In the craft of quilting, where complexity often intimidates newcomers, Legit Kits offers a unique approach to mastering fabric arts. Founded by Mike O’Dell, a multimedia artist and certified registered nurse anesthetist, the business emerged from a personal fascination with color and artistic expression.
Mike O’Dell’s entry into quilting was serendipitous. When his wife began quilting, he found himself intrigued by the potential for large-scale artistic creation. Despite being an outsider to the craft, O’Dell developed a distinctive method of pattern design that would become the cornerstone of Legit Kits.
His creative process began with hand-drawn patterns and a technique of breaking complex designs into manageable blocks. This approach solved two challenges: it made patterns easier to print and simplified the piecing process for quilters of all skill levels.
Each comprehensive Kit includes:
- Fabric cuts in various shades of Kona Cotton
- Detailed color maps
- Fabric lists
- Assembly guides
- Foundation paper piecing instructions
- Full patterns printed on foundation paper
Color Complexity: Legit Kits uses the entire Robert Kaufman Kona Solids color palette, often incorporating 50 to 100 different shades in a single design.
Maker-Friendly Approach: The kits are designed to be accessible, with fabric cuts larger than necessary to accommodate mistakes and provide additional creative possibilities.
O’Dell’s artistic background influences every aspect of Legit Kits. Each design must provoke an emotional response, either for himself or potential makers. The company prioritizes composition and color, treating each quilting kit as a potential art piece.
All Legit Kits products are printed, packaged, and assembled in the United States. The company offers unique customer support features, including:
- A fabric replacement guarantee
- A “UFO Protection Plan” for unfinished projects
- Options to purchase patterns with or without accompanying fabric
What sets Legit Kits apart is its origin as a passionate side project. Despite O’Dell’s full-time work as a nurse anesthetist, the business has grown from a creative experiment to a thriving enterprise that makes artistic quilting accessible to makers worldwide.
