Teaching patchwork and quilting over many years has left me with lots of samples and demonstration pieces. Some are more complete than others and some are step by step “Blue Peter” type part finished samples. There comes a time when all of these part finished samples need to be made into something.
A couple of years ago I made Robyn a bedding set for her dolls cot. I had designed a Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam for a class earlier in the year and thought that one of the samples would make a perfect dolls cot quilt. It was the right size, but for some reason she thought the quilt was too small as it didn’t cover her dolls head. I still can’t quite work out how a child’s mind works as I am too far removed from that age. I think it looked great. I am hoping that at some point her dolls will not need to have their heads covered if they are asleep!
I wonder if Alice will have the same reaction when she opens her Christmas present this year. I also hope she like purple.
I can’t believe it has been so long between posts and I have to apologise to anyone waiting to hear more of my story. You will know that the last few years have been full of downs and ups and it has taken me quite a while to get my mojo back. I have been keeping busy with teaching and I love seeing what my students come up with to challenge me. I also love seeing how they take and adapt my patterns and projects.
We have been kept busy with the new addition to our family, another beautiful granddaughter, Alice and as you can see her big sister is besotted with her too.
This years mystery quilt has been a folded fantasy sampler quilt.
It has been challenging but fun and we are now at the end of the course.
I thought last years mystery quilt was challenging as it focussed on curves. I think I was called all sorts of names by my students, but all the quilts looked beautiful.
I am not sure what names I have been called this year but I can’t wait to see how their quilts turn out. In the meantime it is back into the studio for patchwork and more pattern writing.
I have recently returned from a wonderful safari experience to Kenya. Although the main focus of the trip was the wildlife of the Samburu, Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha National parks, I couldn’t help but to hunt out some traditional African textiles. As we had travelled with only hand luggage we were limited on packing space for anything that took our eye. But I couldn’t resist this cute screen print Zebra for Bobbi. Although I thought it would be nice for her bedroom wall, I think she may use it as a dolls blanket.
We saw a lot of these tourist pieces at many curio shops on the journey round the country. This one near Lake Naivasha had the best coffee too, so was a win-win for my sister.
Sandgrouse Curios and Art Gallery
I made another impulse purchase at the Sandgrouse Curio & Art Gallery when we stopped for a break on the way to the Masai Mara, and found out that I am not good at negotiating. However I ended up with 6m of wax print fabric. I would have loved to buy more but would have had to buy another suitcase.
When we stopped again on the way back to Nairobi I had the opportunity to chat to Angela about her fabrics and clothing. She gave me permission to photograph her textile section of the gallery for my blog. Unfortunately we didn’t have long to browse all the wonderful textiles, but we really enjoyed seeing the clothing and the bolts of fabric. There were some wonderful batiks too.
We also had the opportunity to visit a traditional Masai village where we were greeted with a traditional welcome by both the men and women of the village. It may seem strange visiting a village like this, but it was explained to us that the money we paid went towards the children’s education. Again it was the traditional dress that interested me. We were told that the red checked and striped fabric worn by the men was to ward off the lions and other animals. I am not sure that is the case but the vervet monkeys at the lodges moved very quickly when they saw the guards approach.
So why did I buy this piece of fabric instead of the more traditional gold, red, and green kente cloth?
The answer to this question will be in a future blog post
This course started in February at Tudor Rose Patchwork and I can’t believe that we are already half way through the blocks.
The pictures in the gallery below, show how beautiful the quits are going to look just from these first two blocks. There is such a variety of colour schemes, from cool and monochromatic, dramatic accents to fun primary brights. Each quilt will have a distinct personality and I can’t wait to see them finished.
BevAnnaChrisSarahJuliaBarbaraLynnSue
There will be sashing and cornerstones between the blocks allowing each one to shine in its own right.
Ambleside Quilt 2020
Ambleside Quilt 2021
Each year I work a quilt alongside the group. I used a beautiful collection of fabric designed by Lynnette Anderson for the 2020 quilt. For 2021 the fabrics were from the Rainbow colours and Brighton collections by Stoffabrics. This year I am using Big Sky by Annie Brady for Moda, and Bumbleberries from Lewis & Irene. I haven’t decided which thread to quilt it and have three very similar ones to choose from. Two Superior Thread King Tut collection and one from the Masterpiece collection. I will have to do some auditioning and sampling soon as I can’t put off the quilting for ever. It is a nice dilemma to have though.
Just before Easter June purchased the Greta Table Runner pattern from my Etsy shop. Off the pattern went from the UK to Kansas, and I wasn’t expecting to hear anything unless it didn’t arrive. Well, it must have been sent by the fastest carrier pigeon the postal service had, as it was only a few day’s later, when June contacted me regarding the bias binding.
I make my own 1/4″ (6mm) bias binding with a fusible tape backing. This is a great way of matching your bias to your project and the fusible tape holds it whilst it is stitched in place. I cut 5/8″ wide strips on the bias for the 1/4″ (6mm) bias tape maker.
June chose the lovely spotted green fabric to make her matching bias edging
And added a red border before layering and quilting round the fan blades.
June’s finished runner which is absolutely beautiful.
It has been such a pleasure, and rare treat to share in the story of one of my patterns, especially across the oceans. I would like to thank June for sharing the quilt journey with me and giving me permission to share it with you.
The Star Table runner has been one of my most popular patterns over the last few years, and so it is time to give it a makeover.
It was previously named Borrowdale Star, but it is now just Borrowdale and it has been given a fresh look using the dragonfly fabric and the blue and green fabric combination.
This atmospheric picture was taken on a visit to Keswick looking down the lake towards the Jaws of Borrowdale
looking down Derwentwater towards the Jaws of Borrowdale
Borrowdale Valley lies at the southern end of Lake Derwentwater and extends to Honister Pass. It is a valley of spectacular scenery with rugged crags and oak forest. It was once an industrial area with copper and graphite mines, iron smelting and charcoal burning. Remnants of the industrial past can still be seen with old mine workings. It is a lovely area to visit with great walks and friendly tearooms. I am looking forward to visiting again soon.
Now it is time for the updated pattern to go to the printers and It should be available in a couple of weeks. Whilst I am waiting for this pattern to arrive it is on with the next project.
As a patchworker, quite a lot of time can be spent choosing just the right fabric for a project. This week I bought some fabric – just because I liked it – and now have the task of trying to match it with fabric from my stash.
Dragonflies – Lakeside Fun by Clothworks
This lovely print gives lots of choices for fabric matching in shades of greens and blues.
But whilst choosing fabrics the old saying ” Blue and green should never be seen unless there is a colour in between” keeps echoing through my head. Where did this saying come from? How true is it?
Nature loves blue and green together you just have to look at all the lovely blue flowers and their green foliage to see that, so the origin must be from something else. Blue and green lie next to each other on the colour wheel, are they thought to be too tonally similar to be seen together? When viewing a distant horizon there is a point when the green of the land merges into the blue of the sky. There may be also be a nautical origin to the saying – it was though to bring bad luck to paint a boat green as it could not be seen easily if it capsized.
Whatever the origin of the saying, I love blue and green together.
Are there any colours or colour combinations you would never use in a quilt?
Every year I make items for the family for Christmas. To me this is as much about Christmas as the actual day itself. It gives me time to think about the recipient whilst I am making the gift. This last year Christmas was difficult and I couldn’t bring myself to even think about it without Luke, let alone make gifts. But as always I could hear his voice telling me “It is what it is, and we have to move forward and keep going” That gave me the push I needed, although rather too close to the actual date for much to be made.
I bought some sock yarn – Perfect by Arne & Carlos for Regia – which makes a perfect pair of patterned socks with with no worry about the row count. I didn’t read the instructions though, and started from the outside of the ball of yarn. I was quite a long way down the sock and thinking this doesn’t look like the pattern before I read the instructions. Only to find that I should have started with yarn from the centre of the ball. After unravelling the sock and starting again, everything was going great until the heel turn. My usual heel turn – the Strong heel, does not work with this yarn. It has been designed for a German short row heel or a boomerang (Bumerangferse) heel. It took several attempts to make a heel that I was satisfied with, but I still find that I am getting holes. This year I will master it as starting now gives me plenty of time before Christmas. It is one of this years challenges to myself.
First pair boxed and ready for Christmas 2022
As I started late on the Christmas makes, (mid way through November) I only managed to make 5 pairs of socks, I decided to make some simpler items as stocking fillers. One was a Christmas napkin basket. I found a fabric with a robin picture which I placed in the centre of the basket as a surprise when all the napkins have been used. Although a square of Christmas fabric works just as well and is less time consuming.
It is a smaller version of the fabric tray pattern. I have added a free pattern download to my website with the new measurements. Small Napkin Basket
I am now going to make another everyday napkin basket in the hope of being able to have friends to visit for BBQ’s and afternoon tea this summer. I think we all need something to look forward to.
It was lovely to be back in the classroom at Tudor Rose Patchwork today after the Christmas break. Everyone was full of enthusiasm either with new projects in mind or a determination to finish projects from last year.
Janet is currently quilting the Coniston Cutting mat bag and Julia decided to get the pattern. Looking around the room I saw that everyone had their cutting mat bags with them. It seems to have become the class bag.
My original Cutting Mat bag
And a gallery of bags from Barbara, Janet, Jenny and Sarah
I love seeing how the pattern is adapted and looks in different colours It is one of the most rewarding things about teaching. I can’t wait to see what fabrics Julia chooses for her bag.
Today I have been preparing for lessons this week. As we are revisiting colour theory I started looking through my sketchbooks. One of them has the original designs and ideas behind the Derwent Quilt. It started as a design exercise for patchwork templates for my City & Guilds students. I was so taken with it I developed it further into the final Derwent quilt.
Growing up on the shore of Lake Derwentwater it was inevitable that one of my designs would be named after it.
Derwent quilt throw
Lake Derwentwater is one of the main lakes in the English Lake District. Growing up in Portinscale, a village on the edge of the lake, we spent most summers swimming (before wild swimming became a thing) and sailing on the Lake. We would regularly swim from Hawse End to a small island, which we called lone tree island, and occasionally to St Herbert’s Island. We also would cycle and walk around the lake. We have such fabulous memories of a “Swallows and Amazon’s” childhood.
The Derwent Quilt is a bold design, fitting for a place which holds such wonderful childhood memories. Below are some pictures I took from the launch landings at Keswick and one from the hill side above Hawse End.
This pattern has been available as templates for several years, and I have now updated it for 2022 as a foundation paper piecing pattern. It will be available on my website soon.
Bev Mayo 