At QBPN, we love spotlighting the stories behind the stitches. In this next installment of our Meet the Designers series, we’re featuring five unique designers whose work brings heart, heritage, and innovation to the quilting world. From engineering precision and appliqué whimsy to family-run collaborations and fiber-art fashion, these creators have carved their own paths, each one fueled by passion and purpose.
Through triumphs, challenges, and memorable first quilts, they share what inspires them, what’s ahead, and the myths they hope to bust for beginner quilters. Whether you're here for artistic insight or just looking for your next favorite pattern, these stories remind us why we quilt, and who makes it all possible.
J. Minnis Design Studio – A Lifetime of Crafting, A Passion for Panels
For J. Minnis, quilting is woven deeply into family history. Inspired by her grandmother and supported by a household of sewists, she’s never been far from needle and thread. After a career in telecommunications and years working in a craft-focused retail space, retirement gave her the opportunity to dive fully into creative work.
In 2020, a local fiber arts fair rekindled her passion and she entered with 10 quilted sweatshirt jackets (and then made 10 more when the event was delayed). That spark launched J. Minnis Design Studio, where she now creates patterns for quilted garments, ornaments, tote bags, and charm pack projects.
Her latest creation, the Border Stripe Apron & Towels pattern, debuted at the Timeless Treasures booth at H&H, a proud moment in her evolving design career. What's next? “Someday, I’ll make a quilt out of one of my ideas, or at least some placemats!” For now, she’s happily playing with border stripes and letting curiosity guide her next project.
Grab the Christmas Butterfly Pattern here. Get the paper pattern here.
Get the Charming 8 Pocket Tote Bag here. Get the downloadable version here.
Buy the Charming Hoodie Sweatshirt Jacket Pattern here. Get the downloadable version here.
Shop all J. Minnis Design Studio here.
FatCat Patterns – Appliqué, Visuals-Over-Words Approach
FatCat Patterns started with a simple block swap and a request for an armadillo design. A self-taught quilter and web designer, this creator embraced quilting in 1990 as a creative outlet while navigating life as a new stay-at-home mom. Over time, the community she found online shaped her path, leading to special requests, a growing library of appliqué patterns, and eventually, her own design business.
Among her favorite pattern designs are Angels, Hen Party, and Caught Ya!, each tied to special memories in her life. But the path wasn’t without challenges. “The hardest part wasn’t designing, but rather the technical writing," and "visual learning is a strong focus in my patterns," she says. Her visuals-over-words approach makes her patterns highly accessible, especially for fellow visual learners.
Currently, she’s expanding her “chicken collection” by popular demand. She reminds beginners: “You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy and create lovely quilts," that "Appliqué isn't scary. If you can work a jigsaw puzzle, you can appliqué.”
Grab the Angels pattern here. Grab the downloadable here.
Get Hen Party here. Get the downloadable here.
Buy the Caught Ya! Pattern here. Grab the downloadable version here.
Shop all FatCat Patterns here.
Lib Expressions – Lise’s Artful Journey Through Fabric
Lise of Lib Expressions began her creative path in the scenic town of Trois-Pistoles, Quebec. With roots in fashion and a career as a tailor for Canada’s top theaters, her evolution into quilt design was a natural extension of her artistic drive. After years of designing children’s clothing, quilting became her outlet for deeper artistic expression.
Her work reflects a beautiful duality, structured and precise, yet infused with serenity and balance. Known for gallery-worthy textile pieces, Lise’s background in costume design lends her quilts a rich sense of drama and movement. While Lise didn’t specify a single favorite design, her entire body of work captures a commitment to visual storytelling through fabric.
Buy the Tree of Life digital pattern here.
Get the Anachell digital pattern here.
Grab the Colibri digital pattern here.
Shop all Lib Expressions Patterns here.
Windmill Quilts – Healing Through Fabric with Elizabeth Whitehead
For Elizabeth Whitehead of Windmill Quilts, quilting has long been a place of both creative exploration and emotional healing. Her pattern Woven Bells, created after the passing of her husband, holds deep personal significance. Crafted from Hoffman’s 24-7 linen line and finished with soft appliqué and circular quilting, the design went on to win first place in the Modern category at the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta.
With over 30 years of quilting experience and a background in civil engineering and commercial art, Elizabeth brings unique precision and clarity to her designs. She’s also faced the challenge many designers encounter: self-doubt. Gaining confidence in her writing and embracing her technical strengths helped her move forward.
What’s next? Elizabeth is developing a 9–12 month class centered on a medallion-style quilt with a Southwestern twist. She’s also venturing into fabric design, proving that her creative journey continues to evolve.
She hopes to encourage beginners to look beyond intimidating layouts. Elizabeth supports beginners through "the feeling of being overwhelmed by intricate-looking quilts" by teaching the differences between traditional horizontal and on-point settings, and guiding them in how to effectively read a pattern, emphasizing that "the accompanying text is just as important as the illustrations."
Buy the Rainbow Star Light digital pattern here.
Get the Star Day digital pattern here. Grab the physical copy here.
Grab the Bebe's Flowers digital pattern here. Get the physical copy here.
Shop all Windmill Quilts Patterns here.
Castilleja Cotton – A Family of Creativity in Every Stitch
Castilleja Cotton is a family collaboration. Diane McGregor, her husband Don, and her sister Colleen Kennedy comprise the team behind their vibrant and accessible designs. Diane handles the digital side with her tech background, Colleen uses her early childhood education experience to make instructions easy to follow, and Don brings inspiration through his stunning photography, often used as the starting point for their nature-based quilts.
Their strength lies in collaboration and making quilt design approachable for all. Together, they’ve built a line of patterns that are both visually rich and user-friendly, a quality balance in the quilting world.
Castilleja Cotton continues their creative journey by releasing new patterns that quilters of all levels can enjoy. They’ve shown their commitment to designing work that will inspire the community for years to come.
Buy the Turtle Swimming Away digital pattern here. Get The physical copy here.
Get the Rainbow Butterfly digital pattern here. Get the physical copy here.
Grab the Seasonal Quilt digital pattern here. Buy the physical copy here.
Shop all Castilleja Cotton Patterns here.
These designers represent the heart and soul of quilting. Each bringing their own experiences, techniques, and passions into patterns that inspire creativity and connection. Whether you’re drawn to bold appliqué, nature-inspired landscapes, medallion quilts, or quilted garments, their stories offer a reminder that quilting is both a craft and a deeply personal journey.
We’re honored to carry their work and share their stories with you. To explore all the featured patterns and more, visit QBPN’s full pattern collection and discover your next favorite design.