The Liberty Fabrics design team introduce new print collections as they trace the enduring power of the quilt.
Internationally recognised as a leader in print design and textiles, Liberty Fabrics have been creating original and inspiring designs since 1875. Each season the Liberty design studio creates new and original prints, adding to their vast archive of iconic florals, paisleys, geometrics and colourful conversationals.
Quilting has been enjoying something of a contemporary renaissance – shedding its homespun arts-and-crafts reputation for something more chic. Almost an anti-trend due to its slow, labour-intensive and deliberate nature, the craft has captured the imagination of the fashion pack, cropping up across recent catwalks from Alexander McQueen and Viktor & Rolf to Prabal Gurung, Calvin Klein and Off-White.
Liberty Fabrics’ forward-looking yet heritage-conscious design philosophy fits perfectly within the medium of quilting. With their first Lasenby quilting cotton fabric collection launching in 2017, their in-house studio team have continued to scour the vast Liberty design archive to glean inspiration, transforming small elements from historic prints and artworks into new cutting-edge print collections perfect for quilting.
Liberty’s quilting fabric collections are all traditionally screen printed on soft and sturdy Lasenby cotton. Developed to be thicker than our signature Tana Lawn fabric, our Lasenby quilting cotton is designed specifically for quilting and crafting projects such as classic patchwork bedspreads and cushions – the possibilities are as endless as your imagination – especially with their new upcoming collections…
The Summer House
The upcoming collection for the Liberty Fabrics design studio drew inspiration from the interiors of orangeries, found in northern European houses between the 17th – 19th centuries. The Summer House quilting collection launching in September 2019 illustrates the grand architecture of these structures, paying homage to the details of decorative tiled flooring, iron works and trellises. Archival artworks are translated into conversational prints inspired by citrus fruits, plants and vines weaving amongst detailed ironwork, while floral geometric designs evoke the forms of intricate tiles – available in three distinct colourways, offering a tonal palette that graduates from neutrals to blues with hints of citrus tones and warm reds.
Flower Show
The latest Flower Show quilting collection, launching in Spring 2020 drew inspiration from British flower shows. Traditionally screen-printed onto soft Lasenby cotton, the collection includes quintessential 1930’s florals, reimagined from their print archive. Illustrating Liberty’s rich heritage of floral design, the collection offers a tonal palette that graduates from neutrals to pinks with hints of citrus tones and greenery – perfect for spring.
Wiltshire Shadow
Originally designed for Liberty Fabrics in 1933, Wiltshire has been reimagined into a two-colour shadow silhouette to become the perfect blender for quilting. The muted leaf and berry print is available in a multitude of colourways, designed to coordinate against other patterns from their vast archive of Liberty prints for a seamless mix-and-match effect.
Season’s Greetings
Liberty Fabrics celebrates the festive season with a new collection of festive prints for 2019. Traditional Christmas decorations dance alongside wintry florals, berries and fir branches with metallic highlights. Their Christmas colour palette takes on a modern twist to delight, amongst traditional hues within the collection.
Quilting has always offered a sustainable method for transforming unused scraps and dead stock into something beautiful – an inspiring technique that feels tailor-made for those who wish to cut down on waste and instead invest in more meaningful, long-lasting designs. This combination of versatility, sustainability and creative ingenuity may explain why quilting is having ‘A Moment’, style-wise – and why, from rustic living essential to runway statement piece, this crafting trend seems destined to continue to reign.
Katie Jones
quiltersguild.blog 