Tuesday 31 January 2017

French General Pom Pom de Paris quilt by Loretta

French General Pom Pom de Paris quilt by Loretta
French General Pom Pom de Paris quilt by Loretta
This lovely scrappy quilt is made by Loretta, one of my customers from Wiltshire.  It is a Layer Cake pattern made from a French General fabric range, Pom Pom de Paris.
'Allouette' digital pantograph quilt pattern
'Allouette' digital pantograph quilt pattern
It may be scrappy on the front, but on the back Loretta chose a lovely soft green plain fabric, which showed off the elegant feathery quilt pattern, Allouette.  She choose the 'Allouette' pattern mainly because of  its French sounding name to go with the Pom Pom de Paris fabric.
'Allouette' digital pantograph quilt pattern
'Allouette' digital pantograph quilt pattern
If you are thinking of getting your project quilted with an allover pattern, which is stitched digitally by a computer, a plain fabric for the back is a good choice, as the pattern will be stitched evenly.

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Nearly Insane Quilt - Patchwork and Quilting Magazine February 2017

If you have picked up this months (February 2017)  'British Patchwork and Quilting' magazine, you will see my that my Nearly Insane quilt has made it into print again after its success at the West Country Quilt Show in November 2016.
All the details are on page 20, along with a little picture of my prize-wining cushion.  Enjoy

Sunday 22 January 2017

Butterfly Quilt by Ann Stuart of Busy Bees Patchwork, custom quilted by Frances Meredith, Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Butterfly Quilt by Ann Stuart Custom quilting by Frances Meredith at Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Butterfly Quilt by Ann Stuart
Custom quilting by Frances Meredith at Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
I have been flicking through the latest British Patchwork and Quilting magazine (February 2017) where there was an article about an applique workshiop being held at Busy Bees Patchwork in Newport, to make this beautiful Butterfly Quilt.  This quilt is made by Ann Stuart, who will be running the class, and I was reminded that I had quilted it for her several months ago.  If you have visited the shop you may have seen it hanging up and you will be able to see the detail of the flowery custom quilting that I did on it.
Butterfly Quilt by Ann Stuart Custom quilting by Frances Meredith at Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Butterfly Quilt by Ann Stuart
Custom quilting by Frances Meredith at Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Ann Stuart will be running a workshop on this special applique technique on Saturday 18th February 2017, 10am - 4pm at Busy Bees Patchwork, Newport, UK 

Sunday 15 January 2017

Joan's Quilt - Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Quilt by Joan, quilted by Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Quilt by Joan, quilted by Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Here is another of those quilts which I was busy stitching before Christmas.  This one was made by Joan for her granddaughter as a Christmas present.  It is such a pretty quilt, with lovely fresh colours. 
Quilt by Joan, quilted by Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
Quilt by Joan, quilted by Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting
We took our lead for the quilting pattern from the pretty floral fabric which Joan used throughout her quilt.  We used a digital pantograph called 'Daisy Chain Allover' designed by Darlene Epp. Joan provided her own wadding and we used a Glide thread for the stitching in a soft linen colour.
'Daisy Chain Allover' digital pantograph by Darlene Epp
'Daisy Chain Allover' digital pantograph by Darlene Epp



Monday 9 January 2017

Choosing a quilting pattern (Pinterest) - Dragonflies on a Children's Scrap Quilt

Sheila's quilt featuring 'Dragon Wings' quilting design
Sheila's quilt featuring 'Dragon Wings' quilting design
I have a growing collection of digital pantographs in my collection and you can view them in one of my Pinterest boards.  Out in the internet there are designs to suit any occasion if required.  One of my most popular pantograph quilting patterns is 'Dragon Wings', a design featuring dragonflys.  It is a great design if you don't want a quilt heavily quilted and the dragonflys have a habit of just showing a glimpse of themselves amongst the pretty fabrics, just as they do in the countryside.
Sheila's quilt featuring 'Dragon Wings' quilting design
Sheila's quilt featuring 'Dragon Wings' quilting design
Here is another one of Sheila's quilts which she made for one of her many grandchildren for Christmas, which features the Dragon Wings digital pantograph by design Apricot Moon.
Dragon Wings digital design by Apricot Moon
Dragon Wings digital design by Apricot Moon

Monday 2 January 2017

Getting a Memory Quilt Quilted by a Longarmer

Memory Quilt 1 by Jacquline
Bargello Quilt
Memory Quilt 1 by Jacquline
Have you ever made a memory quilt?  Collecting special fabrics  and old clothes together which hold special meaning make a really unique quilt.  I really enjoy quilting these as they are a fascinating cornucopia of historical materials and memories.  Often or not the 'special' fabrics don't abide by the quilting rules, but that is what makes them special.  Jacqueline brought me two memory quilts which she made and are intended as gifts for family members this Christmas.  They included the white brocade of Grandma's wedding dress, some upholstery fabrics and even some stretch material - the whole gamut!
Memory Quilt 1 by Jacquline
Bargello Quilt
Memory Quilt 1 by Jacqueline
With a random set of fabrics, Memory quilts can be a challenge to piece together, let alone quilt on a domestic machine, but using a longarm quilting service can make light work of it.  Ideally, the backing should be one, evenweave fabric to add support to the overall quilt and help stabilise the mix of fabrics on the front which you have pieced.
Memory Quilt 1 by Jacqueline
Modern Curves by Anita Shackleford
The first of Jacqueline's quilts was a Bargello quilt, backed with a two-tone plain fabric.  The quilting pattern used was 'Modern Curves' by Anita Shackleford.  This was a great choice because the long lines complimented the bargello piecing and on the back it had a modern feel, great for the young person receiving it - two quilts for the price of one! 
Coin Quilt
Memory Quilt 2 by Jacqueline
The second quilt was a 'Coin Quilt'  which made great use of all the scraps of fabric.  I particularly loved the way the light highlighted the sheen of the brocades and satins in this quilt.
Memory Quilt 2 by Jacqueline
'Coin Quilt'
Memory Quilt 2 by Jacqueline
The quilting pattern on this quilt was 'Ginger Flowers' by Hermione Agee and again, it was chosen specially for the person who was receiving it.
'Ginger Flowers' by Hermione Agee
'Ginger Flowers' by Hermione Agee
These two quilts are truly individual and SO special.  The idea of making a Memory Quilt is such a wonderful idea, which sometimes can loose its appeal when you start stitching it together because the fabric personalities.  Do not despair, pull it out of the cupboard, there is someone who can finish the quilting for you here at Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting.