Quilters Companion

Welcome to the launch issue of the 2024 Quilters Companion Block of the Month! Our amazing medallion-style quilt, Trade Winds, has been designed and made by Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession. The first part is the centre Feathered Star block. Join in and follow along as Kathy weaves an imaginary story into this stunning BOM. I am sure that you will find at least one quilt that inspires you to pick up a needle and thread in this issue! You can choose from an arty appliqué quilt by Gourmet Quilter of New Zealand, a simple and pretty pieced quilt using the traditional Economy block with only three colours and a traditional quilt by American designer, Kim Diehl. We welcome Leanne Harvey back as she shares the instructions to make a…

Mastering their art Four well-known Australian quiltmakers had works juried into the 2023 Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibition in Auburn, New York. This international exhibition is held annually at the Schweinfurth Art Center, which has a long history of promoting quilts as a visual arts medium. Jurors select quilts based on overall quality of design, visual impact and originality. Sixty-nine quiltmakers were represented in the 2023 exhibition, selected from more than 300 who submitted entries. The four successful Australians were Judy Hooworth, Anna Brown, Dianne Firth and Jessica Wheelahan. A different finishing touch American quiltmaker Kelly Spell typically makes bold, abstract quilts that are a celebration of colour and shape. On her website, she provides a detailed step-by-step tutorial heavily illustrated with photos on how to mount a quilt over an artist’s canvas. As she says,…

Mastering their art Four well-known Australian quiltmakers had works juried into the 2023 Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibition in Auburn, New York. This international exhibition is held annually at the Schweinfurth Art Center, which has a long history of promoting quilts as a visual arts medium. Jurors select quilts based on overall quality of design, visual impact and originality. Sixty-nine quiltmakers were represented in the 2023 exhibition, selected from more than 300 who submitted entries. The four successful Australians were Judy Hooworth, Anna Brown, Dianne Firth and Jessica Wheelahan. A different finishing touch American quiltmaker Kelly Spell typically makes bold, abstract quilts that are a celebration of colour and shape. On her website, she provides a detailed step-by-step tutorial heavily illustrated with photos on how to mount a quilt over an artist’s canvas.…

kathy@materialobsession.com.au @matobsgirl www.materialobsession.com.au Welcome to Part 1 of the 2024 Quilters Companion Block of the Month! Trade Winds is designed by quilt-store owner, book author, fabric designer and quilt designer Kathy Doughty. Kathy designed the Trade Winds range of fabrics to capture the vibrant energy of an exotic market square, inspired by the chintz prints of India, Middle Eastern mosaics and Asian floral motifs. You can find stockists of the BOM fabric kits on page 31. In this first part you will make the centre Feathered Star block featuring fussy cutting and intricate piecing. Proudly brought to you by Quilters Companion and Lloyd Curzon Fabrics Note: This quilt requires accurate cutting and piecing to ensure that each border fits precisely around the edge of the quilt. Materials listed on the next page are for the…

Best of Show Award Eyes of The Forest, 165cm x 165cm (65in x 65in) Margaret Solomon Gunn (USA) Artist’s statement: “Fussy cut hexie flowers and hand appliqué leaves-n-vines create the lush floor of the forest. Look carefully and you will see creatures looking back at you.” Techniques used: Hand appliqué, beading, embroidery and piecing; quilting – free-motion and ruler work Best Wall Quilt Award Buddy, 160cm x 160cm (63in x 63in) Hiroko Miyama & Masanobu Miyama (Japan) Artist’s statement: “Inspired by a photo of Yuri, a Golden Retriever, lying on her back. We designed it together with Natsumi as a young child. The hydrangea in the background is reverse appliquéd to give it the taste of Seiji Fujishiro's shadow pictures.” Techniques used: Fused appliqué, hand dyeing, machine piecing, free-motion quilting Best Hand…

kathy@materialobsession.com.au @matobsgirl www.materialobsession.com.au Welcome to Part 1 of the 2024 Quilters Companion Block of the Month! Trade Winds is designed by quilt-store owner, book author, fabric designer and quilt designer Kathy Doughty. Kathy designed the Trade Winds range of fabrics to capture the vibrant energy of an exotic market square, inspired by the chintz prints of India, Middle Eastern mosaics and Asian floral motifs. You can find stockists of the BOM fabric kits on page 31. In this first part you will make the centre Feathered Star block featuring fussy cutting and intricate piecing. Proudly brought to you by Quilters Companion and Lloyd Curzon Fabrics Note: This quilt requires accurate cutting and piecing to ensure that each border fits precisely around the edge of the quilt. Materials listed on the…