Innehållsförteckning för Issue 115 från Today's Quilter

Writing this after a glorious weekend of sun and being by the coast, it really does feel like summer is finally on its way. And that’s why it’s the perfect timing for Jo Avery’s second seasonal series cushion: Summer. Featuring Redstart birds, it is the ideal project to work on in the garden, enjoying some sunshine. Pam and Nicky Lintott have also created a stunning new design that uses a 60-degree triangle to create a constellation of stars for you to sleep under. Véronique Digiligent is back too with a beautiful design that is dedicated to her late mother and a much loved rug she owned. The design features a vase with flowers flowing out of it and would make a lovely piece of wall art for any room in…

BEHIND THE QUILT IN TRIBUTE TO “My mum bought a gorgeous carpet a few years ago and I fell in love with it. Whenever I was visiting her in Geneva I would be on my hands and knees looking at the beautiful vases and arches, which would make my mum laugh. “My mum knew I was going to make a pattern for Today’s Quilter magazine, I just wish she had seen it, unfortunately, she passed away too soon. Her carpet is now at my place and will be treasured.” – VÉRONIQUE DILIGENT You will need • ■ Background fabric for the centre (non-directional) – 1yd■ Light shirting fabrics* (HSTs) – Four (4) fabrics, ¼yd of each■ Pink fabric (HSTs)* – Four (4) fabrics, ⅓yd of each■ Teal fabric for the…

Old favourites with a twist! I have chosen this block as one (1) of my four (4) outer corner blocks – yes, we have got that far, so take heart! Each block builds on skills and techniques offered in earlier designs, so it’s getting easier and more familiar each time…..allegedly. So, at this stage, I can’t resist the chance to ring the changes with fabrics and arrangements and to use as many of my favourite fabrics as possible – two (2) darks, two (2) mediums, an extra light fabric and both backgrounds. This may be too many fabrics for your taste, so just limit my excess in any way you like. The design is much like the Barn-Raising variation of Log Cabin, with a square set on point in the…

Stories in Stitch Until 29 September • The Barnard Castle Museum’s Fashion and Textile Gallery will play host to a new capsule collection of textile artworks, most of which have not be shown before. Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk 02 Textiles present an exhibition of new work, ‘Seamless Flow’ 6-11 June10.00-17.00 The Courtyard Gallery, The Ballroom Arts, 152A High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5AQ www.02textiles.co.uk Mill Quilters Exhibition 7-9 June • Trade stand, tombola and raffle. Refreshments available in the Stables…

Textile artist Kathryn Chambers, more commonly known as k3n, has been stitching since she was a child – when she recalls using her mother’s dressmaking scraps to make small items like dolls clothes and cushions. She made her first quilt – English paper-pieced – in her thirties. Her work subsequently developed into textile art constructed with commercial fabrics and Procion-dyed cottons. Then, around fifteen years ago, concerned with the environmental impacts of using new materials and chemically manufactured dyes, she began looking for more sustainable alternatives. In tandem with this, after years of sewing by machine, k3n was increasingly drawn to a return to hand-stitching. Largely this was to slow down her practice, but also to reduce her consumption of materials. Slow stitching – sewing using simple hand techniques –…

BEHIND THE QUILT IRON OUT THE WRINKLES “In this month’s Autumn-themed block, Florence the mouse is doing her least favourite thing: pressing her blocks. Florrie knows it makes all the difference to her points, but sometimes she just presses the seams out with her paws and hopes for the best. Outside, the foliage has turned to warm yellows and oranges and the last few summer flowers are bravely hanging on. “My daughter accuses me of being very similar to Florrie and not liking ironing. I don’t iron any clothes; I just wait for the creases to drop out. I do press my blocks though… until I get fed up and finger press them! Then I wonder why my points don’t meet! That is when a well-placed piece of appliqué is…

BEHIND THE QUILT A BRIGHT BOBBING BIRD “Continuing this series of seasonal bird cushions, we greet the summer with a design of two stunning birds and some colourful flowers. Redstarts visit the UK every summer, arriving in April and leaving in September, and feed on insects – you can find them foraging in woodlands and hedgerows during this time of year. Redstarts have an upright stance and can be seen ‘bobbing’ – moving in a similar fashion to Robins. Until relatively recently, the redstart was classified as a member of the thrush family but is now known as an Old World Flycatcher, which is a particularly lovely title. For the accompanying flowers, I chose a gerbera and a poppy, but instead of the more ubiquitous red poppy I’ve chosen to…