This month's free subscriber pattern

For July's free pattern for my Newsletter subscribers, I decided to go for a little foundation piecing... I know this technique is daunting to some, it took me a while to get my head around it, but with some nifty tools and tricks the technique I use with the simple Economy Block is a good introduction, and great to use with fat quarters. 

This lap quilt finishes at approx. 42" x 48" and features these gorgeous Confetti fabrics from Dashwood Studios - there's even a fussy-cut block in the centres! Unfortunately due to really crap dull 'summer' weather I haven't been able to take any decent shots of the whole quilt... hopefully tomorrow!

If you would like this free pattern, just subscribe to the Newsletter - you'll get a pattern based on my love of pre-cuts every month, plus access to previous patterns, and it's all absolutely free! Click here to sign-up.

I've finally had some more grey fabric back in stock, so the backing pack for my All Squared Up quilt in Alison Glass's Sun Prints is back on the website - I luuurrve a pieced backing!

Now back to my summer passion project.. an EPP BOM to start next year... more coming soon... :)

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

A new baby quilt kit & a Doughty's Roadshow

We had a lovely time at the National Quilt Championships at Sandown Park last weekend, the weather was lovely, the visitors were very friendly, and I got to meet and talk to many other vendors which was great, it's always nice to hear the industry gossip! One of the main buzzes was Hochanda, a crafty TV shopping channel, well, these channels are so much more than shopping these days aren't they! A know a lot of viewers watch to learn new techniques and get inspired as well as shop for the next kit or project. I've been thinking about going on myself... me, in front of the camera... I just don't know! As you can see from the film below, my husband is the film star, not me :)

I also launched a new quilt kit at this show, the Novelty Nine Patch Baby Quilt Kit. This adorable quilt is made in Michael Miller's Let's Play fabrics, and would be suitable for a boy or a girl, perfect for those who don't know yet! Each kit comes with all the fabric you need to complete the top, including binding, plus thread and full colour instructions, and is priced at £30.00. 

And of course, me being me, it has a pieced backing. I have also listed this as a separate product on the website for those who may want it at a later stage.

For all you fabrics lovers in the North-East of England, don't forget quilting specialists (and my old employers) Doughty's, are holding one of their fabulous roadshows at my local quilt group in Middlesbrough this weekend!

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

A very happy customer

As you may have gathered by now, I'm a huge advocate of helping and encouraging new quilters to learn more about this wonderful craft, and also to get as addicted as I am! When I send out my Newsletters, I often get emails from subscribers telling me how much they love that month's free pattern, or asking questions about new kits, or even just asking for help, the latter of which I love to answer.

One such lovely subscriber is Ruth, though she claims she's a beginner, I think she's quickly got to the 'intermediate' stage by the look of her quilts lately, Ruth asked if I could put together a Snowballs Around the World kit in different fabrics, luckily I had a few of the Riley Blake Backyard Roses left that she was after. We talked about which fabrics to go for, then the borders and binding, and I sent off the kit... in no time at all, Ruth sent me this pic of her beautiful pieced quilt - isn't it lovely!

After that, Ruth has enjoyed working through the free patterns I have on the website, building her skills, which now include wavy quilting! And just look at the back of her All Squared Up quilt, this really made me smile.

Ruth explained in one of her emails that she doesn't have any clubs nearby to even learn the basics, and finds the Sewmotion tutorials so easy to follow, she's tried things she's never done before and is feeling pretty proud of herself, as she should! I love hearing feedback like this, quilting really does bring such joy and creativity into our lives, we are the lucky ones! Thank you Ruth for sharing your new-found love of this fantastic craft.

While I love teaching through online tutorials and email support, even I have to get out into the real world sometimes, and was over the moon when Hilary from High Street Quilting in Birtley asked me to run a workshop on my Flying Geese cushion. If you live around the Chester-le-Street area, why not treat yourself to a class?

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts and Midweek Makers