Who is Carly Mul?
Carly Mul, a Dutch lawyer by education, discovered a passion for fabric in her thirties after moving with her family from the Netherlands to the USA. She began a craft business called Box Emotions, selling hundreds of handmade, fabric-covered boxes across the country.
In 2003, Carly founded Webfabrics in the basement of her home. Over time, it grew into one of the largest and most successful quilt retailers on the East Coast. Webfabrics offered fabrics through an online store, a brick-and-mortar shop in Purcellville, VA, and had a strong presence at major quilt shows nationwide. The business stood out for its complete fabric collections, reasonable pricing, and excellent customer service, with knowledgeable and personal attention. Carly cultivated a shop that embraced all quilting styles, with a special focus on basics and blenders—making it a true all-around quilt destination.
Carly's eye for color is well known in the quilting community. Customers regularly sought her guidance for their projects. She also wrote a weekly newsletter highlighting noteworthy fabrics and explaining their appeal. She has given lectures and workshops on color trends and collage quilting—her favorite style—and has been consulted by fabric companies for her insights. Today, Carly continues to offer color consulting to anyone who asks.
With a broad understanding of both the creative and business sides of the quilting industry, Carly has made a lasting impact.
After the birth of her first granddaughter, Carly realized that running a busy retail business left little time for family. In June 2022, she sold Webfabrics to focus on spending more time with her loved ones. She now works in her studio creating art and teaches collage quilting at guilds and shows, both nationally and internationally. To support her students in sourcing the right fabrics, she launched www.collagefabric.com in September 2024—a site dedicated to collage quilting, offering super small fabric cuts.
Her book, Freestyle Color Collage, was published in February 2025.
Carly also volunteers at Loudoun Hunger Relief in Leesburg and enjoys tennis, gardening, and traveling.
