Rotary Cutters & Red Herrings

Talking “Murdah” at the Sewing Table

By Author Kathryn Mykel

Quilter| Quilt-Fiction Author| Quilt Pattern Designer

Writers are often asked where their story inspiration comes from. Some point to dreams or travel, while others credit long hours studying the criminal mind.

Mine tend to begin at a folding table covered in fabric scraps, with a dog asleep beside my chair while someone passes the chocolate and says, “If she goes missing, check under her stash first.”

From the other end of the table comes a warning about hiding fabric in the oven.

A moment later, someone huffs, “I’m going to murder that seam with Jack the Ripper.”

Quilters, it turns out, do talk about murder, but not in a sinister way. In a practical, problem-solving, plot-twisting kind of way (we swear!). The same quilters who debate a scant quarter-inch seam allowance and the right or wrong side of batting can, within minutes, be calmly discussing poison delivery systems, suspicious alibis, and how a 2½-inch fabric strip might make a surprisingly effective murder weapon.

To be fair, not every sewing group treats fabric like forensic evidence. Mine may simply be used to having a mystery writer in their midst. Our sewing circle can quickly become a brainstorming lab without anyone officially meaning it to. Discussing fictional “murdah” over fabric doesn’t make us morbid. I think it makes us all storytellers.

Those conversations don’t just stay at the sewing table. They follow me home and find their way into my plots, shaping the tone and stakes of the mysteries I write.

In one of my quilting cozy mystery series, starting with Sewing Suspicion, Alex, a lone amateur sleuth, finds herself drawn into a world of genuine danger. In her cozy hometown, secrets run deep and criminal networks lurk behind the scenes. The emotional stakes are high—not just for Alex, but for the found family she’s determined to protect. Alex must rely on her own instincts and resilience.

In my second series, the tone shifts entirely.

In Raining Quilts and Dogs, Elizabeth and her group of quilting friends—a nod to the classic “Scooby gang”—stumble into mysteries that are sometimes outrageous, often chaotic, and always infused with friendship. Suspicious happenings might include runaway animals, muddy paw prints at a crime scene, or community mishaps that spiral into something more complicated than anyone expected.

Some days readers want a hint of mafia intrigue, and some days they want a DB wrapped in a quilt and floated down Main Street during a flood.

Let’s think about the solo sleuth vs. a sewing circle. The psychology of investigation changes dramatically depending on whether your sleuth is alone or surrounded by friends.

A solo sleuth must internalize fear, doubt, and responsibility. Every decision feels personal. The narrative often digs deeper into motivation and consequence.

A group of sleuths, on the other hand, brings natural conflict, humor, and energy. They challenge one another’s assumptions. They divide tasks and argue over crafts, snacks, and suspects in equal measure. The mystery becomes a shared experience rather than a solitary burden.

Interestingly, this mirrors both quilting dynamics and writing habits. Some quilters sew alone, finding solace in the quiet repetition of stitching. Others rely on the interaction and encouragement that come from working alongside friends. Writers navigate those same choices between solitude and collaboration. I experience both worlds myself: quilting with friends around a sewing table and writing with them each day in a small online co-working group.

Where do your best ideas seem to find you?

Kathryn Mykel is a bestselling author of quilting-themed cozy mysteries and a professional quilt pattern designer whose work has appeared in national quilting publications. She lives in New England with her pup, Bentley.

 Find Kathryn’s work here www.authorkathrynmykel.com