Check out our new category Recession Busters. 

Given the need for many to make economies - I have developed a range of beautiful quilts which can be made cheaply using quilters muslin and pre-washed homespun.  I have also bought in other designer's pattern where I think you can make an heirloom quilt reasonably affordably.  My view is that you should buy only the most beautiful prints for your quilt (maybe a jelly roll) and flesh it out with quilters muslin or homespun so that the overall result is affordable.

If you find out that getting your quilt professionally quilted is a bit beyond your reach - try quilting your quilt in two halves and then stitching together.  I find this resolves the problem of quilting a large quilt and it works well.  Get some advice from your quilt shop about joining two quilted pieces.  The way I do it is to quilt all but the 2" near the joining strip.  Pin then machine stitch the top together.   Butt the batting together (you can overcast stitch lightly down the join if you want) then hand stitch the backing together.

Press flat then roll up both sides and machine quilt the 2" unquilted.  This may not be the way the "stitching police" would do it but I had to make queen size quilts for all my beds after my recent move and it worked a treat.

One other piece of advice - if you use a jelly roll - you may find that all the pieces match a little too well - flesh that out with a striped background - maybe even something you bought at a sale.  But don't buy a jelly roll with fabrics you aren't fussed on just because it's cheap or on sale.  Buy only what you love.  Look for stripes which can be bought on sale - make your economy there.

Lately I have been finding the 10" layer cakes are very usable for applique.  You can see my new Blue Delft Jugs quilt - which was a sample I made from a brand new layer cake from "Natures Notebook" (April Connell) by Moda.  I got the whole quilt out of one layer cake and I just added a stiped background and a few extra pieces for "Attic windows".  This is an example of making economies - you can often buy stripes on sale - or even use cotton dress fabrics.  Buy a beautiful layer cake and you can make a lovely quilt like this.  The "attic windows" (strips to left and below jug) in my quilt could just have well have been solid fabrics which would make the quilt even more affordable.

We have moved to Ipswich and our retail shop opened in December from underneath our residence .  Our style of the romantic and vintage fabrics, patterns and notions would be well known to many of you now.  We maintain that style in our new shop.  Besides the many beautiful new fabrics, we maintain a supply of half price fabrics and we can always supply you with a nice quilt backing from this group.

You can see a photo of the shop below. 

Our hours of business are 10am-4m Monday to Thursday.

Other times by appointment.

Stitching groups are Tuesday morning at 9.30am and evening at 6.30pm.  Our premises are air conditioned (after 7/2/10).

Phone No. 07 3281 5960 but please only ring us during those hours (EST).

 We specialise in vintage - roses and reproductions and we hope to offer Ipswich a boutique shop where shoppers can buy beautiful and specialised fabrics.  We so look forward to seeing you    Cheers - Judy

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Brand new from Kookaburra Cottage 

Playing With Angels BOM $32.00 per month for nine months.

Refer to details under Block of the month.

Each year when Kookaburra Cottage have their new release BOM perveyors seem to get into a price bidding war. We believe $32.00 per month is the lowest price this can be done for without sacrificing appearance and fabric quality.  We choose only the lovelest fabrics and our reputation is very strong in the industry for this. Please refer to the testimonials below.

Our new phone number is 07 3281 5960 and our hours of business are 10am-4pm Monday to Thursday.

Feel free to browse around our online shop.  We have plenty to offer! 

I hope you will become a regular customer – sign up for our newsletter and take the journey through this stitching life with me.  I hope we become friends over the time.

Kind regards, Judy Gray, Rose Patchwork Cottage.