Renowned pattern designer and teacher Jo Morton is adding a new designation to her list of accomplishments—Moda fabric designer. Her first Moda line, Gratitude, will be appearing in shops at the end of the summer and its rich, warm colors are perfect for autumn stitching.

Gratitude’s cozy vibe will fit right in to the 1928 bungalow Jo shares with her husband and cats in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Their home features oak woodwork and lots and lots of quilts, which don’t overwhelm the place because of their smaller-than-average size.


Small quilts suit Jo for a number of reasons, including a lack of wall space to display large ones, an interest in trying out lots of patterns, and an ability to make them in a short time. This last aspect especially appealed to her after making her first quilt in a class in 1980 in Lincoln—a twelve block, double-bed-sized, hand-pieced, hand-appliqued, and hand-quilted sampler. In those days she was working as a bookkeeper for a car dealership and made a deal with her boss to work Saturday mornings so she could take Wednesday afternoons off for the quilt class. That deal obviously worked in Jo’s favor, as quilting became her life’s work.


Antique quilts were (and still are) Jo’s number one inspiration. “I am drawn to their quirks, and I especially love earthy-colored quilts,” she says. In 1985 she created her first quilt that looked old, a 24” by 24” wall hanging she named Hattie’s Baskets. These quilts with patina meld perfectly with the reproduction folk-style furniture the fills her home. She acquired the pieces at Pennsylvania, New England, and Virginia shows where she sold her small, framed quilts over a 12-year period. “I developed a love of craftsmanship in all things from furniture, paintings, basketry, pottery, and more,” she says. “Due to my travels then, I have a red ware pottery collection, and also have purchased yellow ware in antique shops.”


About ten years ago, Jo’s business was overtaking her home. When a nearby house came up for sale, Jo and Russ purchased it and moved Jo’s packing and shipping, fabric storage, and sewing studio into the 832-square-foot-home. Her “studio house” is just 50 steps away and gives her more room in which to work, but also makes it easier to shut the door on work at the end of the day.

Jo is going to be enjoying more time at her home and studio, as she plans to retire from teaching after one more scheduled session this summer. She’ll continue to run her popular Jo’s Little Women Clubs, to create patterns—Martingale just released her 22nd book, Jo’s Little Favorites, in January—and of course design fabric. That’s good for us all, because as Jo says she tells friends who say they’re only sewing from their stash “Every now and then what we have needs new friends, and new fabric can make your old stuff come to life.”
Yahoo!! I can’t wait to get that fabric and I am so glad Jo is going to be designing for Moda.
So excited about this! Jo’s one of my favorite designers, Moda’s my favorite company, this is going to be great!
Yippee JO can’t wait for this wonderful line…congrats on all of it. Hugs c
Wonderful news all the way around!
Say it isn’t so. You are retiring. Seriously, you will so enjoy it.
Beautiful fabric…can’t wait to get my hands on it! Congrats on retirement…more fabric lines, more quilts, more everything…makes for more happy quilters…
Moda…count yourself lucky to have Jo in your designer team
Wonderful news – two of my favorites in one place!
I will add….. I am positive Jo will agree that she is thrilled to be a part of the Moda family. Congratulations to Jo and Moda.
Such inspiration!! Love the new fabric! Congratulations on joining the Moda team!!
Wonderful news Jo! Congratulations on joining with Moda…your new fabric line looks gorgeous! And now you’ll have more time to “play”, I’d call that a Win -Win situation!
Can’t wait to see, touch your fabric !
I hope you’re bringing it to Lindas Quilts ain The Barn later this year
Wonderful news. Jo is so talented and has such an eye for color and design that I’m sure her new line of fabric is going to be very popular.
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
Can’t wait to get some of that beautiful fabric.
The best joins the best. Jo and Moda.
Great news – can’t wait to get some of that beautiful fabric!!
gorgeous fabric…jo is the high priestess of repro fabric…
Just bought the book, can’t wait for the fabric, I will be lined up for that. Wahoo.
Glad you are with Moda my favourite.
Congratulation on your designing for Moda, I will watch for your new line. Enjoy your retirement from teaching, but sorry I was never able to take a class from you. I will have to remove that from my “bucket list”. Best to you in your future endeavors!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing these fabrics in person
I’m so glad that Jo is going to continue designing her beautiful fabrics. I found it strange in the article that her fabric designing wasn’t mentioned once. If a non-informed quilter were to read this it would sound as if her business consisted of patterns and teaching. What an odd omission, is it taboo to mention her previous huge success as a designer now that she’s in the Moda stable?
No, it’s not taboo and you’re right, I should have added “fabric designer” to her list of accomplishments. Good call.
Wonderful article. Have been in Jo’s club since the first one. The new line Gratitude is beautiful and I look forward to seeing it in person.
Way to go Jo ! Definitely putting up “graditude” this summer !
Love her colors and her little quilt designs
Welcome to Moda, Jo! Love your fabrics, patterns, and colors!!
Beautiful fabric!
I enjoy and love Jo’s designs, fabric and books. I can’t wait to add fabric to my stash with Jo’s Gratitude line.
Jo we will be on the same team!! So excited.