Excited to have one of my string quilts featured in Homespun @homespunmagazine from my String Quilts book! 👋👋 Australia 😃
Here are some behind the scenes pics from when I teach and was working on the book! Nothing like using the leftovers for string blocks, then using their leftovers for a cute pincushion, or even more quilt blocks 😂. Give me a heads up if you see a copy of the magazine!
#stringquilt #stringquilts #wastenotwantnot #scrapquilts #stringquiltsnowball #patchwork #patchworquilt #homespunmagazine #searchpress #carolynforsterquilts #carolynforster

My stitching went a bit pear shaped yesterday, so today it was @worldofsewing.uk to the rescue 🙏. I really do believe that if you have a local sewing shop , then use it or loose it. I’m lucky in Tunbridge Wells as we this gem,they will be fixing my own machine, but also let me sit and sew to enable me to keep to some deadlines.
I managed to treat myself to new thread snips too ! A good day at a sewing shop! #worldofsewing #worldofsewingtunbridgewells #localsewingshop #useitorlooseit #shoplocal #tunbridgewells #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

Literally unearthing quilt tops I have not seen in years!
A few weeks ago in the #quiltingonthegosewalong2025 it was a Carpenters wheel block, smaller than this of course!
I mentioned then that I’d made large ones, four for an entire quilt, and here it is , well half of it, as it really is big!
I might be treating it to a long arm quilting, as I still love the colour palette and fabric selection, and now I’ve rediscovered it , seems a shame not to have it finished 🤓.
I love how blocks I can hand piece overlap into versions that I’ve machine pieced. I made it a a sew along as someone who had a blog did it in three sizes, anyone recall that 🧐, it really was a long time ago!
#machinepieced #patchwork #quilttop #easygiudetomachinequiltmaking #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts #1930sinspired

Finished off these blocks today that I started earlier in the summer for teaching a class. I had thought this would be it, stitched together and done, but now I’m thinking to add a border, probably quite wide with some appliqué 🤓. It’s never over until it’s over is it 😂🧵🪡. But one step closer! #patchwork #quiltblock #makingaquilt #marinerscompassquilt #machinestitched #workinprogress #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

A bit of a throw back to a quilt design from a couple of my books. It’s one I still look at and wish I could make the time to make yet another one! Sometimes all the design possibilities of such a simple block really grab you! I’m on a bit of an applique roll right now, so who knows I might sneak one in! #applique #handapplique #handappliqué #appliqué #machineapplique #scrapquilt #layercakequilt #windingways #patchwork #patchworkquilt #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

Had a little distracting fun playing with this Moon and Stars block this week. And no I didn’t stitch many blocks, just one and then used the Layout App to play with layouts. I’m not big on fussy cutting, but I can see that I’ll love it for these stars 😆🧵🪡. The block is circa 1910 and saw it way back in a book on Texas quilts. It’s been on the waiting list a looong time 🤣. #quiltblock #applique #moonandstars #harvestmoon #handappliqué #fussycutting #patchwork #epp #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

So the weekend saw some Japanese rice bag inspired stitching 🤓🪡🧵. I kept it simple and used fabrics to hand, and even made my own drawstring cord! I’ve not done that for ages, but so satisfying . I kept with the 10in squares as a starting point and now have a new thread bag, very roomy and lots of visibility and access for colour searching! And I love the slightly autumn vibes of the apple fabric patches 🧵🪡🍏🍎. #ricebag #sewingbag #sewyourstash #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

Bit of a throw back to the summer when I decide to stitch another quilt with the blocks from Easy Guide to Machine Quilt Making 🧵🪡😂. If you have the book, or are waiting on the release then you too could be in this position! The blocks are quite addictive and I stitched way more than I needed, so QAYG version was whipped up. And if you have my Quilt as You Go book then you will be all set to be stitching this autumn ! What better time to stitch a quilt now that the seasons are changing ☺️. @searchpress @searchpress_na
#easyguidetomachinequiltmaking #makeaquilt #patchwork #patchworkquilt #machinesewing #scrapquilt #stashbuster #qayg #quiltingonthego #quiltasyougo #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts

So here’s a question, how long is too long to hang on to a project you know you will never finish?
And today the time for this one is up. I think I’ve struggled with this as it’s only small (24in square approximately) and I had started to hand quilt it.
But I’ve got to the stage of being honest and after about 20yrs it’s not going to happen.
So before it’s consigned to the textile recycling, do you want to finish it? I know it could be a great base for some great textile experiments, over dye, applique, cut up and re stitch, you know, channel your @afullenglish or @russelljamesbarratt 🤓🧵🪡. It could be a cat quilt, a dolly quilt, a table mat, a bag, it can have a future!

Edited: taken! On its way to its best life! ☺️

I’ll send it anywhere in the UK, just comment below! #reusereducerecycle♻️🌎🍃💚 #miniquilt #unfinished #patchwork #patchworkquilt #carolynforster #carolynforsterquilts