Part 2 of our Fall Market Scrapbook includes thoughts from assistant editor Tracy Mooney, technical editor Vicki Tymczyszyn, and yours truly.
the fabrics
Metallics–notably in some of Michael Miller Fabrics’ new releases, and in Carolyn Friedlander’s botanicals for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. And we saw splashes at Benartex in several lines, including Seasons Greetings, which is based on 1950s greeting cards.
Michael Miller Fabrics' new metallics
Lily Gonzales-Creed debuting her two new lines for Windham--Ninjas Don't Sweat and Farm to Fork.
FreeSpirit introduced True Colors, a unique approach to building a broader-based, longer-lived blender program. Involving Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry, Heather Bailey and Jenean Morrison, the program has 5 designs in each of 4 color ways that will coordinate with new releases by these designers. The prints and palettes are personality-driven by each of the designers, and vary in scale.
From Heather Bailey's True Colors collection
From Jenean Morrison's True Colors collection
Look for more printed “textures,” such as a new Quilter’s Burlap and Quilter’s Tussah by Robert Kaufman Fabrics.
Foxes are the new owls. And woodland creatures and smaller scale animal prints are still going to be huge. Monaluna is mining this theme, with its new, organic Meadow collection. We also loved its Urban Patch line inspired by the growing trend to urban gardening. And while we’re talking Monaluna, brush up your knit-sewing skills. They’ll be releasing a new jersey and a new interlock in two of their popular prints. Also look for more new apparel patterns, including The Ashland, an A-line skirt and culottes style for both women and little girls.
Speaking of patterns (and we are not even scratching the surface here…there were soooo many fun ones!), we met the charming Kyle Leandra Kolkovich of Leandra George, a fledgling pattern design company. She shared one of her new creations with us: The Commuter Quilt, which straps onto a bicycle for easy toting to a picnic in the park. The front is a simple, striking chevron islanded in a big border (trust us on this), but the functionality is what we love:
Leandra George's tote-able bicycle quilt
Shannon Fabrics will be offering a ton of new specialty fabrics, including flocked prints, fancy satin solids and more, along with its rapidly growing line-up of that smooshy silky Cuddle in prints and solids. (This is one of the booths where you really do just want to lay down and roll in the fabric.)
We swooned over this Michael Miller border print from Sarah Jane's new collection, We Wander. It would be fantastic in a skirt.
Amy Butler‘s new line Hapi is inspired by her trip to Egypt. Here’s the Camel Blanket print:
“Low volume” hues (aka low-contrast or neutral or whatever you call these colors) are gaining popularity
Get ready to hear the ‘b’ word a lot–namely batiks–and we’re talking ones that might tempt even hard-core modern print devotees. For example, Robert Kaufman Fabrics’ batiks or some from the Lucky Ladybug or Bumblebee collections by Island Batik. And look for more geometric batiks from this company in the spring. )
A geometric from Island Batik's Bumblebee collection
Australia’s Ella Blue Fabrics brought its wares to the U.S. for the first time, specifically, the Terra Australis and Nellie Hill collections by Emma Jean Jansen and Rosalie Quinlan. The former is inspired by Australian botanics, and the latter, has a folky garden vibe.
Ella Blue's Terra Australis by Emma Jean Jansen
the notions and threads…
Look for more specialty threads, including Coats & Clark‘s new foundation paper-piecing thread, which sews seams more accurately and performs better in shorter stitch lengths, and a big stitch/hand quilting thread in a 10 wt. for a heavier stitch.
Tacony’s Sewing Central division is releasing lots of new quilting products, including a new thread for longarmers–Aeroquilt. It’s a German-made 40-wt polyester with a cotton-like finish. And it’s got the new Cotona No. 50 thread for piecing and applique. (We also admit to being totally smitten with the tomato pincushion USB drive that had contained all its press info. And yes, you can find those at your LQS, too.)
more new books
Brioni Greenberg has a new Book coming out 25 Ways to Sew Jelly Rolls, Layer Cake & Charm Packs. The book review will be in the next issue, says Tracy Mooney, our associate editor. She already loves the book, but seeing the quilts in person? “All I can say is WOW!” she says.
the tools and notions
A longarm by BERNINA? Yep, we saw it, although in early stages. It can function on a table or on a frame, and be both computer-guided or manually guided. More details coming in the new year. The company also introduced a 16-needle embroidery machine and the new Bernette Chicago, an affordably priced sewing/embroidery combo machine (MSRP $1,299).
BERNINA's new longarm
Janome debuted its new 15000 embroidery machine with wireless capabilities and two built in apps, one for quilting/embroidery/sewing editing and one for monitoring sewing functions. (P.S. The company says it’s just about to manufacture its 60 millionth machine, sometime in late October or early November, a Janome staffer guesstimates. But they’ll be celebrating the milestone throughout 2014, and asking pictures from Janome users with their pet machines.)
Baby Lock introduced the Ovation, its newest machine, with an auto-threading function.
Brother International showed off its new Scan ’n Cut unit with a built-in scanner and editing functions so you can re-size images and find best-fit placement. It cuts fabric, foam, leather and other materials.
the mobile technology
BERNINA introduced a new mobile app for Apple (Android, it’s coming) called My Bernina Accessories.
Needle Travel, a travel guide for the needle-obsessed, has a new free app for iPhone (Android, it’s coming). The app contains the same information as its website and its printed directory of more than xxxx fabric shops around the country.
Robert Kaufman Fabrics has a new app that will pull Kona colors to match an image that you upload. (One more way to totally live your colors!)
general eye candy
Vanessa Christenson of V. and Co., with her sewing machine quilt in her booth
Anna Maria's booth, featuring her new collection, Dowry
Carolyn Friedlander's booth
A glimpse of Marcia Derse's Palette