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Photo by cottonbro from Pexel

As the largest quilt show in Europe, The Festival of Quilts held in Birmingham requires a lot of judges, giving us a substantial gallery of Judges’ Choice quilts - 38 at our early morning count. Enjoy!

The Judge’s Choice Awards are an opportunity for each judge to choose a quilt that speaks to them – that makes them smile, or tugs at their heart-strings or that simply stands out as “special” to them. The judges are asked not choose category winners, but otherwise they were free to choose any quilt in the show that they deemed as their favourite in the competition.

Just One Quilt (films) is a series of online videos, in which British quilter and sewer Jenni Smith talk to a quilter about one quilt they have made. There are more than thirty videos  available at the moment. Jenni teaches both garment sewing and quilting, with some courses available online. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.


Giant quilt captures snapshot of time during Queensland's coronavirus lockdown
Jessica Hinchliffe, ABC Radio Brisbane, 10 July 2020

A callout by ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast attracted 200 handmade blocks from across the state, each depicting the story of the maker's life in lockdown.

The blocks were stitched together by members of Queensland Spinners, Weavers and Fibre Artists (QSWFA) — a mammoth task which took more than 108 hours — into the official Queensland Quarantine Quilt ...

Stitches in time: how global crises can be measured in material
University of New England, 11 August 2020

When a global crisis hits, women throughout history have mobilised to hand-make some of the supplies most in demand. A UNE History Masters student says COVID-19 is no different - and this time it's masks and scrubs. 

... She found that sewing bees and circles have promoted a degree of social cohesiveness during wars, in pandemics and at times of political upheaval in Australia's history. During World War I, committees managed patriotic sewing groups that met in school or church halls to make soldiers' uniforms, and linens and medical supplies for hospitals. In the midst of the Spanish influenza epidemic, Red Cross volunteers sewed masks and gowns for infected soldiers returning from the war. Women again volunteered to sew and darn for soldiers in World War II, and to make quilts for those serving overseas.

Several weeks ago we posted about Lisa Walton's Quilt Stories Playlist, on You Tube, where she interviews an award winning quilt in-depth about one of their quilts. Lisa  has added a number of new interviews to her playlist, to introduce you to new quilters and the way they work.