Create your own custom fabric

Cash on Couch photograph by Char

You design it, Karma Kraft prints it. Both Crafting a Green World and True Up are talking about it. I liked the idea of On Demand Fabric Printing so much so I decided to try it. After all, Karma Kraft’s Web site says you can do this in 3 easy steps. Here are the steps I took.

Step One: From the Karma Kraft home page, I clicked Get Started > Easy Order Now. I uploaded my design – a photo of Cash, shown.

Step Two: I selected my fabric type and weight. I chose Cotton > Medium Weight.

Image from Karma Kraft

Yes, I’m okay with viewing both secure and non-secure information. With every single click I got a pop-up that I had to close out. I do not encounter this on any other sites I visit, so this was frustrating.

Step Three: Repeat Pattern default is Center. I experimented with Repeat by selecting it from the drop-down list. This change took a long time to load and once loaded, my page locked up/frozen until I closed out of every browser window and started over. I then tried Half-step and Half-brick – those loaded a bit faster. By the way, I do have a high speed Internet connection. Last on the list is Mirror. And wow, I loved it. I selected Mirror Pattern, shown here.

Image from Karma Kraft

Step Four: Next, I had to choose my Colors. Since the terminology was unfamiliar to me I read through her excellent explanation after which, I decided to go with OPTION 4: Sherwin-Williams Color Guide. There is no link from her site to their color guide so I opened another window to go there and began my search by Color Family.

I chose the following colors and put them in my order box field.

Gold=Sherwin-Williams Color, 6689 “Overjoy”
Violet=Sherwin-Williams Color, 6286 “Mature Grape”
Black=Sherwin-Williams Color, 6258 “Tricorn Black”
Gold=Sherwin-Williams Color, 6402 “Antiquity”

Step Five: I made the Repeat Size 1″ x 1″.

Step Six: Instead of ordering yardage, I opted for a 12″ x 12″ swatch. I wanted to be sure I liked my color choices plus the cost for a swatch was only $5.

At this point, they offer to make your fabric into products. Choices include cushion covers, table cloth, pet bed, scarf, and grocery bag. I skipped this.

Step Seven: I entered my mailing address in the form. Then, just before I entered payment information, I noticed an edit order link. I decide to revisit my Repeat size, and in the process of changing it, I got a timeout error, and lost all my order details.

Once printing $11 and shipping $11 costs were added, I was going to plunk down $27 for a 12′ x 12″ swatch of fabric. This time I did not return to the Web site since I had already spent well over an hour in creating my own fabric design. Hopefully, this slowness issue will be corrected because I do plan a return visit. I’ll have my colors picked out beforehand.

[tags]quilting, Cash, cotton, fabric, color, design, cat[/tags]

First Impressions While Flipping Through the Book

Some quilting books feel calm and minimal. Others feel like opening a box of bright fabric scraps that instantly makes you want to start sewing.

That was my first reaction when I started flipping through Scrappiness Is Happiness by Lori Holt.

This book is packed with colour, cheerful quilt blocks, and the kind of playful patchwork designs that make scrap quilting so addictive. I found myself stopping on page after page thinking, “That block would be perfect for leftover charm squares…”

It’s the sort of book that encourages you to dig straight into your scrap bins.

What This Quilting Book Is All About

As the title suggests, this book celebrates scrap quilting.

Instead of focusing on a single large quilt pattern, the book includes a large collection of quilt blocks and scrappy quilt layouts designed to use small pieces of fabric.

If you’re someone who hates throwing away fabric leftovers (which is most quilters), this book is full of inspiration for turning those scraps into beautiful quilts.

Inside the book you’ll find:

dozens of colourful quilt block patterns
• scrappy quilt layouts
• projects designed for leftover fabrics
• Lori Holt’s signature cheerful quilting style

The Quilt Blocks That Caught My Eye

While browsing the pages, several blocks immediately stood out.

There are plenty of classic quilt block shapes, but the way they’re presented with bright fabrics makes them feel fresh and modern.

The blocks are ideal for:

scrap quilts
• sampler quilts
• block-of-the-month style projects
• mixing prints and colours

I particularly loved the blocks that combine traditional shapes with playful colour placement. They’re simple enough to sew but still look visually interesting when repeated across a quilt.

The Style of the Book

If you’re familiar with Lori Holt’s work, you’ll recognise her style straight away.

The book leans heavily into:

bright cheerful fabrics
• vintage-inspired colour palettes
• classic patchwork shapes
• fun and approachable quilt designs

It’s the kind of quilting book that feels uplifting to browse. Even if you’re not ready to start a new quilt immediately, it’s inspiring just to flip through the block designs.

Who This Book Is Best For

After spending time looking through the book, I’d say it’s ideal for:

quilters who love scrap quilting
• anyone wanting to use up leftover fabric pieces
• makers who enjoy block-based quilt designs
• quilters looking for colourful, cheerful quilt inspiration

Many of the blocks are approachable enough for confident beginners, but the variety also keeps experienced quilters interested.

Would I Recommend It?

If your scrap bin is starting to overflow (which tends to happen to all of us eventually), Scrappiness Is Happiness is the kind of book that turns those leftover fabrics into opportunity.

It’s full of lively quilt block ideas and creative layouts that make scrap quilting feel exciting rather than overwhelming.

For quilters who enjoy bright fabrics, classic patchwork shapes, and the freedom of scrappy quilt design, this book is a fun and inspiring addition to the quilting bookshelf.

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