About Julia

Julia Duke has lived in Vermont for 25 years, where she raised her daughter and continues to pursue her lifelong passions for sewing and knitting. A career nurse, she grew up in Connecticut and holds a Biology degree from Bard College as well as Nursing degrees from Pace University. Though she studied art in college, she always knew nursing would be her calling. When she’s not working, sewing, or knitting, Julia enjoys spending time at home with her husband and pets, tending to her gardens, exploring nature, and visiting with family and friends—and, of course, fabric shopping!

Julia is a lifetime sewer, learning from her mother and her grandmother. She started out sewing clothing for her dolls, then for herself, and then for others. Wanting to try something new, Julia started making quilts.

“Quilt-making lets me combine fabrics in a large format, and I get to use pieces of fabric that I’ve been collecting for years …..and years."

Most of Julia's bags and quilts are original designs. Topstitching on quilts and quilted items is done "free motion" on a machine, without presets or stencils.

“Quilting is meditative and also fulfills that restless urge to create. And there is something really satisfying about putting different fabrics together. Maybe that’s just a me thing.”

Julia Designs

You'll find Julia Designs items to be meticulously crafted for durable use and pleasing presentation