We were delighted to meet maker extraordinaire Paula Milner of The Crafty Lass last year. Initially drawn in by her stunningly illustrated floral prints, we quickly learned that her crafty skills run deep and her fabric design was just one faction. From illustration to fabric design to block printing to paper flower construction, Paula’s breadth of work is both inspiring and breathtaking.
We were thrilled to partner with her on an exclusive collection, the first of an intended series, to highlight and complement the gorgeous florals in her fabric designs. The Foliage Collection is designed to carry through all of her fabric ranges, featuring the shades found in those foundational elements attached to every bloom — stems & leaves.
A four large spool set of 100% cotton 50wt thread features 3 shades of green + a soft white, giving quilters and sewists the base hues needed to work with her floral-centric prints. We are excited to introduce you all to Paula here today, to learn a little about her background and showcase her work. We hope that you leave feeling as inspired as we do, ready to tackle a new quilt, a paper stem, or even a block-printed fabric. Huge thanks to Paula for sharing her insights!
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today, Paula! We know that some of our readers may be meeting you for the first time. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started with quilting?
Hello! My name is Paula Milner, also known as The Crafty Lass. I have been crafting since very young, and sewing since my early teenage years. I absolutely loved my first sewing machine and how I could suddenly make all sorts of things! Lots of cushions, curtains, and more often – drama costumes or textile art. I chose to specialize in Textiles at college, and then on to Printed Textile Design at University. However, I only made my first quilt only a few years ago! I thought quilting was scary, and just too difficult.
I have my own ‘The Crafty Lass’ fabric ranges – and once I had my first collection, it was now time to begin my quilting journey… I have been hooked ever since! The wonderful Stuart Hillard’s encouragement allowed me to believe I could actually make a quilt if I wanted to – or, I could at least try. I quickly realised it really is more simple than you think – as long as you follow the measurements, and break it down into small steps. Now, I have made a quilt for every fabric range I have ever collaborated on, and many more. Last year I even had one of my quilts on display at Festival of Quilts!
Do you remember the very first quilt you made and how completing it made you feel?
I vividly remember that moment when it was done – I made it from start to finish in just a couple of days… I just couldn’t stop cutting, and sewing. And – I made it without a walking foot! I took it in my bag to the Festival of Quilts to show people (including Stuart). I was super proud that I had made one! It wasn’t complex, it wasn’t perfect – but it was a quilt. My absolute favourite part of a quilt is the hand binding at the end. All that hard work, and you can calmly sit and sew to bring it all together.
Who or what has been your greatest creative inspiration?
I am inspired everyday by the nature around us. I am forever stopping to take photos of flowers, or some colourful leaves. I love also seeing how florists put their bouquets together – all that colour, texture and variety of petals.
What is your favorite thing to make?
To be honest, I love the variety in craft. I of course enjoy sewing, but I love paper flower making, wreaths, crochet, drawing, clay, digital crafting with Cricut – the list goes on! I enjoy trying new types of craft and creating things for other people – or for seasonal celebrations. I like to mix it up a bit. I have recently found a love of English Paper Piecing, I find that incredibly satisfying and relaxing.
Have you ever had one of those ‘aha’ moments in creating and if so, what was it?
The feeling when I first made a quilt actually using a walking foot! What a difference that makes to being able to get all the layers through the machine. I also only a few years ago overcame how to sew a zip and I still am yet to ever do a button with buttonhole – my sewing machine can even do this as a setting, I must also overcome this!!
How did you get started with fabric/graphic design?
I have been drawing ever since I was little. When studying Printed Textile Design at University, I was very inspired by quite graphical designs, vivid shapes and repeating patterns. However, during the Covid Pandemic lockdown, I got back into drawing – and this time, all about the natural world. Flowers, leaves – and I just couldn’t stop drawing. Around this time, I was working with the Craft Cotton Co as a sewing blogger – and after a meeting with their MD and design team, they took a look at my drawings and we began collaborating on a fabric collection. It is still a big ‘pinch me’ moment now!
Can you tell us a bit more about your latest fabric range?
My next fabric range is very festive! It is my first Christmas range called ‘Berries and Blooms’ – in your classic red, green, and white colour palette. You can find it for sale on my own website at www.thecraftylass.com – but it will also be for sale in Hobbycraft and with various other retailers across the UK. My next (very colourful!) fabric collection will launch in early 2025 – ‘The Rainbow Garden’.
Do you have a favorite project to make with these prints?
I absolutely love Christmas. So, I want to make all of the things in Berries and Blooms! I am very excited to be making a Christmas stocking, some mini bunting for our tree, I am also on with creating some very fun and cute patchwork Pyjama trousers. I plan to make a Christmas shirt too. In the upcoming 2025 The Rainbow Garden collection, I cannot wait to create a huge rainbow quilt, and I may even give buttons a go to create a dress!
How did you first discover Aurifil Thread and why is it your go-to?
Several people I know suddenly had Aurifil collections (Clive Bruder @wesewtoo @boyssewtoo and Kimberley Hind @whatkimberleymakes) and so I started to look out for the Aurifil name. I went to visit the Aurifil stand at several large trade show events, and I was seriously impressed with both the range of colours, but also the quality of the threads. There is something about that classic orange spool (50wt) too – very iconic!
You’ve just released a fabulous new curated set, The Foliage Collection. What inspired you to create this set and how did you go about selecting the colors?
I wanted people to be able to use a thread collection that would coordinate with my fabric ranges – however, my ranges are renowned for being very bright, with wide ranging colour palettes. I colour matched every fabric print across the Aurifil thread swatches, and realised that whilst there are plenty of colours and petals – the one thing that ties everything together are the leaves, the foliage – hence, The Foliage Collection came together. These threads work with all of my floral, and sea themed ranges. However, if you look at any flower based range, quite often there are leaves too, so they aren’t exclusive just to The Crafty Lass fabrics!
Where might readers want to use these threads?
I like to always pick out a ‘highlight’ colour in my threads and the greens are certainly something that tie everything together in my (and others!) floral fabric ranges. The Foliage Collection would also be the perfect match for my Berries and Blooms range. I think they would be great for both dressmaking and quilting! And, for hand sewing with English Paper Piecing – maybe I even need to do an EPP Christmas project…
In addition to your fabric design, sewing, and quilting, you are fairly prolific in your creation of paper flowers. We’re absolutely fascinated and would love to learn more!
When I first established The Crafty Lass, my primary aim was to provide inspiration to adults and allow them some time out from their busy lives to get creative. I researched many different crafts that were simple, achievable. Paper flower making became something I quickly fell in love with. I found it fascinating how you could take paper – something so flat, so ordinary – and with a few quick techniques – you had 3 dimensional, beautiful forms. I went on to make paper flower commissions – for people’s weddings, as anniversary gifts and to teach the art of paper flower making at some of the largest craft events across the UK!
Can you give us the run down on your new book, Simple Paper Flowers? What can readers expect to find?
My first book, will officially launch on 27th September 2024 in the UK, and in the US around March 2025. It honestly means the absolute world. It has been a huge dream of mine to have my own book – and I can hardly believe it is happening! It was an absolute labour of love across 10 months of creating, writing and hoping. Just hoping people will be inspired by it, to create lots of paper creations! There are 25 projects in the book ranging from tiny buttercups, to huge peonies.
Do you have a tip or bit of creative wisdom to share for readers who may just be getting started on their own creative journeys?
I think always go with your gut instinct, break things down, take baby steps, write lists, take all the photos you can, be consistent, and GO FOR IT. What have you got to lose! Oh, and start your first quilt – it isn’t as scary as it seems, I PROMISE!
What’s coming for you in 2024? Where can fans find you?
Alongside my fabrics and my exciting upcoming book – I have also collaborated with the Indian Block Print Co to create seasonal ranges of hand carved woodblock designs. There are new block ranges to come! There are several other things that are very exciting that I am not yet allowed to share – all I can say is watch this space…
www.thecraftylass.com | instagram.com/thecraftylass | facebook.com/TheCraftyLass
Photo credits to: Paula Milner, Mark Lord Photography and Jenny Stewart Photography.