Nicola Foreman Quilts - BLOG

Winter Playground - Quilting and Binding

1/12/2025

Once my Winter Playground quilt (designed by Lynette Anderson) had been layered up ready for quilting, I deliberated for a few days over the quilting - for me, this is always the tricky part! I started off with a couple of hand quilting ideas, but they didn't work out, so I free machine quilted it in small sections. Using Aurifil 40wt threads in colours to match the fabrics for the top, and a different colour in the bobbin than matches the backing fabric, I quilted it very simply to start with. Firstly, using a walking foot, I quilted it "stitch-in-the ditch" around each block, then using a dark green Aurifil thread I quilted a very simple cross hatch design on the small squares on the inner borders. Then I machine quilted aound all the applique - this was very time consuming, but it's really made the applique "pop" - and finally I had a bit of fun, and free motion quilted lots of swirls and curls on the background fabric...

...for the pieced borders, I machine quilted a simple cross-hatch design acros sall the small squares, but for the plain parts of the brorders I decided to do something a bit different. Using freezer paper, I cut out a selection of starrs - these were laid out on the borders, with the shiney side of the freezer paper on the fabric. Once I was happy with the layout, they were gently pressed into place with a warm iron - then I was able to machine quilt around the stars...

...I delved into my box of Lynette fabrics for the binding - this teal coloured check was perfect! Usung the double fold method, I stitched this onto the front of the quilt, using a quarter inch seam - again using a walking foot...

...the corners were mitred, and once the binding had been machined into place, the folded edge was turned over to the back of the quilt and hand stitched in place using ladder stitch. A quilt sleeve was made using a piece of leftover backing fabric, and this was also hand stsitched into place...

...and here's the completed quilt - I really am so pleased with this one! Now I just need to design a label to go on the back of the quilt - I've already been doodling some ideas, and will hopefully get it completed ready to dislay over the Christmas period!

Aspen Frost - Quilted

26/11/2025

Whoop whoop - look what I collected from the longarm quilter Daisy May Quilting today! Back in September I pieced this gorgeous quilt top together whilst I was away on a quilting retreat - the pattern is called McGuffy, and is from the book Schnibble Times Two by Carrie Nelson. Each pattern in the book is shown in 2 sizes - a small quilt made with 2 Charm packs, and a larger quilt made with 2 Layer Cakes. The fabrics I used had been in my stash for a while - the Layer Cakes - Aspen frost by Basic Grey for Moda had been purchased from the Festival of Quilts way back in 2012, and the inner border is a Grunge Spot, also by Basic Grey. This was a leftover piece of fabric from when I'd had another festive quilt longrm quilted a couple of years ago, and I'll use the same fabric for this binding. I am absolutely thrilled to bits with this quilt, and hopefully I'll get the binding stitched on over the weekend. Even my grandson gave it his approval today, as he asked if we could snuggle up under it while we watched TV!

Winter Playground - The Borders

13/11/2025

I'm definately on the home straight now, with my Winter Playground quilt, designed by Lynette Anderson Designs. Finally it's time for the borders to be made - and this involves lots of cutting and stitching tiny squares together, for three "inserts" for the borders. Although I'd originally purchased a starter pack of fabrics when I bought the set patterns back in 2018, I've added lots of my own "Lynette" fabrics that I've accumulated over several years. to give it a better variety...

...these pieced borders give a bit more interest to the quilt than just using one fabric, and they're inserted on just three sides of the quilt. The fabric for the plain part of the border is a pretty star print, that is also one of Lynette's fabrics...

...there are a few wool appliqued starts on the original pattern, but I'm going to stitch these star shaped buttons on instead. These were purchased online from Minerva and will be sdtitched in place once the quilting is finished - I've just laid them in place for the photoshoot...

...and here's the quilt top, layered up with wadding and backing fabric. The fabric is a feature print from Lynette's Winter Playground collection, and the wadding is a bamboo and cotton mix. The layers have been spray basted with 505 spray. I've been deliberating over the quilting ever since I started this project, and finally decided to machine quilt it. Hopefully I'll manage to get this completed before Christmas, so I can have it on display, along with my other festive wall hangings.

Another Zoo Train Cushion Set

10/11/2025

A few weeks ago I made a set of these "Zoo Train" cushions for my grandson Rory. Obviously his little brother Alfie needed a set too, so I delved into my box of brightly coloured batiks, and Rory picked out these ones for his brother's cushions. I've used the same background fabric, a Makower basics, with cream starts on a pale grey background, purchased from Poppy Patch - a fabulous quilt shop in Northamptonshire. The applique shapes have been traced onto Lite Steam-a-Seam 2, and machine appliqued into place using a selection of 40wt Aurifil threads in matching colours...

...Rory chose all the fabrics for these cushions, and was adamant that his borther's name was made with this green spotty batik! I've used the same black and white striped fabric for the binding - this was purchased online from Fabric Love - and a cute little Made by Nanny label, from Little Rosy Cheeks which is also a UK company...

...and just like the previous set of cushions, these have a hidden zipper on the back, so the covers can be removed and easily laundered. I hope Alfie will like these as much as his brother likes his! Rory has got his in his "reding corner" in his bedroom, and this set will be in Alfie's bedroom. Goodness only knows what Rory will ask me to stitch for him next!

Winter Playground - Block 6 - Renard And Friends

8/11/2025

The final block of the Winter Playground quilt is called "Renard and Friends" and features yet another fox, along with a snowman. The snowman is wearing a very cosy looking jumper, and a very smart hat...

...a sweet little bird is skating along, and a string of bunting is held betwen the two friends. As with the other blocks, all of the hand embroidery has been stitched using a selection of hand-dyed variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads. The letters on the bunting were a little bit fiddly to stitch! The appliqued shapes have all been completed using the Apliquick method of applique...

...Reynard the fox is well wrapped up in his "knitted" scarf - I love the attention to detail that Lynette has put into these designs...

...and here's the completed block - adorned with a scattering of hand embroidered snowflakes. These variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads are really lovely, and the variegation is very subtle...

...once the two blocks had been stitched together, the seam was pressed open, and I traced the remaining part of the "string" between these two snowmen. This was then covered with a neat backstitch...

...now it's ready to join to all of the other blocks. I'm going to add a couple of "star" buttons to these blocks, rather than the wool appliqued stars that are in the original design...

...now all the blocks have been joined together, I just need to prepare the outer borders - there are lots more tiny squares for the outer borders, so I'll be very busy, choosing fabrics, and cutting out squares , and stitching them all back together again!

Winter Playground - Block 5 - Dorothea Can Skate

5/11/2025

The penultimate block of this Winter Playground qult is called "Dorothea Can Skate" and features another cosy knitted scarf, wrapped around a very handsome snowman...

...his mate is wearing a pair of cosy ear muffs to keep him warm, and they're both tucked into a very smart sleigh. Dorothea is wearing a pretty lace-trimmed dress, with a rather nice white wool felt collar...

...lots of hand embroidered snowflakes have been scattered across the block, and as with the rest of this quilt, the hand embroidery has been stitched using a selection of hand-dyed variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads. This just needs a final press, then I can start photographing the final block, which I'd already prepared a few days ago.

Winter Playground - Block 4 - Let's Skate

4/11/2025

Block 4 - Let's Skate - of the Winter Playground quilt, designed by Lynette Anderson, is such a pretty block, with lots of little birds out skating. Ther's even a cute little chick in her pram! The hand embroidery has all been stitched using a selection of variegated Valdani stranded embroidery threads, and I've used the Apliquick method for the applique...

...the birds don't seem to be bothered at all by Mr Fox - who does look very fancy wearing his snow goggles! And there's even a very jolly snowman joining in with the fun...

...there was lots of cutting and stitching for the next part, and I've used a large selection of fabrics, all designed by Lynette, for these narrow borders. These are stitched to both the top and bottom edge of this pretty block...

...I couldn't resist getting it stitched onto the larger piece that I'd already constructed, and I'm really peased with how it looks so far! I've given it a final press, and now I can get on with finishing the next two blocks!

Zoo Train Cushion Set

19/10/2025

A few weeks ago, my grandson Rory asked me to make him a cushion with a train on, and I knew this would be the perfect design! This pattern is Zoo Train Cushion Set, designed as a collaboration between 2 great designers - Claire Turpin Design and Tied With a Rbbon - known together as Sew Along. I purchased the pattern, along with the pale grey star print fabric (which is for the front and the back of the cushion) from Poppy Patch here in the UK - and the black and white narrow stripe (which I'll use for the binding) was purchased from Fabric Love - also here in the UK . I've used a selection of my own bright batiks for the applique shapes, with matching threads - thank goodness for my extensive collection of colourful Aurifil 40wt threads! The fusible webbing that I've used for this project is Lite Steam-a-Seam 2. Once the applique shapes had been prepared, the background fabric was layered up with a piece of lightweight fusible wadding, Vlieseline H630, and a piece of cotton fabric for the backing. The applique was machined into place through all 3 layers, so it was quilted as it was appliqued...

...these 2 cushions feature a train engine, with a couple of carriages containing some fun zoo animals - and the second carriage also has Rory's name appliqued on it. One of his favourite colours is orange, so that was the obvious choice to use an orange batik for his name...

...I've added a covered zipper to the back of the cushion cover, so it can easily be removed if it needs to be laundered. A cute little label "Made by nanny" is stitched onto the front - the labels are designed and purchased from Little Rosy Cheeks - and the narrow stipey binding just finishes it all off neatly...

...the larger rectangular cushion measures 24" x 16" and the smaller cushion measures 16" square...

...I've popped a couple of polyester filled cushion inserts into both of the covers, and they'll be perfect for Rory's reading corner in his bedroom. Now I just need to sort through my remaining batik fabrics, and make a set for his little brother Alfie.

Winter Playground - Block 3 - Lone Pine

4/10/2025

Block 3 - Lone Pine - is the next installment of the Winter Playground quilt, designed by Lynette Anderson, and is made up of 2 sections. This sweet little bird, with her cosy scarf and pompom hat, is skating under a very tall pine tree. The scarf was stitched using Colonial knots - these are very similar to French knots, but I find them easier to stitch...

...the tall pine tree then curls over onto the second part of the block, with a star perched on the top. More stars are twinkling in the sky, over the pieced section of block 2, along with hand embroidered snowflakes. These have been stitched using a variegated Valdani stranded embroidery thread...

...the first 3 blocks are now joined together, and depict a very pretty wintertime scene.

Winter Playground - Block 2 - Hooty and Mr Moon

1/10/2025

I'm really enjoying stitching this quilt - pattern is Winter Playground by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson Designs. This block is stitched in 2 parts - lots of small squares pieced together to make the patchwork sky, and an appliqued block with a cute little owl. These fabrics are from a variety of collections by Lynette Anderson Designs, and mixed in with a few hand embroidered snowflakes, this patchwork block will be the sky. The owl is perched on top of a very pretty tree...

...I've used lots of green fabrics for both of these trees, again they're from a variety of fabric collections designed by Lynette - her fabrics all blend so well together. Once these two pieces have been pressed, I can make a start on block 3, and then join these pieces together.