Cambridge Quilters Workshop with Anja Townrow

Following on from my last post I thought I would write about the brilliant workshop we all enjoyed (if that's the right word) with Anja Townrow.  

The topic of the day was 'Curved Piecing' and Anja had put together a project to teach us how to do curved piecing. That is, the entire background to the patchwork was pieced either around leaf shapes or a fish.  If time allowed we could then add applique and/or built in embroidery stitches. So this is what were were aiming for!  Most of us chose the flower, top left,  but a couple of brave souls chose the fish.

There followed five hours of intense work......I found this, by far, one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do in my 'sewing' life.   So this is the design I picked...

We had to copy the design (not the flower) and trace the shapes onto freezer paper. We then laid out the shapes in the same orientation as they appeared in the design (for straight of grain).

We then added a seam allowance and some balance marks and cut them out. 

Much careful pining and sewing later to put it all together again. 

We eventually pressed it all and cut off excess fabric. Here's Pam with hers.

 Voila! This looks brilliant! Just add flowers...

And the fish....just add decorative stitching.

My efforts were less than perfect although after five hours of intensive work, I did manage to finish the background.  I found this to be one of the most challenging workshops (in a good way) that I've ever attempted. Got home, put my stuff away, made cauliflower cheese, ate dinner with my husband and was fast asleep by 9pm.  I can now look at pieced quilts with a much greater appreciation of the skills involved. 

Pam Southworth posted a picture of her finished piece on the Cambridge Quilters' FaceBook page.  Well done Pam.

Anja Townrow wows Cambridge Quilters

Cambridge Quilters had a special treat recently when Anja Townrow was our guest speaker.  Anja was born in The Hague, Holland and moved to England in 1974. She developed her skills via the more widely available American books and magazines but in 1993 set up 'Dutch Quilts' to sell her first patchwork quilts. She has won many prizes and is a published author. 

Anja explained how when she started doing patchwork and quilting she found it impossible to do the 1/4" seam.  This is how she ended up doing the foundation piecing (with templates) method which is very accurate, though time consuming.  

Here is a close up of one of her flowers made with foundation piecing.  Anja draws out her design full size on paper. Adding the border is no guess work or jiggling to make the 'bars' fit. Anja works out on paper what all the measurements should be which ensures a white block in each corner and the blue bars coming next in the arrangement. 

Anja's 'Flower Festival ' quilt, mainly foundation pieced, 88" x 88" 

'Abundance' made with curved piecing, foundation piecing,appliqué, broderie perse and embellishments. It is huge! Anya's classic 'Dutch Tile' blocks are set in the border. 

'Floral Compass'  awarded a judges merit at Quilts UK Malvern 2014

I took this close up photograph which shows Anja's classic 'Dutch Tile' block

Aren't these colours stunning?

Finally an example of one of Anja's pattern called 'Pond Life'.  Brilliant 

appliqué and piecing.  

Watch this space for our experience at Anja's workshop the next day. For me it was the most challenging day's sewing ever..but challenging in a good way!