Quilting is my joy, peace, and passion. It has been my sanity and even my solace. And it is sadly not inclusive. From expensive fabric to grueling sewing sessions, there's a lot of time, money, and stamina involved in quilting, which can make it even harder on those with health issues or who may process the world differently.
I wanted to share my love of this craft with others like me - disabled both visibly and invisibly, neurodivergent, and more. Here you'll find patterns with streamlined, easy-to-follow instructions and plenty of diagrams so you can use the instructions that work for you. Methods are simplified or use "cheater" techniques to save our energy (and joints). But that doesn't mean they're all only for beginners or boring - just that I've taken the time to explore the best construction methods for the desired result from the angle of physical limitations and different kinds of thought patterns.
I call my personal quilting style "Mostly Modern." I love the use of negative space, high contrast, color pops, and minimalism. But I love traditional fabrics (all the floral prints, please), symmetry, and using classic blocks as a design base. While I prefer an earthy palette to a bold one, I include a gamut of colorway ideas in each pattern so you can see how each works for different tastes.
My hope is that using a 3KQ pattern will let you relax into your sewing and enjoy the process instead of stressing over directions you may not fully understand or becoming frustrated that you know you "should" be able to manage a pattern but you just can't. All patterns will be organized into the pattern index which provides up-to-date corrections and an inventory of any blog posts or tutorials associated with each pattern.
Thank you so much for being here. I genuinely appreciate every one of you.
Now on to who you're really here for: the Three Kitties of 3KQ!
Meet Junie, Cleo, and Ethel!
Supervisor Junie holds that position because she's always watching what you're doing. She has been known to sit on quilts as they are being quilted (as in the photo!), and she occasionally tries to eat the thread right off the machine (while it's in use). She's very sweet and has a motor of a purr, is the chattiest, and sometimes she gets trapped behind a fully open door because she doesn't realize she can walk around it. Favorite things include Cleo, food, and lying on the drying rack with damp clothes on it. We're not sure how she balances.
Emotional Support Cleo is our chief morale officer. Cleo is the cuddliest of the three and loves to hang out in the studio with me all day while I work. She's also very sweet, and the most inquisitive and active. She has a habit of knocking over their drinking water fountain because she's trying to make bubbles appear in the tower. Favorite things include Junie, naps, and her dingle ball toy. Every night when I turn off the bedside lamp, she comes running and settles on my feet.
Ethel Potato holds seniority over "the babies" and even myself. (I'm older but she's grumpier.) Ethel was adopted at 10 years old as a former TNR and came with a magnificent side eye, stubby legs, and a large primordial pouch (earning her the nickname Swingbelly from a former roommate). She goes by Ethel, Potato, EP, Potato Cake, and on occasion, Sweet Potato. Favorite things include sunbeams, chin scritches (and only chin scritches), and Graham. Yes, Ethel Potato is her legal, given name.
Graham is our designated quilt holder-upper. He also cheerleads and supports our content creation, and Ethel wouldn't agree to work here if he didn't come too. Graham's favorite things are scuba diving, playing trumpet, modding cars, building computers, and Jessica. Graham did not write his own bio.
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