Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 8 i Today's Quilter

Isn’t it lovely to get a change of scene every now and then, even if it is for just a few days? I was fortunate enough recently to enjoy a week right in the heart of beautiful St Ives in Cornwall. During my stay I had a digital ‘detox’, the only gadget I relied on was my camera. As a (very!) amateur photographer I was keen to capture as much as a I could through the lens and discovered that my favourite subject by far was nature. The seals playing in the waves around Porthcurno beach, the clifftop succulents growing around the Minack Theatre and the stunning birds at Screech Owls Sanctuary were all dazzling in the clear Cornish light. My break really did put a spring back into my…

LET US KNOW! Drop us a line – an email, letter, tweet or Facebook post – letting us know about your quilting. Whether it’s a new project, treasured heirloom, favourite fabric or imaginative mood board, we’d love to see what you’ve been up to and hear your stories! AFTER ONLY EIGHT ISSUES , TQ’s Technical Editor Laura has built quite the office scrap stash. Like you, she is programmed to never throw away fabric scraps, no matter how small or misshapen. Even parting ways with a selvedge feels like a tragic break-up, and so we all intuitively hoard scraps ‘to use one day’. So, we thought it was time to pull together some practical and creative ways to transform ‘one day’ into today! As a big fan of C&T Publishing…

Cathedral Window is based on folding fabric in much the same way as the Japanese famously fold paper We are always working several issues ahead on this magazine of course, but even more so this time, as just when I should be sorting this one out, I will be away. Had I mentioned that I was going on a trip to Japan? Had you heard about that? If not, you must be the only person left in the world that hasn’t been told – I am SO excited about it! I am actually going as an add-on ‘expert’ on sewing stuff with a tour focusing on textiles and the Tokyo Quilt Show. And no, you can’t come and carry my luggage… Japan is somewhere I have always wanted to visit,…

You will need • Scraps of lots of different Liberty prints in two (2) complementary colours, colour A (grey in our version) and colour B (pink) • Backing fabric – 15½in x 20in, we used yarn dyed Essex linen (flax) from Robert Kaufman • Binding fabric – 2¼in x 15½in • Quilter’s calico or cotton backing for foundation – ½yd OR seven (7) A4 sheets of bought printable fabric • Foundation grid (see Templates section) • Batting or fusible interfacing – ½yd • Cotton lining fabric – ½yd • 16in cushion pad • Spray mount • Perle cotton #8 for crochet edge (optional), we used colour 4000 and a 1.5mm crochet hook Finished size • 15in square Fabric used • A selection of Liberty prints in pinks and greys. Notes…

This striking design takes advantage of shapes you can create with contrasting fabrics and varying the width of strips used to make up the log cabin blocks. Once again, each block uses two Liberty prints, one for the centre square and outer strips, and one for the two middle strips. Also, once again, you don’t have to fret about tones, colour values or print size, relying on the contrast with the solid fabric and the shape of the block to do all the design work for you. You will need • Scraps of lots of different Liberty prints in two (2) complementary colours, colour A (blue in our version) and colour B (grey). Minimum size needed 1in x 3in. • Solid fabric – ½yd • Backing fabric – 15½in x…

You will need • One (1) tweed roll in greens OR nine (9) 10in squares of tweed * • One (1) craft pack of pre-cut tweed for house shapes * • Two (2) off cut packs for appliqué * • Mustard yellow tweed for stars – ⅛yd • Cotton flannel in a brown colour for sashing – 21in x WOF • Cotton flannel in a rusty gold/ brown check for border and binding – ¾yd • Cotton flannel in green for outer border – 1½yds • Lana wool thread for hand stitching appliqué in red, green, black, gold, beige and brown • Bondaweb • Batting – 62in square • Cotton backing fabric – 4yds • Assorted beads and buttons for decoration on appliqué • Schoolhouse templates (see Templates section) •…

HELP! I love stitches like feather stitch and stitches that will fill a motif but mine often look wonky. Try this… It can be difficult to work these stitches neatly without some sort of marking. Water-soluble pens are perfect for this. For feather stitch, and other stitches that swing to the right and left as this one does, it pays to mark a grid of lines on the fabric, as shown in the stitch diagram on page 72. Mark them out with a ruler. A grid of lines about ¼in apart is usually a good size, but depends on the project you are working on. For filling stitches, such as cloud filling stitch, try marking using the following method. 1 Take a piece of ¼in (or 5mm) square grid paper…

AFTER KAFFE FASSETT read The Gentle Art of Quilt-Making, he couldn’t have expressed his appreciation any better – “I defy anyone who quilts not to go running to a fabric shop and get stuck into a new project”. He was so right. There are thousands of project books on the market for quilters, many of which detail complex designs and offer excellent guidance on how to achieve perfect points and piecing, but when it comes to sources of inspiration for making quilts that are both beautiful and personal, Jane Brocket reigns supreme. Jane is the successful author of the blog yarnstorm; 15 books about the delights of domestic life, including quilting, baking and knitting; and a new series exploring the provincial towns and cities of Britain. She moved away from…

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a quilter in possession of a scrap fabric stash must be in want of a solution. I might be misquoting Jane Austen just a tad there, but as a fellow quilter I’m sure she would have agreed. It was this thought that led me to work with my lovely friend Amy Marson, Publisher at C&T Publishing. I’ve curated a selection of scrap fabric tips, techniques and projects from just a few of Amy’s talented and creative authors. The result is a diverse selection of ideas and designs to help you organise and get the most from your scrap stash. By mixing practical advice with creative inspiration and designer secrets, we have hopefully discovered new ideas for you. Putting this collection together has certainly…

This quilt reminds me of the open dirt roads in Illinois, where I grew up. During my time in college track, I would go for runs on dirt roads amid cornfields and come to four-way stops, with the same landscape visible in all four directions. I also love the use of colour. The quilt pairs colours from all around the colour wheel. Some of the pairs are complements and some aren’t, but they all provide enough contrast to make the star stand out from the white background. The black accent colour lines ground the design and give it a strong graphic look. The quilt industry has exploded recently with textured fabric, which I love. The tan linen-cotton blend fabric adds subtle depth to the quilt. Some fabrics that aren’t 100%…

You will need • Assorted light prints for double four-patch backgrounds – 2yds total • Assorted medium and dark prints for double four-patch accents – 2yds total • Assorted gold and tan prints for double four-patch blocks – 3½yds total • Blue floral fabric for setting squares, setting triangles, setting corners and binding – 6¾yds Finished size • 103in x 114in Note • Because my personal fabric and quilt philosophy is always “more is better”, I used more than 50 different fabrics in the quilt. If you want to replicate the quilt as shown, use scraps or buy the smallest cut possible (a fat quarter or a fat eighth) and cut pieces for just one or two blocks from each fabric and save the remaining fabric for future projects. Cutting…

Jane Brocket DESIGNER PROFILE Features Editor Jane Rae caught up with the talented designer who has inspired so many to embrace the world of handmade (page 84). Margaret Lee WOOL QUILTS If you have never strayed from quilting cottons, take a look at Margaret’s project on page 59. We promise you’ll fall in love with wool! Ali Burdon LIBERTY PRINTS Ali has a passion for Liberty prints, and shares projects she has designed for this iconic textile, starting with her cushions on page 39.…

PROJECT BOOKS Sew-A-Row Discover loads of mix and match opportunities for quilts taking it one row at a time. With 24 row designs in three appealing categories – Classic Patchwork (tried-and-true favourites), Well Seasoned (fresh quilts for every season) and A Bit of Whimsy (playful, carefree designs) – these projects are perfect for a row-robin quilt along with friends. Also included are step-by-step instructions and illustrations, plus a quilt gallery that provides inspiration for stand-alone rows and various combinations. Moda All-Stars: All in a Row: 24 Row-by-Row Quilt Designs Compiled by Lissa Alexander, That Patchwork Place, Published by Martingale & Company, £21.99 www.roundhousegroup.co.uk QUILT ART QUILTS, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW THEM On first glance, the work of Fraser Smith looks like beautiful, vivid textile art. Look a little closer,…

Each log cabin block uses two (2) prints – one for the centre square and the outer frame, and one for the middle frame. Don’t worry too much about tones, print size or colour values and feel free to use the same print in more than one block. The idea is to use up as many scraps as possible, relying on the simple two colour design and lovely Liberty prints to achieve a beautiful vintage look. The log cabin blocks for both cushions are pieced onto foundation fabric. Using fabric rather than paper means that you don’t need to spend time removing the foundation after piecing and the additional fabric provides sturdiness to the fine Liberty lawn.…

You will need • Twelve (12) fat eighths • Background fabric – 3yds • Binding fabric – ½yd • Batting – 60in x 82in • Backing fabric – 3½yds Finished size • 54¼in x 70in approx. Fabric used • Fresh Cut by Moda Notes • Seam allowances are a scant ¼in throughout. • Press all fabrics before cutting. • Measurements based on 42in wide fabric. • F8 = fat eighth. • Fat eighths are 9in x 21in. Sorting the fat eighths Pair up the fat eighths into six (6) pairs. Each pair will make two (2) blocks with the fabrics in each block in alternate positions. Cutting out 1 Cut each F8 into three (3) 3in x 21in rectangles and keep the six (6) strips from each pair of fat…

I have wanted to make a quilt featuring the well known Schoolhouse block for some time, but I wanted to appliqué the shapes, not piece them. After a lot of drawing, cutting, stitching and playing with different fabrics, colours and layout ideas this quilt finally emerged. I have combined tweed fabric with cotton flannel and I tried to keep the colours muted and autumnal, with a lot of greens and browns. The little yellow stars, appliquéd throughout the quilt, give a lovely pop of colour and along with the floral appliqué border, add a different element to the traditional schoolhouse quilt.…

You will need • Assorted light print fabrics – eight (8) FQs* • Red print 1 – one (1) FQ • Red print 2 – one (1) FQ • Red print 3 – one (1) F8 • Black print 1 – one (1) FQ • Black print 2 – one (1) FQ • Black print 3 – one (1) F8 • Dark grey solid – 1yd • Pale grey solid – 1yd • White solid – 3yds • Backing fabric – 4¼yds • Batting – 80in square • Binding fabric – ½yd Finished size • 68½in x 70½in approx. Fabric used • Park Drive by Jillily Studios for Henry Glass Fabrics. The backing is Gardenvale by Jen Kingwell. Notes • Wash and press all fabrics well before cutting. • Seam…

“Whip up these easy blocks in minutes and make use of even the tiniest scraps in your hoard, choosing to coordinate or clash your colours – waste not want not!”JENNY FOX-PROVERBS, SENIOR EDITOR Ingredients • Assortment of different print fabrics for the block units, maximum size needed 1½in square • Machine sewing thread to tone with fabrics Finished size • 61/2in x 71/2in (6in x 7in once pieced into project) Notes • The ingredient list is for one block. Make eight (8) blocks for the quilt. • Instructions include a ¼in seam allowance. • This is a really easy month – just lots of cutting! Fabrics used • An eclectic mix of scraps in teals, limes, oranges, and browns. Making the Strawberry Gateau block 1 For one block cut…

SHOPPING ACCESSORIES Sew Easy Sewing Machine Trolley Bag groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk Fiskars www.fiskars.co.uk Hemline www.hemline.com Clover Template Sets clover@stockistenquiries.co.uk Fig Tree & Co www.figtreequilts.com Aurifil www.aurifil.com BOOKS Search Press www.searchpress.com  0189 251 0850 All in a Row & Stitches to Savor www.roundhousegroup.co.uk  0127 360 3717 C&T Publishing www.ctpub.com FABRIC COLLECTIONS The Wordsmith www.janetclare.co.uk Tropicana & Tales of the Sea www.lewisandirene.com Tilda’s Spring Diaries groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk Fabric Affair www.fabricaffair.co.uk  0771 099 5034 QUILTING SHOPS The Welsh Quilt Centre www.welshquilts.com  0157 042 2088…

You will need • Selvedges – approximately 135yds* • Black fabric – ½yd • Red fabric – 1¾yds • Background – 2¼yds • Ric rac – 12yds, ⅝in wide • Backing – 5yds • Binding – ⅔yd • Batting – 78in x 88in Finished size • 70in x 80in Notes • All measurements include ¼in-wide seam allowances. • *This amount is based on selvedge strips cut with ¼in extra for seam allowance. You’ll need less if your strips are wider. The total amount needed will vary greatly depending on the width of your strips. I usually tell students that they will need a 20-gallon plastic bin stuffed full! Cutting out 1 From the black fabric cut as follows: • Forty-two (42) 2›in squares; cut in half on the diagonal. •…

THE DESIGNER FIG TREE & CO. Joanna Figueroa is a force of nature when it comes to quilt designing. With an enormous range of quilting and sewing patterns as well as three new fabric collections each year, we really are spoilt for choice. Described as ‘fresh vintage’ Joanna’s retro colour palettes feel warm and familiar, reminding us of childhood clothing and cherished linens, while being stylish and elegant, especially when combined with her beautifully classic and easy to follow patterns. THE PALETTE ROBIN’S EGG & RAISIN Shades of pale blues and deep purples are reminiscent of times gone by, and have us yearning for country kitchens and grand drawing rooms painted in Farrow and Ball hues (above, Tanner’s brown No.255 and Oval Room Blue No.85 www.farrowandball.com). As enticing as they…

QUILTING EXHIBITIONS Pauline Burbidge Quiltscapes & Quiltline Until 10th April, Co. Durham Quiltscapes & Quiltline features a collection of new work by this acclaimed textile artist, inspired by the beauty of the rural landscape around her home in the Scottish Borders, where she lives and works. The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 8NP Tickets: £10 01833 690606 info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk Unforgettable at The Welsh Quilt Centre Until 5th November, Ceridigion, Wales Quilts from the collections of Ron Simpson & Jen Jones, The Flannel Quilts of Wales. The Welsh Quilt Centre, The Town Hall, High Street, Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales, SA48 7BB 01570 422 088 www.welshquilts.com Easter Exhibitions at the Cowslip Barn Until 10th April, Cornwall Susan Denton, Janice Gunner and Cherry Vernon-Harcourt: “a collaboration between three friends to celebrate all that…

The size and shape of the triangle blocks mean that it grows relatively fast, and you can either machine or hand piece it equally as easily. Although the numbers of triangles involved might sound a bit daunting, don’t be deterred, by working in small units and building up gradually, this quilt will come together before you know it. A good to know tip is that you can cut this shape from 5in Charm Squares, so every patch would be different, and if you need to boost your fabric options a Charm Pack will instantly add more fabrics without having to buy yardage.…

• Finished block size: 4½in square Cutting out 1 From the chosen fabric cut one piece measuring 8in square. It is particularly effective when striped or checked fabric is used. Construction 2 Place the square right side up on a surface and mark 1in from the top left corner (mark A) as in Fig 9A. 3 Rotate the fabric square through 90 degrees and mark the top edge in the same way (Fig 9B). 4 Turn and mark the remaining two sides of the fabric square in the same way (Fig 9C). 5 Working on one edge of the fabric square, fold the top edge in half exactly, wrong sides facing, and pinch the fold into a crease that is about 1½in long, starting at the top edge – the…

You will need • Finca Perle #8 (100% cotton, 10g/69m) 1 ball of Ecru (4000) • A 1.5mm (US 8 Steel) crochet hook Finished size • Edging measures approximately 1in deep, and is made to fit the length of two of the sides of the cushion. Abbreviations (UK terms)   beg beginning ch chain ch-sp(s) chainspace(s) ch-1 sp number denotes number of chain in chain space dc double crochet dtr double treble crochet htr half treble crochet rep repeat ss slip stitch st(s) stitch(es) tr treble crochet Repeat formats • () work the entire contents of the brackets in the specified stitch or space, or repeat the contents of the brackets following the instructions given. • *....; rep from * to Repeat the instructions between * and ; following the…

Based on the traditional Flying Kite, the April Showers block has a double pinwheel design which is reminiscent of colourful kites spinning in the sky on a blustery Spring afternoon. No need to get your strings in a tangle though, as this pattern is much simpler than it looks. The April Showers kit contains 12 fat eighths from the range Fresh Cut designed by Basic Grey for Moda, plus a tone on tone background fabric which is sufficient to make the quilt top. There is absolutely no wastage as all offcuts are used to make the fun border. The kit also contains co-ordinating binding fabric to complete your quilt. Available from The Quilt Room, price £59.50 plus £5.95 for postage and packing.…

Meet the expert Linda Clements is a leading technical quilting expert, editor and writer who, for 25 years, has worked on many fabric and craft titles for David & Charles and other leading craft publishers. Among the many quilters who have trusted Linda to ensure their books are both accurate and reader friendly, are Lynne Edwards MBE, Susan Briscoe, Pam & Nicky Lintott, Pauline Ineson, Mandy Shaw and Lynette Anderson. Linda’s own book, The Quilter’s Bible, is the must-have guide to patchwork, quilting and appliqué, and includes everything she has learnt working with the industry’s best designers. For Today’s Quilter, Linda is working with the team to select practical and creative techniques. She will then go in depth, exploring the methods, taking them from the basic premise to their full…

Trellis patterns are everywhere and come in myriad different designs, from the simple square-on-point lattice you might find on a pie, to decorative quatrefoil often seen in architecture, to the interwoven design of the traditional Celtic Twist or Garden Lattice quilts. Lynne’s own quilt takes the principles of the trellis design and gives it a fresh look using elongated diamonds in pale hues with white sashing and balanced pops of red and black. Cutting 45-degree angles may be daunting, but working with these advanced shapes opens up an array of new design possibilities making it a useful technique to have under one’s belt.…

ULSTER FOLK & TRANSPORT MUSEUM IS PART OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS NORTHERN IRELAND CULTRA , HOLY WOOD, COUNT Y DOWN BT18 0EU This month we are delighted to be featuring a quilt from the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, which has a comprehensive collection of patchwork and quilted bedcovers, dating from 1790 to the mid-1990s. This definitive collection of Irish quilts includes examples of all the main patchwork techniques and styles, from the elaborate chintz appliqués of the early 19th century to a significant representation of utility quilts (1900-1950) made from shirt and dress remnants. Mosaic or ‘template’ patchwork was among the needlework skills taught in the National Schools in Ireland from the 1840s onwards, and the results of this tuition may be seen today in surviving sample books. The…

You will need • Assorted scraps totalling approximately 2yds • Fabric 1 – 1yd • Fabric 2 – 1yd • Backing fabric – 4yds • Batting 55in x 72in • Binding fabric – ½yd Notes • All seams are ¼in unless otherwise stated. • Follow the pressing arrows. • ‘You will need’ list makes a quilt the same size as Judy’s sample (50 house blocks). For a different size, fabric requirements will need to be adjusted. Finished size • 50½in x 68in Cutting out Place tape on your rotary cutting ruler to cut 3½in, 4½in, and 5½in squares. Label the pieces A, B and C as indicated. 1 From a variety of prints, cut as follows for each block: • One (1) 5½in square for the base of the house…

I’m often asked how I come up with the colour or fabric combinations I use in my quilts. The best way to come up with a colour plan for a quilt is to experiment, either with a quilt design program on a computer using digital fabric images or with actual fabric swatches. The obvious benefit of computer-assisted design is speed – it’s much faster to switch out fabric options on a computer screen than it is to cut out and arrange block pieces. Because computers and digital processes can distort fabric colours, in the end, the choices always need to be auditioned using the actual fabrics. There are many ways to decide on a colour plan for a quilt – one of my favourites is to start with a “focal…

When the Collection for a Cause, Love line from Moda debuted, the gorgeous paisley floral immediately called out to be the focal point of a quilt. The blues and reds combined with green and gold suggested that a quilter could span the rainbow in selecting colours for a project using this fabric. This type of large-scale, multicolour print easily sets the colour tone for a project. Just look for co-ordinating prints in a variety of sizes and similar colours. Obvious choices are the companion prints from the same line, but it’s more fun to seek out prints from other lines to add more interest and get away from the “matchy-matchy” feeling that comes from a quilt made solely from a single line of fabrics. “It’s All About Love” features 90…

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Scrap Patchwork Sandra Clemons Sew 13 scrappy quilts with colour palettes so sophisticated, you won’t believe they’re from scraps! Blending the best of modern and traditional quilting, these projects pair fresh fabrics with classic block designs. £17.99 Stashbusters! Sarah Maxwell and Dolores Smith Combine fabric from several different lines and styles to create unique “controlled scrappy” quilts that reflect your personality. Learn to utilise that one piece that seems out of place as the spark that sets off the entire quilt. £16.99 Scrap Quilt Secrets Diane D. Knott Turn your scrappy mess into a quilting success! Sew extraordinary quilts from every last bit of the fabric you love – even the tiniest scraps. Personalise 16 scrap quilting projects using six must-know design scrap secrets, which will…