Friedlander Fabric

Today, I’m finally able to tell you about my newest collection with Robert Kaufman, meet Friedlander fabric.

Yes, that’s right. I got super creative with the name, but maybe not exactly in the way you’re thinking.

But really, this is a special collection that’s feeling pretty personal in many ways. To be fair, all of my collections have felt personal, so personal that there has not been one release that I haven’t been on edge going into it. Not a huge distinction, but worth saying.

Ok, let’s take a few steps back, because there were many steps that got me to Friedlander.

First thing is that I have this thing with trees. In fact, I’m kind of a tree hoarder…if that’s possible. Since getting my house almost 3 years ago, I’ve planted at least 50 trees on the property.

I know, sounds a little extreme. (Maybe it is?) We could also blame my sister who is a landscape architect…

Her opinions aside, I don’t think it’s too extreme, because I think the property really needs them, and I’ve spent the last 3 years dreaming about what these trees will look like as they get older and bigger. In doing that, it means I’ve been paying waaay more attention to trees in general. I’ve been scoping out their various shapes, types, levels of upkeep…or non-upkeep. It’s been fun admiring something that I’ve always admired but with a newfound reason.

In my constant tree gazing, I’ve noticed many things. One of my favorite things is the way different things can shape them–be it us, animals, the environment–it all plays in to not only the trees, but to how they look and what they can do.

The huge oaks in all of the pastures around me are just one of my (many) tree obsessions. After many years, they can get huge and full of incredible character. They can be perfect, yes, but they can also have these crazy-twisting trunks and low, forever-reaching limbs. Their presence shapes the landscape in a way that feels both grand and comforting.

photo by Alexis Wharem for Savor Each Stitch

Around here many oaks are covered in Spanish moss, which softens the look of them and the way the light comes through. It can also make their details more of a mystery, which is why seeing oaks in places without the moss seems dramatically different.

So there’s that, but there’s also this really cool thing that happens to oak trees (and most any other tree) in the pasture. The cows graze their leaves, resulting in an almost perfectly horizontal band of nothing green from the ground to cow-mouth-height, which averages out to a very even line. From afar, this line is pretty striking, and what’s even better is how clearly you can see the limbs and trunks below that line in their twisted, crazy-shaped glory. It’s the perfect contrast in opposites.

In admiring this, my interest is in the natural being at odds with the interference, and ultimately, it had me thinking about the impact we have on everything around us. How the cows can impact the look of the landscape, how I’m impacting the landscape in my immediate yard…it goes on.

I never knew my paternal grandfather, but he’s the one responsible for the cattle ranch and citrus groves that I grew up around. He started all of it, and I’ve often thought of what I know about him through the world he shaped, through the world I’ve always seen.

photo by Alexis Wharem for Savor Each Stitch

The trees that I’ve planted are tiny, they’re growing, but they were so tiny when I planted them. It may be 50 years before any of them grow into the character that I’ve dreamed for them, and who’s to say where I’ll be when that happens. Yes, I could certainly be here, in the same place and enjoying the trees and their shade, or there could be someone else in my place, and (I hope) they’d be enjoying them. I can only hope that their legacy impacts someone else in the way that the landscape of my grandfather has impacted me.

So really, this line is in many ways a tribute to him. Friedlander is a name, it’s his name. It’s my name too. But this collection isn’t just about him or me. It’s about the marks we all make.

In choosing to be makers, we’re all making our own marks, which I think is pretty great. It’s inspiring in fact.

That’s what this collection is about. It’s about all of us shaping the world around us and leaving our own marks in whatever way that may be.

I always say that I can’t wait to see what you make, and I mean it. With each thing I release, I feel like I’m just passing the baton. I’m waiting to see how you continue the story.

Happy mark making and world shaping, because that’s what this is all about.

Ok, now we’ll switch to the practical details, here we go.

First, there are 25 pieces on quilting cotton. Yay! Color, line, and texture inspired by mark making and world shaping. Always a fan of less guidance of the specifics, I’ll leave it at that and wait to hear what you think each of them is and means…

Second, I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce 12 pieces on cotton lawn! Are you familiar with the Robert Kaufman lawn? It’s ridiculously amazing and perfect not only for garments (think the makings of your favorite blouse), but for quilts too. You’ll want to swaddle yourself in some lawn ASAP. Trust me.

Next, as far as patterns go, I have four newbies releasing this fall–3 of which are previewed with the fabric release (and visually referenced here…more specifics later), and 1 that will stay a surprise until Quilt Market next month. I’m really excited about all of the new stuff.

Oh, and there is more that I’ve been working on, but you’ll just have to stay tuned to find out.

The post Friedlander Fabric appeared first on carolyn friedlander.