Mother-in-law's Quilt

Mother-in-law's quilt

Oh how much have I enjoyed The Great British Sewing Bee? Too much. I really enjoyed that everyone was so likeable and, although it was a competition, it was quite uncompetitive. I can't wait for the Great British Quilting Bee (provided there are no hexagons)! 

Whilst I was watching I was also stitching a lap quilt for my lovely Mother-in-law to keep her warm during the evenings.  I searched through my fabric stash to find pinks and greens that she would like including some Amy Butler pieces. Every piece, apart from the cream, is cut from a fat quarter.

Close up

I made up the design, it's a simple rectangle and two squares pieced together then each one turned 45 degrees to make the pattern more interesting.  Then I hand quilted the squares diagonally to make the quilt padded. Trapping more air makes it warmer. 

Now it is finished I can give my Scandinavian-style quilt some attention AND, in true quilt maker's tradition, I have started piecing my next quilt before I have finished my last.  More quilting ideas HERE 

A Busy Weekend

Platform Gallery Clitheroe

Saturday 27 April sees the opening of the Craft Open exhibition at The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe where I am exhibiting three pieces of glass. I will be there from 12.30 to see the prize giving and to see all the exhibits. This exhibition is open until 6th July so,if you can't make it on Saturday, there's still plenty of time to visit. 

Otley Courthouse

Sunday 28 April I shall be at Otley Courthouse as part of the Designer Craft Fair from 9.30am to 1.00pm. Entrance is free so if you are in Otley please pop in and give me a wave! 

Silk Screen Printing

paper stencil

Today I have been showing my son, Thom, how to screen print on fabric using paper stencils.  We had a lot of fun and were thrilled with the results, although the stencil disintegrated faster than I would have liked.  Fortunately I have the original design and a quantity of photocopies so that I will be able to print it again in different colours. 

Thom spreads fabric ink onto the screen

The advantage of paper stencils is that you don't have to expose the screen and washing out is fairly simple. The disadvantage is that they can only be used for one run of prints then have to be thrown away. Also, it took me longer to cut the stencil than it did to print and clean up afterwards.

Thom pulls the squeegee whilst I hang onto the frame!

We mixed the pigment with a fabric medium to make a thick coat of colour. Permanent colour needs to be washed from the screen as soon as possible after printing has finished.   

Screen before lifting up 

Selection of prints

Cotton sheeting

We practiced on cotton sheeting first before printing onto cotton poplin. 

Cotton poplin

Our next task is to test the inks for colour fastness and then to start printing fabric squares for patchwork and quilting. 

A Nice Surprise

Platform Gallery, Clitheroe

My glass has just been accepted for the Platform Gallery Craft Open 2013 from 27 April to 6 July.

Platform Gallery is a market place for handmade crafts and hosts exhibitions of contemporary craft. I submitted three pieces based on my Mesh design (see below) and all three have been accepted.

The exhibition launch will be on Saturday 27 April and there will be prize giving for the "Selectors' Prize" and "Ribble Valley Prize" (which I am not eligible for as I don't live in the Ribble Valley). However, there is the "People's Choice" prize where voting continues throughout the exhibition. 

So, if you are in Lancashire please visit the Platform Gallery and take a look.