29Measure the length of the quilt
through the middle. From the
joined length, trim two solid white
strips to this length and sew them
to the left and right edges of the quilt,
matching the centre and end points.
Press the seams outwards.30Measure the width of the quilt
through the middle and from the
joined length, trim two solid white strips
to this length. Sew them to the top
and bottom of the quilt and press the
seams outwards to complete Border 1.31Repeat Steps 29-30 to add the
spot print Border 2 to the quilt.FINISHING32Refer to Steps 24-25 on page
32 to prepare the backing,
layer and baste your quilt.33Quilt as desired. Samantha free-
motion quilted a large stipple
or meandering design over the whole
quilt using white thread on her
domestic machine.34Refer to Steps 27-30 on page
32 to bind your quilt using the
eight navy check strips you cutQuilt Layout Diagram in Step 11.
SAMANTHA DORN
Where do you live and work?I live in the
Adelaide Hills of SA, with my husband and
children. We have called this area home since
our children were small, and now they are
almost all grown. Last year, I converted a family
room into my own creative studio space.
Having a studio means everything I need to
quilt is within immediate reach, making it much
easier to be creative when the mood strikes.
My space is still very much a work in progress,
and I’m never short of ideas of how I’d like to
improve it, but having a dedicated space
helps to keep me motivated and inspired.Why this particular craft? I remember the first
time I drove by a quilt shop and saw a quilt
displayed in the window ... Even now, after all
these years, I still feel a little flutter in my stomach
and my heart beats faster. Perhaps it was my
nesting instincts in action (since baby #2 was
on his way), but that quilt spoke to me in a way
no other ‘thing’ ever had, and first thing Monday
morning I was standing at that quilt shop’s
counter signing up for a class. I didn’t know
anything about quilts or quilting at that time,
but it wasn’t long before I was immersing myself
in quilting history and loving every minute of it.
It may have been serendipity, but it was most
definitely the beginning of a long love af air.
Have you tried plenty of others? Yes. Over
the years I have dabbled in a number of different
crafts – some I still make time for, and others
I occasionally experiment with. I love how each
new craft teaches you something about yourself,
and inevitably about the other crafts you are
passionate about. Right now, I’m trying my hand
at crochet. I’m not very confident as yet, but I’m
keen to learn more. Just between you and me,
there may be the beginnings of a yarn stash
taking shape in a closet – I can’t help it, all those
pretty textures and colours make me smile.
What does this craft mean to you? I wish there
was a simple answer to this question – that
would certainly make it easier for me to explain
to my non-quilty friends why I do what I do.The truth is, quilting is a big part of who I am,
and in many ways, it defines me. Quilting
satisfies my need to be creative, soothes my
soul when things are dif icult, brings me a joy
that lights me up from within and always gives
me something to look forward to. It means more
to me than I can adequately put into words.
How would you describe your style? What
makes it unique? Classic. When it comes to
design, my motto is ‘classic inspiration, modern
interpretation’. I love the history and stories
associated with traditional blocks, but I like to
use these elements in conjunction with modern
colours and patterns to create quilts that tell
the story of now. I believe there’s a story behind
every quilt, and I find joy in bringing a story
to life or letting one guide me by the hand
and watching it unfold in fabric and thread.
Any embarrassing botch-ups along the way?
I am a big believer that there is NO SUCH
THING! Every creative challenge that doesn’t
quite go to plan is an opportunity to learn and
try something new. Some of my best designs
started as little missteps along the way.
What is your advice for beginners? Invest
in the best quality tools you can afford.
Quilting is not a cheap hobby when you are
just starting out, but quality tools, fabrics
and notions do make a difference to how
successful you are, and how much enjoyment
you experience in the process of creating.Get ing to know ...