AUGUST

News and Trends from International Quilt Market

The Practical Guide to Patchwork

Patchwork City in Kona Solids

Elizabeth Hartman

 

Q&A: ELIZABETH HARTMAN

 

With the release of her hugely popular book The Practical Guide to Patchwork back in 2010, quilter, designer, and author Elizabeth Hartman quickly became a rising star in the industry. The book has since become a go-to guide for beginning quiltmakers (including several on the Quilt Market staff), and more experienced quilters who appreciate Hartman’s simple approach and modern, colorful aesthetic.

 

And the self-taught quilter has continued the momentum with additional titles, Modern Patchwork (2012) and Patchwork City (2014), plus—as of 2014—a full line of wholesale quilt patterns. In her “free” time, Hartman also managed to found the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, and serve as a board member for the national MQG for four years.

 

This year, Hartman added fabric designer to her list of accomplishments with the introduction of her Rhoda Ruth collection for Robert Kaufman. And visitors to spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis got a first look at the new collection, and several of Hartman’s modern animal-themed quilts (eInsider has a particular fondness for Hazel Hedgehog and Fancy Fox).

 

For this edition of eInsider, we spoke with Hartman about the new fabrics, bestselling books, and patchwork pets.

 

 

eINSIDER:  First, please tell me a bit about your personal and professional background. Have you always had an interest in art, design, etc? And at what point did you begin quilting?

 

HARTMAN: I’ve always enjoyed making and creating. I don’t remember being taught to sew, but I also don’t remember not knowing how.

 

When I was younger, I wanted to be an illustrator, and briefly went to school for that. For the following 25 years, I worked at a series of day jobs, including making patches and letters for letterman jackets and sports uniforms, working in the Marketing and PR department at the Portland Opera, and as a commercial mortgage closer.

 

I always did creative work (mainly painting) in my spare time. I made my first quilt about 15 years ago. At the time, it just seemed like an interesting thing to try. But I really fell in love with quilting, and it’s been my main form of creative expression ever since. Quilting appeals to me because it’s creativity in the service of making a useful object.

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eINSIDER:  So, you had a variety of different jobs prior to becoming a full-time designer/author. At what point did you realize you would be able to make it a career? And are there any parts of your past employment that translate well to your role as a designer?

 

HARTMAN: I didn’t really know I could make it a career (i.e. support myself by doing it) until I tried it. Fortunately, self-employment has worked out for me, and I’m thankful to finally have my work and my job be the same.

 

Beyond the odd sewing trick from the jacket shop, I can’t think of many aspects of my past jobs that directly translate to what I do now. However, I do hope that having worked in a corporate office environment for so long has helped me to be more professional in running my business.

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eINSIDER:  Let's talk about The Practical Guide to Patchwork. It's become the handbook for a new generation of quilters. Did you ever anticipate that? And what about the book, do you feel, makes it so appealing to such a broad range of people?

 

HARTMAN:  I wrote Practical Guide to be the book I wish I had when I was learning to quilt. At the time (circa 2009) there were a whole lot of people online who were just learning to quilt and, having seen many of the questions and problems that beginners were encountering, I tried to address those too. If the book is successful, I think it’s because it focuses on the experience of learning to quilt in the present day, rather than just repeating the same list of rules.

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eINSIDER:  More recently, you've introduced your first fabric collection, Rhoda Ruth for Robert Kaufman. I understand that your grandmother inspired the design of the collection, but what specifically about her?

 

HARTMAN:  The collection was initially inspired by several pieces of my grandmother’s costume jewelry, which is where the jewel shapes and little sparkles came from. I’ve always liked drawing animals, and hiding animals in drawings, so I integrated a giraffe, a fox, and a snow leopard into the designs. The name Rhoda Ruth comes from an alias my grandmother created to make her given name, Ruth, sound more glamorous. I like to think that the animals in the fabric are similarly interested in dressing up and adopting a more glamorous persona.

 

Practically speaking, the fabric includes lots of bright colors and basics, which is what I like to use in patchwork.

 

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eINSIDER: Many of your quilt and project patterns also offer modern takes on an animal theme or design. Are you an animal lover in your non-design life, or do you prefer your pets in fabric form?

 

HARTMAN:  I’m an animal lover in the sense that I have always loved including animal images in my work. From the time I was a teenager, animals have always been my favorite subjects. I didn’t attempt (or even think about) making patchwork animals until the past couple of years but, once I started, I just couldn’t stop coming up with new ideas. Making something representational is such a great pattern making challenge and I love that all my animals have their own little personalities.

 

In terms of real animals, I have two cats.



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eINSIDER:  Finally, as someone who represents a new and growing segment of the quilting art form and industry, where do you see or hope quilting goes from here? And what would you say to manufacturers who are looking to attract and embrace a new generation of quilters without alienating existing customers?

 

HARTMAN:  I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I guess I don’t think quilting ever really goes in one direction. There are so many people making quilts today, and I don’t think that their work should be the same. I just think it’s great to see people expressing themselves creatively through quilting!

 

In answer to the second question, I think that good products are likely to be embraced by quilters, regardless of whether those quilters are perceived as belonging to a particular demographic. As a customer, I would rather hear about what a product can do than who is expected to use it.

 

 

UPCOMING SHOWS

2015

2016

Quilt! Knit! Stitch!/Portland

August 13-15

Classes begin August 13

Oregon Convention Center

Portland, Oregon, USA

 

International Quilt Market/Houston

October 24-26

Classes begin October 22

George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston, Texas, USA

 

International Quilt Festival/Houston

October 29-November 1

Preview Night October 28

Classes begin October 26

George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston, Texas, USA

 

 

 

 

 

International Quilt Festival/Chicago

April 7-9

Classes begin April 7

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

Rosemont, Illinois, USA

 

NOTE: Quilt Market is a credentialed
trade show only, and not open to
the public.


For information on these or any other Quilts, Inc. shows, visit www.quilts.com

 

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The Hazel Hedgehog pattern

Hartman’s Rhoda Ruth booth at Market

The Allie Owl pattern

 

 

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News and Trends from International Quilt Market