Faded flag cushion with Anne Baxter

This week, Anne turns the union flag into a cushion. She works lovely faded fabrics using foundation piecing and then sashes them together with a floral fabric. The fun part is choosing the fabrics you are going to use and Anne shows there is leeway here, especially on the back of the cushion. Colour options are limitless – you could follow Anne’s faded look, or go for a more traditional red/white/ blue or choose something thoroughly modern.  Anne also shows you different ways to finish and edge the cushion. Watch Now+

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH:  Oxford Style Faded Flag Cushion kit by Anne Baxter from Creative Quilting

If you would like to make Anne’s cushion, then our Product of the Month is perfect for you.  It comes  in red, white and blue. – a very British cushion made using foundation piecing technique. The cushion size is approx 18″ square and looks gorgeous in these Liberty florals. This kit includes the fabrics needed to make the cushion and the pattern including templates for the flag detail and heart. You will also need foundation paper (or alternative), threads and a cushion pad.  As our Product of the Month it comes with free shipping in the UK for the month of May.  Buy Now+ 

Flower Crochet Hexagons with Jane Czaja

The flower crochet hexagon is Jane’s favourite.  Here she shares with you how to make the units using a 5 chain starter ring.   Into this you need to make clusters of part trebles. Jane suggest you might like to think about changing the colour, to make the flower more interesting and Jane takes you through the process of turning the flower circle into the six sided hexagon which she cleverly finishes with 9 stitches so that you can mix and match with the plain hexagon shape.  Watch Now+ 

Block printing tea towels with Tess Grace from The Arty Crafty Place

As well as taking you through all the steps to create this lovely tea towel, Tess reminds you that you do need to practice as it helps to get your spacing correct with all the blocks you want to use as well as helping you get a good image from each of them.  Don’t forget that you can also layer the picture, which means adding some of the small print/blocks on top and Tess has a great tip that helps you get your printing right up to the edge of the towel. Once the tea towel has been printed, the ink is set by using a warm iron.  Watch Now+

Glimpses of Britain by Gail Lawther

The history of the British Isles is a fascinating potpourri of different cultures languages and influences. This exhibition in Harrogate is based on Gail’s beautiful book, Glimpses of Britain, and brings this history to life in a fascinating series of quilts. Valerie walks you through Gail’s quilts – you’ll see there are some lovely ideas which encapsulate the 4 sections of Great Britain, as well as a lovely quilt at the end which fits in all the inspiration that Gail hadn’t had room for on the rest of her quilts .Watch Now+

BOOK OF THE MONTH: Glimpses of Britain by Gail Lawther

Gail’s book is our Book of the Month for May. It is a collection of 24 stunning quilts, each one inspired by different aspects of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Gail has captured the appeal of these complex islands in a series of quilts. From Stonehenge to space exploration; Boadicea to the Beatles; tea-drinking to the Tube Map; the Giant’s Causeway to the Jurassic Coast; the 24 quilts in this book celebrate different aspects of life in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Each quilt has a project inspired by the same theme, complete with step-by-step instructions, templates and clear diagrams. The book is also peppered with scrumptious photographs. As our Book of the Month for May it comes with FREE P&P in the UK  Buy Now+ 

Woven Jelly Roll Scrap quilt with Carolyn Forster

Carolyn designed this to be used with a jelly roll, but you could cut your own 2.5 inch strips from stash to create this stunning quilt. Even the background can be scrappy, as long as the fabrics have the same tonal value. Carolyn has several versions of this quilt to show you in this workshop and each of them as lovely as the last.  Carolyn does use the sewing machine in her demonstration. However, you could just as easily sew this block by hand, even with the partial seam technique. . Watch Now+

Courthouse Steps Patchwork with Valerie Nesbitt

This little quilt can be made quickly by using precut 2 ½” strips.  Valerie shares with you a quick tip about how to layer cut and then quickly reshuffle. This will save you time so that you can get onto the fun bit of sewing!. Valerie also talks about options on quilting for example using buttons and/or tying. Then you could also quick turn the project, which also avoids having to do any binding!  Watch Now+

What’s coming up in May

This month we are helping you find inspiration for your next project. Our trailer will give you a taste of what is to come this month. Featured tutors this month include: Anne Baxter, Gail Lawther, Gail Penberthy, Jane Czaja, Julia Gahagan, Kathleen Laurel Sage, Valerie Nesbitt

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Don’t forget, we have new videos on justhands-on.tv every Friday and you can become a paid subscriber with full access from only £5 a month. Learn More +

Giveaway for Paid Subscribers 

This month’s giveaway is a lovely Panel from the Born to Sew collection by Jacqueline Paton for Michael Miller. The panel comprises 18 patches / squares featuring sewing paraphernalia and motifs which can be fussy cut to approximately 6.5″ square with seam allowances. It would be perfect to use for tote bags, cushions and even in Jennie Rayment’s fused boxes workshop, that you can watch here. The fabric is 100% cotton patchwork and quilting fabric. To enter the competition just send an email entitled BORN TO SEW to justhandsontvcomp@gmail.com  The competition closes 31st May 2021.

If you would like to buy fabrics from the Born to Sew range, they are available on the Creative Quilting website.

Block printing tea towels with Tess Grace from The Arty Crafty Place

Tess Grace takes you through all the stages of this lovely block printing project. Watch
Now+

Woven Jelly Roll Scrap quilt with Carolyn Forster

Carolyn designed this to be used with a jelly roll, but you could cut your own 2.5 inch strips from stash to create this stunning quilt. Watch Now+

Flower Crochet Hexagons : Hexagon Crochet series Part 2 with Jane Czaja

Jane Czaja has designed these flower hexagon shapes to fit with her standard hexagon so you can mix and match. Watch Now+

Courthouse Steps Patchwork with Valerie Nesbitt

A fast and simple quilt that can be made from scraps or your precuts such as strip rolls/jelly rolls. Watch
Now+

Cherry Blossom confetti Applique workshop with Kate Findlay

Kate Findlay shares with us her confetti cherry blossom design, which she has turned into a kit so you can make one as well. Watch Now+

Diamond English Paper Piecing with Nancy Adamek

Nancy Adamek  explains (and shows you) how versatile the diamond shape can be – and indeed the different styles of diamonds that can be used in English Paper Piecing. Watch Now+

Liberty Needlecase with Sallieann Harrison

This delightful little project designed by Sallieann Harrison uses a simple folded technique to produce texture, and you can use vinyl too for extra effect. Watch Now+

How to marble a large piece of fabric with Craig Joubert

Craig shows Valerie how to create how own piece of fabric, large enough to turn into a cushion. Watch Now+

Spring Hare Cushion with Anne Baxter

Anne Baxter shares with us this delightful cushion which will look lovely in any home. Watch Now+

Meet Tess Grace from The Arty Crafty Place

Enjoy hearing from Tess Grace as she chats to Valerie Nesbitt about her love of block printing and just how varied it can be. Watch Now+