Tag Archives: Patterns

SAMPLE BLOCK QUILT

As we posted last Tuesday, I highly recommend that you start a library to document your design work. As you create your samples, make them the same size so that your (master) pieces can be easily stored. And even if you don’t want to keep the samples for posterity, you can work towards making a Sampler Throw like the one shown above. As we develop our many fabrics, it often happens that a particular sample, as beautiful as it may be, just doesn’t fit neatly into one of our Fabric Swatch Books or collections. That was the case with the swatches that became the basis for this Sampler Throw. You may even find that you want to make the Sampler Throw not as a way of developing different fabric swatches, but just because it’s a beautiful and easy project. Either way, I urge you to explore our stencils, colors, techniques, and stitches to sustain rewarding design experiences.

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MONDAY MORNING

It was planned today that I would post for Kaffe Fassett’s Blog Tour. I have been carrying Kaffe Fassett’s Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts around with me for the last few weeks. And I have been thinking about Kaffe, about the book, taking in the photos, thinking about how cleverly the geometries work together and about how Kaffe draws inspiration so flawlessly from nature and then shares it so easily.

Saturday at Textile Fabrics, I looked at bolts of his fabrics, spoke with the (amazingly knowledgeable) staff about the fabrics and pondered what I wanted to write about Kaffe and his full body of work while outside it rained and rained and rained.

Yesterday morning, it was still raining and I sat and wanted to write about Kaffe but could only think about all the folks in Nashville who were not as lucky in that moment.

While I thought yesterday morning that my car – sitting in the front parking lot of Textile Fabrics – was 5 foot underwater. Now, I know that my car is safe and dry – as was I. But there are so many people in Nashville who are not safe and have, in fact, lost so much…

So, I think that Kaffe – with his respect and love for nature – would appreciate that I postpone my real blog post about his book until later in the week and dedicate this day to the lovely folks of Nashville who need all of our good wishes for the next days as they begin to pick up the pieces that water has displaced.

I am home now but my thoughts are for my friends in Nashville. Traci will be hanging her flooded quilt-tops out on the line this morning. I think that perhaps it will look a bit like the photograph of Kaffe’s quilts above.

May the sun shine on Nashville today.

SPOONFLOWER

I guess that I am the last person on the planet to learn about printing fabric with Spoonflower – well, just happens that way sometimes…

BUT, I have signed up on the list and can’t wait for my turn.

Until then, I will occupy myself playing with these great instructions for making repeats in Photoshop:

Learn more: How do I repeat an image to make a pattern?

ALABAMA STUDIO STYLE

I am happy to share that, due to overwhelming support of our Alabama Stitch Book, we have just
signed a contract for our follow-up book: Alabama Studio Style.

Published by Stewart Tabori Chang and due on the shelf for spring 2010, you can expect more stories, more projects, more patterns, more techniques and, this time, more recipes. I am looking forward to working again with Robert Rausch, the addition of Angie Mosier to our team and to explore all of the stories and techniques we have collected since finishing Alabama Stitch Book. It was exciting to start writing yesterday. I am inspired to imagine where we will be going, the new stories we will hear, and the people we will meet along the way.

Thank you to Melanie and all the folks at STC for believing in our work.

 

CHILDREN’S PATTERNS

Back in March, Liesl Gibson wrote a really lovely story about our Alabama Stitch Book on disdressed. I contacted Liesl to let her know that I loved the story of her running across the street “during lunch just to ogle the Project Alabama t-shirts” (my former company which I AM NO LONGER A PART OF – can you tell that I want to make that clear to the world?).

In writing back and forth with Liesl and browsing the blog, I discovered her new line of children’s patterns oliver + s.

While we do not make children’s clothing, I have loved taking the techniques we use to make special pieces for my daughter. Here, Maggie’s new dress – made by our master seamstress, Diane – using our fabrics, stenciled and hand sewn from a pattern by oliver + s.

It has taken me (literally) weeks to get Maggie to sit still long enough to actually get a picture of the dress that was not blurred in motion! While you cannot see the detail, it is really the best photo I have been able to get.

We have since made another version of the dress using our binding, with herringbone stitch , around the neckline and armholes like the corset from Alabama Stitch Book. I can’t wait to try out the whole collection of patterns.

And, don’t miss the beautiful (and functional) paper doll presentation.
Thanks Liesl.