My Story

Hi, I’m Crystal!

In December 2023, my son and daughter were both living away from home for the first time, and my husband was working out of town. I found myself home alone, with long, quiet evenings and nothing to fill them but the couch.

One day at the supermarket, a quilting magazine with a Christmas quilt caught my eye, and I wondered, could I do that? I brought it home, and it sat on my nightstand for weeks. Every time I leafed through it, I felt a little more drawn to find out.

Quilting was already woven into my life. My mother is a lifelong quilter, and she always hoped one of her children would pick up the craft. So in the spring of 2024, I finally did. With my mom by my side, I drove to Oak Ridge, TN, paid $100 for a secondhand Singer sewing machine, and started sewing. I literally didn't even know how to thread the machine.  I was 50 years old, and my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. In many ways, I’m living my mother’s dream as much as my own.

Once I started, I was hooked. By the end of that first year, I had already made a dozen quilts -which my poor mom was having to longarm for me!

By January 2025, I knew I wanted to share this joy with others, and 31 Threads Quilt Co. was born. The name comes from Proverbs 31 and the virtuous woman, who, among her many gifts, makes coverings for her bed: “She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple” (Proverbs 31:22). It’s a reminder that the quilts we make with our hands are meant to warm, comfort, and bless the people we love. Quilting isn’t just a pastime. It’s a craft worth honoring.

Today, 31 Threads is where I share curated fabric bundles, quilt kits built around my own original patterns, and Quilt-A-Longs where we stitch together as a community. Starting this shop has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling adventures of my life, and I’m just getting started.

Fun fact: I still haven’t made that Christmas quilt!

If you’ve ever looked at a quilt and wondered, could I?, I’d love to help you find out.

With gratitude,

Crystal

Come stitch along with me!

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