Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#83 - 2017 i Quilters Companion

Welcome to 2017 — and what a line-up of talent we have for you this year. We start with a super-fun project from Jane Davidson. She came up with the idea of piecing designs into the blades of the Dresden Plate block and the finished product is amazing. The idea opens up a multitude of possibilities — let your creativity run wild. You can see Jane’s Blooming Dresden block on page 40. It wouldn’t be a new year without welcoming some new talent to the pages of QC and this time we have three new contributors: Robyn Shapiro from The Strawberry Thief with a stunning Liberty fabric quilt, Shelley Kelly with a delightful appliquéd tote bag, and Kirsty Cleverly with a striking star quilt made entirely from solid fabrics. Sharon…

Quilter and textile artist Ali has two studios, one inside her house and another in a converted barn, both with stunning views. The first has “a single, recalcitrant original window facing Cunningham’s Gap and the mountains that form the Main Range National Park between Warwick and Ipswich in south-east Queensland. When the afternoon sun streams through the Gap in autumn, it is a magical and inspirational view of the thousands of acres of vegetable farms that surround us,” says Ali. A purpose-built table runs the full length of her home studio. “I can work on my sewing machine, overlocker or felter as well as have an area for cutting, piecing, hand stitching and journal work,” she explains. “I also have a separate desk, which houses a laptop computer and a…

For as long as Robyn Shapiro can remember, she has had two creative loves — sewing and Liberty fabric. “My first memory is of sitting on my Ouma’s lap with a sewing machine going in front of me — I always grew up with pieces of fabric in my hand and I was always stitching,” she recalls. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, Robyn remembers there was a strong craft and sewing culture in the family. “I basically grew up on my grandmother’s lap. She was a seamstress who made women’s clothing,” Robyn explains. “My mum was a very keen knitter and crocheter, and all of my toys and clothes were handmade by my mum and my Ouma. It’s just how my family was. At family gatherings, the women…

Finished size: 34cm x 50.5cm (13 1⁄2in x 20in) Materials Fat eighths and scraps of a variety of tone-on-tone and print fabrics to total about 1.2m (1#/8yd) 30cm (#/8yd) grey linen (bag front panels) 20cm (!/4yd) print fabric (top band) 70cm (#/4yd) lining fabric 75cm (&/8yd) medium fusible batting. Shelley used Vilene H640. (Pellon Thermolam Plus TP971F could be used as a substitute) 30cm (#/8yd) light fusible fleece. Shelley used Vilene H630. (Pellon 987F could be used as a substitute) 26cm x 36cm (10in x 14in) bag batting (bag base) 1.2m (1#/8yd) linen tape, 25mm (1in) wide (handles) Fine threads in colours to match the appliqué fabrics Variegated stranded embroidery floss incorporating blues and yellows Emmy Grande Colorful crochet thread in variegated blue/grey (C8) Fabric-basting glue Air-erasable fabric-marking pen Template…

Most obviously – what do you want the machine to do? If you are planning on basic sewing then an introductory machine may be the best option and these can retail up to about $1000. If you are looking for a machine that does a bit more than the basics but doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, then a middle of the road model may suit your needs and these retail from around $1000- $3000 dollars. If you are a super serious sewer and will use all the functions available on top machines then go for it! You’ll be looking to spend from $5000 to $10,000+. Remember you get what you pay for – cheap sewing machines are nasty sewing machines. Once you know what you are looking for…

Stripe Quilts Made Modern By Lauren S Palmer Nothing beats striped fabric for adding movement and interest to a quilt. Stripes can be versatile and come in all shapes, sizes and, of course, colours! According to author Lauren, “The quilts in this book feature stripes as an essential design element, transforming this simple pattern into a useful tool for modern quilters.” The 12 projects are designed for quilters of all skill levels. Each project is provided with two colour options and three sizes. With large clear diagrams to follow, you too can create amazing eye-catching quilts. Publisher: Stash Books A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué By Deborah Gale Tirico The designs in this book are simply beautiful. By layering shades of wool and embellishing with embroidery stitches, Deborah has created…

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…

Hi Clare, Some projects are worth the time it takes to finish them and Bird on a Wire by Wendy Williams in issue No. 56 is one such project. Please find attached a photo of my interpretation of the project, which I have only just completed. I loved Wendy’s quilt when I first opened the magazine and was motivated to start collecting the wool felt to make it. I used a dyed piece of fabric (blue) that I experimented with some nine years ago as the centre background. Obviously I knew it would be handy eventually. I love bright colours and while I pieced some borders, I decided to leave them for another project. I used a striped fabric for my binding as that is my personal signature within my…

Kits and block of the month programs are popular choices for quilters for a number of reasons. How many times has a quilt caught your eye and you think “Wow I would love to make that exact same quilt with the same fabrics and colours”? When you buy a kit for a quilt you see you can do just that – make it exactly in the colours and fabrics you see. Kits also take the often difficult job of select fabrics and colours out of the equation. The hard part is done for you so you can just enjoy the sewing. It works the same way with block of the month programs. Shops will offer these programs in either one colourway or they might have several colourways for you to…

Cosy Project is an online shop of digital craft patterns and classes, but not as we know it. Each and every one of the hundreds of quilting, sewing, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting patterns has been hand selected by the editors of your favourite magazines so you only see the very best. Cosy Project was created with you in mind, to give you instant access to the best projects from the talented and world-class designers who grace the pages of Quilters Companion and Homespun every issue. With each pattern being technically edited with in-depth and easy-to-follow step-bystep instructions, you will be able to make a new project or learn a new skill and craft with ease — it’s as easy as finding a project you love, following the steps to make…

We have all heard of the term “regifting” — you know — the present from a relative that perhaps … well, is not quite right for you. Then you re-wrap and gift it to someone else. Not that I am guilty of that myself mind you! Well, I was cleaning out my sewing storage area and there I found a quilt top that I must have bought some eight to 10 years ago from one of the local quilt shows in my area. I couldn’t resist as it was beautifully made and all it needed was machine quilting — and yes, I can do that. With all good intentions I popped it in a bag, then into storage for a time when I was free to quilt it. A little…

February 10–12 Darling Heights CraftAlive Toowoomba; Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, 20 Baker St, Darling Heights Qld. Bringing together both talented interstate and local exhibitors, focusing on creative hand-finished products, DIY products, craft supplies, homewares and creative workshops. Open 9am–4pm. More information: Visit www.craftalive.com.au February 17–19 Castle Hill Stitch! By CraftAlive Castle Hill; Castle Hill Showgrounds, Doran Dr, Castle Hill NSW. A show dedicated to patchwork, knitting, embroidery, and all things stitching, with products to buy, demos, workshops and much more. Open 9.30am–4pm. More information: Visit www.craftalive.com.au/stitch-by-craftalive. February 28–March 5 Cranbourne Chandlers Cottage hosts the Australian Textile Exhibition; Cranbourne Gardens, cnr Ballarto Rd and Botanic Dr, Cranbourne Vic. Featuring over 200 Australianthemed exhibits, pop-up shop, demonstrations and the inaugural Great Australian Bag Challenge. Open 10am–4pm. Free entry to the Gardens and…

A1 Craft and Quilting Ph: 0438 877 664, email: normabradley@bigpond.com, website: www.craftandquilting.com A Little Patch of Country 63 Princes Highway, Trafalgar Vic 3824. Ph: (03) 5633 2311, email: sales@littlepatch.com.au, website: www.littlepatch.com.au Anne Sommerlad Designs Ph: 0438 692 033, email: srt.sommerlad@bigpond.com, website: www.annesommerladdesigns.com.au Appleyard Cottage PO Box 5595, Minto, NSW 2566. Ph: (02) 9603 4671, email: veronica@appleyardcottage.com.au, website: www.appleyardcottage.com.au Arts on Ormerod 13 Ormerod Street, Naracoorte SA 5271. Ph: (08) 8762 2804, email: timroweart@gmail.com Asia Discovery Tours Suite 1302, Level 13, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Ph: (02) 9267 7699, fax: (02) 9267 7866, website: http://asiadiscoverytours.com.au Batik Oetoro 3/11 Nevin Close, Gateshead NSW 2290. Ph: (02) 4943 8808, email: sales@dyeman.com, website: www.dyeman.com BeBe Bold Contemporary Japanese Textiles 25 Elton Street, Lismore, NSW 2480. Ph: (02) 6621 9188, email: bebebold@ bigpond.com,…

Kirsty Cleverly of Mountain Creek, Qld, loves modern quilts and creating eye-catching quilts by using simple striking designs and strong contrasting colours. Which is exactly what she has done with this project she designed especially for Quilters Companion. Finished size: 174cm (683⁄8in) square Finished block size: 16in square Materials 80cm (&/8yd) plain white fabric. Kirsty used Kona Snow 1.8m (2yd) plain dark blue fabric. Kirsty used Kona Storm 2m (2!/4yd) plain grey fabric. Kirsty used Kona Ash 50cm (%/8yd) yellow print fabric. Kirsty used print fabrics from Elizabeth Hartman’s Paintbox Basics range distributed in Australia by Two Green Zebras 35cm (#/8yd) each of teal and mint green print fabrics 4m (4#/8yd) backing fabric Batting at least 190cm (77in) square Rotary cutter, ruler and mat Sewing machine with !/4in foot General sewing…

How did you come up with the idea for the quilt? The inspiration for Beaumont came simply from the fact that I have far too much blue fabric! I love colour. I love all kinds of fabric. My beautiful sister loves to buy me fabric and she loves the colour blue. Needless to say, I have a lot of blue in my fabric collection. Normally I use as many different colours in a single quilt as I possibly can, but this time I was determined to use only one colour. I nearly achieved this, but by the time I reached the final panel of the quilt I felt instinctively that the anaemia jut had to be red and I think it really makes the whole quilt much richer. How did…

A wish list The Stitched Together group of Australian art quiltmakers have created a touring exhibition of their work on the theme “Our Wishes for the World”. The quilts, each measuring 80cm x 40cm, explore local and global issues, including recycling, protecting soil quality, reducing the impact of humans on our planet and celebrating the power that each one of us has to make a difference. “Our hope is to leave a better place for future generations, with perhaps only footsteps left in beautiful natural environments,” the exhibition curator, Sue Dennis, said. The exhibition travelled throughout New Zealand and mainland Australia in 2016 . If you’re in Tasmania, you’ll be able to see it at the Craft and Quilt Fair in Hobart next month. World beaters Four Australians took out…

Have you ever attended a quilt show in four villages? Sounds odd, doesn’t it. For the last 22 years, the European Patchwork Meeting has been held in four villages in the Alsace region of France. It is unlike any other quilt show that I have attended. The area has a long history with textiles — in fact, the valley of Saint-Marie-Aux- Mines was the place where the Amish movement was founded in 1693. Textiles were also manufactured in the area. Both the Amish and the manufacturing have since left the valley but, given the history, it is the prefect place to hold a quilt show. The meeting was held here in September 2016. The four villages involved are Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines, Liepvre and Rombach-Le- Franc. There was a free shuttle bus…

Chandlers Cottage Phone: (03) 9587 3958 Email: info@chandlerscottage.com Website: www.chandlerscottage.com Chandlers Cottage specialises in handbag kits with a difference. One of their best-selling designs, the Go Go Girl bag, features gorgeous new shoulder-length purple handles with stunning metallic prints and fun 3D ruched flowers. Kit includes pattern, all fabrics and a magnetic snap for the back flap. Size: 14in high x 12in wide Price: Pattern $12, kit $47.50 + P&H Clover Email: info@clovg.com Website: www.clover-mfg.com The Supersize 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge is a multifunctional 11in (279.4mm) sliding gauge for easy marking. It can be set at !/8in (3.2mm) increments and is the perfect tool for spacing and marking buttonholes, as a seam allowance gauge, a hem gauge and even a circle compass and a ‘T’ gauge. Designer Nancy Zieman says the…