Christmas Quilting Project Ideas from Me and My Sister Designs
May 17, 2021
Jenelle Kent Lakeside Towelling
July 22, 2021
Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co loves autumn – especially the decorations, the colours of the turning leaves and the changing light. Pumpkins and Blossoms fabric follows the huge success of her 2020 fall collection, and we think it’s going to be just as popular!
Pumpkins and Blossoms has all of the colours you might expect from an autumnal collection: a butterscotch orange, soft grey, warm black and soft cream. Joanna added in a bright green to, “freshen up the whole group and give it a different flavour”.
“I hope that this colour story makes people think of pumpkin patches and crisp fall days and time harvesting in their gardens. I would hope that it would make people remember fall days during their childhood or perhaps a peaceful time in their lives.”
The prints in this collection are refined and mature, setting it apart from many of the Halloween prints we see for the season traditionally. There are text blenders and beautiful flourishes and plaids, “The focal print this time around is vines and a tiny little pumpkin. It just makes me happy thinking about it!” says Joanna.
Most Fig Tree & Co. fabrics are inspired by found vintage items, “Some of the best inspirations have come from the most unlikely places- the inside of a vintage hat box, a very small fabric remnant, a tattered children’s book illustration. I’m always on the lookout for interesting old items. For me, the best treasure hunts are at flea markets and estate sales, where you never know what you are going to find.”
“I feel like I have more design ideas in my head than I will ever be able to put on paper. Sometimes that is wonderful and sometimes it keeps me up at night.”
In addition to designing fabric, do you sew?
Many of us can relate to the therapeutic nature of sewing and quilting in particular, Joanna is no exception.
“I love to sew and I especially love to cut fabric. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed with the design side of things, I turn to sewing or cutting instead. In a perfect world, I would sew every day and sew more for myself. I can sew and cut out a quilt when I have things on my mind, but I can’t design in the same emotional state.”
What’s your best sewing tip?
“Sew slowly and watch your seam allowance. I am always surprised by how quickly some of my beginning students sew and how many problems get fixed by simply slowing down. Oh and read all the way through first when working from a quilt pattern!”
Ideas for sewing with Pumpkins and Blossoms
This collection has pretty small scale prints, making it ideal for cutting up into quilts that are made up of smaller pieces. Maybe you’d like to make something pumpkin inspired with these fabulous oranges and green stems? You could try the Pumpkin Farm pattern shown here, which is available for purchase from the Fig Tree online store, or try one of these ideas from other talented creators.
What about a sophisticated trick-or-treating bag? If you make your own, it will not only be chic and unique, but reduce the waste of single use bags. We think this tutorial from AppleGreen Cottage is perfect!
How about these adorable fabric pumpkins by Made to Sew? Make a bunch for table decor, or one as a pincushion!
Joanna also has a back catalog of additional Halloween quilt patterns on her site. If you’re looking for the super popular All Hallows Eve collection from last year to add more variety to your Fig Tree & Co stash, there are several available here in the Trendtex shop and they will pair brilliantly with Pumpkins and Blossoms!
Pumpkins and Blossoms fabric from Moda Fabrics arrive in Canadian stores June 2021. We encourage you to touch, feel, and experience the fabric you’ll use for your next creative project at your local quilt store.
