UK Quilters
So, you are starting out on your patchwork and quilting journey with a class or two, maybe a good instruction book or even YouTube and have heard about quilt shows but are a little too scared to go? What are they all about and why bother? Well, read on for a little introduction on what…
Well, as most of my informative years were in the 80s I couldn’t help but think of this when hearing about the challenge for the Ice Quilt Sew-a-Row, designing a quilt for the UKQU website. You can read the full story of the Ice and Fire quilts in October’s issue of British Patchwork and Quilting…
Busman’s Holiday, that’s the term, isn’t it? This July I had a week off, relaxing in the sun, a little vino and time with the family. Then I realised that Jen Jones has announced that she is retiring and is holding the last exhibition at the Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter so I squeezed in…
Featured Image – ‘Generations’ by Matilda Ward. Festival of Quilts is the biggest quilt shows in Europe, as I’m sure you know. For those of you who have never been, or just couldn’t make it, I thought I’d show you some of the amazing quilts that are on display. I’m saving the winners for the…
The sun is shining as I write and holidays are approaching. I sew virtually every day and when going on holiday I just can’t go without taking something with me be it a little kit or a full project. But how to take your fabrics and notions without packing way too much? Something I’ve been…
As May is themed as baby month I’d thought I’d talk about memory quilts. Those quilts made from the clothes and fabrics that remind us of past times; the babygrow that you brought them home from hospital in, the first funny t-shirt or the special outfit that Nanny bought. (Although in my case, she really…
My Mum’s 70th birthday was coming up and she had planned a weeks stay in a beautiful house overlooking the Menai Bridge in north Wales. My Brother and his family, our close friends and my own family all together and, as a quilter, I just had to make something to commemorate her birthday and the…
June Tailor Mix ‘n Match Hearts These are made of a flexible plastic and come in a variety of shapes. I was lucky enough to receive the hearts (love hearts!) to review but they also come in stars, circles and leaves amongst others. There are six shapes in each set reducing in size from roughly…
I do a lot of hand quilting so you’ll never find me without my thimble. I’m actually quite attached! Know me, know my thimble! It’s quite common for me to wander round the house asking “where’s my thimble? I’ve lost it again!” (I really need to get a back up!) But what thimbles are out…
APPLIQUÉ The technique of applying one or more fabrics to a background with hand or machine stitching. Always use a thread to match the colour of the shape to be appliquéd. Hand appliqué Also known as needle turn appliqué. The appliqué pattern can be traced onto the background fabric or an overlay method can be…
Ok, so are you quite as sad as me? Those lovely fabrics we invest in. You wander around the shop, reaching out a hand to stroke lightly across the smooth cotton surface. Home your purchase comes (always a little more than you intended, just in case, yes?) Pin Cushions Finally, and this can be…
When piecing fabrics, it is essential to press each seam as it is stitched. Firstly, press the seam flat on the wrong side before opening the pieces, to set the stitches. Left hand block has had first press Then, on right side of the fabric, press both seams towards the darker fabric using tip of…
