Today's Quilter

Our quilting whiz, Technical Editor Paula, has done it again! After her fabulous House Block rulers in issue 100, she has come up with another nifty tool you didn’t know you needed but will transform the way you mark projects for quilting and embroidery. Inspired by gorgeous Sashiko designs, this handy template makes it easy to get stunning interlocking circles to quilt on your precious makes. With how-to illustrations for using the template on pages 6 & 7, you’ll be off in no time. And why not use it on one of the beautiful projects in the issue. From Lynne Edwards MBE’s folded-edge floral wreath to Lynne Goldsworthy’s pretty Snowball and Nine-patch design that creates a secondary pattern of a lace effect, the choice is yours. Want to use up…

THE PATTERN WELL FRAMED Now available as a digital download from the TQ and LPQ Pattern Shop on Etsy, this stunning design by Sally Ablett first featured in issue 29 of the magazine. Sally used a collection from The Quilters’ Guild, but we think it would look just as fabulous in a mix of colourful scraps from your stash. With a lovely combination of blocks and frames, this design really is a great way to bust your stash while making a quilt that is sure to become a family favourite! THE FABRIC GREENSTONE Jen Kingwell is a popular Australian designer and quilter. Her latest collection for Moda Fabrics, Greenstone, is a wonderful limited colour palette that still gives a scrappy feel to quilts when pieced. “I am a scrap quilter…

Cocoa Pink The Cocoa Pink collection, designed by Laundry Basket Quilts’ Edyta Sitar for Andover Fabrics, features delicate floral designs and dreamy pink tones that create a soothing feel. Why not use these fabrics in your next quilt and bring a serene feeling to any room you display it in. www.andoverfabrics.com Sew with me The wonderful Sarah Ashford, who frequently writes for the magazine, has made our Fresh Picks selection with her new “Sew With Me” sewing range available at Home Bargains. This inspiring range launched in stores across the UK in February and includes everything you could possibly need to begin your sewing journey – from sewing essentials such as zips, scissors and pins, to cross stitch samplers, fabric bundles, felting kits and so much more! www.homebargains.co.uk Vlieseline volume…

How Do You Do Until 28 October The Welsh Quilt Centre in the heart of the Teifi Valley is reopening in March after its winter break. ‘How Do You Do’ will explore recent acquisitions to the Jen Jones quilt collection and tickets also give entry to the neighbouring Little Quilts – Small Beds exhibition by Vivien Finch. Admission: £9 – adult £7 – concession and groups £4 – students 11.00-16.30 Tues–Sat The Welsh Quilt Centre, Town Hall, High Street, Lampeter SA48 7BB www.welshquilts.com Portishead Quilters Exhibition 11-13 May An exhibition of members’ work plus demonstrations, a trader, sales table and refreshments. There will be a charity quilt raffle and a bag tombola. Our chosen charity this year is MND Association (Motor Neurone Disease). Parking and disabled access. Admission: £2.50…

WRITE TO US Today’s Quilter, Our Media, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST EMAIL:todaysquilter@immediate.co.uk Beautiful Blooming Rings I discovered the joy of quilting two decades ago through my mother-in-law and have since been hooked. Working as a doctor, time to make quilts is limited, so I only whip out my sewing machine for very special occasions. Special occasions do not come frequently, so I don’t get a lot of practice, but my family appreciates my quilts – and know they’re likely to get one on a landmark birthday. For my niece’s 21st, I decided to make Julie Taylor’s Beautiful Blooming Rings quilt from Issue 69 of Today’s Quilter. Her birthday was in July, so I started collecting all my fabrics the December before – knowing that time was going to be…

BEHIND THE QUILT SIMPLICITY IS KEY “Sometimes the quilts I make are inspired by the simplicity and ease of the process. Like all quilters, I love playing around with fabric, fondling and folding it, but I also love the sewing process and if that process isn’t easy, then things simply do not get made ‒ no matter how much I love the pile of fabrics! So, using a ready-cut template to cut all the diamonds in this design meant speed and accuracy. You can cut these with a standard rotary cutting ruler, the template provided in this magazine or even with a one-size template, but as someone who likes to play around with numerous options, I enjoyed using the Sew Easy Multi Size 60˚ Diamond template, which gives me the…