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CREATING YOUR QUILT DESIGN

 

 

1. On each day all teams will be starting from a common background point; you will have been given the same

    block which you must include when you construct your quilt top.  How your team chooses to interpret this

    part of the challenge is up to you. 

  • The colours and fabrics are entirely your choice. 

  • You may choose a scrappy look, or bright colours or a monochromatic colour scheme. 

  • You may also mix this block with other blocks of your own choice. 

  • It is also up to you to decide how many blocks you include. 

 

2. However, this is only the start of your design journey.  We would like you to build on this background by

    embellishing or appliquéing or adding embroidery, stitch or whatever to make this quilt special – for a

    child.  There is one proviso:  it must be practical please.  It must be possible to wash as it will be donated

    to children in Birmingham Children’s Hospital after the show.  It will be a very special quilt for a very

    special person and will be much loved.

 

3. Bearing in mind that the quilt must measure a minimum of 48” and a maximum of 60”in any direction

    (1.20m and 1.50m), you may add one or more borders as you feel fits your design and that you are

    confident can be finished on the day.

 

4. The design can be as traditional or contemporary as you wish. 

 

5. Any style or technique or material or embellishment can be used (remembering the practical advice). 

 

6. You may create your own hand-dyed, painted, stencilled, stamped yardage as long as it is safe for children. 

 

7. All fabric which will be used in the construction of the quilt top must be brought to the event ready to cut

    – no pre-cutting please!

 

8. If you are planning to add fused appliqué shapes or other creations to the quilt top, please feel free to

    create these additions beforehand and bring them ready prepared.

 

9. You may want to organise your team into specific jobs – one to pin, one to iron, one to sew, etc. and swop

    around as needs be – it’s up to you!  We want you to have fun and for the visitors to feel inspired.

 

 

The four definite rules are:

 

  • The finished quilt must be between 48” and 60” in any direction (1.20m and 1.50m).  These are snuggle quilts not bed quilts.

  • It must be finished within the opening hours of the Festival of Quilts – pieced, sandwiched, quilted, bound and labelled.

  • It must be practical.

  • No pre-cutting allowed (see #7).

 

All else is allowed (including buying extra supplies on the day).

 

* If you have a practice run and you finish a quilt it would be lovely if you could bring it along to hang on the

   stand.

You can download this Design Brief here:

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