Katie Larson learned how to sew and quilt as a child. She started quilting simple designs, joined the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild, and began creating unique designs. During the pandemic, Lego DOTS inspired some of her quilt designs.
How long have you been quilting and designing? How did you get started?
My mom was a quilter, and taught me sewing and quilting as a child.
I was 15 when I finished my first quilt – so I’ve been making quilts for over 25 years!
I started creating simple designs a few years later, but really got into designing my own quilts after joining the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild (where I was living at the time). Seeing all the creative things people made in the guild was really inspiring!
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When did you first realize that you are a creative person?
Being creative has always been an important part of my life.
When I was three, I would go to sleep with my paper and crayons! As a kid, I loved coloring and craft activities. Making things has always brought me a lot of joy, and honestly, it was the thing I was best at, too.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how important creativity and making things was to me and my identity.
How does your career as a graphic designer influence your quilt designs?
Being able to go to college for design taught me a lot about art and design – color, composition, design principles – all of that goes into designing a quilt. I also learned how to use creative software which helps with quilt design and also for creating templates and patterns.
Having a graphic design career has allowed me to be surrounded by other creative people, and that has been really inspiring. I have learned things from friends and co-workers over the years that I continue to incorporate into my work today.
Lego dots! Tell us more about how you started playing with them to create quilt designs.
I loved LEGO as a kid and still as an adult. The Lego DOTS series came out in 2020, right at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. It was something I could do with my kids while we were stuck at home and it felt so accessible and fun during a heavy time in the world.
There was a simplicity to the tiles but I discovered so many possibilities just playing with the different colors and geometric shapes. I think the element of play in working with DOTS allowed me to let go a bit and explore things I may not have created otherwise. I was able to incorporate my DOTS creations into surface design patterns, jewelry and quilts – it became a really fun creative challenge for me!
When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?
I am definitely a planner.
I like to really think over an idea before starting and like to have a very specific plan before I start a quilt. I love the design process of laying things out, playing with color and being able to adjust things on the computer. It’s what works best for my brain!
I will do tests with materials/techniques and make prototypes if it’s something I haven’t done before. I want to have as much figured out as possible before I start the final quilt or project.
Are you a “finisher”? How many UFOs do you think you have?
I start and stop projects a lot. Sometimes I hit a point where I don’t know how to solve a problem, or I get distracted by a shiny new idea. I recently counted up my UFOs, and I had 10 – so not too bad!
Describe your creative space.
I am really fortunate to have a studio space/room in my home. This is where I do my design work and much of my crafting and quilting.
I have an ironing table on top of a dresser I use to store fabric. The cutting table doubles as my computer/design space. I have my machine on a table nearby so I can easily move between cutting and sewing.
I don’t have a closet, so all my projects are in clear plastic bins on shelves so I can see what/where everything is. I always say “making things makes a mess” so my room is often messy – something I am always struggling to manage!
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I have a bag of scraps that I keep smaller pieces – nothing less than a couple of inches. The scraps comes in handy, especially when I’m working on smaller projects or paper piecing!
Working across many different media, how do you organize all of your creative supplies?
I use clear plastic bins and small crates that I can put different materials or projects in. It helps to have one place where I can put all the different parts of a project.
I also have a pegboard where I can hang up some of my tools and supplies, like zippers. I like being able to see everything, otherwise, I forget about it!
Do you use a sketchbook, journal, or technology to plan or keep track of ideas? How does that help your work develop?
Last year I finally bought a physical planner (It’s from Appointed – the Compact Task Planner) and it has made a huge difference! There is space for to-dos and goals for each week, and extra blank space between each month.
I started using that as a space to sketch out ideas, or write notes or things I want to remember. Before, I would write/sketch on random pieces of paper or several different notebooks that I would find all over the place.
Now everything is in one place – much more organized than before! It’s small enough that I can carry it around if needed, too.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
It really depends on what else is going on in my life – if I have more freelance work or if I’m busy with my kids’ stuff.
I always have several different projects going at once – some small, some larger. I like having different kinds of projects to go back and forth between.
I also like a mix of computer work and hand work – I think having both to work on is really important.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
Several years ago I started working on an idea for quilted frames. I made some prototypes, but got stuck on the design and then got distracted with other projects.
In 2022 I came out with a new fabric line that incorporated geometric shapes and felt very holiday season to me.
I had crafty relatives who made ornaments for me as a kid with my school picture in them – which felt so special to me as a kid (and still do)! So I decided to combine all these different elements – the quilted frames project, the fabric collection, and the inspiration of my childhood photo ornaments. That idea became my Geo Bijoux quilted ornaments!
The fabric line inspired the ornament shapes and also was incorporated into the actual quilted ornaments. I also ended up turning the design into a pattern so that other people could make their own quilted frame ornaments too.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
I love when I first get an idea and start playing with different shapes and/or colors. I also love prototyping and figuring out how to bring the idea to life – though this can be a challenge if it doesn’t work out how I think it will!
I can get overwhelmed once I have to actually make the thing – it’s a long process and at that point I just want it to be done!
I wish I had more time in the day/week, so time management and being realistic about how long it takes me to do something continues to be a challenge for me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“You can do whatever you want to do.” It’s easy to get stuck in what you think will make others happy or doing what you think you should do.
I think the best things come from when you listen to and follow the ideas that come your way. It sounds a bit selfish, but if you truly love what you are doing then it will mean something, even if no one else loves it.
Do you approach your work differently for entering juried shows?
Yes! Not every quilt is a show quilt, and that is ok!
It had been 8 years since I last submitted a quilt for a show. I don’t put any pressure on myself to create a show quilt (for me, unnecessary added pressure doesn’t create good art).
For a show quilt, I want to see something that I haven’t seen before (or seeing it in a new way). The quilts I’ve entered into a show were ones that pushed me in some way – maybe I tried a new technique or challenged myself to figure out how to piece something new together.
How do you keep track of your work and shows that you’ve entered? What works for you?
I have a folder on my computer for each of the quilts or projects I’ve designed. I also have a section on my website that lists some of my favorite quilts, and that is a good way to catalogue when I made it, for who, and if it’s been in a show or published.
Where can people see your work?
Website: www.katielarson.studio
Etsy: TheCraftingShell
Instagram: @katie.craftshell
Interview posted April 2025
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