A little online reading, listening, viewing

We have a long weekend here in NSW on the first weekend in October -more time for quilting perhaps, or watching the NRL Grand Final, adjusting to the start of daylight saving, enjoy the beautiful spring weather … or to catch up on some listening, viewing or reading about quilts and quilting. Here are a few links to get started:

A film about men quilting in a Missouri prison has 'overwhelmed' the system with donations

A Netflix documentary about men quilting in a Missouri prison has prompted an outpouring of fabric and yarn donations, to the point that the state Department of Corrections is asking people to slow down and think about giving money instead … Torryionna Miller, Columbia Missourian, 11 June 2025

If you haven’t seen it yet ‘The Quilters’ is streaming on Netflix in Australia.

Interview with Jenifer McShane - ‘The Quilters’ film maker

The Quilter on Fire podcast 4 December 2024. 1 hr 52m

Reviving Rocking Stitch and Saving Wholecloth Quilting
… Hand quilting in a frame is being placed on the Red List of Endangered Crafts by the Heritage Crafts Council as the number of elderly practitioners of this skill, mainly in Wales, Northern England and the Scottish Borders continues to dwindle and quilting frames disappear.

But here we talk to two quilters who are seeking to reverse that by recognising, protecting, and reviving whole cloth quilting, and the tools needed to carry it out … Haptic and Hue podcast, 3 July 2025

The Witches of Scotland: How a New Tartan Became a Living Memorial
… The Witches of Scotland Tartan sold out long before it went into production after its registration was spotted by an eagle-eyed American, testament to the fact that the tragedy of the witchcraft trials spread to America with the colonists of the 1600s. It also speaks volumes for the power of textiles that the two determined women, who have been campaigning for a pardon for all those accused of witchcraft in Scotland, have chosen a fabric that can be worn by all as a living memorial to those who lost their lives, rather than a statue or a fixed monument … Haptic and Hue podcast, 11 June 2025

 

Quilt Conservation – National Quilt Museum

The National Quilt Museum’s Collection comprises nearly 700 quilts. In this video, Laura Hendrickson, Director of Collections and Registrar, illustrates how quilts are cared for at the museum. For more tips on quilt conservation, see the article below by Gerald E. Roy of the Pilgrim Roy Collection.

Let's Talk Quilts

So, you've poured your heart and soul into piecing a beautiful quilt top. Congratulations! Now comes the exciting part – envisioning how it will look after being longarm quilted. As longarm quilters, we're just as excited as you are to bring your vision to life. However, sometimes, before we load your masterpiece onto our machines, we might spot a few little quirks in the piecing that are worth a quick chat about. Think of it as a pre-quilting pep talk to ensure the best possible outcome for your treasured project! …

Tracey Browning Constantin Quilts

Book Review: Improv Quilting by Irene Roderick

… while quilting has long balanced on that fine line between tradition and innovation, Improv Quilting steps proudly into the realm of improvisation. These are quilts that are made without any specific intention, breaking the boundaries of tradition while allowing the freedom to explore and experiment.

For some, quilting is a world of carefully measured patterns, precise piecing and historical techniques, but here, it’s a playground of possibility and opportunity … Cathy Jack Coupland, Stitch Safari, September 2025

 

Viewing, reading, listening …

QuiltCon 2023 award winners

QuiltCon is the largest convention of modern quilting in the world. The 10th event was held in Atlanta in February 2023, under the auspices of The Modern Quilt Guild. 

OzQuilt Network: Memories of Childhood

View the new online themed exhibition Memories of Childhood that features artwork by 28 OZQN members.

Modern Mystery Quilt 2023 Virtual Exhibition

The quilts in this exhibition were made by hundreds of quilters who participated in the Modern Mystery Quiltalong 2023. Modern Quilt Studio

A History of British Frame Quilts - video, You Tube.

Frame quilts are one of the typical styles of patchwork quilts in the UK. In this comprehensive study video, Carolyn Gibbs explains their key features, illustrated with many examples from her own Collection, and from the Quilters Guild Museum Collection, to whom grateful thanks are due. Carolyn Gibbs Quilts, 22 January 2023

How to Organize a Quilting Room with Timna Tarr

I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make the most of the spaces, taking into consideration the ways that I work.

While I won’t commit to this being my last studio, I do think this one will stick around. I am sure it will evolve over time. One thing I have learned is that as my work and life changes, so do my studio needs. Timna Tarr, Quilting Arts Magazine, Winter 2023

Low Volume Fabrics

Many of my quilts use ‘low volume’ fabric but I believe this is a relatively modern term in patchwork quilting. Generally low volume fabric in patchwork quilting refers to any light coloured fabric. In this post, I outline the different types of low volume fabric that I often use in my quilts and show some examples of how I have used them. Thimbles and Needles, 5 February 2023

From Japan ...

An excellent read, with beautiful photographs, and an amazing video to engage your interest in textiles, quilting arts and the wonders of Japan (thank you Miriam for both links), as we spend more time indoors as the days draw in ...

 

Zumo Museum of Quilt Art

An Okan Arts blog post by guest blogger Alice Gordenkerabout. Izumi Museum of Quilt Art, including beautiful photos. 

  

My work takes me to wonderful off-the-beaten-path locations in Japan, which is how I first came to visit Japan’s only museum dedicated to quilting ...’

How was it made? Japanese hikihaku obi

A video from the V & A archives (what treasures are there!), on the ancient and disappearing weaving art of making heirloom obi (kimono sashes) with gold, silver, mother of pearl and lapis threads. 

  

Nishijin-ori textiles are known for their exquisite detail, and have been made in the Nishijin area of Kyoto, Japan for over 1,200 years. Follow the intricate process involved in creating obi (the sash worn with traditional Japanese clothing), using a specialised technique called hikihaku – weaving with precious metallic thread. 

From the making of the thread itself, to the weaving on the loom, watch as three obi are made in the workshops of Kondaya Genbei – one from silver foil, one from mother of pearl, and one from the semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli ...

Logs and Ladders (3): added value

During our workshop on saturday, we had the opportunity to see Brenda Gael Smith's Copa Abstractions (Textile sketches inspired by Copacabana and environs and completed as part of a self guided Weekly Art Project) tiny art quilts, up close, as she generously brought them to share with us. They look fabulous on the webpage, but even better 'in the cloth'. They are part of a year long project, and will eventually be included in a planned solo exhibition. See them online now, but look out for the announcement of the exhibition.

Brenda's work Karkalla has been named as a finalist in the 2017 AQC Challenge Made in Australia: Flora and Fauna - winners will be announced next week at the Melbourne event. Congratulations!

• All of the finalists can be previewed online here.

Brenda used a number of books to show us added examples of the work of other  improv quilt artists, including Cindy Grisdela's Artful Improv. Here is a short video, in which the author introduces her method of making improv log cabin blocks:

Needles and pins ...

A couple of our friends are unable to get about as much as they like to at the moment, and are not getting as much sewing done as usual. Here is something to keep you amused for a few minutes, Lyn and Jo. If you always liked looking through the Playschool windows with your children, they might amuse you too:

How It's Made - Needles and Pins

SCHMETZ Sewing Machine Needles - The Making of a Needle:

Jen Kingwell: a quilter/designer of many parts

Melbourne quilter, designer, teacher, and owner of Amitie Textiles (in Gardenvale, Melbourne), Jen Kingwell is immersed in the quilting community, with her first book published by FW Media, and fabric collection for Moda both released in the last few weeks. She is also in demand internationally as a teacher and speaker.

You might already know Jen Kingwell's name as the designer of popular quilt patterns such as Green Tea and Sweet Beans, Steam Punk, Midnight at the Oasis and many others

Her Gardenvale fabric collection is coming onto the shelves of local fabric shops right now in precuts and yardage, and can be seen on the Moda blog - you might need to be quick to order/buy it, as it is already very popular. A quick Google search will take you to many beautiful quilts made, and in the making, using it. Or you could start with Red Pepper Quilts'  Gardenvale Kansas Dugout Quilt blog post.

The book Quilt Lovely is definitely on our  current wish list for our library.  It is readily available in local quilt shops, and online now.

You can see and hear Jen Kingwell talking about her love of quilting, and favourite tips in these videos (and seven others listed here) recorded by the Fat Quarter Shop at their studio:

Question and Answer with Australian Moda Fabric Designer Jen Kingwell

Gardenvale Fabric Collection by Moda Fabrics and Jen Kingwell 

Added 18th April 2015:

Quilt Lovely - An Interview with Jen Kingwell, 

Poppyprint, 17th April 2015

A 'lovely' interview by Canadian blogger, Krista Hennebury, touching on Jen Kingwell's thoughts about quilting in Australia and in the UAE, as well as the book and fabric range

Good advice for all quilters

Three Things Machine Quilters Should Stop Doing 
This video from Angela Walters is relevant to all quilters - it's not about a whizz-bang new quilting technique or pattern, but our approach to quilting, and especially to charing it with others. We do know this already, but a reminder is always worthwhile - 8 minutes well spent.

PS - you will find Angela's videos on whizz-bang new quilting techniques and machine quilting patterns on her You Tube channel. They are very good too.