Who is Kaye Collins?

I recently realized that I have never really introduced myself on my own blog!

So. . . here we go!

A woman smiling while holding a colorful quilt made of red, orange, and purple fabric, standing in front of a window with a pink wall behind her.

I am Kaye Collins and I affectionately call myself a creative force. I enjoy thinking, writing, doing and making and it doesn’t really matter what the topic is! I was a high school band director for 20 years, I had a photography business for a few years and I even owned Lehi Soap Company for a few years. Since 2020 I have been the owner of Oh Kaye Quilting.

But mostly, I am a quilter. I am a longarmer. I am a longarm educator and I am a National Educator for Handi Quilter. I have been teaching longarming for Handi Quilter for almost 5 years now and I really enjoy getting to travel around the country- and the world- teaching people to use their Handi Quilter longarms.

I am somewhat of a computer quilting guru as well. I teach classes on Pro-Stitcher and Pro-Stitcher Designer. I even have a 9 week course about Pro-Stitcher Designer that is called StitchReady. I built the course because I felt most people needed a better way to learn and I am happy and proud to report that it has been very successful. Some of my students have sold some of their designs and others have won awards by using their designs on their own quilts.

I have developed and hosted a fun and educational retreat for longarm quilters called Elevated Stitches. It helps people get comfortable with some of the more advanced features in Pro-Stitcher and then use them in creative ways. I have hosted the event twice in Utah but am hoping to have the opportunity to host a retreat on the East Coast sometime soon.

I am a teacher for the Electric Quilt 8 computer program that allows you to design your own quilts and I am an educator for WonderFil threads. I don’t do much in those roles because I am SO busy with Handi Quilter.

I also write quilt patterns. If you have ever done it, you know that it is much harder and more time-consuming than it looks! I enjoy it but am lucky to get a couple patterns a year out these days.

Interested in more????

I have a YouTube Channel where I post content on a regular basis.

I am active on Facebook and Instagram nearly every day. Make sure you like, follow and comment on posts and videos. (Even this blog post!!!!) It really helps more people find me.

I am also the self proclaimed president of The Lazy Quilters Club. We have no meetings, no dues, no rules. We like to do things the smart and easy way and we like to have FUN.

Come join us!!!! We even have T-Shirts and Sweatshirts if you want to get one.

A smiling woman in a purple shirt leaning on a longarm quilting machine with the name 'Handi Quilter Amara 20' visible. Behind her is a colorful quilt with geometric patterns.

Podcast Appearances

I interviewed with Tracey Mooney for the Quilt and Tell podcast but it was cancelled before my episode came out.

Publications

Fons & Porters Love of Quilting March/April 2023

“How to Choose a Quilting Design” by Kaye Collins

Quiltmaker November/December 2023

Interwoven Star Quilt by Kaye Collins

Get in Touch

Kaye is interested in teaching for guilds and shops or speaking to groups about Creative Living and Leadership. Please feel free to reach out and we can discuss your event!

Kaye@OhKayeQuilting.com

A smiling woman holding spools of thread in a quilting studio, standing in front of a longarm quilting machine.

StitchReady is Coming for Fall 2025

Get Ready to Design with Confidence! Join the StitchReady Course Today

Hey there, fellow quilting enthusiasts! If you’ve ever looked at your longarm designs and wished you could just design your own, you’re not alone. But guess what? There’s a fantastic opportunity to boost your confidence and skills — the StitchReady course is NOW open for registration! StitchReady will teach you to use Pro-Stitcher Designer to bump your longarm quilting to another level.

What’s StitchReady all about?
This isn’t just any quilting class. It’s a friendly, step-by-step program designed to help you master the Pro-Stitcher Designer Computer Program and create beautiful projects with ease. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your technique, this course is perfect for anyone ready to flex their creativity.

What’s Pro-Stitcher Designer?
PSD is a complex and powerful computer program that allows you to design your own quilting patterns and projects and use them on ANY longarm quilting system.

How do I get Pro-Stitcher Designer? If you purchased Pro-Stitcher Premium in the past 5 years, you already own PSDesigner. If you are a Pro-Stitcher Lite owner, you will need to purchase the program. . . but I can give class members a code for $50 off the price of the software. The software can be purchased on the Pro-Stitcher website.

Why should you sign up?

  • Learn at your own pace: The course is designed to fit into your busy schedule. The pre-recorded modules are released one-a-week on Wednesday for 9 weeks. You will have access to the videos for two years so you can manage your learning even if you have a vacation planned or just have a busy life.
  • Expert guidance: Clear, friendly instruction from Kaye Collins: a veteran HandiQuilter National Educator who not only loves teaching quilting but has a Masters Degree in Education and understands how to build a well-crafted curriculum..
  • Building skills: You will learn how to use all the tools in Pro-Stitcher Designer and have opportunities right from the first week to use them creatively. This is not a “copy the teacher” class. This course encourages you to use PSD to realize your quilting ideas. You will learn to make Edge to Edge designs, original block designs, and design suites as well as being able to make project files and personalized stitch patterns. You will learn to edit existing designs and how to change designs to make them fit into specific areas. Converting embroidery files to longarm quilting files is a student favorite but we can also design SVGs that can be used with a cutting system such as Cricut or the Brother Scan n Cut.
  • Fun projects: Get inspired with projects that will keep your creative juices flowing! We will learn how to use Pro-Stitcher Designer to simplify our repetitive project making.

What’s included?
The course covers everything from the basics to more advanced tips, all broken down into 9 weekly modules with handouts. There are 6 live events with Kaye and 5 bonuses that contain special information to improve your experience with PSD. Plus, you’ll gain access to a supportive community of fellow quilters in a private Facebook group, eager to share their progress and cheer you on.

Ready to get stitching like a pro?
Click here to get more information and secure your spot in the StitchReady course: https://ohkayequilting.myflodesk.com/e8k8ya495l

Don’t wait too long — spots are filling up quickly! Whether you want to finally conquer that tricky block or simply enjoy the process more, StitchReady is your ticket to quilting confidence.

Happy quilting, and I hope to see you in class!

Master Quilt Photography: Join Our Zoom Workshop

Are you ready to elevate your quilt photography skills? Join me on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 for a comprehensive Zoom workshop designed to help you capture your quilts in their best light—whether you’re showcasing them online, entering a show, or simply preserving memories!

🧵 What We’ll Cover

In this class, we’ll delve into:

  • Essential Equipment: Discover the basic tools you need to take great quilt photos. You already have most of them!
  • Preparation Tips: Learn how to prepare your quilt and shooting space for optimal results.
  • Lighting Techniques: Understand how to use natural and artificial light to highlight your quilt’s details.
  • Editing Basics: Get introduced to editing techniques that enhance your photos without overdoing it.
  • Shot Lists: Create a checklist to ensure you capture all the angles and details your quilt deserves. (You will receive TWO Shot Lists as part of the Handout.)
  • Q/A: Ask your burning questions and get answers on the spot!

💰 Class Details

  • Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
  • Time: 8:00pm Eastern
  • Platform: Zoom
  • Cost: $25
  • Registration: CLICK HERE

🎓 Who Should Attend?

This class is perfect for quilters of all levels who want to improve their quilt photography skills. Whether you’re new to photography or looking to refine your techniques, you’ll find valuable insights to help you capture your quilts beautifully.ir best light!

🧑‍🏫 About the Instructor

Hi, I’m Kaye—quilter, photographer, and creative educator behind Oh Kaye Quilting. Over the years, I’ve learned that taking great quilt photos is almost as important as making the quilts themselves (especially when you want to enter shows, sell patterns, or share your work online). I was a professional photographer for about 5 years before quilting took over my life. I’ve combined my love of quilting with my experience behind the camera to develop a simple, approachable system for capturing quilts in all their stitched glory. Whether you’re using a fancy DSLR or your phone, I’m here to help you take photos that show the true beauty of your quilts!

New England Quilt Expo

I am excited to be teaching at the New England Quilt Expo in Manchester, New Hampshire next month. There are still a few spots open in my classes, so if you live in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont or Rhode Island, think about taking a class!

Handi Quilter will be sending 12 longarm machines to Manchester so we can have Hands-On training. This is a great opportunity so don’t miss out!

Wednesday, April 9   8:30-11:30    5 Spots left
Free-Motion Quilting HANDS ON
Thursday, April 10    8:30-11:30    9 Spots left
Edge to Edge Essentials HANDS ON
Friday, April 11  8:30-11:30  11 Spots left
Troubleshooting Pro-Stitcher Issues LECTURE
Friday, April 11  12:30-3:30    6 Spots left
Intermediate Pro-Stitcher HANDS ON
Saturday, April 12  8:30-11:30    2 Spots left
Straignt and Narrow Ruler Work HANDS ON