UKQU | Helen Kent | Activity

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Hold It Precision Stiletto from Clover

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:21:07 +0000

Clover is a well known company that have been making sewing tools for many years. I recently received the brilliant Hold It Precision Stiletto. Really handy for keeping your piecing in line and perfect. The thing…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, B700 Woven Interlining - A Quilter's Perspective

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 09:01:42 +0000

It’s not often that I get a new (to me) product which surprises me but that’s what happened when I received the woven interlining B 700 from Vlieseline to try out. I thought it was a standard iron on interfacing whi…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Clover Desk Needle Threader

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:30:26 +0100

The new Clover Desk Needle Threader turned up through my letterbox a couple of weeks ago whilst I was on holiday. (Northumbria on the East coast – my goodness it was stunning!) So I wasn’t able to test this as q…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Enhance Your Crafting: Project Bag and Block Nanny Featuring Style Vil Foam

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:37:30 +0100

Some of you may know that Strictly Quilting has been running sewing retreats for a couple of years now in collaboration with Cecilia Slinn. We recently held our Summer Retreat where we had a fabulous time. There were…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, A Quilt Journey using Vlieseline 276 Wadding

Tue, 21 May 2024 13:53:44 +0100

If you’ve met me before at a show, in a class or on our wonderful retreats you may well also have met my Mum. We started our quilting journey together well over a decade ago at a local quilt shop and, as the saying g…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Summer Retreat Projects

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:56:49 +0100

This year is passing so quickly. Easter has come and gone and the garden has started to grow even with all the rain. It’s about now I start to look forward to summer, hoping for a little sunshine to make us all f…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Vlieseline Wadding - 279 Soft Cotton Mix 80/20

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 12:31:40 +0000

Well it’s been a bit of a while since I’ve done a lot of sewing. In January the family and I took to the slopes of Bulgaria for a ski trip and, you guessed it, I was taken out by a snowboarder on the first day and…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Vlieseline 276 - Natural Cotton Wadding

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:28:57 +0000

Towards the start of this year I was hoping to host a Sew A-Long (SAL) series of blogs on my website Strictly Quilting. Well, sometimes life gets in the way by throwing the odd curve ball and I found things didn’t q…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Gütermann Deco Stitch

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:44:26 +0000

Gütermann is one of the most popular thread producers having been around for decades. As a girl, the chap that used to service our sewing machine always recommended Gütermann thread and I still use it for a lot of m…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Gütermann Super Brite Thread

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:21:49 +0100

There are many threads we can use which bring added glamour to our Free Motion Quilting. I’ve not used Gütermann Super Brite before so, when they sent me a sample to try, I was keen to have a go.

Gütermann Sup…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Garden Sew a Row - Picket Fence and Vlieseline P120 Volume Fleece.

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:21:37 +0100

Late last year a group of five stitchers from the Bloggarati on UKQU, the lovely group who provide us with the Blogs on the website, got together to devise another free Sew a Row quilt. We did a pair of quilts a few…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Test of the New Iron On Non-woven Ironing Cloth.

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:38:04 +0100

For protecting outer fabric when pressing and fusing.

This new non-woven pressing IRON ON Cloth from Vlieseline has been specifically designed for use with fusible interlinings, making it suitable for a wide…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Clover Sashiko Needles

Thu, 25 May 2023 08:02:43 +0100

The art of Sashiko been a big trend over the years and Clover has the perfect needles for your projects. I’ve never done Sashiko but have always wanted to have a go so, when Clover sent me some to try out, I was e…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Time for a Retreat?

Wed, 10 May 2023 06:17:13 +0100

I’ve just been looking at booking a holiday in our caravan. Chatsworth House has been on my visiting list for a long time and I think this year might be the time to visit the Peak District but I also LOVE taking t…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Clover Hot Hemmer

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:14:41 +0000

These clever little rulers are used when you want to turn a fold over, be it on a hem of a garment or an edge of a quilt block. Hot Hemmers are made from nylon fibre board which is placed along the fold line, you…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Vlieseline Quickscreen

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 18:20:37 +0000

This is new to me at Strictly Quilting – Quickscreen in both triangles and squares. I’ve not used it before so it was fun to give it a go. Quickscreen from Vlieseline is similar to a light interfacing, and has ma…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, There were a few butterflies! Sewing Retreats...

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 11:01:37 +0000

Helen Kent and Cecilia Slinn announce the dates of two new Retreats for 2023…
by Cecilia Slinn.
The ‘Sewcial Retreat’, held last November in Bromsgrove, was the first time I was personally involved in the organ…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Bondaweb Charity Sign

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:51:26 +0000

Bondaweb from Vlieseline is a mainstay for appliqué in patchwork and I recently had a project that needed just this product. One of my ladies that joins me on a Friday for my Sit and Sew classes was attending a…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Vlieseline R80 and Christmas Stockings

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:27:17 +0000

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Strictly Quilting HQ. That time of year when we all panic to finish those projects that we’ve had all year to complete… “Oh yes, I’ll get stockings made for the two c…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Oliso TG1600 ProPlus™ Iron - An Update.

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 19:50:28 +0000

It’s been a while since I was lucky enough to have an Oliso iron to play with. (You can find the first review here.) They are quite expensive so quite an investment and, after using it for a few months now, I t…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, New Toy Alert! - Clover Fabric Tube Maker

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 09:31:17 +0100

I am a sucker for a new toy, especially when they actually make light work of a tricky task. The new Clover Tube Maker is one such item that I was lucky to be sent. A little device, similar to bias binding makers,…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Chic Escape Lazy Log Cabin

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 09:30:04 +0100

This range has to be one of my favourite in recent months and thanks go to Groves for introducing me to it. Brought to us from Tilda it pairs classical flowers with peacocks with a beautiful palette of rich colours.…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Hosting Ukraine..Special Request

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 08:33:44 +0100

The world was thrown into turmoil on 24th February 2022 when Russia invaded the neighbouring country of Ukraine. Many people across the world were horrified and our Government set up the Homes for Ukraine Scheme to…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, The Old Bamboo

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 04:52:04 +0100

(Am I showing my age or just my love for Mary Poppins with that title?) But bamboo is one of the natural fibres that is used for waddings. Now, I’ll start by saying that I love bamboo so when Vlieseline offered me s…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Soya Mix from Vlieseline

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 06:50:22 +0100

Vlieseline were kind enough to send me some of their Soya Mix wadding to try out for the first time. I love natural fibres, using 100% cotton a lot of the time, so I was keen to give this a go. Obviously, I needed to…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Strictly Quilting is going on Retreat!

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 08:27:44 +0100

Strictly Quilting has some brilliant news – We are going on Retreat!

As followers of Strictly Quilting you may know that a retreat has been on the cards for some time. Imagine – a whole weekend fully catered…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Mini Circle Templates from Sew Easy

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:29:36 +0100

I don’t know about you but I find working with circles hard. Getting a perfect circle can be tricky and take a while but this is where these laser cut acrylic templates are fantastic.

Sew Easy Mini C…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Tilda Chic Escape

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:20:29 +0100

I love a bit of Tilda. The fabrics are good quality with beautiful, pretty designs but this collection – the Chic Escape – has taken top spot on my favourites list. It has an oriental flavour with Chinese vases,…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Oliso TG1600 ProPlus™ Iron Review

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:44:59 +0100

An iron is an essential tool when making quilts and for general sewing. I’ve got several which I keep in my wonderful cabin at Strictly HQ but when I was offered the chance to test out the new Oliso SmartIron Pro P…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Hemline Seam Fix Dual Tip

Mon, 30 May 2022 06:08:55 +0100

We all need a seam unpick at some point. Usually a few as I find they go walkabout quit regularly. I was recently sent the Hemline Seam Fix Dual Tip to try and, as you can never have too many, I gave it a…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Jubilee Runner

Mon, 30 May 2022 06:04:52 +0100

This year has been one full of events from the end of Covid restrictions to the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. Both of these have had an impact on my life, meaning I haven’t done as much blogging as I’d have lik…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Bird of Paradise Flower

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 06:52:20 +0000

On UKQU we love to provide different ideas using different techniques for quilters and crafters out there so every now and again we have a challenge. As Spring is around the corner we thought we’d re-visit f…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Wonder Pins from Clover

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:46:22 +0000

This new “pin concept” from Clover holds layers of fabric together in an instant. The benefits of both straight pins and safety pins are now integrated into this single pinning tool.

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Sew Easy Triangle Ruler

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:04:38 +0000

The Pinwheel block is one of the most common and is ideal for many different projects, from samplers to baby quilts. It’s this last option which I decided to make for a newborn, a little girl. I chose some lovely o…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Clover Stitch Guide

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 08:58:10 +0000

Sewing, whether it is patchwork piecing or garment sewing, is all about the accuracy. The more accurate you can be, the more professional the finish. When starting out, this can be the most difficult thing to…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Be Kind to Yourself - Ideas on a Relaxing Season

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 05:28:02 +0000

The 12 Days of Christmas were traditionally for celebrating the season and, in modern times, there is also a certain amount of retail therapy thrown in. From buying or making gifts for friends to that little…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Quilts for Refugees Charity Sew Day

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:16:21 +0000

Quilters are generous people, making many quilts for various charities throughout the world. In the UK there are many charities which you can make quilts for, some more well known than others. Linus is an obvious…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Vlieseline Soft Cotton Mix 279 80 20

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 06:11:23 +0000

When choosing wadding or batting we all have our favourites. One of mine was the 279 80/20 from Vlieseline, a well established, reliable company which has been around for years producing many different…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Sew Easy Hearts and Stars Templates

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 17:09:14 +0000

Some shapes can be really tricky to draw and, when designing projects, a little help can be invaluable. I have several sets of these wonderful template sets from Sew Easy and Groves very kindly sent me the mini Star…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Wonder Clips from Clover

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:17:33 +0000

Plastic clips have been around for some years now. I find them particularly useful for holding my binding over when sewing it down by hand so when Clover were kind enough to send me a set of their Wonder Clips to try…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Clover Quick Cut Thread Cutter

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:54:59 +0100

Do you chain piece? What is chain piecing I hear some ask? This is where we have numerous units to join and piece them one after the other without breaking the thread between each. It is a method which speeds up the…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Black Gold Needles from Clover - Product Review

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 16:01:55 +0100

Recently I was sent a pack of quilting needles from Clover – Black and Gold Needles. On opening they are certainly great to look at. The black colour comes from the special plating which allows the needle to pierce…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Sew A Fine Seam Part 4 - Scissors

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:10:24 +0100

In the next (long awaited) instalment of the ‘Sew a Fine Seam’ series from Strictly Quilting, I thought we would look at one of the basic pieces of equipment we need – the humble scissor.

It is believed that sci…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Gütermann Thread Packs

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 15:08:41 +0100

We all have our favourite threads depending on what you are using them for. I love pure cotton for patchwork and quilting, a little ‘old school’ but hey… If (and when) I eventually invest in a long arm at Stric…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Festival of Quilts - Best in Show

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 05:00:18 +0100

Wow….. wow…..and again, wow. Some quilts just grab your attention when you first see them and you can’t help saying wow. The Best in Show at the Festival of Quilts should be one that does this and this year, it certa…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Strictly Quilting HQ - The Log Cabin is finally finished.

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:00:44 +0100

Well, at last the Big Build Strictly Quilting HQ is complete. My new workshop from Dunster House is up and running. The furniture is in, the lights and electrics are on and, other than those little jobs whic…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Tassel Maker from Clover

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:18:46 +0100

Make gorgeous tassels with your own thread or woollen yarns with a Tassel Maker from clover.

They are very easy and fun to create and can be used for adding fun details to bags, scarves and other fashion…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Fiskars Tabletop Seam Ripper

Thu, 13 May 2021 12:45:28 +0100

We’ve all done it, sewn a seam that turns out to be wrong and have to ‘deconstruct’ – frog the stitching (ribbit, ribbit), get Jack out (Jack the Ripper). There are many funny comments we use to try and make light o…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Sweet and Sharp Macarons

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 12:18:43 +0100

Do you have a sweet tooth? I know I do but these might help keep the calories at bay.

Keeps needles sharp

Newly added to the Clover range are these rather delicious looking macaron-shaped magnetic needle…

Helen Kent wrote a new post, Hemline Easy Grip Pins

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 06:26:37 +0100

Pins are often underestimated when we consider the equipment we use for sewing. How many of us have pins which we have had so long their origins are lost in the midst of time? I know I have some that were probably…