Close to My Heart by Laundry Basket Quilts

Edyta Sitar is one of those all-around, amazing women that leave you scratching your head, wondering how she does it all. She teaches, designs fabrics for Moda, and writes numerous quilting books and batik patterns. Her newest endeavor has been creating and promoting her new thread assortment with Aurifil Threads, but today we're happy to have her "visit" to talk about her newest line, Close To My Heart! It's an amazing combination of prints and batiks (what she may be most well-known for in the fabric world). The strong cool hues lend a tropical destination atmosphere, while the softer prints draw you home. We've got the full line of print and batik yardage, and the batiks are available in a bundle. For her first Jolly Jabber appearance, we posed to her several questions...


How long have you been quilting, and when did you begin designing patterns & fabrics?

My mother taught me how to sew and Michael’s (my husband) grandmother and mom introduced me to quilting. I immediately fell in love with it - quilting is my life passion, it does not feel like a business at all. I began designing patterns seven years ago, and three years ago I started designing fabrics for Moda Fabrics.



Where does the name Laundry Basket Quilts come from?

Laundry Basket Quilts came from Michael’s grandmother. She used to put all the brand new just finished quilts in a big laundry basket and take them outside to hang them on the laundry line. We would sit on the grass and have our mini laundry line quilt show. When Grandma said, "Let’s look at the Laundry Basket Quilts," you knew that you were in for a treat.


What inspires you, especially for Close To My Heart?

I love traveling, gardening and spending time with my family. Many times that’s what inspires me to create my designs/fabrics.

Close To My Heart is a collection that truly showcases how I feel about my friends and fellow quilters. I thought the name seemed so appropriate. One of the fabrics has messages that I would love to share and want others to share as well.

What's going on in your studio now?

I have just published a new book, called Friendship Triangles, that will give quilters many ideas for fabric exchanges. I am also working on a brand new collection called Aloha. I want to take everyone on a trip without leaving their sewing room!

Edyta Sitar
Laundry Basket Quilts


P.S. The silent re-auction of Camille's quilt for Benson & Claire is still on!

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