Meet Karen, a Liberty addict and has been collecting and archiving Liberty fabric and swatches for years.
How long have you been collecting Liberty Fabrics?
“I don’t know precisely but I think I really started around 2006 when I decided to sew for my kids and me… My father was a collector (mainly hippopotamus, comics and antics) I may have the collector love in my genes? But I remember starting my Liberty books in 2017. I’ve had the idea in mind for some years and bought a Moleskine and started with the Betsy… not knowing I would manage to collect so many!!! I have 17 books at the moment but I need to buy more. For example, I have over 400 different Betsy colours; mainly Tana Lawn but also poplin, viscose, silks, linen, jersey, corduroy & swimwear etc… and I also have around 200 Wiltshire.”
Tell us more about your smocking & do you have any tips for a beginner?
“My mother taught me to smock a long time ago, and I wore smock dresses as a kid. It’s not very hard but it’s meticulous and very addictive. It works very nicely on Tana Lawn. The best tip I could give is to try with a small project for example a purse or a doll dress, and maybe on Gingham because it helps a lot with making accurate pleats by hand.”
Your Liberty wardrobe is impressive! What’s your favourite piece you have made?
“Oh that’s a hard question because I love many pieces! But, if I only chose one it would probably be my black Felda Patchwork jacket, I’m always very proud to wear it 😜”
What is your favourite Liberty fabric?
“Oh I think it’s difficult to answer straight away to that question since I love soooo many Liberty prints! But I think for the moment it’s FELDA that I really love very very much ! I’m really happy to see it become part of the classic collection! I love the watercolour design of course but I think it’s also because it’s a print that is wonderful on all backgrounds – white, beige, grey but also navy or black!
I counted my Felda collection and I have now also 25 different colours!!! Some are seasonal or classics colours but I also have some exclusive and of course mainly Japanese colourways.”
