Feeling blue

 I recently acquired these wonderful modern Japanese cotton fabrics, all in shades of indigo and beige. They are all unisex prints and are perfect for making into tracheostomy covers.

This geometric design is a classic Japanese motif and is often used in Japanese designs.

The tracheostomy covers mix and match well together and are a smart addition to an outfit.

I couldn't resist this cute bunny design.

Each tracheostomy cover is double sided and has a button and elastic loop closure.

Another Japanese design classic is this print below which is based on shibori techniques.

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Indigo blue

 I love Japanese indigo fabrics and collected a lot when I lived in Japan. I love the way that the dye soaks into the fabric and I love the bold, stylised designs that are often used in indigo textiles.

I have a selection of traditional and modern indigo fabrics and decided to use both of them in one design, combining a geometric print with a traditional floral motif.

These fabrics are so dark, they almost look black and were perfect for making into clutch bags.

The clutch bag is lined and lightly padded, with a zipper closure to keep everything safe.

For the lining, I decided to use a modern geometric cotton Japanese fabric in shades of cream and navy, using the reverse of the colours on the outer bag.

The bag also has a lovely silky black tassel attached to the zipper pull.

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Indigo by Makower UK

I was scrolling through Instagram recently when I came across some fabrics I designed recently for Makower UK! I saw them on the Fabric Worm Instagram page and they were so beautifully presented I just had to share them!

Each design has been created in two colourways, with most on a blue ground or a cream ground. All colours can be intermixed and all compliment each other. I included a mix of Japanese florals as well as a selection of other Japanese images such as koi fish and temples.

I've been a textile designer for many years, but I still get a thrill when I see my designs. I especially like these ones as they are inspired by the indigo fabrics and designs of Japan. I lived in Japan for four years and often found myself gravitating towards the soft, muted blues of the indigo-dyed fabrics there - the older the better!

I have designed a few Japanese-inspired collections for Makower UK over the years (which you can see here) and this time I was excited to use the indigo palette as my starting point.

In conjunction with this collection, Lynne Goldsworthy designed a quilt pattern and I was so pleased with the outcome. It really shows off the Indigo designs well.

Fave fabric Friday

Today's fave fabric is a quilt that I made when I was living in Tokyo. It took many years to complete, but I love the combination of blue and white indigo fabrics that I found on my meanderings round the city. I even managed to create some rather clunky sashiko stitching!

It has now found its new home at the top of the stairs leading to my studio, and sits rather nicely with the Japanese kokeshi doll collection and the Vietnamese wall hanging.

Fave fabric friday

Fave fabric friday continues! This week I have homed in on a lovely Japanese indigo piece that I bought in Tokyo. I love so much about this fabric - the thickness of it, the colour of it and, of course, the beautiful print. I was loathe to cut it up, but have already used some of it to make a small handbag. It went to a good home when I sold it at the International Bazaar in Tokyo in November. I have decided to match it with a magenta pink lining. Watch this space for the next instalment!