The Secret Superpower of Starch By Cassandra Madge
We all know that starch stiffens, stabilises and smooths fabric, but that’s not all it does. By Cassandra Madge It’s your worst nightmare. Blocks that were cut the same size suddenly don’t fit together or line up. That 121/2in block you spent all afternoon sewing is now only 121/8in. The quilting gurus will tell you […]
Designer Edge with Cathy Jack Coupland
Sydney artist Cathy Jack Coupland goes with her instinct when choosing a colours for her art quilts. And the upshot is a glorious feast of eye-candy colour. by Janai Velez For her work with circles, she packs in as much visual punch as possible. “Vibrant, passionate, colourful, original and unique” is how she accurately puts it. […]
6 Questions With Award-winning Quilter Jeannie Henry
We catch up with Jeannie Henry and she explains the inspiration and the materials used for creating the True Blue Jacko quilt. How did you come up with the idea for your quilt? This quilt was my response to the 2015 AQC True Blue Challenge. I immediately thought the quilt should depict something uniquely Australian […]
Hex N More and Sidekick Rulers by Julie Herman
Driven by Michelle Marvig I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun playing with a ruler! I had heard a lot about the Hex N More ruler, had seen numerous quilt designs on the internet, helped the girls purchase the rulers while on tour, but had not played with the ruler. I […]
See Inside Mary McArdle’s Studio
We take a peek into Mary McArdle’s studio in Victoria to see how her well-ordered space facilitates the creation of her original textile works. By Erica Spinks, Photography by Ned Meldrum Mary’s studio is an east-facing former bedroom that has been renovated specifically for her purposes and receives wonderful morning light. During other times of the […]
Designer Edge with Miyuki Sakai
While experimenting at art collage in Kyoto, Japan, Miyuki Sakai switched brushes for a sewing machine and paints for thread. Now, with close to 30 years’ experience and about 150 colours of thread at hand, the San Francisco-based artist has created ‘illustrations’ of everything from supermarket products to dressing-table accoutrement, all with free-motion machine stitching. […]
Skinny Robin 45° Compass Ruler by Robin Ruth Designs
Driven by Michelle Marvig The Mariner’s Compass design is a very elegant, traditional block, with an extensive range of variations. It has long been a favourite of mine. I have previously constructed the block using freezer-paper templates, acrylic templates and foundation papers. As I wandered around the stalls at Houston Quilt Festival 2015, Robin Ruth […]
Left-Handed Crafting Guide
Between 10 and 15 per cent of the population is left-handed, and most tools, utensils and other industrial and household items are designed to suit right-handed users. We can’t help with kettles and power drills, but read on to find out how to embroider, sew, knit, crochet, cut and iron as a left-handed crafting guru. […]
In The Studio With Designer April Cornell
Tricks learned from dealing in international design found their way into APRIL CORNELL’s studio styling, so that her surroundings become an unconscious extension of the products she was creating and selling. By Susan Hurley Add a twist to the traditional Spool Block quilt with this quilt pattern from Jemima Flendt Melodramatic operas and novels tell us that artists […]
30 Delft Design Fabrics
Taking cues from classic Delft design, these beautiful fabrics soothe the eye, calm the spirit and speak of the incomparable charms of mixed blues and white. Compiled by Janai Velez Jennifer Murray’s appliqué quilt pattern combines simplicity and symmetry Top L – R Clockwise: Northcott ‘Porcelain Blue’ 20694-10, designed by Deborah Edwards Northcott Studio. Distributed by Lloyd Curzon […]