About Claire
Claire is a modern quilt designer and teacher, based in Stratford Upon Avon in the UK.
Claire has always had a love for sewing which was reignited when her children were born and needed a creative outlet for herself. It wasn’t long before quilts were the only thing she wanted to sew.
In 2020, during the pandemic, when Claire was stuck between never ending on-line lessons with her kids home-schooling, she designed her first quilt pattern, the Retro Metro Quilt. It was a way she could still channel her creativity when life wouldn’t allow much time behind the sewing machine. Since then, Claire has immersed herself into the quilt designing world and has had her work featured in Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine and justhands-on.tv videos.
Claire’s designs are Inspired by modern geometric designs and repeated patterns – – wherever she finds them – – including toilet tiles and the front covers of books. Claire is the designer behind Made Just Sew. Click her to see her bright, colourful designs.
Though not formally educated in art or teaching, Claire has excelled as a quilting teacher – – winning the Big Janome Skill Share in 2021. What makes her unique is her passion for quilting and a passion for sharing what she has learned.
Click here to watch Claire share her Walking Foot Quilting techniques in an episode of The Makers Studio.
Keep up to date and follow Claire’s quilt journey over on Instagram @madejustsew
Signature Technique
Quilting with a Walking Foot
Top Tips
- Pick your backing fabric first, then match your front colours to your backing. This works really well for those of us who love colourful printed fabrics for our backing.
- If you’ve struggled with quilting, use the walking foot. It makes quilting so much easier.
- Don’t be afraid to quilt straight lines across your patchwork. It gives your project enhanced depth and texture.
- Marking quilting lines with a hera marker provides a useful guide for your straight line quilting.
- Don’t worry about mistakes. We all do it! Remember, you can always unpick stitches and come at it fresh tomorrow.
- Use quilting gloves to help you guide your quilt under the walking foot. The sticky tips of the glove give you a little extra grip.
- If you want your quilting to stand out, choose good quality colour thread to contrast the top. Colour thread can look dominating when on the spool, less so when on your quilt.
Videos
Posts
Pleating Tulle with Benjamin Shine
British artist Benjamin Shine takes that tulle and proceeds to pleat, iron, and manipulate it into hauntingly realistic portraits that looks like photographs. For more pics and info go to: https://www.benjaminshine.com/
More Turning 20 Again
Just a quick follow-up to the wonderful weekend at Dunford House.
I had my finished quilt top long arm quilted and then I did the binding myself. I have given it to my son and daughter-in-law who are delighted with it and have attached a photo of the finished quilt for you.
I never thought I would have got as far as I did over one weekend and have to say I was so pleased with the result
Many thanks for all you help and advice especially with rotary cutting that I am now confidently using more and more(this is going to drive my husband mad).
Some comments on the Water Water Exhibition videos
We often cycle along the Thames to Henley..shame I missed it!
But thinking on,it wouldn't have been the same without Kate's input,very interesting..can't wait for part 2!
And yes I remember The Oneidin Line too!!!!!!!
Lyn Thank you for this. I enjoyed seeing my quilt on the film – and thought you did a brilliant job of talking through all the quilts
Best wishes Rachel
Thank you so much for arranging for us to see the film of the exhibition. It was a lovely reminder of a very special and successful occasion. And you were a brilliant presenter; you knew each piece so well..... Gill
Hi Kate
Thanks so much for this ........