International Quilt Market is a trade show where quilt-shop owners, designers, and quilt-industry professionals gather to show the latest and greatest offerings coming soon to quilt shops near YOU. You might say it’s where independent quilt shops go to shop—looking for new fabrics, notions, books, club ideas, and more!
This May, Quilt Market was held in Salt Lake City. Martingale sent a team of eight people to the show, not only to scope out potential new authors, but also to showcase authors’ books that are soon to be released. In addition, our team was looking to spot new trends. So what did we see at this latest Market? Here are eight great trends you can keep your eye out for:
1. It’s time to get CAMP-y! Whether you’re interested in “glamping,” sitting inside a sewn-to-stylish-perfection Airstream travel trailer, or roughing it in a playful pup tent or teepee, one thing is for sure: quilters love camping motifs this year. We counted at least six teepees, four fire pits, two campers, and even some faux roasted marshmallows on the show floor. So fire up and get ready for camping!
Playhouse Teepee from Simple Simon and Company.
Coming in August from Martingale—Let’s Go Camping!: Crochet Your Own Adventure by Kate Bruning. Pick up your copy wherever books are sold.
2. BLUE and WHITE were more than all right. They were the perfect pair and the season’s freshest one-two punch of color! Whether it was the new Shibori line by Debbie Maddy of Calico Carriage Quilt Designs for Moda Fabrics or the new Marks line by Valori Wells Designs for Robert Kaufman Fabrics…we think blue and white will take this season’s top honors as the go-to dynamic color duo.
Top: Marks by Valori Wells Designs for Robert Kaufman. Bottom: Shibori by Debbie Maddy of Calico Carriage Quilt Designs for Moda.
3. There’s power in PRECUTS! If you didn’t believe in the power of precuts before, you can’t deny it any longer. Strips and squares and fat quarters, oh my! They were everywhere. They call at you from shop shelves and checkout counters, practically begging you to take them home. Fortunately there are great patterns to accompany your favorite cuts. Check out Scraps Made Simple by the Moda All-Stars or One Bundle of Fun by Sue Pfau, both from Martingale. Your only problem will be choosing which pattern to make first!
Scraps Made Simple is available now; look for One Bundle of Fun at your local quilt shop in July.
4. BIG FLOWERS were big! Spring had definitely sprung and it was showing its staying power with plenty of big florals printed on fabric, as well as embroidered onto furnishings and embellishing booth displays. Cultivate your love of all things floral with the array of blooms sure to be on your local shop’s shelves soon.
Clockwise from top: Mod Corsage by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit; giant paper flowers in the Michael Miller booth; Potpourri pattern from HappNstance by Fabric Confetti.
5. Bring on the BARNYARD ANIMALS. With an oink oink here and a moo moo there, here a cheep, there a baa—everywhere you looked, there were adorable barnyard animals. We were especially smitten with Stacy Iest Hsu’s Farm Fun fabric line from Moda. If farm fresh is your happy place, get ready!
Stacy Iest Hsu’s Farm Fun fabric line from Moda.
6. What starts with an E and ends with everybody wanting to get in on the fun? EMBROIDERY, of course. Whether it’s soft and sweet, bold and beautiful, whimsical and wonderful, there truly is something for every stitchery lover this season. Don’t miss out making your mark with this hot trend. Martingale is at the ready to help you get inspired with three books and a stunning new calendar all centered on this hot topic!
Clockwise from top left: Stitches from the Garden, Christmas Patchwork Loves Embroidery, Snow Happy, Stitches to Savor 2017.
7. This trend isn’t likely to flutter by too quickly. Spring Market was again aflutter with BUTTERFLIES. You could find them on fabric and in pieced and appliquéd patterns. Perhaps no butterflies were more striking than the quilted beauties on Lepidoptera, a new pattern from Elizabeth Hartman featuring her Paintbox Basics collection for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.
Lepidoptera pattern by Elizabeth Hartman
8. MACHINE QUILTING. Finishing your own quilts—whether on a home sewing machine or long-arm quilting machine—is what everyone is talking about and learning to do! You can be a “perfectly imperfect quilter” like author Christa Watson or remember author Angela Walters’ advice that “finished is better than perfect.” Either way, you won’t want to miss out on all the amazing advice this pair shares in their new co-authored book The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. In it, they share expert advice and encouragement on when, where, why, and how to use a long-arm or sit-down machine to finish your projects with flair. It’s a must-have resource guide for quilters trying to improve their quilting skills, no matter what machine they use.
Angela Walters and Christa Watson at Spring Quilt Market talking up their new book.
Those were the top trends we spotted at Market. Which ones fire you up to make more quilts? We’d love to hear which ones you’re most excited about.
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