Pixel by Pixel - How an Engineer Quilted the 50 States with Brooke Stambersky Artwork

Quilting on the Side

Co-hosts Tori McElwain of HeyTori and Andi Stanfield of True Blue Quilts share real talk about what it takes to grow a successful quilting business while balancing full-time work, family life, and creative energy.

Whether you're into quilt pattern design, longarm quilting, teaching workshops, or selling handmade products, you'll find practical tips and honest conversations here. We cover everything from digital marketing and course creation to time management and the mindset shifts needed to build a sustainable, fulfilling side hustle.

This show is your go-to guide for running a profitable quilting business on the side - with encouragement, strategy, and plenty of real-life stories from the stitching trenches.

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Quilting on the Side

Pixel by Pixel - How an Engineer Quilted the 50 States with Brooke Stambersky

May 12, 2026 • Andi Stanfield and Tori McElwain • Season 6 • Episode 18

0:00 | 1:04:55

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What if the best marketing strategy for your pattern business had nothing to do with Instagram? Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches started her entire quilting business the old-fashioned way - walking into quilt shops, showing up in person, and letting her passion do the talking. Just relationships, discipline, and a really good pixelated Michigan quilt.

In this episode, Tori sits down with Brooke Stambersky of Brooke's Bitichin' Stitches to hear how a doodle on grid paper became a five-year, 50-state pattern series — and what it actually takes to see a project that big all the way through. They talk about how Brooke pitched quilt shops on her very first pattern with zero sales experience, why her Jeep-themed pattern Duck Duck Beep became her bestseller, and how she kept her business running smoothly through a cross-country move from North Carolina to Michigan.

Brooke is a mechanical engineer and project manager by trade, and it shows. She breaks down how she plans her months, balances a full-time career with a side business, and built systems that let her show up for customers even when life got chaotic. If you've ever wondered whether you need to master social media before you can grow a real pattern business, Brooke's answer might surprise you.

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Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Discovering Quilting
10:06 From Hobby to Business: The Transition
18:10 Building a Brand: The Michigan Quilt and Beyond
27:53 Marketing Strategies: Grassroots and Personal Connections
34:58 The Power of Visibility in Pattern Design
40:02 Navigating the Quilt Shop Landscape
41:04 Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Side Business
45:32 Managing a Business During a Major Move
52:44 Engaging Customers Through Open Communication
55:55 Exciting Future Plans and Events

Connect with Brooke:

Brooke's Bitchin' Stitches Website

Brooke on Instagram

Brooke on Facebook

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Co-Hosts:

Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/

Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/

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