About Sarah
After leaving school, Sarah worked as a baker for several years and then took up the offer of joining the family business (Pauline’s Patchwork), selling fabric and gadgets to quilters. She was soon hooked on quilting and gradually started teaching, which she absolutely loves.
She is now an accomplished quilter and regularly teaches classes and workshops at Pauline’s Patchwork in Dorchester, Festival of Quilts and venues across the south of England. She also gives talks to quilt groups, showing off her extensive collection of quilts.
Sarah’s work has been displayed at national quilt shows, where she has been asked to judge competitions. Her work has also appeared in quilting magazines and in a book called Jelly Roll Inspirations.
Signature Technique
Bargello and Jelly Roll Quilts
Sarah’s Top Tips
- Life’s too short … use pre-cuts like jelly rolls and layer cakes and charm packs.
- The hardest part of making a jelly roll quilt is opening the jelly roll.
- Never struggle with an old blade in your cutter, you will get a crisper cut with a sharp blade.
- A 1/4” foot on your sewing machine makes machine piecing a dream.
- When piecing a quilt, use a pale grey thread. Grey thread is much more forgiving if seams pull.
Books and Patterns
Posts
Applique Techniques Weekend in Hampshire, 25 and 26 October 2025
Date: 25- 26 October 2025
Location: New Place Hotel, Hampshire
Price: £440 Early Bird Special before 25 April 2025 / £470 after
Spend two days with Sarah Soward and Terry Summerfield of Pauline’s Patchwork learning different applique techniques
Sashiko Quilt Block and Rice Bag Weekend in Hampshire, 26 and 27 April 2025
Date: 26- 27 April 2025
Location: New Place Hotel, Hampshire
Price: £440 Early Bird Special before 26 October 2024 / £470 after
Spend two days with Sarah Soward and Terry Summerfield of Pauline’s Patchwork mixing patchwork with some hand stitched sashiko.
Announcing justhands-on.tv Sewing Retreats for 2024
justhands-on.tv weekend sewing retreats for 2024