Slice Up a Circle at Hogs Back Hotel & Spa
A beautiful work made by Ann, a retreat attendee at our Slice Up a Circle with Angela Madden weekend at Hogs's Back Hotel & Spa
Bags of fun in a bubble
Viv contacted us recently to say what a lovely quick simple bag of Jennie Rayment's video was and so easy to create a ‘boxed’ bottom.
A different take on Valerie’s 40 minute quilt
Frances contacted us recently with her version of Valerie's 40 minute quilt. It took her longer to make as she used a whole jelly roll. But she didn't like the shape so altered it by cutting it about. What a great idea Frances!
40 minute quilt – a variation
Jane contacted us recently after we announced that Valerie had reached 3 million views of the 40 minute quilt. She shared with us her version of the quilt that her son had fallen fell in love with (we can see why) and it now lives with him in Australia. She did say that it took her rather longer than 40 minutes to cut and sew all of the strips together but the finished size, when cut down to the size she wanted, allowed her to use the extra strips for the backing. Isn't it lovely
What shall I do to quilt it? A member’s dilemma
Heather contacted us recently. She's been busy working on projects during lockdown. She had completed the machine applique on a Daisy Best quilt for a baby due in May, but her problem was how to quilt it. See what Valerie suggested
See what our retreaters have been up to
A weekend away with Paula Doyle and Jennie Rayment can keep a group of quilters very busy and enjoying themselves - See what they got up to last weekend and if you're tempted come and join us at a retreat in 2019 Next year Jennie's teaching Octagons in March 2019 -click here for details and she's back in November 2019 with Paula - Jennie will be teaching the Lone Star Medallion Quilt and Paula will be Stashbusting - click here for details Be quick though - places go quickly Paula's Easy Stack Quilts - here are some before and after's Fanadoo!
Woodland from Makower
This range of 16 fabrics shows charming woodland creatures tiptoeing silently through the forest and meadows. There are rabbits, deer and hedgehogs, plus co-ordinates with leave,s seed heads and floral prints. Valerie took the fabrics and to create this charming quilt using a pattern from Makower, designed by Lynne Goldsworthy a while ago. There is another free download pattern from Makower also designed by Lynne Goldsworthy to go with this range - here is the link to the free page which shows lots of patterns.
Dragonheart range of fabrics from Makower
This range of fabrics has heroic knights and firebreathing dragons in fun bright designs and colours. Valerie made a very simple little quilt using the Bright Hope style block (which is easy to cut but has a partial seam technique to create the twist) . Makower have a free downloadable pattern which takes the fabrics to create an easy sew-tidy whose central motive is a very majestic castle (made with fused applique).
Jelly Jazz at Old Windsor
A look at the work that got done at our weekend retreat at The Beaumont Hotel, Old Windsor. Thank you Jackie for sharing this is a really fantastic pattern and you could purchase your own copy through the shop.
Kimono by Makower
This is a vibrant range of Japanese inspired fabrics printed with metallic gold detailing on a cream and dramatic black background. Valerie has used the range of 10" squares as they are - no additional cutting required - and then created this interesting (but simple) sashing from strips of black and gold with gold squares acting as cornerstones.
If you like the sashing, then Valerie used in in her Modern Pieced Hearts quilt, so you can find the workshop notes there.
Little Sweethearts from Makower
This delightful range of fabrics comes in pink (and blue) and is printed in soft tones of reds, pinks and creams with pretty floral designs, perfect for quilts and handmade projects for the home. Another super collection from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts - and the accompanying pattern called Dear One - is available as a free download from the Makower project page.
The Good Life from Makower
This delightful range of fabrics has been inspired by the garden and vegetable patch, which seem fit to burst with prize specimens, while chickens roam freely on the luscioius grass. Fruit trees are laden and golden sunflowers flourish in the breeze..... Valerie has combined simple large rectangles of the prints (some of which need to be the right way up!) with simple green and white check (also from Makower) plus a border from her stash.
Scandi by Makower
This lovely Christmas range, designed by Makower, lends itself beautifully to be made up into Christmas Table Mats, and Valerie has taken a pack of preprinted Quilt-as-you-go placements designed by June Tailor to make an early start. (click through to the shop to buy some for yourself!) These fabrics should be in your quilt shops now and there is also a delightful quilt designed by Lynne Goldsworthy, which is a free download from the Makower website - if you feel like making something bigger and more exotic.
Beachomber fabric range from Makower
Valerie received another promo pack of 10inch squares from Makower covering this lovely range and decided to use them to create this lovely quilt, inspired by a pattern from Stephanie Prescott called Plus and Minus; Valerie had to change the size of the pieces so that they could be cut from the layer cake, and because she had bits over, designed a pieced border to use them up - but is very pleased with the end result.
Rex – a range of Dinosaurs from Makower
Valerie has used these 10inch promotional squares of this fun fabric from Makower, to make this Cut 9 quilt. These delightful dinosaurs come printed in a contemporary colour palette, great for younger family members and the placement print is perfect for fussy cutting, applique or borders. The multi-stripe works well both in the body of the quilt, or indeed as a binding or trimming.
Counting Sheep and Merryn – two new cot quilts from Valerie
I was a lucky girl to receive promo 10 inch squares of these two fabric ranges from Makower Fabrics; while the size of the squares were the same the number of them varied betyween the two designs, but I was still able to produce two delightful little quilts (for my Momentum charity) with a quick and easy slash quilt idea.