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carolyn friedlander

carolyn friedlander

fabric and pattern designer

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My Instead Collection.

April 5, 2019 by carolyn friedlander 22 Comments

Finally, I can share with you something that I’ve been thinking about and working on for more than the past year.

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

I’m so happy to share with you my Instead collection.

Instead started as an alternative way of thinking for me.

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

A fabric collection has many places where it can start. It can start with the design or a sense of shapes and patterns. It can also start with an overall concept of ideas to explore, OR in the case of Instead it all started with a sense of color that took hold and inspired me to take action.

Sometime before the Wainwright QAL last year, I became really interested in dark and moody color palettes. Light and bright is great, but I realized that I’d never really done a project where my range reached to the deep and dark ends of the spectrum. An obsession with the idea continued to grow after realizing my own need for the fabric to take me there.

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

Enter the dark seeds of this collection. I wanted to explore the depths of a rich, dark color palette, and I wanted to find a new mood.

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

Instead is a 15 piece collection on quilting cotton. It has been such a treat for me to be able to create designs for several different substrates (linen, yarn dyed, knit jersey, etc), but with Instead I’ve been excited to get back to the quilting cotton. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about patchwork! (That said, now that the release and a few quilts are behind me, I’ve been dreaming up a few garments and other things to make with this collection…)

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

The collection is designed to work well with other things–especially all of my previous collections (I’m eager to start mixing it in!), but it’s also designed to work well on its own – like in the case of the new version of my Sunrise pattern.

Instead Sunrise Quilt . Carolyn Friedlander

This has been one of my favorite patterns over time–it’s great for beginners, and it can take on so many different looks depending on the fabric. Like the collection, this version gives an alternative voice to the project.

The collection can also be mixed in different ways and with others, like in my new Arlo quilt. (I have been so excited about this project–more on Arlo soon!)

Arlo Instead Quilt . Carolyn Friedlander

Arlo was made from the entire Instead collection, plus a special set of coordinating solids that I put together.

Instead Fabric and Solid Coordinates . Carolyn Friedlander

I always love putting together a set of coordinates, because it lets you think about how the collection can start speaking to other things. In this case, I liked the idea of adding loads of texture with a variety of linens. I don’t usually look to coordinates to repeat something that already exists, but instead I’m looking for ways to complement and expand the opportunities of all of it.

Instead Fabric and Solid Coordinates . Carolyn Friedlander

So there we have it–my newest collection, Instead. I hope it can inspire you just as much as it has inspired me.

Instead Fabric . Carolyn Friedlander

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. aquilterstable says

    April 5, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Love it! The dark and moody palettes suit me, and I look forward to seeing it mixed with your other fabrics.

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 5, 2019 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you! I’m eager to see how you mix it all up! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mindy says

    April 5, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    This might be my favorite fabric collection that you have produced! The depth of the colors is fantastic!

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 5, 2019 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you so much, Mindy! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Anita Grossman Solomon says

    April 5, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Instead is right up my alley. I want to use it in log cabin blocks to pull my medium to dark ‘international’ scraps together.

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 5, 2019 at 2:18 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that, Anita! Can’t wait to see what you make!

      Reply
      • Laurel A Bandi says

        April 5, 2019 at 4:20 pm

        Beautiful! I will look for them!

        Reply
        • carolyn friedlander says

          April 5, 2019 at 4:47 pm

          Great! I’m so glad you like them!

          Reply
  4. Alexandra says

    April 5, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    Everything you do seems to sing! These are so great! Arlo is really really lovely!

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 5, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Deborah says

    April 5, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    Love this! I am a huge fan of dark colors especially for garments. I was hoping these would be on linen. What garments do you find work well in quilters cotton?

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 6, 2019 at 1:37 pm

      Thanks so much, Deborah! That’s a great question and could be a good idea for a blog post…I’ll put more thought into it! Off the top of my head the Kalle Shirt/dress pattern by Closet Case is wonderful in quilting cotton. It gives it a really nice structure. I like a sleeveless Alder top (shortened from the dress length) by Grainline in quilting cotton, and I have a pair of Reef PJ shorts by Megan Nielsen that I love in quilting cotton too. I’ve never made the Odgen Cami (by True Bias), but it might be a nice option too. I know people use quilting cotton for the Scout tee by Grainline as well. I hope that’s something to start with, but I’ll keep thinking!

      Reply
      • Deborah says

        April 9, 2019 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks, Carolyn! I’ll look at those!

        Reply
  6. Betsey Kuzia says

    April 5, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    Love your stuff and this hits it out of the park!

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 6, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks so much, Betsey!

      Reply
  7. Suzanne says

    April 6, 2019 at 1:58 am

    You’re so talented Carolyn. It’s just beautiful – Congratulations!

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 6, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      Thank you, Suzanne!

      Reply
  8. Elly Van Alfen says

    April 6, 2019 at 12:57 pm

    Thank you for another great collection. I have almost finished my Wainwright with Gleaned. For this winter Arlo will be another wonderful exciting project.

    Reply
    • carolyn friedlander says

      April 6, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      I’m so glad you like them, Elly! That sounds like a solid plan!

      Reply

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Carolyn Friedlander creates quilt and sewing patterns for the modern maker. Find projects, inspiration and Carolyn’s fabric collections.

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