An International Adventure

“International Quilt Market” truly lives up to its name.  Quilters, shop and Website owners, fabric designers, fabric manufacturers, machine makers, notions businesses, pattern makers, etc. travel from around the globe to shop or to show their goods and wares at this semi-annual event held in Utah last week. Quilt shops from the Salt Lake area went out of their way to welcome us and these international  quilters.

I met quilters from Norway, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Egypt, Korea, Canada, Italy and even New Jersey (Hi, Mark!).

We just sent off finished quilts and patterns to shops in Canada, Japan and Australia.

While at the show, I was stopped by a couple of girls from Japan who did not speak English.  But they communicated that they liked the “sock monkey” fabric bag I was carrying…I said one word, “Moda!” and they knew exactly where they could get it!

Maybe fabric is the new international language!

Quilters From Down Under

I have made international friends (pen pals, sort of) with Sarah and Kathy, owners of “Material Obsessions” in Sydney Australia,—although I have never really met them—they were guest writers and roving reporters on QuiltersBuzz and “introduced me” to Kirsten and Cath of “Prints Charming” fame-who I really did get to meet and hang out with in Houston last fall.

Some of these folks from

 Down Under are starting a new adventure with quilting fabric, patterns and the wonderful world of the internet.

Here is Sarah’s hubby, Damian to tell you all about www.Fabricmatcher.com.

“Having a wife as a quilt designer and quilt shop owner has added another dimension to our lives. Not only have we made some great friends in the quilting community but also we have had a fun time trying new and innovative ways to approach design and color. 

Match fabrics to color

Color to Fabric Image to Fabric

That is where the fabricmatcher idea came from. We used to watch quilters come in to the shop, buy a pattern and then spend a lot of time trying to match fabrics and build a kit that suited their color needs. We then developed a website to help bring fabric, color and patterns altogether in one spot. It’s the world’s first one stop shop for matching fabrics, patterns and color to suit your imagination.  

We have developed innovative color and matching tools to help you choose and match fabric to your projects.

You can customize quilt and home sewing creations then buy the fabrics and patterns you need right now. There’s even a place to stash your projects, including favorite photos, patterns, your creations and much more.

It all sounds so easy?  We know it isn’t, but hopefully you find our site fun to use, inspirational and a place where you can share ideas and learn from the community of sewers and quilters.  

Look out for new patterns from new designers and the latest range of fabrics from our partner, Hancock’s of Paducah. We will add these every week. If you know any patterns or designer you think should be on fabricmatcher, let us know. We’re always keen to bring you what you’re really interested in!

 Also we will start to add dress patterns and much more in the following months for all you sewing fanatics.

 Have fun with the site. We look forward to any feedback (and any issues you may find, since it is a fresh new site).”

Cheers,

Damian

Ed note: Fabricmatcher.com just launched, please “give it a go” and tell me what you think.  A few of our Threaded Pear Studio patterns will soon be available on the site.

 (Photos include Quilts, Etc. shop in Salt Lake, Material Obsession owners Sarah and Kathy, Fabricmatcher Logo and graphics c/o fabricmatcher, Moneky bag by Moda/United Notions.)