Bring along your own project and machine. If you don’t have a project, we’ll be happy to advise beforehand on something appropriate, what material and haberdashery you will need. We can help with getting started, problems, tips and tricks.
If you do not have a machine, don’t worry, we have a couple for loan. We have cutting equipment, ironing stations and basic sewing essentials you need to complete your project. We also have wadding, calico and some thread for sale.
This is a great craft bag for all your crafting supplies and will even carry a medium size sewing machine. With this square patchwork design, it lends itself to using up your scrap pieces of fabric or if you wanted, you can coordinate the pattern in your favorite fabric designs.
You will make all your patchwork panels, ties, handles and buttons loop and assemble your fully lined bag with optional pockets ready to carry all your craft projects with you.
A basic sewing knowledge would be needed for this course.
Upon booking, fabric requirements and cutting instructions will be sent out.
It is scary out there at the moment and here at Carry on Quilting, we took the decision to postpone all our courses until May as we do not want to keep messing you about with keep moving them back and back as it’s so uncertain when this lockdown will come to an end.
We were really disappointed to have to do this but we are hoping to use the time on our own projects and also plan some great new courses for you for when we can all meet up again.
A couple of bits I have been working on is the skill of Latch Hook which is new to me. I purchased a kit for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas and when we started it, I thought, I like this, might need to have a go myself and here is the result. I can’t say this is normally my kind of thing and it took a while to find an image I liked but I did find it quite addictive once I started. No idea what I am now going to do with it!!!
Latch Hook Cat
I also startedPostcard from Sweden by Jeli Quilts, which I received as a Christmas gift purchased from The Tartan Reel. https://www.thetartanreel.co.uk/ It is made up of 36 Kona cotton solid fabrics with names like lipstick, Sprout and Leprechaun and made up of half square triangles (HST) (Colours may vary from pictures below)
Kona Cotton Lipstick
Kona Cotton Sprout
Kona Cotton Leprechaun
Emma and I spent ages cutting out all the colours and labeling them because there is no way in this world I would remember them all! I love the array of colour which is what drew me to the kit in the first place but I can say I’m not keen on the colour peach.
Kona Cotton Peach
HST all cut out and labeled
Two rows ready to be sewn togetherStarting to come together
I still have 10 rows to add and it is challenging me I must say as there are a lot of sections to line up! My unpicker is fast becoming my best friend.
Trimmings
And I just love this picture of the trimmings from this project…
Well, I am sure I will start some more lockdown projects as soon as I finish the Postcard from Sweden quilt and I get time around home schooling. Please do keep in touch, keep safe and hope to see you all soon.
It depends on what you are wanting to do and with my interests being quilting and dressmaking I am on the lookout for a variety of shops and on- line stores.
Local to me, my most favorite shop is Masons in Abingdon, if you can’t find it there, it’s probably not available. You can go in and buy one button at 2p or you can purchase all kinds of fabric in 10cm increments. They have accessories, sewing machines, thread, wadding and much much more. https://www.facebook.com/masonsfabricshop/
I am very lucky I have Banbury Sewing Centre, Bicester Fabrics, Bicester Wools, Freelance Fabrics and Witney Sewing and Knitting Centre all relatively close to me. Traveling a little further afield, I love visiting Birmingham Rag Market which normally runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Tuesday being the best day for fabric. I love browsing all the Indian fabrics which are so decorated in embellishments and always brilliant vibrant colours but if you are looking for a bargain then the £1 a metre stalls are always worth a look.
Birmingham Rag Market
If you are visiting the Rag Market, the The Fancy Silk Store is a must as it is right by the market. https://www.fancysilkstore.co.uk/ This store is set over 4 floors and you cannot see the walls for fabrics, every inch of this shop has fabric including bridle, curtain, dress, furnishing, evening and theatre fabric. If this wasn’t enough, Barry’s is another one to visit a short drive away.
One other store I must mention which Vicky and I came across at the Knitting and Stitching Show at the NEC, Birmingham and visited in Bradford is Bombay Stores, the UK’s largest Asian Department store. https://www.bombaystores.co.uk/
Bombay Stores. Bradford
A little further afield in Florida last year I researched possible fabric stores to visit whilst on holiday.
was on my list,which is like one of our department stores with a fantastic fabric section. https://www.joann.com/fabric/
is a whole store for arts and crafts, a bit like our Hobby Craft but on an American scale! http://www.hobbylobby.com/
I have to admit I also had some fabric posted to our hotel from an online retailer while out there.
have the best selection of tulle I have ever seen and I was wanting to make a Minnie Mouse dress at the time for my little girl which required soft tulle. https://tulletastic.com/
My latest discovery which was right under my nose is The Tartan Reel in Brackley owned by Janey. I went to see Janey a few weeks ago regarding Carry on Quilting and we chatted for ages about fabric. What struck me most about Janey’s shop is her wall of Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton. Every colour you could ever ask for. Our chat resulted in a part time position working with Janey, what more could I ask for?
Upon discovering a workshop, Stephanie and I decided to share it and make it our sewing workshop leading to us being able to spend time together doing a hobby we both love.
Stephanie decided to use the space exclusively for her quilting project as I decided to use it for everything to take the pressure of my very small house.
Then lockdown hit us and we had to put these plans on hold and it was possible I would be unable to see Stephanie for what could be weeks! This got me thinking “What the heck and I going to do all day long at home for potentially months?”
I dug out all my scraps and remnants and decided to have a go at a simple square patchwork
quilt. So The Lockdown Quilt project was born. It was the perfect project, made of all the leftovers of projects past, like my wedding dress. I really enjoyed making the Lockdown Quilt and was a bit disappointed when it was finished.
But my friend Hannah then announced that she was expecting a baby. Wait a moment I thought – I have an idea for a perfect gift….(pictured)
Stephanie and I were having a natter one day at the unit once we were allowed out again and we thought it could be fun to learn more quilting skills and what better way than to run some courses in our space so other people could come along on this journey with us. This is how Carry on Quilting was born.
Now our workshop is up and running, we’re doing all these courses and I’m the first in the queue for them all. Our new courses will be published soon for next year.
Look out for my second blog to see how I am getting along.
Upon reading the story behind the quilt, the words ‘rather tricky’ and ‘not good for beginner paper piecer’ made me realise it was a more advanced technique,and I was in awe of how it is created.
African Collage designs feature in Kaffee Fasset’s ‘Shots and Stripes’ book which is full of marvelous designs from his shot cotton and striped fabric range. Whilst flicking through the book I was very taken with his Samarkand Table Runner.
Kaffees inspiration for this quilt was the fairground shown in this picture and I just love how he has gone from this picture to the bright, vibrant colours and angles of the table runner.
This book opened up my world to Kaffee Fassett and his extensive range of quilt designs and many books he has published. One of those books is called ‘Quilts in the Cotswolds’. I thought this might be good for course ideas for Carry on Quilting. So this book might have also fallen into my Amazon basket along with a charm pack of his fabric.
I am looking forward to working with these books and fabric very soon.
Take care
Stephanie
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was on my list,which is like one of our department stores with a fantastic fabric section. 
is a whole store for arts and crafts, a bit like our Hobby Craft but on an American scale! 
have the best selection of tulle I have ever seen and I was wanting to make a Minnie Mouse dress at the time for my little girl which required soft tulle. 
