As we're sure you all know by now, we're huge fans of Naomi Ito's abstract painterly designs! Working for Kokka Textiles, under the brand name of Nani Iro, this Japanese designer has a very distinctive handwriting and style to her work.

The 2016 Collection is, we think, one of her best! Naomi Ito's approach is definitely more artistic or painterly, rather than that of design. The initial artworks are usually painted with watercolours, you can often see the brush strokes within her designs, which create a great sense of movement.

This season's design Five Senses, pictured below, illustrates this beautifully, with its sweeping painterly brushstrokes, is inspired by nature. This particularcolourway in warm tones of grey, looks like it could be a 'cloudscape'.

Next we have the beautifully calming design, Komorebi, with its over-sized floral design and mix of neutrals, popped with coral, mustard and a pale acid green giving it a very contemporary look.

Saaaa Saaa Rondo, below, continues the painterly theme with it's hand painted stripes. Designed 15 years ago, for the very first Nani Iro collection, it's been brought right up to date with this modern mix of royal blue and warm brown colours.

Although inspired by textile fabrics made from dying and weaving methods from long ago, in Ori-Some, Naomi Ito has created a very modern looking print. The base has a subtle tones, created by building up layers using watercolours. Onto this she's then added suggestions of textile patterns, stripes and herringbone designs in Navy and Cream with highlights of metallic silver.

A smaller scale floral, but still with Nani Iro's distinctive handwriting, Lei Nani, shown below, is still a very contemporary design. Hand drawn it's beautifully detailed and the subtle metallic print adds another dimension to this pretty design.

Next we have another small scale print, Birdseye, which has the look of an impressionist painting. Re-coloured for 2016, we love this colourway called Shinsei, with its tones of turquoise on a soft bluey grey.

Finally we have Pocho, this was the very first design that Naomi painted for the Nani Iro Collection 15 years ago. Part of the Pocho Basic range, we love the contrast of the metallic copper spots on the grey base of the colourway Gift Metallic.

We hope you like the fabrics that we've selected as much as we do and that they're helped to inspire you with your summer sewing projects. Shop the collection here

We're eagerly waiting for our latest shipment of Nani Iro for Kokka fabrics from the 2016 collection!

Designed by Japanese designer Naomi Ito, these latest designs do not disappoint; we're big fans of her beautiful painterly abstract designs and know that our customers are too! Due in any day, follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to find out when these beautiful fabrics are available to purchase online.

In the meantime, you can shop our current range by clicking here.

Jen Beeman is the designer and patternmaker behind Grainline Studio. She loves to sew and make things, and is passionate about sharing these skills with others. 

The aim of the brand is to create modern, fashion-forward patterns all of which have been drafted with a contemporary fit. They believe that the best handmade wardrobe is one you can wear and be proud of on a daily basis. All of the patterns are drafted, graded and digitalised by hand in their Chicago studio.

We've selected six patterns to sit with our current range of Sewing Patterns, including a mix of woven, jersey, nightwear and accessories.

Firstly, there's the Alder Shirtdress, a sleeveless loosely fitting shirt dress that comes in two options as shown above. Both styles have the same bodice with bust darts, a collar and breast pockets, the dress on the left has a gathered skirt at the sides and back, which creates a flattering and fun silhouette; and the dress on the right has an a-line shape and curved hem.

This style would look lovely made in either of our Chambrays and Denims, the Essex Linens and the Organic Crossweaves.

The Willow Tank Dress is a great staple piece for your summer wardrobe. Fitted at the shoulders, it falls into a relaxed style below the bust. Choose from either a top or dress, both of which are a great vehicle for both prints and plains alike.

Next up is the Scout Tee, an easy to make style designed for woven fabrics, it has capped sleeves and a flattering scoop neckline. This is another style which allows the fabric to take centre-stage, the Nani Iro printed fabrics for example, would look fantastic in this tee shape.

The Lark Tee is designed for knit or jersey fabrics, it has a modern slim fit and is another Grainline Studio pattern that is destined to become a wardrobe staple. It works equally well when worn on it's own and also as a layering piece, under shirts, jumpers and jackets etc.

What we really like about this pattern is the fact there are four different necklines: crew, tee, scoop or boat; each of which can be interchanged with the four different sleeve options, choose from cap, short, three quarter and long sleeved; this gives the maker a total of16 different shapes to choose from, making it extremely versatile.

Any of our jersey knit fabrics by Art Gallery Fabrics would look lovely made up in this style, above we've shown Aged Allure Washed Knit; or why not take it to the next level with the 2 ply knit fabric by Nani Iro, Corsage.

We love the Lakeside Pajamas, they're just perfect for summer. The top features spaghetti straps and has a lovely split back detail. The shorts are a gym style, which are very on-trend right now, and both are finished with bias binding.

Ginghams are really on-trend this season and we think these pyjamas would look lovely is any of our Organic Ginghams, or for a more luxurious feel, any of the Nani Iro Double Gauze fabrics would look fabulous too.

And last, but not least there's the Stowe Bag! Designed by Fringe Supply Co., purveyors of fine knitting supplies, this is the perfect project bag, whatever your project may be! This bags has lots of internal side pockets for your to store small tools and notebooks etc, although designed for knitting it works equally well for other projects too.

If you love these patterns as much as we do you can follow Jen and Grainline Studio on her blog.  

We hope these patterns have helped to inspire you with your next sewing project, first up for me has to be the Willow Tank! Whichever one you choose to make, remember that we love to see what you've been sewing, please send us photos via the Contact Page.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

We've just added lots of new buttons to our online store!

There are all shapes and sizes to choose from including agoya shell flowers, hearts and stars; buttons with four holes so you can be more creative with how you attach them to your newly made garments; and we've also introduced a small selection of matt polyester buttons...

I spent a great day up in London recently and visited Missoni Art Colour at the Fashion and Textile Museum, in Bermondsey Street. The exhibition cleverly brings together over 60 years of fashion with paintings by some of the leading 20th century European artists plus previously unseen works by Ottavio Missoni.  

Before you see the exhibition, you're invited into the screening room, where three screens give a you a great insight into exactly what it takes to make a Missoni garment - from selecting the initial colour combinations - playing with various knit structures - the yarn spinning of the yarn - the computerised knitting machines in action which produce the beautiful knitted fabrics - pattern cutting - building up the collections - then on to backstage at the shows where you see hair-do's being styled, make up artists at work, dressing the models, all of which culminate in the catwalk show.

The exhibition itself starts with a selection of paintings by 20th century artists, and it was really interesting to see how they had helped to influence the individual style of Missoni. The painting above, by Giacomo Balla, I thought was a really good example of a work of art which had very obviously influenced the Missoni style, you can easily imagine this as a knit structure, and the colours too work beautifully together.

The paintings, lead you through to the main room, where you're greeted by 42 mannequins, all of which are perfectly positioned on a pyramid of stairs, each showcasing clothes designed by the brand from 1953, when Ottavio and his wife Rosita formed Missoni, right the way through to 2014.

Grouped as they are, the mannequins really are very impactful, you need to stop and take your time to take in all of the details in each outfit.

None of the pieces look at all dated. In fact, it's hard to tell which styles are from what decade, as you can see from the mannequins shown above. Factory noises are used as a soundtrack in this room, and the lighting, turns on and off, row by row, both which add to the drama and atmosphere of the exhibition.

Upstairs, there are original sketches for fabric designs and initial colour ideas, knitted fabric swatches, together with works of art by Ottavio Missoni himself.

Definitely an exhibition worth seeing, particularly if you're a Missoni fan, or simply interested in fashion, it runs until 4th September, 2016.