The design story of Sibona embroidered cotton and silk quilts

Each Sibona quilt is individually designed and made to our exact specification.

Where there is an embroidered pattern, the design has been carefully researched and developed in discussion with a Sibona designer. Design inspiration often comes from old designs which spark an idea that can be worked into a new design. Once the design concept is realised, then the next stage is to imagine the scale and the repeat of the pattern – how it will actually look as a quilt.

Recent embroidered designs such as the Fern silk quilt and the Tree of Life cotton quilt have originated from old botanical woodcut prints which describe in detail the structure and form of the plant. But, however charming these original images might be, there is always a great deal of work to do in adapting these illustrations to make them into a viable textile design. The design needs to work in terms of the drawing, how it can be interpreted in embroidery and how it appears from a distance in a room.

Once the drawing stage is completed, the next step is to decide on how the design is to transfer to become a pattern on the fabric. Different types of stitching need to be considered and a meticulous imagination needs to envisage the colours that will allow the design to be attractive, original, workable in terms of an interior as well as having the essential ingredient of innovation.

Initially, for an embroidered design, some sample swatches will be made to see the effect of the selected colour combinations. Often shades will change in appearance according to their juxtaposition with other colours as well as the density and direction of the embroidery stitching. Sometimes shades which appear to be right on the thread sample card will then seem to be too bright or harsh once they are actually used.

In selecting colours consideration is also given to how the tones will incorporate into different styles of interior decoration and how the pattern will integrate with other textiles in the room.

Finally when the balance of colour and pattern is correct then sampling will proceed to a full size quilt. At this stage the quilting stitch pattern needs to be specified. While this is a decorative aspect that is integral to every quilt, by definition a quilt needs to have the upper fabric, interlining and the reverse fabric stitched together. Sometimes the quilting pattern will add another layer of design to the quilt in the way that you might have stripes running through a floral jacquard fabric, and in other designs the quilt stitching will flow around the embroidery. Usually the border of the quilt will have a simpler, contrasting pattern such as narrow line stitching.

You can buy our unique and exclusive embroidered silk and cotton quilts online or from our stockists around the country.

We have an extensive product range in silk and cotton cushions to complement our quilt designs. We also have a kids bedlinen range, a gift range wich includes travel and lingerie bags, tidy bags and laundry bags, and also shoe bags. Our hand embroidered table cotton napkins have the most incredible detailed hand embroidery and they come in a variaty of themes, such as the sea theme of Marina Blue, fruit and leaves as well as a collection of Christmas designs.