-in-1 potholder set
A small-project win for beginners: Ohio Star, Sawtooth, and a triangles motif in one pattern. Perfect for scrap bins and practice with binding.
Pattern: Potholder Trio Quilt Pattern
Pillow parade
two-tone star pillow (light/dark blues + cream)— Sawtooth Pillow Cover Quilt Pattern
Patchwork Pebbles Pillow Cover Pattern (lots of tiny HSTs—a meditative make)
The Wild One Lumbar Pillow Cover Quilt Pattern (inspired by horses running the range)
Cattle Drive Pillow Quilt Pattern (clean, modern lines with a ranch-scape rhythm)
Construction options: envelope back or zipper closure; I’m loving zippers lately for a trimmer finish and less fabric use
Indigo and the home collections
This year’s indigo collection started with my daughter’s beloved LeMoyne Star quilt; she’s moved into a tiny home on our property and I’m building her a blue-and-cream set room by room. My son’s set is black + cream (his request). That family thread runs through nearly everything I make—you’ll notice a lot of stars and two-color combos in my patterns.
Fabric talk: Kona vs Northcott (and why it matters)
I use both regularly. In my hands:
Kona Cotton feels a touch hardier and “grabbier” under the needle making quilting a touch easier. But it runs nearly double the price per bolt than Northcott
Northcott is smooth and budget-friendlier by the bolt (also Canadian)
My rule of thumb: heirloom and high-wear quilts for family often get Kona; large prototyping and bolt buys often lean Northcott so I can keep creating without breaking the bank.
The flannel experiment
I dyed a bolt of 100% cotton flannel and pieced a small quilt to see how it behaves with indigo and big-stitch hand quilting.
What I Lovedtakes dye beautifully (shibori looks dreamy)
thick, cozy, weighty—cuddle factor is real
what to watchmuch thicker at the binding (machine will definitely grumble especially on domestic sewing machines)
walking foot recommended; hand piecing/hand quilting is a lovely alternative
for a lighter, beginner-friendly path: use standard quilting cottons, or omit batting with flannel
Techniques mentioned
big-stitch hand quilting: relaxing, heirloom-leaning texture with visible stitches, enroll in my Quilt Workshop to learn everything!
HSTs four- and eight-at-a-time: my go-to for speed and accuracy
fabric stamping for linings: thrifted linens + fabric paint, heat-set
Patterns and resources
patterns page: exshawquilts.com/patterns
free crescent moon quilted potholder (instant download when you join my list)
block of the month series: exshawquilts.com/blog
online workshop: learn to quilt from first cut to last stitch (hand piecing and hand quilting included)
instagram: instagram.com/exshaw
Try this at home: stamped-lining checklist
plain white cotton or thrifted tablecloths
fabric paint or acrylic + textile medium
hand-carved or store-bought stamps
foam tray/plate, small brayer or sponge
press to set per product instructions, then stitch into your bag lining
One free thing + what’s next
Grab the free Crescent Moon Quilted Potholder pattern and subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 2
See you back at the cabin for the next stitch in the story. 🌲🪡
Welcome to the blog—I'm so glad you're here.
I'm Kim, quilting and dyeing from an old cabin in the woods. This is where I share beginner-friendly tutorials, slow craft tips, and stories from a life stitched by hand. I hope you find something here that feels like home.
