Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 117 i Today's Quilter

We’ve made it halfway through the year... can you believe it (though to be honest, I’m not sure if I should be happy or shocked)!? Summer is slow coming, but we’ve got projects to cover you no matter what the weather. The wonderful Judy Newman is back with a sweet design that uses templates to create the blocks. Fabulous for using up scraps in your stash, you’ll be diving into your fabric pile to get started. Anne Varley shares her Bea’s Garden quilt, using her favourite technique of needle-turn appliqué. This is a great technique to do outside and hopefully in some sunshine! In addition, Lynne Goldsworthy has come up with a slightly fiendish but totally worth the effort design. Her stunning New York Beauty quilt uses FPP and will…

BEHIND THE QUILT A LABOUR OF LOVE “The New York beauty block is a classic block, which has been interpreted in so many ways. The points around the curve represent the crown in the Statue of Liberty and make for a stunning quilted shape. This is not a quick and easy quilt by any means. There are two-hundred (200) foundation paper pieced templates, two-hundred-and-fifty-six (256) 1in finished half-square triangles and one-hundred-and-twenty-eight (128) curved seams. So, it is not ideal for a beginner and is not for the faint-hearted. But the finished quilt is definitely worth the work. Throw in a random mix of scraps or stick within a narrower palette as I have. Either way, you will be rewarded with a quilt with a real vintage feel. I kept the…

BEHIND THE QUILT CHERRY PICKED PRINTS “With the approach of summer here in Australia at the time of making this quilt, my inclination in my quilt-making turned to brighter, more summery prints. I love a fabric with a strawberry or a cherry print, and having quite a little collection of them, I combined them with bright, cheerful checks to bring you the sweet Strawberry Field quilt.” – Judy Newman You will need ■ Stripe fabric – One (1) FQ■ Green fabric (for the appliqué leaves) – One (1) F8th■ Blue fabric (for the appliqué hearts) – One (1) 10in square■ Centre border print – One (1) FQ■ Patterned fabrics (Block 1) – Six (6) F8ths (Template A)■ Background neutral fabrics (Block 1) – Five (5) F8ths (Templates B and C)■…

There are several techniques that can be used for appliqué – some by hand and some by machine. Needle-turned appliqué is my favourite technique for hand appliqué, as it works well for any shape however intricate, and gives the flexibility to shape the edges into smooth curves and sharp points as you stitch. Like all skills though, it does require a little practise to master, but using the right tools and fabrics makes it a lot easier. So here are some tips to get you started as well as step-by-step instructions for learning the basic techniques. These techniques will get you started with needle-turned hand appliqué – but there is more to learn as your skills develop. Each of the designs in the Baltimore Sampler quilt (page 22) introduces some…

You will need ■ Two (2) shades of purple■ Green fabric■ Cream (choose a fabric which frays easily) for flower centres■ Small beads & brown stranded embroidery thread Leaves 1 Appliqué the leaves in number order. Refer to pages 20-21 for instructions on stitching curves and points. Flowers 2 Appliqué the clematis flowers. There are some deep narrow inner curves – refer back to page 20 for tips on stitching. When cutting out the shapes in fabric, add the seam allowance as shown in Fig 1, but do not make any cuts between the petals at this stage. Make the cuts when you are ready to appliqué that part. Divide the seam allowance centrally when making the necessary central cut. Flower centres 3 For each dark purple flower, from the…

In this engaging and informative booklet, author and teacher Shirley Bloomfield breaks down everything there is to know about the beloved Baltimore quilt. Originating in Baltimore, Maryland, in the mid-19th century, these folk-art quilts have been popular ever since, with their intricate designs and stunning use of colour. So, if you want to make a quilt that is guaranteed to stand the test of time, look no further! This must-read booklet opens with an exclusive interview with Shirley, where she talks about her quilting journey and her passion for Baltimore Album Quilts. The following sections grow your quilting know-how by guiding you through a variety of techniques with detailed and easy-to-follow steps, including instructions for how to make Shirley’s gorgeous sampler. Shirley reimagines the Baltimore design by bringing a British…

Festival of Quilts 1-4 August • Join the biggest quilting show in Europe. Home to the largest open quilt competition in the world, the Festival of Quilts also has the largest programme of workshops and talks offered anywhere in Europe and hosts some of the leading quilt artists from around the globe. Admission: Ticket prices vary, see website. Booking fee applies. 09.30-17.30 (Thursday-Saturday) 09.30-17.00 (Sunday) The NEC, Halls 7, 8 & 9, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk Swansea Quilters Exhibition 23-25 August • An exhibition of the group’s work, including a sales table, traders and refreshments. Free parking and disabled access. Admission: £2 10.00-16.00 Pennard Community Hall, Pennard Road, Pennard, Swansea, SA3 2AD Contact: swanquilters@gmail.com Little Stitches Exhibition 24-25 August • An exhibition of the group’s…

BEHIND THE DESIGN STITCH SWEET FLOWERS “This [traditional Japanese ohana moyo (flowers)] pattern becomes even more attractive if embroidered using two different colour threads. If you use green for the diagonal lines, it becomes a delicate floral pattern. Adding lining fabric the same colour as the flowers sets off the embroidery beautifully.” – SASHIKONAMI You will need ■ Outer fabric (white linen) – Two (2) 20cm x 22cm (8in x 8¾in) pieces■ Lining (red linen) – One (1) 20cm x 41cm (8in x 16¼in) piece■ Fine fusible interfacing – Two (2) 20cm x 18cm (8in x 7in) pieces■ Waxed cotton cord (dark brown) – 2mm (¹/₁₆in) diameter, 112cm (44in)■ Olympus sashiko thread* in Red (15) and Green (7) – 1.2m (47¼in) Notes ■ *www.japancrafts.co.uk has a good selection of Sashiko…

All good things must come to an end… This is the last of my collection of curvy designs for the Block of the Month project, and I’m feeling a little sad about it. The offering next time will be the simple curvy chain, which is used eight (8) times alongside the twelve (12) individual blocks to create some quieter areas within the quilt design. This block still has curves, of course, but it also has a surprisingly spiky look. The centre Cathedral Window unit is now becoming quite a familiar feature – however, it looks quite different in this design with the use of medium and dark fabrics. Some curvy Flying Geese units turn up in the layout, plus the repeated layered squares, creating a fresh arrangement for this new…

I have long been wowed by the beauty and skills it takes to create Baltimore Album Quilts. Patience and time are a necessity, and technique is vital. So I was delighted to get the chance to work with Shirley Bloomfield on this supplement. Shirley has taken this traditional style and given it a fresh look with a British twist, all inspired by her English cottage garden. Adding dimensional flowers such as foxgloves, roses and water lilies, plus wildlife to her signature designs, she has won over quilters both locally and abroad. Creating smaller projects that are achievable, Shirley allows quilters to develop their skills and learn new techniques while not feeling overwhelmed by full-sized versions of this style. I hope you enjoy reading these pages as much as we have…

The basic stitch There are different stitches that can be used for needle-turning, but my preferred stitch is known as tack stitch. I like this stitch as it holds the edge firmly in place on even the most intricate shape where there is often very little seam allowance. 1 Hold the work with the edge to be appliquéd facing away from you. Right-handed sewers will be stitching from right to left. 2 With a knot at the end of the thread, work a small stitch under the shape to get started (Fig 12). 3 Use the side of the needle or the turning stick to stroke under about ¾in of the seam allowance so that the marked line is just under the shape. Twist the stick to help roll the…

Blocks 1 Press the blocks. Trim the blocks to an accurate 13¾in square. I trimmed the blocks further as follows in order to set them closer together. However, if you would like to have them more spaced out just trim the blocks to an accurate square and adjust the length of the borders to fit. Iris block – trim lower edge 1¼in. Rose block – trim top edge 1½in and lower edge 1¼in. Clematis block – trim top edge 1¼in. 2 Use a ¼in seam allowance to join blocks as shown in finished quilt. Press seams open. 3 Mark the centre of each side with a tack stitch. Inner border 1 Assemble border templates A and B and trace onto freezer paper and cut out. You will only need one…

Growing up in India, I was surrounded by beautiful textiles. Enhancing festivals, rituals and rites of passage, they were a significant part of life,” London-based artist Ekta Kaul tells us. “At home, my mother was a prolific embroiderer and knitter. And my maternal grandmother was a talented embroiderer, too. I never met her as she died long before I was born, but I feel I got to know her well through her embroideries that were hung in our house. My paternal grandmother lived with us, and I remember helping her when she made quilts with cast-off cloth. And my aunts knitted, stitched, did macramé, swapped patterns and so on. So, the culture of making was deeply entrenched in the family, and I feel an intimate connection to embroidery, although I…

NEW YORK BEAUTY CUTTING AND FPP TEMPLATES ACTUAL SIZE PLEASE NOTE: Templates include seam allowance. SCAN ME! Scan the QR code here, to go directly to the templates page on Gathered.how and download all templates for the projects at full size! BEA'S GARDEN CUTTING, EPP AND SCALLOP BORDER TEMPLATES, QUILT CENTRE AND BORDER LAYOUT ENLARGE 200% PLEASE NOTE: Cutting templates include seam allowance. EPP, Quilt Centre and Scallop Border Layout DO NOT include seam allowances. DOWNLOAD THESE TEMPLATES FULL SIZE Visit our blog: www.gathered.how/todaysquilter today! BORDER LAYOUT PLEASE NOTE: Layout is for reference only and is NOT to scale. For the full pattern and templates visit our website. STRAWBERRY FIELD CUTTING, APPLIQUÉ AND EPP TEMPLATES ACTUAL SIZE PLEASE NOTE: Templates A-J include seam allowances. Appliqué and EPP templates DO NOT…

Jane Rae talks to Shirley Bloomfield, exploring her quilting journey from Battersea to Baltimore, with the common thread of textiles running throughout. Was it the hand of providence that blessed Shirley Bloomfield with a name so closely linked to her passion for appliquéd flowers? It’s a lovely coincidence, according to Shirley, who I had the pleasure of interviewing earlier this year. Since her retirement in 1997, Shirley has developed her interest in Baltimore Album Quilts and created her very own “Baltimore with an English Twist” style, inspired by her cottage garden in Suffolk. “Her quilting epiphany came at a quilt show in Harrogate in 1992, when she saw her first Baltimore Album Quilt.” With a background in teaching textiles and design, Shirley was well placed to start exploring and making…

The Baltimore Sampler is designed around three classic Baltimore Album shapes – the circle, wreath and lyre. As a “sampler” it includes a number of needle-turned hand appliqué techniques to give you an opportunity to learn and practise new skills. The quilt reflects my signature style of Baltimore with an English Twist, which gives a fresh look to this traditional style of appliqué. Unlike the makers of the original 19th century Baltimore Album Quilts, today’s quilters can choose from an amazing selection of printed fabrics. Batiks and shaded fabrics are just perfect for giving a painterly, natural look to the flowers and leaves in this Baltimore Sampler. Although hand appliqué and quilting were used throughout this project, it is possible to stitch the designs by machine using fused raw…

You will need ■ Greens for leaves and stems■ Several shades of mauves and purple■ Yellow/orange for iris beard Stems 1 An alternative method is used for stems. Cut a bias strip a scant ¾in wide. Fold strip in thirds, finger press and tack down the centre (Fig 1). Make sure the raw edge doesn’t extend past the folded edge. Use the overlay to position the stems on the background. Start with stem #1 and place the bias strip ⅛in under petal 12. Continue placing strip to the base of the stem and extend the strip ⅛in under 6. Note that the stem base is at an angle and so trim the excess strip to ensure that the raw edge will be covered by 6. Pin at right angles and…