Australian Homespun - February 2016_

29

Quilt as desired. Jennifer

quilted Winedale Stars by

machine in horizontal rows of

feathers.

30

Trim the backing fabric and

batting^11 ⁄ 4 in outside the edge

of the quilt top.

31

From the brown stripe print

fabric, cut:

• Four strips, 2^1 ⁄ 4 in across the
  width of the fabric.

32

Cut the ends of these strips

at a 45-degree angle and join

them with diagonal seams to make

one long length. Press the seams

open. Fold the strip in half, wrong

sides together and long edges

matching, and press.

33

With raw edges together,

stitch the binding to the edge

of the quilt, mitring the corners as

you go and referring to the Binding

Diagrams below for details.

34

Turn the binding over and

stitch it by hand to the back

of the quilt. Label and date your quilt.

For contact details for Jennifer Murray,

of 5foot1quilts, turn to Stockists at the

back of the magazine.

Join the ends by matching the fold line and the drawn line and sewing them together.

Trim the seam, press it open and refold the binding, then finish sewing it to the quilt.

Mitring corners

40cm (16in)

Rule a line along the

45-degree fold

Binding diagrams

JENNIFER MURRAY

How did you start your quiltmaking career?

I started quiltmaking way back in 1994 while

expecting my second child. I accompanied

a friend who wanted to learn. I loved all the

colours and patterns and was hooked.

What would you do without this craft? Other

craft; at the moment I’m learning ‘broomstick

crochet’. Crochet was probably the first craft

that I ever did. Our Grade Four class was

making Halloween decorations, and I had

to crochet the spider web.

What are the stitching/design tools you

couldn’t live without?

• Adobe Illustrator: I draw all my appliqué quilts
  in Illustrator. I have a background in web and
  graphic design, so using Illustrator and
  Photoshop are central to what I do. I also
  occasionally use EQ7 for pieced quilts.


• Diff erent needles: I use diff erent needles
  depending on what I’m doing. As this quilt was
  hand pieced, I used Bohin Patchwork & Quilting
  Appliquer Long No 9s. I find these have a little
  more strength than some. I also use Jeanna
  Kimball’s Straw Needles size 11 for piecing and
  traditional needleturn appliqué. For some appliqué
  patterns, I use a product called Polyfuse,
  particularly if I want to prep my quilt and go. If
  I’m using this method, I use Bohin Milliners #10.
  The shaft is fine, which helps when appliquéing,
  and they’re also great for English paper piecing.


• Thread: For hand piecing, I’m happy with good
  old 50wt Gütermann, and I’ll use this for most

appliqué, although I do love the French ‘Fil a Gant’

thread, but I find it hard to get. If I’m doing

any piecing by machine, then Presencia 60wt

is a must. I find using the 60wt when machine

piecing helps with accuracy and helps eliminate

bulkiness, particularly with lots of piecing, such

as small 1½in sawtooth borders and half-square

pieced setting squares, which I love.

Do you cherish the time you spend in your

workroom/studio? I spend most of my time in my

workroom, more often than not sitting in there

of an evening, rather than in my comfortable

lounge. That way, I can plan, draw and sew.

What is it that you love about it most? I can

sew at my desk and, if the urge hits, I can start

drawing in Illustrator immediately. I don’t have

to move or set up, just pick up my drawing

tablet and pen. All my fabrics, quilt and design

books are there as well as my design wall.

What would you like to change about your

workspace? With no children at home any more,

I use my spare/guest room as an additional

sewing room. I’ve got two sewing machines set

up, two ironing areas and two cutting areas.

So maybe if it were a bit bigger, it might be all

together, not scattered about.

How many diff erent crafts do you do?

Patchwork and quilting everyday, with the

occasional crochet in winter, and I sometimes

dig out my jewellery-making equipment.

What’s your favourite – and why? Quiltmaking,

of course. As I design everything I do, it gives

me the opportunity to draw, both by hand and

digitally. I love drawing up appliqué patterns in

Illustrator; that’s as much fun as the sewing for me.

Do you take your handcraft with you on

holidays? Yes. I think every quiltmaker does. It

doesn’t always come out, but it does take the trip.

Have you got lots of projects waiting to be

done? Absolutely. That’s one of the drawbacks of

loving the design process. I draw up so much but

just don’t have the time to get them all done.

If you had one secret handcrafting wish,

what would it be? An A1-size printer. But as

they’re quite large and expensive, I can’t see

that ever happening anytime soon.

How many projects have you completed? I’m

not sure. Sometimes, I find a quilt top or project

that I’ve totally forgotten about.

Gett ing to know ...

JENNIFER’S

NEEDLE TIP Milliner’s

needles – traditionally used in

hat making – are also known as

straw needles. They are long with

round eyes. These needles allow

you to load quite a few stitches

on it before you pull it through the

fabric, and this helps to keep your

stitches small, even and straight.

102 Homespun

HSP1702_p096-102_Winedale Stars PROJECT.indd 102 12/14/2015 11:36:07 AM