Q and A « modafabrics

Join Oda May today for a fun tip on finding out about upcoming fabric lines from Moda.

{fabrics shown are from upcoming lines: Baby Jane by Eric and Julie Comstock, Flats by Angela Yosten, and Boho by Urban Chiks}

Dear Oda May,

All of my friends seem to know more about fabric than I do. They know all of the names of old fabrics lines and the ones in stores. They know all about the designers. They even know which fabric lines are coming out long before they are even available! I confess – I am a bit jealous of their fabric knowledge. I just can’t face another sewing circle where everyone is talking about the new Bonnie and Camille or Kansas Troubles line, and I’m in the dark. How can I ever keep up with them?

Competitive Quilter in Kansas City

Dear Competitive,

It seems your friends have been studying their selvages, but don’t fret, my dear. There is a wealth of fabric knowledge just at your fingertips. Visit the United Notions/Moda Fabrics website to see our archive of fabric lines {Fabric Collections}. You can search by Designer, Style, and Collection Name. Sort the collections by release date to see our upcoming lines. Hope over to our {Meet the Designers} while you’re at it.

You will never be in the dark again!

In the Know,

Join Oda May today as she answers reader questions!

Dear Oda May,

I’m new to the Moda Bake Shop, and I’m a bit confused. Are you a store? What are you baking?

Flummoxed in Fort Worth

Dear Flummoxed,

Welcome! The Moda Bake Shop is a division of Moda Fabrics, a multi-line fabric distributor selling to the trade. Imagine that your local quilt shop is a car dealership. Moda made the cars and the Moda Bake Shop is where you go to find out how to soup up your engine. The Moda Bake Shop is not a shop, but a place to come for tutorials that will help you make the most of your Moda pre-cuts – jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs, fat quarter and fat eight bundles, etc. (to see all of the different pre-cut varieties, take a look at our {Bakery} page). We named it the Bake Shop because our pre-cuts are little packages of sweet & yummy fabric goodness.

With Fabric Love,

Dear Oda May,

Like most quilters, I have become obsessed with fabric. I have so much that I don’t even know where to start when I finally make time to sew. I need some inspiration for getting my sewing space in shape. Any ideas?

Floundering in Fabric in Phoenix

Dear Floundering,

A tidy stash is the sign of an uncommitted quilter, my dear, so welcome to the club! However, I do sympathize with your plight. It can be daunting to work on a project when your space is a mess. Start to tidy it up by grouping like cuts of fabric: one yard pieces in one spot (fold them all the same way), half yards in another, and so on. Be sure to save a spot on a shelf for your Moda pre-cuts. I find them very inspiring to look at while I sew. I sometimes even take a jelly roll or two off the shelf just to run my fingertips along the perfectly pinked edges. Very inspiring indeed.

If you need more inspiration, check out our mini studio tours from some of the Moda Bake Shop Chefs:

Jo’s Country Junction Studio Tour
Patchwork Posse Studio Tour
Vintage Modern Quilts Studio Tour
Aunt Polly’s Porch Studio Tour
Happy Quilting Studio Tour
Cut to Pieces Studio Tour

Readers, do you have clever stash management tips? Let me know! Email me at modabakeshop{at}unitednotions{dot}com.

With a Well-Managed Stash,