On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about fabric design with my guest Kim Kight.
Kim started in the craft blogging world in the 2000s, first with a personal sewing and knitting blog, then her fabric news blog, True Up. She is the author of the book A Field Guide to Fabric Design in 2011 with Stash Books, which is still in print. She started designing with Cotton + Steel Fabrics in 2013, and now Ruby Star Society since 2018. She lives outside of Austin, Texas, with her family and pets.
Merry Happy quilt kit and pattern by Kim Kight.
We begin this conversation with Kim describing the early days of blogging. Kim had a blog called Dioramarama after first becoming interested in online diaries in the 90s while working for an alt weekly newspaper in Austin. We talk about the use of Flickr and about how the blogging landscape changed over time. Kim started a new blog, TrueUp, focused on fabric design because she wanted to get into Quilt Market and needed a press credential.
Kim went on to write a book about fabric design for Stash which focused on the industry and business side. When Melody Miller reached out to discuss starting Cotton + Steel, Kim expressed interest in becoming one of the designers and has been working with the group since. We talk about collaboration and what has made this particular group stay cohesive for so long. Kim explains her design process and the tools she uses, both analog and digital. Kim also talks about the importance of having a day job in order for her family to have health insurance, while still pursuing a creative business.
And, of course, I ask Kim to recommend great stuff she’s enjoying right now. Kim recommends:
- PreQuilt
- Bird needle minder kits from WiseCraft
- Needlepoint pouch kits from Craft Club
Keep up with Kim on her Instagram and through Ruby Star Society’s website and newsletter, and Instagram.
