Pattern & Personality: Colorful Quilting Fabrics & Creative Play with Kristen Perreault of KP Creates
Posted by Sarah Maxwell on Jan 7th 2026
Meet Kristen Perreault, the creative force behind KP Creates—where modern quilting meets joyful experimentation. Kristen’s work is instantly recognizable for its playful geometry, confident color choices, and that magical balance between structure and freedom that invites quilters to make it their own.
Whether she’s designing bold patterns, teaching makers to trust their instincts, or encouraging a little rule-breaking along the way, Kristen brings an approachable, curiosity-driven energy to everything she creates. We’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on her creative journey, her process, and the passion that fuels KP Creates.
What is a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
Something fun that most people don’t know about me is that I was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I moved to Florida with my family when I was 11 and have been here ever since, except for my college years. I absolutely love to hike and spend time in the mountains, but I also love the ocean with my whole heart. I just wish the Gulf Coast of Florida and the Rocky Mountains were closer so I could hike AND play at the beach more often.
Are you a tidy-desk or beautiful-chaos kind of designer?
I am a bit of both. My studio definitely hits beautiful chaos mode when I am deep into a project, but I never leave it that way for long. I get distracted if there is too much happening around me, so a tidier space helps me focus, especially when I am on a deadline. Tidy for me still means colorful and full of inspiration, just with everything picked up and in its place.
If your latest collection had a soundtrack, what songs or artists would be on it?
My upcoming collection, Ghostly Garden, is full of punchy colors and bright, happy designs, so the soundtrack would be upbeat with plenty of stop you in your tracks and dance in the kitchen moments. Dancing in my kitchen with my boys is one of my favorite things to do ever. Ben Rector’s “Brand New” would probably make the list.
What’s your signature color, the one that shows up in almost everything you design?
Aqua and pink are the two colors I truly cannot live without. You will almost always find pops of them in my collections. Really though, I love all bright, saturated colors.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the world around me, big and small. The trips we take as a family, the little things in our yard, color combinations I spot while out and about. I am always on the lookout for inspiration and usually have a sketchbook or my camera close by to capture ideas when they show up.
What’s a trend you’re loving right now?
I am loving the Dopamine Decor trend right now. It focuses on creating a happy, stimulating, personal space using bright colors, bold patterns, unique textures, and meaningful objects. I am fully on board with filling our homes and daily lives with things that bring us joy. It also feels so connected to quilting, where we bring together all kinds of fabrics to create something vibrant, colorful, and full of heart.
If you could only use one fabric from your latest collection, which one would it be?
If I could only use one fabric from Ghostly Garden, it would be either Sew Spooky or Bitty Gingham. Sew Spooky has so many fun fussy cutting opportunities and would make adorable bags. Bitty Gingham is just a classic and you can never go wrong with a good gingham.
What’s your “can’t-live-without” tool in your creative space?
Choosing one tool is impossible, so I am choosing a few. My camera is always nearby for photographing my own work and client projects. My iPad and computer are essential for digitizing all my designs and creating repeats in Photoshop. My noise canceling headphones are a must because I get easily distracted. And this might be an odd answer, but I could never have a studio without natural light. Nothing compares to being able to see colors clearly while I work.
What do you listen to or watch while you work: music, podcasts, silence,
My go-tos are audiobooks and music to listen to while I work. I love a good romcom book and listened to over 100 books last year. My music tastes are all over the place from older favorites from my high school and college days to current new releases. I listen to lots of genres, but I always lean toward music with lyrics.
What’s your go-to comfort snack or drink when you’re deep in a project?
Half unsweet and half sweet iced tea is my all-time favorite drink. I always have a jug brewed in the fridge. I went to college in Mississippi and that is where my love for true southern tea began and it still runs deep.
What’s one creative habit or superstition you secretly have?
I don’t think I have any real habits or superstitions, but if I am struggling to get into the right headspace, lighting a candle with a real match (I love the smell!) and turning up some favorite music while sketching in my sketchbook always helps get the creative juices flowing.
If you could only use three colors for a year, what would they be?
I would choose aqua, pink, and black. Black and white with pops of bold color is so fun and you can do so much with it. I think I would get less bored with this trio than with other options, although using only three colors for a whole year would still be tough.
What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
Sleeping in or having ice cream while watching movies with our boys. I love being cozied up and cuddling with my crew.
What’s your creative superpower?
My creative superpower is color. I think I see color a little differently than most people- I notice so many variations and subtle differences. Putting colors and patterns together is something I do almost by instinct now. Color is the most important part of design for me, which is why my process always starts there.
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl for sure. Both my husband and I are night owls, although that shifted a bit when our boys were little and early mornings were unavoidable. Now that they are older, we are back to our night owl ways. I love working in my quiet studio after everyone is tucked in for the night.
Last book read or movie watched?
One of the last books I read was Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Our family loves the Harry Potter series, and we have read them aloud with all of our boys at bedtime. Our two youngest are about to finish book six. We started reading the books in first grade with each of them and only read about one per year so they can fully understand and enjoy them. It has been such a special tradition, and I have so many sweet memories of us snuggled up reading together. One year we even dressed up as Harry Potter characters for Halloween.
One project at a time or 10 in progress?
I love the satisfaction of working on one project from start to finish, but I definitely have too many WIPs to claim that I only do one thing at a time. I usually sew only one project at once, whether it is a quilt or a bag, but I have several waiting in the wings that I can pick up whenever the mood strikes.
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