WHAT’S TRENDING: SEEN AT MARKET—OCEAN VIBES!

 

At every edition of Quilt Market, we stroll the show floor in search of interesting people, products, and notable trends…and the recent spring Market in Portland did not disappoint!

 

Among the many noteworthy new patterns and collections we spotted (and which we’ll be highlighting in future editions) were a surprising number of nautical-coastal-beachy (pick your adjective!) designs.

 

​Let's Be Mermaids

 

We got our first look at this fun trend at the Riley Blake booth and designer Melissa Mortensen’s adorable display for her new collection Let's Be Mermaids. In addition to the main mermaid print (which—by the way—includes an awesomely diverse mix of mermaids), the collection also includes “Seahorse,” “Shell Phone,” “Floral,” “Tiny Bubbles,” and “Scallop” prints.

 

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Seaside (left), Club Havana (right)

 

Another new collection from Riley Blake, Seaside by Tasha Noel skews more nautical in its design. Among its “Seaside” imagery are lighthouses, sailboats, nautical flags, lobsters, and classic gingham in red, white, and blue.

 

And the upcoming Club Havana collection from Riley Blake designer Patty Young features vibrant, Cuban-inspired designs including tropical florals and ikats, pineapples, and classic cars.

Tropical Jammin' (left), Sirena (right)

 

Equally colorful (and fun!) is the aptly named Tropical Jammin' collection from new Market exhibitor FIGO (a division of Northcott). The collection’s prints include large-scale tropical leaves and botanicals, parrots wearing party hats (because, why wouldn’t they?), and bright small-print geometrics.

 

The new Sirena collection from designer Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics blends gorgeously hued tropical, jungle, and fruit prints with cool underwater mermaid and marine life designs. The collection’s inspirational board offers some really fun and creative ideas for using the Sirena prints in projects.

 

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 Ahoy (left), Just Shellin' (right)

 

One of the newest lines from Michael Miller Fabrics, Just Shellin' by Fiveloaves Twofish offers a playful take on the nautical/beachy theme with surf shacks, bathing suits and bikinis (some itsy-bitsy), shells, and other beach-themed prints.

 

As nautical collections go, we love the sweet simplicity of the Ahoy collection by Gingiber for Moda Fabrics. Ahoy’s prints include a mix of marine creatures—whales, turtles, and crabs—in shades of red, green, and blue. But the collection’s star is the Sea Creature Monthly Project Panels, which include—in addition to 12 numbered sea creatures—milestone prints like “First Smile,” “First Steps,” and “First Tooth.”

 

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A Whale of a Time

 

The A Whale of a Time collection by Sarah Prosser for Studio e Fabrics is equally perfect for a children’s quilt. The collection includes 15 prints—whales, waves, ships-in-bottles, sailboats, and nautical shirts and stripes among them—in a classic red, white, and blue color scheme. The 36-inch panel print features a friendly whale and his ocean friends.

 

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Monty the Manatee (left), Snuggle Tails (right)

 

For a different kind of kid-friendly (and marine-mammal-themed) project, Funky Friends Factory offers the Monty the Manatee soft toy sewing pattern. Monty is available as an instant PDF download pattern, and great for a quick and easy project.

 

We also love the Snuggle Tails patterns from Wendt Quilting, available in Mermaid and Whale/Dolphin. This fun pattern—a modern take on a snuggle bag—allows sewists to create a fabric “tail” in any size. And bonus…the mermaid pattern includes a clamshell template for appliqué “scales.”

 

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Under the Sea

 

The Under the Sea pattern from Pacific Rim Quilt Company can be used to create an ocean-themed appliqué runner or to add the patterns to quilt borders, wallhangings, placemats, pillow cases, or other projects. The designs can be mixed and grouped in limitless ways, and the pattern also includes an option for a triptych.

 

 

 

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