2016 Fall Market Review November 21 2016
Another Quilt Market is in the books!
Quilt Market is a bi-annual trade show for the quilting industry that is not open to the general public. On the show floor, you will find shop owners, fabric and pattern designers, fabric companies, distributors, media, publishers among other industry professionals.
On the eve of Quilt Market, retailers can also participate in Sample Spree. This event gives retailers a chance to purchase limited quantities of up and coming fabric lines, patterns or notions in order to start making samples once back home or try out products before placing larger orders. You can feel the excitement in the air as the line to Sample Spree begins to queue more than 2 hours before the doors open! I certainly did my share and have some exciting samples currently underway back home at the studio.
Left: Thankful as always for my Mom as she held our place in line to Sample Spree while I attended an educational seminar.
Right: An attempt to capture the frenzy inside Sample Spree.
With 27 aisles of vendors to explore, I don't know what was more difficult - getting to see all that they had to offer in a limited amount of time or staying within budget! Like past markets, I was in search of new ideas for quilters on the go, and I can say that there was inspiration all around.
Here are some trends that we saw on our whirlwind tour:
Welcoming Pineapples and Flamboyant Flamingos
The pineapple is recognized as a traditional expression of “welcome” and symbolizes those intangible assets we appreciate in a home such as warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality so it was not surprising to see this fruit incorporated into quilt patterns or fabric designs.
Top Left: Mod Pineapples by Sew Kind of Wonderful
Top Right: Pineapple Farm by Elizabeth Hartman
Bottom Left: Pineapple inspiration by Adornit
Bottom Right: Japanese pineapple fabric
Flamingos are bright, social animals who are very family oriented. It is said that Flamingo people tend to be very vibrant, outgoing and even flirtatious. The flamingos we saw incorporated into fabric and designs definitely had a playful vibe.
Left: Flamingo Fever fabric by Adornit
Center: Florence Flamingo by Elizabeth Hartman
Right: Hello Flamingo by Adornit
Handwork, Handwork and More Handwork!
This continues to be the most exciting trend for me since I personally love handwork. From surface embroidery and embellishment to English paper piecing and Sashiko, handwork caters to the lifestyle on-the-go.
Top Row: Stitched by Nichole Vogelsinger of Wild Boho for Jennifer Sampou's new fabric line Black and White 2 for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (Top Left) and for Alison Glass's new fabric line 76 for Andover Fabrics (Top Center and Top Right)
Bottom Row : Stitched by Nichole Vogelsinger of Wild Boho for her new book Boho Embroidery.
Top Left: Modern English Paper Piecing by Violet Craft
Top Right: Studio Bag featuring Sashiko stitching by Leesa Chandler Designs
Bottom Left: Sashiko inspiration by Kathy Doughty featuring her up and coming fabric line for Free Spirit Fabrics - Celebrate
Bottom Right: The Diva Wallet by Sew Many Creations featuring Sue Spargo's Renaissance Ribbon
Left: Willow by Sew Quirky dressed in her unicorn outfit
Right: Willow, a dress me doll, by Sew Quirky that features hand embroidered faces
Beyond Quilting Cottons
Quilting cotton isn’t going anywhere, but fabric designers are venturing into new textile territory. We saw denim, fleece, double gauze, chambray and even some bark cloth. One collection that caught my eye was Outback Wife by Gertrude Made for Ella Blue Fabrics that features bark cloth.
Left: Mister Domestic weaves his magic with Art Gallery Fabric denims
Center: Outback Wife by Cathi Bessell-Browne of Gertrude Made for Ella Blue Fabrics
Right: More wovens with Loominous 2 by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit Fabrics.
What quilting, stitching or fabric trends have caught your eye?