For Carla Alexiuk, teaching and quilting are a match made in fabric heaven. She is a Studio 180 Certified Instructor and enjoys designing patterns for the specialty tools that help quilters be successful. Oh, and she also designs patterns for Island Batik!
How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?
I didn’t come from a long line of quilters—no cozy childhood memories of sitting under a quilt frame with my grandmother while she stitched away. Nope, my sister and I were more about macramé, crewel embroidery, weaving, flower dipping (yes, that was a thing!), and cameo painting. Basically, if it involved glue, thread, or paint, we were in.
At 16, I was gifted my first sewing machine, and from then on, I was sewing my own clothes. Fast forward to 1993, when my eldest sister (bless her heart) bought me a rotary cutter, a mat, and a ruler, then promptly informed me we were taking a quilting class. I had no idea what I was getting into, but hey, I’ve been quilting ever since!
A few years later, I found myself teaching sewing and quilting at the local quilt shop. It turns out that my background in education (I had credits toward an adult ed degree) blended perfectly with my love of quilting. Teaching and quilting—it was a match made in fabric heaven.
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In 2000, I launched Quilting by the River from my home studio, teaching local quilters. Around the same time, my bestie and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to run quilting retreats?” So, we did! We set up shop at a lodge on the shores of Georgian Bay in Northern Ontario, and before we knew it, the retreats were in full swing.
As a math and science major, it wasn’t the “artsy” side of quilting that grabbed me—it was the technical precision of traditional piecing. But finding patterns that fit exactly what I wanted to teach? That was tricky. So, what did I do? I designed my own.
In 2009, I self-published my first official pattern, and in 2014, I discovered Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design tools. That was a game-changer! I’d watched students struggle with precision piecing, and Studio 180’s method of making units oversized and trimming them down? Genius. No complex math, no stress, just accuracy and ease. I was sold. I became a Certified Instructor, and in 2017, I published my first pattern using Studio 180 tools.
That quilt, Catch a Falling Star, made it into the 2018 Canadian Quilters’ Association National Show in Vancouver. Another quilt, River Rocks, was featured in Quiltmaker’s Magazine (Sept/Oct 2016). Then, feeling inspired by history, I took on an antique reproduction quilt with some added applique. It became Castle Lilies, a collaboration with two incredibly talented friends—Daintry did the hand needle-turn applique, Kelly worked her longarm magic, and together, we created something special. It was accepted into the CQA National Show in 2019.
To date, I’ve published 14 patterns, and in 2022, I began designing patterns for Island Batik. It’s been quite the adventure, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Quilting has brought me lifelong friendships, incredible experiences, and more fabric than I’ll ever admit to owning. And I have a feeling the best is yet to come!
Do you feel that you chose your passion, or did it choose you?
Quilting is definitely a passion—and maybe even an addiction! I quilt almost every day, and if I’m not quilting, I’m thinking about quilting. My eldest sister introduced me to it, and from the start, I was hooked. Like golf, I think quilting is something you either love or don’t connect with at all. For me, it was love at first stitch.
When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?
I’m definitely a planner. I tend to start with a technique, tool, or method I want to showcase, and then I build a quilt around that. My designs are very intentional—I want them to teach something new and make the process easier for my students.
Describe your creative space.
I have always lived in rural Northern Ontario. My studio has been in the lower level of our home with walk out and big windows. When we moved in 2020, to the French River, although still in the lower level, I now look out at the river.
The studio is a room of 4 different.corners, the office, my sewing space, the student sewing space, a retail corner and my long-arm.
This space is filled with fabric, tools, and inspiration. I have a design wall that helps me visualize my projects as they come together. I also keep graph paper handy for sketching ideas and use EQ8 software to experiment with layouts.
My inspirations mostly come from my surroundings. The river, walks in the forest, observing the seasons and most of all, the quiet.
What is your favorite storage tip for your fabric and creative supplies?
I store fabric by color in clear bins. I think we all struggle with storage, so finding a system that works for you is key. Keeping things visible and organized makes it easier to find what I need when inspiration strikes.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I’m not much of a scrap saver. If a piece is smaller than a fat quarter with a chunk taken out, it goes in the “take it away” box. At this point in my quilting career I do not have time for small scrap projects so small bits are given away to students and charity. Maybe someday!
Do you use a sketchbook, journal, or technology to plan or keep track of ideas? How does that help your work develop?
I always carry graph paper for quick sketches. While I’m not much of a journaler, I started blogging in the early 2010s. When time allows, I share creative insights on my website and in my newsletter—it’s a great way to stay connected with my quilting community.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
Like many quilters, I always have multiple projects on the go! I start one for an upcoming class or an idea, then switch to another if something more pressing comes up. There are always projects on the design wall and under the needle.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
A little while ago, Studio 180 released a new technique for non-mirror image flying geese. I wanted to showcase it, so I found a block that used that unit and designed a table runner. It was a fun way to help my students get comfortable with new techniques. Other times my quilt inspirations come from things I see. Recently, while on vacation in Portugal, I was admiring all the clay tile and beautiful designs on them.
These are in sketched in my book for inspiration purposes.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
I love the design process—playing with ideas and seeing them take shape on the design wall is exciting. Writing patterns, on the other hand, can be tedious. Once the quilt is designed, and the blocks are on the design wall the actual final construction feels like work to me. But seeing the final quilt come together is always rewarding.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Enjoy the process. Deadlines and stress will always be there, but at the end of the day, quilting should bring joy.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
My students are my biggest motivators. Their curiosity and enthusiasm push me to keep creating and teaching. Their questions often spark new ideas for me.
When you have time to create for yourself, what kinds of projects do you make?
Most of the quilts I design are for teaching or industry collaborations and are ones that I’d most likely make for myself anyway. That said, personal projects often take a backseat.
Do you think that creativity is part of human nature, or is it something that must be nurtured and learned?
Everyone is creative, but as we get older, we lose the habit of play. I encourage my students to allow themselves to play. Play with colour, design and layout. Always ask, “What if?”—What if I change value? The size? Creativity is about exploring possibilities.
How do you keep all the balls in the air? Is there one you wish you could drop? Which one will you never give up?
Lots of lists, day planners, and scheduling blocks of time for different tasks! If I had to drop something, it would probably be long-arm quilting. For me, it’s just a means to an end rather than something I feel creatively passionate about. But I’ll never give up teaching—it’s my joy, and my students keep me inspired.
Do you lecture or teach workshops? How can students/organizers get in touch with you to schedule an event?
Yes! I love teaching and sharing my knowledge. Students and event organizers can reach out through my website or social media, or email.
I will be teaching on a cruise April 6 to 17, 2026 for more information visit: https://quiltingadventurespro.com
Tell us about your blog and/or website. What do you hope people will gain by visiting?
My blog and website are spaces where I share quilting techniques, inspiration, and updates on my latest work. I hope visitors find something that sparks their creativity and encourages them to try something new!
Something new this year, My friend Lynn Wheatly and I have started an online live chat about quilting. Quilting Unscripted airs once a month, we talk about the industry, our favourite tools, places we have been, and just about anything we think quilters might want to hear about.
Quilting Unscripted – youtube.com@quiltingunscripted Airs April 16th at 7:00pm
Interview posted March 2025
Browse through more quilting inspiration on Create Whimsy.