Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 28 - 2017 i Today's Quilter

Is it safe to say “Christmas” yet? I believe that it’s a quilter’s prerogative to begin planning for the festive season as soon as possible. There’s a lot that needs our textile touch, from decorations and tableware to that all-important gift list. It’s also the time when many of us turn to fun prints – when else in the year can one look at a fabric swatch and exclaim, “Geese wearing Fair Isle jumpers – call off the search”? (I must tear myself away from the jolly fabric selection at www.sewingquarter.com) If your taste runs to the more traditional, you’ll find this month’s issue just the ticket. We’ve embraced cosy reds, from bright pillar box to deep burgundy. Some of our designers have chosen to pair these with classic green…

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 moodboard, we’d love to see what you’ve been up to and hear your stories! THE TRADITIONAL technique of English Paper Piecing (EPP) is a favourite with the Today’s Quilter team, allowing intricate patchwork to be created by hand. It’s also great to do when you’re out and about (many a train journey has been filled sewing away blissfully). That’s why we’re so excited to share with you our FREE Fussy Cutting templates. The set contains a hexagon, half hexagon, diamond and triangle template, perfect for targeting and cutting out individual motifs that work so well with the…

You will need • Assorted fabrics in golds, greens and reds – five (5) fat quarters • Cotton for the inner triangles and ties – ¾yd. (Avoid stripes or one-way patterns) • Brown tree trunks fabric – one (1) fat eighth • Backing fabric – 1⅛yd* • Batting – 45in square** • Six (6) small tassels • Templates (see Templates section) Finished size • Approximately 37in at the widest point Notes • *You could opt for a budget saving solid for the back or, you could choose a different print to make your Tree Skirt reversible. • ** Hobbs 80/20 is available 90in wide so if you buy 1.2m (1⅜yds) it should be enough for two skirts. Batting with a high polyester content is not recommended as the tree skirt…

You will need • Solid fabric – ½yd • Blender print 1 (pink) – ⅛yd • Blender print 2 (grey) – ¼yd • Three (3) feature prints for fussy-cutting – approx. ½yd of each* • Batting – 24in x 16in • Lining fabric – 24in x 16in • Backing fabric – 21½in x 20in • Cushion pad – 20in x 14in** • Plastic fussy-cutting templates – 1½in 60-degree diamond, hexagon and half-hexagon • Paper pieces – 1½in 60-degree diamonds, hexagons and half-hexagons (see Templates section) Finished size • 21in x 14in approximately Fabric used • Liberty Tana Lawns and Oakshott shot cotton in Aster. Notes • Prior knowledge of English paper piecing is assumed. Find a tutorial for the basics at www.todaysquilter.com • Templates have been supplied for the paper…

For our readers who didn’t manage to make the trip to this year’s Festival of Quilts, we are thrilled to be featuring this fantastic gallery of winning quilts together with information from the competition catalogue. Of course, all of the quilts entered in the competitions are winners and without them there would be no show; so we congratulate each and every quilter who took part! There were 17 competition categories in total, including Best In Show, which was the overall winner out of all the categories chosen. And the winners were… CONTEMPORARY QUILTS BEELZEBUB by Linzi Upton Techniques: Hand drawn, whole cloth design inspired by Lilian Hedley motifs, hand guided long-arm quilted, improvisational piecing Materials: Shot cottons, silk, lamé, hand dyed cotton Theme: Beelzebub is a double sided anti-establishment whole…

Since moving to the Scottish Borders in the 1990s, Pauline Burbidge’s surroundings have been an endless source of inspiration. She enthuses, “My work is an expression and fusion of my love of the countryside, plant life and textiles.” With so many elements to investigate in such a stunning and dynamic landscape, Pauline’s work hasn’t stood still. She finds that, if it engages her, she might stick with a topic for a long time, but she is always seeking new ways to “reinvent” her chosen subject, confessing, “I have to feel I’m exploring new ground all the time.” The natural world For many of us, knowing what to study can be a block on getting started. Pauline advises, “It’s important to reflect on what it is you are passionate about and…

“We have reached the completion of this year-long project and I hope you have managed to keep up with me or at least enjoyed making the odd block. I thought I would give you an update on some of the wildlife. The mummy duck that nested in our duck house hatched nine ducklings. We saw her again the other day with six, which is pretty good going really. And a young heron attached itself to us recently and was even found hanging around on our deck as if waiting for us to come out and play! Jonathan managed to get some lovely photos of him before he became confident enough to head off on his own. We had the most amazing display of orchids ever this year, especially in front…

Lynne Goldsworthy COVER STAR We adore how Lynne’s bold quilt on page 22 immediately transformed our cover shot from a chair by the fire into an enchanting festive retreat! Pam & Nicky Lintott PRETTY FESTIVE Pam & Nicky’s starry quilt (page 36) shows how to combine a deep colour such as rich red with more delicate shades for a feminine result. Jane Rae GIFTS GALORE Whether it’s ideas for loved ones, or something for your own letter to Santa, read Jane’s irresistible gift lists, beginning on page 13.…

BOX SET Colour therapy Treat yourself this festive season to these gorgeous new box sets of thread and fabric from Jo Avery and Oakshott Fabrics. OAKSHOTT’S NEW COLOURBOXES! ColourBox Original contains the complete rainbow of 57 Colourshott shades, pre-cut into Fat Eighths and nestling in a sleek presentation box. £160 ColourBox Multi comprises the entire Lipari, Ruby Reds, Lakes and Scandinavia collections – 58 Fat Eighths. £160 www.oakshottfabrics.com SHERBET DIP Jo Avery’s new box set of threads is just as vivacious as her personality. We asked Jo how she managed to make her selection for this new Aurifil collection. “It was a very easy job for me as I love choosing colours! I had some favourite Aurifil shades that had to be included and I knew I wanted some variegated…

You will need • Assorted green prints (inc. linen texture) – Twelve (12) Fat Quarters • Assorted red prints (inc. linen texture) – Twelve (12) Fat Quarters • Assorted gold prints (inc. linen texture) – Two (2) Fat Quarters • Black linen texture – 3¾yds • Cream background (linen texture) – 1½yds • Binding fabric – ¾yd • Backing fabric – 4½yds • Batting – 80in square • Four (4) each of templates A1, A2, A3, B1 and B2 • One (1) each of templates C1, C2, D1, D2 and D3 • Sixteen (16) each of templates E and F • One (1) each of templates G and H • Fourteen (14) of template I • Freezer paper – 1 or 2 A4 sheets (trace or print J templates onto…

“I updated my Tree Skirt pattern for Today’s Quilter by giving it a completely different look. For the actual design I was aiming for a traditional Christmas look and, keeping the basic star shape, I decided that each diamond could represent a tree. Breaking it down further, the outer tree elements became stripes and I used different widths of stripes to add interest and to avoid seam matching. I enjoy foundation piecing and opted for this technique to complete the outer section. Calming things down in the central section I wanted to introduce the tree trunks, and the idea of the skinny folded inserts just came out of nowhere; they add a little texture to the skirt. Other than that, the basic tree skirt is close to my original, which…

“For me, the Christmas holiday is all about exuberance and indulgence. A time to dress up, use the best china and open the ‘special occasion’ fizz. I love the opulence of the decorations in shop windows and the richness of colours and scents that come with a feast-laden table and fire-warmed interior. “William Morris prints evoke this same sentiment in me and combine beautifully with other Liberty prints and a wine-hued Oakshott shot cotton for that luxe feel. The Strawberry Thief print is a long-time favourite of mine, and this was the starting point for choosing fabrics for this cushion. Once I added the feather print fabric, I couldn’t help but be reminded of The Twelve Days of Christmas song when fussy-cutting around the sweet ‘calling birds’ and elegant plumes.…

First, sort out your passion. Think about what it is that is important for you to express. Think of techniques appropriate for your subject/s. Make samples to get started – this is my way of getting going, but it may not be yours! Pin any samples, drawings and colours up on the wall, to view at any time of the day. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes during the creative process, these are the things that push your work forward into a more original zone. Join us next issue when we find out more about the work of textile artist Effie Galletly.…

TEMPLATE A ENLARGE 200% Includes seam allowances Join parts along red and green lines to complete Template A TEMPLATES B, C & D ENLARGE 200% Includes seam allowance Join parts along red lines to complete templates B and C Join parts along red and green lines to complete Template D TEMPLATES E, F, G, H & J ENLARGE 200% Includes seam allowances TEMPLATE I ENLARGE 200% Includes seam allowances FESTIVE TREE SKIRT CIRCLE & PAPER PIECE TEMPLATES FPP AND CUTTING TEMPLATES ENLARGE 200% Includes seam allowances IN FINE FEATHER CUSHION PAPER PIECE TEMPLATES ACTUAL SIZE Thank you for making this project from Today’s Quilter. The copyright for these templates belongs to the designer of the project. They work hard to create projects for you to enjoy, so please don’t…

SHOPPING ACCESSORIES Ragged Rose www.raggedrose.com  0162 281 2897 Hemline Spool Thread Stand www.sewingquarter.com  0800 112 4433 Trimits Quilter’s Mat groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk Fantastic Ribbons www.fantasticribbons.com Berisfords Ribbons Berisfords@stockistenquiries.co.uk ColourBox www.oakshottfabrics.com  0145 237 1571 Sherbit Dip thread box www.mybearpaw.co.uk  0131 228 6377 BOOKS Search Press www.searchpress.com  0189 251 0850 Sew and So www.sewandso.co.uk  0800 013 0150 The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications www.thegmcgroup.com  0127 347 7374 FABRIC COLLECTIONS Holly Berry, Modern Metallic, Traditional www.makoweruk.com  0162 850 9640 Quill storefront.unitednotions.com A Little Sweetness www.eqsuk.com  0116 271 0033 Small Things at Christmas, North Pole www.lewisandirene.com Tilda Cottage Collection groves@stockistenquiries.co.uk…

• Festive table linen set perfect for Christmas • Alison Glass unveils her stunning design • Pictorial fabrics shine in Lynne Goldsworthy’s quilt • The new Block of the Month series starts! Plus! 2 FREE gifts: Supplement celebrating The Quilters’ Guild’s latest fabric collection & a 2-in-1 binding tool Issue 29 on sale 9th November Contents subject to change…

THE QUILT POINSETTIA WREATHS Christmas quilts come in all shapes and sizes, from fun novelty patterns to more subtle holiday-hued designs. We love the elegant appliqué design of Poinsettia Wreaths by Teri Christopherson, which is filling us with yuletide spirit not to mention is a scrap quilter’s dream. The organic shapes and wide variety of prints and colours create movement that dances across the quilt. “The more shades of red, green and gold you use, the better it looks,” advises Teri. We might just make one for every season! THE SHOP AMARA Celebrate the festive season in rustic style with a huge range of decorative objects and home accessories from Amara. Scandinavian design is still a popular trend so this year we’re drawn to Christmas ornaments in natural materials to…

“Thoughts can become informal planning meetings or de-briefing sessions with me being the entire committee.” When I am hand-stitching, usually in the evening after all the day’s activities when I have run out of puff somewhat, I listen to radio programmes on iPlayer, catching up with stuff I have missed before. I have tried to do what most quilters manage beautifully, which is to stitch and watch television simultaneously, but fail to do either activity justice. How do they do it? I always miss the crucial moment in a drama or the identity of the murderer, or just a nuance of subtle acting while I’m turning a blanket-stitched corner or similar. And the sewing goes so much more slowly and with less natural rhythm when I keep stopping to look…

“A Layer Cake is perfect for making this quilt – it saves so much time and gives you the variety of fabrics needed. At first we were going to cut our Layer Cake squares into 3¼in squares so there would be less wastage of fabric – we just can’t help ourselves – but in the end we decided on 3in squares and had to accept the small amount of fabric not used! The dancing stars are formed from flip over corners made from different size squares – it is a really fun quilt to make as your stars become quite personal to you.” – Pam & Nicky Lintott…

“In the 19th century, when postage and paper were expensive, letter-writers would often write a page, then turn the paper sideways and write across the lines again to save starting a new sheet. Jane Austen wrote dozens of these ‘crossed letters’ to her sister Cassandra, using a quill pen and ink. “When I was searching for a name for this quilt, I kept thinking of Jane Austen sitting at a desk by an open window on a summer’s evening, listening to the blackbirds and writing long letters to her ‘dear Cassandra’. When the phrase ‘much crossed and recrossed’ popped into my mind, it seemed perfect to describe the latticed blocks of this quilt! Techniques You are going to use these techniques making this quilt. Making strip-pieced units Stitch strips together…

TEMPTATIONS Everything you need for Patchwork and Quilting. Hundreds of quality cotton fabrics, wadding, haberdashery, Brother Sewing Machines. temptationsbentham.co.uk 28 Queens Road Craig-y-Don Llandudno Conwy, North Wales LL30 1AZ thequiltingbeecyd@gmail.com 01492 878599 KATHY’S PATCH Fantastic range of fabrics, haberdashery and quilting notions. Unit 62, Folkestone Enterprise Centre, Shearway Rd, Folkestone, CT19 4RH kathyspatch.co.uk THE QUILT SANCTUARY Professional Long Arm Quilting Service, including a selection of fabrics and wadding. Gwynedd, Wales. 01341 250809 / 07402 919194 thequiltsanctuary.co.uk CREATIVE CRAFTS Creative Crafts is an independent arts & crafts shop bursting to the seams with everything you need for your hobby. 01962 856266 HOMETOWN Wow! Save 10% off autumn fabrics with this ad until 11/11/17. 62 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1JY. 01634 838880. hometownrochester.co.uk HORNCASTLE SEWING CENTRE A friendly welcome for fabric crafters.…