
Camp Pikaland
Back to School | This past month I started taking a class from Camp Pikaland | The Sellable Sketch, taught by Michelle Fifis of Pattern Observer and have discovered a few things that should have been second nature to me but for some reason didn’t click until Michelle pointed them out.
I have had hopes of designing patterns for fabric without really knowing who I am designing them for. Basically shooting arrows without a target but hoping to score a bulls eye. Luckily I have hit the target once without aiming but can clearly see that if I really want to design patterns, I need to know which industry I want to design for and who my audience is inside of this specific industry.
Which Industry?
I have decided to target the quilting industry and have learned how little I know about quilting and the industry.
My first research with keywords in Google produced results that were a bit discouraging for me. It all seemed so prepackaged and cute. This experience was a disappointment for me because I couldn’t see myself enjoying designing for it. I could it just didn’t seem like it would be satisfying.
This experience was a disappointment for me because I couldn’t see myself enjoying designing for it. I could it just didn’t seem like it would be satisfying.
This experience was a surprise and left me feeling really lost. The discovery that I knew nothing about the quilting beyond my personal experience with quilts made by my relatives. I tried quilting once and honestly I am not interested in the process at all. It seemed like a lot of work for a blanket.

During my research, I did discover an amazing series of quilts from Gee’s Bend. The quilts are amazing and worth a look. This discovery was the highlight of my research for this lesson.
At the beginning of the chat session for lesson 2, I didn’t know what or who I was planning on targeting with my pattern designs. During the chat, Michelle recommended trueup.net. What a great blog. I went to the blog looking for current trends and found a side of fabric design that I was excited about. It was refreshing and I felt like I could fit into this world. This is a new world that I want to discover.
It was refreshing and I felt like I could fit into this world. This is a new world that I want to discover.
I am going to continue designing fabric for quilting and I am really looking forward to digging deeper and discovering the great designers and their work.