Inspired at the Florence Quilters Show
We spent the day at the Florence Quilters show. These are the quilts and techniques that had us reaching for our fabric.
The Sewing Studio team recently spent the day at the Florence Quilters show, and we came back with our heads full of ideas and a phone full of photos. From sharp geometric piecing to soft, painterly fabric art, there was something to inspire every kind of maker. Here's a closer look at the styles that caught our eye, plus how you can recreate them yourself.
Appliqué Quilts
The appliqué quilts on display were some of the most striking pieces of the day. Layering fabric shapes onto a background to build up a design gives so much creative freedom, from delicate florals to bold, storybook style scenes. It's a brilliant technique for adding detail and personality that piecing alone can't quite achieve.
Fabric Postcards and Fabric Art
Small but mighty, fabric postcards and framed art are the perfect projects for using up scraps, trying out new techniques or putting together a heartfelt handmade gift. Postcards are wonderfully beginner-friendly and quick to finish, while the framed art pieces offer a bit more scope for detail and intricacy if you fancy a more involved project.
Watch our fabric postcard tutorials
Star Blocks
Few blocks are as eye-catching as a star, and the quilt show was full of brilliant examples. They look impressively technical, but with the right tutorial, they're far more achievable than you'd think. We love the Tilda Wallflower quilt with the contrasting white stars!
Watch star block tutorials Shop Tilda Wallflower
Jeanette's Demo Corner
As a member of the Florence Quilters group, Jeanette had a demo corner running throughout the day, sharing tips and techniques with visitors and showing just how much can be achieved with a little patience and the right tools.
Bargello Quilts
The flowing, almost three-dimensional effect of a bargello quilt never fails to stop people in their tracks, and the examples at the show was no exception. It's all down to clever strip piecing and colour placement with no complicated curves or tricky techniques required. A Fat Quarter Bundle in graduating shades is all you need to get started, which makes this one far more approachable than it looks.
Watch our Bargello tutorial Shop Fat Quarter Bundles
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