“Bright, summer fabric packs to review .. I have two to send out. Who is interested please!” said Sylvia.  “Me”, I said and then the wait began.  Actually, I’d forgotten about it  until I came home from a stressful day at work to find a small packet posted through the door.  It wasn’t until I…

How many game shows have you heard the phrase, ‘Open the Box?’ Well, on my visit to PANICO’S I got to Open the Box …. Two boxes of beautiful fabric. Thank you PANICO’S for this amazing opportunity to write for you and to UKQU.co.uk for setting this up. Like many of us ‘quilter’s’ we take…

First and foremost, I would like to thank Clover and the United Kingdom Quilters United – https://ukqu.co.uk/- website for allowing me the honor of product testing the Clover Tassel Maker, small size. I am not normally a tassel person so anything with tassels would normally be a no go for me. However, just before Christmas…

SUNPRINTS 2020 BY ALISON GLASS Just look at what dropped in to my letterbox Bright, vibrant, delicious fabric. By Makeover UK the designer Alison Glass. Not a designer I was familiar with so took myself off to Makeover site to see how as a designer she was inspired. She is inspired by and I quote…

I was very lucky to be asked to review a new range by Makower, called Sunny Bee. I am a total sucker for dots, bees, daisies and sunflowers.  This range features all of these elements, so frankly I’m in heaven. Sunny Bee by Makower, is a gorgeous range due to hit stores in February. It’s…

The advantage of making your own tassles is that you will always have them to match the item you are making.  You can match colour, materials and size.  I’ve always made them before using cardboard so I was quick to jump at the chance to try out the Clover Tassle Maker. I was sent the…

I have always been a bit of a one for lovely fabric .. ok ok, so I admit I might have a couple of metres more than I am ever likely to use in my lifetime, but when Makower UK sent me the new Edyta Sitar range to review I decided I would take a…

Like many quilters, I love fabric. I have enough to last me some years, so have made the decision to buy very little fabric this year. However, this resolution does not stop me from receiving fabric, and I was only to glad to be of service when the Bloggerati were asked if anyone wanted to…

I made a thing! The most used method of making HSTs or Half-Square-Triangles is to use two squares cut 7/8″ larger than you want the finished square to be. The simplest way to achieve this is to round up to the next inch and then trim the result, rather than measure up to the 7/8″…

All of us rely on the best tools we can afford in order to achieve the best possible results in our patchwork and quilting. Cutting mats are no exception as they prevent our work surfaces getting damaged and ensure our cutting tools don’t get blunt. Recently I volunteered to review a cutting mat and was…

This A3 cutting mat was sent to me for reviewing. It has a pale grey background with imperial measures on one side and a black background with metric measurements on the other. It arrived beautifully packed in cardboard and sticky tape, so well packed that it took a few minutes to get into! However, it…

Makower have launched yet another fantastic fabric range called Spring. Makower were good enough to send samples of this latest fabric range to UKQU, and the wonderful people at UKQU sent some to me to review. One of their latest ranges called Spring, consists of 20 fabrics plus a panel.  I received a sample of…

I had a grand idea – I decided I was going to make a HST (half square triangle) quilt. I knew I wanted to make it a blue and white quilt. I saw a stunning range of fabric (Shibori II by Moda). I knew this would be perfect for what I wanted. I immediately ordered…

I’ve been sent a wonderful collection of fabrics from Makower called Sail Away. Consisting of 9 different designs in different colour ways. There is also a double edged scenic border and a panel 24×44 containing 6 different designs. On the reverse of the illustration is also 4 free patterns you can download. A picnic/lap quilt,…

The lovely people are Barnyarns sent UKQU this fabulous box of Madeira Embroidery threads for review.  I was lucky to be chosen to review these gorgeous threads.  Don’t they look sumptuous, I’ve tried to capture the sheen and glitz of these rayon and metallic threads. The box not only includes threads, it also contained a…

With one year coming to an end and another one starting, we tend to pause and take the opportunity to look back at the year that has been. Hence this may be a good time to do a recap of the books we have read so far in the UK Quilters United Book Club.  With…

“Would you be interested in doing a book review?” Sylvia said. “It will be fun” she said. Well ok – maybe she didn’t say that bit! I jumped at the chance. I have always been an avid reader of both fiction and non fiction (usually historical) so how difficult could it be? The book is “Threads of…

Product Review – Gütermann Creativ Bulky Lock 80 – Variegated purple (9944), 1000m (1094 yds) The package arrived, was it something else for the magazine? No, this one was for me to try out. I do a little dressmaking on the odd occasion so when UKQU asked for volunteers to try Gütermann Creativ Bulky Lock…

I would like to thank Gütermann and the UKQU website for asking me to test and review the Gütermann Creativ Overlock thread, Bulky – Lock 80 multicolour colour 9957. Information found here directly from their website; https://consumer.guetermann.com/en/product-finder/bulky-lock-80 . They are sold in plain or variegated multicoloured reels. Overlockers or sergers as known in the USA,…

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 printed fabrics called Living wild. It included a gorgeous panel with amazing paintings of animals bursting with colours. The…

Ten days ago I received a real treat. It was a little package of fabric from the Makower “Indigo” range. This is a beautiful 100% cotton range of fabrics in prints encompassing koi carp imagery, chrysanthemum flowers, traditional Japanese scenes and even a hexagon print with some sashiko motifs. It has a lovely soft handle,…

Makower UK have come out with another lovely range called Cool Cats and within the samples to  the left you will find Jumping Cats, Scatter, Parade and a Wavy Stripe.  They are in lovely hues and there are some great designs of our feline friends.  I don’t like animals in general but I can appreciate…

Yay, it’s fabric time! I’m hugely thankful to UKQU.co.uk for kindly giving me the opportunity to write this product review for the RHAPSODY fabric generously provided by MAKOWER UK. There are twenty-six amazing designs in this Klimt inspired Makower fabric and they truly epitomise the definition of Rhapsody by featuring two highly contrasted moods and…

New from Clover are these brightly coloured flexible thimbles. Made from rubber, they come with cooling vents for breathability and are designed for ultra-comfort whilst also providing an excellent grip. They can be used on the thumb and index fingers and are available in two sizes.  with two thimbles per pack, The pink is 16mm…

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 suspects are here, snowflakes, trees, reindeer etc, but in very different colour ways. Not the usual greens and reds, but a subtler collection including more unusual…

For October we are going to read “Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty, a Slave, and Four Years in the White House”, which was written by Elizabeth Keckley. The book was originally written in 1868, yes, over 150 years ago! Keckley re-tells her life story from enslavement in Virginia and North Carolina to her time as…

The title is quite intriguing. I didn’t quite know what to expect. I am somebody who is inspired by fabrics, so I would love to know what this book is about When I received this lovely book for review, the first thing I noticed when I opened the package is the incredible soft velvety touch…

When a few books became available for review I jumped at the chance of reviewing this book. I am really inspired by textile techniques from the Far East (in particular Japan) as well as anything that recycles / upcycles /  reuses scrap fabric. After all, fabric is not cheap. As you can see by my…

. . . . Stunning Quilts – the title of Stuart Hillards’s new book says it all. The five main chapters each take a simple shape (or combination of those shapes) to make twenty very different blocks and quilts. Whether you are a beginner or just looking for new ideas and inspiration you will find…

I was lucky enough to be chosen to review a product recently and I duly received a package containing two rulers, Sew Easy 60 Degree Triangle and Sew Easy Half Diamond. Like most quilters I have more than one ruler but I have very few speciality rulers so was keen to see what I thought…

I was thrilled to be asked to review UK Quilters united by a second thread, I read a sample of the first book on amazon and I was inspired, this just escalated the anticipation to read this book. When the book arrived I was shocked as to how vibrant the colours were on the Bargello…

I was recently asked to review a pack of Gütermann threads that came with an assortment of Prym hand sewing needles and a set of Schmetz universal machine sewing needles. There were ten reels of 100 meters 100% polyester threads, a brand I regularly use for general sewing, in a range of popular colours. Due…

For August we are going to read How to make an American quilt by Whitney Otto.    The book was originally published back in 1991, but there are plenty of second-hand copies available on Amazon (some are sent from the United States, but they still cost under £10 including postage). Your local library may also have…

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 done a whole cloth quilt so why not? A small cushion front, wholecloth and inspired by traditional Welsh quilting designs. Rather than the usual plain fabric, I choose…

The second book by and about UK Quilters United is very soon available to purchase on Amazon globally. The Kindle version went live on 27 June 2019 and the paperback should be available shortly too. The book is the result of the hard work carried out by 25 amazing volunteer writers during the last couple…

For a long time, I’ve wanted to do a triangle quilt so when the request went out to review some templates I was quick to volunteer.  I didn’t know what I was going to get but I was hopeful that there would be some triangles. The post arrived and I opened the envelope.  Inside were…

with boughs of Holly. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la. And Yes, Deck the Halls is this stunning Christmas fabric range from Makower for Christmas 2019, and is available in retailers in the UK now. If you like traditional fabrics, then this is the range for you.  And if you like a bit of sparkle then this is it, every…

The book for July is Fool’s Puzzle by Earlene Fowler. After her college sweetheart and later husband suddenly dies, Benni Harper is making a fresh start by moving to San Celina in California. Having previously lived on a ranch, she’s now the curator at the local folk-art museum. This is a mystery book, and as is usually the…

My fabric review for UKQU.co.uk this time is the delightful Lily Pad collection designed by Debbie Shore for The Craft Cotton Company. There are 9 designs included in this collection. I like that the design and colours really complement each other very well. The Lily Pad Collection is a printed, 100% cotton quilting fabric, sold…

I think the Craft Cotton Co are quickly becoming one of my favourite fabric companies.  The quality of the fabric is superb and the latest batch of design are fantastic.  I have been given the privilege of reviewing the range called Lily Pad by Debbie Shore.  Even the name of it evokes happy pictures in…

I love fabric – I am a fabriholic, and the chance to review fabric is right up my street. I think that someone must have been thinking of me particularly when I was sent this fabric to review. I was sent some lovely fabric, Disney Stax by Eugene Textiles available from The Cotton Craft Co.…

During June we are going to read The dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Lemmon. This is a book about sewing (rather than quilting) and about creating a brighter future even when it seems impossible. This is a true story about Kamila from Kabul. When the Taliban take over control in 1996, she has just…

Quilts UK has just finished and what a show it was. It is held over four days at the Three Counties Showground set at the foothills of the stunning Malvern Hills. People come from all over the country and quite often use it as a reason to meet up with friends from near and far…

Makower have come up with this delightful new range called ‘Walk in the Park’. The colours are beautiful soft tones of turquoise/grey/orange/yellow. I particularly like the park scenes… The dogs are fun too… And paws and bones…     Not forgetting some cute hearts…     So, what to make up? I wanted to include…

Makower have a new design out called ‘Stitch in Time’. This is a wonderful set of subtle colours of pink/ turquoise/ grey. If you are of a certain age, these retro designs may bring back some memories of the 50s. These are a taste of this nostalgic time… Remember these irons?… And wooden cotton reels……

You might remember I said in my previous blog that I had more plans for the London Town Fat Quarters from the Cotton Craft Co.  As promised, I’ve come back to share my next make using the fabric. Continuing with the them of travel, I’ve created a passport wallet with lots of useful pockets.  On the…

During May we are going to read The Basement Quilt by Ann Hazlewood. In this book, we are getting to know Anne Brown as well as her family and friends. The story evolves around Anne, a charismatic and bubbly florist, whose daily ups and downs will be very familiar to many. Anne decides to learn…

Once again I had the privilege of reviewing some Makower fabrics. This is their new Scandi range and it has some very pretty designs in classic red and modern grey. There are also some lovely patterns, cute stockings and advents on the Makower website. I received some 10″ square samples to play with so decided…

I was lucky enough to be sent the Makower UK Festive Range of fabric squares to review recently, can you imagine, Christmas fabric in April, what fun!!! Makower UK Festive Range The bundle of 14 squares arrived and they were so pretty with shiny gold in the print on some of them and I loved…

It’s always lovely to get fabric sent in the post to test and being a London girl, I suppose it was appropriate that the fabric I received were these London Town Fat Quarters from the Craft Cotton Co. These kind of designs aren’t really my cup of tea but, originating from London,  the motifs on…

I was sent some lovely fabric to try by The Craft Cotton Co. It really is a pleasure to work with. Good quality, nice thickness of threads. Very nice to handle. I was sent the Chickie fat quarters. 5 complementary fabrics, A humorous range of quirky chickens in wellies. I love them and they remind…

I’m very excited at being asked to review the beautiful ‘Eastern Botanicals’ fabric collection, designed by Sarah Payne for the Craft Cotton Company on behalf of UKQU.co.uk. This printed 100% cotton fabric features cranes, bunches of flowers, blossoms, seed heads and flower blenders and was inspired by Sarah Payne’s visit to India & Nepal. Influenced…

I spied the new fabric collection by Stuart Hillard on the Craft Cotton Co stand at CHSI Stitches in February – oh it certainly caught my eye and so when it became available for review my hand shot up! Rainbow Etchings is now available and let me tell you, if you are a rainbow lover,…

I was thrilled when these fat quarters arrived, I have purchased fabric from this company in the past. The colours were vivid and printed in the correct areas of the patterns. The fat quarters all matched well and would have complimented each other in a quilt. The fabric was not see through and of good…

I was lucky to be sent two fat quarter packs by UKQU to review.  So a big thanks to The Craft Cotton Company for supplying UKQU with them. Miffy Bedtime   Miffy Spring   Who doesn’t love Miffy, and how appropriate that they have this fabric coming out just before Easter.  Who doesn’t love a…

I was lucky enough to receive a bundle of Makower stripped fabrics to review, yippee! There were twelve 9.75 – 10 inch squares with a thin stripe design, the colours were vibrant and the fabric soft. The edges were pinked which I am not usually a fan of, as I tend to look as if…

I have been sent some wonderful Makower Sea Breeze fabric to review. It really is a lovely fabric with which to work. I was sent 14 10inch squares. Before receiving them I had planned to re-cover a deck chair, possibly in stripes of fabric. On receiving them I realised they were Far to interesting and…

For the first month of the re-launched UKQU Book Club, I have selected The Flower Hunter’s Cottage by Dee-ann Black. It is a rather fast read with only 30,000 words and easy language. Notwithstanding this, it’s a book which hooks you in and the characters are sweet and easy to associate with. If you are…

It is almost a year since I kicked off the UKQO Book Club with Tracy Chevalier’s The Runaway and arranged for us to work with British Patchwork and Quilting to announce the books. Arlene was kind enough to execute my late-night mad idea, but recently she’s had to focus on other things. The books selected…

First, I would like to thank Milward and the UKQU for giving me the privilege of testing these lovely colourful embroidery hoops. Here is what the press release from Milward says about them; “This lovely set of new hoops from Milward is hard to resist! Designed for use with all fabric types from organza to…

These curious multi coloured disc arrived and puzzled me. I read the instructions before I had a play. I then began to research them online, they are not a common item, I have visited a couple of quilting shops since these discs arrived but neither shop stocked them. I looked at online retailers but there…

This curious little item arrived, I have a plastic one which measures in imperial measurements. This aluminium  sewing gauge measures in centimetres and millimetres. The instructions state this gauge will allow you to mark seam allowances quickly and accurately, it’s suitable for most seam lines as you can set the gauge to your requirements anywhere…

The lovely people at Gütermann kindly sent me two of their ‘Bonus Pack’ of threads to review.  Thank You Gütermann.  Their website is here, and their Facebook page is here. Bonus boxes of Gütermann threads   These are sew pretty.  These really cheered me up the day they arrived as it was grey and miserable outside.  And…

The team at UKQU HQ have a great sense of humour. They always seem to send me the obscure notions for me to try out. This one was a proper headscratcher. However, after a quick google search, I found this you tube link for inspiration. The particular gauge I was sent measured in millimetres rather…

Did you know that there is a book about UK Quilters United? Yes, it is true. There is a book about us! Three years ago Julie Passey, one of our Facebook members, together with over 100 writers created a book by and about UK Quilters United. A limited print run of only 100 copies were…

Bradford and Watling BOM Port and Starboard Block 4 Although this package arrived in early December, Christmas and New Year delayed my review on this block but I’ve finally been able to complete it. Once again, when I opened the package, the pieces for Block 4 were neatly presented and labelled in packets.  I took…

Who doesn’t get excited at receiving some fabric to work with so I’m hugely thankful to UKQU.co.uk for kindly giving me the opportunity to write this product review for the Woodland Fabric pack generously provided by MAKOWER UK. Twenty beautiful designs in this magical WOODLAND themed fabric – all that’s missing is the unicorn! Hedgehogs,…

For a few years now, I’ve been running an online craft club which means I’m always on the lookout for suitable projects.  Quilting related projects are always popular and for a long time, I’ve wanted to demonstrate a quilt as you go project.  Shopping in Hobbycraft one day, I came across Craft-Tex Placemats from Bosal. …

I’m always delighted when the Elves at UKQU HQ ask if I wouldn’t mind taking a look at a new fabric range and writing up a little review. And when I received a bundle of 10′ squares from Lynne Goldsworthy’s new range I was thrilled. Available in two colour ways the Ellie range is perfect…

Mmm..Makower have come up trumps again with this super fun range of fabric called Dragonheart. Makower Dragonheart In 100% cotton the quality is great and is really lovely to work with. This enchanting design with castles and knights in shining armour, yielding swords and shields, it is sure to please both boys and girls with…

Bradford and Watling’s BOM Flock of HSTs Block 3 With lots of recent family commitments, I wasn’t able to get round to making this block until a couple of weeks after I received it but as before, I was eager to complete it to add to the two previous blocks. As with earlier blocks, the…

I saw these pins advertised in a magazine and thought they looked interesting, I was lucky enough to be sent a pack to try. They come in a neat little storage box and have an unusual end which the manufacturer calls ‘Comfort Grip’. I had expected the ends to be soft but they are made…

I’m always excited about receiving fabulous material to work with but was very surprised at my reluctance to actually cut it up into smaller pieces! I used so many avoidance tactics to start using it and began feeling guilty at not writing this product review sooner. It was fast becoming ‘my precious’ and I wanted…

I must start this review with an apology to Groves for taking so long to write a review – I wanted to showcase the ribbons in just the right way, and the project I chose needed some time and thought. I was delighted to be sent some ribbons – and when the box arrived I…

   When https://ukqu.co.uk asked for a couple of us to review some Natural History design fabrics from The Craft Cotton Company , I didn’t hesitate to respond. Our granddaughter, like most children, is just mad about dinosaurs, she also has her 4th birthday coming up, so an ideal opportunity to make something special. But what?…

Explore the Plains Most dinosaurs were herbivores, living on a vegetarian diet of ferns, conifers and other plants This is a gorgeous fat quarter pack of dinosaur fabrics which have been designed by the Cotton Craft Company alongside the Natural History Museum.  They are stamped with facts and great images and I particularly love the…

After my previous review of Guterman threads (see here), I was very happy to review this new pack, as I knew how much I like their threads. As with the last thread set, I reviewed there were 10 threads in the pack, but this time it had a rather intriguing metal template! When it arrived,…

I was delighted to receive a copy of Fiona Pullens’s revised edition of Making & Marketing a Successful Art & Craft Business to review. This is an updated version of Fiona’s first book Craft a Creative Business, that was published by Search Press in 2015, and brings it up to date on such issues as:…

Something new to try! Generously provided by EQS and thanks to UKQU.co.uk  for kindly giving me the opportunity to write this product review for the June Tailor Shape Cut Slotted Ruler 12″ x 12″ The actual Slotted Ruler measures 16 ½ inch square and is made of good quality flexible plastic/acrylic. At each end of…

Being part of the Bloggerati* I was offered some Scandinavian inspired Christmas fabrics to try out. Below are a few of the designs available in the latest Scandi 2018 range, by Makower. The designs are available in red and grey, and there are also a few solid-ish ‘linen texture’ prints to match. I was sent a…

First, I would like to thank Clover and the UKQU for giving me the privilege of testing the Clover Embroidery Stitching Tool product. I must also apologise for the delay in writing this review. There are several reasons for this. Recovering from an operation took it out of me more than I realised. Secondly, had…

I have, over the past few years found the quickest way to put together the top of an advent calendar due to having to create them in August/September ready for display in the shop for Christmas. It’s not really a job I enjoy so finding the quickest way was a must and doing it differently…

Who doesn’t love a new toy? Especially a sewing one! I was thrilled to be asked to test and review the June Tailor Inc Twist ’n Stitch Pinwheel Ruler. I’ll admit when looking at the pictures I didn’t recognise the pattern as a pinwheel as I usually found pinwheels to use half square triangles so…

The box and its contents sent to me to try! Something new to try and I must admit when I first set eyes on the box of Vlieseline tape I knew I had no dressmaking plans at present to give this a go! Light bulb moment!! Well, who’s to say it’s for dressmaking only? Let’s…

Bradford and Watling’s BOM Flying Dutchman Block 2 When the second block popped through my letterbox, I was excited and keen to get started. As previously, each set of pieces was in a separate, labelled clear sleeve so I was able to identify the pieces easily. It’s so lovely to be provided with the cut…

I have been asked to review this Bobbin Rack, so I have tried to be methodical about it – I hope it makes sense! Price: I have found this item on the internet between £8 and £20. My thoughts when I unpacked it:  That’s very small!  I had understood that I was going to receive…

I’d just finished a mini ‘Peppa Pig’ quilt that I’d embroidered the animals on for my youngest grandson, and was wondering what to make next, my daughter in law had got me a new Sissix die cheaply from a shop that was closing down, was there something that I could made with that I wondered?…

I was fortunate enough to be sent ten 10″ squares of fabric from the Makower UK Beachcomber range and some white on white background fabric. After browsing online I decided to try my first disappearing nine patch quilt top, the pattern created sashing and cornerstones between the blocks of focus fabric. I was a little…

The Annual FART [for those who are already wondering .. Fabric Aquisition Road Trip] happens every September for the Sewing Group I am part of.   This year Our Quilty Pleasures decided to check out the delights of Scarborough in East Yorkshire.  Nothing to do with the Scarborough Sewing Centre being the main attraction of course…

Having seen lots of wonderful projects on Pinterest made using the Clover Embroidery Stitching Tool, I was eager to volunteer for the task of reviewing it. There was a press release about it earlier in the year, you can see it here.  It is available from most craft shops, prices from around £10.  You will…

I was really excited to try these things out as I have lots of applique quilts planned. I read the instructions that came with the Goddess Sheet and gave it a first go, well I can tell you that using freezer paper to trace the design on and fuse does NOT work with Misty Fuse…

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to sewing, or quilt I just grab the first thread I can lay my hands on. C’mon I know some of you do the same, right? I know there are some purists that will only quilt with 100% cotton thread, fabric and batting. In an ideal…

This is the third Silesian template review in the series. Please read the first review….. if you have not already done so, this explains how to use the rulers. You’ll find the review here – https://ukqu.co.uk/silesian-templates-ruler-work/ you can also find out more information on the website www.silesianquilt.com This time I’m exploring the hexagon templates, once…

I have reviewed Silesian Templates previously and if you haven’t read that review I’d recommend reading it before starting this one. In the previous review I explained how to use the rulers and the FMQ Grip. You’ll find the previous review here – https://ukqu.co.uk/silesian-templates-ruler-work/ Margaret from silesianquilt.com sent me a 4 ½” heart template which fits…

This fabulous fabric collection by Makower UK is called Dream – the colour palette is a mix of greys, pinks and creams. So soft to touch – and yes, I fell in with every other fabric lover and spent ages just gently stroking each piece just to help the creative soul in me fire into…

I was recently given the opportunity to review the Footloose Quilt pattern, by Jenny Haynes of PapperSaxSten. Curves are always something of a challenge, so I was really keen to give this new design a try. The pattern features the Footloose Blueberry Park kit in ‘Melon’, but I was working with a different colourway.   Jenny…

Bradford and Watling’s BOM Alison Glass Double Cross Block 1 I’ve started – and I’ll definitely continue! The first thing having signed up to this BOM was I was asked which colourway I’d like to review. Initially there was a choice from two but I believe this is being extended. I chose the ‘Alison Glass…

I can begin to tell you how thrilled I was to be asked to review some fabric for Gütermann and even more delighted when the box came through the door.  The video will give you my thoughts in more details and I’ll show you what I made with two of the fabrics included.  In brief,…

A jolly little package of fabric appeared in my letter box……..SUNFLOWERS!!!!  Oh so happy was I….. I have a bit of a thing about Sunflowers they’re my ‘Happy’ symbol.  I’d been asked to review the new range ‘Good Life’ from Makower UK, I’d been warned there might be sunflowers involved but there’s all manner of…

Hello Everyone. Time flies. It has been 2 whole months since I last blogged. Wow! Does not feel like it has been that long. What have I been up to I hear you cry! Well, between lots of visiting family and friends, and the perpetual commitment of full time work, I found very little time…

I am particularly drawn to beautiful bright colours and was delighted to be asked to review these lovely fabrics from Makower. This is Makower’s new range Kimono and it is full of vibrant colours in 100% cotton. Cranes… fans… hexis …kanji…flowers are all part of these gorgeous designs. The quality is up to Makower’s standard…

The Makower website describes these colourful prints as celebrating the good life … home grown vegetables, chickens, fruit trees and sunflowers … a perfect range for making garden or kitchen accessories, and bags for your market shopping. As they do with many of their fabric ranges, Makower have provided a free pattern download designed for…

I was delighted when Stephen at Aberdeen Sewing Machines (https://www.aberdeensewing.com) produced the Janome Atelier 9 for me to review, I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of Janome sewing machines, but Stephen was determined that I would change my opinion with this one. We shall see! Janome Atelier 9 The machine came in…

by Obsessive Compulsive Crafting Disorder OOO look what I got to review! This is the new Counting Sheep collection from Makower UK. Gorgeous soft 100% quilting cotton. It has bunnies with balloons and flowers, sheep, baby chicks, rainbows and clouds, letters and some super cute blenders! Grey and white are predominant, with some red gingham being…

I was sent two packs of Perfect Hem T40 by Vlieseline to review. This product is designed for taking up hems, not something I do very often, hence the pile of unused trousers in my wardrobe, hopefully this will encourage me to fix the many pairs of far too long trousers which hang in my…

Although I haven’t been asked to review this set of Snap Poppers, I am so impressed with them that I thought I would pass on my thoughts. I treated myself to this set from Amazon in April.  The pack was competitively priced and came with 360 T5 Snaps in 24 different colours.  The Tool kit…

First, let me thank the wonderful people at Makover UK’s – www.makoweruk.com – for providing me the collection entitled Counting Sheep which is 100% cotton – http://www.makoweruk.com/section/makower-uk-collection/counting-sheep/ – to review on behalf of the United Kingdom Quilters Website. Worth noting, I have no personal gain other than the sample pack of fabrics provided to me…

If you have been around young children, as a parent, grandparent or friend, you have probably seen the sack-like things the toddlers sit in when it’s a bit cold or to protect them from the sun? These footmuffs / cosytoes / bunting bags, or whatever you like to call them, are super-handy as they are…

When I first received this kit, I was bemused. It quizzed me for a few days that I would be making a rug with cotton fabric. After reading the instructions several times and chatting to a quilter friend I decided to investigate cotton duck. Once I had sourced the fabrics the instructions were easy and…

Recently I was sent a pattern kit by Janet Clare to play with that has the instructions for a pin cushion, needle case, scissor holder and a project case.  This can be ordered from her website Janetclare.co.uk at a cost of £7.99. When I first opened it I saw that it mentions charm squares to make…

I have been given a sample of Gutermann 100% cotton thread on a cone to test on my HandiQuilter Longarm machine. I have used Guterman threads for as long as I can remember on my domestic machine but not used it on my longarm until now.  I will be upfront and honest here and say…

Having followed Jenny Haynes of Papper, Sax, Sten since she started out in earnest in the United Kingdom, I was more than excited to be given a set of her acrylic templates and some luscious Oakshott fabrics. I was less excited when I realised which pattern she wanted me to use…. Curves always fill me…

First, let me thank the wonderful people at Sew Easy for being so kind as to provide this product for me to test, on behalf of the United Kingdom Quilters Website. I must confess I was excited to review this product, I have never tried Sashiko and therefore, this kit appealed to me. The presentation…

I had seen these scissors advertised in magazines and then was asked to review them. I have a collection of scissors, small ones, big ones, batting scissors, applique scissors and more, I’m sure that I am not the only quilter who has a collection of scissors! These Sewline scissors are advertised as for use by…

As the royal wedding becomes a distant memory, we are reminded of that beautiful day with these new stunning designs by Edyta Sitar. If you are a lover of blues and creams, then this is certainly going to be a favourite. Makower have come up trumps again with these beautiful 100% cotton designs in top…

Took delivery of a Juki HZL-DL5 today for a customer that wants to try it out, of course I had to see if it works correctly before she comes to play with it herself! Seriously though, if we get a new machine in, we always sew test it first just in case plus it gives…

The Congleton Bear Town Patchwork & Quilters organised their usual jaunt to the 4 day Malvern Quilts Spring Show, hosted by The Grosvenor Show, on Sunday 20th June 2018. I was on the coach clutching my ticket at 8.10 am on a warm sunny morning alongside 50+ other excited women! We arrived at 10 am…

The largest of the spring quilt shows was held last weekend at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.  Quilts UK, organised by Grosvenor Shows, runs for 4 days and encompasses competition quilts, exhibition displays and the all important traders.  This year it took place in glorious sunny weather with the wonderful view of the hills…

First of all, I am going to start off by issuing an apology to the makers and distributors of Mistyfuse, who very kindly sent me some to review. I have taken a shockingly long time to complete my review, so I am sorry for that. So, let’s get started. Having volunteered to review a sample…

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 was sent some super cute mermaid fabric Merryn, designed by Diane Rooney for Makower UK to review. I got a layer cake square (i.e. 10″) of each of the nine fabrics in the range and some white blenders from the Makower UK Essentials Range to play with. There’s a large print, a smaller print,…

Isn’t it funny how things sometimes cross your path at exactly the right moment? I was just thinking that I need to replace the blade on my 45mm Olfa rotary cutter, when this little gem came into my possession. It’s important to note that the Colonial Dual Rotary Blade Sharpener cannot work miracles on blades…

June Tailor Press-Mate I recently bought the June Tailor Press-Mate, I thought it looked good for squaring up blocks when pressing. I bought it on Amazon and I didn’t read the reviews first! I always read the reviews but for some reason I read them after placing my order. Well the reviews weren’t good, had…

Had a play on the Janome HD2200, something I don’t really do, usually only get to sample machines off before selling them, or too busy fixing machines to have a proper go, but this one intrigued me, frightens the life out of me too because of it’s sheer power of how much it can sew…

ThimblePad I was so excited to be asked to review the Thimble Pad. I get a really sore finger when sewing binding on or doing EPP. Which in turn limits the amount of hand sewing I can do. I’ve tried plastic thimbles and even a Sterling silver thimble but I just find them too uncomfortable.…

Thanks to  https://ukqu.co.uk/ and and EQS for the opportunity to review this Sew Easy product called Foldable Cutting Mat. It measures just 12” x 18” when folded, which will make transporting to classes etc much easier. Opened out it measures 24” x 18”, but advises not to cut across the fold! I dutifully renewed the…

First, let me thank the wonderful people at EQS: https://www.eqsuk.com/ for being so kind as to provide these products for us to test, on behalf of the United Kingdom Quilters Website. The product I am reviewing is the Artisan Apron by Janet Clare, it retails from her Esty page at £11.99. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/184039707/artisan-apron-pattern-make-and-embellish The presentation of…

Such excitement – a little parcel dropped through the letter box a few days ago. I couldn’t recall ordering anything so, like a child on Christmas Day, the envelope was soon removed. Out fell the Colonial Mat Smoother. This had been sent to UKQU from EQS, and thence to me, with a request to review…

Last Sunday I visited the British Quilt and Stitch Village at Uttoxeter Racecouse. It is a small, friendly show run by TPL Exhibtiions and showcases quilts and embroidery. On a nice sunny, spring day the racecourse is a wonderful venue – sadly that was not the case on the day I visited this year! Chrylser…

This ‘Sew Simple Super-Soft Polyester’ comes pre-packed in quite useful sizes including Queen, Twin and also in Three Metre lengths. My package, described as ‘Baby Size’, is 114 x 152 cms or 45 x 60 inches. I measured it, just to check, and sure enough the sizing is generous.   Intelligentmother.com advises that a crib…

Thinking of buying an all in one cutting and pressing board/mat and not sure what to buy? Like me, you probably have 2 separate boards already. I have a several cutting boards of different sizes, from different manufacturers and recently bought a rotating board so plenty to compare against. As for ‘pressing’ – I have…

Chocolatier BOM Gravity BOM I blame UKQU for me joining these two BOM – somebody posted a picture of the Chocolatier quilt on one of the UKQU facebook pages, and it called to me instantly. Then I saw the Gravity BOM – and I had to have that one as well. I am becoming a…

The lovely people at UKQU HQ very kindly asked if I’d like to review some fabric and I jumped in the air! I’m more than happy to admit to being a fabric addict. The fabrics were from Makower UK and I joyfully received 4 pieces from the Essentials range and a few layer cake squares…

After my recent Blog post, where I used a Moda Cake mix to make a quilt for my brother and his wife, I was asked by one of my readers to write a product review on them. Its taken me a few weeks (snow stopped play a few times, the joys of living in rural…

Having come home from work, I opened an unexpected package.  I put my hand in and felt a rubber ring and I was trying to work out who would send me such a thing and what it was for.  It wasn’t until I pulled it right out and saw the label that I realised it…

  What a great tool to review!  This 45 mm Rotary Cutter with Comfort Grip (SSN45CUT) is a Sew Simple product which is distributed by EQS.  The rotary cutter is an essential item for any quilter and this one is said to be suitable for right or left handed users without the need to turn the blade / fittings.…

Hi all I was recently asked to review a notion kindly donated by EQS. This “Add-A-Quarter-Plus” ruler by CM Designs. Its packaging claims to “Simplify Foundation Piecing”. Well if you are anything like me, the thought of Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) scares the living “what-zit” out of me. Previous attempts at FPP have been awful and…

Recently I’ve started making cushion covers using designs made up of half square triangles. My intention is to make three different arrangements, all 24 inches square. Each finished HST is 3 x 3 inches, so 64 for one cushion cover, 192 in total. I’m using the ‘magic eight’ method which is fabulous but it does…

Some of you will be familiar with the Block of the Month (or BOM), and others will not be. For quite a few years I didn’t give them any thought at all, but about 10 years ago I saw a quilt that I liked and wanted to make. Since then I have subscribed to 12…

I like using every little last bit of things I have; I find it difficult to throw away the tiniest of scraps, ends of threads, snippets of bondaweb batting and the offcuts of wadding – to mention just a few of my hoarding obsessions. As regards the wadding, I have plans of sewing pieces together…

I have greatly admired these two stars of modern quilting for quite a while now, and their first collaboration in book form has certainly been worth the wait! Not only are Tula Pink and Angela Walters so passionate about their work, but also about the quilting community as a whole. The first chapter ‘Guardians of…

January and February are both mad months in the QuiltSandwich Show Calendar. Started with a magnificent new show at Newark.  This was then followed by Edinburgh and Harrogate Quilt Shows.  The next to come are Duxford and finally before the Easter Break comes The Scottish Quilting Show. At QuiltSandwich, as we also run Patchwork and…

This show should really come with a warning, but as it doesn’t – I will assign it one: Beware – Attending this show may seriously damage your wealth! Being a blogger for UKQU comes with its benefits – we don’t get to participate in competitions, but we do get to review items, and I was…

I love Cathedral Windows. There is something about them and how you can use modern and traditional fabrics to create totally different looks. Having previously tried the Missouri Star Quilt Company version, I was very keen to review this book and compare my results.  To start with this book offered clear instructions on how to…

One of the thrills of being asked to review a product is that you’re never quite sure what will be coming in the post. The last thought that went through my mind was that I hoped it wasn’t a thimble! Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against thimbles. I have need of them…

On a rather dull and wet Saturday in February, I set of with a car full of ladies to Fremingtom, North Devon. Why you might ask, Well Crosspatch Quilters were hosting a Doughty’s Fabric Roadshow. Crosspatch Quilters have been meeting in North Devon for over 30 years and have around 36 active members at present.…

“Collecting fabric and keeping our scraps is a wonderful thing, but at some point it’s important to allow those fabrics to fulfill their destiny and be part of something magical”.  Those words of Stuart’s in his introduction really rang true with me. This new book is absolutely packed with ideas and inspiration for stash-busting and…

Silesian Quilt is a company based in Poland and is owned by Margaret Lehman, she offered to send me some of her ruler templates to review for the website. I had no idea what she was going to send me, but waited patiently for their arrival. When the box of https://ukqu.co.uk/shop/uncategorized/free-motion-quilting-grip-5 arrived I couldn’t help but smile,…

Thread Magic is a thread conditioner, it makes the thread smoother so that it is less likely to snag, tangle, twist, or cause other friction problems. It is similar to using beeswax although, I find this conditioner much better because it helps me to sew for longer without experiencing the discomfort I often feel in…

I’d heard of freezer paper (FP) but didn’t quite know how to use it so I was a little perplexed as where to start. The box gave me some examples of how I could use it for appliqué and a web search brought up a plethora of tutorials on the internet, including a few for…

Mollie Makes is a monthly Magazine, not one I have ever read, so when their new book ‘How to Quilt & Patchwork’ arrived for me to review I didn’t know what to expect. The book is divided into several sections, there are 15 projects, these include cushions, picnic blankets, a tea cosy, a bean bag,…

THE GENTLE ART OF QUILT-MAKING 15 Projects Inspired by Everyday Beauty by Jane Brockett “is for anyone who has ever wanted to make stunning, vibrant, imaginative quilts with the minimum of fuss.” Not knowing what product I was going to receive to review, I was delighted that it was a book. I am definitely old…

When I was asked to review a product, if I am being honest my first impression was yay! Free Stuff!!! When a small padded envelope dropped on my door mat (complete with Lola Teeth marks!) I was intrigued to see what I had been sent. I was sent a Sewline Aqua Eraser. Its packaging claims…

I think by now most of you have seen the novelty of clips to hold your fabric together instead of the pins. I have tried the ordinary clips and I guess it’s just a matter of a habit or preference. But then I was introduced to MAGIC CLIPS – and let’s be honest who doesn’t like…

  I received a Sewline Fabric Glue pen to review. The pen arrived in a clear plastic package which also included a handy glue refill. The pen is a nice size and easy to use. The glue stick its self is a blue colour and the glue was visible once on the fabric. When the…

Today I took Sarah, a non-quilter (yes I confess she was) along to the new Grosvenor Show in Newark to see what this brand new Exhibition had to offer. We had thought about whether it was worth a day out of the office [as a quilter I didn’t need a second asking of course] but…

First impression, a well presented plastic bottle with screwtop & seperate spray unit containing approx half a litre. On opening, a very pleasant ‘Linen Fresh’ fragrance, without being overpowering.  The spray nozzle unit is easy to apply to the bottle but the open/shut nozzle is a little stiff to twist round. There is no stickiness…

I was asked to review fabric.  Woohoo, I’m sure we all know how it feels to be waiting for a parcel of fabric.  So exciting.  I had no idea what was going to drop through the letter box. And then the day arrived, a brown envelope arrived and it was quickly ripped open.  I was…

Doodle Days designed by Lynne Goldsworthy I received 16 x 10 inch squares of the Doodle Days range and wasn’t disappointed upon receiving, the quality of fabric are what we have come to expect from makower, a delight to work with and holding excellent shape during all the cutting. The delicate colours used and the…

  I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to find out that I was going to receive one of L&C Fabrics’ fabulous Mystery Bags when they were launched. I had seen the bags featured on their Facebook page and was intrigued to see what would be included. L&C Fabrics say, “The…

Firstly, a BIG thank you to UKQU and Crafty UK I was sent the Twisted Pinwheel Template Set to use and review. The instructions, and the information on the packaging, was very helpful and the protective plastic case keeps the Templates secure. Following the instructions I cut out sufficient blocks, using the 5″ square, to…

I would like to thank UK Quilters United (www.ukqu.co.uk) for giving me this chance to review Makower UK’s collection entitled Handmade (www.makoweruk.com ). Please note this fabric is 100% patchwork cotton. When I was asked to do a fabric review, I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to play with fabric? I…