• Introduction
• Spring Quilt Market

Spring Quilt Market

Two days of walking through the aisles of Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City, Mo., was inspiring. It always amazes me that at each market, I find something new and exciting. It's like reinventing the wheel every six months. Just when you think it's all been done, someone comes up with a new and exciting product or a new way to use an old one. Fabrics cycle back around and are renewed by the way they are used.

One trend that was present throughout the booths was the use of solid fabrics. They were used in traditional, contemporary and modern settings. The colors were bright and vibrant. The use of gray as a focus and as a neutral could be found throughout the booths. Other than the use of solids and grays, there was, in my opinion, no clear-cut trend. It seems that all fabrics are "in."

Some of the textile companies are reissuing lines that were very strong, hoping that they will be once again. This could be a great thing for us quilters who have fabrics in our stash that we need to use and are having trouble finding just the right fabrics to coordinate with them.

One of the things I did notice is the use of embellishments. For example, 3-D flowers were attached to many purses and totes, and they were used as the focal points in wall hangings as well. There were some very creative ways to use yo-yos also.

You will also see a lot of technique rulers popping up in the shops. It seems designers are now creating rulers to simplify the process. These new and trendy rulers are designed to save you time.

A lot of the samples made from the new collections were a little different at this market. I noticed a lot of throw pillows. It seemed every booth had a few. That was something I was very glad to see. We have a new book coming out in June, Pillow Pizzazz, that is a perfect fit for this trend. It has 12 different sets of pillows ranging from traditional to contemporary in all skill levels. This book is one you need to check out. The designers did a fabulous job once again!

Ah, and then there are precuts. You will notice a new precut pack coming to your local shops: 2 1/2-inch squares. Precuts are still all the rage, and lots and lots of patterns support the precut movement. Keep an eye out for all that's new to hit the shops. Enjoy!