This lovely quilt could challenge you or your sewing group to a monthly block .. and it makes up into a fantastic quilt, 54″ x 54″.  Designed by Lyn Goldsworthy from Lilyquilts exclusively for Andower (the US counterpart for Makower UK).   There are 13 different blocks  and any one of them could create an amazing…

Hidden away behind fabulous fabrics and numerous projects is the secret ingredient for successful sewing. Vlieseline is that magic material, the key to quick and easy yet professional results! Several Vlieseline qualities come in pre-packs with full instructions. Handy to keep on standby in your workbasket! All are washable and dry cleanable. G405 Ultrasoft medium iron-on – for medium…

Are you looking for a new challenge .. then this latest ruler from Sew Easy might just be what you have been looking for. Ideal for circular, semi-circular and star quilt designs as well as for making bunting. This Mini Patchwork Edge Ruler y is also great for sewing projects and general measurement work.  The…

Denim fabrics are trendy and not just for jeans. Authentic, sturdy and cool, denim bags, backpacks, pillow cases or vase covers are just a few examples that make for great denim accessories. Denim 100m is the go-to jeans thread that lets you be as creative and stylish as the professionals. Whether creating something from new…

A couple of year ago I was invited to the opening of a patchwork exhibition in the museum in Angra do Heroísmo in Terceira, the adjacent island to where I live in the Azores. The is a strong patchwork tradition in the Azores, but it is still regarded as a utilitarian craft rather than an…

  Miniking Thread from the Sew-All Gütermann creativ range is now made from 100% recycled bottles and comes in plastic-free packaging – great for the environmentally aware quilters amongst us. Miniking Thread is a universal sewing thread which can be used with all household, overlock and coverstitch sewing machines. Ideal for fine decorative stitching, flat…

We often see requests for information from our members about which wadding is better, so when Vlieseline released details of their Soya and Cotton range we thought you would want to know about this. The luxury feel of this lightweight, needle punched wadding in a 50/50 blend of soya and cotton fibres is hard to…

The Festival of Quilts returns to the NEC from the 18th – 21st August! The organisers are urging you to register for tickets now and you’ll receive early notification and priority booking (with no obligation to purchase). This will give you a better chance of securing the date, entry time and workshops you want. Register here: https://bit.ly/321fyh6 Tickets…

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.

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to review a pack of fat quarters from the new Tilda range called Cotton Beach. They arrived beautifully packed. A few close ups.. Limpet Shells… Sea Anemone… Coral Reef… Ocean Flower… These beautiful fresh fabrics are 100% cotton and come in several colourways.   I particularly…

Gütermann creativ have added these colourful thread packs to the popular rPET range. Produced using Micro Core Technology and made exclusively by Gütermann creativ, using 100% recycled plastic bottles, Sew-all rPET thread is the ethical choice for sewing enthusiasts who still seek top quality without any compromise. This thread is suitable for a whole range of machine…

  Our friends over at Sewing Street have a lovely surprise for our members here at the website or at the Facebook Group.   Share pictures of your purchases and your makes and listen for any shout-outs on Sewing Street too. Related posts: Looking for a Fabric Fairy? Quilt NSW and the Sydney Quilt Show…

  An exciting new cotton fabric collection inspired by the beauty of sea anemones, shells and coral reefs in all their glory. Cotton Beach features the magnificent array of coastal colours from soft mauves through to dark and light corals, sandy greys, teal greens, ocean blues and yellows representing the sun. The exquisite underwater world is…

The Stitch Festival returns to London’s Business Design Centre London welcomes back the ultimate textile craft lover’s day out as The Stitch Festival returns to the Business Design Centre, Islington from 3rd– 6th March 2022. The Stitch Festival is a hotbed of creativity, textile talent and inspiration, with a line-up of top UK tutors and…

Now’s the time to be merry and bright!! You have heard talk about the UKQU 12 Days of Christmas and we have contacted many of you direct already to join the new element of our already popular site to be able to upload your courses and lessons, BOMs and more. We have been working hard…

And its back! PANICO’s Fabric Store is back and opened in a new space in the Pavilion Shopping Centre Thornaby (TS17 9FD) just a few miles from its original home in Stockton-on-Tees. Earlier in the year many of the UK Quilters United Facebook group members were shocked to hear of the closure of yet another…

Sew Easy are well known within Quilting circles, but did you know they also make for dressmaking and other sewing hobbies.  (Did you actually realise there are other reasons to sew!)   These new Mini French Curves from Sew Easy are ideal for both drafting and altering garment patterns, especially necklines, armholes and sleeve caps…

Let creativity abound with these heart and star template sets from Sew Easy. These shaped transparent templates have marking points for easy positioning and a ¼” seam allowance to make the task of drawing and cutting fast, accurate and easy. In a choice of hearts or stars, each set fits neatly together on a ring…

Wonder Clips from Clover are now available in multi-sizes within one pack! Already available in separate Regular, Mini and Jumbo sizes, they now also come in a variety pack. Wonder Clips provide a whole new way to hold project work in position while you sew and are an ideal alternative to pins. They are a…

Something exciting is happening this Christmas at UKQU – for the whole 12 days! We will be releasing the full details shortly, but for now, we are calling out to all the quilting educators, designers and tutors amongst our members who would like to join in. For the first time, we are offering the chance…

Quilting for charitable causes has become quite a thing these days .. the local sewing group I go to, Our Quilty Pleasures, has supported a number of charities over the years and we have recently been fortunate to receive a substantial amount of money to support our future efforts.  Generally, we sew for local causes…

Clover “Quick Cut” Thread Cutter When Sylvia asked me to review the thread cutter, I assumed it would be like many of the other cutters that are out there, you use them for a short while then forget about them.This one is definitely not going to fall into that category. Ready For Use It’s a…

Do you applique?  From time to time we see people asking about the best way to secure their applique prior to stitching in place, so when Hemline popped up with this we wanted to let you all know about this new addition to their range. Heat ‘n’ Seal is the new permanent, double-sided iron-on adhesive.…

The one thing we all love is a pretty new range of fabrics, and this new set of designs from Tilda will not disappoint. Inspired by autumn days when leaves twirl and the wind catches your umbrella. The figurative Windy Walks design comes in four colourways and the flowers in this collection are loosely inspired…

    Its always good to see new, improved products arriving in our sector – like this new wadding from Vlieseline. We have asked two of our bloggerati to test drive this too so watch out for their reviews turning up shortly. Replacing the original 279, the luxuriously soft, 279 Soft Cotton Mix is a…

2021 Hemline Advent Calendar Summer’s past and now we look forward to darker months – and the advent of things to come.   Hemline are far ahead of us with their popular Sewing Advent Calendar. The Hemline advent calendar makes a brilliant gift for budding dressmakers or creative, crafty friends and family of all ages. Containing…

I need to confess that Modern quilts don’t normally do it for me. I’m a traditional girl really but I think, if a quilt sparks an inspiration, an idea that you need to start or leaves you feeling that you might be wrong in your understanding of a quilting discipline, then it must be special.…

Earlier this year we ran a competition featuring some lovely notions from Clover, and launched a series of videos created with Stuart Hillard showing how useful the different notions were proving to be.  He created a pretty humbug bag for this, and used the hera marker and finger presser to line up his quilting and…

Not knowing what to expect I casually headed towards the Quilts on display. The first quilt I saw was a memory Quilt, it touched me like you wouldn’t believe. It was then I realised that a quilt was a lot more than I ever imagined. It wasn’t just a piece of work created by someone…

Every so often we see something of real interest that we just have to share with you all.  This article is one of those times: Hi I’m Chrissie Menzies and I am a textile artist living and working in Mid Wales, I am also a director of Wonderwool Wales, the largest wool and fibre festival…

Wholecloth quilts have no patchwork – they just rely on the beauty of their elaborate quilting patterns. There are several included in the current exhibition of North Country Quilts at the Bowes Museum in County Durham, which I would thoroughly recommend if you can arrange to go in the remaining months of 2021. The quilt…

  Introducing Vlieseline ECO 150, the first 100% biodegradable voluminous wadding with high insulation performance. Made from renewable resources, 100% Lyocell which is sourced from Eucalyptus trees. This innovative new product biodegrades without leaving any micro plastic contamination in the environment, making it the responsible choice when considering the future of our planet as well…

Bridges, not Walls “We build too many walls and not enough bridges” – Sir Isaac Newton From time to time our craft pops up in all sorts of different places.  We spoke to Luke Jerram, the artist behind the ‘Quilted Bridge’ or textile bombed bridge at Llangollen and this is what we discovered.  Luke is…

Clover Black Gold Needles The ultimate in needle quality from Clover, these professionally polished hand sewing needles have a special black plating which allows the needle to pierce effortlessly through fabric with major reduction in frictional resistance. Designed to provide the optimum balance between hardness and flexibility, the needle shaft is strengthened using carefully selected,…

There is a lot of chat in the social media, including our own UK Quilters United about this years Festival of Quilts.  Will it happen, won’t it.  What’s the entry criteria.  what’s needed and more. We aim here at the website to support our membership in whatever way we can, so on this occasion we…

Do you have trouble with holding a ruler steady whilst cutting?  Make short, accurate work of placing, marking,  cutting,  lifting and moving templates with this new Ruler Grip from Sew Easy!  The two strong suction caps are easily secured thanks to the levers that give extra stability.  With one hand elevated on the grip there…

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 which always need finishing up, I’m in… <img class=”ui-sortable-handle” src=”https://ukqu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IMG_8708.jpeg” alt=”” data-eio=”l” />Moving in It has certainly been…

We often see comments from the facebook membership asking about quilt-a-longs so when Vlieseline contacted us about the one they have starting from 3rd July we had to let you know! They are commenting about this already on their instagram page already – and it’s free to join .  Just the thing to sew along…

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 century onwards. If you think that all traditional quilts are made from blocks, you may be in for a…

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 bright and shiny as this lovely summer weather. You might not be aware of it,…

Now available on 300m reels, Gütermann creativ has added some colourful Cotton 30 Thread Packs to their already extensive range!  Do we really need an excuse to add to our thread stash?   Cotton Thread is soft, supple and both light-resistant and colourfast, even in temperatures of 95 degrees. The natural softness of pure cotton…

Well, can you?   The UK Quilters Facebook Group, alongside this website can.  Imagine if that was or is your shopfront. Whether you are a bricks and mortar shop or an online trader, there’s never been a better time to reach out to the massive band of patchworkers, quilters, bagmakers, embroiders, fabric hoarders (did I mention…

An intriguing headline for sure.  Every so often something really interesting drops on my desk that captures my attention and draws me away from the day job.  This was one of those moments. The Bowes Museum have been talking about their exciting new exhibition for some time, and we have seen mention of it across…

  Entry for Quilts Deadline extended to 11am Monday 7th June 2021 With two weeks left to create and enter your quilt into the 2021 Festival of Quilts, it’s worth considering why you might want to do that.   FOQ as we fondly refer to this prestigious event ,sets out seven reasons why we should give…

  Quilters are in for a real treat with these luxurious new tools from the new Hemline Gold Collection! Rotary Cutter The new Hemline Gold 45mm rotary cutter has a premium brushed gold blade made from ground hardened steel. With an ergonomic soft-grip handle for comfortable holding, this cutter is supremely comfortable and easy to…

Gütermann creativ has released an exciting new Sew-All Thread pack which includes a Textile Glue stick. The pack contains 10 x 100m reels of Sew-All in popular shades of yellow, blue, green, red and grey to give you all the perfect standby colours for numerous projects. This great all-rounder is suitable for both machine and hand-stitching. Superbly versatile, this smooth…

We all have our favourite FABRIC store and mine is PANICOs in Stockton-on-Tees. It’s a long way from where I live but I have close family who live in the area so PANICOs becomes my ‘go to’ place whenever I visit. So, as you can guess, I’m super excited that PANICOs has re-opened.    A…

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity by UKQU.co.uk to write a review for a range of products courtesy of Hemline Gold. Eagerly awaiting the arrival of the post to see what the package would bring I decided to search the internet to have a look and try and guess what it might…

A very delicately embroidered 19th Century Sampler sold for £6,000 plus buyer’s premium in Tennants Auctioneers’ Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 7th May. The sampler is worked in red thread on white background in the style of the Ashley Down Orphanage, Bristol. Tiny stitches form the alphabet, numbers and numerous detailed motifs, executed using…

  An exclusive new collection inspired by the rich history of the haberdashery industry; Hemline Gold is fused with sleek, modern finishes. Drawing its influence from traditional Victorian aesthetics and craftmanship, this collection includes innovative products that are manufactured with precision. The elegant, timeless designs are presented in a colour palette that is heavily focused…

Newly added to the Clover range are these rather delicious looking macaron-shaped magnetic needle holders.   Not only is the design very appealing, these holders are incredibly useful and also very versatile. These irresistible Sweet and Sharp Macarons come in a choice of Raspberry or Pistachio and they include both a sharpener and a magnet.…

Related posts: Playing Away? Sewing Retreats – What are they all about? ‘Unfolding Stories 3’ Exciting New Contemporary Art Exhibition Great News and a first for UK Quilters United

Do you ever get to that moment when you’ve finished piecing a quilt top and get a little bit daunted by the next stage – the quilting? When quilting, I sometimes quilt by domestic machine, using both the walking foot (which I think is very underestimated) and free motion options. I also love quilting by…

Yes – you read that right.  The organisers of the Festival of Quilts have given everyone, both here and at our sister Facebook Group an exclusive discount code to use when purchasing tickets for the 2021 Festival of Quilts.  This year’s dates are 29th July to 1st August. UKQU2021 The FOQ website is open for…

No matter how good we are at sewing there comes a time when we reach for Jack.  Noooo – not to pour from the bottle (although now you mention this …), but the sharp little helper we keep to unpick the rogue seams when we are not happy with the line they are following, or…

As the drama of the pandemic plays out there are glimmers of things happening that might just be a sign of better times for us all, especially for traders and visitors to the Festival of Quilts .. or FOQ as we fondly refer to this prestigious event in our usual annual calendar. We are rather…

There’s often debate here and at the Facebook Group around which thread is better to use for the different techniques we use in patchwork and quilting, and there’s a wealth of information around to help people choose.  Suppliers take note of all the chat going on, and Gutermann have come up with a thread especially…

  There are many positive reasons for reducing consumption of new and precious raw materials and Vlieseline are doing this without compromising the superior quality they are renowned for. Committed to reducing carbon footprint, offering products made from plastic bottles and optimizing environmentally friendly manufacturing processes alongside minimizing use of new raw materials are high…

The news came out that Festival of Quilts, the lovely FOQ, is likely to be happening this year, and the drums started up and all sorts of rumours began.  Here at your website, we believe in speaking to the right people, and in this case we went right to the top and spoke with Anna…

Have you ever been struck with a quilt idea – a new layout you’d like to try? You doodle on a pad, then try and draft it out on some graph paper which is metric rather than Imperial. Get mixed up and confused and shove the project to one side. Perhaps you are only starting…

The people at the Bowes Museum in Durham are preparing for re-opening with a brand new exibition of quilts – but of course many of them will have needed the care and attention from the conservation team. They have created two videos showing some of the work by their textile conservator, Cecilia Oliver which goes…

I frequently get asked how to make rotary cutting easier for the beginner or for the experienced quilter who has joint issues. This can strike anyone at any age as someone who suffered RSI throughout my 30s and 40s quite severely, holding a quilters ruler steady whilst cutting can be difficult. My son’s girlfriend has…

Did you miss the 14th February.  Did it pass by without merit (same here!)  but Vlieseline posted a beautiful project with a real purpose.   Breast Cancer Cushions are known to help with post operation comforts, and they have offered the pattern to make these. You can access the full pattern via this link or visit their…

Making your own bias tapes and bindings couldn’t be easier with the Clover Bias Tape Cutting Ruler which enables accurate cutting of both bias and straight fabric strips. The special slit in the ruler is designed for use with a rotary cutter, giving you the perfect guide for precision fabric cutting along straight and exactly…

Fabric.  I will just let you savour that lovely word.  Even better 100% cotton plains in fat quarter packs. Trimits have added new fat quarters to their popular range. Each bundle contains 5 fat quarters, size 54x45cm in 100% cotton and washable at 40 °. Available in 8 glorious colour combinations that offer endless scope…

Janome have a long history of supplying the patchwork and quilt sector with amazing sewing machines, and the Janome Continental M7 is their greatest machine to date. It already carries the prestigious award from the Design Council and a Red Dot Award which recognises just how good this machine is. The M7 claims the industry’s…

Sometimes we need something more than just an old fashioned pin to hold a project in place, or if you are blocking a piece of work for example, and these new Fork Blocking Pins from the lovely people at Clover could be just what you are looking for. Fork Pins are constructed of two flexible…

  Woodland Collection Inspired by the forest, the Woodland fabric collection provides perfect designs for projects with a winter wonderland theme. Featuring hand-drawn images of flora and fauna along with woodland creatures, this latest Tilda Collection comes in a choice of colour tones to suit your personal style.   Tilda are also very excited to…

North Country Quilts: In Celebration of New Acquisitions 20 March 2021 – 19 September 2021 The Bowes Museum is delighted to announce that it will be holding an exhibition from March 2021 showcasing some of the remarkable North Country quilts it has added to its collection over the last 20 years. North Country Quilts: In…

An overlock machine is a real boon, enabling a perfect finish on seams and other raw edges and that’s where Bulky-Lock from Gütermann creativ is the thread of choice. This high-quality thread is available in two weights; 80 and 160, it is made from 100% polyester and is beautifully soft and flexible, giving a professional…

    Create a wonderful array of patchwork and quilting designs with these easy to use templates from Sew Easy. Made from 100% acrylic using laser cut technology, all three templates include a ¼” seam allowance and are suitable for beginners as well as more experienced quilters.   45° Petal Template Ideal for making floral…

When we are at home with no where to go for a while it’s a great time to sort out our wardrobes, and it’s a good bet many of us will find a pile of denim to play with.   Gutermann have a range of threads that work really well with denim .. and what a…

I was given the opportunity to review these lovely Clover Pins for quilting. As you can see they are a little chunkier than the usual pins so this makes handling much easier. I also liked the fact they are lovely pink & yellow which show up easier when quilting. They are much easier to use…

Pony Black Sewing Needles Pony Black brings you a new generation of sewing needle that is innovative as well as meeting the highest international standards. They are nickel free, ultra-smooth and have perfect points for superior performance. They are offered in the largest range of hand sewing needle sizes for every conceivable craft including sharps,…

      Janome UK launch The BIG JANOME Skill Share with Jenni Smith The aim, together with Jenni is to create more quilters in the world and to celebrate the pride and joy that comes when you share a skill with another person. This collaboration is a development of Jenni Smith’s ‘Just One Quilt’ campaign https://www.janome.co.uk/just-one-quilt…

For beautiful top stitching and decorative backstitch seams – Deco Stitch 70 from Gütermann creativ gives clothing, accessories and home sewing projects a professional, distinctive and unique finish. This shimmering silky top-stitch thread is the perfect choice for everyone who likes to produce individual creations with passion and attention to detail. High-quality three-ply Deco Stitch…

Recapture that magical spirit and get in the mood for sew much festive fun with this beautifully presented advent calendar filled with goodies for your sewing stash. The Hemline advent calendar makes a brilliant gift for budding dressmakers or creative, crafty friends and family of all ages. Containing no calories – just plenty of inspiration…

Many of you will know or will have heard of, Abbieanne Patchwork and Design. She’s a wonderful character, full of exuberance and a joy to be around so when I happened to be on holiday in Cornwall this summer I thought I’d call in and see her famous ‘Therapy Cupboard’. Abbieanne’s Therapy Cupboard Abbie is oft…

During a time when we’re unable to come together for the annual celebration of The Festival of Quilts, the team at The Festival of Quilts have introduced a brand new online initiative “Beyond The Festival of Quilts’  which will bring the quilting community together for a host of activities and events until we can all…

Every now and then something arrives in the shops that you really must have, and this might just be one of those times.   Whether you are treating yourself, or looking for something to treat a friend, these lovely tins of thread are so pretty.  Imagine how they will look sat on the shelves in your…

Having the right marking tool to suit your project is essential and Clover provide an excellent range. It is advisable to test your chosen marker on a scrap of your fabric before using on the project itself. Water Soluble Pencils are suitable for precise marking on sewing, stitching and patchwork projects. Markings can be removed…

As we all now know, The 2020 Festival of Quilts will switch to an online format to accommodate as many of the annual quilting events and competitions as possible.  To celebrate this event, Vlieseline has created a Quilt-along project to engage quilters and crafters in lockdown during the weeks leading up to FOQ. Vlieseline has…

New from Clover is the Sliding Stitch Guide Foot, your go-to presser foot for parallel-line straight stitching and straight-line machine quilting. Recommended for machine quilters and home sewing fans, the Guide Foot* moves smoothly over the fabric and can measure as far apart as 7.6 cm between needle and alignment guide. Now you can sew…

This beautiful quilt was created by Claudia Pfeil Calling all quilters – we have some good news! This year The Festival of Quilts annual quilting competition will be going ahead… virtually! There is something for every level and style of quilting, with 12 different categories to choose from including Modern, Contemporary, Pictorial and Novice. The…

Here’s a great idea for those of us prefer to reuse and recycle, and the idea seems to resolve a is of issues we often experience with our sewing. 1,000m of Sew-all rPET thread from just one recycled plastic bottle! Gütermann creativ have added these colourful thread packs to the popular rPET range. Produced using…

Reviewing notions, fabrics or even thread is one of the happiest elements of my role as a Blogger for this website.  So when a package arrived in the post I was intrigued.    This fabulous Maker’s Workbook – Quilting popped out of the package courtesy of www.patterntrace.com . It was certainly more exciting than the 10…

Vlieseline Style-Vil Fix is revolutionising the creative world! This new fusible foam interlining allows for easy bonding onto outer fabric to make 3D collage as well as for hand and machine sewn items such as iPad and phone covers, bags, hats and garment shaping including shoulder pads. Style-Vil Fix also introduces the concept of being…

For beautiful top stitching and decorative backstitch seams, Deco Stitch 70 from Gütermann creativ gives clothing, accessories and home sewing projects a professional, distinctive and unique finish. This shimmering silky top-stitch thread is the perfect choice for everyone who likes to produce individual creations with passion and attention to detail. High-quality three-ply Deco Stitch 70…

We are all currently going through a terrible time with ‘The’ virus and it is affecting the lives of so many people. Not least those who have lost loved ones and those who are suffering. Our magnificent frontline NHS staff, that are the caring for our families and friends, are experiencing things we will never…

Vlieseline is more than just sewing! As sustainability is becoming increasingly important, Vlieseline has developed two new thermo-insulating waddings made using 100% recycled polyester: R80 and R 200. These exceptional waddings have a high migration resistance so they will retain their shape and smooth handle, even after washing. They are suitable for use with all…

Neat, compact and ready for travelling to classes or any time your sewing or ironing needs to be mobile … These carefully designed Sew Easy accessories are the perfect solution. Also good if there’s limited space in your sewing hub. The fold-down handle and compact size of this portable steam iron makes it a convenient…

If you are looking for something to keep you busy during the next few weeks you might fancy making your own embellishments, or simply having a bit of fun. Just bear in mind there might be a delay in delivery, so check with your supplier for despatch dates. Clover Pom-Pom Makers have never been easier…

A great alternative to pins or stitching, this new fabric glue pen from Sew Easy helps you complete projects quickly and easily. The adhesive gives a temporary bond which remains repositionable for up to 3 minutes. Perfect for quilting, appliques, hems and craftwork, it dries clear and washes out. With a simple twist of the…

DAILY DEMOS ON THE STITCH STAGE https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/the-stitch-stage/ OVER 150 SPECIALIST CRAFT EXHIBITORS https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/exhibitors/ OVER 240 WORKSHOPS TO TAKE PART IN https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/textile-workshops/ A COLLECTION OF COSTUMES FROM POPULAR FILMS https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/esme-young/ INTERACTIVE TEXTILE DISPLAYS https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/curated-by-mollie-makes/ A DEDICATED DRESSMAKING STUDIO – https://www.thestitchfestival.co.uk/the-dressmaking-studio/ Shop for new craft supplies, be inspired, take part in workshops and watch demonstrations all under…

Vliseline plays a big part in quilting, but there’s lots of other products that homemakers, upholsterers and more that would be of interest. There are Vlieseline qualities to suit every home interior project, whether you’re quilting a cushion, reinforcing upholstery covers, interlining curtains, making tie backs and pelmets or coordinating kitchen and bathroom accessories. Here…

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…

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″…

Hello everyone Like so many of ‘us quilters’ I’m always delighted when I get chance to buy fabric. My nearest places are anything from 15 to 30 miles away and in the opposite direction to where I live or work. Working full time means I don’t have much time to visit these places and browsing…

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…

Sew Easy has added four new cutting mats to their ever popular range. Featuring a soft yet stable surface and clear metric and imperial measurements and grid markings, these mats are extremely durable and self-healing. Available in a lovely dove grey, they also have a hole in one corner so you can hang up your…

Here at British Patchwork and Quilting magazine, we are always on the lookout for new talent. Joanna Kent, the editor, is in charge of all the projects that go into the magazine. She is the main point of contact when thinking about publishing and can answer any initial questions you may have. My first BP&Q…

Many of you will recall the incredible events at Grenfell, and the quilts that were created in such a short time to help those who suffered.   But life and events continue and Tuesday and the community group she is working with are continuing the crafting .. with a purpose.   In her words:   💚THE QUILT…

This year we are doing something different for Christmas here at the website … something that will bring everyone a gift from us, but we want to make this work for everyone. And there’s a charity involved too. We have given our wonderful Bloggerati the Feature to play with, and they are beavering away now…

UKQU has a fantastic range of quilting experts from around the country who, once a year, gather together for the ‘Bloggerati Retreat’. The one this year is due shortly in November and we are certainly looking forward to it. Which brings me onto my plan to write a few Blogs on retreats. (Sewing ones obviously,…

Easy to use, iron-on volume fleeces from Vlieseline will keep your fabrics firmly in place while you stitch. Ideal for quilting as well as for other sewing projects. You can choose from a double-sided or a single-sided fusible fleece depending on what you’re making and both will help ensure an accurate finish whilst skipping the…

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,…

Trimits have introduced these fun new motifs for the festive season. There are 36 motifs to choose from in 6 designs and they can be sewn or ironed on. They make a perfect finishing touch for festive projects from stockings and tree decorations to tablecloths and napkins. Great for embellishing garments such as Christmas jumpers,…

Light-weight with a thin non-woven layer to prevent fibre migration, this luxurious Wool Mix 266 Batting from Vlieseline is suitable for all fabrics and can be sewn by hand or machine. Made from 80% wool and 20% polyester, it is ideal for lightly quilted jackets and children’s clothes as well as for throws and quilts.…

Christmas in July? None of us like to think about Christmas this early but in British Patchwork and Quilting magazine I usually cover Christmas fabrics, or at least a couple, in the July issue, but why? We all know it takes time to make quilts so if you want a Christmas fabric for a gift…

Newly added are these fun festive felt kits! With plenty of choice to please the entire family, these Trimits felt kits contain everything needed and will appeal to adults and children alike. They make fabulous gifts for friends; either as a kit or finished and ready to adorn the festive tree for years to come.…

In the shops in time for Christmas are these wonderful Scandi Style Christmas Stockings.    Imagine the joy on the families faces when they find these stuffed with presents on Christmas morning. There’s little scandi style discs to hang on your tree, or why not make them into coasters for the table.  Look for them…

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…

  Made from 100% polyester, Bulky-Lock 80 from Gütermann creativ is a beautifully soft and flexible thread for overlock machines. For a perfect finish on seams and other raw edges, this high-quality thread is available in 24 popular shades on 1000m mini-king reels. RRP only £4.65 per reel. Available nationwide in fabric, craft and hobby…

Set to become a real favourite of many, Fern Garden from Makower is now on the shelves this Autumn.  Stylish, refreshing colours mixing greens and greys with revitalising yellows are an interior designers dream.  Pineapples sit alongside flamingos, with a retro vintage feel to the whole collection. These free pattern downloads for a messenger bag,…

With 42 different Tonal Designs, Makower’s Bijoux range is a perfect compliment to any stash.   The subtle vintage shades work well together in this fabulous scrappy quilt, and we have even given you the pattern to download for free complete with workable templates included. Don’t forget to show us your makes on the UK Quilters…

British & American Quilts from 1800-1930 An exhibition of quilts from an exceptional private collection, exploring the quilting and patchworking traditions of Britain and America from c.1800 to 1930 has opened at The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Forty colourful and beautifully preserved quilts are on display, including a selection of North Country…

  There’s nothing more frustrating than snagging a garment that inevitably results in a loose thread or, when you’re machine sewing or quilting, it is all too easy for stray threads to become enmeshed in the fabric layers but Clover have just the right tool for coming to the rescue!The Soft Touch Thread Pick is…

Recognised by the clear blue printed grids, these interfacings provide a guide for patchwork designs from traditional square blocks to modern styles. They are a great option for creating hand sewn hexagon or square patchwork quilts. Save time and ensure accuracy with Quickscreen and cut out the need for paper pieces that need to be…

Clover have a variety of Fusible Bias Tape Makers to help you achieve a bespoke professional finish for your sewing and crafting projects. Whether it is for quilting, home decor, dressmaking or a non-sewing assignment, you can make your very own trim in exactly the right choice of fabric to suit your needs. Clover Fusible…

Top Stitch rPet thread from Gütermann is better for the environment and great value for money too! Ideal for decorative seams and top stitching, it has a slight elasticity, making it suitable for both garments and soft furnishings. Made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and produced using Micro Core Technology, there are no less than…

Every so often something captures your imagination doesn’t it.   At the Festival of Quilts this year I met a stallholder who many may have noticed, or even passed by without a glance.   I stopped and bought a beautiful coat from them .. well more of a summer jacket if truth be known.   But I stood…

Thanks to this clever threaded needle dome you can absorb yourself in the joys of creativity without interruptions. All too often a pair of specs, a needle threader or even a magnifying glass are needed every time you thread up a needle so why not thread up multiple needles and get it all done in…

Ensure a smooth finish for machine embroidery, appliqué, monogramming and relief quilting. Vlieseline guards against fabric distortion and slippage to give support and stability wherever you choose to embellish. The following products are tailored to your exact needs. If you’re looking to use for machine embroidery then you need Fuse-n-tear. On all fabrics that can…

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…

It’s almost that time of year again when all Quilters start to become focused on one thing.   The annual visit to the Festival of Quilts.   Suddenly all the talk over at the Facebook Groups is about this and for those who have not been before here’s a beginners guide.  It might help those of us…

The Quilt Convention is a quilt show that features the best of Australia from the past year from each state guild. It also has a number of other travelling and international displays that are just fantastic to experience. The work of visiting tutors is displayed which makes it possible to see works which we might…

Take out the guess work with Certain Stitch Needles! These brilliant needles have been developed to give consistent length stitches that are evenly spaced, just like a professional. These exciting new needles will help build your confidence and speed up your sewing whilst also enabling you to achieve perfection. There are multiple ways you can…

Every sewing basket needs a good Needle Threader and Clover has a great range to choose from!  I, for one, could not manage without a needle threader of some sort these days, but I didn’t realise there were so many different sorts! Yarn Threader This firm, flat threader has a large opening making it ideal…

Vlieseline are committed to reducing carbon footprint, offering products made from plastic bottles and other recycled polyester materials. There are many positive reasons for reducing consumption of new and precious raw materials and Vlieseline are able to do this without compromising on the superior quality they are renowned for. Optimising environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and…

Look who I was talking to recently, and he is really encouraging to speak with.   I asked Stuart about his lovely Rainbow Etchings range of fabrics that the Craft Cotton Company have donated as the first prize in our new September competition . and he has popped over this article of encouragement.    Stuart will…

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…

The new 10 reel, 100m Sew All Thread Pack includes a free pack of 5 universal sewing machine needles plus an assortment pack of 30 hand sewing needles. The excellent quality and versatility of Sew All Thread makes it the perfect choice for almost every hand or machine sewing project, providing great results in these…

  Easier to use than standard templates, these mini squares and right angled triangles  are perfect for creating smaller piece quilts. They complement the existing pentagon, diamond, triangle and hexagon shapes in the Sew Easy range of mini template sets with an RRP of only £16.99. Great for beginners and experienced quilters alike, each set…

It really pays to select the right thread for hand sewing so your project runs smoothly without the thread splitting, tangling or snapping. Gütermann creativ provides the perfect choice with this premium quality 100% mercerized cotton hand sewing thread that is both tear and abrasion resistant, washable to 95 degrees and does not twist or…

Congleton Chronicle – a quilt made by 21 members in 1987, raffled for a local Hospice. 35 years ago (1984) a lady put an advert in a shop window in Congleton, Cheshire,  asking if anyone wanted to get together and form a patchwork and quilting group.  There were about five responses and so the group…

With the Festival of Quilts on the horizon I am sure many quilters are frantically burying threads in readiness for completing their entries.    Clover has a clever snag repair needle that might help. The quick and easy way to tidy up stray ends and the occasional pulled thread on clothes and accessories, the new…

Whilst our focus here at UKQU is patchwork and quilting, there are other needlecrafts that cross over into our territory so to speak.    Many of our members enjoy applique, or will mix crafts to embellish a quilt with embroidery and a hoop makes things much easier. Groves Trimits range have brought out some new…

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…

Next month we will be looking at recycling in patchwork, which some might say is where our craft began.   The lovely people at Gutermann have put together a great collection of threads for working with denim, and of course denim is not just for jeans.  What about all the old pairs we grew out of,…

Gulliver has been very busy theses last few weeks. So much so he’s kept my sewing machine very occupied. March brought with it two storms, Freya and Gareth. It’s no fun being a small bird in all that weather. Gulliver barely held onto his perch.   I don’t know if you have ever watched seagulls…

Needlework was an important accomplishment for all women in times gone by, and some exceptional examples are up for sale as two important private collections of Samplers and Quilts come up for auction in Tennants Auctioneers’ Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 18th May. First up is a lifetime’s collection of rare and beautiful 17th…

So today’s blog post is not the one I intended I write!  I had planned to continue my series of posts on modern quilts with an exploration into design aesthetic but I am going to postpone that one. Last weekend saw the 7th Annual British Stitch and Quilt Village running at Uttoxeter racecourse and this…

The brilliant people at Clover have come up with a clever new ruler to help us draft our own patterns or blocks.   This pliable ruler adds a new dimension to scaling and drafting sewing and knitting patterns, marking up curved shapes and drawing true 45° bias lines with precision. Thanks to its green zone,…

New to the Gütermann creativ range is a pack of ten x 100m reels of gorgeous thread colours with a 5% discount. Made from100% mercerized premium Egyptian cotton, C Ne 50 thread harmonizes with a wide range of fabric weights and is high strength with a natural sheen. The pleasantly soft grip of this quality…

We spoke to Anna Baptiste, the event director for the Festival of Quilts and she agreed to give a very rare interview for us here at UKQU.    Leave her a comment and someone will win a pair of tickets to this years event.   They go on sale to the general public on Monday 15th…

Maggie Lloyd-Jones .. founder of the Q4CL Project has an appeal ..in her own words: I’ve written lots about Quilts For Christmas Dinners – the public face of Quilts for Care Leavers (Q4CL) – and our fantastic company of quilters. We are aiming for 1000 quilts this year, enough for at least 20 Christmas Day…

The patchworks done and the backing chosen.  You have sourced the wadding so now you need to think about putting the layer together ready to quilt. If you are lucky enough to have one of the many different longarm machines out there then it’s said to be much easier using them, but what about this…

This Patchwork Ruler from Sew Easy is ideal for cutting strips, squares, rectangles and triangles and an absolute ‘must-have’ for patchwork and quilting. Suitable for both right and left-hand use, it has clear markings and measures 24”x 6.5.  RRP £19.99 Sew Easy products are available nationwide from haberdashery, sewing and craft suppliers. You can learn…

New! Deluxe Sewing Machine Bags with collapsible trolley Available in two sizes, the deluxe sewing machine bag from Hobby Gift comes with a sturdy collapsible aluminium trolley to provide the most practical transportable storage solution. With ultra-thick padding and heavy-duty base plate, the bags are the ultimate in lightweight, protective casing for sewing and embroidery…

Once again, this show has not failed to impress me. Now – my mum had a saying: “Better to be born lucky than rich”, and I tend to say that whenever I win something! Once again, I was lucky enough to win tickets for this amazing show, and I have said that I will not…

The Facebook groups have been really active with commentary about the Hauxwell Collection that recently went under the hammer at Tennants Auction House and one of the quilts will be joining the collections at the Bowes Museum in Teeside. The remaining quilts will, we are told, remain in the UK for the time being so…

Every so often something wonderful happens and today was one of those days. You may have heard already about the Quilts for Christmas Dinners project.  For those who haven’t there are several blogs already covering this, but in a nutshell, this project aims to donate up to 1000 quilts to the Lemn Sissay Christmas Dinners…

There’s been several comments lately over on the UK Quilters United FB Group about irons.   This popped into my inbox today and it offers sound advice on how to preserve your iron and ironing board. There are many ways that build up can occur on your iron and even though it might appear to be…

  The Quilter’s Flexible Curve is the perfect tool for creating your own designs, especially those involving wavy or curved lines. As the name suggests it is a very flexible tool and will hold its shape until changed. There are metric measurements on one side and imperial on the other making it easy to produce…

CLover are always coming up with clever notions to help improve our crafts. This set of seam markers allows you to neatly draw seam lines along the edges of any pattern or template, whatever the shape. Suitable for transferring patterns and templates on appliqué, Hawaiian quilts and other sewing projects, they enable you to draw…

Tonal flowers, stripes, spots and even a cockatoo all add to this vibrant new range from Makower UK.   Known for their wide variety of 100% cotton fabrics, they have put together a colourful pallette of fuschias, turquoise and and lime greens that will look well framed against white backgrounds. Expect to see Monsoon hitting the…

The South West’s favourite Needle & Hobby Craft show returns to the Westpoint, Centre in Exeter, the show runs from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th February 2019, doors opening 10am – 5pm every day. Returning to the show will be Barnyarns, Art Van Go, Black Sheep Wools, Maggie Grey, Fantastic Ribbons, Jan Tillett, Jeff Rosenberg,…

EDITED 22/01/19  This giveaway is now closed.  The winner, selected by random.org, is Mary Carrington This weekend sees the first Quilt Show of the year at Newark Showground.  It is a show run by Grosvenor Shows and this is only its second year.  I didn’t go last year but was very eager to go this year…

Maggie Lloyd-Jones’ ‘Quilts for Careleavers Christmas Dinners’ project captured our imagination .. she started in October and by Christmas Eve 2018 had 125 Quilts donated.  How did that happen …. Orphan blocks and all sizes of quilts arrived at Project HQ and tweaked to meet the preferred size [44″ x 60″].   5 ladies quilted donated…

Our Facebook group UK Quilters United is turning five years old already. My how time flies when you’re having fun. With almost 16,000 members the group is a thriving community sharing pictures, questions and answers. We love any excuse for a competition and as usual, all of our fabulous prizes are generously donated by group…

I heard about cancelled shows and change of direction in the UK. Let’s have a look at the situation in the Netherlands. This week we received the, to me shocking, news the planned yearly General Exhibition of the Dutch Quiltersgilde was cancelled! De Algemene Tentoonstelling 2019 gaat helaas niet door you can use the translate…

How did that happen then!   A whole year since we launched our website! 12 months.  365 days of quilting just flew by. Have you all enjoyed it?   Have you joined in?  Are you a member yet! We could look back over the last year with you, but it’s all still there, for you to review…

Imagine you are 18, been in care most of your life, and next week you will be living on your own for the first time, with no one other than your overworked social worker to turn to. This is the situation for many young people every year, and Christmas 2019 will be a time when…

Thirteen lots of quilts and textiles from the estate of Hannah Hauxwell are to be sold in Tennants Auctioneers’ Costume, Fashion and Textiles Sale on 9th February, in their North Yorkshire Salerooms. Hannah Hauxwell (1926-2018) was emblematic of the tough, resourceful upland farmers of North Yorkshire and County Durham. Having run her family farm, Low…

How many questions to Lyn Butler’s New Year’s Eve Quiz did you manage to get through?   If you are still struggling here’s the answers:   THIS FRACTION NEEDS SW                                       FAT QUARTER BIT OF A TRIFLE TURNING     …

This time last year, we had just about finished sorting all the quilts that had been donated for the Grenfell Tower appeal and they were about ready to go out. Many of the people in the Facebook Group asked if the group would remain or expressed sadness that it might come to an end so…

Banyarns have always been a great friend of ours here at the UKQU website and were one of the first companies to offer their support to our regular competitions with prizes and rewards, so when we started to see mention of problems happening, missed orders and more, we decided to investigate on behalf of everyone.  At first, we…

We are constantly on the lookout for fresh ideas and new people and at FOQ this year I was lucky enough to meet Kelly Cline, who has kindly agreed to write short articles for our website now and then.   Some of you will certainly recognise the name and the face, but for those who are…

Maggie is so busy with her project we have posted a little news update.   If you can pledge to help next year with this marvellous charity project then contact her.   Just one quilt could make a great difference to a child leaving care.   For the back ground check the https://ukqu.co.uk/quilty-hug-christmas-appeal/launch post for this project here…

This versatile stitch guide is cleverly designed for use in a variety of different ways to suit a multitude of sewing tasks. Once aligned with the edge of your fabric the stitch guide will give you a professional finish and you can confidently achieve a neat, accurate and consistent seam width. The guide can be…

There’s no need for stitching with Wundaweb from Vlieseline. This fine, fusible fleece bonds fabric quickly and easily, providing a natural but secure finish.    This could help when you are faced with difficult areas – such as a few skipped stitches in the middle of your quilt. Just cut a small strip and place…

We talk often of the fabrics in Aldi .. read here the ‘big box retailer’ inference that Scott Fortunoff refers to when talking of Walmart in the US.   Its a matter of choice whether you buy or not .. but if we don’t support our LQS [local quilt shop] then we may see them going the way…

Everyone with a sewing machine needs a plentiful stock of bobbins and neat storage accessories and Hemline provides everything you need! Bobbin Box –Clear Plastic Keep your bobbins tidy and tangle-free with this nifty storage box. Displaying up to 25 bobbins, it has a see-through lid for easy view.  RRP £3 approx. Metal and Plastic…

  These bias bars from Sew Easy are so easy to use and are a real help to making perfect stems for applique and craft projects for vines, basket handles as well as for curved, celtic and leadlight designs in sewing and quilting.  We are sure you can find lots of other uses for them…

A pack of eight x 100m reels of gorgeous, high quality polyester Sew All Threads from Gütermann creative make a great gift and come in a range of gloriously fresh, bright shades plus black and white.  Perfect to pop on your Christmas list. This pack is just what’s needed for projects during the coming months…

Many of you will have seen on my personal page that I recently won Best of World at the World Quilt New England Show in the US with my quilt Silver Linings. Overwhelmed and overjoyed does not go anywhere near to expressing how I felt when I heard the news, and yes, I admit to shedding…

I’m so proud to have been involved in the setting up of Middlesbrough’s newest creative space, TeesCreatives. The brainchild of Jen – a friend as addicted to dressmaking as I am to quilting, her plan was to offer a space where fellow sewists can come and learn, develop their skills and be sewcial with like-minded…

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:…

Having the right marking tool to suit your project is essential and Clover provide an excellent range for Quilters to choose from. It is advisable to test your chosen marker on a scrap of your fabric before using on the project itself. Water Soluble Pencils are suitable for precise marking on sewing, stitching and patchwork…

From time to time things pop up in the Quilty Charity World.   Lemn Sissay is a brilliant poet, and Maggie Lloyd Jones is working with him to support the Care Leavers Christmas Dinners he has started a movement about with a donation of as many quilts as possible to wrap the Care Leavers up with…

Now available in packs of 10 and 20 x100m reels, C Ne 50 thread is made from 100% mercerized premium Egyptian cotton. Harmonizing with a wide range of fabric weights, it is high strength with a natural sheen and a pleasantly soft grip that ensures beautifully smooth seams, making it ideal for patchwork and quilting…

The thimble is a staple for every sewing stash but the basic thimble has its limitations and isn’t always the best or most comfortable option, especially when it comes to the exacting needs of specialised or prolonged stitch work! It isn’t always the tip of the finger that needs protection and many of us prefer…

Yes, I know, Christmas comes along earlier every year it seems. But we all need to get our things created in time for the man in the red suit turning up on 25th December don’t we. So the Christmas fabrics have been in the shops for a while now which made us think about having a…

Quickscreen Triangle and Quickscreen Square   Recognised by the clear blue printed grids, these interfacings provide a guide for patchwork designs from traditional square blocks to modern styles. They are a great option for creating hand sewn hexagon or square patchwork quilts. Save time and ensure accuracy with Quickscreen and cut out the need for…

New from Gütermann creativ is a Sew All Thread Pack containing ten x 100m reels of very useful colours. Sew All is a high quality, 100% polyester universal thread range that is totally reliable and suitable for both hand and machine sewing. A welcome addition to your stash, it’s always reassuring to have a good…

There have been a few strings on social media about how to keep rulers and templates tidy.   Sew Easy have come up with a clever, affordable idea for us all. The ideal storage solution to keep rulers and templates tidy, organised and protected from scratches. This wall-mountable design has built-in fixing slots on the back…

Thank you and welcome to the people who have bought my Christmas 18 pattern and are joining in with the QAL. This week we are starting off with Introductions and a Full Cutting List, should you wish to cut it all out in advance.  If you have sourced fabric to the requirements or bought the…

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…

To celebrate an almost year of being the UKQU website , the Bloggerati of Blogger Central, who you all know, love and follow are going away on retreat. Being quilters  [yep i am going too … secret location so we are not mobbed by our fans haha] we are not braving the high seas, but we are…

From time to time there is a madness that develops amongst facebookers who start to develop a need to swop.   It’s a great way of meeting new people, enjoying others interpretation of a theme and a brilliant way of creating a randomised quilt.    Hence the Block Swop.  In the UKQU fraternity the block swoppers often…

The event of the year is over for another year and slowly our thoughts will turn to the Christmas period.    Hemline has a fabulous idea that ought to be on all our lists this year.   No chocolate involved, but a perfect Advent Calendar for any sewist out there. Recapture that magical spirit and get…

Day two at FOQ dawned bright and early.    We stumbled down to breakfast at our hotel and enjoyed a frugal banquet of cereals, scrambled egg and tomatoes, looking longingly at the bacon and sausage.   Being on a diet has to be obeyed even whilst we are out enjoying the phenomenon of the Festival of Quits.…

It is the event of the Quilting Year here in the UK.  The Festival of Quilts is what everything builds up to each August, whether you are planning a visit or exhibiting a quilt,  a retailer taking advantage of the biggest shop front in the UK or you are a passionate quilter and want to attend a workshop,…

More words from Scott Fortunoff, the guy from FreeSpirit!   He is certainly innovative, and it would be fabulous to see our UK shop owners joining in with his challenge.  Keep in mind that Jaftex is based in the US, but have representatives worldwide.   In his own words … I have some news to report that…

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…

Back in the spring this year [2018] we came up with the idea of a sew-a-row pattern for everyone to follow.  There was no agenda .. just the germ of an idea.   To begin with we thought there would just be one and we asked the clever Bloggerati whether they would be interested in working together…

Berisfords are known for their lovely ribbons, and this year they are releasing a lovely range of retro-inspired designs to choose from!  Nostalgia and Christmas always seem to go well together. Retro Truck A pick-up truck loaded with pine trees fresh from the farm. Printed on a taffeta ribbon for the rustic look that is…

In the shops now, the new Gutermann Thread Pack with the bonus of a Tape Measure New from Gütermann creative, a lovely Thread Set in rich, vibrant shades for those on-trend sewing projects in bold colours. Each set contains ten 100m reels of this high-quality polyester Sew All thread which is ideal for creating beautiful…

This year will be my second year working at Festival of Quilts.  It seems like yesterday that I turned up at Pinhole Quilting’s stand, well shall I say floor space because on the Tuesday lunchtime that was all it was!, as the new girl and not really knowing what to expect.  I had bought my…

Vlieseline have a new addition to their range. This new bi-elastic, lightweight, fusible woven tape from Vlieseline is cut on the bias and therefore perfect for use on jersey and other stretchy fabrics. Seam Tape Flexible prevents warping and fraying and can also be applied to curved shapes to provide the necessary support and stability.…

Every so often we post the blog extracts from Scott Fortunoff who many of you will know took over Freespirit fabrics earlier in the year .. the home of Philip Jacobs and the rest of the Kaffe Fassett Collective Clan.  Sometimes his wisdom really could resonate across the World and not just into his home…

The organisers of the Festival of Quilts would like to mark this lovely occasion with an exclusive website discount for our members who would like to enjoy an Evening with Ricky Tims at the Hilton Metropole on Friday 10th August, taking £4 off the price of the ticket.   That’s at least a couple more FQ to…

Can you help the Oxford English Dictionary to identify and record the words, phrases, and expressions particular to our quilting?   You could make a difference and see our craft vocabulary embedded into the English language for good .. fat quarters or any of the quirky phrases we use daily are not often understood by people outside of…

The competition to celebrate the launch of my Christmas 18 QAL quilt has now closed and a winner has been picked ….. Congratulations to Jane Nicholls!! The fabric bundle from the Silent Night range by Makower will be shortly winging it’s way to you. Don’t forget that the early bird discount of 20% applies until…