batting and baste the three layers
together with thread (for hand
quilting) or safety pins (for machine
quilting).37
Quilt as desired. Linda hand
quilted her wallhanging using
white and ivory quilting thread,
quilting in the ditch of the sashing
seams and border seams to begin.
She worked a hand stipple design
over the backgrounds of the blocks
as well as outline quilting the main
appliqué shapes. She quilted aswirling vine design in the sashing
and parallel lines in the border.38
When the quilting is complete,
trim the excess backing fabric
and batting^1 ⁄ 4 in outside the edge of
the wallhanging top.39
Join the binding strips you
cut in Step 3, end to end, with
diagonal seams to make one length.
Trim the seams to^1 ⁄ 4 in and press
them open. Fold the binding in half,
wrong sides together and long edges
matching, and press.40
With raw edges together, sew
the binding to the wallhanging
with a^1 ⁄ 4 in seam, mitring the corners
as you go and referring to the Binding
Diagrams below for details.41
Turn the binding over and stitch
the folded edge to the back of
the wallhanging by hand. Label and
date your wallhanging to fi nish.For contact details for Linda Guy,
of Sew Quilt Designs, turn to Stockists
at the back of the magazine.LINDA GUY
What sort of Christmas weather do you get
where you are in New Zealand? The weather
in New Zealand is usually lovely and sunny
at Christmas. The odd year may be raining,
but it’s nice and warm.
Do you love antipodean Christmases or do
you like the idea of snow and red robins?
I love New Zealand Christmases. When I was
in England, I used to say to my mum, “One
day, we’ll have Christmas on the beach”.
We did a few times, and it was heaven. But
I also love Christmas in England, as it’s so
traditional, being cold and having roast
turkey. The atmosphere is lovely, and you
can always hear the Salvation Army bands
playing in the high streets.
What’s your favourite thing about
Christmas? Being with family is my favourite
thing at Christmas. Pulling Christmascrackers and reading silly jokes, as well.
We always have a laugh.
Do you always try to do a Xmas craft
each year? I make something for Christmas
starting a couple of months before. Doesn’t
always get finished, though! I just think,
“Oh well, it’ll be for next year!”
What was your most ambitious Christmas
craft project? My most ambitious Christmas
make was a quilt for my sister. It was a queen
size. I stick to smaller things now!
What’s your idea of the perfect Christmas
holiday? A big family get together and a
barbeque ... as long as I’m not cooking.
Do you change the style of projects you
do from season to season? I tend to make
things in colourways, so in a way yes, but
they don’t get made in order of the seasons.
I would choose colours that matched the
seasons, though – spring, summer, autumn
and winter colours.
What’s next on the agenda? m making a I’
block of the month for All Things Patchwork,
in Auckland next. I have a few other projects
on the go, as well, though, so I’m really looking
forward to the next few months’ sewing.
How long have you been doing your sewing
as a business? For the past five years I’ve
been designing patterns on and off.
Any mistakes or regrets along the way?
No regrets. I just enjoy each day and sew
for at least 30 minutes.
What advice would you give to a new crafter?
Go to classes and learn some basics, or drop
into your local library for some good books.
Don’t worry about being perfect. Enjoy yourself.Gett ing to know ...
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
Mitring corners sewing it to the quilt.40cm (16in)Rule a line along the
45-degree foldBinding diagram04
PROJECT