Quilting is the trend du jour - but jumping on the (stylish and comfy) bandwagon isn't as simple as buying an eiderdown. It's all about making it yourself, but just how do you begin to create your own quilted masterpiece? mydeco asked the professionals for their top tips:
Your first stitch
Get into bed with Tracey Emin © To Meet My Past, 2002, by Tracey Emin at The Saatchi Gallery, London
Sue Prichard, curator of the V&A Museum's sensational Quilts: 1710–2010 exhibition, spent six years living, breathing and sleeping quilts (quite literally) in preparation for it. Who better to advise you on your first patchwork adventure? 'I really recommend starting with a small project like a cushion. This really is an opportunity to firstly discover if you like it and secondly to create a memento.' Listen to Sue; essentially the size and product you create really doesn't matter because quilting should be achievable and enjoyable.
What fabric does Sue advise to use? 'I use pieces from a shirt I made when I was 17 combined with fabric from charity shops, or satin from dressing up costumes I've made for my daughters. Memories really are key,' she said. 'After all, your quilt could be an heirloom to hand down.'
QI - Quilted Individuality
The naturally cute, handmade accessories from Heart Zeena can be found on our design boutique. We asked the designer behind them how she got started: 'I found out the basics in old sewing books (mostly my mums) but the best resource was the internet with free step by step guides available so you can teach yourself how to quilt easily.' Heartzeena's top tip? 'I have realised that the simplest designs are often the prettiest! Squares and rectangles are easily cut out and easier to sew together than pentagons and you should spend the first part of a day practising on some boring fabric to get the technique working right.'
Go rogue and break the rules
Tonya, the face (and quilting pro) behind Lazy Gal Quilting, is a fan of free–piecing, a technique that throws out the rule book: 'Most instruction in the quilt world is geared towards following rules to make things match and be precise. If that suits you, you're set. But it can definitely be frustrating if you like to approach quilting with a more casual, fun attitude.' So belt out Cyndi Lauper and don't get too tied up with the rules.
Be inspired by colour
Creating colourful quilts that are set apart from those mass–produced on the high street, Lulu & Nat wood block print all their own Indian cotton quilts. If you like their style, look abroad for ideas: 'We find inspiring English prints and combine them with vibrant Indian colour,' said Lulu. Two things to remember? 'Set aside a lot of time and spend money on good quality fabrics. You may pass these quilts down to your children.' Now, who wouldn't love a quilting granny?
Patchwork of art
Fabric is certainly an important factor when you decide to make that family heirloom (aka Sunday night snuggle throw). Lisa Whatmough, patchwork prodigy behind the unique designs of Squint, said that she uses 'lots of English woven silks which are beautifully tonal and change depending on the time of day'. Her advice? 'Not to get too caught up in the minutiae; every so often you need to step back and look at what your actually making.'
Be a shade braver
There's no limits to what you can quilt or patchwork. But if all that stitching is a little daunting the best place to start is by salvaging old furniture and using that as a base for your creativity. BeauVamp transforms tired lamps by covering the shades 'in a whole host of fabrics, from vintage couture dresses to Indian Saris or a pair of retro curtains.' She told us that the 'best place to start hunting are charity shops' (or perhaps you needn't go any further than your own living room...).
