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]

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Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.

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