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
Do I have to use cotton fabrics in my quilt?
We tend to use cotton fabrics in quilts as they are easier to use and wash and we have a huge range of wonderful fabrics now being commercially designed and produced just for us. But you can of course use any fabric you like; try to determine what the fabric is, as this will make it easier for you to understand how it will behave not only while you are sewing it, but also when the quilt/project is finished.
What to Watch in January 2013
Inspiration We start off with lots more inspiration from the Hope Quilters’ Exhibition with Sylvia Critcher acting as our guide. Workshops to enjoy The workshops this month include a really quick JR bag – that’s Jennie Rayment but it could be Jelly Roll; a really quick Stripey Quilts from Valerie and how to machine quilt it very simply; and Valerie shows you how to create a Tumbling Blocks quilt by hand - the display quilt is stunning.
Happy New Year
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Well mine is to sort out and then use more fabric! As well as completing more quilts - turning the tops from WIP's into real quilts. I was doing well at the end of the year as I had a good couple of days with not much going on - so I hope to continue !!!!