LEARNING TO SEW WITH MY OWN PATTERNS
IT’S SO FUN SEWING WITH MY OWN FABRIC DESIGNS
I’m excited to share that my pattern collection, Country Comforts, was licensed by Figo Fabrics as part of their Spring 2026 Fabric Lines.
If you’re a quilter or sewist yourself, you can check out the Spring 2026 Figo Lookbook to explore the complete fabric line.
I absolutely love textile design (obviously, you know that, since I’m a surface pattern designer!), but funny enough, as much I love creating fabric designs, I’ve actually never learned how to sew or quilt myself.
But when I got my fabric samples of Country Comforts, I immediately felt the artist’s itch in my fingers to make something with it.
IMAGE CREDIT: FIGO FABRICS
AND SO, A PATTERN-LOVER LEARNS TO SEW
I’ve always admired quilters. I love the way they see shape and color. And creatively, the pattern-work in quilting is very inspiring to me.
Quilters are meticulous in the way they can maneuver shapes to create new forms. And there’s really no end to the creative ways they collage patterns together and fold in surprising color combinations.
Heirloom quilts were actually an important aesthetic influence in how I thought about this collection early on.
When I was sketching out my first ideas for the imagery and motifs I wanted to include in Country Comforts, I knew I wanted to feature staples of country living and small, family farms. Things like freshly collected eggs, fields of wildflowers, and a flock of chickens dashing around the yard.
When the collection was placed with Figo, we made the decision to add an extra quilt-inspired print that would bring an heirloom touch to the story we were telling. We wanted to create the feeling of a cherished object, lovingly passed down from generation-to-generation.
With that in mind, I knew I wanted whatever the final pattern to feel like a well-loved family quilt, the kind that someone’s grandmother’s grandmother might have made.
I combed through old quilting books and sewing magazines for inspiration and, in the end, drew out a textured, almost weathered, patchwork quilt motif that felt like it hit that perfect note of both well-loved and carefully made.
In Figo’s collection, it’s called “Quilt,” and it’s become one of my favorite patterns in the collection, so that’s the one I chose to sew with first.
AS ANY CREATIVE KNOWS, COLLECTING HOBBIES IS ACTUALLY MY FAVORITE HOBBY
Truthfully, I never need an excuse to try on a new creative hobby. I like gardening, making stained glass, collecting rocks and crystals, crafting air plant terrariums, and somehow all of those influences seem to make their way into my design work.
But this fabric collection release gave me a good reason to explore textiles further, so, of course, I ran with it!
As soon as I saw the patterns I had dreamt up, transformed into a real fabric I could hold in my hands, I went out the same day and bought a new sewing machine (all good hobbies start with getting the right tools).
Since I’m not quite a quilter yet, I decided to start small and choose a fairly simple project to kick things off.
I chose to make cafe curtains for my kitchen window. I’d been wanting some kitchen curtains for awhile anyway, and the pattern I found online seemed like a low-lift project I could tackle on my first try.
I STARTED SIMPLE AND LET THE PATTERN LEAD THE WAY
As a fabric, “Quilt,” was actually perfect for this kind of project.
Even though I was using a very simple sewing pattern, I loved that the patchwork motif gave the final curtains some of the textured-charm of a handmade quilt (except with far fewer stitches for me to make and much less measuring for me to learn how to do!)
Creating my two curtain panels only took me an afternoon all-in.
I’m sure a more experienced sewer might have been faster, but I love how it all came out in the end.
My patchwork-inspired cafe curtains now hang over my kitchen sink, giving me a little nudge every time I’m doing the dishes, to wrap it up and get back to the creative projects I really enjoy.
THE COUNTRY COMFORTS COLLECTION IS COMING SOON
Country Comforts will be in stores January 2027. It’s a cozy, heartfelt collection rooted in slow living, hand-touched charm, and countryside simplicity. With intentional linework and gentle texture, each print carries the warmth of something distinctly handmade.
If you’re more practiced at sewing than me, you should check out the Figo lookbook to see the coordinated collection of quilt patterns and other sewing projects they created with these fabrics in mind.
The featured designs are gorgeous, and you’ll find a range of projects for sewers of all levels.
You can also check back in here, as I plan to add more new projects I’m trying on too.
And, if you feel inspired to create a project of your own, please drop me a note or send me a DM on Instagram, I would love to know what you decide to make with this collection too!
IMAGE NOTE: Licensed Designs are produced in collaboration with FIGO Fabrics - All advertising materials and online published content by ARTIST
