Have you ever made a patchwork quilt? No? Maybe now is the time to pick it up as a new hobby – if you have extra time on your hands, it’s the perfect calming pastime, and it doesn't require a screen - just a needle, some thread, and some fabric.
After discovering podcasts such as Great British Quilter Podcast and Mel Giedroyc is Quilting by Mel Giedroyc and her broadcaster friend Andy Bush, we have felt inspired to take up a new hobby and get crafty. Sarah Ashford is the founder of the Great British Quilter Challenge on Instagram and has spent the last three years shaking up and championing the British quilting industry.
In this podcast series, Sarah talks to British quilt designers, fabric companies and shop owners to share behind-the-scene stories and discuss what it means to work in the British quilting community today.
The good thing about quilting is that you don’t need complicated equipment to start. You need some fabric and a needle and thread. Yes, you can use a sewing machine, buy different patterns, and use intricate tools – but you can make a whole quilt by hand without any investment. You can use old shirts and skirts, bedsheets, even your grandchildren's old baby grows.
If you do want some help and advice, here are some useful books, plus some useful equipment if you want to take it a bit more seriously:
Get started with quilting
1 of 5The Quilter's Bible - How to make a quilt and much more
This book is a comprehensive guide to quilting, covering pretty much everything you need to know to get started. There are patterns to try, advice on what stitches to use, how to quilt circles, and little projects to get started.
2 of 5Beginner's Guide to Quilting: 16 Projects to Learn to Quilt
Kick-start your new quilting hobby with 16 simple projects. From paper piecing to appliqué, this book covers the essentials with lots of inspiration for newcomers to the craft.
3 of 5Luxbon Pack Of 39 Spools
You do need some thread if you're going to start sewing. This is a great starter kit with a rainbow of colours.
4 of 530 Korbond needles
If you're going to sew anything, you need needles. These are for hand sewing, not a machine, by the way.
5 of 5Fabric Cotton Bundle, 60 squares
If you don't have any fabric around the house that you could reuse, this bundle is gorgeous - and it's all squares that you can get sewing straight away without any cutting or prepping.
Mel Giedroyc is Quilting podcast
If you are looking for a crafty podcast with a bit of chinwagging, Mel is joined on her podcast by radio presenter and friend Andy Bush, who you can listen to on Hometime on Absolute Radio (he's also appearing on Scala Radio at the moment too) - where together they made a patchwork quilt from scratch, talking us through it, and generally chatting about all sorts of things.
It’s inoffensive and calming at a time when we need that more than ever, and, to be honest, we’ve missed Mel’s wit since she left The Great British Bake Off. Mel and Andy first worked together on Magic FM but are now brilliant friends as well as colleagues, and their bond is one of the reasons the podcast is so enjoyable – it feels like the two are having a natter, and we’re eavesdropping.
Click here to listen to ‘Mel Giedroyc is Quilting’ on Spotify
“I’ve been surprised by how vibrant and creative the quilting community is," says Andy. "The start point was visiting the American Museum in Bath, which has a collection of quilts made by early Frontier women. Quilts are so often items that you make when in conversation with others, so the podcast idea made sense.”
They’re currently sewing with donated items such as shirts from Shaun Ryder and Mary Berry.
So why were people so inspired by the podcast?
“At the moment, people are making use of stuff rather than throwing it out – we’re seeing value in what we’ve got and how quickly that can be taken away from us," Andy said. "So there’s this element of ‘I’ll convert this into something else, rather than wastefully chuck it out'.
“We’ve been bowled over by how welcoming and encouraging the quilting community has been.”