Sewing Quarter Medallion Fun

A couple of week's ago I was sent the brief for my next appearance on the Sewing Quarter - the UK's first TV Channel dedicated to sewing and quilting. As well as being available on Freeview (73) and Sky (687) you can also watch the shows live on their website and then, the best bit, they then upload most of the shows up onto their YouTube channel to be watched as many times as you like, which I think is very handy if you buy a kit or pattern and need a reminder on how to make it.

Anyway, back to the brief - this time I was asked to make Lynne Goldsworthy's Rainbow Medallion quilt that had been featured in a recent Today's Quilter. I have to say, I have never made so many half-square triangles in such a short time in my life! Thankfully it was using the paper template method, my fave and by far the quickest - you can see my tutorial on this method along with free templates here. The one thing that worries me about Medallion quilts is that you really need to be careful that each round you add to the quilt is squared up nicely and that you're not going askew. I needn't have worried though, this Medallion is mostly made up of 2" HSTs and squares, so matching the seams was a joy and kept me nicely squared up.

My second project was this cute Beside the Seaside cushion, a little out of my comfort zone as I don't do a lot of embroidery, though I wish I had more time to! I think this is the best bit about working for Sewing Quarter, not only do I get to work on other people's patterns, but I also get the chance to try different techniques and styles that I wouldn't normally have time to in my work for Sewmotion.

If you would like to catch up on these shows, or rewatch them, you can see them here on Sewing Quarter's YouTube channel, the Medallion quilt is in the second hour, with the cushion in the fourth.

Wishing you all a sunny and creative week, linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Sewmotion on the Road

Last weekend I was invited back to hold a Sewmotion popup at the Cleveland Lace Guild in nearby Eaglescliffe. This lovely group of ladies make the most stunning lace work, and also dabble in patchwork, well some of them more than dabble! After a couple hours of selling and chatting about quilting, all went quiet for a talk given by the wardrobe dressers of the Little Middlesbrough theatre. These two ladies were a great double act and showed off their collection of aged ballgowns that have been donated over the years which they now use for theatre productions.

I'm on the road again next week for this great little event run by quilting and textiles expert Beryl Frank of Knot Studio. As well as having the chance to get your machine PAT tested, Beryl will be on hand to help with any projects or UFOs, while I will have a collection of fabric pre-cuts, kits and patterns for sale.

I'm happy to finally have the Sewline glue refills back in stock, as well as the Heather & Rose fabric bundle for my Mystery Quilt block of the month, available to my Newsletter subscribers. To find out more about these free patterns, see my previous post.

Wishing you all a happy and creative week, linking up with Lets Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Stitch Gathering Sponsor & the latest CMM BOM

One of my best memories from last month's Festival of Quilts was finally meeting Jo Avery in the flesh - we've been trying and missing each other since Quilt Con in 2015! Jo is a wonderful modern quilter, designer, owner of My Bear Paw in Edinburgh and a prolific contributor to many quilting mags. Jo also organises and runs the modern quilting retreat, Stitch Gathering. Now in it's 6th year, this fantastic weekend is dedicated to all things modern and includes workshops on improv block building, lino printing your own fabrics and even some gorgeous embroidery that I know is close to Jo's heart. Tutors include Jo herself alongside well known names such as Karen Lewis and Mandy Munroe.

While talking to Jo at Festival she asked if I would like to be a sponsor for this great event, and I jumped at the chance. So those of you who are lucky enough to be going to this amazing retreat weekend, look out for a little Sewmotion EPP goodness :)

Talking of EPP goodness, the latest instalments of my Curve Motion Medallion block-of-the-month come out this week. I have customers at all different stages of this program having joined at different times, but above is a pic of Block 9, the Pink and Purple Flower. You can join in this 16-month EPP adventure at any time, and what's more I can now supply the pre-cut papers you need for each month, so no more cutting out! Click here to find out more.

A customer sent me her version of my EPP Hoop Art this week, I love those puffins so much, and the fussy-cutting is just perfect! Thanks very much for sharing Wendy. You can now purchase this pattern in paper form which comes with the pre-cut papers, or as a PDF for instant download.

Wishing you all an inspired week of creativity.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

It's Pre-Cut Party time!

January always seems like such a long month, and this year was no exception. After a wobbly start with the dreaded lurgy, I still seem to have accomplished quite a lot - my Curve Motion Medallion BOM is in full swing - don't forget, this block-of-the-month EPP quilt is available to join at anytime, so why not sign-up for 16 months of slow, meditative hand-sewing.

Month One of the CMM BOM features these two centre rings

I've also been lucky enough to have two projects featured in Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine, which always makes me smile. 

Rainbow Waves - Love Patchwork & Quilting, Issue 57

I've finally uploaded my previous Pre-Cut Party patterns onto Payhip which are now available for sale here, and I've another hundred or so designs running around my head for the year ahead! Many of these new designs are based on the curve EPP technique that I'm now totally in love with, and which features in this month's free Pre-Cut Party pattern - for those new to Sewmotion, I design a free pattern based on my love of quilting pre-cuts for my Newsletter subscribers every month. 

Subscribe to the Sewmotion Newsletter for this free EPP Flower Hoop Art pattern

This pretty EPP Flower Hoop Art project lends itself so well to fussy-cutting - a technique where you cut identical motifs from your fabric which then create a secondary design when the shapes are sewn together. To accompany this month's free pattern, I have written a tutorial here on how to use template plastic for fussy-cutting your fabric. So if you would like this free pattern and more throughout the year, sign up to the Newsletter here.

January is also a long month as it's my birthday on 2nd February, and yet again, I'm being whisked away by my wonderful Justin to who knows where - I will let you know next week :)

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers & Needle & Thread Thursday

The Curve Motion Medallion BOM technique in action

The first month's instalment of my Curve Motion Medallion block-of-the-month quilt went out this week, with fabrics, temps and instructions to make the two centre rings. This is a great English paper-pieced project for those looking for some slow meditative sewing, and you can start anytime!

Over the next 16 months from when you sign up, you will receive all of the Alison Glass and grey background fabrics you need to complete the top, including binding, plus full sized templates to cut out and easy-to-follow-instructions. 

This gorgeous quilt finishes at 82" square and features a curved EPP technique using glue basting, the same technique I used in my Sun Spell mini quilt featured on yesterday's Sewing Quarter TV channel. 

If you missed it, you can now catch it on YouTube - it's on in the second hour, so you may want to move the time bar across to an hour into the show. The lovely Victoria Peat's excellent demonstration shows how easy this technique is thanks to the amazing glue pen and a 'flat back stitch'. 

If I've caught your imagination, and you would like to join us on my Curve Motion Medallion adventure, you can click here for more details on costs etc. Alternatively, if you'd like to try a smaller project using this great technique, why not try one of my Pincushion kits or the pretty Overlapping Rainbow Cushion kit?

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

A (late) Happy New Year

Well, so far 2018 hasn't been very healthy! Having managed to get through a wonderful family Christmas at my mum's, then a lovely laughter-filled New Year with dear friends in Germany without so much as a sniffle, we've both come home to the so-called 'hot bed' of Aussie flu! Great! Admittedly Justin seems to have had the worse of it, at least I've managed to get out of bed and do the odd bit of work. 

All of which explains why my Happy New Year wishes are rather late, as is my first free Pre-cut Party pattern for my Newsletter Subscribers. While browsing through my 500 Quilt Blocks book (Goldsworthy & Green) I came across this cute HST Shoo Fly block and thought it would make a lovely little project. Having promised myself one for ages, I decided to make a much-needed needle case - you would not believe how many needles I found buried in my pin cushion... or maybe you would! 

If you are new to Sewmotion, I send out a free pattern based on quilting pre-cuts every month to my Newsletter subscribers. You will also hear news of my latest products and events, plus subscriber-only offers. You can sign up here.

This lurgy has also meant we haven't been able to get outside to take some decent photos of my Curve Motion Medallion quilt - this one was taken in our half-finished dining room - hopefully by the weekend we can get out of the house! This block-of-the-month quilt is over 16 months and is one for lovers of hand-sewing, with English paper-pieced blocks, hand appliqué and even hand quilting is desired. You can learn more about this BOM here, you can start whenever you wish - the first shipments go out on Monday - but you must commit to the whole 16 months.

I also used this curved EPP technique in my Sun Spell mini quilt featured in this month's Love Patchwork & Quilting, so if you would like a taster before embarking on my BOM, why not give this a try - even better, Sun Spell is actually being demonstrated on the UK's Sewing Quarter Freeview channel (78) on Wednesday 17th January, so tune in to see this wonderful technique in action!

I wish you all a creative and colour-filled 2018!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Curve Motion Medallion BOM Launch date!

I'm really loving how this gorgeous quilt is coming together, I just have the two side panels of blocks to attach now, I'm hoping the weather's going to be bright enough over the weekend to take some decent pics!!

The official launch date for this Block of the Month programme is Monday 11th December, it's a 16-month project, a little longer than originally planned, I thought I'd take the pressure off a bit, this is supposed to be a slow, enjoyable hand sewing project after all!

Each month subscribers will receive the relevant Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics to make up each ring, and then the grey background square to appliqué it on to. Also included will be step-by-step instructions with colour photos, and full-size paper templates to cut out.

Each block is then quilted using the quilt-as-you-go method, which means you can really go to town - hand quilt large stitches as I did, or maybe go for some free-motion machine quilting, the choice is yours!

After an initial payment of £40 to secure a space (also covers the 16th payment) subscribers will then pay 15 instalments of between £27 - £30 depending on where you live as this includes postage.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Introducing the Curve Motion Medallion Quilt - a 2018 block-of-the-month

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.