Whilst we were moored at Braunston in the early days of our living aboard, I saw an advertisement for patchwork and quilting courses at The Bramble Patch, a shop and workrooms not too far away. We still had the car at that time, and so I went on several courses there, and learnt the basic skills of patchwork. The first things I made were these cushions:
After our first year, we no longer moored at Braunston, and so I couldn't visit The Bramble Patch any more. But I realised that I could teach myself some of the other patchwork techniques, by following instructions from books. I also had the good fortune to meet Margaret on a course at the Bramble Patch, and she is a live aboard boater, too. Several times our paths have crossed along the canal and we've spent a day together and she teaches me something new. She showed me how to make the diamond pattern bags in the photograph on the left, and, spurred on by my success, I made the striped bag from a pattern in a quilting magazine.
Whilst we were in Derbyshire I went on a course at Patchwork Direct and learnt yet more skills with the delightful Anne Esders, who is so supportive and encouraging. The first time I went, I completed this chairback.
The second time I went, she helped me put this quilt together. It's made from all the scraps I have left over from other projects.
The wall hanging below I made from a pattern in a quilting magazine. Here is a lap quilt I designed and made....
I finished this lighthouse quilt in December, 2006
