I have finally named my English paper-pieced block-of-the-month quilt - the Curve Motion Medallion Quilt - I really wanted to use the word 'curve' as this is what it's all about really, and then I thought of 'motion' as in Sewmotion. And even though it's not really obvious, this quilt is constructed in a medallion style, and even better, it's quilt-as-you-go, so all the individual rings are appliquéd onto grey squares, then quilted, before they're sewn together into a finished quilt approx. 90" square.
So if you're coming to the end of a 2017 BOM and in need of a new challenge, or maybe you're a lover of hand-piecing and looking to enjoy a slow sewing project, why not join us on this curved EPP adventure?
Each month you will receive instructions, full size templates to cut out, the relevant Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics and a grey background square from Makower to make up to four blocks at a time.
The cost is £40.00 up front, which will secure your place and cover your first month, followed by eleven monthly payments of £28.00 to be taken by direct debit. This subscription programme will open on Thursday 7th December, there are limited spaces, so be sure to add this date to your diary!
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
When designing and making up my quilt and cushion kits I buy small amounts of fabric, which makes these creations limited editions. If you see a kit at a show or online, it's unlikely that it'll still be available in six months time. And I like this, it means not only do I have to move onto to a new design and new fabrics, but I also get to sew and quilt a new product, what's bad about that (apart from time!) However, it also means that if I run out of just one fabric in the range and I don't want to re-order, I am left with the remaining fabrics I can no longer use. So to make room for new fabrics, I thought I'd have a Bolt End Sale! Click here to see the collection, they are based on £15p/m with a huge discount of 25% off. Enjoy!
Meanwhile, I've been making great progress on my English paper-pieced block-of-the-month design, hoping to be released early next year. I've been having some great feedback from fellow quilters, and I can't wait to start sewing the blocks together using the quilt-as-you-go method.
This BOM will feature Alison Glass's Sun Prints fabrics with that gorgeous Linen-look grey from Makower for the background squares. Each month you will receive the fabric and paper templates you need for the EPP, together with the grey background square to appliqué the shape onto, and of course full instructions for each block, including the quilting. If you might be interested in this program, which at the moment looks at being around £30 per month, though this could change slightly, sign up to my Newsletter and keep up to date with progress and news on its future release.
This week I also had an exciting meeting with a like-minded sewist who has been dreaming of setting up some kind of sewing hub in the centre of Middlesbrough where we live. While she's more into dressmaking, and I quilting, we thought it would be great to join forces to offer workshops and classes, and to also provide a large workspace with sewing machines and tables for groups and individuals to use. This is obviously all in the planning stages, and we have lots of ideas, I would just appreciate some feedback from you... do you go to somewhere similar near you? What do you like about it? If you live in the Teesside area, would you come along? Any thoughts below would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
More exciting news - I was chuffed to be asked by Popular Patchwork to write their Patchwork Of My Life column in October's issue which is out now.
We're taking a much needed break next week, off to our favourite land of the Netherlands for some great food, walking, and maybe even cycling, so I'll see you in a couple of week's time. Meanwhile, don't forget to check out these great Linky Parties - Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
Are you a lover of hand sewing? Are you as addicted to English paper-piecing as I am? Everywhere you read these days, we're been told to take time out and do something mindful and relaxing, forget the busy mad world around us, just for a little while, and concentrate the mind on something meditative.
Well, my answer to this is to always have a hand-piecing project on the go, wherever I go - you may have seen me stitching away at a recent quilt show. And as you know, I like to share my addictions, which is why I'm releasing two new Cushion Kits, just in time for the summer hols!
This Hexy Cushion kit comes in subtle shades of grey, pink and green from P&B Textiles' Bear Essentials collection. As a huge fan of the humble hexagon, I love playing around with different layouts, and these rows are a firm favourite. Fast glue basting and a clever piecing technique makes this a quick project to come together. If you would rather use your own fabrics, I have also released this as a pattern, though you will still need the pre-cut 1" paper pieces, which you can get here. You can also download this pattern as a PDF in my Etsy shop.
My second new kit is one of my Diamond Cushions, made with Alison Glass' Sun Prints fabrics in gorgeous modern monochromes. This cushion design features a full star layout, and I have used a pink 12wt Aurifil thread to hand quilt each diamond. Both of these kits come with all the fabric you need to complete the cushion panel, including binding, plus a Sewline glue pen, paper templates, wadding and thread, and of course full colour instructions, perfect for that portable holiday project.
Elsewhere, today is my day on Instagram to share my block for Love Patchwork & Quilting's sew along featuring the booklet of 32 fabulous blocks free with the current issue. I chose to make this cross design using Michael Miller's Sweet Everlasting fabrics - wouldn't this make a gorgeous quilt, maybe with alternating fabrics?? If only I had the time... There are some beautiful blocks being made and shared on IG - why not join in with #lpq32blocksSAL
Talking of time... where does it go?? I'm making steady progress on my EPP Block of the Month design for next year... might be a tall order to get it done for Harrogate though. Still, I'm loving how these rounds are coming together. If you would like to hear more about this BOM, subscribe to my Newsletter to hear regular updates and how to sign up.
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
