Inspired by words like Harmony, Renewal, and Goodness, the idea for the patterns in Alison Glass‘ Seventy Six for Andover Fabrics was born. Seventy Six is a versatile collection of thirty fabrics. Ten of them are especially useful neutrals ranging from white to dark grey in a perfect scale for quilting. Images of birds and bees mix with stars, flowers, and pretty line-work in lovely harmony. The colors, saturated and complex, represent a more controlled AG palette, sure to make for beautiful patchwork. Alison’s coordinating thread collections offer a wonderful range for sewists and quilters. The Large collection features a mix of colors in 50wt. The Small collections are broken out into Warm, Cool and Neutral tones, each with 5 colors in both 50wt and 28wt.
Read on for all sorts of thread info, an interview with Alison, info about her fabric and embroidery designs and of course… a GIVEAWAY!
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Seventy Six Large Collection
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool)
4030 – 2588 – 4020 – 5002 – 2235 – 5015
5022 – 2910 – 2815 – 2525 – 6722 – 6736
Seventy Six Small Collection, Warm Palette
Small, 50wt (220yds/spool) & 28wt (109yds/spool)
4030 – 2588 – 4020 – 5002 – 2235 (50wt) 4030 – 2588 – 4020 – 5002 – 2235 (28wt)
Seventy Six Small Collection, Cool Palette
Small, 50wt (220yds/spool) & 28wt (109yds/spool)
5015 – 5022 – 2910 – 2815 – 2525 (50wt) 5015 – 5022 – 2910 – 2815 – 2525 (28wt)
Seventy Six Small Collection, Neutral Palette
Small, 50wt (220yds/spool) & 28wt (109yds/spool)
6722 – 6736 – 2021 – 2615 – 2784 (50wt) 6722 – 6736 – 2021 – 2615 – 2784 (28wt)
To view this info on our website, click on any of the images above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE INTERVIEW
How did you background in home décor inspire and guide your journey in textile design?
About 8 years ago, I started a business doing organization and decorating for clients. I dropped the organization component after about a year to focus on space remodels. I began using fabrics from the quilting industry in client’s homes because the fabric was more in line with what I was looking for, interesting design with bolder colors, and overall just different from a lot of the home dec fabric available. Through working with these fabrics, I became very interested in the idea of designing fabric and eventually did design my first line that ended up being produced by Andover Fabrics.
Do you come from a creative background and how did that influence your path?
My mother’s mother sewed beautifully, really truly very talented, but I didn’t know her well, so anything from her would be in the genetic category. My mother also was very, very talented at a lot of things, including sewing and color. I do remember sitting by her and watching her sew and I remember her telling me things about how to use the machine, etc., but she passed away when I was nine, so to say that she taught me to sew wouldn’t be true. I’m sure she would have, we just didn’t get to it. She still is one of my greatest influences though, in immeasurable ways. I did take a class when I was around twelve, which was mainly useful in learning how to thread my sewing machine (a Bernina that had belonged to my mom that is still the main machine around here), and from there I just kind of sewed and figured it out.
[Matchstick Quilt Straight line quilting by Mary Menzer.]
How you first got started in the world of sewing and quilting?
I guess like both my mum and her mum, a lot of the sewing I started out doing was out of a practical desire of wanting things for my home, and because I could. I mainly sewed home décor items such as pillows and slip covers. Then when I started having kids I made nursery things. From there, I started to create things for other people which helped to grow my business. I also sew because I love fabric and always have. It is strange to think back and see a path leading to fabric design, but it all makes sense.
Bungalow Quilt
How did you first connect with Andover Fabrics and what do you love most about working with them?
Working with Andover is very collaborative and I love that. They are great at listening and and we really do work together to grow in ways that are best for the whole. Andover is also extremely committed to quality in everything they produce, as am I, so that works out well for all of us and for the people who end up using the fabrics. They are also kind, nice and a lot of fun! We have a good time and it feels like a positive group project where everyone contributes.
Seventy-Six and Insignia are your latest collections with Andover. What inspired these lines and what do you love most about how the two coordinate?
Seventy Six is inspired by historic celebrations and focuses on themes of renewal, goodness and harmony. It’s a very personal line and for sure a favorite of mine. I love how the colors work together and I think it represents and important shift in my thought process as a fabric designer. Insignia fills a need for solid fabrics that coordinate with my prints. The saturation of the colors is amazing. The mill did such great work with the printing and the texture of the fabric shows so beautifully. I love how Insignia works with Seventy Six, and really all of the fabrics, to give some needed space to the busy. Both of these lines are for sure favorites of mine.
Cobblestone Quilt
You work with an amazing and diverse group of makers to showcase your fabrics. What is it like to see your fabrics come to life in the hands of these talented women & men?
That’s true, everyone that helps by making is amazing. I’m extremely lucky to have a large group of tallented people interested in the work and willing to make things with it. It’s not something I take lightly or for granted at all. Every person that helps to show what can be done with the fabric is immensely important to getting the work out and seen so that others can continue in their own making. I appreciate every piece and truly love being in the position to make a raw good that others can use to create their own heirlooms. I have a certain capacity for imagining uses, but it’s so small compared to what others choose. It’s truly a favorite part of the job.
When did you first discover Aurifil threads and what do you love most about them? Do you have a favorite color/weight?
Aurifil first is a super group of hard working people making a superior product. I simply first discovered Aurifil at my first or second Quilt Market by walking past their booth and seeing a wall of amazing brilliant color. That is what drew me in, then learning about the quality sealed the deal. I have tons of colors I love, but one that stands out is 5022, it’s a personal favorite that has ended up in multiple AG collections. It’s a beautiful chartreuse color that I’m personally very drawn to. I love the matte finish of the threads and again the wide range of gorgeous colors.
How did you go about selecting threads for your latest Aurifil collection, and how would you want to present them to all of the makers out there?
The collections fall into two categories. The three small boxes (Warm, Cool and Neutral) each have five colors in two weights. I chose the two weights so that people would have colors that work well with the fabrics, but also choices for uses. The 50wt is great for piecing while the 28 is super for visible colorful quilting, a concept I love and am hoping to share with other through these collections as well as some of our newer patterns. The Neutral box is particularly useful. Each of the five weights/colors would cover the majority of needs. While the colors are chosen to work well with Seventy Six and Insignia, the reality is that they blend beautifully with the majority of my fabrics (and others). The large box is 12 useful colors that go great with the fabrics, but are also chosen to use with my machine embroidery collections for Bernina and OESD. I have a new (really fun!) machine embroidery collection and these threads are chosen specifically to make for a great outcome for those designs.
[Attacus Linework Moth & Attacus Linework Crewel Style Moth by Nydia Kehnle.]
THE SEVENTY SIX EXPERIENCE
Alison Glass isn’t just a designer, a quilter, or an artist… she is a story-teller. With each collection release, she tells a new story, adding to her rich history. Seventy Six isn’t just a group of thread collections or a new fabric line (partnered with Insignia) for Andover… It isn’t just a new set of embroidery designs with OESD or a set of fabulous temporary tattoos. It is the works of art that come from it all, the new projects that are thoughtfully created by so many talented makers. Alison inspires people to dig deeper into their own creative instincts and the results are always stunning. We couldn’t help but share a few examples here.
THE FABRIC
Seventy Six & Insignia by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics
THE EMBROIDERY DESIGNS
Seventy Six Embroidery Designs by Alison Glass for OESD
{all designs were stitched using Aurifil 50wt. Thread color chart is available on disc}
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Fat Quarter Bundle of Seventy Six by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics, 1 Large Seventy Six Thread Collection by Alison Glass for Aurifil and one Embroidery Designs disc by Alison Glass for OESD, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Friday, December 16! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Saturday, December 17. Good luck!
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Emily C!
ANOTHER FAB GIVEAWAY!!
Also, don’t miss out on this AMAZING giveaway going on now over at Andover Fabrics! Click here or on the image below for more information. Giveaway runs through Tuesday, December 15th at 5pmEST.
ABOUT ALISON
Website — Facebook — Instagram — Pinterest
Alison Glass is a surface designer living in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Aspiring to create a career for herself, Alison started a design business in 2007 focusing on space remodels and custom home decor pieces. Her love of color and shape and the combination of the two eventually lead to making the decision to step back from the local design business and work toward her goal of creating artwork for surfaces. She is thrilled for the opportunity to design fabric for Andover.
Alison is inspired by the multitude of details in the world, both natural and those made by artisans, particularly in urban architecture. She is passionate about the ideas of making choices that are consistent with who a person is, being increasingly comfortable with ambiguity, and continuing to move forward and live in the new. She loves to talk about these ideas, as well as art, design, architecture, color, kids, okay, pretty much anything, with anyone who cares to talk! She is incredibly grateful to her husband and kids, for who they are, and for their enthusiasm and support of her work, as well as the amazing varied and interesting friends she is meeting along the way who are a constant source of inspiration and new possibilities.
[bio & photos courtesy of Alison Glass. Many photos by Love Knot Photo. Feature showcase photos by Nichole Vogelsinger, Karie Jewell, Jamie Swanson, Kate Basti, Wendy Bermingham, SARIELLA Studios, Kitty Wilkin, and Kristy Sachs.]
