ALAURA'S NEW APPLIQUE COLLECTION
It has been a while (almost two years) since I designed an applique series, and a lot has happened between then...
If you are new to the world of Pattern Poole, let me just quickly introduce us and what we are about. My mum is Monica Poole, and I am Alaura Poole; for the past 20 years, Mum has had a business of teaching sewing and quilt-as-you-go and selling sewing patterns worldwide. Before this, Mum was a fashion designer, and without going into too much detail, let's just say I have grown up soothed to the sound of a sewing machine humming all through the night. And if it wasn't my mum sewing, it was my Grandma while we spent countless holidays at her beach house in Crescent Head on the East Coast of Australia. Just to set the scene, this house was built by my grandfather, and it was a holiday house where everyone was welcome. Mum has 12 siblings, each with loads of friends, so this wasn't just a house but a constant revolving door filled with fun times, rain, hail, or shine. This house is where I designed my first applique series, 'Windows Into Africa', in 2017.
Windows Into Africa Collection on the Pattern Poole Stand: International Festival of Quilts 2018, Houston
However, 5 years on, a lot has happened in between.
I graduated from university, our business has gone entirely digital, and we started our YouTube channel. Oh, and I also started a business of my own - artist management, and I aim to open my own gallery one day. This is in conjunction with my and mum's goal to create as many PDF patterns as possible and YouTube tutorials to share our love of sewing with as many people worldwide. In addition, I have started studying art history to aid me in my art career, which has just opened a multitude of doors with waves of inspiration barging through. And not only do I have more ideas for applique patterns than ever before but my love and appreciation for quilting and the women who have quilted throughout time also grows deeper every day.
To me, it seems where men have held history's pen, women have held the needle, and they have sewn the essence of themselves, all through the fabric of time. Quilts are a quiet ode to the hidden world of womanhood. To memories of those born, loved and lost, and the more I read, the more I am forever infatuated with the art of quilting.
English Antique Quilt, Hannah Langdale, aged 13, 1834: On Display at The Festival of Quilts, Houston 2018
The problem I encounter daily is that I have an abundance of ideas and a lack of time.
Therefore, I am constantly fearful of designing something and making it in case I waste time. Because let's be honest, Mum is indeed the sewist, and she is currently off writing a new book on quilt-as-you-go. Although I would love to lose my days perfecting the art of thread painting, I am much more productive on my computer designing pattern sheets.
So, while Mum is off writing, I propose I design as many ideas as possible to get them all out there. And perhaps you could all show me what you can do with them...
So without further ado, here is the first look at my new bug collection that has been over two years in the making!
NATURE'S CREATURES
As I have mentioned before, A lot has happened in the past five years, and even though I have been working in sewing stores since the age of 19, the most significant shift is that I now understand quilt-as-you-go.
Thanks to our latest online course Island Home and all the filming I have been doing with our YouTube channel, I feel like I have been on a quilting apprenticeship from Mum. Not only that, but now we have a larger online community I can receive direct feedback in real-time.
I posted my original bug designs back in 2020 and received many wonderful comments. I love reading what everyone has to say, and one of the best things about all my applique designs is that people can mix and match.
Original Bug Designs from 2020
Above are my original designs. I don't mind those designs, but I feel they can be restricting if people don't like a particular critter.
So, I decided to take a further step and design a repetitive block that can link in as an entire quilt.
This is because many people have different preferences, so I want to design something anyone can use as a base for creativity. The possibilities of what you can achieve with these humble little designs are endless because, spoiler alert, I have many more applique drawings tucked away in my sketchbook. You can mix n match the flowers, the little bugs, the blocks and colours. It is up to you what you want to create, and the best part is that they are all designed with Mum's quilt-as-you-go methods in mind.
So, this is the beginning of a new journey for me and anyone who would like to be a part of it. A new era of applique patterns. I hope you like them!
SHOP THE NATURE'S CREATURES COLLECTION BELOW