Quilt in a Day and a Legacy That Lasts a Lifetime

What started as a new job out of desperation quickly turned Eleanor Burns into a well-known name in the quilting industry. The former teacher from Pennsylvania had no idea that a small job opportunity in California would boost her into the popularity she has now. Eleanor took a job teaching arts and crafts at Carlsbad Parks & Recreation. The local women were requesting a quilting class to make 1976 Bicentennial quilts. Eager to meet the demand, Eleanor confidently agreed to teach a class, but little did they know, she had never made a quilt! She figured her previous experience of sewing on a small, crank-handle toy sewing machine with fabric from chicken’s feed sacks, might not cut it. So she scooped up some quilting magazines, studied them, and decided to teach them how to make Log Cabin Quilts. She revised the tedious sewing directions, added some perky assembly line methods, and began to teach. She says that every time she taught, she learned alongside her students to discover the perfect method.

Over the years, her methods evolved and her popularity continued to grow. Eleanor has plenty of accomplishments to be proud of in the past 50 years. She has written 120 quilting books, aired 500 quilt shows, created her quilt shop Quilt in a Day, given thousands of stage shows and classes, created fabric lines and special edition sewing machines, and the list goes on. Throughout the years, she has received numerous awards and recognition for her lifetime of achievements. She attributes all of these successes to the love and support from her closest family, friends, and staff members.

When asked what she was most proud of, Eleanor looked past her own accomplishments to praise her two sons, Orion and Grant. Eleanor took on the venture of quilting to support her sons, who now return the favor. Growing up, the boys would stop by her classes, and their excitement for quilting grew more and more with each visit. Today, both sons run successful businesses, one of them being Quilt in a Day!

Built in a Day has grown tremendously in the past few years! From their vast fabric lines to incredible notions and tools, Quilt in a Day truly has it all. One of these tools is the Kwik Klip, which has a fun story behind it.

The Kwik Klip is a tool for pin-basting quilt layers. This tool is an easy and fast way to close safety pins while taking the strain off your hands and fingers. Though Eleanor’s brilliant techniques are as abundant as the Ranunculus flowers in the Carlsbad flower fields, she was not the inventor of the Kwik Klip. Instead, Eleanor was introduced to it through a friendly duel.

It all started at what seemed like a normal trade show. Eleanor was pinning a quilt when JJ, the inventor of the Kwik Klip, stopped by and asked for her to come by his booth to have a “pin off,” her technique against the Kwik Klip. Eleanor, being known for her quick skills and truly being able to create a “quilt in a day,” enthusiastically accepted his challenge. “I bragged about how fast I am and was convinced my old fashioned techniques would win,” she says. Word of the “pin off” had traveled and a crowd had formed by the time their competition began. Eleanor and JJ’s daughter began pinning, and the Kwik Klip was quickly crowned the winner! Eleanor was fascinated by the tool and bought one right then and there, as well as some to sell in her shop.

Today, the Kwik Klip is a certified Quilt in a Day tool. Eleanor recommends the Kwik Klip to all quilters, new and seasoned. She explains, "The more we quilt, the harder pinning can become as our hands grow worn. Luckily, the Kwik Klip takes the strain off our hands and saves so much time!

Besides the Kwik Klip, Quilt in a Day has many wonderful products. Eleanor says, “I can't live without my Babylock, rotary cutter, and Accuquilt Cutter, all that have saved my hands, back and mind!” She also encourages quilters to visit the Quilt in a Day website and watch her videos for more learning techniques. “Don't miss the Quilt in a Day store, packed high with books, patterns, rulers, fabric, and on and on. You will have a great time!”

From that first Log Cabin class to a legacy built on education and heart, Eleanor Burns has never stopped learning and teaching. She says, “At 80-years-old, I still have over a hundred quilts to finish!” As she looks ahead to finishing “over a hundred more quilts,” one thing is certain, her passion for quilting is far from finished!

She continues to inspire quilters everywhere to dive in, try something new and maybe even finish a quilt in a day.