Designer Tidbits: Betsy Chutchian

The Fat Quarter Shop is excited to welcome Betsy Chutchian to the Jolly Jabber. Betsy’s latest fabric collection is Crossroads to Texas from Blue Hill Fabrics.

Q: What was the first seed that grew into the Crossroads to Texas collection?
A:A fabulous antique quilt that I found on the floor of an antique mall served as the inspiration for the fabric line. Hundreds of different fabric designs were lovingly stitched into this utilitarian quilt. The name of the line is a take-off on my book Gone to Texas, Quilts from a Pioneer Woman’s Journal in which the antique quilt and its reproduction are featured. As the population increased in Texas, before and after the Civil War, so did the goods for making garments and quilts. Goods and people crosssed many a road to a new home, thus the name Crossroads to Texas. My great-great grandmother’s journal entries revealled a couple of hundred or so quilts and hundreds more garments made for her family in her short lifetime as she died at age 50. The quilt I found brought to mind all the fabrics Lizzie could have used in her lifetime of textile making.

Q: What are 3 words you would choose to describe this collection?
A:
1. colorful
2. traditional
3. historical

Q: What single print/SKU in the collection is your favorite (can only pick one!)?
A: SKU 7457-4  because it is the combination of a purple ground with brown and red figures, that intrigues me.

Q:What is your dream project using this collection?
A:I have my eye on several different antique quilts that would be fabulous reproduced in these fabrics, same era 1860, and all utilitarian in style.

Betsy’s Silly Secrets:

1. What is your guilty pleasure food?
Hot Fudge Sundae

2. Work and life essentials aside, what is the activity you spend the most time doing?
Watching baseball games, my son plays in an independent league and I follow the Rangers.

3. Do you have any pets and what are their name(s)?
I have cats, all black or tuxedo…Winston, Molly and Hudson.

4. Your biggest pet peeve?
I waste too much time looking for everything I’ve misplaced.

5. What is your favorite fabric print ever (excluding your own)?
A dark chocolate print with a dark pink flower made by Clothworks in 2001 or 2002.