Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2015 i Quilters Companion

I have spent far too much time this past week perusing new fabric ranges and interesting websites when I should have been writing this editorial! The technology and programs available to us to discover information, images and inspiration are amazing, but do you sometimes find that you lose track of time? Does spending time on devices actually eat into your creative/sewing time? After I finish writing this, I am dragging myself from the computer and going to the sewing machine. Sadly though, the first job waiting for me there is to hem my husband’s jeans. Oh well. Then I must finish the baby quilt for a girlfriend’s little girl, Hannah. Did you see the launch of our Under 35s competition last issue? If you missed it, all the details are…

Best of Show Dockside Reflections by Alison Laurence Out of the Blue Challenge — Best Use of Embellishment A Sudden Gust of Wind by Pauline Coates First, Mixed Media (Open) Butterfly Flight by Jean Singleton First, Bed Quilt (Professional) Desert Flower by Ansa Breytenbach Judge’s Choice — Jenny Bacon Faceless Comrades by Alison Laurence Second, Wall Hanging (Professional) Gradations III by Robyn Croft Highly Commended, Bed Quilts (Professional) Inside Out by Judi Schon Second, Wall Hanging — Multiple Makers (Open) In Tune by Lorraine Simmons & Witches in Stitches Group Second, Mixed Media (Open) Joy of Trinkets by Marj Ussher Out of the Blue Challenge — Best Use of Challenge Fabric Let’s Go Fly a Kite by Carol Fearon Best Amateur Quilt Windmill of My Mind by Julia Vazey Highly…

Finished size: 125cm x 153cm (49in x 60in) Finished block size: 24cm (91⁄2in) Materials 20 fat eighths or a variety of assorted print fabrics totalling approximately 2m (2 ¼ yd) (blocks) 30, 4 ½ in squares of assorted print fabrics (appliquéd circles) 21⁄2yd (2.3m) light-value black and white print fabric (block backgrounds and border) 60cm ( ⅔yd) medium-value black and white print fabric (sashing) 40cm ( ½ yd) binding fabric (see note) 2.8cm (3⅛yd) backing fabric Batting at least 140cm x 168cm (55in x 66in) Neutral-coloured thread for piecing Threads to match fabrics for appliqué Quilting thread Template plastic Lightweight cardboard Pencil Fine-point permanent pen Tweezers, optional Rotary cutter ruler and mat Note: Sharon used strips cut from a variety of fabrics to make the quilt binding. www.quilterscompanion.wordpress.com Prepare the…

First, Playground (Young person up to 12 years) Lilly’s Garden by Lilly Duncan First, School’s Out (13–18 years) School’s Out by Sarah Royds First, 3D Flora and Fauna No title by Ruth Corbet First, Alive with Colour (Amateur) Circle the Wagons by Gael O’Donnell Overall Best of Both Worlds Kisses for my Daughter by Donna Cumming Best Amateur, Best of Both Worlds The French Connection by Nancy Woodney First, Growing The Passion (Amateur) Simply Child’s Play by Lee-Ann Newton First, Growing The Passion (Professional) Exuberance by Jean Mclean First, It’s a Small World (Miniature quilts) Opulent and Elegant by Valda Sutton First, Less is More (Professional) Rural 1 by Robyn Croft Viewer’s Choice First, No Place Like Home (Professional) Fragility, Kina at Rangiputa by Mathea Daunheimer…

Finished size: 38cm x 38cm (15in x 15in) Materials 70cm (¾yd) medium blue mottled fabric (background and binding) One 40cm (16in) square of brown/red/mauve tone-ontone print fabric (border appliqué) One 40cm (16in) square of light cream fabric (clematis flowers) Small pieces of a variety of green fabrics (leaves) 45cm (18in) square of backing fabric 45cm (18in) square of thin batting 15cm x 20cm (6in x 8in) piece of lightweight Lutradur/Rainbowspun — see Note Fusible web — Vliesofix or Steam-a-Seam Lite Machine-embroidery threads to the match background, appliqué fabrics and painted Lutradur Approximately 100 dusky pink seed beads Textile paints in blues, greens and yellow Sponge roller and brush Small sharp-point scissors Pencil Water-colour pencils such as Derwent Inktense or pastels Rotary cutter, mat and ruler Sewing machine with darning/free-motion and…

Mt quilting calendar for 2015 started off with a bang when Palmerston North hosted the Quilt Symposium Manawatu in January. It was a huge success. New Zealand hosts this most amazing quilting event every two years, with the quilt groups of New Zealand alternating hosting, so it usually switches between the North and South Islands. This was my second time as a tutor at the symposium. The journey started on 15 January with fellow Australian quilters Katrina Hadjimichael and Lisa Walton as we boarded the plane to Wellington. Once there, we then hopped onto a very small plane and admired the beautiful scenery en route to Palmerston North, where we arrived late in the afternoon and were warmly greeted at the airport by some of the committee members. Once all…

Tools Of The Trade Sewing Machine – Any machine can be used for quiltmaking. It is helpful to have a darning foot as an attachment for the machine for free machine quilting. Iron and ironing board – Make these readily available near your sewing machine so that all seams can be pressed to assist in accurate piecing. Needles – Most quilters favour a ‘between’ needle, size 8-12 for both hand-sewing and hand-quilting. Size 12, the smallest size, is usually used by very experienced quilters. Sewing Thread – Use any cotton or cotton-covered polyester thread. For machine quilting, use cotton, cottoncovered polyester, monofilament or decorative threads. Scissors – Have one pair with sharp points for cutting fabric and a second pair for paper. Marking Tools – Quilters use marking tools for…

Regular readers of Quilters Companion will be familiar with the work of Wendy Sheppard. She has been contributing projects to the magazine for the last several years, often choosing to work in the fabrics of Australian designer Lynette Anderson. But it is not only QC to which Wendy contributes. In fact, she has contributed to more than 15 patchwork and quilting titles in the USA and the UK. Wendy’s professional life began very differently. She actually began her working career as a chemical engineer. “I was born and raised in Malaysia in a traditional Chinese family,” Wendy explains. “I have large extended families, so I remember having wonderful family get-togethers with lots of cousins to play with. I left home when I was 19 to pursue my degree in chemical…

Home Sewing machines have changed over the last 100 years or so. They have evolved from the fully manual treadle sewing machine to electric sewing machines and new fully computerised machines. Now the next generation has arrived in Australia and New Zealand — the Bernina Q20 and Q24. Released last month in Australia at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne, both the Q24 and Q20 are free-motion quilting machines. The Q24 is a 24in long-arm machine that comes with a quilting frame. It can be used for custom quilting where the quilter smoothly guides the arms of the machine to achieve the patterns. Alternatively, the arms connect at the rear of the machine and are then guided with a laser light with a pantograph pattern, achieving commerciallook all-over quilting on…

Finished size: 178cm x 178cm (70in x 70in) Finished block size: 49cm (191⁄4in) Materials 1.3m (1⅜ yd) light-value background fabric 1.1m (1 ¼ yd) feature print fabric (alternate blocks) 1.3m (1⅜yd) print fabric (border) 60cm (⅔ yd) binding fabric Eight fat eighths of print fabric (star points and appliqué), see note Four fat eighths of print fabric (petal shape — Template D in pieced blocks) Four 17cm (6 ½ in) squares of print fabric (circles — pieced blocks One fat quarter each for the appliquéd petals and leaves and stems Two 20cm (8in) squares of print fabric (centre circle) A variety of assorted scrap fabrics for the stars at the centre of the pieced blocks and the appliquéd berries 4m (4⅜ yd) backing fabric Batting at least 200cm (78in) square…

Finished size: 150cm x 150cm (58in x 58in) Finished block size: 25.5cm (10in) Materials 36 strips, 2½in of shot-cotton fabric (pieced blocks), see note 1.2m (1⅜yd) print fabric (alternate blocks), see note 1.2m (1⅜yd) grey/black striped fabric (includes binding fabric) 3.3m (3⅝yd) backing fabric Batting at least 163cm (64in) square Neutral-coloured thread for piecing Quilting thread Spray starch Rotary cutter, ruler and mat Note: Ann used one pack of Reece Scannell fabrics containing 36 pre-cut strips, 21⁄2in to make her quilt. The pack contained nine colours with one light-value, two medium-value and one dark-value strip of each colour. The Reece Scannell starfish-patterned fabric used for the alternate blocks is 132cm (52in) wide. If this fabric is used, only 1m (11⁄8yd) is required. www.quilterscompanion.wordpress.com Cut the fabric From the print fabric,…

Finished size: 203cm x 203cm (80in x 80in) Finished block size: 51cm (20in) Choosing the fabrics The secondary design in this quilt, based on a variation of the traditional Crown of Thorns block, is reliant on careful placement of medium/dark and light-value fabrics. Jess used two colours in each block with a light and medium/dark-value print of each colour. A wider variety of fabrics and colours could be used to achieve the same effect, provided the value placement is maintained. Materials 3.2m (3½ yd) background fabric Eight to 10 fat quarters of medium/dark-value print fabrics in a variety of colours Eight to 10 fat quarters of light-value print fabrics in a variety of colours 60cm ( ⅔yd) binding fabric 4.4m (4⅜yd) backing fabric Batting at least 220cm (86in) square Neutral-coloured…

1. Norwest Craft Supplies — Karratha Address: 3/5 Warrambie Road, Karratha WA 6714 Phone: (08) 9144 4059 Email: info@norwestcraft.com.au Website: www.norwestcraft.com.au You’ll be welcomed by: Gail Dods and staff Kathy and Angela What’s great about Karratha: The Pilbara region, in the north-west of Australia, includes a tropical coastline littered with secluded beaches, coves and inlets perfect for fishing and camping. Travel inland to experience the magnificent Hamersley Range displaying rich Pilbara colours of fiery red, gold and the most brilliant blue sky. In winter and spring, people flock to the region to enjoy the milder weather and admire the spectacular wildflowers in full bloom. What you’ll find in store: The store is jam-packed with just about everything imaginable that you could need for your art and craft. We have over…

May 16 Belmont Geelong Patchwork and Quilters’ Guild; Barwon South Civic Centre, 7 Reynolds Road, Belmont Vic. Guest speaker, trading tables, prizes, show and tell, tea provided — bring your own lunch, mug and stitching. Open 9.30am–4pm. Entry $10. More information: Ene Reade on 0402 291 515 or email info@geelongpatch.org.au May 17 Concord West Embroiderers’ Guild of NSW Open Day; 76 Queen Street, Concord West NSW. Find out all about joining the Embroiderers’ Guild of NSW for those interested in traditional and contemporary embroidery, embellishing fabrics or making an individual fashion statement. There will be demonstrations, displays and much more. Open 10am–2pm. More information: Call (02) 9743 2501, visit www.embroiderersguildnsw. org.au, www.facebook.com/embroiderersguildnsw May 17–24 Moonta Northern Yorke Peninsula Quilters’ “Your Heritage In Quilting” Quilt Exhibition; Moonta Town Hall, George Street,…