Today, we are thrilled to feature the incredibly talented Monique Jacobs of Open Gate Quilts in celebration of the release of her brand-new thread set, Hello Autumn. Our journey with Monique began back in 2018 with a delightful virtual introduction, followed by a memorable meeting at Spring Quilt Market in 2019. It was during that time we also met her husband Mark and the amazing team at Maywood Studio. From the start, it was clear that Monique was wonderfully talented, motivated, and, best of all, genuine.
That first meeting set us off on a path rich with new ideas and collaborative opportunities beginning with a debut curated thread set and culminating this year (2024) with her fifth. This latest collection captures the warmth, richness, and beauty of the fall season. Comprised of 6 large spools of Aurifil’s wildly versatile 100% cotton 50wt thread, this set is the perfect introduction to our favorite season.
In our interview, Monique shares the inspiration behind Hello Autumn and tips for working with these gorgeous threads in your own projects. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, this set will help bring the essence of Autumn to your next creation!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share some of your story with us. For our readers who are meeting you for the first time, could you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in this creative textile world?
I started quilting 32 years ago. My sister-in-law mentioned that she likes quilts and I thought “Me too! I think I’ll take a class.” So, I did and fell in love. In 2004 I had started designing my own patterns and a couple of friends encouraged me to start a company. I gave it a shot and I’ve been going ever since. I have a degree in math and as I was designing, I felt a need for some different rulers so I designed several different rulers. Then in 2008, I again was looking at different fabrics and didn’t find what I wanted so I decided to try designing fabric. I came up with a proposal and sent it to Maywood Studio, they loved it and I’ve been with them ever since.
You’re a key designer within the Maywood Studio family — what do you love most about working with them?
I love the ability to do different styles of design. I have designed everything from batiks to traditional to transitional. They will reprint fabric as well. It is wonderful for quilt shops because if they make a sample and it sells well, they can continue to order fabric for kits. It’s also great for me too because I can continue to design with that fabric line and not worry that the fabric will not be there when I publish my pattern.
Your latest fabric range with Maywood Studio, Hello Autumn, released in May along with your coordinating thread set… Can you tell us about the inspiration behind these collections and what initially sparked the idea?
Fall is my favorite time of year and I’ve been wanting to design a fall line for quite a while. When Maywood Studio gave me the go ahead, I had already been gathering ideas so I was ready to jump in! I wanted the colors to be rich and vibrant but also soft and warm. The pumpkins, leaves and berry colors are just that…rich but not bright.
Autumn is such a rich and vibrant season. How did you translate the essence of the season into both your fabric designs and coordinating thread colors?
I live in the midwest and when I go outside in autumn, I love the contrast of the cool air with the warm colors. I tried to relate this in both the colors and motifs of my fabric line.
Could you walk us through your creative process? How did you go about selecting and coordinating the thread colors with your Hello Autumn fabric line?
When I’m starting to develop a fabric line, color is my biggest inspiration. I look for palettes that coordinate and feel good together. Once I decide on the palette, I can start coming up with motif ideas. For Hello Autumn, I wanted the colors to be fall-like but softer. Peachy oranges, light greens, muted burgundies and creams pointed me towards a softer side of fall. Aurifil has such a wonderful selection of colors that it was so much fun to coordinate the colors with my line. I could have had more but feel the palette I chose reflects the Hello Autumn collection perfectly!
What was the biggest challenge in developing the Hello Autumn collection, both for the fabric and the thread?
The biggest challenge I had was narrowing down the selection of motifs and colors. I love all autumn colors and have many more ideas!
How do you envision quilters and sewists using the Hello Autumn thread set with your fabrics? Are there any particular techniques or projects that this collection is especially suited for?
When I chose thread to go with my collection, I tried to have the range of colors in the fabric line represented. I use Aurifil thread for all my quilting needs, piecing, applique, quilting and binding. I chose the colors of thread so I could do everything I needed.
We noticed that the feature quilt design is available as a FREE pattern via the Maywood Studio website (linked below). Can you tell us a little more about the Hello Autumn BOM Sew Along and any tips you might have for makers who might opt to work through this quilt on their own?
If you get a chance to watch the sew along, it’s posted on our Facebook page. On there, I show how to cut your motifs, your sashing and borders. I also give you a quick technique on mitered corners.
How does working with Aurifil threads enhance your creative process, and what excites you most about using it in your projects?
When I’m designing a fabric line or quilt, I imagine the Aurifil colors that I can use to highlight and enhance. I know there is such a wonderful variety that I can find a thread to work with whatever I’m planning.
Do you have a favorite hue or pair of hues from the Hello Autumn collection?
Not really because I love all the threads and colors I chose!
What advice would you give to quilters and sewists who are just starting out and looking to experiment with coordinating threads and fabrics?
If you can pull out a thread to lay it on the quilt or fabric, that helps tremendously. You can see how the thread will do on your fabric.
Now that Hello Autumn is out, are there any upcoming projects or collections that you’re excited to share with us?
I’m just in the beginning stages of designing but I’m excited about both designing fabric and coordinating Aurifil Thread!
Where can we find you over the coming year?
You can follow me on Facebook Open Gate Quilts, on Instagram OpenGateQuilts, and on my website www.opengatequilts.com
