Mike O’Dell, a 50-year-old nurse anesthetist from Oklahoma City, spends most of his week immersed in the high-pressure environment of hospital operating rooms, confined to a swivel chair amid buzzing medical equipment. His 10-hour shifts offer little flexibility, requiring coordination just to take a break. But for one day a week, his reality shifts dramatically. He enjoys morning coffee on his patio, takes his kids to school, and works on his passion project—Legit Kits, a quilting business he started in 2020.
The business was born from a personal project. O’Dell created Star Wars-themed quilts for his sons, using a process called foundation paper piecing, which simplifies quilting by treating it like a craft version of paint-by-numbers. The ease and enjoyment of the experience inspired him to start a company selling quilting kits. Though he had no intention of leaving his full-time healthcare job—which pays him $240,000 annually—he structured Legit Kits to run efficiently without his constant oversight. He brought on two graphic designers to develop patterns, later adding an employee to handle fabric cutting and shipping.
Today, Legit Kits has grown into a company with seven full-time employees and four freelance designers. In 2024, the company brought in $1.25 million in online sales, with an additional $150,000 from a now-defunct partnership with Joann Fabrics and Crafts. The business turned a profit in 2023 and broke even in 2024, mainly due to the investment in a new 4,500-square-foot warehouse. O’Dell, who learned to sew 20 years ago to make a Braveheart costume, now serves as the company’s CEO and creative director. He dedicates one day each week to tasks like testing color swatches, approving new designs, and expanding marketing efforts. This year, he plans to pay himself a $50,000 salary from the business.
Despite its early success, Legit Kits remains a niche player in the nearly $5 billion quilting industry. O’Dell aims to grow the brand by appealing to more casual crafters through social media campaigns and lower-cost “mini” kits priced at $99. He’s conscious of economic challenges, particularly potential impacts from tariff policies. Many of Legit Kits’ fabrics come from Southeast Asia, where goods from countries like Indonesia and Vietnam could be subject to tariffs as high as 46% under new U.S. trade proposals. These tariffs are currently paused, replaced by a temporary 10% rate until July 9, leaving O’Dell uncertain about future costs and reluctant to expand hiring.
Still, his steady hospital salary provides a safety net, allowing him to weather economic volatility without jeopardizing his business. While the idea of turning Legit Kits into his full-time job is appealing, O’Dell acknowledges that he would need to grow the business to at least eight figures in annual revenue before making such a leap. Until then, he remains committed to both roles, drawing energy from one to fuel his passion for the other, and staying optimistic about what lies ahead.
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