It’s a Swirled World (At least for me!)
Are you a swirl girl? Dotty for polka dots? Flipped over florals?
Is there one motif/type of fabric that consistently grabs you when you visit a quilt shop? For me, it’s swirls. I can’t tell you how many quilts, quilt backs and throw pillows that I’ve made sport a swirled print somewhere. I’m drawn to them like a bee is to nectar (or insert your own favorite overused metaphor here).
For the last week or two at Quilt and Simple Quilts & Sewing, we’ve been busy choosing fabric lines and setting up projects for future issues. As Debbie Hearn and I have been browsing through fabric options both online and in the samples I receive from fabric companies, I can’t help but notice how I continually gravitate toward the same types of things.
Large floral bouquets and other floral prints…they’re nice. (Although in case my husband is reading this, I do LOVE actual bouquets, and Mother’s Day is just around the corner, hint, hint…)
Stripes…yum! I love them, especially as sashing strips or bias stripes for bindings.
Reproduction prints (both 30s and earlier)…I can appreciate their beauty and history, but they don’t make my heart beat faster.
Batiks…can’t get enough of these!
Because blogs are always more fun with visuals, I thought I’d share some of the prints I really like from a few current and upcoming lines. Enjoy!
Natureland from Blank Quilting
Love those swirls!
Little Critters by Diane Eichler for Red Rooster Fabrics
These fabrics really made me want to design a new nursery for baby #2.
Pure Elements by Patricia Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics
I love the rich hues of these solids.
Various batiks by Moira Dewar and Kathy Engle for Island Batik
I think I could live surrounded by batiks.
Silent Cinema by Jenean Morrison for Free Spirit Fabric
Fun dots and line drawings in an interesting palette.
And, in return, I’d love to hear from you: What types of fabric sets your heart a flutter? Leave a comment below.
About the Author: Lisa Swenson Ruble
I made my first quilt when I graduated from college and realized that I needed a hobby to fill all those hours that used to be dedicated to homework! Eleven years later, I'm completely addicted to quilting and thrilled that my day job as the managing editor for Quilt, Simple Quilts & Sewing and Quilt Almanac allows me to "play" with quilts and the friendly world of quilters!
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