5 Tips for Finding Sewing & Quilting Inspiration While Traveling
I’m sharing my favorite tips for finding creative inspiration while traveling, based on my recent trip through the English countryside. From charming villages and historic landmarks to centuries-old textiles and cozy cottage gardens, I’ll share with you how I turn travel snapshots into sewing and quilting project ideas.
I’m often asked where I get my ideas for the projects shared here and the fabrics I design. Traveling is one of the best ways for me to refresh my creativity and gain new ideas and perspectives.
While I get so much inspiration from visiting new places close to home, sometimes it’s nice to stretch myself a bit more and travel to places that are farther away.
I’m generally a pretty “anxious” person (especially regarding travel), and part of me would rather stay home all the time and sew. I know it’s good for me to push myself in ways that make me uncomfortable.
We recently returned from a trip to England, and I thought I’d share with you some of the inspiration I gained while on the trip. I have a few ideas for future projects that I hope to share here!
I’ll also offer tips to help you find inspiration for your sewing projects while you’re away from home!
Our Trip Itinerary
Before I delve into the inspiration and tips, I thought I’d provide some background about our trip, so you’ve context for the photos I’ve shared below.
I’ve been to England a few times (shared here and here), but it’s always been for just a few days on the way to somewhere else, and I’ve mostly only visited London.
This time, I decided that we wanted to see some things outside of London. I’ve been dying to go to the Cotswolds, York, and the North of England.
We planned an ambitious trip, rented a van (thankfully, I didn’t have to drive), and drove from London to Scotland, stopping to see as many sights as possible along the way.
We could only stay for a little more than a week, but we managed to see quite a bit in that time.
- Flew into London, picked up a car, and drove right to Oxford.
- 2 nights in Oxford with visits to the Cotswolds.
- Drove to York (stayed for 2 nights), stopped at Chatsworth House along the way.
- Next was a drive from York to Edinburgh, with brief stops at Roman ruins and Jedburgh.
- 2 nights in Edinburgh, then back to London via train.
- Had a couple of days in London to explore before flying home.
I’m sure some of you may think we’re crazy for trying to fit so much into our week, but I’m happy that we visited all the places we did, even though we honestly needed another day in both Oxford and Edinburgh.
If you have specific questions about where we stayed or other traveling details, I’m happy to answer them. Just leave a comment, and I’ll share as much as I can with you!
Color Palettes from the English Countryside and Cities
One of my favorite things to spot when traveling is unexpected color combinations. I get used to pairing the same colors and tones of colors over and over.
I think a lot of it has to do with what I’m exposed to every day, living in Kentucky. This is not bad, but sometimes you don’t notice the daily patterns you’re exposed to until you go somewhere else and see how they use color, both in their homes and in the clothes they wear.
As we traveled around the county, I noticed a much richer color palette. This was especially evident in the historic sites we visited. I spied rich greens, deep burgundy, and dark navies everywhere. If you’ve been a long-time reader, you may notice that I gravitate towards lighter and brighter colors.
Since my return, I feel inspired to create a quilt using a richer color palette.
Inspiration from Architecture & Nature
It’s always fun to spot unique colors or varieties of flowers to use as inspiration for my fabric designs.
While I believe most of the flowers we saw in the UK are varieties we have in the US, trying to spot unique flowers while abroad is one of my favorite pastimes. (I was mesmerized by all of the Lupines in Iceland.)
The detail in the architecture in the UK was astounding. Granted, we were focused on visiting historic places, which generally feature more detail than modern buildings.
I loved all the small details that were almost hidden on the buildings. Oxford was particularly inspiring in this regard.
I didn’t even notice the extra detail in the ceiling of the Divinity School until I looked at my photographs after the trip.
Textile History and Historic Inspiration
England’s textile history is a blend of craftsmanship and innovation, with highlights including the Cotswolds’ renowned wool production and Liberty London’s iconic floral prints.
For centuries, the Cotswolds were at the heart of the English wool trade, supplying high-quality fleece that supported local weavers and built the region’s famous “wool churches.”
We stumbled into one in Stow on the Wold and I was delighted to spot rows of needlepointed cushions (which I assume are for kneeling in church). Many of them were unique, and I wondered if certain designs were specific to various families.
In London, Liberty became a symbol of fine design in the 19th century. It was celebrated for its delicate, artistic floral patterns, which remain beloved by quilters and sewists and quilters to this day.
I could write an entire post just about Liberty, and I think I will. It deserves its spot on the site! So I’ll just briefly mention it here, because no trip to England is complete without a trip to Liberty!
Medieval tapestries, often found in castles and manor houses across England, showcased intricate storytelling through textiles, highlighting the incredible skill of early weavers.
We visited some of the great houses in England (Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House). One of my favorite things was studying the details of the tapestries. They were as large as the entire room, and it was a bit mentally overwhelming to think about the amount of work involved in creating them. I can barely get myself to finish a small needlepoint ornament!
Shopping for Fabric & Notions While Traveling
I always try to seek out fabric shops when I travel. I use Google Maps to find local sewing shops. Just type “Fabric Store” or “Craft Store” into the search (make sure you have “use my location” enabled). This is how I found a charming sewing shop in a hidden York alley!
Many museums and historic sites also feature well-curated gift shops. Occasionally, you can find an inexpensive tote bag that you can repurpose into a sewing project, or decorative ribbons, buttons, or other items to embellish your project.
I could not resist the urge to purchase some fabric and notions at Liberty London.
Although most of my Liberty fabric collection features smaller prints, I was immediately drawn to the larger scale of these florals.
I also picked up a few patches that I can’t wait to incorporate into a fun sewing project! (Maybe a Liberty version of my Hogwarts zip bags?)
5 Tips for Finding Sewing Inspiration While Traveling
1. Pay Attention to Color Palettes
Take note of the natural surroundings, architecture, and even local fashion. Take photos or jot down color combinations that catch your eye for future fabric pulls. I use Canva to generate color palette ideas from my photos after I return from a trip.
2. Look for Patterns and Motifs
Architectural details, tilework, garden layouts, and shop signs can all spark ideas for quilt blocks or fabric designs. I even spotted a fun pattern on a heat vent return in one of the palaces we visited.
3. Visit Local Textile Museums or Shops
Seek out fabric stores, haberdasheries, and museums featuring textiles or decorative arts to discover regional techniques and materials.
If you’re visiting London, you must see the Victoria and Albert Museum, which contains an archive of William Morris prints. They also have a costume collection featuring textiles from various periods.
4. Keep a Travel Sketchbook or Inspiration Photo Album
Sketch interesting patterns or write down design ideas as they come to you. I use the notes app on my phone to jot down ideas as we are out and about.
The camera on your phone is also an excellent way to keep track of inspiration as you’re out and about! Capture not just tourist sites but also textures, patterns, and colors that inspire creativity.
The trick to getting this to work for me is to take a moment each evening and organize your photos into albums. I also have a dedicated album on my phone called “Print and Pattern” to keep track of all the ideas I come across.
5. Collect Small & Notion Fabric Souvenirs
Purchase fat quarters, trims, or buttons from local shops. Open-air markets and thrift shops are great places to look for small items for future sewing projects.
I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration for your projects that you’re working on now or have planned for the future!
Keep an eye out for loads of projects inspired by the experiences in this post in the future! I have so many fun things planned to share with all of you!
Do you have any creative travel tips to share? I’d love to hear about them, just let me know in the comments section.
