Meet Alice Wilhoit of Alice Wilhoit Designs in McKinney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alice Wilhoit.

Alice, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I were on vacation and I spotted a shop that sold quilts. We went in to look around. I was on the lookout for the perfect quilt for our bedroom. In front of me was a beautiful blue and white Double Irish Chain quilt. I knew it was the one to go home with us. My husband was excited about it too until he looked at the price tag. He was NOT going to pay $800 for a quilt! He proudly said that I could make one just like it. He thought I had the experience to do that because I have always sewn. Little did he know that sewing clothing for the children and making quilts were definitely two different skill sets.

When we returned home, I was committed to learning to make a quilt. I took every quilt class I could find and even started a part-time job at a local quilt shop. I was learning fast and with every project got more and more excited. By this time, my husband regretted not paying the price for that blue quilt! I was soon asked to teach a Beginners class. My class was popular and that cemented my new found love. I began teaching anything that was popular at the time. I even found myself designing my own quilts. People would ask me for the pattern. That made me nervous because I had never written a pattern before. I had a challenge and I got right to work on it.

My first pattern and still my most popular one is “Texas Our Texas.” Sharon’s Quilt Shop in downtown McKinney was the first store to carry the pattern. There were 12 different blocks and techniques and she offered it as a Block of the Month. That is where the customer signs up and each month receives one block and the fabric for it. At the end of the year, they have all the components to put together their own quilt. That was 20 years ago and the pattern has been carried in shops all over Texas. I tried to retire the pattern in 2008 but the stores and customers still wanted it. I revised it, adding new techniques and it is still my best seller. I will start teaching it as a yearlong class in October at Minding My P’s & Q’s in Denton, TX.

As my confidence in designing and marketing my patterns grew, I would get very excited as one was launched and I immediately had another project in mind. My book, Crazy Patchwork was published by American Quilt Society (AQS). That cemented my career as people across the U.S. and overseas purchased it, my name became more well known. AQS also produced other patterns for me as well as a 3-hour video for iQult.com.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has generally been a smooth road. There were some early obstacles as I developed confidence in my ability. My creative process is to “jump in” and see what happens. When I start a new design if somewhere in the process it isn’t working the way I envisioned it, to the landfill it goes! My friends are appalled and want me to finish the project. I can’t see wasting my time to finish something I know will not work. I take what I learn from that “failure” and move onto the next design. The other small challenge is the financial side of my business. I am not excited with accounting, invoices, etc. I am much more excited about creating.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
When designing, I remember that I was once a beginner so I write my patterns for all levels, especially beginners. No matter how difficult my quilt may look, the instructions for making the project are simplified. I love teaching beginners. I teach many intro classes so the student can learn the technique and if they love it, they are hooked and if not, they haven’t wasted a lot of time or money buying supplies, etc. When I wrote my book, the publisher like the way I steered it to the beginner.

The feedback I get that I think sets me apart from some others is that I am extremely patient. The student is never made to feel awkward because they don’t “get it.” I will work with them until the method is accomplished. I am most proud of my company because it has allowed me to grow with each new design. I am truly thankful that the quilting world likes what I do. My studio is at home and I work every day doing a job that I truly love and am my own boss. The metroplex has been a great place for my business. There are many wonderful quilt shops, great classes, and shopping.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I would recommend anyone starting out in the design world to take the time to get to know the current market. With each project, check out current trends regardless of which technique they may favor.

Contact Info:

• Website: alicewilhoit.com
• Phone: 2144971260
• Email: alice@alicewilhoit.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alice.wilhoit

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