FQS: I Love Quilting Month

When the Fat Quarter Shop contacted me about joining this blog hop, they asked us to try something new and different with our sewing – us quilters should try something different like bags or garments. And that was my plan! A new dress for me, but as you know, I hurt my shoulder earlier this month, just after my Cotton + Steel voile arrived. So while my shoulder is now much better, I just have not had the time to make the dress. Next deadline I’m aiming for making it is for QuiltCon! Would it be rude to wear it to the Moda party?!

Instead, I kinda stuck to my “niche” of quilting, by trying some new free-motion quilting designs. Normally I stick to swirly loops or “square stippling”, but I took a deep breath and gave it a go. I even used my FMQ foot to ditch stitch around the outer star to secure the non-quilted bits – also a first! I took it slow and steady, and it worked!

The front uses a Botanics background with Kokka Irome for the prints, so this print from Arizona was just begging to be the backing!

And so, a 15″ pillow case is finished! I used a simple envelope closure, and I think next time I make a cushion cover I will finally will try binding too.

The Fat Quarter Shop has a new free pattern to make this beautiful patchwork heart. It would make a stunning pillow cover too! Just use smaller squares!

1. How did you start quilting/sewing?

I started quilting just over 3 years ago. I had seen a quilt made by another mum at our local playgroup and really admired her work. She had whinged about how much work it was, but I was intrigued! So I started reading about it – books and blogs were my source of information – and I decided that “one day” I would make a quilt for each of the kids. Maybe for their 5th birthdays? At this stage, my kids were 18 months and 3 months, so I had pleeeenty of time to really get informed. But then one day, we were all at our local Spotlight picking up something I can’t even remember now, when my husband casually mentions that the sewing machines are on sale and so maybe we could get one. What?! And so, my relationship with little Ellie Elna began! And boy have we worked hard together!

2. When was the first time you knew that you were a quilter/sewer?

I guess when I first knew knew that this thing was for real, was when I designed my first pattern, Ornamental.  That was 2 years ago, and my friend Kristy and I hosted a blog hop and QAL. This was the first time I had seen other people use my pattern, and see how others interpreted my design. It was such a thrill!

See for me, quilting is all about the designing and the math. I love the challenge of the puzzle that quilt math presents, and when I see it work, and when I see others using the product of my math and creativity through my patterns, it makes me feel like a real quilter. I am so excited about my latest QAL for my Bright Sky quilt – you can check out all about that here and even find a Fat Quarter Shop giveaway there…

And it would be remiss of me to not mention the pure joy of seeing my nephews using their Totoro and Ninja quilts! I can design as much as I like, but the journey wouldn’t be complete without seeing my quilts being used and loved. Like when my daughter refuses the store-bought “nice blanket” for “mummy’s beautiful quilt” *heart melt*.

3. Do you have any sewing/quilting horror stories or faux pas?

For the first 12 months of our time in Japan, I didn’t have an iron! And yet my projects still managed to work out ok. I did use a Clover finger presser for individual, small seams though, especially for paper piecing, so that definitely helped. Otherwise I relied on gravity by handing up blocks and quilt tops to get rid of major wrinkles. And then there’s the time I attempted my first garment – a Wiksten tank – and forgot to prewash the fabric… the good news is that it still just fits, and if I ever lose a few kilos, I’ve already got a top that will fit perfectly!

4. What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out in sewing/quilting?

Just try. Work with fabrics and colours you like, and just try. Your seams will be wonky, your quarter-inches more like 1/2″, but have fun. Start with a baby quilt and work your way up!

The Fat Quarter Shop has 20% off ALL Robert Kaufman fabrics, including Kona – just use the code RK2014 at checkout! Sale ends Sunday 28th September. You can see all the other National Sewing and Quilting Month blog hoppers over at the Jolly Jabber!