Nicola Foreman Quilts - BLOG

Pretty Pink Crib Lining

11/4/2026

I don't really do commissions anymore, however when I was asked to line this vintage wicker crib, I couldn't resist! My sister's partner is going to be a grandfather, and this beautiful crib was used when he was a baby, so has a very special place in his heart, and the expected new arrival is going to be a little girl - this first in his family for a very long time. The only request was that the lining was pink - and this pretty pink floral fabric was just perfect - purchased online from Fabrics Galore London - it's a wide cotton fabric, and drapes beautifully...

...I drafted my own pattern to fit the crib, and I'm really pleased with the results. I made a channel for threading the elastic through, and the lower edge is gathered. I found a company online that made pram mattresses in an assortment of sizes, so ordered one and was really pleased with the quick delivery...

I...and here's the completed lining, all ready to go off to the parents-to-be, who are eagerly awaiting their new arrival. The mattress was purchased online from Comfort Collection - they sell pram mattresses in a variety of sizes, so I was easily able to find one to fit.

Anna's Sminkepung in Liberty Prints

19/3/2026

I've spent far too long away from my sewing studio, and this little project was just perfect to get me back in there and to get my creative juices flowing! I've used some gorgeous Libery prints from Alice Caroline - originally 4.5" squares, these were cut up and pieced back together, layered with a thin felted polyester wadding (Vliseline H640) and a sweet Liberty print for the "lining" and then quilted very simply using a pale pink Aurifil 40wt thread. I've added pink lace trimming to the front of the bag...

...this bag is as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside, as all the seams are covered with a single fold binding, so there are no raw edges showing. Neat prairie points are added at each end of the zipper closure to give it a distinctive look...

...and here's the finished bag. The pattern I've used is one of my favourites - Anna's Sminkepung by the Norwegian designer AnnAka. Although the instructions are all written in Norwegian, it is well illustrated, and I just follow the diagrams. AnnaKa patterns are only available to purchase from quilt shops in Scandinavia - there are links on the sidebar of my blog to some of these shops. Now it just needs to be wrapped and delivered as it's a gift for my niece!

Cotton Club Quilters Exhibition - The Stalls

23/2/2026

Yesterday morning I visited the Cotton Club Quilters Exhibition, and here are some of the amazing stalls that were there. Helen Butcher and Helen Howes are both amazing quilters and tutors, and sell some fantastic patterns. Have a look at their websites Little Patch Pockets and Helen Howes Textiles for lots of inspiration! The ladies from KIS Quilting Ltd were there with a lovely selection of fabrics, and finally Nicola from Simply Haberdashery was there - it was super to catch up with her again!

Cotton Club Quilters Exhibition - The Quilts

22/2/2026

This morning I visited the Cotton Club Quilters Exhibition at the community centre in Woodbridge. This is a local quilt club, that put on an amazing exhibition of quilts on alternate years. This is just a selection of some of the beautiful quilts that were on display. If you click on the pictures, you can enlarge them so you can see the amazing details.

Alfie's Washbag

23/1/2026

My grandson Rory recently requested a washbag to use when he comes to stay with us - and as soon as I'd finished it, he asked me to make another one for his little brother Alfie! Rory chose some very bright fabrics from my scrap box (all fabrics that I was going to donate as part of the Declutter Challenge I've been taking part in) and he certainly chose some lovely colours. I've used the same pattern that I used for Rory's washbag, "Unisex" by Kari Renolen, from issue 04/2015 of the Norwegian quilting magazine MyQuilt. The feature fabric is "Jurassic Jamboree" by Abi Hall for Moda. It was perfect for the zippered pocket on the front of the bag...

...I've also used it for the inside slip pockets too. And I've used another cute "made by nanny" label, purchased from Little Rosy Cheeks - they have a great selection of labels! Again, the seams inside the bag have all been neated with fabric binding...

...with some careful cutting of the Jurassic Jamboree fabric, I was also able to use it for the back of the washbag too. The bag has been machine quilted very simply in straight lines, with Aurifil 40wt threads in an assortment of bright colours to match the fabrics. A fabric loop has been stitched at each end of the zipper...

...and here's the completed washbag, ready for Alfie to use when he comes for a sleepover with us.

Declutter Challenge - Day 21

21/1/2026

The final day of the Declutter Challenge has arrived at last! Although I took part last year, I still had a few things that needed to be removed and donated, and it always helps to take stock of all the "stuff" and decide is it really useful, do you still like it, and do you still actually need it!

There's lots more information over on the Just Get it Done Quilts website.

#declutterchallenge2026
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2026
#reclaimingmyspace2026

Declutter Challenge Days 17-20

20/1/2026

The next 4 days of the Declutter Challenge have been all about dealing with fabric scraps, wadding, fabrics for quilt backs and fabric yardage. There is lots more information over on the Just Get it Done Quilts website, and there are You-tube videos to watch.

There is also a FB group you can join, where lots of members will share their before and after photographs, and the following hashtags can be used on social media, if you want to join in too.

#declutterchallenge2026
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2026
#reclaimingmyspace2026

Rory's Washbag

18/1/2026

My little grandson Rory had requested a washbag to use when he comes to stay for a sleepover, to keep his toothbrush, toothpaste and flannel in, along with any other bathing necessities. Obviously a shop bought one just wouldn't be right, so I let him look through my box of fabric scraps that I was going to donate, and he chose a super animal print - Noah's Ark, by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda, and he picked some co-ordinating fabrics to go with it. I decided to use a pattern that I had made a few times before, Unisex by Kari Renolen that was in the Norwegian quilting magazine MyQuilt, issue 04/2015...

...I've used a leftover piece of cotton/bamboo wadding, so the bag can be easily washed when necessary. I've used 40wt Aurifil thread for the construction of the bag and the machine quilting, in a selection of colours to match the colours of the fabrics. The quilted washbag has a zippered pocket on the front, which has been made with the Noah's Ark fabric, along with two slip pockets inside the bag...

...all the seams are neated using fabric binding, and I've added a "made by nanny" label, which was purchased from Little Rosy Cheeks a few months ago. The outer part of the bag has a couple of loops attached at each end of the zipper. These loops can be held to assist with unzipping the bag, and can also be used to hang the bag up if needed...

...here's the completed bag, ready to be filled with a few bits and bobs for Rory's next sleepover with his nanny and grandad. Rory likes to keep me busy, and he's already picked out a selection of fabrics for a washbag for his brother, as he didn't want to share this one!

Declutter Challenge Days 13-16

16/1/2026

The next 4 days of the Declutter Challenge have been all about dealing with notions - elastics, buttons, ribbons, snaps, zippers, interfacing, foundation papers, bag hardware, and all those little bits that somehow multiply when we’re not looking. Also, the challenge has covered dealing with kits, and unfinished projects. There's lots more information over on the Just Get it Done Quilts website, and there are You-tube videos to watch.

There is also a FB group you can join, where lots of members will share their before and after photographs, and the following hashtags can be used on social media, if you want to join in too.

#declutterchallenge2026
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2026
#reclaimingmyspace2026

Declutter Challenge Days 9-12

12/1/2026

The next 4 days of the Declutter Challenge have been all about dealing with your threads (for both machine and hand sewing), pins and needles, irons, rulers and cutting mats, sewing stations and sewing machines. There's lots more information over on the Just Get it Done Quilts website, and there are You-tube videos to watch.

There is also a FB group you can join, where lots of members will share their before and after photographs, and the following hashtags can be used on social media, if you want to join in too.

#declutterchallenge2026
#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2026
#reclaimingmyspace2026