UK Quilters
Quilting samples (have I got time to do an extra one?); Workshop handouts (mostly written; need to finally proof read and print off); Antique wholecloth quilts (which ones shall I bring? Maybe not the really heavy ones, as the class is upstairs); Mug rug sample (ooh, must get the backing on that!); pencils and erasers…
Have you ever stitched the pieces of your block together, looked at it, and wondered why it doesn’t look right? When assembling blocks, the small units are assembled into rows first, and the rows are then joined together. You have probably turned one of the small units (or even a whole row) around while doing…
Perfect points make your patchwork look so great. It’s what we all want, but how do you achieve it? Read on – and download a free summary or a free one-page try-out pattern if you would like to keep this for future reference. Catherine Wheel – pattern available from my Shop Pressing diagonal seams It…
Have you ever seen a wholecloth quilt? A surprising number of “quilters” today don’t know what this is, and even fewer have made one. The UK has a wonderful tradition of quilts which contain no patchwork at all, but just rely on the texture created on a single fabric by hand quilting the entire design.…
The Rocking stitch is the most common method of hand quilting, and once mastered produces beautiful results. If you are struggling to produce neat even stitches, then watch how Carolyn Gibbs breaks the process into steps in this short video. It does take practice – see how Carolyn’s stitches improved on the first project…
Striped fabrics can add a real “zing” to quilts – but many people avoid them, because they have been told that they are “difficult”. I want to help you spot the problems before they happen, and develop the confidence to include them in your quilts to give maximum impact – they are not just for…
Achieving perfect points in patchwork is a great goal. The key involves knowing when to break one of the rules that you may have been taught! Beginners are often taught to “always press behind the darker fabric” – to avoid the possibility of a “shadow” showing through the paler fabric. This is still a good,…
Mitred corners look so classy on a quilt, but they need a bit of care to look good. How to stitch mitred corners Stitch each border onto your quilt starting and stopping at a point 1/4″ in from the end of the centre panel. Secure your stitching here with a fix stitch or by going…
Choosing fabrics for a quilt is something that many people would like to do, but lack confidence for. They are not sure why the colours that looked good in the shop don’t seem to give the result they hoped for. Personal taste I would encourage you to make your own choices, and not just to…
Using a rotary cutter is a great way of accurately cutting fabric pieces of the shape and size required. It doesn’t take long to learn how to use it – a few tips and a little practice will soon have you cutting with confidence. I’ll start with how to use it for cutting the most…
Do you ever discover a nasty little pleat on a diagonal seam where it hasn’t opened out properly? Here is an ironing tip to avoid this:
