Quilted by Design: Stacy Iest Hsu
You’ve designed for so many industries—rugs, stationery, apparel fabrics—what drew you most to quilt fabric design, and what feels like “home” about it?
I have always wanted to design fabric for quilting. I used to look at my mom’s collection of quilt fabrics when I was young and always thought it would be fun to design fabric like that. Even when I started my career as a surface/textile designer, I would create lots of options and coordinates. I was kind of obsessed with building collections of prints.
It took a while to get into Moda—it’s a very competitive industry. But once I did, I felt so at home. It’s a community of creative women who are strong and successful, and I appreciate those qualities so much. It’s an honor and a privilege to be surrounded by such an amazing creative community: the quilters, the designers, and the store owners. Every time I come home from market, I’m in awe of everyone.
Your designs are often described as whimsical and sweet. Where do you find the inspiration for your novelty prints and playful cut-and-sew projects?
A lot of my inspiration comes from my own childhood. I loved dolls and toys—as did my mom—and we would often go to the toy store just to look at everything. I probably played with dolls a little longer than most kids, too. :)
Fast forward to having children of my own, I saw that same love of creativity, play, and imagination in them. My kids have inspired me so much. My husband always jokes that I have a childlike mindset—not in a negative way, but in the sense that I create things kids would love and that I really understand how children imagine and play.
Growing up on a farm and now raising a family of your own—how have those experiences shaped your design perspective?
As I mentioned before, my environment had a huge impact on how I design. Living on a farm, imagination was my biggest resource—we didn’t have access to museums or shops nearby. I believe my “imagination muscles” are strong because of that.
I tried to create the same kind of experience for my own children. Growing up on a farm, there were no limits on imagination. That mindset carried into my work. Throughout my career, my question has always been, “Why not? Let’s try it.” And it still is. Whether it’s a new technique, color, or style, I love exploring new directions. I am so thankful that Moda indulges my “Why not” attitude. Not all companies want to take the risk.
I often hear from customers that they never know what to expect from my collections—and that’s because of this mindset. Sometimes it’s a success, sometimes it’s not, but you never know unless you try something different. That’s something I’ve tried to teach my kids, too.
Many quilters love your panels and projects for their accessibility across different skill levels. What do you enjoy most about creating designs that welcome all ages and abilities?
What I love most about designing panels is the stories I hear from customers—like how they sewed them as gifts for their children or grandchildren, or how mothers and grandmothers made them together with their kids. I’ve also heard from people who learned to sew, both adults and children, using my panel designs.
Even more touching are the stories about communities coming together to sew dolls for children with health issues, or for those who are homeless or in the foster system. It’s mind-blowing to me that I get to be a small part of these experiences. It’s humbling, and I feel so blessed and inspired every day to play even a small role in something that meaningful.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about your future collections and where you see your design journey going?
As some people may have noticed, my collections have evolved over the years. My kids are older now (I just sent my second child to college this month), and my designs have become a bit more vintage. I’ve found myself feeling nostalgic and drawn to my family's past for inspiration—maybe it’s just part of getting older and more sentimental.
What’s been wonderful is that I’ve still managed to incorporate cut-and-sew panels into these more vintage-inspired collections, and I feel like they’re just as fun and exciting as ever. I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store!