From her home studio in Seattle, Taylor Krz pours her heart and soul into her quilting business, Toad and Sew. What began as a way to pass the time during the COVID-19 lockdown has transformed into a warm community: in 2022, she started Toad Circle, an exclusive online sewing and book club. More than 300 quilters are now members.
Taylor’s grandmother taught her how to sew as a child, but it wasn’t until 2019 that Taylor started quilting with gusto. Sadly, her inherited 1980s Singer machine had mechanical problems. “My machine was holding me back, and I didn’t know it at the time,” Taylor said. “The tension issues are so frustrating and heartbreaking, and you think you suck at sewing. I told myself, if I was still sewing in a year, then I’d buy myself a really nice sewing machine.”
When Taylor upgraded to a Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9450QCP, her creativity and quiltmaking output soared. And Toad and Sew, affectionately named after one of her rescue pups, took off in early 2020.
“This was a time when people were slowly making their way into the modern quilting world in order to find something that made them happy and kept their hands busy,” she said. “The modern quilting niche hadn’t exploded yet, and it was exciting to be a part of such a small group of creative people.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and QuiltCon has exhibited Taylor’s quilts in its show every year since 2022. In 2025, she’ll teach classes on discovering one’s color palette and honing technical skills for quilt pattern design. In 2023, she was an Art Gallery Fabrics “Sewcialite” and curated a nostalgia-inspired fabric bundle for the brand. She also released her first set of acrylic templates, a collaboration with Cut Once Quilts, a laser cutting company in Austin, Texas.
With a professional background in illustration and graphic design, Taylor’s academic grasp on color theory cemented her reputation as modern quilting’s color queen. Of course, none of this would be possible without her quilty BFFs, including Christina West (Kindred Quilt Co.), Ashleyn Downs (Urban Dwell Studio), Brooke Shankland (Eudaimonia Studio), Tara Fanning (Full Moon Fabric Co.), and Taylor Hughes (Homely Local).
“I find that I attract many younger people who are just getting into quilting. They often tell me it’s hard to meet other like-minded quilters who are similar in age or style. When I attended the local guild, I didn’t quite feel like I fit in with the demographic or the traditional styles being showcased,” Taylor said. “I wanted to create a more inclusive community that embraces all quilting styles and fosters friendships, especially for a younger crowd. In our community, we go beyond quilting and connect over shared interests like books, TV shows, cooking, and other fun crafting hobbies.” Toad Circle members stay in touch through Discord and Zoom, giving quilters a break from the fast pace of social media.
Embraced by her supportive community, Taylor planned to have brain surgery to remove a benign tumor called a schwannoma in September 2024. She shared the news with her found family via social media and humorously named the tumor Bernadette. Always two steps ahead, Taylor squared away plans for a fall quilt pattern, called Folkwell, to be released in November and has several secret projects in the works. Paired with her trademark dark humor, she’s unstoppable.
“I love the support from the community. Everyone’s really there for you. It’s a very welcoming community. There’s so many talented people who are really inspiring,” Taylor said. “It’s a cool club to be in!”
