Heather Kojan on Quilting, Fearless Hustle, and Bringing Textiles to Willa Workshops

Host Wendy Solganik interviews quilting instructor Heather Kojan, a modern quilter with traditional roots, founder of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild, and Willa Workshops instructor behind Threaded and Sewn, The Modern Improv Pillow, and the upcoming in-person retreat Fodder School Live (sold out; August 2026).

Heather recounts growing up crafty (crochet, sewing), studying business, working in radio, restaurants, and a small catering business, then making her first quilt in late-80s colors and quilting casually while raising kids. She describes discovering modern quilting through blogs/Flickr, starting a guild to build community in Baltimore, and “faking it till you make it” into lecturing and national teaching, patterns, publications, and retreats (including a large Lancaster retreat).

Heather explains her income streams, extensive travel, and plans to reduce travel while creating more Willa Workshops content that merges mixed media and textiles, including future collaborations and a planned co-taught Fodder School 7 lesson.  

00:00 Meet Heather Kojan  

02:05 Podcast Premise and Intro  

03:39 Why Heather Now  

04:44 From New York to Virginia  

10:02 Early Craft Obsessions  

12:46 College and Career Detours  

16:26 Radio Restaurants and Catering  

19:48 First Quilt and Family Life  

23:03 Modern Quilting Awakening  

25:06 Starting a Quilt Guild  

28:23 First Lectures to Full Time  

30:56 Income Streams and Recognition  

33:35 How She Booked Teaching Gigs  

34:32 Cold Email Breakthrough  

35:53 Applying and Getting Noticed  

37:04 Taking Over the Retreat  

38:55 What Happens at Retreats  

41:14 Finding Fodder School  

46:13 From Student to Collaborator  

50:57 Building Online Courses  

59:08 Planning the Next Chapter  

01:01:38 Travel Burnout and Ego  

01:06:15 Slowing Down and New Hybrids  

01:11:34 Recruiting Teachers and FS7  

01:14:24 Wrap Up and Thanks