Calling all sewing enthusiasts! This fun collection is for you! Pat Sloan is bringing you playful sewing motifs in bright colors with her new collection, Bobbins & Bits for Moda Fabrics. With a healthy mix of prints and batiks, there is something for every sewist in this collection! Pat is here on the Jolly Jabber to give you an inside look at Bobbins & Bits. Keep reading for a closer look!
Q: Where did you find your original inspiration for Bobbins & Bits?
A:One of my favorite flowers to sketch and appliqué is a daisy. I was playing around a bit with drawing daisies and I thought, what if I put a little bobbin in the center. Kind of a hidden message of sorts. I liked it so decided to sketch a few other sewing inspired prints to go with it. Picking the sayings for the selvedge print might have been the most fun of the entire process!
Q: This collection features both prints and batiks. How did you design each side of the collection?
A:The prints are my hand drawings. The batiks are a different manufacturing process, so Moda works with me to develop the designs that can be physically translated onto a batik print. You will notice they are less detailed and have that beautiful handmade touch to them.
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| Crush Quilt Pattern by Pat Sloan |
Q: Tell me about your sewing machines. What kinds do you have and how many.
A:I like to sew on just one machine. I do OWN more than one, but I don’t use the others (mmmm.. let’s not go there). My machine is a Janome 8900 QCP and I love it!
Q:What is your favorite part of the fabric industry?
A:I love the community of designers and I love the chatting with Quilt shop owners. It’s heaven to be able to talk to people who also adore fabric as much as I do.
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| Sew Happy Quilt, Table Runner, and Pillow Pattern by Pat Sloan |
Q:From what aspect of your life do you draw creativity?
A:My creativity builds off of a layering of visual items. Anything in nature will catch my attention. Flowers, stones, water. I marry these in my head with the look and feel of antique quilts. I adore old quilts. The mix is completed with wonderful folk art images. I’m always on the lookout for images that are simple and effective.
Q:What is your design process?
A:I do little tiny sketches on paper with a rolling pen, not an ink pen, not a pencil. And they are smallish. Then I take those and put them in the computer once I’m ready to work on a fabric line. They don’t become digital until I want to actually use them.
Q:What is your favorite print in the collection?
A:That changes daily, but I’m drawn again and again to the Pins in Nickel. I want to make a top out of it to wear. I also love Flowers & Berries in Nickel.
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| Stitched Quilt Pattern by Pat Sloan |
Q:What is the most challenging part of the design process?
A:For me the most challenging part is getting the group design started. I have so many ideas that I have to narrow it down to the theme/look/style. Once I’m selected that I’m off and running!
Q:What are your favorite and least favorite colors and why?
A:My favorite color since childhood has been yellow, with red a close second. No wait, aqua. Hmmm… too hard to choose! My least favorite at the moment might be a light lavender. Although I’m sure the next quilt I make will NEED a light lavender and there you go. The truth is I love it all!
10 comments
I so love this line of fabric. I can't get enough of Bobbins and Bits.
I love Bobbins and Bits. I found 5 letter buttons spelling QUILT, then bought some BB fat quarters. I plan on making a small wall hanging for my LAQ and of course myself! Love the colors
This is one of my favorite lines ever with sewing motifs. A wonderful mixture of clever and sweet, just like Pat.
Love Pat's exuberant energy! What a gem!
Went right out and bought a Bobbins and Bits Jelly Roll. I do not know what I will make yet but I just love the fabric, especially the flowers with the bobbins in the middle.
This is such a sweet line! Thanks for the "spotlight"!
I love Moda, I confess since my best friend tells me I'm a fabric snob. But with designers like you and the bright, happy colors that make my Janome MC6600 sing with joy. I have 3 other machines all Janome. But my 6600 is my kinda gal, dependable with a lot of heart.
Love this line, and I agree about "hating" colors. I swore I hated mint a few months ago, and now, it's all I can think about! Received a fabulous swap gift made from some of this Bobbins and Bits, and I adore it!!
I really like this fabric and I think everyone should have some. I got a huge order from FQS last week with bundles, jelly rolls, etc…and I took my first photos on instagram of them….still learning instagram!
I used the Pins in Nickel fabric from this collection as the accent fabric in a couple of my purses and eco bags! I didn't even know it was from your line. Excited to use more of the different designs in other projects.