Behind the Scenes: Quilt Design

This July, we will be releasing over 700 new fabrics that will be appearing in quilt shops this fall. These quarterly releases generate a flurry of activity here in the Robert Kaufman offices. A major component to these releases is the development of quilt projects to promote our designer and studio collections.

Here's a little behind-the-scenes look at the process:

First, we focus on select collections. This entails sorting through the 40 or so groups that are scheduled for release and keeping it organized with all kinds of spreadsheets and notes and such -- as you can see, it tends to get a bit messy :)

Once we have the list of fabrics to concentrate on, we determine the strategy of general project type. For instance, some batik groups are just perfect for a roll-up, and if we have a roll-up, we'll want a roll-up friendly pattern to complement it. On the other hand, some print collections have a panel design, which might require the writing of a custom free pattern. At the same time, other collections may be better suited for an accessory or apparel pattern.

We then try to find the perfect pattern for each collection. Finding the perfect pattern could mean working with the right designer to develop a completely custom free pattern, or partnering with the right pattern company to feature our fabrics in their existing designer patterns. We often have our go-to companies for certain pattern types -- for instance, when looking for roll-up patterns, we often think first of Cozy Quilt Designs, home of the Strip Club patterns.

After pairing up each collection with the right pattern designer, we then work with the pattern designer to apply our fabric to theirn pattern, and voila! We have another fabulous project to use with the newest Robert Kaufman fabrics.

Right now, we are finishing up the July patterns, and we've decided to include you all in the process! We would love some feedback on this new in-house collection, Pen & Ink:

Which pattern would you like to see in these fabrics? Leave us a comment here, or check out our Pen & Ink Facebook album and LIKE the pattern you love most!

Announcing the Fabric8 Contest Winner!

It's finally time to announce the winner of the Fabric8 Design Contest from Spoonflower and Robert Kaufman! But before we do that, we just wanted to say 'thank you' to all eight finalists. Each of them submitted some truly stunning work, and picking just one favorite was certainly not an easy task for everyone who voted. You can see all of the finalists' designs in Spoonflower's Flickr set.

After tallying all of your votes, we offer the biggest of congratulations to Andie Hanna, who designed the Painted Petals collection!

You can see these and the rest of Andie's wonderful designs at her Spoonflower shop. And make sure to check out her Fabric8 profile to learn more about her artistic journey!

As the Fabric8 winner, Andie will be offered a contract with us along with a $1000 advance against royalties and a Wacom professional digital drawing tablet!

We will start developing her commercial fabric line this summer, and we'll be having a sneak peek of the finished designs at Fall 2012 Quilt Market in Houston.

The collection will be officially released in January 2013 and will ship out to stores some time in the first quarter of next year.

For those who are interested in how this whole thing works, stay tuned! We will be posting regular updates to give you all a glimpse into the process of designing and producing a professional fabric line.

We will also be hosting more giveaways and contests dedicated to Andie's fabric line over the next nine months or so, so stay posted!

We Love Color Blog Tour Schedule

The We Love Color blog tour is in full swing! Stop by the following blogs on the dates indicated to get inspired by color and discover why this book is a must-have for any quilter. And remember, this tour is a scavenger hunt! Lots of fantastic prizes along the way, too!

June 1st - Stash Books: stashbooksblog.com

June 4th - Valori Wells: valoriwells.typepad.com

June 6th - Kajsa Wikman: syko.typepad.com

June 8th - Modern Quilt Studio (Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr): craftnectar.com

June 11th - Cherri House: cherryhousequilts.com

June 13th - Amy Ellis: amyscreativeside.com/blog

June 15th - Rita Hodge: redpepperquilts.com

June 18th - Jacquie Gering: tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com

June 20th - Emily Cier: carolinapatchworks.com/blog

June 22nd - Malka Dubrawsky: stitchindye.blogspot.com

June 25th - Betz White: blog.betzwhite.com

June 27th - Lisa Call: blog.lisacall.com

June 29th - Jean Wells: stitchinpostinsisters.typepad.com

July 2nd - Elizabeth Hartman: ohfransson.com

July 4th - Alissa Haight Carlton: handmadebyalissa.com

July 6th - Kathy Mack: pinkchalkstudio.com/blog

July 9th - Robert Kaufman Fabrics: swatchandstitch.com

On July 9th, we will be hosting our Grand Prize Giveaway. To enter, you will need to provide us with a complete list of every contributor's favorite Kona color, so be on the lookout for that whenever you visit a stop on the tour. Have fun and get inspired! And don't forget to join our We Love Color Flickr group, where anyone can share the quilts they make using the book.

Final Grab-A-Fab Winner

Today is the day we announce the winner of the final Grab-A-Fab giveaway. But before we get to that, we just wanted to say 'thank you' to the talented Lesley Grainger for working with us and to all of you readers out there for participating. It's been an absolute blast!

And without further delay, the sixth and final winner is...

Jpike, who wrote this comment on June 6th:

"Love Love Love the fabrics!!! Thanks for having such a great contest!"

Congratulations!

For all those who didn't win, don't fret! We've got all kinds of cool things planned for the near future. And remember, the We Love Color blog tour is still going strong, with many chances to win prizes along the way (including bundles of the New Kona Colors)!

So until next time, thanks for stopping by and we hope you come back soon :)

Grab-A-Fab Wednesday - Week 6

Today is the 6th and final Grab-A-Fab giveaway, and we just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has participated. It's been tons of fun!

This week, you once again have a chance to win a free fat quarter bundle of Pretty Paisley Flannel (Garden colorstory). Totally swoon-worthy, right?

Just leave a comment below to enter. We'll announce the winner on Monday. And don't forget, Lesley Grainger is hosting the same giveaway, so be sure to stop by her blog to double your chances of winning!