Meet the Sweet Wonder Pattern Testers!
I’m sat here on the eve of the release of the Sweet Wonder Quilt pattern, putting together all the pattern tester photos trying to work out how I was so lucky to find such a great, inspiring bunch of quilters!
Each and everyone has put so much into each of their versions, which not only helps me showcase the versatility of the pattern but they also help me iron out all the kinks in the pattern so it is as near perfect as it can be!
The are all superheroes - who have carried me along through the fog of juggling countless isolation/home-school scenarios while trying to write this pattern and get it released on time!
So let me introduce you to all of my Sweet Wonder pattern testers, read a little bit about each one and give them a follow on the ‘Gram’ of you like what you see!
Meet Kathleen,
"I'm Kathleen and I'm a quilter, quilting teacher and quilt pattern designer from Leicestershire in England."
Fabrics are Kona dusty peach, celadon, gold, windsor and natural from The Tartan Reel and Full Bloom from the Lilliput collection by @sharonhollanddesigns for @artgalleryfabrics from Cotton and Stitch.
MEET HANNAH,
My name is Hannah 45. I discovered quilting about 7 years ago but during the last couple of years I have become totally addicted and rarely a day goes by that I don’t sew. I Love traditional blocks with a fresh modern twist.
I live in Sheffield on the edge of the beautiful Peak district with my 3 children and border terrier. My husband serves in the Army so we often spend long periods of time apart, which is tough, but also means I have more time for sewing!
I love running hence the little sewing business I started last year is called Stitch and Run. I make Memory quilts and have started teaching beginners quilting.
I organised a community Stay Home quilt in Lockdown 1.0 which was a great community project where people of all ages contributed. The quilt is now hanging in our community library. This lockdown I started a FB group showing people how to make their own quilt.
Kona solids: Natural, Peach, Salmon, Regatta, Ballet Slipper
MEET SALLY,
I'm Sally from @jurassiccoastquilts. I live in Dorset near the Jurassic Coast in the UK with my family. I've been making quilts for nearly 4 years now but have sewn on and off from when I was a teenager. In the last year I started testing patterns for other pattern designers and recently started to write my own after taking a pattern writing course with @alderwoodstudio which was amazing! I love learning new techniques and have been trying to master curves in the last six months. I enjoy sewing with woven fabrics like the Alison Glass Kaleidoscope fabric I've used in this quilt as I find they add a nice texture and depth to a quilt. I tend to lean towards warm and sunny colours and I'm inspired by the colours found both in my garden and on the coastline near where we live. I loved making my Collider quilt. It was my first time sewing half rectangle triangles and they were so much easier than I anticipated with such clear instructions. I urge anyone looking for a new challenge and wanting to learn new techniques to give this a go!
Meet Katherine,
I'm Katherine a UK modern quilter from Hampshire, England. I have qualifications in Art & Design and Textiles Design. I became interested in patchwork and quilting in 2013, but I have become more dedicated to the craft the past two years since I entered my first quilt competition in 2019 at the Festival of Quilts. I really enjoy trying to combine prints and solid colour fabrics in a lot of my work. I think very carefully about the placement of these fabrics in the design so that it can maximise the beauty of the pattern. Patchwork represents bringing together a celebration of colour and I enjoy trying to find new and interesting combinations that have an impact or evoke an emotional response . In addition to my love of fabric colours, patchwork techniques and quilt photography, I also love the art of quilting, (hand and machine). I think that finding the just right quilting design to compliment the quilts theme, is the ultimate artistic challenge.
Fabric: lilliputfabric by @sharonhollanddesigns by @artgalleryfabrics bought from The Cotton Stitch
Binding fabric: called Velvet AGF by @amysinibaldi
AGF solid: tender green bought from Cow and Giraffe
#konasolid celadon
Thread: @aurifilthread (peach)
Meet Augusto,
Augusto has a degree in Fine Arts and he has worked as a designer for 20 years in the field of Brand Architecture and Graphic Design, building stands and exhibitions all over the world.
In 2020, when the Covid 19 pandemic broke out, and we were forced to seclude ourselves in our homes, he started sewing and discovered the world of modern quilting and its artistic possibilities. And what interested him the most was the pattern design and writing.
He likes to apply his knowledge of architecture and graphic design to quilt design, as well as his extensive knowledge of Art History.
Despite his short experience, his works has been published in several magazines, like Curated Quilts and Make Modern Magazine.
Meet Annie,
Hi all! I’m Annie. I live with my husband and two daughters near Montreal, Canada. I learned to sew watching my mom when I was just a kid. I discovered quilting during the pandemic as a newbee on Instagram. I made my first quilt last fall in a QAL and I was hooked! It is very relaxing and gratifying.
For my version I used all Art Gallery solids in:
- Terracotta Tile
- Sweet Macadamia
- Raw Gold
- Candied Cherry
- Blossomed
MEET ALICIA,
Hi I’m Alicia from Southern Utah, USA. I have been quilting for 10 years and love it! I have an online fabric shop Modern Vintage Handmade that I started in January. I love working with pattern designers and testing patterns! I love seeing the many quilt variations a pattern can produce!
For my version I used all Art Gallery solids in:
- Sweet Macadamia
- Night Sea
- Gingerbread
- Cinnamon
- Potters Clay
Meet Jemima,
Jemima is an Ozzy who currently lives in London, but is about to return to Australia! It’s all work, sew, sleep, repeat! I’m sure Jemima is not alone when she says she wants to make ALL the quilts! However, she is drawn to geometric forms and modern quilts, mostly in solids although her growing collection of patterned fabric would indicate otherwise! Her mum wisely tells her that tastes change over time...so let’s see where this will take us...
Kona solid fabrics in: foxglove, storm, paprika, sienna, and snow.
Meet Becca,
I learned to quilt with my grandmother 20 years ago and made a Christmas quilt with her that my parents still pull out every year! With a nephew due in May 2020, I returned to quilting at the beginning of COVID lockdown to make him a baby quilt and I haven’t slowed down! When I’m not quilting, I’m helping my husband with house renovations, running around with my lab mix, Luna, or spending time with extended family!
meet Tara,
Hi everyone! My name is Tara, I am 27 years old, and I am a middle school math teacher in the city of Chicago. I have grown up being an arts and crafts lover, but never ventured into sewing until a few summers back. I took a learn to sew class at a local studio and bought myself a little machine. Once in lockdown with a bit more time on my hands and looking for a new project to teach myself, I discovered modern quilts on Instagram. My grandmother has been a quilter all my life, but what I found was not like my grandmother’s quilts. After reading some blogs and watching some YouTube, I finished my first quilt and I was sold!
As I am developing my quilting style, I am finding that I am definitely drawn to more geometric patterns, bright colors and just quilts that give off happy vibes!
Fabrics Used:
Kona Cotton: A- Meringue, B- Zucchini, C-Bonsai, D- Olive, E- Artichoke
Backing: On the lighter side in Cactus by Robert Kaufman
Meet Sara,
Hi I am Sara! I am a modern quilter based in Appleton, Wisconsin. I received my first machine shortly after my first daughter was born, and I have been hooked ever since! My most favorite part of the quilting process is playing with all the beautiful fabric! Besides quilting, I enjoy sipping my morning jo and spending time with my family camping.
Meet Nickole,
Hello! My name is Nickole and I'm based out of Red Deer, Alberta and it's been my pleasure to test this pattern. Growing up, I was surrounded by handcrafts and if something could be DIYed growing up, we DIYed it. And a love of working with my hands was born. The quilting bug bit me hard about 15 years ago and I haven't turned back since. About 5 years ago, I stepped up to a longarm for the first time and fell in love with the process of taking a quilt top one step closer to being a completed treasure. Since then it has become my joy to work on quilting my own and others' quilts. If you can't find me behind my longarm, you can find me reading, paddleboarding, scheming about my next quilt, or walking my dog on the many trails and parks that our city has to offer.
Meet Stacey,
I love most crafts but have been sewing for 4 years now. I also like creating my own sewing patterns which I sell on etsy or share as tutorials on my blog.
Fabrics: The dinosaur fabrics are camelot (no name on my cut), foot print is 'i love you this much' by leanne & kayttyn anderson for henry glass, teal dot print is upper case volume 3 circular logic for windham fabrics.
Meet Destiny,
Destinee is an athletic trainer by day and a sewist by night. She enjoys sewing as a way to creatively and functionally express herself.
You can find her on Instagram at @hopeineveryseam