Today I'm excited to share my first tutorial made using Janome's amazing Continental M17 Sewing and Embroidery machine for The Flower Fields Quilt made using prints from my new collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, The Flower Fields! The CM17 offers many top features and for this simple quilt project the incredibly generous workspace, perfect stitches, and fast sewing speed made creating this beautiful quilt so much fun!

Click here to view the full project

Click here to view project instructions

Click here for the project instructions

Hello, everyone! I'm Carolina Oneto, a Chilean quilter currently living in Brazil. My journey as a quilter began unexpectedly, as I originally pursued a career in Industrial and Business Engineering. However, my passion for colors and creative expression eventually pulled me into the world of quilting.

I have always been fascinated by the way colors interact and the impact they have on our emotions. My studies in color theory have been instrumental in shaping my unique artistic style. I use fabric as my medium to create intricate designs and abstract compositions that showcase the interplay of colors in mesmerizing ways.

Through my work, I strive to fuse traditional quilting techniques with a modern, artistic sensibility. I find inspiration in the vibrant landscapes, rich cultures, and diverse nature that surround me in both Chile and Brazil. The patterns and textures I encounter in my everyday life often find their way into my quilts, lending them a unique and personal touch.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to exhibit my quilts on a global scale. They have been showcased at prestigious exhibitions such as Quiltcon, the Houston quilt festival  and European Carrefour du Patchwork festivals, as well as various galleries across Europe, the United States, and Chile. Seeing the reaction of viewers to my work and hearing their interpretations is incredibly rewarding, as it allows a connection to be formed through the universal language of art.

In addition to my artistic endeavors, I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and skills with fellow quilting enthusiasts. I teach both online classes and have the privilege of teaching at guilds and quilt shows around the world. It brings me immense joy to see my students unlock their own creative potential and witness their growth and artistic development.

As a Janome Maker for Janome America and a Wonderfil thread specialist for Wonderfil Specialty Threads, I am constantly exploring new techniques and materials to push the boundaries of my quilting artistry.

While my journey from being an Industrial and Business Engineer to becoming a renowned quilter and color theory expert might seem unexpected, it has been an incredible and fulfilling path. The melding of my analytical background and artistic passion has opened doors I never imagined possible.

I am excited to continue my quilting journey, using fabric as my canvas to tell stories, evoke emotions, and inspire others. Through my art, I hope to spread joy, connect with people, and leave a lasting impression on the quilting world.

Carolina Oneto

Modern Quilter, Quilt Instructor

https://carolinaoneto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/carolina_oneto/

As long as I could remember, I had an interest in the ability to make things with my hands, but it wasn’t until an MTV Making The Video episode with Destiny’s Child, that I even heard of the idea that one would make their own clothing. While the mother of one of the artists mentioned that she made the entire group’s outfits - a flame in me was sparked and it’s been burning ever since.

I had little to no knowledge at the time of what making your own clothes actually meant, so for me this would mean that I need to think about what clothes I wish I had, draw the idea, and then figure out how I could make it by hand. This involved combining clothes that I already had, to hand stitching them into what I wanted them to become.

Below is a make that I designed when I was 13. It was the very first time I let my imagination take over to create something physical that began from thought.

Today looking at it,  it seems like a simple scarf wrapped around a tank top, but it is so significant to me as it was something created out of whim - this was a time before social media and before crafting or sewing was something I was even aware of. This top is super common but I had no clue of it at the time, all I knew was that I wanted to manipulate this fabric in a way that I had never seen before, and that is something I’m super proud of.

It wasn’t until much later in life that I learned that both of my grandparents sewed and even owned their own tailor shops. Looking back I could have picked their brain about how to start or how one would go about sewing, but now knowing sewing was something familiar to the family, I am inspired to teach my children and keep exploring ways to carry on that legacy.

The today me also would’ve told the 13 year old me to keep going, keep designing, and keep researching the clothing making process. If I would’ve consistently been sewing or creating since then, who knows how far I would be by now - but everything happens for a reason and the beauty is that today I get to share a piece of my origins story with you with hopes that it will encourage, inspire, and motivate you to start, continue, and keep creating and sewing ❤️

XO

Stephanie

@sewwithstephanie