Innehållsförteckning för Issue 135 från Today's Quilter

Quilters’ Fair 11 January 2026 • Stock up on fabric for all your 2026 projects at this annual quilting sale and exhibition. More than 40 traders will be selling their fabric and haberdashery with fantastic bargains to be had. The exhibition will feature finished items from local quilting groups, who will be on hand to chat through their work and share their expertise. Farnham Young Quilters will also be running a workshop for any under 16s looking to have a go at quilting. 9:30-16:00 Admission: £8 (£5 for 18-25-year-olds). Under 18s go free Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR www.farnhammaltings.com Freedom of Expression: Contemporary Textile Art 20-25 January 2026 • Contemporary Quilters Surrey invite you to their Freedom of Expression exhibition. The event will be held at…

Cutting out 1 From blue fabric, cut the following: Two (2) 2⅞in A squares (HSTs). Four (4) 2½in x 4½in B rectangles. 2 For the centre, cut one (1) 4½in C print square. 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 2½in x 4½in D rectangles. Two (2) 2⅞in E squares (HSTs). Method 4 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make four (4) A/E HSTs (Fig 1). 5 Sew B and D rectangles together. Make four (4) units (Figs 2-3). 6 Following the Block Layout Diagram, join all units and the centre C square to complete the block. The block should measure 12½in square.…

Cutting out 1 From green fabric, cut two (2) 3⅞in A squares (HSTs). 2 From blue fabric, cut one (1) 6⅞in B square (HSTs). 3 From mauve fabric, cut one (1) 6⅞in C square (HSTs). 4 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 3½in D squares. Two (2) 3⅞in E squares (HSTs). Method 5 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make four (4) A/E HSTs. Each HST should measure 3½in square. 6 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make two (2) B/C HSTs. Each HST should measure 6½in square. 7 Checking placement, sew two (2) A/E HSTs and two (2) D squares into a unit (Figs 1-2). Make two (2). 8 Following the Block Layout Diagram, sew the block together. The block should measure 12½in square.…

Cutting out 1 From green fabric, cut four (4) 3⅞in A squares (HSTs). 2 From the brown fabric, cut the following: Two (2) 3⅞in B squares (HSTs). Four (4) 3½in C squares. 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 3½in D squares. Two (2) 3⅞in E squares (HSTs). Method 4 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make four (4) A/B HSTs and four (4) A/E HSTs. Each HST should measure 3½in square. 5 Sew each of the four (4) rows together checking placement of the HSTs and C and D squares. Press rows in alternate direction as shown in Fig 1. 6 Following the Block Layout Diagram, sew the rows together to complete the block. The block should measure 12½in square.…

BEHIND THE QUILT UNIQUELY YOURS “Framing or bordering blocks on all four sides is pretty much a go-to, so I wanted something a little different. I’d been playing about with half Log Cabin blocks, so using the whole block as the centre (off centre) was my idea here. Adding the posts of cornerstones allows for another design element and a chance to add more fabric to play with. “When it came to the layout, I was quite pleased with lining up the blocks in the same orientation in their three rows of three. And sometimes it’s a hard decision at this point, but in the end, I wanted more energy in the design, to keep the eye moving over the quilt more. The actual layout was inspired by off-set sashing…

The new year poses the chance to set yourself some crafty challenges for the months ahead and what better place to start than this issue’s bursting-at-the-seams project book? We’ve teamed up with designer, teacher and TQ friend Carolyn Forster for this 36-page bonus magazine featuring nine different blocks to sew, including a Dutchman’s Puzzle, Turkey Tracks and Weathervane to name a few. Once you’ve mastered each of the techniques, follow the pattern to add borders and sashing to the blocks to make a spectacular sampler quilt. The single blocks will also make pretty cushions or perhaps you’ll find an affinity to a block and keep sewing until you have a whole quilt! And if, like us, you’re a big fan of Carolyn’s clear and no-nonsense style of teaching, turn to…

Fairview Avenue When it’s cold and bleak outside, a colourful fabric order arriving on our front doorstep is a welcome mood booster. So, why not add the warm, welcoming hues of the new Fairview Avenue collection to your shopping basket? The fourth of Bari J’s ranges for Art Gallery Fabrics, this collection of 16 prints is inspired by the cosy comforts of her childhood. Think chintzy wallpaper, ditsy florals and classic plaid in shades of poppy reds, indigo blues, rose and saffron that will bring a touch of nostalgia to your 2026 quilting. www.artgalleryfabrics.com Editor’s pıck Did you know that we sell great-value eBooks on our Gathered Shop? The in-depth guides cover subjects from frame quilts to Japanese sashiko and FPP kawaii hexies to mini quilts and much more, so…

SHOPPING FABRIC COLLECTIONS Fairview Avenue www.artgalleryfabrics.com ACCESSORIES Craft room accessories www.sostrenegrene.com No Hassles Triangle Gauge www.clover-mfg.com/en Prym Bobbin Boats www.prym.com/en KITS Jewel Stars Quilt Kit www.sewmotion.co.uk BOOKS Modern Machine Quilting www.ctpub.com Patchwork Sashiko www.ctpub.com The Panel Quilting Workshop www.foxchapelpublishing.com…

The blocks in this booklet can be traditionally pieced by cutting and sewing together individual squares, rectangles and triangles. An alternative approach is to try the following handy techniques. This means you can use speedy methods to sew units together without cutting and stitching individual pieces on bias edges. If you choose to use these, be sure to read through each block before you start and not to subcut the pieces into triangles as indicated in the Block Layout Diagrams in the various blocks. Making Half-square Triangle units 1 On the back of the light fabric, draw a diagonal line with a fine pencil. 2 Place the two (2) fabrics with right sides together. 3 Stitch ¼in away from the drawn line along both sides. 4 Cut along the drawn…

Cutting out 1 From beige fabric, cut five (5) 2½in A squares. 2 From the orange fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 2½in B squares. Four (4) 3½in C squares. 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut four (4) 3½in x 6½in D rectangles. Method 4 Sew A and B squares into three (3) rows. Then sew the rows together, pressing as shown in Figs 1-2. 5 Sew two (2) C squares to either end of a D rectangle. Make two (2) (Fig 3). 6 Following the Block Layout Diagram, sew the block together. Press as shown in Figs 3-4. The block should measure 12½in square.…

Cutting out 1 From print fabric scraps, cut the following: Four (4) 3½in A squares (centre). Four (4) 3⅞in B squares (FG). 2 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 3½in C squares. One (1) 7¼in D square (FG). Method 3 Use the No Waste Flying Geese technique to make four (4) B/D Flying Geese (FG) units. They should measure 3½in x 6½in. 4 Sew four (4) A squares together to make the centre unit (Fig 1-2). 5 Following the Block Layout Diagram, sew the block together. The block should measure 12½in square.…

I’m forever getting lost in a world of blocks, scouring my book collection and Pinterest to find something that catches my eye. It fascinates me playing about with fabrics and seeing how they look in different positions in different blocks, and it’s such a good way to learn what you like and don’t like. Sometimes, these blocks will spark the idea for a whole repeat block quilt in that design, and other times one block is enough, and I move on to the next idea. There is no need for these blocks to go to waste though! By working on new blocks in a similar palette of fabrics, they can combine to make their own sampler-style quilt. And this again gives an opportunity to play about with how to put…

BEHIND THE QUILT HEXAGON HAPPY “I first saw a version of this quilt in a book of quilts from Nebraska published in 1991; it was called Stars and Cubes Variation. It caught my eye as it was very scrappy, with no particular colours or prints in any repetition, but you could still see a pattern in it of the stars and cubes, or Tumbling blocks. “I made a version for my book Hexagon Happenings (Landauer Publishing) where I tried for a little more control of the design, but still using lots of multicoloured scraps. I used a navy print where the green print is in this quilt. You could still see the design and the navy print added some continuity. “Here in this version, which I had wanted to stitch…

FreeSpirit was founded almost 25 years ago with a simple but powerful vision: to represent vibrant and contemporary artists and breathe life into high-quality fabrics geared toward the quilting community. This vision continues to be the company’s guiding light and FreeSpirit is constantly seeking designers who embody its core values to bring a new creative spark, whether their background is in quilting, pattern making, knitting, printmaking, collage, architecture, ceramics or home décor. Every designer approaches their creative process differently. Some provide original paintings and drawings with colour samples, while others send perfectly layered digital files, and some provide a combination or some sort of hybrid of both. Each designer partners with a FreeSpirit in-house designer to make the magic happen and bring a range to life. Collections range from eight…

Cutting out 1 From brown fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 2⅞in A squares (HSTs). Four (4) 2½in B squares. One (1) 4½in C square (centre). 2 From grey fabric, cut four (4) 4½in D squares. 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 2½in E squares. Eight (8) 2½in F squares (Stitch and Flip). Four (4) 2⅞in G squares (HSTs). Method 4 Use the Stitch and Flip technique to sew the four (4) D/F/F units (Fig 1). 5 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make eight (8) A/G HSTs (Fig 2). 6 Following the block diagram, join A/G HSTs with the E BKG and B brown squares. Make four (4) units (Figs 3-4). 7 Join all units and the centre C square to complete the block. The…

Cutting out 1 From purple fabric, cut four (4) 2⅞in A squares. Subcut each on the diagonal once to yield eight (8) triangles. 2 From green fabric, cut the following: Two (2) 4⅞in B squares. Subcut each on the diagonal once to yield four (4) triangles. One (1) 4½in C square. 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 2½in D squares. Four (4) 4½in E squares. Method 4 Sew two (2) A triangles to the adjacent sides of a D square (Figs 1-2). 5 Add a B triangle to the unit. Make four (4) (Fig 3). 6 Following the Block Layout Diagram, sew the block together. The block should measure 12½in square.…

Cutting out 1 From blue/grey fabric, cut five (5) 3⅞in A squares (HSTs). 2 From brown fabric, cut one (1) 6½in B square (centre). 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Two (2) 3½in C squares. Five (5) 3⅞in D squares (HSTs). Method 4 Use the Two-at-a-Time HST technique to make ten (10) A/D HSTs. Each HST should measure 3½in square. 5 Checking placement, lay out the A/D HSTs and C squares. Sew the rows together. Press the top and bottom row to the C square and the middle row towards the B square (Fig 1). 6 Following the Block Layout Diagram sew the block together. The block should measure 12½in square.…

Cutting out 1 From brown fabric, cut two (2) 7¼in A squares. Note: One (1) is for the No Waste FG and one (1) is for the Traditional FG method. 2 From purple fabric, cut two (2) 3⅞in B squares (pinwheel triangles). 3 From cream BKG fabric, cut the following: Four (4) 3⅞in C squares (No Waste FG). Two (2) 3⅞in C squares (Traditional FG method). Method 4 The FG are stitched in two (2) different ways. 5 Follow the quick No Waste method to make four (4) A/C/C FG, with the same colour background. 6 For the A/B/C FG with two (2) different fabrics in the background, which will later make the pink pinwheel, you can use the Traditional method. Make four (4). 7 Checking placement, join the FG…