Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Interwoven Workshop

29/2/2020

I've just spent a brlliant day on a workshop with Helen Butcher, at Sew and So's in Bungay. "Interwoven" is another geometric optical illusion design from Helen (I made Block Party last year). These are all made using foundation paper piecing, and Helen is a great tutor, giving out clear iinstructions with lots of demonstrations. We were all kept very busy, and we all managed to complete 6 triangular sub-blocks on today's workshop - there are 36 different sub-blocks in this design, along with a few repeats, so I've still got quite a way to go.

Red Infinity Scarf

27/2/2020

I made a gorgeous green infinity scarf at the weekend, using a selection of gorgeous Kaffe Fassett prints, by Free Spirit Fabrics. I couldn't resist getting some more Kaffe Fassett fabrics, this time a selection of reds, oranges and pinks. This set of charm squares was purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts, and the colours are simply stunning...

...this is a really simple pattern, and is available as a free PDF download from the Six Penny Memories website. It doesn't take long to make, as it's just stitching lots of squares together, and if you're like me, you won't be able to stop at just making one!

Tricorne Fabric Bowl

26/2/2020

Do you remember I recently made some fabric bowls using the "Squared Up" pattern designed by Helen Butcher? Well I saw these triangular fabric bowls on Helen's stall at the Cotton Club quilt show at the weekend, and couldn't resist getting a kit to try making one. And here's the result! This was is made using lots of triangles, very carefully pieced together then quilted. I used a variegated YLI quilting thread and quilted it in straight rows at half inch intervals, using the edge of my walking foot as a guide...

...I'm thrilled to bits with this fabric bowl, and it's now got pride of place in my sewing studio, right next to my sewing machine, where I tucked a few spools of thread, packets of needles, and a box of pins, all ready for my next sewing project. If you'd like to make one too, the pattern is available to purchase from Helen's website Little Patch Pockets, and is available as a paper pattern or a PDF download.

Green Infinity Scarf

23/2/2020

I bought this gorgeous charm pack yesterday from the Kis Quilting Ltd stand, at the Cotton Club quilt show in Wickham Market. I've spent an hour in my sewing studio this morning and this is the result! The pattern for this infinity scarf is a free PDF download from the Six Penny Memories website...

...and here's a better picture of that gorgeous infinity scarf. I've borrowed my daughter's dressmaking dummy for the photoshoot! This will be such a versatile accessory to my wardrobe - now I'm deliberating over what colour to make next!

Cotton Club Quilt Show 2020

22/2/2020

Here are a few pictures of the quilts that were on display at the Cotton Club Quilt Show. This year it's held at the primary school in Wickham Market, where there is lots of free parking! I saw lots of people that I haven't see for absolutely ages so it was lovely to catch up for a chat. Click on the pictures below to enlarge them if you want to see them in more detail.

Cotton Club Quilters Quilt Show 2020

20/2/2020

This weekend it's the Cotton Club Quilters quilt show, a 2-yearly event of quilts made by local quilters. This year the event is being held at Wickham Market primary school, where there is ample free parking. There will be lots of beautiul quilts on display, along with trade stans and demonstrations. And best of all there'll be cake! The mark of a good quilt show is the quality of the cake - and if previous years are anything to go by, I won't be disappointed! Anyway, this event is on for three days over the weekend. Will I see you there?

Vintage Sewing Club - Month 11

20/2/2020

Oh that wonderful feeling when you get home from work and see that this is waiting for you! These Cottage Garden Threads are GORGEOUS! This is month 11 of the Vintage Sewing Club, organised by Cross Patch in Wales. These really are such lovely threads for hand embroidery. There's only one more installment of these threads to arrive - I haven't actually started stitching these patterns yet - I'm saving them for my retirement!!

Urban Mod Fabrics

18/2/2020

A few years ago I bought a GORGEOUS bundle of fat quarters from J-Quilts Longarm quilting - these are from the Urban Mod collection by Art Gallery Fabrics - once they were pressed, they were ready to be sliced up into a new project. They were layered up so I could cut several fat quarters at once, and after a productive afternoon in my sewing studio, piecing large blocks together, this is all that's left of that gorgeous fat quarter bundle!

Squared Away Bowls

16/2/2020

Several months ago, I purchased a fab pattern to make some fabric bowls from Little Patch Pockets - and over the weekend I finally chopped up a pack of charm squares and this is the result! The Squared Away Bowl pattern, designed by Helen Butcher, gives instructions for 3 different sizes, and I couldn't decide which size to make - so I made all three! As you can see, they look great nested together or individually, and will be so useful in my sewing studio...

...this fabric is "One Stitch at a Time" by Lynette Anderson Designs, and seemed perfect for these cute bowls. They were quilted very simply with a mid grey Aurifil 50wt thread was also used for the piecing. I used a pack of charm squares from Cross Patch, along with some extra yardage, and used a thin felted polyester wadding. This is a super quick project, and I'll definitely make more of these - maybe my box of batik fabrics will be raided for the next ones! If you want to purchase the pattern, it's available as both a paper pattern (in the UK only) or as a PDF download (available worldwide) so you can start stitching straight away!

Grandma's Needlecase

15/2/2020

Over the past few evenings, Ive been stitching another small project - Grandma's Needle Book. This pattern is by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson Designs and is available as a PDF download from her online shop, Little Quilt Store. I've made this using scraps of fabrics also designed by Lynette. It has been hand embroidered with a selection of variegated Valdani perle threads, and hand appliqued using the Apliquick method...

...inside there are useful pockets for packets of hand sewing needles, a couple of wool felt pages for needles and pins, and a useful clip for attaching my scissors so they don't get lost! The vintage lace trimming has been embellished with a few hand stitched colonial knots.