Brother Sewing UK Visits the Festival of Quilts 2017, NEC, Birmingham

The Festival of Quilts is Europe’s leading patchwork and quilting event attracting 24,000 quilters from all over the world. The show is a celebration of quilting in all its forms, with over 300 exhibitors offering essential supplies, professionally curated galleries of quilts from leading international makers, 350 workshops, talks and demos plus a magnificent display of over 700 competition quilts. It is the ultimate patchwork and quilting experience. We had a Brother stand last week, and a few moments to wander around – here are some of the interesting exhibits we found.

This quilted wheel is made by Mary Palmer. It represents a traditional Irish jig that is a continuous loop of music.. The holes in the quilted 'tyre' represent the different notes that are repeated throughout the jig, usually played by a violin or tin whistle. The wheel was specially commission by Mary, and is a fully working replica!

Mary Palmer has a website here

This colourful quilted violin is a life-size replica made completely from fabric and vibrant threads. Even the strings of the violin are made from metallic twine. It really stood out on the display as a fantastically colourful piece. 

Made by Sue Trevor, entitled 'Violin'.

Another stand-out piece in the 3D quilt category. Possibly a scene from Disney's Pirate's of the Caribbean! It shows an entirely quilted tall ship being engulfed by a sea monster. Being about a metre tall, and entirely made from fabric, it was very impressive.

Made by Helen Dickson, entitled 'Release the Kraken'.

This seaside scene complete with Mermaid drew our attention due to it's shear size - taking up a good portion of the 3D quilt exhibit space! The Mermaid and deckchairs are made from fabric, with different quilted effects.

Made by Jacqueline Amies, entitled 'Deck Chairs'

This striking piece perfectly shows our amazing solar system in quilt form. Using vibrant colours and minute quilting details, it stood out from the wall.

Made by Jo Gray, entitled 'No Place Like Home'.

Jo says, "I've always thought space must be the most incredibly lonely place to be, where everything can kill you - and when astronauts look down at our shining planet they must realise that there is 'No Place Like Home'.

This tiny quilt is only 26.5cm square. The detail in it is amazing considering it's miniscule size. It was the winner of Best Miniature Quilt at Festival of Quilts 2011.

Made by Kumiko Frydl, entitled 'Blue Like Wedgewood'.

Kumiko says, "This is my first shadow trapunto made up of white trapunto on blue fabric to resemble Wedgewood design. Whole-cloth, shadow trapunto, free-motion quilted and decorative stitching on the binding".

Another miniature quilt by Kumiko Frydl entitled 'Bouquets with Tudor Rose'. It received third place in the Miniature quilt category at Festival of Quilts 2012.

Kumiko says, "I made this quilt for the cover page of my book, Les Quilt Miniatures. This is made up of a 64 pointed mariner's compass with Tudor Rose bouquets. Paper foundation pieced, reverse appliqued, hand silk embroidered, free motion quilted and stamp worked".

The Best in Show quilt, made by Philippa Naylor and entitled 'Measure for Measure'. Fantastic detail on such a small quilt. 

Best in Show represents the ultimate accolade in the quilting world.

And finally, this wonderful 3D piece inspired by a Chicken Coop! We think the life-like stances of the chickens, in almost cartton like state is wonderful. Especially good given that the piece was made by school children.

Made by Burgess Hill School for Girls, entitled 'Free Range Chickens'.

Festival Quilts runs in the NEC, Birmingham every year in August. Next years dates are currently TBC, but check our website for regular updates. http://www.brothersewing.co.uk/en/events-and-exhibitions