WHAT’S TRENDING: BEES, BUTTERFLIES, AND OTHER BUGS

 

You don’t have to be an entomologist—or even an insect enthusiast—to appreciate the insect’s essential place in the world’s ecosystems. But have you given much thought to the insect’s role as a design element?

 

Dating back to at least the early 20th century, the butterfly served as inspiration and form for appliqué patterns, as evidenced by antique quilts and illustrated in patterns excerpted from The Kansas City Star, copyrighted 1931. And the butterfly remains a fairly ubiquitous design motif to this day.

 

Further, bees, beetles, and other insects have shown up in children’s and novelty fabric designs for decades. But in recent years, we’ve noticed a growing number of fabric designs that incorporate insects as a design element in a much more sophisticated way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Curio from Windham Fabrics

This recent collection from designer Betsy Olmsted was “inspired by the naturalists’ cabinet of curiosities.” Curio features an abundance of beautifully depicted natural elements, including feathers, crystals, shells, bell-jar terrariums, and—yes—insects.

 

 

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Conservatory from Camelot Fabrics

Designed by Sara Berrenson, the Conservatory collection includes colorful floral, bird, and insect designs, including a mix of watercolor-like “critters” and a unique damask pattern featuring ladybugs and bees.

 

 

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Pollinator from RJR Fabrics

The latest collection from designer Leslie Tucker Jenison was inspired by the remarkable—and critical—process of pollination, from the pollinators (bees, insects, and birds) to the plants that attract them. Among the collection’s organic designs are wind-scattered plants, florals, hummingbirds, and bees, including a honeycomb background.

 

 

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Bee a Keeper from Studio e Fabrics

Bees are front and center in this recent collection by Dt-K Signature, a follow-up line to Save Our Bees. Bee a Keeper features allover bee, honeycomb, bee hive, and bee box prints, as well as a novelty bee stripe and repeat block print with a variety of bee keeper motifs.

 

 

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Bee Joyful from Moda Fabrics

This new collection from designer Deb Strain takes the bee motif in a slightly different direction by combining bee-inspired designs with sentiments on life and joy. Bee Joyful also includes honeycomb, bee-themed floral, parchment, damask, and panel prints.

 

 

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Honey Run from Riley Blake Designs

This upcoming collection from Jillily Studio’s Jill Finley also combines bee-themed and honeycomb designs with sophisticated vines, florals, diamond, and check patterns.

 

 

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For the Love of Bees from Blend Fabrics

From designer Cori Dantini, this recent collection offers a sweet, flower-filled take on the bee theme. For the Love of Bees features bright bumble bee, honeycomb, and geometric prints, florals, and two panel prints with Dantini’s whimsical designs.

 

 

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Various Collections from Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Among the recent and upcoming releases from Robert Kaufman Fabrics are a number that feature insects among their designs, including Everyday Basics (bees!) by Mary Lake-Thompson, Butterfly Blooms (batik butterflies) by Lunn Studios, and Nature Studios, which features butterflies in seven different color palettes.

 

 

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Sonnet c. 1920 from P&B Textiles/Washington Street Studio

Inspired by “the romance of favorite vintage patterns and colors,” this new collection features flowy floral and botanical designs, checks, textural patterns, and butterflies.

 

 

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Winter Garden from Lewis & Irene Fabrics

In a similarly soft and muted color palette, this recent collection was inspired by a “frosty morning in the countryside,” and includes dots, small florals, large-scale florals with butterflies, and tone-on-tone floral-and-butterfly designs.

 

 

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Various Collections from Michael Miller Fabrics

A look at the new and upcoming collections from Michael Miller Fabrics reveals butterflies in several forms. Nature Journal features delicate butterflies and flowers in pastel hues, the eclectic Night Garden by Tamara Kate includes butterflies among its prints, as does the jewel-toned Dilly Dahlia.

 

 

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Zinnias in Bloom from Clothworks

Butterflies—specifically, Monarch butterflies—are among the many vibrantly colored prints in this new collection from designer Sue Zipkin. Also included are, of course, zinnias in several forms as well as tone-on-tone prints.

 

 

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Secret Escape from Elizabeth’s Studio

This upcoming collection includes artfully designed panel and allover prints featuring flowers, birds, and butterflies. The Secret Escape allover butterfly print showcases a variety of gorgeous butterflies against three background colors: light blue, black, or cream.

 

 

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Lugu from Art Gallery Fabrics

Fellow lepidopteran, the moth, makes an appearance in the recent Lugu collection from designer Jessica Swift. Lugu also features mystical creatures, owls, and nighttime imagery like moons.

 

 

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Dragonfly Dance from Benartex/Kanvas Studio

The graceful dragonfly is the focus of this new collection from Kanvas Studio, which is also enhance with metallic gold. Prints include “Dancing Dragonflies,” dragonflies on waterlilies, and layered dragonfly wings.