Meet Katie Glancy of Blue Door Quilting

Each month in the Longarm League, we hold a coaching call with one of our members to talk about their business. This month I sat down with Katie Glancy of Blue Door Quilting. Katie last had a coaching call with me three years ago when she was in the early stages of her business. It was so fun to catch up! On this call we talked about the growth of her local clientele over the past few years, how to start taking mail-in clients, and adding additional revenue streams to her business.

While League members have full access to the recording of the call, we asked Katie to share a little more about herself and her business with our blog readers.

Without further ado, let's meet Katie...

Katie Glancy, Blue Door Quilting

Located: St. Paul, Minnesota
In business: 3 years
Machine and software: Handi Quilter Infinity with Prostitcher
In the Longarm League: I joined the Longarm League in May of 2020, so just over 3 years.

Where to find Katie
Instagram: @bluedoorquilting
Facebook: Blue Door Quilting
Best way for someone to contact you for quilting? Fill out the order form on my website, or email [email protected].

Q&A

Tell us a little about your business and the services you provide at Blue Door Quilting.
I primarily offer digital edge to edge longarm quilting. I quilt about 4 custom quilts a year along with many memory quilts. Trimming and adding binding / finishing binding by machine are also services I offer.

Do you have any advice for someone just starting out with their business?
Take one day at a time. It is true, that a business isn't built overnight. Just because something works for someone doesn't mean that it has to be the same for you. Learn what works best for you.

How did you get started longarm quilting?
I think I knew from the moment I made my first quilt, when I was 11, that quilting was going to be a part of me for a long time. My mom and I bought a wooden quilting frame when I was in high school and quilted on that for 10 years, with a domestic sewing machine. I don't know that I have a real clear "how" I got started, it has just always been in me.

Could you tell us about a business "win" you've had?
I have recently submitted samples to a local quilt shop to show what I will be teaching this fall. It will be two binding classes, one by hand and one by machine. I dipped my toes into the teaching realm last year and am looking forward to more teaching opportunities this year!

What pantograph(s) have you been loving lately?
I love Cakewalk, Soho and Wishbone for simple with a bit of movement. I really like Banana Swirls for quilts that need more quilting to help with fullness (don't look at the name, it's deceiving). I still can't get over Ikat and the texture it creates; it will continue to be on my favorite list.

What is your favorite notion for longarm quilting?
A good handled seam ripper.

What's your favorite part of making a quilt?
Quilting it.

Favorite snack while sewing?
Something chocolatey - Peanut M&Ms, Snickers, Twix, Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.

What other hobbies do you enjoy aside from quliting?
Traveling, baking, listening to audiobooks, spending time with my niece and nephews.

If you'd like to watch the coaching call with Katie or are interested in being a guest, we'd love to have you join us! You can learn more about membership here. And if you're interested in starting your own longarm quilting business, check out our Rookie Season course! You can see all the details, read about how the course has helped previous students, and get started here.

Thanks so much for talking with us this month Katie!