Cotton + Steel Collection: August by Sarah Watts - The Jolly Jabber Quilting Blog

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Cotton + Steel Collection: August by Sarah Watts

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Hello everyone and Happy Sunday! Sarah Watts is an illustrator and surface/textile designer. She makes up the fifth member of the Cotton + Steel dream team! Sarah has worked with companies such as Carters, Hallmark Cards, and Simon & Schuster to name a few! Her new fabric collection, August is a representation of power and strength. Read on to find out more about her collection! 

Q: Tell us about your Collection. What were you inspired by?
A: I love animals and nature. I wanted my first collection with Cotton+Steel to be one that represented power and strength. That’s where the lion comes in! August is about making wishes, going after your dreams, and being resilient through the journey. It’s also about all the fun along the way. It was a lot of work to get to this point and meet this amazing team and I feel that August is a good representation of that.  

Q: What is your background in textile design? 

A:  I got my start in textile design working at Carter’s/Osh Kosh designing artwork and prints for children’s clothing. I learned a lot about the apparel side of textile design. After Carter’s I went to work at International Greetings. There I designed stationery and gift wrap and learned design processes on paper goods. I feel that these jobs were an invaluable extension to my education in Illustration.  


Q: What projects do hope to see made with your collection?  

A: Everything! A quilted helicopter that works. A quilted parachute that hopefully works. A miniature city made of soft blocks. A life-size Godzilla stuffed animal. Cute outfits for lions. A dust cover for a house. A giant hair bow for an elephant. But seriously, anything made from my fabric would be cool. 🙂


Q: How do you describe your style?

A: A lot of people say that my work looks like woodblock prints. I love that! I work in pen and ink, and I tend to draw from a narrative perspective. My work is inspired by antiques and vintage treasures. Nature is a continuous theme. There is something so mystical about the woods and all the little worlds you find in a forest.  

Q: What does Cotton + Steel mean to you?
A: C+S is a group of friends to work obsessively with, while also calling them my sisters. I have so much fun with these girls, and respect them so much. I admire everyone’s strength and motivation. It is a blessing to be a part of it and be able to bounce ideas and grow stronger as an artist.  


SURPRISE! RJR and Cotton+Steel have graciously donated fat quarter bundles for us to giveaway! Today, we are giving away Sarah Watts’ August Fat Quarter Bundle to one lucky winner. Just enter the giveaway through Rafflecopter below! The more entries you complete, the more chances you have to win.

170 comments

  7. These are awesome ladies….I listened to one of their promos through the Badass quilters society link and they seem to be very down to earth people…would love to win and thank you for the chance..

  11. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a lovely selection of fabrics.

  14. i LOVE how busy the prints are! they will make the cutest childrens toys and clothes! FYI ;The Pin it photo is not loading on any of the rafflecopters that the site has been having lately. I have tried through my laptop and through the ipad mini.

  17. Am loving all the designer offerings from Cotton and Steel. Appreciate the Bio and interview with each of them.

  20. I love the fresh ideas in the prints and the way they are so subtle to the eye! I also love the basics- the prints and colors are going to be very versatile with other lines!

  22. Although this collection is very different from what I usually like, there's something about the way she used the colors that I really like.

  23. I love the prints and unique colors. They aren't colors I would normally choose, but they are so pretty.

  26. I love the colours. And my daughter is in love with the lions – they would be her favorite. Thank you for the chance!

  29. Don't know exactly what hit me so full on but I love just everything about this collection,colors,
    designs,print scale variations. Hope I win!!!

  30. I love the way everything coordinates but doesn't really "match". (At least in my brain!) it's fun to be able to expand my ideas of coordinating! Plus, the lions are adorable!

  34. I really love the color combination! It really brightens you up!
    I feel that the pattern is also so different, it's like nothing i have seen before!

  45. I love the hand drawn designs – so unique, those lions and gazelles are amazing! My favourite of the collection is Stampede – such a beautiful, playful supporting print!

  52. I like the repeats. I want to try my 60 degree triangle on some of this fabric. Thanks for the chance to win!

  54. I love being outdoors and the different colors all around me. Animals are also dear to my heart. August is a time of reflection of the summer and the new journeys that September will bring.

  66. As a zodiac Leo born in August, this line speaks to me. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!

  78. I love the colors and the fun prints and am excited to put the different lines together to create something amazing. Thank you for the chance to win!

  85. I love the colors and gorgeous prints. These will make some amazing, unique dresses and skirts for my 3 little girls 🙂

  113. These prints are very different from what I usually am drawn too, but I really love them! The colors are so pretty and I like that they are similar to woodblock prints. Thanks for the chance to win!

  131. Love this Line!! Specially love the Lion print…reminds me of our barn Cat!! lol Peanut lays in yard just like that..even same expression!! Tooooo funny!!

  141. The lion is my favorite part of this collection. I love, love, love the portrait of him. It will definitely be going into a gift I'm making for a special Leo with a birthday coming up.

  144. This collection has a 70s feel to it — a time when I was much younger and things were simpler. Thanks for the chance to win some gorgeous fabric!

  170. I love the color palette. There is a different coral color I love.
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