Monday 22 August 2011

Heirloom Quilt made on Janome Horizon and MC11000SE

I'm sure many of you know it was The Festival of Quilts at the NEC last week... The biggest Quilt Show in Europe!
The Janome stand always has a wonderful range of samples on display, using various techniques and sewing machines from our range. Many are made by experts who specialise in their chosen field, from patchwork and quilting, felting, embroidery, (free machine and computer generated). Many are also made by our own Janome staff, who are dedicated sewers themselves. The samples are to inspire your own sewing projects and to suggest different ways to make the most from your Janome machines.
Last year, Pauline Ineson, created a huge amount of interest with her Heirloom Quilt, and I couldn't help myself, but I had to buy her book "How to Create an Heirloom Quilt".
So for Festival 2011, I decided to make an Heirloom Quilt inspired by Pauline's gorgeous work. The quilt in her book would have been way to large to have on display on the Janome stand, and to be honest, would have taken me too long to make! So, I used her book as inspiration to create a smaller lap quilt, using some of her ideas and my wonderful Janome Horizon... and a bit of help from my MC11000SE!
I took lots of photographs during the making of my quilt, so you can be inspired to try something similar yourself at home.
As I wanted an heirloom and vintage feel to my quilt, I made it using 100% silk in ivory and a very pale creamy beige, and embellished them with neutral threads of white, cream, and pale beige.

Firstly, to embroider the centre pieces for my crazy patchwork blocks. I used a selection of designs from the Janome White Work Embroidery Card, and embroidered ivory thread on ivory silk using my Janome MC11000SE.

I wanted the quilt to be blocked in a crazy patchwork style, but I wanted each piece to be highly embellished with decorative stitches, techniques, threads, ribbon and lace. This took quite a while!
Using the Border Guide Foot which is included with the Horizon, I did row upon row of decorative stitches from all of the Modes (different menu's of sticthes) on the Horizon, from Decorative, Heirloom, quilt, to Long and Play stitches. The Border Guide Foot helps to keep your rows of stitching straight, so it was perfect for this project!

Using ribbon and stitch no.59 and no.60 , gives a gorgeous ribbon slot effect.Look at all the rows of scrumptious stitches!! There is Twin Needle work, Wing Needle in there somewhere! If you have never used a Wing Needle, it looks like a normal needle with wings, and created holes in your fabric to create a Victorian Drawn Thread Work effect. Try with the stitches in your Heirloom Mode and see what you like!Using the Blind Hem Foot and moving the needle position over to the left, you can create neat and parallel pin tucks.
And, using the Border Guide Foot again to keep my lines straight and paraellel, I sewed the pin tucks in to different direction to create more interest.
Once all the pieces where embellished, they were then crazy patch worked around an embroidery design. I liked the idea of incorporating my initial into one of the patches... either H for Heidi or Horizon!
When using the crazy Patchwork techniques, each seam is embellished with more decorative stitches.Then sashing is added between the blocks and the patchwork part is done complete. The Crazy Patchwork panel is now tacked to a piece of cotton batting.

Using the Convertable Free Motion Foot on my Horizon, I free machine quilted on the sashing panels only. The height of this style foot can be altered to float on the surface of my quilt, ideal for projects where you have different thicknesses of fabric. (You can also buy this style foot for other Janome machines, have a look HERE for more details).
Using the Acufeed Ditch Foot, I stitched in the ditch with more decorative stitching.
The Janome Horizon has an 11" sewing area, making quilting projects so easy!
I then bound the edge of my quilt with silk bias binding using the Quilt Binder Set, which has been designed to allow for the thickness of wadding to pass through it.
And I'm finished just in time to pack my suitcase and head off to set up the stand for the show! I would love to hear your comments and stories if you have made your own heirloom quilt! Feel free to comment below.
To find out more about Janome Quilting Machines, have a look at website www.janome.co.uk
To see our machines at a sewing exhibition near you soon, check out this page.

Monday 15 August 2011

Janome Horizon and Freestyle Quiling Frame

Freestyle Quilt frames love to use the Janome Horizon.
At the Festival of Quilts I had a little try of the frame, and it feels so light and easy to use! I thought I would take a short video so you can see it in action. For more little films on Janome machines, check out Heidi Loves Sewing Channel on You Tube.

For more information on the Janome Horizon have a look at our main website, and check out Freestyle Quilt Frames HERE.






Festival of Quilts 2011

Festival of Quilts @ NEC 11th - 14th August 2011

It's that time of year again, when everyone, who is anyone displays and exhibits at the biggest quilt show in Europe! And of course, Janome is here to help inspire your quilting projects, and find the best sewing machine for your quilting needs. The Janome Horizon continues to be the most popular long arm machine for quilters, and the little portable JP760 is ideal for patchwork and quilters to take to workshops.
Janome works with many patchwork and quilters, and we are proud to display experts work and wish to thank them for all their support, plus many samples made by the wonderful staff at Janome UK.
Exhibitions are the perfect place to see (almost) the full range of Janome machines, from entry level machines, computerised, specialist quilting machines, to automatic embroidery machines and design software, and not forgetting overlocks and coverstitch machines.


Janome sponsor the Contemporary Quilt Competition, and this gorgeous applique quilt won. This one was one of the quilts that caught my eye... all made from hand knitting and then patched together! Isn't it fabulous!
For more information on the Festival of Quilts and dates for next year, check out Twisted Threads website, and you can follow them on Facebook too.

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Summer Specials @ Hobkirks!

Hobkirks, in Blackburn and Bury have taken delivery of new summer fabrics! "We have 90+ bolts of brand new now in!!! The complete tonal collection offers a full spectrum of colour to both beginners aswell as the seasoned quilter! 100% cotton guaranteed. Prints inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Call in for details and special offers!"
HUGE range of dressmaking patterns: (especially summer dresses because of the lovley
weather we're having!!)

They are also offering 10% OFF all needles including domestic and industrial until the end of July!!

Start ordering NOW to make use of this great discount!

Hobkirks have recently refurbished their 1st floor and now have a dedicated classroom which can host up to 12 students, with of course, Janome machines. Check out this LINK for details of their workshops.

For more information... check out their website www.hobkirks.co.uk

Summer Childrens Sewing Classes @ IN2Fashion!

IN2Fashion Sewing Courses for Children and Teens!!!

Have fun and learn how to make fashionable Clothes and Accessories. Courses take place during school holidays in their Lincoln studio.

IN2Fashion for Children and Teens

IN2Accessories: Fabulous Fascinators

Make a fun and Fabulous Fascinator for a school Prom or party.

Date: August 1st

Time: 10am to 2pm

Fee: £20

Materials and refreshments included but please bring a snack for lunch.

IN2Fashion for Children

IN2Sewing Course: Decorative T-Shirts

Date: August 16th

Time: 10am to 2pm

Fee: £20

Materials required: Plain T-Shirt

Refreshments available but please bring a snack for lunch.

IN2Fashion for Teens

IN2Sewing Course: Fashion Shorts

Date: August 22nd

Time: 10am to 3pm

Fee: £25

Materials required: 1.1/2 metres Cotton fabric

Refreshments available but please bring a snack for lunch.

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Booking required as limited places available

Book online at www.in2fashionsewingcourses.co.uk