Make Modern Issue 45

FROM THE EDITOR On the surface, quilting seems to be a pretty basic hobby. You cut up fabric, sew it back together, make pretty bed coverings for family and friends… simple enough. Non-quilters will tell you ‘you’re so clever’, ‘how do you find the time?’, ‘wouldn’t it be easier to just buy a quilt from the store’, and ‘do you really need all that fabric?’. And we all know the answers to these questions. And we also know they don’t really get it. Non-quilters don’t look at quilts the same way we do. It’s not their fault, because they’re not quilters. They see fabric and thread, but they can’t see what’s sewn between the seams – not literally, but figuratively. This is something only other quilters understand. There’s fabric, thread…

Sincerely BROOKE SHANKLAND MM 45 HST LOVE Brooke drew inspiration for this quilt from a talk given by English philosopher Alan Watts, in which he discussed the difference between taking life ‘seriously’ and living ‘sincerely’. Seriousness causes us to suffer and harm others, yet we can live sincerely without forgetting the importance of levity and play. The HST units in the design, with one side solid, the other more playful, symbolises this dichotomy. materials 2 yds of dark grey background fabric (1) ¾ yds of cream fabric (2) ½ yd of sage green fabric (3) ¾ yd of brown fabric (4) ¾ yd of pink fabric (5) ½ yd of binding fabric 4 yds of backing fabric Block Size: 11 ⅝” x 11 ⅝” Quilt Size: 58 ½” x 58…

TIPS + TECHNIQUES Curves of Steel by ALYCE BLYTH Curves – the arch nemesis of many a quilter. After all, if we wanted to sew curves, then wouldn't we be sewing clothes instead? Quilts are flat objects and don't have to fit anyone's body… why would we add in curved piecing?! If that's you right now, I hear you loud and clear. This is exactly how I felt for years of my quilting life, and I had zero interest in trying to figure it out. Until I saw someone do it in person and I realised it wasn't actually so daunting, it just required a little more manipulation of the fabric as you sewed than regular piecing. A great place to start sewing curves is with a simple curves block…

HAPPY CAMPER SHERRY FREYERMUTH + KAREN SAUNDERS QUILTING FOR KIDS This fabulous quilt used a clever combination of the basic half square triangle and applique to create a whimsical wallhanging that would be perfect in a child’s room – though it’d probably appeal to many grown ups too! materials ¾ yd total of various blue fabric (fabric 1) ⅝ yd total of various yellow fabric (fabric 2) ½ yd total of various orange fabric (fabric 3) ⅝ yd total of various green fabric (fabric 4) 1 fat quarter white fabric for applique Scraps of brown fabric for applique 1 ¼ yd backing fabric 40” x 50” piece of batting ⅝ yd binding fabric Fusible webbing such as heat and bond Block Size: 3” Quilt Size: 33” x 42” fabric note:…

DIY DESIGN Starting With a Brief by TARA GLASTONBURY Working as a designer, it’s typical to start with a brief – getting information from a client and turning it into a finished work – whether for a logo, piece of furniture or room interior. Quilt design is no different. Even if you’re just starting out on your quilt design journey, I’ll bet you’ve already worked to a brief. When making a quilt for someone else we think about what they’d like – their style and preferred colours – that’s the start of a brief. It’s also possible to create a brief for your own design work. Sometimes giving yourself boundaries like this can make the design process easier. You could try writing a brief as if it came from the…

Pine Sky BESS CASEY WILKE MM 45 SIMPLE BUT STUNNING This quilt is so simple, just two solid colours and a bunch of straight lines, but it’s mesmerising in its minimalism. Our favourite feature is the central star that appears as a secondary design among the ring of pine trees. materials 4 yds light blue solid fabric (1) 2 yds deep green solid fabric (2) ¾ yds binding fabric 5 yds backing fabric 80” x 80” piece of batting Block Size: 23” Quilt Size: 67” x 67” preparation and cutting Note: label the different pieces of fabric as you cut them, to help you when you are piecing the blocks. Fabric 1 (blue) uses capital letters and Fabric 2 (green) uses lower case letters. Some of the cuts for Fabric…