Jackie Kunkel is a Designer, an Educator, an Online Shop-Owner (Canton Village Quilt Works), and an Author. Her enthusiasm for quilting is infectious and we always love to see what she is up to! Her debut Aurifil thread collection, Splash of Color, was released this past September and follows in the footsteps of her 2015 Martingale release. The book heralds the use of black & white and instructs readers how to combine a rainbow of bright, saturated colors with crisp black & white prints to make amazing quilts. Her thread collection is a range of 50wt threads that are simply perfect to get you started on your very own splash of color quilt! We have been so inspired by Jackie and hope that you are too!
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Splash of Color
10 Small Spools, 50wt (220yds/spool), 100% Aurifil Cotton
1104 – 2250 – 2535 – 1243 – 2740
2120 – 2870 – 1320 – 4652 – 2024
THE INTERVIEW
How did you first get started in the world of sewing and quilting?
I actually began sewing in 6 grade Home Economics class back in the early 70s. I sewed mainly garments, but did make my first patchwork pillow that I still have. I was also very crafty and loved embroidery. If I had a pair of jeans or a jean jacket it was like a blank canvas to me… it got embroidered. But I really didn’t pick up sewing again until I was pregnant with my first child in early 1993. I took out the sewing machine and began making baby clothes. Then my hubby prompted me to “get a hobby” so I took a quilting class and it was history!
What inspired Splash of Color, your Fall 2015 release with Martingale Books?
The true inspiration for this book is my love of black and white fabrics paired with bright bold colorful fabrics. Paired with black and white fabrics, colors just POP!!! I have always had a love of this combo from early on in my quilting career. I have quite the stash of black and white fabric as well as bold colors too!!!
How did you go about choosing fabrics for your Splash of Color quilts?
Fabric for each quilt was selected based on my quilt design. I hand selected each one for each project. Dependent on the design and the elements that I wanted to highlight. Some got a scrappier look than others, some not. The scale of the print cam into play a lot based on the size of the blocks too. Black vs. White, White vs. Black…. etc. Every quilt featured a rainbow of colors though. This was a common theme throughout the book.
Do you sew from your stash, or do you shop for specific prints and colors?
For the book, most of the fabric was from my stash!! I has some new fabrics sent to me from manufacturers and it was great! Also I am constantly finding new black and whites that I love and of course add them to my stash when I can.
Do you have a favorite quilt from the book and why?
Boy is that a loaded question! LOL! I really love them all but if I had to pick one, it is a toss up between Proud Mary and Lava Lamps. These two quilts are a fave of mine because there are curves in them. They were also the first two that I created for the book. So they are special to me. I love them both and I really love teaching them too!
Which project from Splash of Color would you recommend to a beginner quilter and why?
Climbing Mountains is a great beginner quilt. It is done out of 2.5 inch strips and is super simple to put together. It is a great one for any beginner to start with!!! But there are a lot of other projects in the book that they can start on too!
How did you first discover Aurifil threads?
I remember a friend of mine introducing them to me for piecing. She showed me that little spool and told me to give it a try. I was all in at that point I love Aurifil’s 50 weight for piecing and for quilting too!
Do you have a favorite color or weight?The one that I use the absolute most of is 2600 Dove for piecing. However, I switch between that and 2311 Muslin. They are both neutrals and are great for any kind of quilting or piecing. But really you can give me any color and I can find something to do with it!!! So worth it!! Treat yourself right and get some Aurifil in your thread stash!
How did you go about selecting the colors for your thread collection?
That was a lot of fun to say the least. All the colors that I selected were based on colors that were used in the quilts and would compliment the quilts created well when people make them. They can use them to piece the quilt tops AND to quilt them. The colors just speak to me and I love working with them and hope everyone else does too!
How would you recommend using the various colors within a single quilt? Do you piece or quilt with contrasting colors, or do you prefer to match your threads to the fabric?
Those are great questions. So sometimes it boils down to a matter of personal preference. Some people like the colors to blend and there for would use a blue fabric with a blue thread. While others like contrast, and might choose from one of the other colors to give them contrast and stand out. For me, it depends on the mood that I am in. But for the most part, I tend to be a blender. So much fun just using color it is fantastic!!! I hope everyone else enjoys the book and quilts and uses the threads to the max.
THE BOOK
For more information about Jackie’s Splash of Color, please visit Martingale or Canton Village Quilt Works.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Small Splash of Color Thread Collection and one Splash of Color book by Jackie Kunkel for Martingale, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Monday, March 6! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Tuesday, March 7. Good luck!
ABOUT JACKIE
Website — Blog — Facebook — Pinterest — YouTube — Flickr — Instagram 
[Images & biographical text courtesy of Jackie Kunkel]