As a designer who has supported QuiltInk from its blog hop launch more than three years ago, I am thrilled to introduce Kiley. She resides in the historic town of Charles Town, WV, and has transitioned from a medical assisting career to pursue her passion for quilting. Kiley’s journey has led her to create modern, geometric quilt patterns and co-develop the innovative My Quilts app with her husband. Join us as we delve into Kiley’s inspiring story, exploring her creative process, the evolution of her quilting career, and her contributions to the quilting community.
Personal Background
Kiley, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?
I live in Charles Town, WV which is a historical town that is rich in history and farmlands. We moved here following my husband’s job. I went to school for Medical Assisting but didn’t enjoy working in the field and quickly left. Over the next decade I tried a lot of various entrepreneur endeavors.
Quilting Journey
When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?
I started quilting almost 14 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. My mother in law got me into it. I dabbled in quilting for many years. In 2015 I bought a longarm and hit the ground running. I became hooked! I loved creating art in a tangible way. In 2020 I began writing my own quilt patterns. In 2021 I started a digital modern quilting magazine. In 2023 my husband and I released an app called My Quilts to help quilters catalog and track their quilting projects. So it has been quite an evolving journey.
Pattern Designing
What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns? How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?
I was never very good at following quilt patterns. I would always tweak them to fit what I wanted. Finally I decided I should just write my own. I keep a Pinterest board for things that inspire a cool quilt design. When I’m ready to start a new pattern I go back to that Pinterest board and see what speaks to me. What looks achievable.
Style and Aesthetics
How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?
My pattern style is very geometric and modern. I love shaves and negative space. I have done a lot of designs with curves. I enjoy curves because it adds more interest to a quilt.
Color
How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?
When I am designing a new pattern I always think about what this design means to me and how I can represent that in color. I used to think Purple was my favorite color. But I find myself always gravitating towards greens and blues when quilting. I think because they are more calming and relaxing colors.
Business Activities
Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?
(Membership, notions, courses, etc)
My husband is a software developer and we have always tried to find ways to make our interests overlap. We decided to create an easy and accessible way for quilters to catalog, track and journal their quilting projects. It has been so much fun working together to create the My Quilts App. The app is completely free to use! You can upload old or new projects to track your progress, keep a record of your work, and get inspired by other quilters! You can now follow other quilters and save their projects to your “favorites” list. The app has really taken off and people are loving it. It’s so exciting to see our tool being used and loved. It has so much potential and we have lots of ideas and plans for adding more features and expanding the app!
Online Presence
Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?
People can find me on Instagram @kileysquiltroom where I do most of my engaging with followers. You can also sign up for my newsletter from my website kileysquiltroom.com
Upcoming Projects
Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?
The My Quilts app is going to take a lot of work and promotion. I will be focusing a lot of my energy into that. But I also have been working on my digital art and have some exciting news to share later this year! But for now- it’s a secret! 🙂
QuiltInk Experience
How has QuiltInk contributed to your quilt pattern design business? Could you share your experience with the platform and how it has influenced your creative process and connected you with fellow quilters?
I have been a fan of QuiltInk since the moment it started! I love all things digital and this is just one way we can modernize the quilting industry and make it easier to plan and design quilt patterns. I put all my designs on QuiltInk to give my followers an easy and fun way to envision their own preferences in my designs. It’s also a great tool for me to try out different color palettes or prints in my patterns before I make them.