A practical and inspirational guide to creating beautiful bespoke quilts without the constraints of strict rules or patterns. In Free-Form Quilts and Patchwork , Jessie Cutts of Cutts & Sons shows quilting doesn''t need to be daunting or require meticulous measurements or lots of planning. Instead, you can design and make up your work as you go along, being playful with colour and allowing mistakes to take your projects in new creative directions. In clear and engaging text accompanied by striking photography of the artist''s own work, Jessie guides readers through: Exercises to help practise improvisation, encouraging a looser approach to patchwork without a specific project in mind. Projects that introduce methodology while allowing space to create unique compositions. These include hand stitching a potholder or a mini quilt; experimenting with tonal stripes; creating playful blocks and loose checkboards. Information on materials and techniques with tips on collecting fabrics, creating palettes, cutting with confidence, machine piecing, hand stitching, improvising guidelines, patchwork guidelines and how to finish and display quilts. With an emphasis on letting go of conventions and perfectionism, and instead allowing serendipity to be part of the enjoyable process of creating compositions in fabric, this book is ideal for anyone who feels intimidated by precise patterns and wants to create personal and unique quilts with guidance on how to get there.

Autorentext

Textile artist Jessie Cutts runs a successful business, Cutts & Sons, designing and handmaking bespoke quilts with a focus on sustainable production. Her work has featured on the cover of Women's Work: From Feminine Arts to Feminist Art, in Tat London, and Hester's handmade home. She lives in Kent.

Inhalt

Introduction

Part 1: Background, Materials and Exercises

Free-form patchwork and quilting traditions

Materials, techniques and tools for quilting

Experiments in quilting

Part 2 Free-Form Quilting Projects

Tonal String Wall Hanging

Crumb Star Cushion

Three Log Cabin Potholders

Woven Railroad Quilt

Pumpkin Pin Cushion

Postage Stamp Jewel Quilt

A Checkerboard of Stripes

Sliced Nine Square Bag

Wiggly Striped Baby Quilt

Sea of Stripes with Organic Curves

Further Reading

Acknowledgements

Index