About Linda
Linda Seward is an experienced quilter, writer, lecturer, and quilt judge.
Linda’s been doing needlework ever since she learned to hold a needle. She was taught to embroider by her mother and to knit and crochet by her grandmothers. She began to sew her own clothes at the age of 10, but didn’t begin making quilts until she was in her 20s.
Linda attended Livingston College (Rutgers University) where she earned an Anthropology Degree, then switched to Douglas College where she received a Home Economics degree in clothing, textiles, and design. She studied fashion in New York City at Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers before working as a needlework and crafts editor in both America and England. She taught herself the basics of quilting while working as an editor for McCall’s Needlework & Crafts Magazine in New York City. After that, although she edited dozens of books on all types of needlework and crafts for Dover Publications in New York, Linda always felt that she would rather be quilting.
Linda has written twelve books about her favourite subject, quilting, including The Complete Book of Patchwork, Quilting and Appliqué , which has been used as a source book for the British City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting course and has sold over a quarter of a million copies in several languages. It has recently been updated and reprinted by Search Press. Linda’s latest book, entitled The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting, is published by Sixth&Spring, New York. She has also published books on puppies, babies, crochet, knitting, and general crafts (under her maiden name, Linda Macho).
Linda has appeared on television and radio shows, and has judged numerous quilt shows around the world. She had a regular column in The Quilter magazine for 20 years, and works now as a freelance writer and photographer as well as being a quilter, of course!
Linda found a new obsession in lockdown during her daily walks: nature photography. According to Linda, “I realised that I didn’t know much about the natural world and resolved to teach myself as much as I could through photography and research. This lockdown project turned into a new obsession as I continue to learn about all aspects of nature from plants, lichens insects, birds and animals to fungi and even slime moulds.”
Linda lives in London and Oxfordshire with her husband and two Border Terriers.
Signature Technique
Art Quilting
Top Tips
- One of the best ways to expose yourself to new techniques is to take a workshop with an expert.
- Add aloe vera gel to heighten the colour of inktense pencils.
- Use confetti fabric and glue granules to get a wonderful confetti applique effect.
- Add a little sparkle to your project with printer foil (make sure that you iron colour side up!).
- Use a silicone pressing sheet to keep your iron clear.
- Give the viewer a gentle surprise by adding soft sculpture faces in your quilt.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
4th July 2014
Happy 4th July to all our American cousins. If you [...]
Quilt Retreat weekend at Midhurst, W.Sussex
House is full! Teachers this weekend are Jennie Rayment, Valerie Nesbitt and Sarah Soward (from Pauline's Patchwork); we know we are going to have a great time - lots of sewing, good company and good food. Sorry you missed it?! - well why not join us next year; the dates are 12-15 June 2015 and for a booking form just click here.
National Patchwork Championships at Sandown 2014
Had a great time with lots of visitors and both Jennie and I enjoyed meeting so many of our viewers - thanks for taking the time to stop by. Also bumped into many of our contributors, but a couple of new people we will be following: first Shirley Bloomfield who is an embroiderer with a new bok out Beyond the Applique Garden, which we will be featuring on the site as well as a delightful tablerunner - so keep an eye on the shop: and Nancy Adamek, who is passionate about paper piecing (!); lovely work and a new supplier to the patchwork world: here is an idea from her stand (it's just 7" across) and if you want to know more, and/or order paper pieces just visit her website: www.linapatchwork.com (we love to support home grown industries)