We all struggle with math, and it turns out that quilting involves a lot of math. In this episode of the Quilting Central Podcast, Cathie, Julie, and Angie walk through tips and tricks to make that math a little easier. Whether it's binding, backing, batting, or even longarm quilting space, we cover all the quilting tips you will need. If you would like any of the products featured in this episode, the links are below. All-in-One Quilter's Reference Toolhttps://twochicksquilting.com/products/all-in-one-quilters-reference-tool?_pos=1&_sid=e36c00fdd&_ss=rKnow Your Battinghttps://twochicksquilting.com/products/know-your-battings?_pos=1&_psq=know+your+batting&_ss=e&_v=1.0The Quilting Bookhttps://twochicksquilting.com/products/the-quilting-book?_pos=1&_sid=5f8b5a2df&_ss=rSeam Guide 4 in 1 Toolhttps://twochicksquilting.com/products/seam-guide-4-in-1-tool?_pos=2&_sid=971b3e319&_ss=rSewing Edgehttps://twochicksquilting.com/products/qtools-sewing-edge?_pos=1&_psq=Sewing+Edge&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Grab your brushes — this episode of the Quilting Central Podcast is a deep-dive into keeping your sewing machine humming like a dream. Julie, Angie, and Cathy explain why regular sewing machine cleaning and machine maintenance isn’t optional (hint: lint is the sneaky enemy), walk through the exact tools you’ll need — think small soft brushes and sewing machine oil (and absolutely no canned air) — and then demo the whole process step-by-step.

You’ll hear:

• Why routine machine maintenance saves frustration, time, and money.

• A friendly, practical sewing machine cleaning tutorial as each host cleans a different machine: Julie breaks down a side-loading Bernina with a metal hook, Cathy walks through a top-loading Janome, and Angie finishes with longarm cleaning tips.

• The right tools to use (and what to avoid), plus quick troubleshooting tips after cleaning.

Whether you’re new to sewing or a longtime quilter, this episode makes sewing machine care simple, safe, and even a little satisfying. Tune in for clear demos, pro tips, and the confidence to tackle your next sewing machine cleaning like a pro.

Do you ever feel like you have run out of quilting ideas? Sometimes the well of inspiration has dried up, or you get "quilter's block". We have just the episode to fix it. Join Cathy, Angie, and Julie as they talk about their sources of quilting inspiration. It could be anything from hotel floor designs to someone's sweater to even a manhole cover. Quilting ideas are everywhere. They even bring up a book of quilting design ideas and quilting dice. Plus, they talk about what to do when you are just plain stuck in the creative process and give examples of how they would draw inspiration from a quilt. We hope you enjoy, and be sure to like, comment,t and subscribe

New year… new quilting goals! 🎉In this episode of The Quilting Central Podcast, Angie, Cathy, and Julie sit down to talk all about New Year’s resolutions for quilters — the realistic kind that actually help you enjoy quilting more (and finish more quilts!).

From tackling UFOs to organising sewing rooms, improving skills, and giving yourself permission to quilt your way, this episode is packed with encouragement, laughs, and practical advice to start the year inspired instead of overwhelmed.

✔️ Setting realistic quilting goals for the new year
✔️ How to finally finish those UFO (unfinished object) quilts
✔️ Sewing room organization resolutions that stick
✔️ Skill-building goals without burnout
✔️ Letting go of quilting guilt and comparison
✔️ Making time for creativity — even during busy seasons

Whether you’re a beginner quilter or a seasoned stitcher, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and start the year excited to sew.

• Quilters planning their creative goals for the year
• Anyone overwhelmed by unfinished projects
• Makers who want to quilt with more joy and less pressure
• Quilters looking for motivation and community

What’s YOUR quilting resolution this year? Finish a UFO? Try a new technique? Organize your stash? Tell us in the comments — we’d love to cheer you on! 👇

👍 Like this video if you’re ready to quilt with intention
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🔁 Share with a quilty friend who needs a fresh start

✨ In This Episode, We Talk About:🧶 Perfect For:💬 Join the Conversation:

In this episode of the Quilting Central Podcast, Julie, Cathy, and Angie welcome special guest Karen Montgomery, an influential designer, educator, and industry leader in the quilting world. 🧵✨

Karen shares her quilting journey, starting with how she first learned to quilt and eventually opened her own quilt shop. She talks about the evolution of her career, including her transition into designing quilting patterns and rulers, and the inspiration behind her work.

Karen is the publisher of The Quilt Company line of books and patterns, and her designs have been featured in Quilts and More magazine, along with numerous quilting books and catalogs. Known for her practical and popular techniques, Karen travels across the country teaching quilt shops and quilters alike.

The conversation wraps up with an inside look at Sewposium, a unique quilting retreat and networking event for quilt shop owners, focused on education, collaboration, and growing successful quilting businesses.

🧵 In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How Karen Montgomery got started quilting

• Opening and running a quilt shop

• Designing quilting patterns and rulers

• Teaching and traveling as a quilt educator

• What Sewposium is and why it matters for quilt shop owners

Whether you’re a quilter, quilt shop owner, or just love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from the quilting industry, this episode is packed with inspiration and insight.

👉 Be sure to like, subscribe, and listen to more episodes of the Quilting Central Podcast for quilting conversations, tips, and industry interviews.

Struggling with longarm quilting tension? Loops, eyelashes, breaking thread, messy backs? We’ve ALL been there! 😅
In this in-person episode of The Quilting Central Podcast, Cathy, Julie, and Angie are together in Texas to give a full, step-by-step lesson on how to adjust longarm tension for ANY thread, ANY quilt, and ANY situation.

Whether you’re brand-new to longarm quilting or you’ve been quilting for years, this tension tutorial will help you get smooth stitches, balanced tension, perfect “hills and valleys,” and beautiful stitch lines on every quilt.

✔️ How to set perfect bobbin tension
✔️ How to correctly perform the bobbin drop test
✔️ How to adjust top thread tension on your longarm
✔️ What ideal stitches look like on both sides of the quilt
✔️ How to make sure your thread loops in the center of the quilt sandwich
✔️ What “hills and valleys” mean — and why they matter
✔️ How to adjust tension for different thread weights
✔️ SPECIAL: How to quilt with metallic thread without breakage

Julie, Cathy, and Angie demonstrate everything in real time and share their shop-tested tricks for diagnosing tension issues fast.

• Longarm quilters of any skill level
• Domestic machine quilters learning tension basics
• Anyone struggling with looping, eyelashes, or broken thread
• Quilters who want cleaner, more professional quilting results

🔧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:⭐ This Video Is Perfect For:

Trim the fluff and get those points perfect! ✂️ In this short-but-mighty episode of The Quilting Central Podcast, Julie, Angie, and Cathy meet in person to talk all about trimming and squaring up quilt blocks and quilts — the small steps that make a huge difference in your finished quilt.

What Angie shows & we cover:

• How to square up individual quilt blocks using different tools and rulers (why it matters for accurate piecing)

• When and how to square the whole quilt before attaching binding for a clean finish

• Smart fixes for wonky edges so your binding goes on straight — no wrestling required

This episode is a little shorter than usual, but stuffed with practical tips you’ll use the next time you press, trim, and bind.

We’re back together in Texas! 🇨🇱 In this in-person episode of The Quilting Central Podcast, hosts Cathy, Angie, and Julie reunite at Two Chicks Quilting in Ganado, Texas — and Julie shares one of her favorite time-saving quilting techniques: continuous chain piecing! ✂️

If you’ve ever struggled to keep your quilt blocks in order or want to save time, thread, and sanity while piecing, this episode is a must-watch. Julie walks through how she uses continuous chain piecing to sew faster and stay organized — plus, Cathy and Angie chime in with extra fun.

✅ What is continuous chain piecing, and how it works
✅ How to chain piece quilt blocks while keeping them in order
✅ Tips for saving time and thread when piecing your quilt top
✅ Why this technique helps avoid mix-ups and reduces waste
✅ Fun, in-person quilting talk from three quilt shop owners

Have you tried chain piecing before? Tell us your favorite time-saving quilting trick in the comments!

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