A really lovely visit to @smallhythe_placent today, the home of the late Ellen Terry an actress of some renown at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. The house and garden are both fascinating and the exhibits very personal to Ellen herself. I loved the textiles and garments on display, so many very inspiring pieces. I do love it when you come across these things so unexpectedly ☺️🪡🧵. #smallhytheplacenationaltrust

A glimpse at a really interesting exhibit of Asafo Flags from the @karuncollection on show at @ntdyrhampark .
I’d read or seen something about these flags way back when I was a student. The appliqué and compositions had always appealed. So it was great to see so many and some vey up close in this setting. Lots of information about their origins and colonialism, so well worth the visit. #asafoflags #antiquetextiles #karuncollection #karunthakarjourneys

A sunny day and a sunny quilt! I’ve been teaching string quilts this week and this is one of my favourites. Coupled with seeing the Gees Bend quilts too this week, I can see where I got the inspiration for this one 😆🧵🪡.
It’s funny how we absorb what’s around us and never quite know how it might come out in quilt form ☺️.
This quilt is in my book String Quilts if you’re looking to make quilts from the fabric bits you usually ditch, and not having to worry about the seams ever meeting 😂.
#stringquilt #sustainablestitching #patchworkquilt #carolynforster #logcabinquilt

I’ve recently spent time at the Kith and Kin exhibit at @americanmuseumandgardens . The museum itself is always worth a browse for us quilters, and the gardens are always a lovely bonus. The quilt exhibit of a selection of quilts from Gees Bend quilt makers is always going to be a hit with me 🤓. I’ve seen a lot of exhibits of this genre of quilt making over the years, and there is always something new to inspire and admire in every one. It’s on until June, so do go if you’re looking for a lovely day out! #geesbendquilts #americanmuseumbath #patchwork #patchworkquilts

There’s nothing like mixing up the machine pieced hexagons from diamonds with hand stitching them into a quilt.
Hand and machine patchwork piecing don’t have to be exclusive, I use both techniques to their advantages!
All those different methods are there to make your stitching life easier! And in this case I can sew all those hexagons together while I’m away from home ☺️🧵🪡.
What are your tips and tricks to keep you sewing where ever you are?
#onepatchquilt #portablepatchwork #quiltingonthego #hotelroomstitching #carolynforster

Distracted by an idea, Moi? 🤣
Always better when an idea gets out of your head, on to paper and then into fabric !
I’m using my favourite back basted appliqué method rather than piecing, and can definitely see some potential for this in my future 🤓. Any ideas that you have in your head that you need to get to fabric? #patchwork #handapplique #needleturnappliqué #carolynforster

So you might have seen that this year I’ve been on a bit of a theme ☺️🧵🪡. With my 1930s Quilts due out soon, you will have seen that it sits nicely with the Chicken scratch embroidery book from earlier in the year.
The embroidery was a rabbit hole that I fell willing down when I was researching the quilt book.
So I think they will sit nicely on your book shelf together 😉.
Look out for posts about the quilt book and its launch or sign up to my newsletter to be first to see what I’m up to! .link in bio on my website.
@searchpress_na
@searchpress
And if you swipe you can see what I’m using my pocket (did you know I’d sewn a pocket? )for… book signing pens, always a new batch for a new book!
#quiltbook #1930squilts #patchwork #carolynforster #quiltingonthego

Took some time out to stitch a Wishes house. I’d signed up to the wonderful @zenstitching virtual retreat earlier this month and this class with @thread.yarn.paper caught my attention. I love the thoughts she has behind the stitching and I do like a little bit of hand stitching ☺️🧵🪡.
I adapted it a little by adding a lining and surprised myself with my attempt at a little flower garden along house front. I’d always steered away from this sort of embroidery convinced I’d make a mess of it 😂. It’s surprising what you can create when you just get on and do it! And in the words of Ted Lasso, ‘stay curious’. #handstitching #handstitched #zenstitching

Things I dabbled with this week, because I seem to need a project for every mood and occasion 😂🧵🪡

So if you’ve loved the patchwork tulips we hand pieced last week in Madeira and want to stitch some too, then the pattern is in my Hand Stitched Quilt book from Search Press, along with loads more blocks with templates to hand stitch! Or if you would like to hand stitch with me this year, there are places on my trip to India and closer to home on my retreat weekend at Blunsdon Park, just pop over to @stitchtopiauk and follow the links!
As you can see I’ve had some fun here with the basic block by taking it one stage further with its setting 🤓🧵🪡
#handpiecing #handstitchedpatchwork #handpiecedpatchwork #quiltingonthego #carolynforster

So tell me this isn’t the best block to use every last scrap of a precious favourite fabric ?
You can use Stitch and Flip stitching, but if you don’t want to waste even a snippet, use a specialist HST cutting ruler for the triangles and only cut the background away when doing the S and F. 🤓🧵
#patchwork #wastenotwantnot #quiltingonthego #carolynforster #quiltblock

So many inspiring sights and colours on our trip to Madeira flower festival in Funchal with @stitchtopiauk . This was part of the children’s parade the day before the main event on Sunday. All this and stitching too 😂🌷🌷#stitchtopiauk #madeiraflowerfestival #stitchinginspiration #quiltingonthego #carolynforster