At last, my friends, here is Freshcut. My debut collection of fabric for Free Spirit is all stacked and pretty before the flurry of sample-sewing begins. What a relief and a thrill to get my hands on these fabrics after babying each design to completion.
Each pattern began as a rough pencil sketch. Then, through a series of refinements, including re-draws, transfer paper, paint and a scanner, the designs were entered into my computer where I perfected the repeat and tinkered with the colors.
Though there were certainly a couple of steps in the process that will be eliminated the next time around (now that I know better what I’m doing), I’m grateful for the things I’ve learned along the way. I’m even more grateful for the help and patience I’ve received from my family and friends to see me through this new adventure.
So, without further ado, I’ll attempt to explain my intentions with Freshcut…
Hmmm. Where to start? Well, I love fabric. Love it. In fact, I have a towering collection of fabric. When I first started to sew, as a young girl, my mother would take me to the fabric store to pick out the exact fabrics for my quilt or project and I would carefully choose fabrics that coordinated ‘just so.’ Later, as a college student studying fashion design, I had projects due too frequently to take a trip to the store for each assignment.
I began to stash fabrics that I found unique or that spoke to me on a deeper level. It was back then that I learned to appreciate the unique flavor of a design that’s been assembled from a treasured collection. Having an assortment of fabrics on hand freed me to be more experimental with color and print combinations and my aesthetic grew both more sophisticated and more playful.
With Freshcut, I wanted to capture a bit of the charm and energy found in a treasured fabric stash, by offering an unexpected assortment of prints and colors that somehow ‘work’ with each other. Several of the designs have a romantic and vintage flavor, while others lend a quirky and modern touch. Each palette offers colors that resonate with each other rather than ‘match.’ And, the colorways are meant to ‘cross-pollinate’ for a greater variety of combinations.
I am honored to be working with Free Spirit, a fun-loving company with a reputation for excellence, where I have been kindly supported and encouraged. The quality of the fabric Free Spirit produces is impeccable and it’s a real treat to see my designs executed with such care.
When I get my website together, I’ll be sure to include slides of each fabric, so the designs are easier to see. Until then, here is the full stack – all 40 fabrics.
I’ve also had a number of people email me to ask more about my design process. So, in the coming weeks, I’ll be spotlighting a few of these designs, juxtaposing my original sketches with the resulting fabric.
For now, you can read more about Freshcut, my studio, and my take on the online craft community at Quilter’s Buzz. There’s also a little bit about Freshcut in this month’s Country Living Magazine. Exciting times!
Anyhow, thanks for your interest and support and for taking part in my big debut!
Love,
Heather
