Twenty quilters, three Zen Chic quilts/projects, two hexagon techniques, ten kinds of cookies—and one very good reason why quilting is about much more than fabric.
Last weekend, I was invited to Nähen im Garten—Sewing in the Garden—hosted by Manu from Farbenrausch in Siegen. This annual gathering brings together the Farbenrausch community: people who sew and shop there, return for the events and have gradually become the familiar faces you are always happy to see again.
And for once, the weather had apparently read the event description. After rain had pushed everyone indoors during the previous two years, this time it stayed dry all day. We could sit together on Sabine’s covered terrace, surrounded by quilts, flowers and a garden that had clearly dressed for the occasion.
From the first brushstroke to the fabric store
The morning began with my presentation, “The Development and Production of a Fabric Collection—Using Ampersand & Whisp as an Example.”
I took everyone behind the scenes of fabric design: from the first painted marks and the development of a visual story to color work, sampling, production and finally seeing the fabric arrive in quilt shops.
The detail that usually creates the biggest wait—really? moment is the timeline. From the first brushstroke to the fabric appearing in a store, the entire process takes around 18 months. Fabric lovers see the finished collection neatly folded on the shelf. Behind it sits a rather less neat mixture of painting, editing, recoloring, waiting, checking and more waiting.
I also brought three pieces along: the Dissolve and Beaded quilts, plus my Petal Pop 2 project. There is simply no better way to understand a collection than to see what happens when the fabric leaves the sample card and becomes a real quilt.
Same pattern, completely different quilt
Then it was time for the participants’ Show & Tell. They brought quilts made from treasured scraps, quilts sewn for family members and projects that had filled their sewing time over the past months.
Two quilts hanging behind us in the group photo (below) were especially interesting: both were based on blocks from Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks, yet their makers had interpreted them very differently. Same starting point, entirely different personality—which is one of my favorite things about quilting. A pattern may provide the directions, but the fabrics and the maker decide where the journey goes.
Bild: Viktoria Heupel von @visualsbyviktoria
There was another fabric surprise waiting inside the house. Sabine, who works at Farbenrausch and generously opens her private home and garden for the event, had transformed her guest room into a little Balisong inspiration room. Quilts, pillows and fabrics turned the space into a walk-in display for the collection currently available at the shop.
Some guest rooms offer a bed and a bedside lamp. This one offered a fully coordinated fabric experience. I approve.
Hexagons—with no homework police
The afternoon was deliberately relaxed. I had brought my Hexagon Journal Cover as inspiration and demonstrated two ways to prepare hexagons: glue basting and traditional thread basting.
Glue basting is faster, but it holds the fabric very firmly around the paper template. That can leave less wiggle room when the hexagons are stitched together. For this particular project, thread basting is the better choice. We remove the paper templates before arranging and appliquéing the hexagons onto the cover, and the basting stitches help each fabric hexagon keep its shape after the paper comes out.
It was a useful reminder that the quickest method is not automatically the best method for every project. Sometimes a few extra stitches at the beginning save a surprising amount of muttering later.
This cute hex pouch is BTW from Minki Kim, Zeriano, All in One Needlebook
Some participants covered a few hexagons during the afternoon. Others worked on projects they had brought from home, knitted, embroidered, crocheted or simply chatted. Nobody was expected to leave with a finished journal cover tucked under one arm. One of those little stacks of hexagons may still become a cover—or perhaps a pillow would be more useful. The idea was to try something and see where it might lead.
That freedom is an important part of Nähen im Garten. It is not a day built around finishing as much as possible. It is a day for inspiration, connection and enjoying your craft in good company.
Manu’s other particular talent
We should also discuss the catering, because ignoring it would be journalistic negligence.
Manu had baked two trays each of ten different kinds of cookies, so there was always something nearby for anyone in danger of suffering a sudden drop in sewing energy. At lunchtime, we were served a warm meal with salad. Later came coffee and cake—including a Himmelstorte that earned an entirely objective rating of 11 out of 10 stars.
I cannot offer sophisticated tasting notes. I was too busy eating it.
The flowers, garden decorations, food and all the thoughtful little details required an enormous amount of preparation. This level of hospitality is very much Manu’s signature—and unlike anything I have experienced at another sewing event.
The real reason we gather
My favorite moment came when all twenty of us stood together for the group photo, with the quilts hanging behind us.
Many of the same women return to Nähen im Garten year after year. Through this event and the other community gatherings organized by Farbenrausch, they have become a close-knit group. They come for fabric and sewing, of course—but also for familiar faces, conversations and the feeling of belonging somewhere.
That is also why I teach and travel to quilting events. I love sharing techniques, design knowledge and new collections. But the deeper value of a creative hobby is often the community that grows around it.
A heartfelt thank-you to Manu and Farbenrausch, to Sabine for opening her home and garden, and to all the women who made the day so warm, curious and wonderfully relaxed.
Would you like to join me at an event?
More Zen Chic classes and appearances are already being planned. You can find the currently confirmed dates—and future updates—on my Events page.
Perhaps one day we will meet over a quilt, a handful of hexagons or a dangerously good piece of cake.