PETA PEACE
Why this particular craft? Like so many
people, I was looking for something to fill
nap time after our first child was born. My
mum had picked up a magazine and was
giving quilting a go, so I thought I’d do the
same. I haven’t looked back since and I
don’t think I ever will.
Have you tried plenty of others? I dabbled
a little in garment sewing, but my heart was
never really in it. I occasionally do a little bit
of digital design, but that’s mostly for parties
we’re having here.
Any hard-learned lessons over the years?
I was, and probably still am, a master of
sewing clothing inside out. Somehow, the
‘right sides together’ message doesn’t click
with me and garment sewing.
If you weren’t doing this, what would occupy
your time? Can you believe accounting?!?!
Accounting was my day job for a long time,
and it’s something I enjoy, but I’m very happy
to be focusing on quilting full time now.
Who taught you your crafting skills? My
lovely mum taught me to sew. When I was
young, she was always at the machine, andour floor was quite often a minefield of
pins and threads. Back in those days, Mum
mostly made clothes, but she’s been quilting
for quite a while now, too. Now we have
matching minefields of pins and threads and
share equipment, ideas, inspiration and
sometimes even fabric.
What does this craft mean to you? Sewing
and quilting is like meditation for me. It’s my
‘me’ time and it’s good for my soul. I feel
calmer and more relaxed after a good sewing
session. I also love the practicality of quilting;
not only do you get to make beautiful things,
but they can be put to good everyday use, too.
Is it hard to find time to do your stitching
or is it a profession? ven though I quilt E
professionally these days, it can still be hard
to find time to get everything done around
our family commitments and social activities.
It’s a constant juggling act, but I’m glad I get
to be there for our children as well as doing
what I love. I feel like the luckiest person in
the world sometimes.
From where do you draw inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere, and I’ve always
got my trusty iPhone ready to snap a photo
of things I see that inspire me. My kids find
it quite embarrassing when I ask if I can take
photos of things when we’re out, but it’s so
worth it. Just recently, I was in a little dress
shop and took a photo of a scarf. That
photograph sat on my phone for a while,
but it’s now a work in progress.
Do you ever see yourself stopping or
diversifying? I sure hope not. I do like to sew
small projects (rather than a full quilt) every
now and again and I don’t see that changing
in the future, but I’m always open to new
opportunities. It will be interesting to see
what the future brings.
Where do you live and work? I live with
my little family in beautiful Brisbane. I lovethe small-town feel of this big city and
everything it has to off er. I’m very lucky to
have a dedicated sewing studio in my house,
thanks to some minor renovations we
undertook last year. It’s a bright, clean space
with heaps of room and a cutting table that
I built with my daughter. It holds just about
everything that I need and use and has made
life so much easier for my work.
What’s your family structure? My husband,
Richard, and I are big kids at heart. We don’t
take life too seriously and we try hard not
to get too stressed about things we can’t
control. Our girls sometimes think we’re a
little embarrassing but we’re sure they love
us just the same!
Do you teach your skills to others? Not at
the moment, but I’d love to.
How would you describe your style? What
makes it unique? d describe my style as I’
modern traditionalism. I love old quilt blocks
and don’t think there’s anything more fun
than seeing them done in new ways. When
I’m designing patterns, I love to put a little
twist on a second, mini version of the
design by adding in something unexpected
(or leaving something out).
Any embarrassing botch-ups along the way?
I was possibly the worst quilter in the world
for a long time. Honestly! I’ll admit I’m a bit
of a perfectionist, so when I didn’t have much
luck getting points to match, I gave up on
machine piecing blocks and stuck to needle-
turn appliqué for many years. I did persist,
though, and slowly but surely I got better.
What is your advice for beginners? lways A
pop at least one pin in every seam before
heading to the machine. It really helps with
accuracy. The feed dogs on a sewing machine
can move the fabric at slightly diff erent
speeds and, in quilting, even being an^1 ⁄ 8 in
out can make a big diff erence.Gett ing to know ...
Diagram 6rectangle on top, followed by the
pressed cushion front, right side
facing up. Baste the layers together
with safety pins or quilt-basting
spray, or with an iron if you used
fusible fl eece.13
Quilt as desired. Peta used
a walking foot to quilt in the
ditch of the seams, accentuating the
piecing. Trim the excess batting and
linen fabric even with the edges ofthe cushion front so all three layers
measure 12^1 ⁄ 2 x 16^1 ⁄ 2 in.Assembly
14
Press under a^1 ⁄ 4 in double-fold
hem on one long edge of each
cushion-back rectangle. Machine
stitch^1 ⁄ 8 in from the edges to secure
them. Each rectangle should measure
about 10^1 ⁄ 4 x 12^1 ⁄ 2 in, but it doesn’t
matter if they’re a little narrower.15
Place the quilted cushion front,
right side up, on a table. With
right sides together, lay one cushion
back rectangle on top of the front
with the raw edges level, corners
matching and the hemmed edge
towards the centre. Pin well. Pin
the other cushion-back rectangleto the other end of the cushion front- the hemmed edges should overlap
in the middle, as shown in Diagram 6.
16
Stitch all the way around
the cushion with a^1 ⁄ 4 in
seam allowance, paying particular
attention to where the hemmed
edges are. Reinforcing these areas
with a second line of stitching is
a good idea.17
Trim the corners carefully
and turn the cover right side
out. Press it well before putting the
cushion insert inside through the
back opening.For contact details for Peta Peace,
of SheQuiltsALot, turn to Stockists
at the back of the magazine.