Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#90 - 2018 i Quilters Companion

Ever since my first quilt 25 years ago, I have fallen in love with this art form. Unfortunately for my husband, I think about it day and night, travel with like-minded people and can never get enough of quilts, old or new. I have enjoyed being a part of another facet of the quilting industry for the last year, taking on the editorship of Quilters Companion until a new editor was found. I am pleased to announce the job is going to another passionate quilter — Deborah Segaert. Deborah also has a long history with this industry, being a daughter of a quilter, a retreat organiser and magazine publisher. She even published my first book! I know that as I get back to my sewing machine to make quilts, Deborah…

The Handi Quilter Best of Show Award $12,500 Sponsored by Handi Quilter Garden Variety Sampler Janet Stone of Overland Park, Kansas USA The Founder’s Award $7500 Sponsored by International Quilt Festival Fantastic! Junko Fujiwara of Narashino, Chiba Japan The Robert S. Cohan Master Award for Traditional Artistry $5000 Sponsored by RJR Fabrics For the Wedding of my Beloved Daughter Keiko Morihiro of Sanda-City, Hyogo-ken Japan The World of Beauty Award $7500 Sponsored by Baby Lock Kirara’s Garden Party Ayako Kawakami of Funabashi-shi, Chiba Japan The Gammill Master Award for Contemporary Artistry $5000 Sponsored by Gammill Quilting Systems Alike but Not the Same III Peggy Brown of Nashville, Indiana USA The Pfaff Master Award for Machine Artistry $5000 Sponsored by Pfaff Sewing Machines Copper Reflections Donna James of Nelson, British Columbia…

Finished size: 216cm x 130cm (85in x 51in) Materials ❖ 35 strips, 2½in x 42in of assorted print fabrics ❖ Seven squares, 10½in of assorted print fabrics; see note ❖ 1.6m (1 5/8yd) solid black fabric ❖ 1.5m (1 3/4yd) of extra-wide 275cm (108in) backing fabric ❖ Black thread to match the sashing ❖ Gold thread for quilting ❖ Cotton batting at least 240cm x 150cm (94in x 60in) ❖ Water-erasable fabricmarking pen ❖ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ❖ Sewing machine with ¼in and free-motion feet (optional) ❖ Quilt basting spray (either 101 or 105) ❖ Pool noodle (optional) ❖ General sewing supplies Note: Paula used a diagonally striped fabric for her 10½in squares. They have the appearance of being pieced in the quilt. You could use a large…

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…

The Hoffman Challenge — the longest-running annual quilting contest offered by a textile manufacturer — is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with fabric featuring diamonds and pearls created especially for the occasion. There are 10 fabrics in the Shine On range, with participants in the challenge required to include either the Prism or Spectrum colourway of the gemstones design (shown right). The competition incorporates quilts, clothing and accessories; quilts can be any shape, but must have a perimeter measurement of at least 72in and not more than 160in. The deadline for entries is June 22. For more information, go to http://hoffmanfabrics.com/hoffmanchallenge…

The Log Cabin block is a classic in the quilting world. It is very versatile and when colours and values are changed, dramatically different looks can be achieved. It also has two just as popular and adaptable variations: Courthouse Steps and Pineapple Log Cabin. I have been quilting for 26 years and never made a Pineapple Log Cabin, so I was very interested to play with the Pineapple Trim Tool Mini Quilt acrylic ruler designed by Jean Ann Wright for the Creative Grids company. The Pineapple Trim Tool is available in two sizes, the smaller size resulting in blocks that are either 4in, 5in or 6in when finished. The larger Pineapple Trim Tool results in blocks that are 6in, 8in or 10in. They both work on the same principle. For…

Janome Australia Phone: 1300 JANOME (1300 526 663) Email: enquiries@janome.com.au Website: www.janome.com.au The Janome Quilt Maker Pro 18 + Frame is for the Quilting Enthusiast The frame can be made as a 12-foot, eight-foot or four-foot. It is a solid robust frame which works with the Janome Quilt Maker Pro 18 long-arm machine. • 18in machine arm • 8½in distance between top and bottom arm • 2200 stitches per minute • Two modes of stitch regulation: Precision and Cruise • Precise stitch regulation from 4 to 22 SPI • Manual speed mode with three customisable pre-sets • Easy-set tension (digital tension display) • Adjustable front and rear handlebars with digital touchscreen displays • Front and rear power switches • LED lighting: ring above needle and under front handlebars • Rear…

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 Asia Discovery Tours Suite 1302, Level 13, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Ph: (02) 9267 7699, fax: (02) 9267 7866, website: www.asiadiscoverytours.com.au BeBe Bold Contemporary Japanese Textiles 25 Elton Street, Lismore NSW 2480. Ph: (02) 6621 9188, email: bebebold@bigpond.com, website: www.bebebold.com Bernina Australia Unit 10, 15 Carrington Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154 (PO Box 268, Castle Hill NSW 1765). Ph: 1800 237 646 or (02) 9899 1188, fax: (02) 9899 1469, email: bernina@bernina.com. au, website: www.bernina.com.au Berry Quilt & Co 5/66 Albert St, Berry NSW 2535. Ph: (02) 4464 3387, email: thegirls@berryquiltandco.com.au, website: www.berryquiltandco.com.au Braidwood Quilt Shop Shop…

Dear Michelle, This is my version of the Masugata quilt by Kim Harris which featured in Quilters Companion #56. I had a jelly roll of indigo fabric that was ideal to cut into the 2½in squares needed for this design. For the orange/red squares I used fabrics that I had in my stash, and for the 4½in squares I used some yardage of indigo fabric. Using the same fabric for all of the larger squares resulted in a more repetitive design. The big challenge for me was working diagonally from corner to corner. Valerie Dale, The Gap, Brisbane Hi QC, I thought you might appreciate this snap taken at Bannisters Pavilion Mollymook. I was flicking through my Quilters Companion in the guest lounge library while awaiting my day spa treatment…

Sharon Burgess’ work is a mix of traditional and modern quilting with a huge emphasis on English paper piecing (EPP) and fussy cutting. Since taking up quilting in 2009, Sharon has built a business, Lilabelle Lane Creations, selling her beautiful and colourful EPP and fussy cutting quilt patterns. She is an author and also runs workshops. But Sharon’s crafting journey did not begin with sewing and she actually did not start sewing until after the birth of her fourth child in 2009. She has very vivid memories of her mother spending many hours at her sewing machine making clothing and even a wedding dress. Her family relocated to Australia from the UK when she was still young and “to this day I will still send my mum any clothing that…

A quilt depicting a queen bee watching while busy worker bees pollinate flowers and work on the honeycomb has been awarded the winner of the Australian 17th Annual Brother International Quilting Contest. Made by Lisa Alexander of Bentley, WA, it includes 120 flower petals, 90 leaves and 60 wings embroidered on washaway stabiliser, cut back individually using a burning tool and sewn into place to create a three-dimensional masterpiece. Inspired by the Eco theme of the contest, Lisa wanted to draw attention to the decline in bee numbers around the world and the vital role they play in pollinating a wide range of food crops. Brother received a record number of entries from Australian quiltmakers in the 2017 contest. The top 10 finalists have been sent to Japan to compete…

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 go…

Braided Bargello Quilts By Ruth Ann Berry The fabrics in Bargello quilts appear to dance their way across the quilted projects. This is the second book written by Ruth Ann Berry on this style of quilt. The basics of fabric selection, seaming, cross-cutting, pressing, unpicking and reading design charts are provided at the front of the book, followed by 16 Bargello quilt projects. The fabric selection for each has been photographed in the “bands” required for the construction, making it easier to make your own fabric choices. A further 10 quilts are presented in the Gallery, with other colour options for the designs. Publisher: C&T Publishing Scrappy & Happy Quilts By Kate Henderson Okay, we all confess to having a lot of fabric in our “stash”. Some will be leftovers,…

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, cotton-covered 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…

Album quilts could be defined as “fabric scrapbooking”. Blocks are created by and for family and friends with inscriptions and colourful designs. While they can be enjoyed simply for the visual impact of the arrangement of cloth and colour, relationships, circumstances and intentions are often hidden in plain sight in the signatures and messages added to the piecing and appliqué. On the eastern seaboard of the United States, with easy access to the trade ports of New York City and Philadelphia, as well as the textile mills of Pennsylvania, quilters in the state of New Jersey developed a style of album quilt to showcase the wide variety of fabrics available as well as their sewing skills. A New Jersey album quilt is recognised by blocks placed on point separated by…

Well, I have decided that after more than 10 years of writing this column, it is time to finish. This is for no other reason than I wish to spend more time creating new quilts for teaching at workshops, filming more online classes and writing more of my books. My time with Quilters Companion magazine has been wonderful — particularly when I am at a quilt show somewhere around Australia and New Zealand and you, the reader, comes up, says hello and chats about their quilting. I have loved that you have trusted my advice and enjoyed domestic machine quilting along with me. Domestic machine quilting has come a very long way over the last 10 years — new machines, new battings, better threads. There is something for everyone. Whether…

March 3–18 Wandin, Vic Embroidery and Craft Exhibition; Warratina Lavender Farm, Quayle Rd, Wandin Vic. Display of craft by the Country Women’s Association of the Yarra Valley, to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the CWA. Open 10am–4pm. Entry $3. More information: Contact Warratina Lavender Farm on (03) 5964 4650 or email enquiries@warratinalavender.com.au March 10–18 Harvey, WA Harvey District Creative Arts Centre Biennial Quilt & Craft Exhibition; Old Catholic Church, cnr Young and Gibbs Sts, Harvey WA. Tea Cosy Challenge, Christmas display, quilts and crafts completed by members. Morning and afternoon teas available. Open 10am–4pm. Entry: gold coin donation. More information: Email harveydcac@gmail.com or phone Pippa on 0418 941 842. March 16–18 Barwon Heads, Vic Seachange Quilters’ Quilt Show; Barwon Heads Community Hall, cnr of Hitchcock Ave and Ozone Rd, Barwon…