Personal Background
Ann, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?
I have lived in the North Dallas area since I was 11 years old but at 48 years old now, I still don’t like to drive in downtown Dallas! I am a SFA Alumni and I have a degree in business. I have been married for 25 years and our son is just about “grown and flown!”
Quilting Journey
When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?
In 2011, I was diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases. They were all “in a flare” at the same time and I was forced to step away from my role in ministry to care for myself. My grandmother was an avid sewist / quilter and my mother can still sew just about anything! But I hated everything about sewing because I would have rather been outside playing, which is exactly where I was through the majority of my childhood. During my unexpected health journey in adulthood, I inherited my grandmother’s sewing machine and a box of fabric. Enter YouTube, and a heart to prove to myself that I could sew like my elders did, and the love of quilting was born!
Quilting is healing to me. When everything else feels outside of my control, I get to control the fabrics, the design, and the finish of a quilt. It gives me a sense of normalcy when my body is struggling. I have great joy through the whole process, although sewing curves rarely brings me joy (wink). Curve are definitely my nemesis!
Pattern Designing
What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns?How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?
In the beginning, following patterns was really challenging for me because I didn’t understand the vocabulary and I needed really good diagrams in order to follow along. Early on, I learned that not all quilt patterns are well written, or even edited for that matter. I found that it was easier to design something of my own than it was to follow what someone else had written poorly.
I made a t-shirt quilt for my husband and before I knew it I was being inundated with requests for t-shirt quilts. I decided to open a small business making custom t-shirt quilts and I still run that business today! I make an average of 6-10 quilts per month (it’s very busy in the Spring due to kids graduating from high school and college). I also have t-shirt quilt patterns available to quilters who are eager to learn the process from beginning to end. My T-Shirt Tiles patterns are the ultimate in “hand-holding” because it’s important to me that quilters feel successful through every step of the process.
Inspiration for traditional quilt patterns comes from so many places. Sometimes there are gradients of color that I’m aching to use, sometimes I see a design on someone’s t-shirt that inspires a pattern, and sometimes I simply play with shapes in Adobe Illustrator until I find something I love. Nature is also a big inspiration for me. My husband and I absolutely love hiking in mountains and watching sunsets together.
Style and Aesthetics
How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?
Even though I just finished writing my first Intermediate Level pattern, I would say I enjoy simplicity. I’m always short on time for “fun sewing” due to my long queue of customer work, so I appreciate patterns that come together quickly. I also appreciate the ease of using my scraps in quilts. The very first pattern I ever wrote, Linden’s Joy, was created specifically with the scraps from a commissioned quilt. Fat Quarters make my heart happy because sometimes I want 15 different fabrics from a line but I don’t know how much yardage to buy / nor do I have space to store yardage. But I do have handy bins for all of my Fat Quarters, which means I’m more likely to write patterns for the quilters out there like me who have an abundance of Fat Quarters ready to be used.
Color
How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?
There is something about ombre shading and gradients of color (ie rainbows) that truly moves me. It just draws me in and holds me captive! I use ombre or gradient colors in quilts every chance I get.
Business Activities
Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?
(Membership, notions, courses, etc)
Sometimes quilters just need an easy button and quilt kits are exactly that in my opinion! I carry a growing library of quilt kit options in my online fabric shop. Our college aged son fills the majority of the orders and it helps him pay for college.
Maintaining a good working relationship with local long arm quilters is critical to my t-shirt quilt business. I have been blessed beyond measure with three different local long arm quilters who have shared my attention to detail so that my customers have something that will last a lifetime.
In the wee hours of the day, I enjoy testing patterns for my designer friends because it expands my knowledge of techniques, allows me an opportunity to study someone else’s work, and best of all it gives me an opportunity to show off the incredible talent of my friends.
Online Presence
Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?
Web: www.CraftyMooseQuilts.com
Facebook: CraftyMooseQuilts
Instagram: CraftyMoose_Quilts
Seeing what people have made from my patterns is a delight like no other! I sincerely get emotional when quilters tag me in their posts so I can see their beautiful quilts. Pattern writing takes so much time and dedication, taking 3 months or more from concept to pattern launch. The whole goal behind pattern writing is to design something quilters want to make and when you have tangible evidence that the goal has been met, it’s extremely rewarding.
Upcoming Projects
Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?
My first Halloween pattern called “Hey Betty Boo” releases April 11th! Betty Boo, the sweetest little ghost, and her gal pals, are the most darling ghost gaggle in town.
I have two Christmas patterns in the works, one of which is a little “folksy” and could make for a beautiful cabin quilt. Charm Packs are a cost effective way to purchase fabric to make a scrappy quilt and I have several more patterns designed and ready to be written that are Charm Pack friendly.
And of course my Sweater Weather Sampler block is designed and ready to go for this year’s sew-along with The Nine Patch Quilt Collective!
QuiltInk Experience
How has QuiltInk contributed to your quilt pattern design business? Could you share your experience with the platform and how it has influenced your creative process and connected you with fellow quilters?
Listen, if I’m going to overthink something it’s going to be the colors in my cover quilt. QuiltInk has made it so easy for me AND my pattern testers to play with colors and fabrics without having to purchase a single cut of fabric. It has also been extremely helpful for our Sweater Weather Sampler quilters who want to try out different colors to see where they land in each of our 9 blocks. What an incredible tool!
The cherry on top is being able to load all of the patterned fabrics I have in my online fabric shop so that I can make mockups with the fabrics I have on hand. It’s genius and Catalina is a complete JOY to work with!
