Hi everyone, it’s your host Pat Sloan here today talking about fabric styles.
When I made my ‘first first quilt’ I did not have many fabric options. Calicos, Calicos, Calicos, and solids. By the time I made my official first quilt the variety of fabrics had greatly increased, let’s do a big cheer for THAT!
Quilters now have so much variety of fabric it is wonderful, but it could be a tad confusing. When you hear someone describe a ‘style’ of fabric what do they really mean?
The other day I did a very scientific study of quilt styles when my friends showed up for sewing night. I asked the first three who arrived their thoughts on quilt Styles (well we DID have a very thorough discussion on it…. Wink!)
These are my thoughts on style, and I’m sure I’ve missed one or you will have your own take on it.. that is what our comment section is for!
Fat Quarter Shop has been super generous and allowed me to share photos from their store.. and.. hold on.. you are NOT going to believe this.. Fat Quarter Shop is sponsoring this post with a FQ bundle give-away. Which FQ bundle? Well the winner can pick the Moda bundle they want.. be still my heart!! exciting eh? See the end for how to enter.
My first observation about style is that color matters. Take the paisley above. This is a very traditional if not leaning towards civil war type print. This is a Jo Morton paisley that she is famous for.
This is NOT traditional by anyone’s terms. BUT it does have a paisley in it. Interesting eh? (I say eh to fit in with Michele.. she is Canadian ya know). And scale. Look how much larger this paisley is.. and more playful. This is what I’d call a contemporary fabric, from Heather Bailey
So let’s look at some BROAD categories (remember the comment section down there!)
Traditional
In this group you will tend to find lots of warm toasty colors, some call them muddy fabric (wink!). There are really a lot of styles within the traditional category.
Civil war prints are loved by many. They are reproductions of fabrics from the civil war era and use the same colors and patterns. The photo above is classic from Judie Rothermel.
People who love and use civil war fabrics are often recreating quilts from that time period. Historian Barbara Brackman has a blog about civil war quilts… check it out to learn more!
Calicos are generally small prints… a bit harder to find in this day and age as we tend to want more from our fabric! But Calico’s are fantastic blenders.. as is shown by this piece in Prairie Paisley II from Minnick/Simpson.
I feel like a country style fabric is cozy. It does not need to be ‘brown’ but it should be warm, toasty and full of the feeling of a farm house or your grandma’s kitchen. This line from The Quilt Patch feels country to me.
Americana and patriotic, whether in a traditional design or a contemporary, is classic! This line from My Mind’s Eye is bright and fun and waves the stars and stripes proudly! Great for solider quilts and decorating for 4th of July!
The 1930s prints are like civil war, they are reproductions of a time period of fabrics. They tend to be pastels with some reds and blacks. Lots of small prints. This is a new favorite of mine from my friend Darlene Zimmerman. And this line is called Adventures with Alice… I LOVE Alice in Wonderland!
Not Traditional
There are so many fabrics that fall into what I call “Contemporary” fabrics. This line called Candid Paparazzi from Red Rooster fits the contemporary class for me. Clean shapes, clear colors, and big bold sweeps of shapes.
Fresh Cuts from Heather Bailey is a classic Contemporary fabric. So much so this is a repeat of the line loved by many! (me included!)
I asked my good friend, and 3 time winner of the Modern Quilt Guild challenge, what she thought a current modern style fabric is. Heather Jones of olive & ollie said:
John Adams, QuiltDad, is not only a modern style quilt maker, but one of the editors of the online quilt magazine FatQuarterly. I asked John what he considered some of the current Modern style fabrics on the market. John said …
- Echo by Lotta Jansdotter
- Curious Nature by David Butler
- Anything by Pat Bravo
- Hello Luscious by Basic Grey
- Lark by Amy Butler
- Grunge solids
- Hello Pilgrim by Lizzy House
- Anything by Kaffe or Brandon Mably
- Tilly by Daisy Janie
I also think that Miscellany and Cut Out & Keep by Cloud 9 Fabrics are great examples, too. – Thank you John!
Wow oh wow are Batik fabrics POP-U-Lar!! Serious.. do you have a piece in your collection? How many… wink! Many companies produce batiks. I feel the draw of a batik is the often subtle color changes and the tone on tone ‘feel’ with more pizzazz! This is a selection from Hoffman. Fat Quarter Shop has a whole category for batiks on their left side bar.. go cruise!
Asian Style Traditional or Modern? This classic piece of Asian style fabric is from Kona Bay. They really do a wonderful job with this style. From a focus piece like this one to blenders and overall florals. Visit their web site for loads of inspiration!
Good Fortune by Kate Spain is a contemporary take on Asian fabric and I love it.. I even used it in a quilt for my latest book!
Other
“Other” is a lovely category. A place to slot solids, Novelty prints and seasonal.. which are a form of novelty but I think they deserve their own category!
Bella Solids by Moda are so darn popular you can even get a color card!
Also Michael Miller solids.
and Robert Kaufman solids.. oh yeah!
Going Coastal by Emily Herrick is a perfect example of a novelty print. Who uses bottle caps with seaside images.. umm…err… I do!
Or Peace Love and Rock and Roll man.. yep… any fabric with funky fun images is good to be called a novelty
one more!! Space fabric from Andover.. gotta love it!
Seasonal for me are those Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick’s day, Easter or any other fabric that is very focused on the season. I tend to make quilts using them that stay within that theme. And these tend to lean heavy towards a novelty print feel. Like this Halloween print from Teresa Kogut.
And the Fat Quarter shop loves Christmas fabrics ALMOST as much as I do.. wink! They love it so much they put them ALL in one place for us Christmas crazy collectors! I’m loving this Basic Grey line.. all for that snowman!
Kathy Miller of Michael Miller fabrics does a fantastic job on the company blog with fabric inspiration boards. I am currently obsessed with Gray and Yellow combinations, so I really loved this board she did called Citron Gray.
Cruise the fabric company blogs and web sites for great fabric selections.. here are just a few of the many fabric companies out there today:
- Moda Fabrics
- Robert Kaufman
- FreeSpirit
- TimeLess Treasure
- Riley Blake
- Andover
- P&B Textiles
and I could go ON and ON and ON! Love a company? Put their name in Google and see what you find!
A few weeks ago I interviewed 4 fabric designers on January 30th including Kathy Miller of Michael Miller fabrics. And I interviewed Kimberley Jolly of the Fabulous Fat Quarter shop too!
Give-Away
Enter to win a Moda fat quarter bundle of your choice from the Fat Quarter Shop! Tell me below in the comments What is YOUR favorite Fabric Style?
One winner will be randomly selected next Wednesday, March 21, 2012.
Winner announced: Congratulations to #573 Renate. Check your email for a message.
Pat Sloan is owner and founder of the quilting design and publishing company Pat Sloan & Co. She has published over 25 books, more than 100 patterns, nearly 10 fabric lines, and has had her work featured in all the major Quilt magazines. In January 2010, Pat started hosting her weekly Internet Radio show called Creative Talk Radio.
Find Pat here:
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Pat…. because I make give-away quilts and base the quilt fabrics on the personality of the person who is receiving the quilt, my fabric style is eclectic. Thanks for this great Give away!
I too, have a bit of everything, but it leans toward the fresh cuts and the bright and bold, like Deja Vu from Benartex. Thank you for the giveaway.
I don’t know if I woud call it style, but rather my “likes” have changed over time. Like you, I started with calico’s too, but my favorites have changed. The 30′, the Asian inspired fabrics that are so beautiful that thye can be framed just the way they are, always patriotic fabrics, always Christmas fabrics (and Fall seasonal too). I love the beach and lighthouses too. Most recently, it’s been batiks, and the more modern designers with the big designs and splashes of color – wonderful!
My style varies from quilt to quilt. I want to try them all out…maybe not Civil War…but I love modern, and traditional, and 30’s prints, and the Aboriginals, and novelties for I Spy’s. I am fairly eclectic.
I love them all and must have them:)
my favorites are the hoffman batiks but I do like those grey and yellows
My favorite – all and everything. It seems that my tastes change – isn’t life just grand! Thanks.
Personally, I like fabrics that read as solids. At the moment I am loving gray and taupe shades such as Bark Curious Nature but I also fell for those Ocean Waves Batiks.
It seems I am a traditional girl at heart. I do enjoy patterns of all kinds but I get most excited about good old faschion traditional. I do appreciated all the wonderful work from the 30’s.
My favorite fabric style is scrappy. I buy them all and mix and match them.
I definitely tend to go for contemporary fabric lines, especially novelties, I am a sucker for them! I seem to graviate towards Robert Kaufman fabrics a lot, as he tends to use bold colors, which I am also partial to.
I am pretty traditional. But I do love the new modern twists on the traditional patterns. thanks!
Contemporary I think – or maybe I should say – anything by Kate Spain. Her fabrics speaks to me in a big way. Judy C
I only began quilting in 2009 and have made 7 quilts (and a bunch of sewn objects/items) so I think I am still ifnding my true style, but I do gravitate towards the more modern, improv style quilts. I think this stems from my Fine Art background. Thanks for the chance :)
I love bright colors, anything new and modern too.
I hope this is where Jolly Jabber said to post the green selection. Green Tea Tonga Treat Strips
Timeless Treasures Fabrics is so terrific. JC
I like traditional patterns with a modern twist, I like to take a pattern and make a couple of changes to make it unique. I love your enthusiasm and admire your energy!
I have to say I think I fall more in the Kawaii category-super cute prints of things as random as little mushrooms or little trucks or fairy tale characters. I suppose the Alice in Wonderland bundle you mentioned is the closest to that. Thanks for the giveaway!
My fabric stash has both contemporary and traditional. If I am making the quilt for someone else I choose something that they would like regardless of my preference.
My style leans more toward traditional, but that doesn’t mean I wont ever use modern fabric if I had the chance.
I’m changing! My long time favorite has been Civil War and other ‘traditional’ fabrics. However, I have my first grand-baby on the way, so the more modern fabrics designed for babies and baby ensembles are becoming very intriguing to me.
Thank you!
Mary T
My style is traditional with a contemporary twist. Thanks for the chance to win.
i think i’d call it vintage modern…
As my fabric stash shows, I love ALL fabric styles. But my current favorite is the moderns. I love the bold color combinations.
I like many styles – but overall I like the outdoors – trees, greenery, forest animals. It seems that every quilt has some type of green in it.
I would say my style is contemporary but I have worked with all of the styles and I am one of those people who will mix them all up. i started out with so many novelties then I scaled back but recently I have been back into the novelties. i love all of the japanese prints and have been using prints with text. Thanks for the chance to win!
I think my overall style is a mishmash of everything, but I lean heavily towards modern & contemporary, using bold simple prints and solids. I am also an art quilter so throw in some paint and that’s my style! ;D
I’m all over the spectrum for what’s in my stash. But I would have to say batiks are what I’m drawn to. And contemporary style fabric, especially Kate Spain lines.
I really like calicos, and specific idea patterns. Thanks for the giveaway.
I think I lean mostly toward contemporay, modern fabrics. I love bright, happy colors and fun, fresh combinations. I do love the look of a lot of traditional prints, too, but when I buy, I usually buy modern fabrics. Thanks for the chance…I don’t know how I would choose!!
I like the classics!! I love fat quarters cause I can explore. They are like babies though. I hate to use them unless I hv a perfect pattern ! Ha!
My favorite style is not the one I just used! I like to mix it up so usually I completely change directions once a quilt is finished. If it was Civil War, I next go Modern. Since my quilts are for our church ministry- that means I get to switch around alot–Maybe I have QADD- quilting Attention deficient disorder :)
i lean towards more modern collections; rich colors that scream spring are what i’m looking for right now. Thanks for the chance!
I like all types of fabric, but brights are ususally my favorite since I make lots of baby quilts./ Thanks for the give away!!
I really like the Kaffe Fassett fabrics. I love the radiant colors and designs!
I am very traditional. Love the country look!
My style is constantly evolving. Right now I am loving more contemporary fabrics, especially Kate Spain fabrics.
I tend to lean towards updated traditional or modern fabrics most of the time, but love to branch out from that to the taste of the person I’m sewing for.
I am all over the place with fabric choices. Some days it is subtle and soft, some days it is primary colors and some days it is the most wonderful modern collection. I am having crazy days with gray and citron, this has to be a favored color combo for me at the present time. David Butler’s fabric line is my choice for now. My theory on fabric right now is if you can’t find what you want in today’s market, you probably aren’t going to find it at all. Thanks for the chance to win
I love contemporary quilt fabrics. I love the bright colors and clean lines!
My favorite leans towards pastels with a vintage feel. I enjoy playing with the civil war prints too.
I’ve definitely been drawn into quilting again by the variety of the modern fabrics – such choices! It’s overwhelming at times, but oh, so much fun!
I haven’t met many fabrics that I didn’t like! ;-) However, I think that my tastes tend to be more traditional.. I really like the 30’s reproductions, Civil War prints, Shabby Chic/Victorian type florals and paisleys… but also love bold geometrics and kid’s novelty prints… I am pretty easy to please when it comes to fabrics! :-) Thank you for the chance to win!!
I can’t say that I really have a favorite style of fabrics. I often make quilts for gifts so it is usually what I think might fit the person I am making the quilt for. So many lovely choices of fabarics shown here!
I stay pretty traditional, every now and then get a kit or pre-cuts of something out of my comfort zone and most often I am amazed how much I love it in the end…
I usually go for pretty non-traditional for myself but my mom and MIL are very traditional so I get to make a little of everything! Thanks for the chance to win!
Wow, as a “just starting quilter” I don’t have a favorite yet but am leaning towards country fabrics.
Definitely the contemporary fabrics; so many fun, vibrant fabrics available. Thanks for sharing the “tutorial” on fabric styles; I actually learned about some fabrics I wasn’t aware of ;>) Thanks too for the generous giveaway!
Thanks for a chance to win! I love Basic Grey’s Snowman! Modern colors and fun patterns get me sewing! The peace sign fabric, Walk in the Woods, imaginative designs. Newish quilted because I made them back in the day for my kids and now for grandkids and my kids friends kids! ;/)
I think sometimes I should of been Amish. I love the close to solids, preferably bali. So I tend to buy a lot of the Hoffman watercolors!!
I gravitate toward the traditional and “other” fabrics, but like to occasionally go outside my style with the more modern fabrics.