Who's Fresh?

After 30+ years of quilting tenure, I've seen it all. And lately? I've been hungry for something new.

Don't get me wrong — I love Tula. I love Alison. I love Giucy Giuce. Their work is the backbone of so many quilt shops, mine would be too. But after three decades, I get excited when someone shows up doing something I haven't seen before.

So I went hunting for designers who are bringing fresh energy. People who are new, or new to fabric, and making me look twice.

Don't get me wrong — I love Moda. I was at Plain Janes in Leavenworth for Beth's 40th birthday bash, digging through the dollar fat quarter bin and calling out every designer by name as I went. Some lady finally spoke up: "You know your designers." Damn right I do.

Here's what I found.

Chrissy Lux (Moda) — Maker's Delight

Chrissy spent 20 years sewing bags and running a pouch club before Moda came calling. You can feel it in the work — these aren't prints designed to sit on a shelf, they're designed to be cut up and sewn into something. Bold, playful, unapologetically crafty. Maker's Delight drops September 2026, and it's the kind of line that makes you want to clear your cutting table immediately.

e bond (FreeSpirit)

e bond makes artists' books by night and digital spaces by day — and now she's making fabric. Her work comes from the book arts world, not the quilt shop, and you can feel it: bold abstracts, graphic textures, text fragments. It's like she walked into the fabric industry, looked around, and said "oh, we're doing THIS now?" Yes. Yes we are.

Amber Elliot (Riley Blake) — Hedgerow Haven

Two collections out and already has a point of view. Moody greens, dusty corals, deep navys — sophisticated without being stuffy. Hedgerow Haven is up for pre-order now, and The Apothecary's right behind it.

Kristen Perreault / KP Creates (Andover) — Color Pop Playground

Third collection in and she's already got a signature: bold geometrics, high contrast, zero fear of color. Color Pop Playground is exactly what it sounds like — and it's the kind of line that makes modern piecing sing. If your stash is feeling beige, this is the antidote.

---

Four designers. Four different manufacturers. Four distinct points of view.

That's what fresh looks like. And after 30+ years of quilting tenure, I'm here for it.

Who's caught your eye lately? Drop a name in the comments — I'm always hunting. And if you're not following yet, come find me on Instagram and Threads @qubeequilts.

/p>