Editors' blog from British Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, a monthly publication written by quilters, for quilters

Friday 18 November 2016

December 2016 Giveaways

Hi Folks

Whilst we wait for our new website to be up and running, we'll run entry for our giveaways via the blog. You can also fill in the coupon in the magazine itself if you prefer. Coupon entries should be sent to P&Q Magazine, PO Box 129, Monmouth, NP25 9BF

The giveaways available in our December 2016 issue are as follows:

੦ 'Euphoria - Tapestry Quilts'
੦ 'The Quilt Design Coloring Book'
੦ 'Raised Quilt and Stitch'
੦ 'Civil War Legacies III'
੦ 'Christmas Pure and Simple'
੦ Sew-all Thread Pack
੦ Enchanted Garden Quilt patterns

Please email us on editor.pq@mytimemedia.com listing the giveaways you would like to be entered into together with your name and address and quoting the code from the coupon in the magazine. The subject matter of your email should be 'December 2016 Giveaways'

The closing date for entries is 31 December 2016

After the closing date winners for the giveaways will be drawn at random from both the email and coupon entries.
Only one entry per person (email and paper entry)
Winners will be notified within one month of the closing date.
No correspondence will be entered into.

Good luck!

Joanna





Thursday 5 March 2015

Answers to our March Puzzle



Our March puzzle - Grandmothers Flower Garden 


You can find a puzzle each month on the back page of P&Q magazine, check you got it right - below are the correct answers!






Thursday 29 January 2015

Answers to our February Puzzle

Our February puzzle - On Your Quilting Blocks

You can find a puzzle each month on the back page of P&Q magazine, check you got it right - below are the correct answers!



Friday 16 May 2014

June Product of the Month - Reviews



Vilene Lamifix Glossy is a transparent, fusible coating that you can iron onto fabrics to give them a wipe clean finish and create something like an oilcloth. It can be applied to most fabrics, but for best results use on 100% cotton. As the coated fabric gives protection from getting dirty, it is great for making fabric bowls, cosmetic and toiletry bags, fabric shopping bags and table mats.

For more information on Vilene Lamifix Glossy and details of where to buy, visit www.eqsuk.com


For the June issue of P&Q we asked for some willing quilting volunteers via our Facebook page, to test out Lamifix Glossy for us, review and record their findings. This is what they had to say...


'We found Lamifix to be easy to use, the product stuck to the fabric well in the first instance and the fabric didn’t feel too stiff and had a nice sheen to it. However, as we worked the product into a kindle case, we did find that as we turned the bag the right way round the Lamifix crinkled and slightly bubbled off the fabric despite it being thoroughly stuck down earlier. The photo in P&Q is of my 10 year old daughter Emma with the finished article, which she made for her daddy. We did it in a morning making the pattern up as we went. She chose the fabrics, and the binding, we used felt for the lining and she did virtually everything herself, except the binding. Daddy was really pleased!' Jayne Hollingsworth



'I decided to make a small tote bag with the film on the outside giving it a lovely glossy appearance. It was easy to use but care needed not to leave pinholes. It cut easily and sewed using ordinary machine needle and foot. Working it caused creases, which were permanent. A very useful material that I would use inside rather than outside of bag next time.' Trisha Caulfield



'The iron temperatures need to be hot as adhesion at the edges of the fabric was variable. The first project I made was a mug mat, however the product cracked when I turned it inside out. The second item was a wipe clean breadbasket, which worked well but edges needed binding to secure.' Margaret Smith


 


'I thought this would be ideal to use to make a wipe clean bib for a toddler. The foil took a long time to bond with the calico and went wrinkly at the edges; the overall finish looked shabby. This was a disappointing product to use and I would not recommend it.' Rachel Bushell

If you would like the opportunity to review a product for us visit our Facebook page and look out for our next product review post! www.facebook.com/britishpatchworkandquiltingmagazine






Friday 9 May 2014

May Product of the Month Reviews - Mistyfuse

Mistyfuse is an ultra-light, paper-less, iron on fusible web. It is incredibly sheer, doesn’t add bulk or stiffen fabric and bonds firmly once cooled. It can be used with all weights of fabric from velvets and cottons to delicate tulles and organza. Since there is no added adhesive, it will not leave any residue on your scissors or needles. It is available in black and white.


 

For more information on Mistyfuse and details of where to buy, visit www.eqsuk.com

For the May issue of P&Q we asked for some willing quilting volunteers via our Facebook page, to test out Mistyfuse for us, review and record their findings. This is what they had to say....


 

'Wow well the possibilities are endless with this stuff, every art and textiles GCSE student needs this. The only problems I had with Mistyfuse was the wind catching it as I shook it out and a bit attached itself to the hot iron, but it did come off easily.

I tried 2 techniques; firstly I used peacock feathers bonded between two sheets of Mistyfuse on top of a piece of cotton fabric and then ironed under baking parchment. The cotton has been left with a chintzy glaze but the feathers have stuck fast. I had no problem free machine quilting through the Mistyfuse area, but pin marks show and do not close over.


The second was the appliqué Liberty hearts. The pink one was done with Mistyfuse, the burgundy with a paper backed fusible, the Mistyfuse backed one feels lighter and softer with no sharp points.' Rachel Bushell





'Ideal for use with a variety of fabrics. I used Mistyfuse to appliqué onto linen. It worked well fusing multiple layers together and still remaining pliable. Sewing through the fabrics by machine and hand was easy. I did miss the convenience of a paper back to trace onto, but overall a very nice product to use.' Margaret Convery




'Mistyfuse doesn't seem as fast to me for design transfer as paper-backed fusibles, especially if you need a lot of different shaped appliqué pieces. It is wonderful for free cutting shapes from prepared fabric. Mistyfuse is ideal for bonding snippets of fabric and thread together and applying to a background fabric, paper or even wood! My favourite use is with the Bernina Cutwork tool. I prepare fabric with Mistyfuse which stops them sliding when stacked for cutting out. The fusible is so fine that I can stack more than with other fusibles. 
The pictures below show original projects where Mistyfuse was used; A cushion where the hexagons were stacked and cut before fusing and stitching and Russian doll appliqués where again the various shapes were stacked for cutting.' Rosalind Pollock





'Mistyfuse was very fine, with no evidence of glue, and having followed the basic instructions one piece of fabric fused very well to another whilst not making the overall fabric too rigid and inflexible. Don't think I shall be using conventional fusible in the future.' Louise Bennett

If you would like the opportunity to review a product for us visit our Facebook page and look out for our next product review post!

www.facebook.com/britishpatchworkandquiltingmagazine


Emma

Tuesday 4 February 2014

P&Q Cruise to Norway

Were you one of the lucky people to go on our first cruise last year to Norway?
 
A great time was had by all by the sound of it! Angela Price, who organised the cruise with Jim West of Sew Many Places, put together a lovely video showing what went on. We also had a report on the cruise in our October issue last year.
 
If you would like to treat yourself, Angela has just emailed me to advise there are still a few places left for this year's cruise which runs from 17 to 25 May!


What could be better? Patchwork and quilting classes as you sail across the North Sea to Norway? Cruising up and down the fjords with inspiration around every corner?
 
This year we are lucky enough to have Judi teaching with us again. She will be teaching her 'Along the Waterfront' workshop which is a pieced and foundation pieced class inspired by the scenic waterfront of Alesund, which is one of the ports of call on the cruise.
Pam Holland from Australia has her Illustrative Quilting class where she will show you how to draw and quilt with a sewing machine!
Linzi Upton's class, 'Northern Lights' is a Nordic-inspired workshop which includes curved piecing and finally we have Stuart Hillard (of Great British Sewing Bee fame) teaching you how to make the Clamshell Accessories Case from Clover.
 
If you would like to find out more you can email Angela at angela.price@traplet.com or telephone Sew Many Places on 02393 880068.
 
So if you want to have a holiday with a difference with like-minded quilting ladies.........what are you waiting for?!
 
Joanna