Hope you are all having a lovely Summer. I’m super excited to share my first thread collection as a designer for Aurifil! I felt very honoured when they approached me to work on their first ever box dedicated to dressmaking. The collection contains 10 small spools of different weight cotton thread that I have hand-picked based on all the different garments I have made in recent years. There are two 50 wt threads that are perfect on silks and Liberty lawns. Three 40 wt spools for sewing up a Hepworth Apron or Riley Dress. Two 28 wt which make more defined stitches on bag projects or jackets. And three gorgeous 12 wt spools for topstitching, sashiko and visible mending....
This is a very exciting milestone for me and I am glad I can finally talk about it after many months of secret planning! The Splendid Sampler kicked off in 2016 with 84 designers producing 100 quilt blocks for people to make throughout the year. Pat Sloan (in the US) and Jane Davidson (in Australia) are the masterminds behind the whole project and managed to engage thousands of creative people around the world. I loved watching my friends get involved and following the project on Instagram and Facebook. I met Pat and Jane at Spring Market in St Louis last May and admired the first Splendid Sampler quilt in all its glory. They are very warm, talented and hard-working women. ...
On the eve of the release of my debut quilt pattern, Morris Mouse, I wanted to share a few insights. The strongest value in my business is to be helpful. This goal drives the studio classes that I teach, and the patterns that I produce. I want people to improve their skills and to feel the sense of pride and achievement that I love at the end of a craft project. I know from experience that written instructions for any sewing or quilt pattern can be tricky - however well drafted. I have been frustrated, confused and, at times, I may even have had a little cry when I just don't get it! Therefore, when I wrote down my vision...
Happy World Quilting Day 2018! We have been very busy behind the scenes producing our first studio quilt pattern. Introducing Morris Mouse. A dapper young chap, inspired by Liberty's Cottage Garden range. He loves relaxing amongst the cosmos flowers and bluebells, which surround his cosy thatched cottage. How is he made? Morris is a foundation pieced sewing pattern. This means that you sew through the paper templates on your sewing machine and then remove the paper afterwards. It's a technique that allows you to make very accurate lines and we love it! When can I buy him? Morris is making his debut on Sewing Quarter TV on Sunday March 25th at 10am. He will also be available on our website...
It's fair to say that if it wasn't for some of the female population of West Yorkshire I wouldn't have a business! So today, on International Women's Day I am celebrating everyone who supports me by coming to classes at the studio. Back in 2011, a small group took a chance that I might be able to help them to sew when I offered quilting classes in the Promises Auction at my children's school. It was in my home, with quilt templates cut from cereal packets and the chaos of family life surrounding us. I tried my best, we cracked on together and it gave me the confidence to teach a few more people. Three years later I rented...
