Free Motion Quilting - What I have learnt

As you know I love patchwork. I have made clothes and bags, but patchwork is my passion!

 

It all started back in 1996 when I spotted a patchwork quilt in a magazine and immediately bought a small cheep sewing machine. That fist king size quilt has pride of place in my bedroom and is still used to build dens!

 

Faded and worn, but a den building staple!

 

For  person who avoided sewing lessons at school because they were for girls that is quite an achievement!

 

When I started patchwork I was  determined hand quilter. I couldn't seem to get the machine to quilt in the way I wanted it to, so I stopped trying - I didn't realise I needed special feet and strong enough thread.

 

In 2011 that all changed when my youngest son requested a quilt for his birthday which was 3 weeks away. I undertook a self taught crash course in machine quilting. The joy of the internet is that you can find out pretty much anything and I was able to find out why my previous attempts had never worked. The quilt was finished at 2am on his birthday and he still pulls it out to snuggle under whenever he can.

The birthday quilt designed by mini.

My first attempt at free motion quilting!

 

So my free motion journey has been a relatively short one - especially placed in the context of the 20 years I have been making quilts. And it is a journey I have loved. In fact I often love the free motion quilting more than the patchwork.

 

As a sewing teacher I have taught free motion quilting to all my patchwork classes. Some students love the challenge and throw themselves in whole heartedly, whilst others give it a go and then run away screaming!

 

It is a hard skills to master - especially on a small domestic machine - but is one that is worth working on. My free motion is not perfect and nor do I ever expect it to be. I have the privilege of knowing that if I select a thread that matches the fabric I am working on then all of my faults will fade into the background of the quilt. They will add texture and interest. Even if the thread doesn't blend in the not so perfect pebble will look perfectly fine in a sea of not so perfect pebbles. They will all look amazing together!

'Mistakes' make up part of the whole design.

For beginner to free motion quilting this idea of just doing it, ignoring the little 'mistakes' and trusting the journey can be tough. It can cause a project to be rejected. But you must keep going, keep quilting, keep moving forward. Each time to quilt with our machine you are getting better. Each pebble will blend in with the other pebbles.  You will never reach perfection but you will create a unique quilt that will wrapped around you family and friends for many years - 20 years and counting in my household.

 

When in doubt - just keep quilting!

June Classes

The months are passing so quickly - how did we make the middle of the year already?

I have a couple of exciting classes in June at the fabulous Dolly Bobbins in Malmesbury.

Hand Turn Applique

Monday 16th and 23rd June

10am until 12pm.

A fabulous 2 day workshop all about hand turn applique and make a mug rug.

The 2 day course is £30 including all materials.

Beginners Sewing

Sunday 22nd June

10am until 4pm

Come along and learn how to use your sewing machine to make a gorgeous pin cushion and zippered purse.

This workshop will give you the skills and confidence to use a sewing machine.

The workshop is £45 including all materials.

If you want to book a place please email me or Dolly Bobbins in Malmesbury.

Monthly Patchwork and Quilting Club!

I teach so many different aspects of sewing, from beginners to dress making, but my true passion is Patchwork and quilting!

One of the lovely students at my class last Saturday came along with her daughter and sent this amazing feedback:

“Just want to say my daughter and I enjoyed the workshop. Anna was a very encouraging and relaxed tutor and her passion for quilting and sewing came across from the very start.“

And she is right -I love spreading fabric and quilting addict wherever I go!

So when the students on Saturday mentioned a monthly group that would teach them how to make different patchwork blocks and then how to take those through to a full quilt, it got me thinking...

I put the idea out on Facebook and for 4/5 people interested in joining within an hour!

So, not one to sit around at all I have been looking for a venue with enough light and space to accommodate 10 people who want to learn patchwork.... and today I booked one!

The Monthly Patchwork Quilting Club will start on Thursday 13th February in St Micheal's Church Hall, Tetbury from 11.30 until 2.30pm!

The aim of the group is to learn how to accurately cut fabrics, how to piece blocks and how to machine quilt a quilt over the next few months.

You do not need any experience, just a willingness to learn and I will give you the skills to make beautiful quilts for your home!

The group will cost £25.00 a month and will included use of equipment, including a sewing machine during the session and support between meetings if needed.

To book your place please email me for a booking form and class joining instructions!

Tetbury Sewing Classes

I am so pleased to have found a location in Tetbury to be able to run group classes!

This term there will be 2 workshops:

Beginners Sewing

19th October 10am - 4pm.

The perfect workshop for anyone who is new to sewing.

You will learn to:

• thread a machine, wind a bobbin and trouble shoot problems

• accurately cut fabric

• make a pin cushion and zippered pouch for you sewing equipment

Cost: £45.00 (including materials and tea and coffee)

Sewing machines will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. You will need to bring your own lunch.

Christmas Fabric by Kate Spain at Eclectic Maker

Christmas Patchwork Table Runner

23rd November 10am - 4pm

This workshop will introduce you to wonderful hobby of patchwork!

You will learn how to:

• accurately cut fabric.

• piece patchwork easily.

• use wadding to make a quilt.

Cost: £45.00 (including wadding and tea and coffee)

You will need to bring 5 fat quarters (50cm by 50cm each) in Christmas Fabric 100% cotton, 1/2 m backing 100% cotton fabric and 1/2m cotton fabric for the binding.

Email me for more details and to book your place.

Splitting Squares!

After a couple of months of working away my first pattern is ready!

Splitting Squares is the perfect pattern for beginner quilters.

I wanted to take some of the skills I teach in my patchwork classes and put them into a pattern so people who can't make my classes would be able to learn the skills in the comfort of their own sewing room.

The design is simple, but beautiful and gives you a perfect baby/toddler quilt.

The pattern has in depth cutting and piecing instructions to help complete beginners to learn how to piece patchwork confidently.

The finished quilt size is 42" by 42".

I couldn't have made this pattern without the help of 4 lovely pattern testers: Lisa, Emma, Sarah and Sherry. They found the mistakes, suggested great additions and gave me a beginners perspective on the pattern. They made awesome quilts with the pattern, which I am going to show you tomorrow. Thank you so much guys!

You can grab a copy over at my Etsy shop.

To celebrate the launch of the pattern I am giving away 2 copies of the pattern!.

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me which fabric you would use to make the quilt. Simples!

The giveaway will finish on Sunday 4th August at 12pm GMT.

Beginners Patchwork - How to Piece

A tutorial for beginners to patchwork: How to Piece Patchwork.

Cotton fabric generally has 2 sides, the right side and the wrong side. The right side is The side where the pattern is brightest:

For solid colour difference is much harder, if not impossible, to see. My motto is 'can't see it, don't care'!

Place one of the squares on top of the other one, right sides together:

Match the edges all around the square and pin, perpendicular to the edge that you are going to join:

Your sewing machine should sew over the pins, if the pin heads are placed on the inside of the block.

Using a 1/4" patchwork foot you will sew along this seam.

A patchwork foot has a metal guide on the right hand side that allows you to line the fabric up against it to give you the perfect 1/4" seam.

Sew this seam, ensuring that the fabric is lined up with the 1/4" guide, remembering to back stitch at the beginning and end:

Back stitching ensures that your stitching won't come apart, so make sure you always back stitch.

Once the 2 blocks are sewn together, the seam needs pressing. You will need a really hot iron.

I prefer to press the seam open, but you can press them towards the darker fabric - experiment and decide which way you prefer.

First spread the seam with your fingers:

Then use the iron to flatten the seam completely:

Turn the piece over and iron the other side too. 

I hope this helps you on your patchwork journey!

Testers needed!

I am in the final stages of writing a baby quilt pattern for beginners and I am looking for 3 testers who would be willing to try out the pattern called Splitting Squares.

It is a simple quilt that will help you learn cutting and piecing skills, and give you an amazing and beautiful quilt for a small child or baby.

Would you be interested in helping?

I would love to hear from you!

Email me for more info!

Thanks!

The Tewkesbury Posse!

Last week I finished working with 2 groups, one in Gloucester and the other in Tewkesbury.

I have shown you the work of the Gloucester group, so I thought you might like to see the group in Tewkesbury this week.

There were 8 learners of different abilities. Some had loads of experience and were coming along for the social aspect of the group as well as to learn a new trick or 2, others had no experience of sewing what so ever!

I love a mixed group like that. They tend to work together and share ideas, a support network is set up in the class and everyone helps each other. They become a sewing community!

The 8 weeks of the course were broken down into 3 weeks learning the basic skills of how to set up a sewing machine and learning sewing terms whilst making a pin cushion, purse and button clutch. The following 5 weeks were more learner led. I started them on the task of making a patchwork cushion cover and they took their own journey to create something special for their home.

This journey resulted in amazing cushion covers. As their confidence grew they chose other things they would like to make independently, from bunting to Christmas stockings.

Here are some of the results of the 8 weeks we spent together!

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see the group have been working hard!

 

I am starting another group in Gloucester after Christmas and I can't wait to see what they make!

Variety is the Spice of Sewing!

Sewing is a hobby, like many others, that grabs you and holds you fast! One day you are frightened of the sewing machine and the next you have a stash of fabrics that fills a room... even more scraps!

It can be daunting, especially if you are coming as a beginner to the hobby as an adult.

My role as a sewing teacher is varied... I work with keen and confident 10 year old girls, who show no fear, 16 year old veterans who are more unsure, but love the challenge:



My work for Gloucester County Council involves working with adults from all backgrounds. The organisations that approach me want to use crafts to help support adults who have been identified as needing support with confidence and social skills. The aim is to ease them  into a classroom environment without frightening them too much!

Today was no exception. Tenants from the housing association have been offered the chance to learn new skills. I have 5 lovely ladies with varying abilities. They were brought together by one common aim - to learn to use a sewing machine.

2 of the ladies had never used an electric machine - they have hand cranks at home which haven't been used for years.... this is a new one for me! Most people have some experience of electric machines from school, but no experience of sewing machines except of hand crank machines.... Amazing!

The power of 3 hours sewing together in a room of strangers is amazing... they learnt how to set up a machine, played with the controls and made their own pin cushions for use on the course. They all left smiling, happy and with a sparkle... I love seeing that sparkle...

Next week I will have 9 ladies. 9 ladies to pass on some sewing skills to, to guide through the process of measuring, cutting and marking clothing for adding embellishments.

I can't wait!