From colorful quilts to charming hand embroidery, Kathleen Field has spent decades turning inspiration into stitches. She finds ideas in art, architecture, travel, and the everyday patterns around us. In this interview, Kathleen shares how one visit to a quilt shop started a lifelong creative journey that continues to grow and change.
What first pulled you toward creating with your hands?
Unlike many quilters, I didn’t learn from my mother or grandmother. My quilting journey began
the day I walked into a quilt shop, saw the beautiful quilts hanging on the walls, and knew
immediately that I wanted to learn how to make them.
Do you remember the very first project that made you think, “I love this”?
It was a sampler patchwork quilt. Picking out all the fabrics felt daunting, and I wasn’t sure the
colors and prints would work together. But when it was finished, I was hooked and wanted to
make another. That quilt was the first of thousands I’ve made over the years.
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Did you learn from someone, or are you mostly self-taught?
Since I knew absolutely nothing about quilting, I was fortunate to find a wonderful teacher,
Trudie Hughes, who owned a quilt shop outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trudie had written
several books on fast-piecing techniques, developed quilting rulers, and taught an excellent six-
week quilting course.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
My quilting inspiration comes from patterns everywhere. I’ve always believed that almost any
pattern can be translated into a quilt. Over the years, I’ve created quilts inspired by the windows
of Frank Lloyd Wright, the paintings of David Hockney, and the bold shapes and colors of Henri
Matisse.
Later, I discovered collage, which opened up an entirely new creative direction. I began creating
small paper collages, enlarging them, and then translating those designs into fabric.
Has your style changed over the years? If so, how?
I spent seventeen years creating quilts, primarily art quilts. During that time, I exhibited my
work around the country.
Then, in 2002, I was invited to become a quilt designer. The opportunity came at exactly the
right time. With three children approaching college age, the additional income would help pay
tuition, making it an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.
What began as a practical decision grew into a twenty-year career designing quilts for retailers
throughout North America. After retiring from quilt design in 2019, just before the COVID
pandemic, I began exploring hand embroidery.
The design skills I had developed over two decades of creating quilts translated naturally to
embroidery. Using my own photographs as inspiration, I began designing embroidery patterns
featuring charming shops and iconic buildings from my travels throughout Europe (my oldest
daughter lived in London), including London, Paris, and Scotland.
Describe your creative space. And, how do you organize your threads?
My studio is in the basement-it has two huge windows that bring in a lot of natural light. It is a
working studio, filled with fabric, threads, designs, samples, and projects in different stages.
All of my floss is organized on one wall in plastic bags by number. Since DMC numbers are not
exactly user-friendly when it comes to choosing colors, I also keep individual floss samples
taped onto boards and arranged by color family. That way, I can see the colors together more
easily when I am designing.
How do you balance planning with just “playing” and experimenting?
I always start with a plan, but it takes many, many turns along the way.
How does a new idea usually begin for you?
Ideas come from everywhere. I’m constantly noticing patterns, colors, architecture, artwork,
books, films, and interesting details that might spark a new design.
One recent example was my animal alphabet embroidery series. I knew I wanted to create an
alphabet built around animals, but I struggled to find the right theme to tie it all together. After
many false starts and plenty of trial and error, inspiration finally came from the film The
Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Its whimsical, imaginative world gave me the direction I had
been searching for.
Do you sketch, plan, or jump right in?
I jump right into designing with Illustrator-but my path deviates constantly.
What part of the process do you enjoy the most?
The design part. I love developing an idea and watching it evolve into a finished piece or
embroidery pattern.
What part feels the most challenging?
Choosing embroidery colors-I have re-embroidered so many, many times.
Can you share a time when something didn’t go as planned—but turned into something better?
I’m working on a design of the Liberty Store of London-choosing the floss for the timbers was
very challenging. I sewed so many versions, but finally came up with the right color by
choosing one strand from 2 different colors. But, I’m still not finished.
What have you learned about yourself as a maker along the way?
I never give up. I plow through until it’s right.
How do you stay confident in your own style and voice?
I have to stay true to myself.
How do you balance creativity with the business side of things?
It’s always a balancing act. The business side of things takes a backseat to the designing.
Where can people see your work and embroidery designs?
People can find my work through my Etsy shops and my website.
Websites:
kathleenfield.com
fieldsoapcompany.com
Etsy sites:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/kathleenfielddesigns
https://www.etsy.com/shop/kathleenfieldquilts
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FieldSoapCompany
Rapid Fire Fun:
Favorite way to recharge your creativity? Take a break and do something else. I make a lot of items for a group called “Days for Girls.” It keeps me grounded and gets me into a different zone.
One tool you can’t live without? Rotary cutter.
Messy desk or clean space? In-between.
One word to describe your work? Evocative
Interview posted July 2026
Explore more hand embroidery projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.