Q&A with Lindsay

Hi, everyone! I'm Lindsay, the owner of Happy Hour Stitches! I thought it would be fun to share a little bit more about myself and my quilting life with a little Q&A.

When did you first start sewing?

Lindsay: I started sewing in 2011 after getting hired as an editor at American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. My first sewing project was a pillowcase for their One Million Pillowcase Challenge (my pillowcase needed A LOT of seam ripping). But after that, I was hooked! I started collecting fabric and making sampler quilts to help me learn a variety of skills. I’m so thankful quilting came into my life!

Describe your style of quilts.

Lindsay: I’d describe my quilts as traditional in design, but not in color. I love showcasing modern fabrics and unique color palettes in classic blocks. And you definitely can’t go wrong with a scrappy, rainbow quilt!

What’s a quilting tool you can’t live without?

Lindsay: Over the years, I’ve come to rely more and more on my Hera marker. I use it to mark my quilts for machine-quilting, mark diagonal lines on my stitch-and-flip units or triangle-squares, and also to turn out corners in 3D objects like pillows.

Describe your sewing space.

Lindsay: I feel so lucky to have a devoted sewing room in my home. It’s painted white with white furniture, which really allows the fabrics and quilts to shine. I have my fabric organized by color in handmade storage bins within cube storage. I use a rolling cart for my supplies. And I have a pull-out desk from IKEA for my sewing and cutting table. I keep my room very clean and organized, because any sort of clutter squashes my creativity.

What’s your favorite quilt block?

Lindsay: I love the Log Cabin block! I think it’s so fun that a simple block made from strips can create so many different looks depending on the fabric choices and the layout of the blocks.

What’s on your quilting bucket list?

Lindsay: I’ve always wanted to make a Lone Star quilt. I think it’s such an incredibly beautiful design. I’m waiting for inspiration to hit me on color and fabrics before I dive in.

What’s a quilting rule you don’t follow?

Lindsay: I don’t use a walking foot when I’m machine-quilting my quilts. When I first started quilting, I didn’t own a walking foot and didn’t have the budget to hire a longarm quilter, so I learned to quilt using the resources I had. Now I’m so used to quilting without a walking foot, that even though I own one now, I never change out from my regular foot when quilting.

If you had an extra hour in your day, how would you spend it?

Lindsay: I would curl up with a good book. Reading is my little escape and helps me relax.

What’s your happy hour drink of choice?

Lindsay: I love to relax at the end of the day with a glass of red wine (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are my favorites).

Thanks for joining me for “happy hour,”

Lindsay