The Five Favs Series with: Kelli of Kelli Fox Designs
Episode 11
The Story behind Five Favs
This series developed out of my love of movies, and specifically, movie lists. Critics and film geeks alike spend hours pouring over lists, ranking everything from best movies of the year (pretty standard fare) to top five music documentaries (getting a little more granular) to top five movie characters that shaped who you are (pretty personal and specific!). I thought it would be fun to play with this idea in the quilting world. Since we spend so much time in our sewing spaces, they contain interesting snapshots of who we are as creators, and can offer a sneak peek into other aspects of our lives, too. And so- the creation of The Five Favs Blog. This is a top five of the guests favorite items in their sewing space.
I am so excited to introduce Kelli Fox from Kelli Fox Designs on the blog this month! I first came across Kelli’s work on QuiltInk and was instantly drawn into her geometric, linear quilts. Kelli does gorgeous work with stripes and as a self confessed stripe lover, I am continuously in love with what she creates. She’s got an eye for bold color combinations, and her patterns would add a sophisticated modern look to any space.
Welcome Kelli!
About Kelli
“I've always been a maker at heart — I’ve worked with clay, glass, and fabric over the years — but when I discovered quilting in 2018, something clicked. It finally felt like a passion. Quilting gives me room to play with color and texture, follow curiosity, and keep learning as I go. My style continues to evolve as I try new techniques and find inspiration in creating new designs. I love turning my ideas into approachable patterns that other quilters can turn into their own creations. For me, quilting is as much about the making as the finish - I genuinely love each step of the process.”
Where Kelli Works
“My quilting studio is tucked upstairs above the garage. It has that cozy ‘bonus-room’ feel, but with great light and just enough space to spread out projects without feeling crowded. I love that it’s separate from the main part of the house — close enough to pop in and sew for a few minutes, but far enough away that it feels like its own world when I’m up there working. It’s where all the fabric stacks live, along with the design wall, ironing station, and whatever quilt I’m currently making. It’s quiet, it’s personal, and it’s the perfect place to get away from any distractions.”
Fav 1 - Tailor’s Sleeve
“In my quilting studio, I keep a tailor’s sleeve handy as a small precision pressing surface — especially for narrow seams or tight areas in bags and pouches. It gives me much more control than a full ironing mat and makes it easy to press seams open or in a specific direction without distorting the piece. I also love it for long, tube-like pieces such as quilt sleeves, bag straps, and folded borders, because I can slide the fabric over the form and press from the inside without creasing the rest of the piece. It’s a simple but super helpful tool that I use often.”
Fav 2 - Oliso Iron
“I’ve tried a lot of irons over the years — some too light, some that leaked, and others that scorched — but the Oliso Pro Plus (Oliso does not sponsor me) finally solved those frustrations. I love that I can leave it face down between pressing seams or blocks. The heating is consistent without steam, and when I need steam, it is controllable. The even heating gives me flatter blocks and crisper seams with less effort. It’s one of those tools that improved my quilting process.”
Fav 3 - Babylock Sashiko
“The Babylock Sashiko is one of my favorite machines because it gives me that hand-stitched look I love without actually having to hand-stitch. I’ve always been drawn to the handmade finish, but arthritis in my hands makes it difficult to do much hand stitching. This machine creates beautiful stitching without the pain in my hands. The hand-stitched look really transforms a quilt — it adds personality, and makes it feel more handcrafted. It’s a small detail that elevates the whole piece in a way that feels really special.”
Fav 4 - Tailor’s Clapper
“My preference is a large 12” x 12” Tailor’s Clapper in my quilting studio, and honestly, I don’t know how I pressed without it before. Because of the size, it covers a big area at once, so blocks and long seams press flatter. It also works great when I’m trying to flatten bulky seams or get a really clean finish on modern designs with lots of straight lines. I just hit it with steam, set the clapper down for a few seconds, and the fabric cools perfectly flat. It’s become one of those tools that lives on my ironing station now—total game changer for clean, professional-looking pressing.”
Fav 5 - AccuQuilt Fabric Cutter
“Using an AccuQuilt fabric cutter has saved me so much time that I now look at traditional rotary cutting differently. Instead of spending ages lining up rulers, checking measurements, and trimming again to fix tiny shifts, I can stack the fabric, run it through the die, and it comes out perfectly cut every time. The biggest time saver is not having to babysit accuracy — no more “oops” edges or pieces just a hair off. It also makes cutting multiples much easier, which is huge when you’re cutting for a whole quilt. It’s one of those tools that feels like a splurge at first, but once you realize how much faster it makes cutting, it is worth it!”
