Today's Quilter 71

And just like that, here’s the first issue of 2021! After the year we all had in 2020, plus the wonderful but often slightly crazy time that is Christmas; with food, family and general festivities, we thought we’d fill this issue with some serene sewing projects to ease us all into the new year. And nothing calms me more than being beside the ocean. So, I fell in love with Diane Morrison’s Foundation Paper Pieced coastal scene the minute the idea was shown to me. Displayed in a hoop in the magazine, it would look equally as striking mounted in a frame in your home. Carolyn Forster’s Lover’s Promise quilt, in soft shades of blue and cream, is another great project to take your time over and enjoy the process…

Diane Morrison FABULOUS FPP New to the TQ designer family, Diane has created a piece (page 47) inspired by trips to the west of Scotland and the Isle of Harris. Sarah Ashford NEW COLUMN Taking up residence on the pages of our mag, Sarah introduces herself on page 31 and tells us what to expect in the coming months. Carolyn Forster SEWN BY HAND Master curves and set in seams in Carolyn’s design, based on a tattered quilt she owns. Turn to page 34 to find out more!…

THE BOOK SCRAP SCHOOL Following the popular Sisterhood of Scraps, author and designer, Lissa Alexander, has gathered more talented designer friends to share a dozen scraptastic quilt designs, like the Ombre Butterscotch Baskets design shown here. Find tips and tricks for colour selection, what fabrics to mix, plus, what makes a scrap quilt sing to help you make the most of your fabric stash! And, if you use up your scraps, you have more room to buy new fabrics, bonus! THE PROJECT ENCHANTED PAPER DOLLS Owner of easypatchwork, Karen Ackva, has created Enchanted Paper Dolls, a 64-page pattern book with full-size Foundation Paper Patterns (FPP) to make 12 unique 12in angels, fairies and princesses. You can mix and match all colour-coded segments of the figures to create your own individual…

Appliqué is one of those wonderful techniques in quilting, where you can add interest, texture or just fun to any design by adding shapes here and there, or really anywhere. It’s also a wonderfully mindful activity that whiles away the time! This collection, covering 12 themes, which include occasions, craft, seaside, botanicals and plenty more, means you can create fabulous scenes or add a shape or two to individual blocks, with spectacular results. Also included is a section on the different types of appliqué techniques you can use incase you want to brush up on your skills. Plus, there’s a handy section on how you can resize the shapes, This will make it easy for you to pick and choose which shapes you want, and how big or small you…

If you’ve been on social media recently, you’d have noticed that gorgeous quilted jackets are popping up all over the place. Featuring a multitude of designs, they are the perfect way to show off some blocks you’ve made or, deep breath, cut up a whole quilt and use it instead of fabric. Art Gallery Fabrics have been showing off the beauties shown here, like the Boucle Jacket featuring Luna & Laurel by AGF Studio (above), the AGF Denim Jacket featuring a star block (right), and the Harmony Jacket featuring Legendary by Pat Bravo – modelled by the designer herself (left). As there is nothing better than wrapping up in a warm quilt on a cold day, we couldn’t think of a better idea than being able to wear warm quilts…

MAGNET MAGIC Grabbit Magnetic Pincushion, Lavender The last thing you want to be worrying about while becoming entranced in your quilting process is wandering pins that you have to chase across the table before they get lost behind your sewing station. That’s why we think you’ll love this lovely, lavender magnetic pincushion where your pins will stay put. Even when you do find yourself accidentally brushing a pin off your surface, you can simply turn it upside down and wave it close to the floor to pick up that pesky stray (minus the hoovering and crouching down!) £13.50 www.sewandquilt.co.uk PERFECT PRINTS GARDEN INSPIRATIONS From designer, Jane Alison, comes the stunning Garden Inspirations collection for Henry Glass fabrics, featuring gorgeous pastel florals that will have you longing to be outside among…