Podcast Episode
Tara Faughnan on Handloom, Color, Quilt Design & Building Community - Ep. 212

About this episode
This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Tara Faughnan, quilter, pattern designer, teacher, and the creative force behind the new Handloom fabric collection with Windham Fabrics.
Tara has built a name for herself through her distinctive approach to color, texture, and quilt design. Her quilts bring unexpected color combinations and fresh energy to classic quilt blocks, creating work that feels both playful and deeply thoughtful.
Tara was the featured quilt artist at QuiltCon 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, where her exhibit showcased her unique interpretations of traditional quilt blocks. Seeing these quilts in person was an incredible experience, and this conversation gives us a chance to dig deeper into the creative mind behind them.
Tara recently launched Handloom, her first licensed fabric collection with Windham Fabrics. The woven fabrics are a beautiful reflection of Tara’s love of color and texture, with a versatility and timeless quality that make them exciting for quilters and sewists alike. Tara has previously worked as an in-house designer for both Michael Miller Fabrics and Windham, making this first licensed collection an exciting new chapter in her career.
We also talk about Tara’s approach to teaching and community through her Block Studies Collective, a membership program built around exploring quilt blocks through color, creativity, and connection.
Each six-month season includes:
🧵 Curated color palettes
🧵 Video courses for each new block
🧵 Monthly Zoom meetups
🧵 Guest designers
🧵 Virtual sewing days
🧵 Access to a private creative community
Tara has built something really special around her business. She shows up honestly and authentically, and that same spirit carries through the community she has created.
In this episode, we talk about:
Designing her first licensed fabric collection
Handloom with Windham Fabrics
Color and texture in quilt design
Her experience as the QuiltCon 2025 featured artist
Reimagining traditional quilt blocks
Teaching and building creative community
The Block Studies Collective
Finding your artistic voice
Creating an authentic presence online and in business
Whether you’re interested in modern quilting, quilt design, color theory, fabric design, quilting education, or building a creative community, there is something here for you.
Learn more about Tara’s patterns, courses, Block Studies Collective, and Handloom:
Tara Faughnan
Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
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