Spotlight: Cole Whitaker, Quilt Designer

Cole Whitaker has been creative since he was a young child when his grandmother taught him about quilting. He now creates custom quilt designs for clients, designs quilt patterns, does quilt commission work, and, oh yeah, wins major quilt shows with his pieces.

How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?

My grandmother taught me to quilt at age five. I did some sewing projects here and there throughout my adult life but I didn’t really get back into quilting until 2021.

I was looking for a Super Mario comforter for my guest room because I wanted it to be video game themed, but I couldn’t find one that I liked. My husband said to me, “Why don’t you just make one?”. I thought he had a point, so I designed a Super Mario Brothers quilt and when I completed it he suggested that I post a picture online. I got such great feedback online and people started asking for quilt commissions. That is how it all started.

When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?

I have always thought of myself as a artist.

I remember in 4^th grade they put all the desks in a circle and in the center was an iris in a vase. We were given watercolor paper and told to draw the flower and then we painted the drawing with water colors. Mine turned out well.

As an adult I found it and although the painting job left a bit to be desired, the pencil drawing was so accurate I remember thinking it was probably as good as I would draw it as an adult. So, I often had people telling me that I was talented (artistically….not so much academically). 

When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?

I am a planner. The planning is my favorite part. Once I have an idea, thinking through the puzzle of how I can make that idea become a reality is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Once I have an idea, I become obsessed until I can create it.

Describe your creative space.

Right now, my sewing studio and longarm are my living room. I am hoping this year, to finish my garage and turn that into my sewing studio. But for now, one thing I love about having my sewing studio in the living room is that we have a wall of windows looking out on trees in out back yard. It’s so beautiful and brings me so much joy to just look out the window.

Do you use a sketchbook or journal? How does that help your work develop?

My journal is my laptop. I will make note on word files or draw ideas out in Adobe illustrator and have many files saved at different stages of the creative process.

What plays in the background while you work? Silence? Music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies? If so, what kind?

Podcasts or my textbooks. When I got into quilting I was completing a master’s degree online. I am currently working on a second master’s degree. The first one was in psychology and this one is a clinical mental health counselor program.

How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?

I start a project whenever I have an inspiring idea or someone requests a commission that resonates with me.

Right now I am working on three quilt commissions, two pattern commissions, one new pattern that other quilters are testing and two of my own projects that are on hold until I complete the commissions.

Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?

My “Joy” quilt came about because I wanted to enter QuiltCon and so I knew I needed something original.

I went through a phase of learning photography about 10 years ago and I thought it would be fun to make a quilt based off one of my photographs. I narrowed it down to about eight pictures and had people on Reddit vote. In the original picture she was standing in front of some shrubbery. I drew a digital drawing based off her face, but I decided to change the background to be more quilt-like. To make sure it was unique I designed a few prints that I had printed through Spoonflower that were used in the quilt. So I took the picture, designed the pattern, pieced the quilt, and longarmed the quilt.

I did not plan for the quilt to represent anything; I just liked the picture. I chose rainbow for the background because I have always loved rainbows.

Once it was complete, however, I feel that it is a great representation of a marginalized person finding joy. Too often, when the stories of marginalized people are told, like in movies, the focus is on the struggle and the tragedy. I am queer and trans and when I was younger, I loved watching queer movies because I wanted to see people like me.

Eventually I quit watching these movies because I never knew when there would be a scene where someone gets beat up or killed. I know that happens but also, many queer people are living happy tragedy-free lives. In a way, being a person of a marginalized group experiencing joy is a form of protest.

You do commission work and quilting for makers. What brings you the most joy in doing work for others?

I do quilt commissions and I love it. I never thought I would because you would think that as an artist you would not want someone else telling you what to do. However, I have found that I am more creative and do better work when I have boundaries to work within.

Also, often I am designing quilts that are very personal gifts. Things that people could not find anywhere else. There is something so heartwarming about having someone trust you to be a part of something so personal.

What inspires you to create?

Mostly, the desire to see an idea come to life. Also, it is amazing for my mental health. The feeling of creating something, it makes me feel very productive and happy. It gives me tangible things to look forward to. It brightens my day.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

“You need to charge more.” It is funny how we all accept the prices of things when a large company gives you the price. Companies are probably not worrying if a client thinks they are too expensive. As one artist though, it is hard to disconnect your emotions from your pricing. I often worry that people will think I charge too much. In the end, you need to make sure you are getting paid for your work. I still don’t charge enough…but someday…

How has your creativity evolved over the years? What triggered the evolution to new media/kinds of work/ways of working?

I have made art my whole life. When I was a child, it was my dream to be an artist. I used to draw and paint a lot, then it was graphic design and then photography.

Quilting feels different. Partly because with all other mediums I would periodically lose interest. With quilting I have stayed completely obsessed for years and there is no sign of that waning. Also, with drawing and painting, it seemed that I only would end up with a good result if I “felt inspired”, these times were few and far between.

With quilting, I have ideas piled up waiting to be completed. I keep wanting to do it every day. I love that it is art, but it is also practical. You can use a quilt is so many ways.

Do you think that creativity is part of human nature or is it something that must be nurtured and learned?

I think everyone can be creative. I do think it is part of human nature. But it is like a muscle. The more you practice being creative, the more creative you become.

How have other people supported or inspired you?

I have many wonderful quilty friends who have constantly told me that I am doing amazing work and it has really helped push me forward. I also have a very supportive husband for which I am eternally grateful because I have taken up the whole living room and there are strings everywhere.

What is on your “someday” creative wish list? 

I would love to be a full time quilt designer…whether that is just me gaining popularity or being hired by a quilt pattern company. I would love to spend all my time doing quitly things.

Tell us about your website. What do you hope people will gain by visiting?

My website is www.colesquilts.com. There are educational videos on my website as well as patterns and information about commissions. I also do quilt pattern commissions for quilters who want something specific and can’t find a pattern for it.

Interview posted March 2024