UKQU | Chris Franses | Friends Activity https://ukqu.co.uk/members/chrisf/activity/friends/ Activity feed for Chris Franses's friends. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:29:55 +0100 https://buddypress.org/?v=10.6.3 en-GB 30 hourly 2 bb6d03e9f4cf199c8c3419ff4f22aae1 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/blog/2022/12/21/log-cabin-christmas-card-hanger/#comment-12491 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:03:59 +0000 A good idea – it does take a while to make, but can then come out every year.

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Log Cabin Christmas Card Hanger Do you still receive a lot of cards at Christmas time? One unusual solution to the dilemma of where to display them is this Christmas Card… ]]> cec88f4f93f918b24484306b2b50369e Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Log Cabin Christmas Card Hanger https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=109888 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 18:09:22 +0000 Do you still receive a lot of cards at Christmas time? One unusual solution to the dilemma of where to display them is this Christmas Card Hanger and of course you get the pleasure of making something useful…

]]> 2 00b1f77a5caacfbebc24c14f454498b8 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Don't chop off the points! https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=1785 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:33:40 +0000 Hello – I’m Carolyn Gibbs, and my great love is traditional style patchwork and quilting – designing and making things myself, as well as enjoying antique quilts made by others.

In my “other life” I teach Che…

]]> 0 f4fd8ac7907d54e92f265c59f5d0e6d5 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Birthday Bunting https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=74522 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:38:36 +0000 A special child needs a special present – here’s an idea for a personalised and unusual gift which will be useful for years.

This card hanger can string along a wall, or over a door, and because an alp…

]]> 0 e8a13e44321bc0346f31692b8e15b55f Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Washing antique quilts https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=265173 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:20:27 +0000 I collect antique quilts, mostly from EBay, and some of them arrive showing plenty of evidence of a hard life. If they are in good condition structurally, but very dirty, I usually wash them. People often ask me how…

]]> 0 9e7b18e29be77e06b096bad60a2d4059 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/blog/2021/12/25/a-step-forward-for-tilly/#comment-11707 Tue, 28 Dec 2021 11:49:33 +0000 Glad you enjoyed it!

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, A Step forward for Tilly As Tilly wiped around the scullery sink in the light of the dying fire, she thought back over the past three years. Since coming to work for Miss Charlotte… ]]> 34b813338db97fdc823154c81d2cd3b5 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Fit for an Angel https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=230744 Sat, 25 Dec 2021 06:28:57 +0000 John opened his eyes slowly, noticing that he had almost five minutes before the alarm clock started ringing. After almost forty five years of getting up to do the morning milking, his body clock could have…

]]> 1 d833af48a170f9d20e482adc98b3f480 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, A Step forward for Tilly https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=363699 Sat, 25 Dec 2021 01:29:13 +0000 As Tilly wiped around the scullery sink in the light of the dying fire, she thought back over the past three years. Since coming to work for Miss Charlotte following the death of her mother, she had not only learnt…

]]> 2 5fd5c834e4dcd5ebf0c50453607fc9d4 Sarah Wickett wrote a new post, Field of Dreams Part 1 https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=359657 Sat, 27 Nov 2021 06:03:29 +0000 Who doesn’t love a Kevin Costner Film. Field of Dreams is one of my favourites, Little did I know that one day I would have a ‘Field of Dreams’ of my very own.

In the Kevin Costner version, he ploughs up a Field…

]]> 2 a58aca6cbb068dc2069893765adb35ce Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Grandmother's Flower Garden https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=347249 Wed, 29 Sep 2021 04:51:11 +0100 Hexagons are the easiest shape to use for patchwork using the English Paper Piecing (or mosaic patchwork) method. There are many ways hexagons can be combined into different patterns, but the most common is the…

]]> 1 29c8f0f1e13543efab7ac1f588733f01 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment http://ukqu.co.uk/blog/2021/07/18/__trashed-15/#comment-11251 Sat, 31 Jul 2021 20:50:40 +0100 This was brilliant Jude – provided some much needed hilarity and solidarity (my printer decided to do something similar just before I needed to print all the handouts for Festival of Quilts teaching – do you think they have decided to get together just to spite us?)

In reply to - Jude Charlesworth wrote a new post, Not the blog I intended to write On Saturday evening I sat down to write the blog I was going to write, all went well until I tried to insert an image of a block  from EQ 8.  T… ]]> 22f8132b70a53007fce032876357419e Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Not the blog I intended to write https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/23456/ Sat, 31 Jul 2021 20:46:57 +0100 0 a9e330e526ed6ee95eea1c656909494f Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment http://ukqu.co.uk/blog/2021/07/16/what-is-this/#comment-11250 Sat, 31 Jul 2021 20:41:24 +0100 A really useful blog, Chris – so often the same units are hiding away, and breaking the structure down makes it much easier to work out how to make it

In reply to - Chris Franses wrote a new post, What is this . . . ? A query that frequently crops up on UKQU Facebook posts is ‘What is this . . . block/quilt design called?’ and is usually followed by ‘Where can I find the patte… ]]> 1b2e15666f221cc16d98bf6838bdf064 Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Discovering the Quilting Community – A Newbie Quilters’ Experience https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/23453/ Sat, 31 Jul 2021 20:36:21 +0100 0 b53756542bf8d82de78dd114a2680725 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/having-fun-with-shirts/#comment-11227 Sat, 10 Jul 2021 20:40:47 +0100 I like the shirt bag – specially the pocket for a shopping list!

In reply to - Jane Galley wrote a new post, Having fun with shirts It has been rather hectic here over the last few weeks.  Alongside my existing work, I’ve been doing some teaching in the community.  While it has been a lot of f… ]]> e389dc7a0ca20f0b8973062edac2fd81 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, North Country Quilts Exhibition at the Bowes: Part 2 Patchwork quilts https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=334048 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:57:20 +0100 The North Country Quilts exhibition at the Bowes Museum on until January 2022 contains some wonderful examples of typical British styles.
In the last post, I wrote about the Strippy Quilts. Today the topic is the…

]]> 0 f7b6a001639f881b075b944094085f65 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, North Country Quilts at the Bowes Part 1: Strippy quilts https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=333609 Mon, 21 Jun 2021 07:59:39 +0100 Currently, there is a wonderful exhibition of Heritage quilts on display at the Bowes Museum, which is near Barnard Castle. These are all British quilts made in the North East of England from the mid nineteenth…

]]> 0 39279c0ceab1129dd059b3fccc2be4ad Vendulka Battais wrote a new post, Use it or lose it - now more relevant than ever!!  https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=333463 Sat, 12 Jun 2021 09:31:02 +0100 The long winter lockdown is over and retail has now been open for nearly three months. We are all happy that we can see our family and have a chatter over coffee with a friend. Unfortunately not everything is as…

]]> 0 5254c3a33827f84604864a2bb5f5bca2 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/a-patch-of-love/#comment-10683 Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:29:01 +0000 Thank you!

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, A patch of love Tilly took one last look around the cottage from the doorway. Almost all the possessions and furniture that she had grown up with had been sold to pay the debts which… ]]> d0c10c9e28db3eece8f8115009dad0d8 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/a-patch-of-love/#comment-10672 Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:39:55 +0000 Thank you – I enjoyed imagining my quilts in their former existence!

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, A patch of love Tilly took one last look around the cottage from the doorway. Almost all the possessions and furniture that she had grown up with had been sold to pay the debts which… ]]> fbdd06ecab4527f6f34863990422ce42 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/tis-the-season/#comment-10671 Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:38:31 +0000 A lovely story – quilting has indeed been a comfort in a dark world for so many this year

In reply to - Maggie Attfield wrote a new post, Tis the Season… <img src=”https://ukqu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/54D23881-40AA-4AAF-B5AB-CCFF1459602D.jpeg” alt=”” class=”ui-sortable-handle” data-eio=”l… ]]> 0813f6473bac2abfc3bd3791caa1e206 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, A patch of love https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=309077 Fri, 25 Dec 2020 06:24:25 +0000 Tilly took one last look around the cottage from the doorway. Almost all the possessions and furniture that she had grown up with had been sold to pay the debts which had built up during her mother’s last illness, l…

]]> 4 cca40b34ec1bbc013e309ba596f3f815 Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Our Patchwork Heritage – Triangles https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/21277/ Tue, 29 Sep 2020 08:33:02 +0100 0 0eed0216274f49217109b1ae67233845 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/colour-contrast/#comment-10265 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 08:27:41 +0100 Thanks Maggie – yes, I must agree that I don’t personally find colour wheels very helpful

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Colour & Contrast 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… ]]> 4e274a42d09b72b9345980170d86c455 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/books-on-machine-quilting/#comment-9722 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:01:51 +0100 I learnt so much from Harriet Hargreaves books too!

In reply to - Chris Franses wrote a new post, Books on machine quilting Last month I showed you my books on hand quilting and promised a peek at my machine quilting books this month. I think next month I will have to continue with… ]]> 084042e3b1af030ef5b973226e811fe5 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/colours-glorious-colours/#comment-9717 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 06:37:42 +0100 A really interesting blog. Those distinctive colour names are useful to help me remember a particular colour of fabric that I am searching for.

In reply to - Maggie Attfield wrote a new post, Colours, glorious colours. *Spoonflower fabric: too nice to cut. Like many quilters, I love fabric. And like many quilters, colour attracts me like shiny things do a magpie.… ]]> 381d30c93c39c2a036e97640d6b2de45 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/how-do-you-store-yours/#comment-9716 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 06:28:32 +0100 I also use storage boxes for my fabric, separated into rough colour families. We deliberately bought a metal framed bed so that I could store the boxes underneath – keeps them out of the light to avoid fading

In reply to - Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, How do you store yours? One of the questions I see often on various Facebook posts and pages is ‘How do you store your fabric?’. Then there are the posts that show how people hav… ]]> 71e939bdf882631458747292467a6a20 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/skilful-skyful-part-1-half-square-triangles/#comment-9542 Fri, 26 Jun 2020 21:28:03 +0100 Glad you found it helpful, Maggie – we can always pick up new tips, no matter how long we have been doing patchwork.

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Skilful Skyful Part 1: Half Square Triangles This is the first of a series of eight blogs which will teach you different techniques used in traditional American block patchwork. Each… ]]> c4d681acca861ff7a606a2aaa41a6ac9 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Skilful Skyful Part 1: Half Square Triangles https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=264767 Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:56:47 +0100 This is the first of a series of eight blogs which will teach you different techniques used in traditional American block patchwork. Each section will include full, free instructions for two Star blocks using the…

]]> 2 aabc13da917ba0cdba858805d90486a4 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/the-story-of-a-workshop-leader-part-3/#comment-9480 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 22:10:52 +0100 Good on you for going digital, Sheena!

In reply to - Sheena Roberts wrote a new post, The Story of a Workshop Leader – Part 3 Friendship Star Quilt I didn’t realise that there was going to be a Part 2 to this but yet here we are with a Part 3.  Admittedly they… ]]> 739d6d31e8487c52b5a3acbe671cac01 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/planning-a-sampler-quilt-part-1-fabrics/#comment-9357 Sun, 24 May 2020 16:09:25 +0100 Thanks Lyn

In reply to - Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Planning a Sampler Quilt: Part 1 – fabrics A “Sampler Quilt” is one which has many different blocks, usually separated by sashing strips. They are very popular with those who like to… ]]> ffabab938153610c74b294897e7d4431 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Planning a Sampler Quilt: Part 1 - fabrics https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=239298 Wed, 20 May 2020 18:16:03 +0100 A “Sampler Quilt” is one which has many different blocks, usually separated by sashing strips.
They are very popular with those who like to experiment (or get bored easily), as you only do each block once, and can…

]]> 2 a333b83f521e853970f467b53dfc9cd7 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Perfect seams for squares https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=261545 Mon, 11 May 2020 06:30:59 +0100 Beginners often start with stitching squares together to make their first patchwork quilt.Many experienced patchworkers know a simple trick to help get the seams lined up nicely when the squares are stitched…

]]> 0 e693324c579c03175d6c34caaaa4388a Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/a-quilt-and-a-group-of-friends/#comment-8495 Thu, 26 Dec 2019 21:43:55 +0000 I can see a lot of traditional Welsh motifs in the quilting – and a lot of love for a special friend.

In reply to - Bartysmam wrote a new post, A Quilt and a Group of Friends A quilt and part of a group of friends Let me tell you a story. It is about a quilt and a group of friends. But the story changes – it eventually b… ]]> 9d64ef51a819156d4b5071190ba921dc Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/felices-navidad/#comment-8470 Tue, 24 Dec 2019 08:20:45 +0000 Lovely to hear about the different traditions

In reply to - Sue Burford wrote a new post, Felices Navidad! Twelve Days of Christmas [and yes we know its Christmas Eve, but we like to get things off to a fun start. Merry Christmas all our members .. from now until 6th January… ]]> 7dd7f3d753b951e6b48ee545e3d76242 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/stitchers-christmas/#comment-8469 Tue, 24 Dec 2019 08:17:05 +0000 Love it!

In reply to - Sylvia Priest – webmaster and quilter wrote a new post, Stitchers Christmas [Author Unknown] Twas the night before Christmas, and, oh, I was weary. My stitching unfinished, my eyes getting bleary. The… ]]> 7df6094d0a8e9145c89637f02d9028fe Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 7: Transferring the design https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=191367 Sat, 02 Nov 2019 17:33:14 +0000 There are three main ways to copy a design onto your fabric:

Tracing the design onto the fabric from a paper copy. This must be done before layering.
Drawing the design through the gaps in a stencil (purchased or…

]]> 0 bc6ddac4028d02580fff8be6f9d81565 Vendulka Battais wrote a new post, Living Wild Quilt  https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=218116 Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:36:18 +0100 Have you ever heard of digitally printed fabrics?? The technology these days is moving forward in everything and the production of the fabrics is no exception. I had the opportunity to test a series of digitally…

]]> 0 e24b6f10d0e2e0baa7272f7daa331e2e Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/let-there-be-light/#comment-7946 Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:38:55 +0100 Some really good suggestions here Helen – think I need one of those light strips on my machine!

In reply to - Helen Kent wrote a new post, Let There be Light! The dark nights are drawing in, with spring a distant memory. I often wonder how they managed in the past, sewing on an evening, but I suppose they would sew in the… ]]> 7c873b8507e38b450291ca182174a9c2 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/merry-christmas-from-makower/#comment-7942 Mon, 30 Sep 2019 12:10:51 +0100 What fun! Love the stripy elf legs

In reply to - Judith Clarke wrote a new post, Merry Christmas from Makower A beautiful set of fabrics from Makower has been sent for me to play with. What wonderful designs and a gentle soft hand to it. All the usual Christmas… ]]> 0a63804d6e4f4b42a9a3a23532025a61 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 8: Layering https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=209671 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 05:08:30 +0100 A quilt is made up of three layers – the top (which may be wholecloth, pieced or appliqued), the wadding and the backing. These three layers are held together by the decorative quilting stitches.

It’s imp…

]]> 0 0c0ab286334aaf074d8e689cd5e881f3 Carolyn Gibbs posted a new activity comment https://ukqu.co.uk/review-gutermann-hand-quilting-threads/#comment-7599 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 08:29:23 +0100 It’s always surprising how much more subtle the thread colour looks off the reel, isn’t it? I do like these Gutermann threads for hand quilting – as you say, so easy to use.

In reply to - Helen Kent wrote a new post, Review – Gütermann Hand Quilting Threads When asked to review the Gutermann creativ Hand Quilting thread I needed to layer up a mini project as I hadn’t anything ready to quilt. I’ve not… ]]> 456bf39a26779673474fd5207efb6f65 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 6: Marking methods https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=174114 Sun, 02 Jun 2019 05:32:30 +0100 The quilting design needs to be marked onto your fabric, so that you can see where to stitch.
The ideal marker is one which shows a clear line until you have quilted along it, but then completely disappears!…

]]> 0 6e3017d51bbc03b0825795b0af6dada3 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 5: Equipment, Needles & Thimbles https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=186613 Sat, 18 May 2019 05:40:24 +0100 Needles
The type of needle you use for hand quilting depends on which stitching technique you use. I stitch in the traditional way using the “rocking stitch”. More details about how to do this will be in the last pos…

]]> 0 b57ff5f45642f38886dcb100f04e3875 Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Starting hand quilting: Part 3: Threads https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/16544/ Tue, 14 May 2019 18:30:32 +0100 0 8ac88053a69d867818ceeb9ade6968ef Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Starting hand quilting: Part 3: Threads https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/16543/ Tue, 14 May 2019 18:30:30 +0100 0 19bf78714a6328cfe7cb132b362228a1 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 4: Equipment: Hoops and Frames https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=186213 Sat, 11 May 2019 05:39:44 +0100 What equipment do you need to start hand quilting? Well, there are lots of different views on this, so I will share what works for me.
Hoops

14″ quilting hoop, bound with tape

I prefer to use a hoop to hold the p…

]]> 0 82091d9969968dd4aef0cf71e40872e1 Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 3: Threads https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=173096 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:13:49 +0100 While it is possible to use all sorts of threads for hand quilting, which is the best, and why?
There are two things to consider:

What will the finished appearance be like?
How easy will the thread be to use?

Both…

]]> 0 6842e2e08e97952823d68a0b509d38b3 Carolyn Gibbs recommended the post Considering Value https://ukqu.co.uk/activity/p/16345/ Mon, 15 Apr 2019 06:13:10 +0100 0 562aa21ac9460f44ccdd810b590a336f Carolyn Gibbs wrote a new post, Starting hand quilting: Part 2: Wadding https://ukqu.co.uk/?p=172618 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 05:12:51 +0100 How do you start hand quilting?
This webpage will discuss the types of wadding (batting in the USA) that you will need.
The thickness and the density of the wadding makes an enormous difference to the ease of the…

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