Crystal Kruger – The Designer Project

We’ve been incredibly lucky to have the very talented Surface Pattern Designer Crystal Kruger take part in the latest instalment of The Designer Project. As part of the initiative, Crystal has made a range of her designs available in our Fabric Shop online which can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics! In her blog post Crystal shares plenty of gorgeous snaps of her gorgeous designs, process work and creative space.

Hi everyone, I’m Crystal Kruger, the designer behind Skye St. Studio. I’m excited to share my new collection ‘From the Garden’ with you all and even more excited that you will be able to print my designs onto your favourite fabrics through Digital Fabrics.

Crystal Kruger in her creative studio

The ‘From the Garden’ collection is inspired by all things nature. Each print is a little bit nostalgic, but is also modern, soulful and trend relevant. The collection celebrates the comfort and joy of having a backyard garden or courtyard (or even a favourite local park) and of growing up playing in grandparents’ flower gardens, crunching along pebble driveways and a swing or two around the Hills Hoist. ‘From the Garden’ also gives a nod to our recent times in isolation, to romantic dreams of having your own fruit trees or veggie patch, being more self-sufficient or having a tree change and rediscovering the joys of home.

“From The Garden Collection” mood board

Collection of pretty finds in Crystal’s studio

There is quite a bit of variety in the collection, with some great trans-seasonal prints including florals, abstracts, stripes and fruity prints, which are so much fun! There are definitely patterns that are suitable for fashion, homewares, upholstery and accessories.

“From The Garden” textile collection

“Clementine Rose” fabric design used to upholster a chair

You will also find variety in the scale of the motifs across the collection, including a small-scale pattern called ‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’, which is asking to be made into some gorgeous dress!

‘Inky Botanical Ditsy’ design printed on Ponti fabric

I especially love the energy and joy of the ‘Summer Dahlias’ print, but there are some darker, moodier patterns as well, if that’s more your style!

‘Summer Dahlias’ design printed on Ponti fabric

All of my patterns start as hand-drawn and hand-painted motifs that I then digitise, clean up and then put into a repeating layout. I love that I can capture the organic feeling of a painting, all those lovely textures and variations in colour through digital fabric printing.

Crystal Kruger sketching designs in her studio

Clementine Rose hand painted artwork

“From The Garden Collection” hand painted motifs

I love to work with gouache paints because they are so versatile, from gorgeous washy ombre colours to solid, bold block colours. Cleaning up hand-painted motifs in Photoshop is definitely a labour of love, but worth it to have all those wonderful hand-painted marks and brush strokes.

Lemonade design- hand painted elements

‘Lemonade” design digitally printed on Demi fabric.

“Lemonade” fabric design used for a dress

You can see some of the behind the scenes photos of original artworks and motifs, paintings in progress and my studio space. My studio is based at my home in Sydney and I love my days working here creatively. It is a bit of an eclectic space, with some vintage/retro and upcycled furniture, lots of colour and plenty of inspiring items I have collected from my travels around the world. Oh and also lots of design books and plants – which finish off the perfect studio space! Part-time, I am also a design teacher, so it is wonderful to have that balance between my own creative projects and helping others manage their projects and learn design skills.

Crystal’s furry studio assistant

I can’t wait to see what all of you wonderful sewers and designers out there make with my prints, feel free to tag me on Facebook and Instagram so I can share your amazing creations! I would love to see some gorgeous upholstery or bedlinen made from the ‘Clementine Rose’ print, or perhaps the ‘Frutti Tutti’ stripe. Maybe some fun summer dresses made from the ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Papaya Spot’ patterns? There are so many great fabric bases to choose from at Digital Fabrics, so almost any project is possible!

“Frutti Tutti” design digitally printed on Ponti fabric

“From The Garden” fabric collection used in kitchen textiles set

“Papaya Spots” fabric design digitally printed on Ponti fabric

“Papaya Spots” fabric design used for a dress

If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project initiative and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you want to be part of this and sure, I will be in touch.