Achieving in lockdown

So, what to sew during an extended lockdown.

I need no excuse to start a new quilt but I love when someone actually gives a me a reason to. We have a family wedding in April next year and my soon to be daughter-in-law has requested a Wedding Ring quilt. I am really enjoying the process of foundation piecing the arcs and have set myself the goal of 4 arcs per day, which of course is very achievable.

So as I started this new quilt I got thinking about the quilts I have made/finished during our previous lockdowns. I have enjoyed doing some relaxing hand piecing as well as some quick machine piecing. I have spent time designing and sewing new blocks as well as visiting some tried-and-true old favourites. One of the big challenges of lockdown, for me, is the fact that the patchwork shops are closed. I know this really shouldn’t be an issue as I do have a large stash of fabric, but you know how it is sometimes you just need a particular colour or design or size print that is not in your stash.

I have found lockdown to be a great time for scrappy quilts. One of the elements of scrap quilts that I really like is fussy cutting centres of blocks, I love getting my grandchildren to find the flowers or animals scattered around the quilt. Talking about grandchildren the pink quilt in the top left corner is my granddaughter’s first quilt, I have called it Pretty in Pink. The free pattern is available on my website and it is a quick and easy quilt to make.

I think I have made about 9 quilts during lockdowns, 7 of which are in the photo above. The blue, black and white quilt, middle top, was a mystery quilt designed by Laundry Basket Quilts, https://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/. I am in a sewing group of 5 so we challenged ourselves to make this quilt during lockdown 1. All 5 look a little different.

Middle row on the left is a panel I bought from Bella Fabrics, https://www.bellafabrics.com.au/, just before lockdown 2. I always like to cut up a panel and challenge myself with the maths of reconstructing it in another way.

The central, yellow quilt is a pattern I bought at a quilt show, ahhh remember them, from Sommerset Cottage, https://www.somersetpatchwork.com.au/. I love the cheeriness of the yellow background. I hand pieced this one and machine quilted it myself using our group’s quilting machine.

Bottom right is a section of my Cross Roads quilt another free pattern on my website. Again a quick and easy scrappy quilt.

The rectangular photos are very scrappy quilts. The bottom one all started with a block designed by Jen Kingwell, https://www.jenkingwelldesigns.com/, Mega Star. I made about 5 of the Mega Star blocks and then started designing my own blocks and the quilt just grew like topsy turvy. From that quilt I jumped into designing blocks for the other quilt, right hand side. This one has blocks named Beach Ball, Towel, Sea Star etc so I just had to name the quilt Summer.

I may be in lockdown but it does not mean I have to be glum or inactive or negative. Lockdown has given me time to finish quilts, start new ones and do some block designing. In years to come these lockdown quilts will comfort and warm family and friends and might even have them thinking about these difficult times and be thankfull that we all got through them.

Happy sewing and stay safe and healthy

Margaret

6 Inspirational Patchwork Shops

It is so important to support our local patchwork shops. There was a time a few years ago when shops were closing because patchworkers were turning to the internet for fabric because the Aus $ was almost equal to the US$. I was guilty but I soon found that the colour was not quite what I thought or the quality was not as good as I would like. There is nothing like touching fabric and auditioning fabric in person.

We are in a COVID lockdown in Melbourne at present and there is nothing like a lockdown to make you appreciate how lucky we are to have great patchwork and quilting shops. I am really missing being able to pop into my local shop, have a chat to the ladies and pick up some new fabrics to play with. I thought I would share with you some shops I like to visit whenever possible.

 Amitie Textiles: 2 hours from home but worth the drive. They have a fantastic range of fabrics, quilt block patterns, sewing projects, yarn and patterns and homewares. And after the long drive their coffee shop is oh so inviting, their cakes, yum.

Bella Fabrics: this one is truly local, I can walk to the shop from home. They have lovely bright fabrics, interesting patchwork patterns, both large and small, books and gifts. They run classes  covering quilting, dressmaking, appliqué, embroidery, EPP, crochet, to name a few.  They also have “sit and sew” two mornings a week, a great way to ensure “me” time in our busy lives.

Nuno Nuno: I am so luck I can walk to this shop too. They have textiles for quilting, clothing, crafting, patterns, haberdashery and handcrafted giftware & accessories. A small shop but very inviting. I love their homewares, they are fresh and a little bit patchworky.

Cutting Cloth: Another bright, fresh Melbourne patchwork shop. They have an extensive range of fabrics, wool, patterns and haberdashery. They also have a large classroom at the back of the shop where they conduct their many classes. Don’t forget to check out their bag pattern range too.

Now I head out of Victoria and spread my wings a bit, something we are not able to do at present but hopefully very soon.

The Patch Works: Hobart, Tasmania. What I love about this shop is that they offer FREE classes to beginners to get them on their patchwork journey. What a great idea, more shops could do this, great PR and you just might have a customer for life.

Den Haan & Wagenmakers: I have really spread my wings for this one, it’s in Amsterdam. My husband found this shop for me when we holidayed there in 2015. The steps up to the front door add to the anticipation. Once inside you are greeted by beautiful fabrics, books and patterns. But there is more, stairs lead to the second floor where you will find quilts lovingly displayed and more fabric.

That is just a small selection of great and inspiring patchwork and quilting shops the world has to offer. I would love to hear about your local shop so when I am able to travel, I might drop in and pick up some fabric to remind me of my adventures.

Two places I am longing to visit are Canada and the USA so please Canadian and American patchworkers help me put together a list of must visit shops for my travels by adding your favourite local shops in the comments.

Happy sewing

Margaret