Quilters Companion

Quilters Companion is the definitive patchwork and quilting magazine. Published since 2001, Quilters Companion provides readers with exciting quilting projects. These projects are accompanied by easy-to follow instructions and accompanying pattern sheets, stunning styled shots and interesting stories about the featured projects. We pride ourselves not just on being an instructional publication — we are a good read as well!

Editor’s Journal

Quilters Companion • QC No. 126 Vol.21 No.2 MARCH – APRIL 2024

Quilty Treasures

Quilt Festival Houston 2023

Whirligig • This quilt is constructed with five blocks that are set on point, with setting triangles on each side and one on each corner. The block is 20in square with 24 spiral wedges and an outer band of diamonds and triangles, and a small circle over the centre of the spiral. This design has great potential for creating a traditional or a contemporary quilt by using a small range of fabrics or even a scrappy quilt with lots of different fabrics. The leafy appliqués were completed by hand with a buttonhole stitch using a 50-weight machine cotton thread. The leaf appliqués were drawn by Margaret from her photographs of ferns in the Daintree National Park in Far North Queensland.

Creating a small art piece Painting the lily • In the next three issues, I am going to show you how I create small art pieces. There is not a lot of investment in materials and I hope you come along for the ride. To make this project achievable by everyone in a timely fashion, I am going to work on an A4-size piece, but of course the size can be increased if you choose. The techniques stay the same — they just take longer to execute.

Kite Tails • Heather decided to make this quilt as a stash buster using only fabrics from her stash. She found that the colours in the kite pieces needed a lighter colour to finish off the blocks. The sashings and backing also came from her stash, which was good, so she had all of the fabrics on hand (although her stash does not seem any smaller …). Can you make this quilt from your stash, or are some new purchases required?

Noughts and Crosses • Designed by Rebecca Hastings, this quilt was made by members of the Eastwood Patchwork Quilters group to be raffled at their 2024 quilt show. The funds raised will go to The Silver Coin Project (www.thesilvercoinproject.com) based in Ingleburn, NSW. It is a family-run organisation that supports the Macarthur region of Sydney’s local primary schools by assisting disadvantaged students. See the end of the instructions for details of the 2024 exhibition.

Brassica Fields • Wendy fell in love with the focal fabric of this quilt many years ago and had always wanted to make a quilt to feature it. Finally, it has come to fruition! This quilt uses a vast selection of low-volume prints; many were just smaller off-cuts from other projects. The blocks are large and the quilt grows very quickly.

Fancy Dance • Fresh, bright colours with a touch of black for drama! The fabric is Florence’s Fancy by Betsy Chutchian. Machine piecing and raw-edge appliqué with hand-stitched blanket stitch combine to make this stunning quilt.

Tranquility CRAFTS ‘N SUPPLIES

Queensland Quilt Show 2023

Hope and Harmony • Having seen so many different layouts and approaches to the classic clamshell during her years as a quilter, Kim wondered, could it be double-dipped to put an entirely new spin on it? You bet it could! The addition of simple, but plentiful almond-shaped leaves completely transforms the clamshell, and suddenly it’s not just the shell of a shape, but a blossom in full bloom.

the guilt shop

Daisy Dreams • This cheery outdoor quilt is perfect for family picnics in the park. Here’s the reality — way too pretty to be muddied by the great outdoors!

Off the Shelf • Enjoy...