Bloomingtale quilt pattern

My newest Bloomingtale quilt pattern is now available in my Etsy shop and there's also a pattern give@way going on through my Instagram account.

Can you believe that only today, while preparing the listing on Etsy, I noticed that I completely misplaced one block! Can you see that? Sigh. I've heard this happening a lot, but I suppose I had to experience it myself too.

The Bloomingtale quilt pattern was inspired with beautiful old tiles from a neighborhood house.

I firstly created this quilt pattern recreating the same color placement and using only 4 colors, but ended up with variations including contrasting block centers - arriving to modern colorful versions with different colors/patterns options. This pattern allows you to play with variations of layout, challenging you with the flower-like shape (block’s body), but also star shape (block’s background). 

Bloomingtale quilt pattern comes in two distinct color/pattern options for each of four quilt sizes included. 

 

Quilt sizes:

- wall hanging :  9 blocks - 29” x 29” 

- baby : 35 blocks  48” x 67” 

- throw : 63 blocks  67” x 86”

- bed: 99 blocks  86” x  105” 

There are 5 stunning versions using Bloomingtale quilt pattern in different variations. 

Quilts were created by my amazing group of testers that I can’t thank enough for all the help, support, engagement and beautiful work on this quilt pattern:  

Shantell @shantelllavigne -BABY II using Eclectic Intuition fabrics

Kerry @thatssewkerry - THROW II

Sue @vinyardquilts - BABY I

Alicia @wildblooms_quiltco - BABY I using Timberline fabrics

Mary @embercraftcompany - WALL HANGING in Haven fabrics

And here are some more blocks in the works by the Sewing Arts @sewingarts- Julie and Rachel team.

It will become the perfect summer tote!

And a few more mock-ups:

I am planning the mid. June to mid. July quilt along when I will be recreating this quilt pattern in my upcoming Wintertale fabric collection. 

As it will be my very first QAL, I will include the option with Winterflake quilt pattern as it will be sort of Xmas in July sewing/quilting event.

I hope that you feel inspired to create and that your energy is in full boom this spring:)

xx Katarina

Linen kimono cowl robe

Linen substrate is one of my favorite textile substrates and ever since designing fabrics, I wanted to make a simple print with simple design on raw linen. And after 20+ collections, I finally did it.

Actually, I did something like that before, after Art Gallery Fabrics included linen as one of their substrates, within my Blithe fabric collection.

Anyway, this Sensescape Raw print in linen is my favorite print from my newest Mindscape fabric collection and I simply had to create something with it. 

Making a bag or a pillow seemed just a bit "straight forward" as a project, so I was looking to find a wearable project that would use more of the fabric. I searched for different kimono types and this one really draw my attention. So I started looking for the available patterns and found this Dolman coat that is not like a real pattern, but the instructions are clear and it's really such an easy project, so it doesn't require a really cut and collate pattern. 

Another very useful video tutorial is this one and after absorbing all the provided info, I finally made mine.

I used 3 1/2 yds of the my Sensescape Linen fabric that is 56/57" wide, and that width is the most important thing that defines the kimono's length. If using fabrics that are 42-44" wide you will obtain the kimono that will be barely knee length (for adults).

Cutting was extremely easy to do and sewing was consisting of only shoulder-upper arm seam.

The other 2 things to do are: wrist finishing (arm opening holes) and neckline/front opening.

I finished both of them with the selvage that I cut from the fabric itself, because I loved it so much, especially the fringe edge. I used it as a trim with adding the piping cord in dark purple as contrasting accent.

Another thing that I did was sewing a simple belt, so that it could be gathered more easily.

I hope that feel inspired and will make it for yourself or someone special in your ife. I think that using some sort of silky material, like rayon or similar would look even more luscious and could be great for hot summer days.

Katarina

Seedling

Seedling is my first designer essentials-blender collection with Art Gallery Fabrics and I just can't be happier of how it looks. 

It features 10 prints in mineral shades from white, sandy beige neutrals and mauve to deepest gray and steely blue. It's printed on regular poplin cotton, just like any other AGF collection, but has a subtle designed texture that gives a feeling like it's a woven substrate (when it's not). It provides limitless possibilities of mixing and matching, whether used as a collection on it's own or as a blender/companion print to other textiles.

The design element-little seeds are spread on the textile surface, like little dots, but if you look closer, you may notice that these are all like little seeds and sprouts.

Some are closed in little pods, which are giving an optional and additional pop of design and color.

These little seeds, almost like planted on the surface are like little dashes of hope, and hence the name of the collection-Seedling.

This simple print was originally printed as part of my Twenty fabric collection last year in two colors: white -Gridded seeds in Pure and and green/blue: Gridded seeds in Mineral. These two prints don't have the textured design-background, so that's the main difference with their sibling prints from Seedling.

Not only that it goes beautifully with Mindscape, but it works perfectly well with so many prints from my previous fabric collections, as well with many other prints and collections by other designers.

Here is pictured together with Eclectic Intuition, my Tribute fabric collection.

Here are some more pictures....

I am so excited about the possibilities and looking forward to the look book, coming out soon!

K.

Mindscape fabric collection

The Mindscape collection was inspired with treasured memories spent along the Adriatic coast, enriched with some Easter traditions. When I was a little girl, until my teen age, I used to spend Easter Holidays with my family in a little house that we used to have in Croatia by the sea. That was my favorite place and holds such a special space in my heart. Even if we don't have a house there anymore, we like to visit that place and my friends that live there, often.

And whenever I feel like I need an escape from a busy daily routine or some problems, I like to evoke those moments and feelings of pure serendipity and happiness, caused by simplest things, like feelings of sand beneath the feet and sounds of waves crashing on rocks.

 

Also, when I started working on this collection, the war in Ukraine started and it reminded me of a war that happened here, where I live, in Belgrade in 1999. So I felt absolutely heartbroken and terrified and my mindset was completely there, with hopes that Easter that was coming will bring peace.
That was probably the main reason for having the color palette a bit more neutral, restricted, soft and subdued. Actually, the working title of the collection was "Dove" and here are some of the initial sketches.

Starting with doves, I then added some small animals that symbolize Easter along with some flowers and twigs, that would embody this Holiday as well- starting with Palm Sunday. 

Rabbits are featured in not just Foraged Fauna print, but also in Abundance prints (in Nectar and Cloud), and I wasn't t even aware that this year is the Year of the rabbit when I created these drawings and prints, so I can only call it a happy coincidence;).

Easter usually occurs towards the beginning of spring, as a season when plants bloom and animals give birth. and eggs in particular are a clear symbol of rebirth and fertility. So it may not seem surprising that Easter eggs are often associated with Easter.

Here, in Serbia where I live, we celebrate Easter with very important family tradition: dyeing eggs in onion skins bath with different herbs and flowers that in the dyeing process will leave the non colored spots, which is very similar to dyeing the batik and other fabrics. 

So, the prints called  Sensescape (in sky, sand and raw linen-below) can be associated with this tradition of picking beautiful leaves and flowers to be used in this process.

And finally the moment of gathering the family around the table to celebrate this beautiful Holiday could be celebrated with the Seaside tiles print-that can not only be a recollection of that retro tiles in a grandma kitchen, but also a beautiful tablecloth that would also have some treasured embroidery motifs along the borders....

Apricot print was the final print that was added to the collection, but I thought that it would nicely contribute to the Fruitfulness aspect of the group, and to serve as another main print that would provide great sewing usage and possibilities.

Also, another amazing thing is that my first ever collection of blenders is also just launched and available!

It's called Seedling, and it's going beautifully together with Mindscape. 

It actually complements it in a magical way, adding more neutral tones and possibilities that are just perfect for quilts and quilt related projects, but not only....

But it certainly deserves to have a post on it's own, so it's already in the works;) 

I hope that Mindscape can take you to carefree escape from everyday life, with heartfelt feelings of unity, vitality and serendipity.

Happy almost Spring everyone!

xx

Katarina