Innholdsfortegnelse for Beginner's Guide to Quilting 2020 i Beginner's Guide to Quilting

Want to learn everything there is to know about patchwork and quilting? Then you have come to the right place! Whether you’re completely new to the craft, or looking to rediscover some long-lost skills, this Beginner’s Guide will take you through all the essential tools, techniques, blocks and finishes you need to get started on your quilting journey. Inside, you’ll find step-by-step guides and clever project tutorials that aim to inspire and test your new-found knowledge along the way, from stylish cushions to stash-friendly pouches, and of course, lots of beautiful beginner-friendly quilts! Turn the page and get ready fall in love with your new favourite pastime… Editor…

Piecing your patchwork is where the fun really begins. You get to see smaller fabric pieces slowly spring to life as they become part of your finished project. If you’re making a patchwork quilt, you’ll often sew up smaller shapes into larger units, or ‘blocks’, which you then piece together to form a quilt top (see our ‘Blocks’ chapter on page 107). You can piece by hand or with a sewing machine. Some quilters love find hand stitching very therapeutic, while others opt for machine for speed and durability. It’s entirely up to you! You’ll find all sorts of ways to sew fabric pieces together, depending on the shape of the pieces you’re working with, but here we’ll focus on the basics. We’ll start off with sewing straight seams (for…

You will need MATERIALS Background fabric (linen): 1yd Accent fabric: 1yd Batting: 26in square Backing fabric: 20in square Cushion back fabric: 1yd Cushion pad: 20in FINISHED SIZE ■ 19in square approx. NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric. FABRICS USED Background fabric is Soft Sand Linen Blend from the Denim Studio collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. Accent fabrics are Festival Fuchsia and Light Citron from the Pure Elements Solids collection by Art Gallery Fabrics. CUTTING OUT 1 From each of the background and accent fabrics cut width of fabric (WOF) strips of varying widths. The background and accent fabric strips will be joined into groups of at least six strips, so make sure that they are wide enough to…

Often in patchwork, you’ll come across a project where you have a lot of identical shapes that you need to join up – if you’re making a basic patchwork piece with squares or rectangles, for example, like the one in our beginner’s cushion project on page 37. Piecing them all together one at a time on your sewing machine can take time, but there is a way to do it more quickly! Chain piecing is a handy method that will speed up your piecing in no time, and it’s really simple too. With chain piecing, you pair up shapes and then feed them through your machine one pair at a time, without cutting the thread in between. Once you’ve stitched up a full chain of units, you just snip away…

When we talk about ‘quilting’ we don’t just mean making a quilt. We’re actually talking about the straight or decorative stitching that you sew through all three layers of your quilt sandwich to secure them, and to add depth and texture. Additionally, if the layers of your project include batting (a padded layer, also known as wadding), you’ll need to quilt to make sure it doesn’t fall apart in the wash later on. Decorative quilting, however simple, is where a quilt springs to life, adding surface texture and embellishment to your design. There are many quilting options out there for you to try – you can stitch by hand or machine, stitch ‘in the ditch’ in straight lines, sew geometric patterns or get creative with free-motion stitching (see page 149).…

Stitching a design onto a quilt is one of the ways to make your creation unique. But when it comes to how to make these stitches, quilters everywhere are divided about their favourite method. Is it best to quilt by hand or machine? To help you make your choice, we’ve summed up the pros and cons of each method for you, and put together some top tips for each technique. Machine quilting can make faster work of a quilt and gives a lovely neat finish, but you might not fancy rolling up larger quilts to fit them into your machine. Hand quilting is loved by many for its homespun vibe and the ease with which you can stitch wonderful patterns without having to worry about curves or freehand sewing. It’s…

Squares and strips are great for creating simple patchwork designs, but once you’ve caught the patchwork bug it won’t be long before you want to start introducing new shapes to your cutting table to bring interest and movement to your pieces. Triangles, diamonds, curves, hexagons… There are so many fun shapes to choose from, but where do you begin? Specialist rulers are available in a huge array of shapes and sizes, or you can cut and assemble your own shapes using a few quilting basics. WORKING WITH TRIANGLES Two of the most popular triangles you’ll come across are Half-square and Quartersquare Triangles, both right-angled. Turn to pages 83 and 93 for our step-by-step guides to cutting and piecing these shapes. They’re easy to make from squares so are an ideal…

You will need MATERIALS Fabric A: one (1) fat quarter Fabric B: one (1) fat quarter Fabric C: 5/8yd Fabric D: ½yd Fabric E: ½yd Fabric F: ½yd Fabric G: ¾yd (includes binding) Batting: 48in x 62in Backing fabric: 48in x 62in FINISHED SIZE ■ 43½in x 57in approx. NOTES Seam allowances are a ¼in, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric. HST = half-square triangle. Read through all steps before cutting or sewing. FABRICS USED Fabrics are all from the Modern Solids range by FreeSpirit Fabrics. CUTTING OUT Refer to the cutting plans for the most efficient use of fabric. When cutting 3in triangles, cut as for a 3in square and then subcut in half on the diagonal. 1 From Fabric A cut:…

Once you’ve mastered the basics of cutting and piecing fabric, you can now combine shapes to create hundreds (if not thousands!) of small patchwork patterns. Gather up a bunch of blocks and you’re ready to combine them into a great quilt design. Most blocks are based on geometric shapes and with our help you’ll be a block-building pro in no time! A ‘block’ refers to the finished pieced element (usually square) that is made up of different shapes, with a recognisable finished pattern. A ‘unit’ is what we call the smaller shapes that combine to make up the block. For example, Half-square Triangle units can be used to make Pinwheel blocks (see page 121 for instructions). Start simply with one-patch blocks (where you repeat a single shape in an all-over…

You will need MATERIALS Print fabrics (Fabrics A–G): seven (7) fat quarters Solid fabric (Fabrics H–I): two (2) fat eighths Background fabric (white): 1yd Binding fabric: ½yd Batting: 46in x 57in Backing fabric: 48in x 59in FINISHED SIZE ■ 44in x 55in approx. NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise stated. RST = right sides together. HST = Half-square Triangle. WOF = width of fabric. Read through all steps before cutting or sewing. Fabric requirements are based on 44in wide fabric. Press fabrics well before starting. CUTTING OUT 1 From the background fabric cut: Twenty (20) 6¾in squares. Twenty (20) 5¼in squares. (Cutting Diagram: Background Fabric). 2 From each of Fabrics H and I cut: ■ Ten (10) 2¼in x 8½in strips. (Cutting Diagram: Fabrics H & I). 3 From…

You will need MATERIALS Linen fabric: 10in x 18in Lining fabric: 6in x 14in Press fastener Stranded cotton in a selection of colours Embroidery hoop Matching thread NOTES Use a ¼in seam allowance. For templates, see page 161. 8–10cm (3–4in) embroidery scissors fit nicely within this case, but you can adjust the pattern size to fit your chosen scissors. WORKING FERN STITCH 1 Work this stitch along a straight or curved line, working from top to bottom. Come up a short distance from the line and bring the needle down through the fabric on the line, forming an angled stitch (Fig 1). 2 Come up from the back on the line and then go back down on the line in the same hole as the end of the first stitch.…

Quilting and patchwork has been a popular pastime for many centuries, and for very good reason! The process of making, gifting and displaying your own pieces is so satisfying, and the finished result is something that will be treasured for years to come. But, with so many techniques and terms to learn we also know that venturing into this craft for the first time can be overwhelming, which is why we’ve created this handy guide to get you started! Kicking off with some essentials, we run through stocking your quilting toolkit, buying fabric, using a sewing machine, and why your iron will become your best friend! We’ll also show you, in step-by-step guides, how to master basic techniques, share our favourite fabric brands with you, and keep you topped up…

Aside from the quilting stitches themselves, the other thing your quilting projects will need is the batting that lies between a quilt top and its backing. A quilt just wouldn’t be a quilt without that lovely warm padding! As with the fabric you choose for your top layer, you need to give some thought to which batting you choose, as there are several sorts. Besides batting, you’ll also need to invest in threads for quilting, patchworking and perhaps embroidery. And then there are extras such as fusible web and interfacing that will prove invaluable if you want to try appliqué or more structured projects. THREADS Cotton thread is widely available and is suitable for piecing and quilting. Most cotton thread is ideal for machine and hand quilting, but you shouldn’t…

Fat quarters, strip rolls, for first-time patchworkers it’s all too tempting to dive headfirst into your fabric and start cutting. But there’s nothing worse than squandering beautiful fabrics due to a careless cut in the wrong place. We’re here to teach you a few basic skills that will equip you with the know-how you need to cut your fabrics in a way that makes your patchwork projects look great every time. We’ll show you how to prepare your fabrics, square up fabric on your cutting board and accurately cut a few basic shapes. Once you’ve mastered the basics, turn to our ‘Shapes’ section on page 77 to try your new skills on triangles, hexagons and curves too. BEFORE YOU BEGIN… It’s always a good idea to spend a little time…

As you start to build up rows of patchwork squares, the seams from your different rows will come together at different points. Lining up these seams neatly is the secret to neater patchwork! Seams intersect in patchwork in many styles, and it’s worth taking a bit of time to line them up carefully, especially where blocks are joined together to make up a quilt top. They can become quite bulky, especially with thick fabrics, but – don’t worry – we’re here to help you sew them all up with a nice, flat finish you’ll be pleased with. An intersecting seam is simply a joining seam – where one seam meets another. For the best results, follow our guide to ensure a neat effect. It’s not the end of the world…

When you see big, beautiful quilts on display, it’s easy to wonder how you would ever be able to make a project to such a large scale. But the good news is that whether you’re creating a mini make like a child’s playmat, or a super-sized bedspread made from beautiful patchwork blocks, the principles of making a quilt are pretty much the same. Phew! By know you’ll already how to create the quilt top by piecing together fabric shapes. Over the next few pages we’ll talk you through how to take this top and then add batting and backing fabric to make a ‘quilt sandwich’, before fixing the layers together (often referred to as ‘basting’), and how to finish it all off by adding binding to neaten the edges (see…

You will need MATERIALS Main fabric: 14in x 20in Contrast fabric: 18in x22in Batting: 10in x 14in NOTES ■ Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance FABRICS USED All fabrics are from the Les Petits collection by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics. Main fabric: Petits Stipples in Rose. Lining fabric: Petits Strokes in Rose. CUTTING OUT 1 From the main fabric cut: One (1) 97/8in x 13¾in outside piece. One (1) 97/8in x 13¾in pocket piece. 2 From the contrast fabric cut: One (1) 97/8in x 13¾in lining piece. Two (2) 15/8in x 215/8in ties. Three 15/8in x 19¾in binding strips. ASSEMBLING THE LAYERS 3 Place the outside fabric right side down, with the batting then the lining right side up on top to create a sandwich (Fig 1). 4…

You will need MATERIALS Nine (9) different cotton prints: 11in x 18in each Two (2) pieces of solid fabric: 31in x 41in each Backing fabric: 31in x 41in Perlé cotton No.8 in a variety of colours to contrast with fabrics, for the Kantha stitching FABRICS USED ■ All of the print fabrics shown are from the Honor Roll collection by Anna Maria Horner for FreeSpirit Fabrics. FINISHED SIZE ■ 29½in x 39½in approx. NOTES ■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise stated. WHAT IS KANTHA STITCHING? Kantha is a traditional Indian embroidery technique, mainly from Bangladesh and Bengal. As with Western quilting, it is a way to use up old textiles: layers of old saris are stitched together to form bedspreads or used for cushions. We have used old sheets…

You will need MATERIALS To make the quilt: Fabric A: 25in square Fabric B: 57in x 24in Fabric C: 57in x 24in Fabric D: 25in x 35in Fabric E: 24in square Fabric F: two (2) 54in x 45in pieces for backing and binding Batting: 61in x 54in FINISHED SIZE ■ 55in x 47in NOTES ■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. FABRICS USED Solid fabrics are from the Bella Solids collection by Moda, in Bunny Hill Pink, Zen Grey, Almond, Etchings and Feather. Print fabric is Furry Charcoal from the Savannah Collection by Gingiber for Moda. CUTTING OUT THE QUILT PIECES 1 Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Fabric E square. Place the square on top of Fabric C, matching three edges.…

You will need MATERIALS Text print fabric: two (2) 8½in x 3in rectangles Hexagon print fabric: one (1) 8½in x 12in rectangle Lining fabric: one (1) 8½in x 16in rectangle Fusible batting: one (1) 8in x 16in rectangle Lace-edged zip: 8½in Leather strip: ½in x 1½in FINISHED SIZE ■ 8in x 6½in x 2in approx. NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. WOF = width of fabric. WST = wrong sides together. Minki made her pouch sturdier by using ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable™ stabiliser as batting. MAKING THE OUTER POUCH 1 Take the hexagon print rectangle. Mark a ¼in seam line along one short side, following the outline of the hexagons (Fig 1). 2 Trim along the marked line and clip the points that…

You will need MATERIALS Basic quilting kit, see page 16 A variety of print and solid fabrics (or one charm pack) Lining fabric: 11in x 28½in in a co-ordinating print Batting: 13in x 30in Backing fabric: 13in x 30in Cord for button loop: 5in length Button Quilting thread Hexagon template on page 161 FINISHED SIZE ■ 10½in x 14in – to fit a 13in laptop NOTES Seam allowances are a ¼in, unless otherwise noted. Templates do not include seam allowances. PREPARING THE TEMPLATES 1 Trace the hexagon shape on page 161 and cut it out from thin card to make a template. 2 It can be useful to sketch a layout diagram to work out how many whole, half and part hexagons you need to cover your laptop. Use the…

You will need MATERIALS A selection of six (6) print fabrics, see instructions for measurements Fabric A: 60in x 44in Fabric B: 60in x 44in Fabric C: 28in x 44in Fabric D: 35in x 44in Fabric E: 35in x 44in Batting: 51in square FABRICS USED The fabrics used are from the Leilani collection by Maude Asbury for Blend: Fabric A: Fern Leaves in Ivory. Fabric B: Hibiscus in Blue. Fabric C: Tropical Fronds in Ivory. Fabric D: Cacti in Blue. Fabric E: Cacti in Ivory. NOTE Seam allowances are ¼in throughout, unless otherwise noted. RST = right sides together. CUTTING OUT 1 From Fabric A cut: One (1) 235/8in x 55in strip for the quilt backing. Nine (9) 71/8in squares. Four (4) 23/8in x 19¾in strips for the binding. 2…

You will need MATERIALS Fabric A: 31/2yds Fabric B: 5/8yd Fabric C: one (1) fat eighth Fabric D: one (1) fat eighth Fabric E: one (1) fat eighth Fabric F: one (1) fat eighth Fabric G: one (1) fat eighth Fabric H: one (1) fat eighth Fabric I: one (1) fat eighth Fabric J: one (1) fat eighth Fabric K: one (1) fat eighth Fabric L: one (1) fat eighth Fabric M: one (1) fat eighth Fabric N: one (1) fat quarter Fabric O: one (1) fat quarter Fabric P: one (1) fat quarter Fabric Q: one (1) fat quarter Fabric R: one (1) fat quarter Fabric S: one (1) fat quarter Fabric T: one (1) fat quarter Fabric U: one (1) fat quarter Fabric V: ¼yd Backing fabric: 3½yds…

‘Appliqué’ comes from the French verb ‘appliquer’, which means ‘to apply’. In a craft context, it’s a technique used in many different areas, from pottery and cake decorating to sewing and quilting. Sewn appliqué involves cutting out a small shape from one material and then stitching it directly onto a larger piece of fabric. Appliqué can be done by hand or with a sewing machine, although as this is a beginner’s guide we’ll stick to the simpler hand techniques! Here we cover two different ways to hand appliqué – choose the method that suits the project you are working on and that you feel most comfortable with. GETTING STARTED WITH APPLIQUÉ First, choose what shapes you want to stitch onto your quilt top. These can be hand drawn or printed…

Chances are, if you’ve dabbled in a bit of home sewing or textile crafts before, you’ll already have a lot of the bits and bobs you need for quilting. But, there are a few extra tools that’ll really help to get your projects off to a flying start. Here’s what you need… 1 ROTARY CUTTER Used along with a cutting mat, a rotary cutter is the quickest and easiest way to cut precise pieces of fabric. The blade is extremely sharp so you’ll need to be careful when using one, but the finish is much neater than using scissors. They come in a variety of sizes, but a 45mm diameter blade will be most useful when you’re starting out. 2 CUTTING MAT Whether you’re working at the kitchen table or…

When it comes to buying fabric, how do you know how much to get so you’ve got enough but aren’t left with too many scraps? Most projects and patterns list how much fabric you need for the various parts of your quilt, but if you want to create your own design then calculating how much fabric to buy can be daunting at first. Don’t worry, just keep this guide to hand and you’ll be able to work out exactly what you need. HOW BIG WILL YOUR QUILT BE? Before you buy anything, sketch out a design for your project. There’s a list of common UK and US quilt sizes below to get you started – you might want to add extra drape around the edges of a standard size, depending…

You will need MATERIALS Six (6) different print fabrics: 20in x 28in each Backing fabric: 25in x 30in Cushion pad: 14in square FABRICS USED ■ Prints are Liberty tana lawns in Mila B, Estelle and Annabelle B, Oxton, Newland Blue, Ros H and English Field B. Available from Alice Caroline (alicecaroline.co.uk). NOTE ■ Use a 5/8in seam allowance. CUTTING OUT 1 The fabrics can be placed in any order you choose. Decide this then label them A–F. 2 A rectangle measures 2¾in x 4½in, and a square measures 2¾in. From the print fabrics cut: Fabric A: six (6) rectangles. Fabric B: four (4) rectangles, two (2) squares. Fabric C: four (4) rectangles, two (2) squares. Fabric D: six (6) rectangles. Fabric E: four (4) rectangles, two (2) squares. Fabric F:…

When you can’t find the right fabric, or the fabrics you do have aren’t quite right for the project you’re working on, try strip piecing. This is a nifty shortcut where you join two or more fabric strips together to make a stripy design. It’s a speedy way to transform plain fabrics into brightly-patterned patchwork and a great way to use up scraps from your stash and previous projects. To start, gather a few fabric strips. Longer ones are best as once you’ve sewn them together the aim is to cut a batch of stripy pieces or ‘units’ from them. You could cut stripy squares, triangles, diamonds… any shape that takes your fancy! Then simply join up your units to create larger blocks until you’ve quickly pieced up a cushion…

You will need MATERIALS Linen fabric: 1yd Assorted print fabrics: one hundred and sixty (160) 2½in squares Binding fabric: 3/8yd Batting: 34in x 46in Backing fabric: 34in x 46in Embroidery thread (for quilting) FINISHED SIZE ■ 30in x 42in approx. NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise stated. WOF = width of fabric. Alice used a strip roll to cut all of the print fabric squares, and bind the quilt (with several lengths of fabric left over!). Finish the raw edges of the linen fabric with a zigzag stitch, to prevent fraying. CUTTING OUT 1 From the linen cut: ■ Eleven (11) 2½in x 30½in pieces. 2 From the binding fabric cut: ■ Four (4) 2½in x WOF strips. PIECING THE ROWS 3 Arrange your fabric squares in ten rows…

You will need MATERIALS Four (4) print fabrics: one (1) fat eighth of each Backing fabric: 16in x 20in Binding fabric: 12in x 22in Batting: 16in x 20in Matching tassels One (1) copy each of Template One, Template Two and Template Three. NOTES Use a 1cm (3/8in) seam allowance. Find the templates for this project on page 161. FABRICS USED We used a selection of fabrics from the Day Trip collection by Dana Willard for Art Gallery Fabrics. CUTTING OUT 1 From Fabric A (yellow) cut: Two (2) pieces using Template One for row 2 right and row 5 left. Two (2) pieces using the reverse of Template One for row 5 left and row 2 right. 2 From Fabric B (green) cut: One (1) piece using Template One for…

You will need MATERIALS Assorted prints: sixty (60) 2½in squares Scrap fabrics: four (4) 2½in squares and four (4) 2½in x 16in (these fabric scraps will not be visible in the finished hoop) Batting: 20in square Backing fabric: 20in square One (1) 15in embroidery hoop FINISHED SIZE ■ 15in diameter NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise stated. Print fabrics for the quilt top should all be varying shades of the same tone – we used blues. FMQ = free motion quilting. SPIRAL QUILTING 1 To a achieve a quilted spiral, like we did, use a water soluble fabric pen to mark the start of your spiral onto your quilt top. Draw on a couple of loops, not just the very centre. Start quilting using a free-motion quilting foot with…

You will need MATERIALS Basic quilting kit, see page 16 Fabric A: 2½in x 27in Fabric B: 2½in x 27in Fabric C: 2½in x 27in Backing fabric: 13in x 45in Cushion pad: 14in square FINISHED SIZE ■ 12in square NOTES Seam allowances are a ¼in, unless otherwise noted. Press seams to one side, unless otherwise instructed. CUTTING THE FABRIC 1 From Fabric A cut: ■ Six (6) 2½in x 4½in rectangles. 2 From Fabric B cut: ■ Six (6) 2½in x 4½in rectangles. 3 From Fabric C cut: ■ Six (6) 2½in x 4½in rectangles. 4 From the background fabric cut: Thirty six (36) 2½in squares. Two (2) 8in x 12½in pieces for the cushion back. ASSEMBLING THE CUSHION FRONT 5 Make eighteen Flying Geese blocks (six from each of…

One of the most popular patchwork designs is row upon row of perfectly placed hexagons. These fabric shapes are kept at a standard size by stitching around individual paper templates – a technique which is know as English Paper Piecing, or EPP for short. Start with an original template shape (thick card will do), then use this to cut out as many shapes as you need from heavyweight paper or thin card, that is thick enough to hold its shape, but thin enough to be flexible when stitching. We’ve got some hexagons for you to trace on page 104 but you don’t have to just stick to hexagons! Sketch out your own shapes or search online to find websites that will give you free shapes to print out. To save…

You will need MATERIALS A selection of six (6) print fabrics, see instructions for measurements Fabric A: 8¾in x 18in, for the back and pocket lining Fabric B: 5½in x 8¾in, for the pocket exterior Fabric C: 8¾in x 35/8in, for the binding strip and hanging loop Medium-weight iron-on interfacing: 5½in x 8¾in Insulating batting: 8¾in square Batting: 9½in square NOTE ■ Seam allowances are 3/8in, unless otherwise noted. FABRICS USED ■ Fabrics are from the Lagoon collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cotton+Steel. CUTTING THE FABRIC 1 Using the block layout diagram as guidance for your fabric placement, cut your print fabrics into the following pieces. Centre: 4in square. Strip one: 2in x 4in. Strip two: 2in x 5¼in. Strip three: 2in x 5¼in. Strip four: 2in x 63/8in. Strip…

You will need MATERIALS White fabric: sixteen (16) 4½in squares (¼yd total) Print fabrics: eight (8) 4½in squares (eight different prints used) and sixteen appliqué petals in total (two from each print) Batting: 18in square Lining fabric for patchwork: 20in square White fabric for cushion back: two (2) 16½in x 10in pieces Lining fabric for cushion back: two (2) 16½in x 10in pieces Binding fabric: one (1) fat quarter Cushion pad: 16in square FINISHED SIZE ■ 16in square NOTES Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. Press all fabrics well before cutting. Find the template on page 161. Printed fabrics supplied by The Fat Quarters ( CUTTING OUT 1 From the white fabric cut: Q Sixteen (16) 4½in squares. 2 From each of the print fabrics cut: Q One…

You will need MATERIALS Three (3) pairs of blue jeans Lining fabric Contrasting topstitch thread Matching thread FINISHED SIZE Finished bag: 141/8in x 16½in Straps: 31½in NOTES Use a 3/8in seam allowance. RST = right sides together. The denim for the straps shouldn’t be too heavy as this will be harder to work with. CUTTING OUT 1 From each pair of jeans cut: Q Two (2) 63/8in x 15in pieces. 2 From the lining fabric cut: Q Two (2) 15in squares. 3 From the lightest jeans cut: ■ Two (2) 31/8in x 15in pieces for the lining top strips. 4 From the darkest jeans cut: Q Two 31/8in x 35½in pieces for straps. OUTER, LINING AND STRAPS 5 To make the outer front, pin and sew a dark and medium…

Printed fabrics aren’t the only way to add interest to your quilt – embroidery is also a lovely, and traditional, way to personalise your work. It has always been common to stitch on a maker’s name or a sweet message (made with love is always a favourite), but how about picking out parts of a design to enhance with stitches as well? French knots and running stitches are ideal for highlighting smaller details. You can also use embroidery to decorate a plain piece of fabric, as we’ve done with the scissor pouch project on page 152, and then use this in your patchwork or quilt designs. Most embroidery projects call for templates, which you’ll first need to transfer onto your fabric in order to stitch the design. Before you start…