back to basics

This week I have been hard at work designing my sixth fabric collection for Moda (to be released in spring of next year).  I have design on the brain, every waking minute is spent obsessing about details like the thickness's of outlines and the scale of images and if there are enough simple basics in the group.  Basics are a particular love of mine, I see them as the backbone of any collection and as important as if not more so than the lead design.

The art of a good basic lies in making it as simple as possible whilst making it as unique as can be, quite a feat to attempt after several hundred years history of fabric design.  But that is the beauty of it, the attempt to create something to try to fulfill those two objectives and see if it hits the mark.

A basic can be anything from the simplest dot or stripe to design motifs (foulards as they are known) or texture prints.  My approach to designing a basic is always to continue the design story in some way.  In other words they need to make some kind of sense.  An example of this would be the 'skipping square dot' and 'play dot' prints from 'sherbet pips'.  This collection was all about children playing and the basics echoed the word play by skipping around instead of being all neat and orderly and a playful spin on the dot print by having a dot cut out of a square shape.

For my current collection 'a walk in the woods' I wanted the basics to be a little dreamy (dots) and also felt I needed something a little spiky and unusual to stop the whole thing getting too achingly saccharine (dash stripe).

Pink basics.

Grey prints all by me.

A selection of my favourite basics including some from Nicey Jane, Hello Betty, Bliss, City Weekend, Picnics and Fairgrounds, Swell, Sweet and Fairy Tale Friends.

Two of my right now current favs are Urban Grid from City Weekend by Liesel Gibson and (not sure of the name) stripe print from Fairy Tale Friends by American Jane.

These are my all time favourites (L-R): Hop Dot from Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey, Mono Pez (2) by American Jane (that re-release can not come soon enough for me) and Fresh from Bliss by Bonnie and Camille.

You'll never see my copying these prints but they have the essence of what I would like to achieve in a basic.

How about you, what is your ultimate all time favourite basic?  I would LOVE to know!

Back to the wacom tablet for me, this collection won't design itself (now wouldn't that be nice).

Comments

[Mary]

My favorite basics are the American Jane 4-in-1 prints she does with every line. I love using them as backings because they are so interesting. I also love having them to cut up and add more interest. Sometimes I will order several yards of it and cut off 1 of the prints to use as the binding and use the others as backing. It feels like a huge bang for my buck, especially since I have to order most of my fabric online with minimum cuts.

[Debbie]

Good morning. Love what you are working on. It is funny I was just working on something this week, looking at it and fussing inwardly, I needed a large scale print, something bland not anything that would draw attention to it. But I was fussing to myself because I knew I didn't have it. I like your choice of prints and had not thought about the design process. Your point about scale and boldness is very interesting. I totally see it.
Congratulations on your design to be released. That is wonderful.
Will be back to see what you are working on!
Blessings,
Debbie

[Jamie Lee]

Very pretty! I'm sure I'll be buying that since I have all of your collections. My favorite fabric is the floral from Farmdale.

[Cheryl Arkison]

One of my favourite basics is your Skipping Square Dot, especially in the grey. I'm also a huge fan of Amy Butler's Lotus dots and Kei Honeycomb. Basically any dot and strip with do it for me. But, like you said, something just a little bit beyond basic.

[Ute]

What a lovely collection of not-so-basic basics! I do love your greys. Wow! Your sixth collection for Moda! Now that's another reason to smile!

[Hildy]

Wow, Aneela, a new collection next spring? Yes, I know I'll love it and can't wait to see it!
My favorite basics are dots, white dots on a colored background to be exact. And I love my dots in medium size, like Bonnie & Camille's Dots in Bliss or Michael Miller's Dumb Dots. Or the circles in Laurie Wisburn's Modern Whimpsy for Robert Kaufman.
BWT what is your fifth collection???
Hildy

[Zarina]

I love this post. In my mind (and I guess everyone's) is to design our own fabric. For me, a potential big customer wants baby quilts using batiks. Since I am living in a country that is well known for its batiks, I want to use them in my quilts. Unfortunately, the design is not for cutting and the material used may not be suitable for quilting (waiting for Malka to comment on that). A friend planted the seed to make my own batiks for quilts. Since we all loves basics, this post is great in a way that I have to think how to make it go together with the other fabric I will soon design.

[Caren]

I don't have an all-time favorite, but I do like Power Pop's "Sweet" in Strawberry, which has a random sprinkling of little square/diamond-headed flowers. Funny, I would not chose the Power Pop collection as a whole, but I'm nuts about that one design. I'm sure you'll do great - you have oodles of talent for bringing it all together!

[Sandi K.]

I so appreciate when you let us in on your design process. This is fascinating to me! Thanks so much for sharing!! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[Jeni]

LOVE your basics! They are some of my favorites! Square dots? Brilliant! My current favorite is the sweater check argyle from Little Apples! I find myself using it a lot! :)

[randi]

thanks for the peek into your design process. it must feel a bit strange to design now for a release a year from now! that requires a bit of patience! :)

at this point i am patiently awaiting the release of a walk in the woods. can't wait to get it in my shop!

[selfsewn]

It must be so hard to design so far in advance without being dated!

My all time fav is the joel dewberry herringbone in turquoise..its perfect!

[Heidi]

These are all beautiful basics. I just bought two versions of Nicey Jane's Hop Dot fabric, and I'm really loving the look. I like the way your new line of Walk in the Woods plays between the different patterns. I used two charm packs of it to make a version of your dream doll quilt for my daughters, and it was a big hit. You can see it at http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2012/01/doll-quilts.html They play with them every day. Thanks for making such beautiful fabric for us to enjoy!

[Krista - Poppyprint]

It's funny, this was a question posed on the Twitter chat #talknt last night! More and more I'm looking to solids as my basics, but I do love white & ivory prints with subtle design lines/motifs on. Good luck with your designing today!

[ina]

Hi Aneela, my basics seem to go back to polka dots over and over again. American Jane's dots are called Pin Dots and they are so bright and primary and I ADORE them! I can mix them with anything. I just wish I owned them in all the color ways. Sadly, I don't. ;p

[Meg]

Group me in with the quilters who love dots as basics--regardless of scale, dots seem to be my go-to basic in nearly every project. My absolute all-time favorites are the Honeycomb Dots from Kei. They are great for everything--I especially love them for bindings!

[Seaweed & Raine]

Wow! After looking at some of your stash I want to come and play in them! :) I don't know that I have a favourite... different colours and patterns all play a part in what I like. I have a little of the Paula Prass Par Avion fabric (A fat quater that I bought on a whim that when I went back for more a week later was ALL GONE!!!) that I have been hording for something special - FOR ME. Still to find the perfect choice for it. ;)

[vildkatten]

I love the FMF seeds, I've never seen it for real though. I like dots and a nice regularity most of the time but have a real soft spot for those basics that have something extra, a little symbol or such instead of just a dot or a stripe, those that you have to see a bit up close to really appreciate.

[Tiara]

I think my favorite is your aqua sweater check. I keep seeing it pop up in quilts and blocks on flickr and it can stand on its own like not many other solids can. Love it

[Jenny]

I think you are a master at basics prints Aneela! i am so loving your blenders! your dashed line...that sweet circle print...i think what i like in basics right are similar to others...i love a nearly solid...or solid looking from far away, but then some design when you get closer...i have a few of these in my stash that i love.
i also love Lizzy Houses' stripes from RLD. and what about alexender Henry's Arvika...whoa, love it! and downtown dots! 2 favorites...crosshatch and dots!!

HR's dandelions is a favorite of mine too...and her controlled dots/differeing colors from the older lines really appeal to me...ok...we need to head to the library. good luck with design!

[Happy Heart]

So Pretty! I love all of your collections. Have fun designing! Can't wait to see more!

[Archie the wonder dog]

Thanks for a really interesting post! My favourite basics are dots, preferably dots that aren't evenly spaced (like your square dots) so I don't have to worry about whether I should fussy cut background fabric as well as the 'feature' fabrics. You make such a good job of designing basics and I can't wait to see your next collection!

[Cheryl - MA]

Wow love this post!! It's great to understand what's driving your engine, sort of like train tracks...now there's a basic idea for ya...(feel free to use it).
Put me right in that group that loves dots for a basic...my all time favorite is Andover Dimples, I like the tone on tone effect. But I also love to throw in some stripes, checks and plaids with those dots, they are my supporting characters to my focus fabric.
Thanks for a great post.

[Mary Ann]

Great post and so much to learn in putting together the fabric for a quilt from a stash even though I will never design fabric!

[amandajean]

oh, dots are at the top of my list. they are wonderful. every time!

so i'm a bit confused...you are designing your 6th line for Moda? did i miss a few???

[Trudi]

Oh, I'm loving dots right now :) Great post, interesting insight into the thought process. Thank you :)

[Amy DeCesare]

I love this post...am anxious to see what's coming. Your Christmas line will be brilliant!!!
I love dots, if they are regularly spaced. For some reason random dots make me nervous... ha ha! That being said, though, I agree with another comment saying how wonderful your irregular "square dots" are! I love all your inventive blenders, especially the ones that cross traditional shapes with your current theme...like the scarf stripes!

[Pennie]

OK, firstly - 6th??? How come I only know (and love) 3 of them - where are the other two????

Secondly, the green and white print from Bliss in your last picture is also now one of my favourites ever. I've just made a wall hanging for my sister's wedding which is based on a section of a double wedding ring quilt, from Bliss fabric, and that print is the one I've grown to really love.

[April]

Yes, I'm with Penny, 6th??? (though I know of 4 lines)... what is the fifth? I need a recap ;)
also your little dashy stripes from Walk in the Woods is one of my favorite basic prints, I'm anxiously awaiting yardage of these, another favorite is the amazing mono pezzy prints! super cute! ♥

[sarah]

I'm very fond of your tiny little apple print - it's a very sweet (but not too cute) basic. Actually I love all the basics from your little apples - they're so easy to use.