KATE HENDERSON
How would you describe this design? It’s
a twist on the traditional pinwheel block.
What’s your favourite element in this quilt?
I love the pinwheel blocks, but I also love
how I used the entire layer cake, anything not
used in the blocks was used in the border.
Are these colours and patterns typical
of your work? Yes. Bright colour is a bit of
a signature of mine. I don’t think you can have
too much colour in a quilt.
Do you always use strong geometrics?
They do appeal to me; I love triangles and
squares pieced from half-square triangles.
What are your design priorities with any
quilt? I’m not sure. I get an idea, start
sketching either on paper or on the computer
and then I work out how I’m going to make it.
I do love pre-cuts, so when I get an idea, I like
to see if I can make it with a jelly roll or layer
cake – it’s kind of a challenge for me.
Where do you live and work? In Bridgetown,
in the south-west of Western Australia. I’m
lucky enough to have a workroom to myself,
so whenever I get an idea, everything is set
up and I can immediately cut and sew.
What’s next on the design agenda? I have
a few ideas for quilts using solids and only a
couple of colours, which is completely different
from what I would normally do.
What are your favourite materials? Cotton is
always a favourite, and I use quilting cotton for
so many things. It’s not only perfect for quilts,
but it’s great for clothes for my children and
dresses for me, too.
If you could only use one tool, what would it
be? Mmm, I’ve thought about this all day and
I really can’t just choose one thing. But one
tool I love in addition to all the basic quilting
tools is a stick-on thimble. It’s metal and sticks
on the end of my finger with a double sided
sticker. I don’t do any hand sewing without it.Gett ing to know ...
machine quilting, you can baste
with safety pins instead.)29
Quilt as desired. Kate machine
quilted in an overall pattern of
loops worked in white thread.30
Trim the excess backing fabric
and batting^1 ⁄ 4 in outside the
edge of the quilt.31
Cut the ends of the binding
strips at a 45-degree angle.
Join the strips to make one long length
and press the seams open. Fold the
strip in half, wrong sides together
and long edges matching, and press.32
With raw edges together, sew
the binding to the edge of the
quilt with a^1 ⁄ 4 in seam, mitring the
corners as you go and referring to
the Binding Diagrams on page 86
for details.33
Turn the binding over and stitch
it by hand to the back of the
quilt. Label and date your quilt.For contact details for Kate Henderson,
of Two Little Banshees, turn to Stockists
at the back of the magazine.NEW!
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With free postage over 10 months.Homespun 55