Over the years, we’ve heard from countless designers who credit Sharon Holland and her magnificent library of work with opening their eyes to new possibilities… encouraging them to slow down, trust their instincts, and follow their own creative paths. That kind of influence doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from years of thoughtful work, a steady point of view, and a genuine generosity of spirit. We’ve long admired that in Sharon, and we’re grateful to call her a friend.
Our relationship with Sharon stretches back many collections, and each time we reconnect, we’re reminded of why her work feels so enduring. She designs with clarity and care, pulling inspiration from the natural world and everyday life in a way that feels grounded and approachable. There’s a sense of calm in her process, and it carries through everything she creates— fabric, thread, projects, and the stories she shares along the way.
That same sensibility is at the heart of Spruce, Sharon’s newest thread collection with Aurifil, designed to coordinate with her Spruce fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics. Inspired by the lush charm of the Scottish countryside, this palette brings together vibrant spruce greens, rich deep reds, and comforting cocoa browns. The colors feel warm and familiar, echoing the cozy elegance and natural beauty that define Sharon’s designs.
The collection includes five small spools of Aurifil Cotton 40wt and five small spools of Aurifil Wool 12wt, a versatile pairing made for piecing, quilting, hand-quilting, and embellishment. Thoughtfully curated to complement Spruce, these threads invite makers to play with texture and color in projects that feel timeless, inviting, and wildly personal. To celebrate this release, we sat down with Sharon to talk about her past year in design, the story behind Spruce, and what continues to inspire her as she looks ahead.
It’s been a year since we last sat down together in 2025, and so much has happened since then. Looking back on this past year in design, what moments— or projects— have felt especially meaningful or energizing for you?
I’m thrilled to be back with a new thread set collection, Erin! I’m always amazed how a year’s time can simultaneously feel like ages ago and like yesterday all at the same time. Measuring time by meaningful projects is a great way to get a fix on time and place. I have to admit that I had to go back and review my blog posts to recount the pattern releases since I’m constantly onto the next thing and needed to refresh my memory! From May 2025 to the end of April 2026, there have been six new major pattern releases at Sharon Holland Designs: the Sew Together quilt, Vincent quilt, Overlap Closure Pillowcase pattern, Scrap Basket quilt, Goose Goose quilt, and most recently, the Homecoming Table Runner.
Every new pattern gets me excited — about the design and fabrics, the photography that helps tell each story, and the comment from the makers who want to bring the projects to life. But, to answer your question about the especially meaningful projects, hands down, my two favorite releases this past year have been the Vincent quilt and the Goose Goose quilt patterns.
What has been fueling your creative momentum lately? Are there particular places, practices, or ideas that you’ve been returning to as sources of inspiration?
My creativity is always fueled by fabric. Whether it’s a new fabric collection I’ve designed for Art Gallery Fabrics or curating a selection from a mix of my AGF collections, the colors and prints are where every project begins. But where do the project ideas come from? I usually start the calendar year with a rough outline of what I want to accomplish and a few projects queued up, yet I rarely stick to the plan because fresh ideas spring up that I never even dreamed of—they simply materialize when I get distracted or notice a particular need. A good example is the 10 Aurifil Small Spools Tray tutorial: one day I realized I needed a fabric tray for my thread set and, presto, the fabric tray tutorial was born. I love that ideas and design can be organic and spontaneous—it keeps the work lively and always interesting for me.
Your work often balances quiet beauty with depth and intention. How do you feel your design voice has evolved over the past year?
I think it’s very important for a designer to grow and explore a variety of looks and styles while retaining their voice or hand, and at the same time keep the art fresh so it doesn’t read the same from collection to collection. I do feel my voice has evolved over the years, but in small, deliberate ways that build on what came before. I’ve certainly grown bolder with my color palettes and have experimented with multiple techniques to create richer, more unique artwork for fabrics. I also pay closer attention to trend forecasts now than I did in the past, using them as inspiration rather than direction. Even so, I believe my signature look and overall aesthetic remain intact. I still create prints I would love to sew with and be proud to put my name on—I don’t just make fabric collections; I like to create the start of a story for makers to sew the ending.
Spruce feels wonderfully rooted in nature, warmth, and a sense of place. Can you share the initial spark behind this collection and what drew you to the Scottish countryside as inspiration?
The inspiration for the Spruce collection began with a desire to create a sister collection to Juniper. My Juniper collection for Art Gallery Fabrics was a hugely popular fall-into-winter line with a cozy farmhouse vibe, and I admit I used Juniper as a loose template for Spruce. Yet, in true Sharon fashion, Spruce was never intended to be a carbon copy—it needed to tell its own story. I turned toward a more traditional Christmas mood and color palette for Spruce, and what feels more classic than drawing inspiration from across the sea in Scotland? I designed much of the Spruce collection before actually taking my trip to Scotland and Ireland last fall, so my early vision of the countryside was largely a personal fantasy. After visiting and learning about Scotland’s landscapes, history, and holiday customs, I feel confident that I did capture the spirit and heart of a Scottish Christmas in this collection.
As makers begin working with Spruce heading into the 2026 holiday season and beyond, how do you envision the collection being used? Are there certain types of projects or moments you had in mind while designing it?
Even though I’m presenting the Spruce collection as a Christmas line, there aren’t any explicitly Christmas-themed prints in this group — only the colors suggest the holiday! The collection works well year-round, though it feels especially at home during the holiday season. I plan to do all my tree and home decorations in Spruce this Christmastime and love the traditional, cozy feeling the prints give me whenever I see them.
What were your favorite projects to create with this new collection?
I loved making every one of my Art Gallery Fabrics Look Book projects and especially enjoyed how they all looked together when I used them to dress up the house for the holiday season (photo shoot), but I’ve had to rein in my very long make list and narrow it down to just a few projects for now so I can pace myself through the rest of the year. One of the first things I’ll be starting soon is a Goose Goose quilt in Spruce (or, as I like to call it, a Spruce Goose Goose), along with a set of stockings, many more ornaments for my tree, and a Quilted Carryall bag—just to name a few of the projects I’m planning on sewing.
Can you tell us a little more about your coordinating designs with Renaissance Ribbons? How do they fit into the overall Spruce story?
With Spruce being such a festive, classic line, it naturally made me think of expanding into other sewing-related product lines beyond fabric. Because Spruce was designed a year before it shipped to shops, that lead time gave me the perfect opportunity with this collection to partner up and branch out with other companies. Renaissance Ribbons proved to be an ideal collaborator for Spruce, since ribbons and Christmastime naturally belong together and add an extra layer of seasonal charm. The rich, tapestry-like Renaissance Ribbons make an exquisite coordinating sewing notion alongside Spruce fabrics and Aurifil threads, elevating projects with added texture and refined, elegant finishing touches.
We’re thrilled to introduce your coordinating Aurifil thread collection alongside Spruce. What was your vision for translating this fabric story into thread?
Your use of the word “story” in your question is exactly the right choice, because that’s precisely what I aim to create with every collection: an open-ended narrative that resonates with makers. It can feel a bit overwhelming at first to choose threads from Aurifil’s incredible variety of thread types and colors, but the moment I discovered you offered a 12-weight wool thread, I knew those spools would form the core of my palette. The texture and warmth of Aurifil wool perfectly complement the traditional, natural, cozy mood I envisioned for Spruce. After carefully selecting the five wool spools that set the tone, I chose the next five in 40-weight cotton so the thread set would offer versatility for makers — the 40-weight cotton also works well as a balanced bobbin-weight when paired with the wool.
This curated set includes both Aurifil Cotton 40wt and Wool 12wt— a combination we love. Why was it important to you to include both weights in this collection?
Just like designing a fabric collection and wanting every print to feel like a favorite and be useful for sewing a project, I want a thread set to be equally essential for finishing that project. Having a 10-spool set lets me divide the threads into compatible types and reach for the right option at the right time. The 12 wt wool thread is the star of the collection, ideal for topstitching, handwork, and decorative stitches, while the 40 wt thread is my dependable workhorse for piecing, machine quilting, machine embroidery, and even as bobbin thread to pair with the wool. One small box of Spruce Threads can make a surprisingly big difference and bring a lot of magic to a finished piece.
How did you go about selecting the specific colors for each weight? Did you imagine them playing different roles within projects?
Drawing inspiration from the colors used in the Spruce fabric collection, I first selected the best matching 12 wt wool spools, imagining how those rich tones would appear when hand-stitched. After settling on the wool colors, I chose coordinating 40 wt cotton spools in slightly lighter or darker shades to complement each wool option, allowing them to be paired as top and bobbin threads or used alone as a top thread while still harmonizing beautifully with the Spruce fabrics.
How do you personally love to use Cotton 40wt and Wool 12wt together? Any favorite techniques or layering tips you’d share with makers?
It was such a pleasure to work with the Aurifil 12 wt wool and 40 wt cotton threads in my Spruce Look Book sewing. I really put both thread weights through their paces — running the wool through my sewing machine as a top thread, then using it for hand quilting, general sewing with the 40 wt cotton both as a top thread and in the bobbin (while pairing the wool as the top thread). A few practical tips I learned for sewing with the wool thread: use a topstitch or sharp needle in 90/14 or 100/16, employ a needle threader to ease the strand through the needle eye, slow your stitching pace a bit, and apply a bit of thread wax when hand stitching to help the thread glide more smoothly through the fabric.
You’ve worked with Aurifil for many years now— what continues to make Aurifil thread your go-to, both creatively and practically?
I love Aurifil as a company and its staff. The Aurifil Artisans always blow me away with their creativity, and I’m continually inspired by their projects to think of thread as more than just a practical way to sew fabrics together. Beyond the inspiration, Aurifil thread is strong, easy to handle and work with, and available in so many beautiful colors and thread types that you’ll want to have a selection on hand for every kind of sewing project.
We are in love with your new thread trays– they are perfect to organize and display your threads. What inspired that project, and how do these kinds of handmade tools support your creative process?
They say, “Necessity is the mother of all invention,” and I couldn’t agree more. I wanted a neat spool display for the Aurifil booth at the upcoming H+H trade show, so I designed this 10-spool Aurifil Small Spool Tray. I love how easy it is to make and that its custom-made size holds 10 small spools snugly. Also, I was able to incorporate the Spruce fabric design I used on the Spruce Threads packaging. I liked the result so much that I also made a matching 10-spool tray for my Midsummer Sewing thread set. Now my threads are not only organized and easy to reach but are also contained in an attractive display tray that matches the Aurifil box design.
What else can we expect from you in the coming year? Are there upcoming launches, collaborations, or ideas you’re especially excited about exploring?
There are always irons in the fires! I’ll be attending the H+H trade show in May, catching up with colleagues and partner companies and taking the opportunity to meet other attendees and shop owners. My 23rd fabric collection for AGF, Charming One, arrives this August, and my 24th collection, Garden Party, is scheduled for release next January. I’m hoping to host a Goose Goose Quilt Along this June–July, but I seriously need to get organized and start sewing now to make sure that event can actually happen! There are two new collaborative relationships that will be announced in July; I’m excited to share details when the time comes but can’t reveal them yet. I’ll be hosting the 4th annual Gifting Handmade Makers Showcase on my blog early this fall to inspire your holiday and gift-making sewing. And, of course, I have several new quilt pattern releases planned throughout the rest of the year.
Where can readers find you in person this year? We’re so looking forward to seeing you at H+H and sharing more from the show with our community.
The H+H show in May is the only trade show I have time to attend this year, but readers can find me daily on my Instagram feed @sharonhollanddesigns and follow along with any major event, fabric, or pattern release announcements on my blog at www.sharonhollanddesigns.com.
Finally, drawing from all of your experience in design, publishing, and making— what advice would you offer to newer makers who are just beginning to develop their creative voice?
The number one piece of advice I always give is to remain true to your own style and aesthetic. It’s far too easy to be swept up in someone else’s vision and mimic their look. For a creative voice to be sustainable over time, you must be yourself, create what you love, and move at your own pace. Give yourself permission to explore and refine your style without comparing it to others. Even if you have only one follower who truly appreciates what you do, you’re still a success. The passion you put into your work will always shine through and viewers know when you’re authentic. Showing up and creating regularly, day after day, even when no one is watching, is the essential practice that will shape and develop who you are as an artist.
HUGE thanks, as always, to Sharon for taking the time to chat with us and to continue to inspire us all with her warmth and creativity!
Such a lovely article! I’ve been a fan of Sharon and Art Gallery Fabrics as well as Aurifil thread for many many years! Between Sharon’s new fabric collection and the new Aurifil thread collection, I’ll be ready to sew for fall and winter this year. Really excited to play with the wool thread as I’ve never sewn with it before.🩷🤩😊