Modern Quilts with Historical Roots in the English Countryside by Deborah McGuire.

Post Graduate Quilt Researcher

Quilt Magazine Columnist

Longarm Quilter

Modern Traditionalist Quilter

Remember Me. In 1702, in the Buckinghamshire village where I now live, Elizabeth Jony became a widow. Her deceased husband Robert was the ‘chirurgeon’ - listed in the original French that our anglicised ‘surgeon’ derives from. They were a well appointed couple, judging from the inventory and the listed bequeaths in his will, revealing a variety of possessions including china and a looking glass in a time when many wills in the village listed only a bed, a fire iron and a pottage pot. This is a @tessutifabrics #evadress - a pattern that I’ve had for years but never got around to making up, but now I’ll def make it again! The fabric is a teal/peacock linen that I’ve also had for ages. I had too little for most of the dresses I’ve wanted to make recently but this pattern (with some serious jenga) just squeezed in with some rejigging. This pattern creates a really interesting lantern shape skirt that I just love. Some cool shady embroidery at the end of the day. I’m starting the embroidery for this centre panel of my #remembermeforgetmenotquilt because I’m ready to add the next border and I want to finish up the centre first before it becomes too unwieldy. Ready to roll. I love winding the quilted part of this 1820s welsh quilt pattern on to the frame to expose the next strip of pattern ready to quilt on. Oh #m7969 how I love your gathers. Fabric is a lovely cool lawn from @fabricgodmother with just the right amount of crispness to give those lovely full sleeves structure . Friday feelings. A quiet house (such bliss!), a hot dog sleeping on the cool tiles, the sun is scorching outside so I’m in the midday shade making a quick favourite sundress #m7969 to wear this weekend. Some days you just need to go with the sewing flow. Fabric is a lovely cool lawn from @fabricgodmother with just the right amount of crispness to give those lovely full sleeves structure . I’m looking forward to doing some embroidery this weekend for my #remembermeforgetmenotquilt . This quilt is a companion piece to my masters thesis ‘Remember Me’ which explores how domestic textiles such as embroideries and quilts were used as tools of emotional communication, to preserve and pass on memories. I was unprepared for the pleasure of the anticipation of quilting each different section of this 1820 quilt pattern as I unroll the pattern on my antique frame. Each turn brings just a stripe of new fascinating shapes to navigate. I get to see the glimpse of the edge of the sewing to come, but it remains just slightly too far away to quilt yet. It beckons me on to unfurl another stripe of pattern. I finished hand quilting my modern welsh improv quilt #dadadeiladuquilt and wrote a blog post. Both of these events have been unusual this year, so thank you to everyone who continued to read my posts and visit my website during 2021, I’m always blown away when I reflect on the support and encouragement that I receive here.❤️