Author: Deborah McGuire

Making a quilt, however complex, is essentially just a lot of very simple running stitches. This paradox lies at the heart of why I love the process of making a quilt. This simple stitch means that patchwork and quilting are skills completely accessible to anyone who can make a simple stitch with a needle and… Continue reading PlainStitch. What’s in a name?

I’m excited to be writing a new column in this quarters’ The Quilter Magazine* It is out at the start of December, so I wanted to take a moment to share with you my thoughts on the new column. Firstly let me tell you about the name of my column. ‘Modern Notes on Quilting’ is… Continue reading Modern Notes On Quilting

  The power of textiles to impart big messages has been utilised since time immemorial. Quilts have always been bound up with world events as makers seek to reflect and make sense of their worlds. We have a rich history of quilts made by soldiers as rehabilitation, textile like the Bayeux Tapestry telling the stories,… Continue reading The Wendover Remembers Quilt

Making this quilt was a labour of love for several reasons. I work for The Quilters’ Guild as a Director of their commercial company and our role is to find ways to show off everything that’s great about the Guild to as many people as possible. The Red Manor House Block of the Month was… Continue reading The Red Manor House Quilt

I was a quilter before I was a patchworker. The beautiful repeating nature of intricate patterns, the beguiling texture, the implied perseverance and diligence, the combination of delicate tiny stitches creating a strength to last generations. Everything about quilting fascinated me. My journey into patchwork and quilting was atypical. I bought a vintage quilt top… Continue reading The Misses Barron Quilt – Part 1.

You know how some quilts are a joy to make and they just kind of make themselves and you have nothing but fond memories of the making of them and feel a little bit sad when you finish? Well - full disclosure - that was not this quilt! This quilt was a struggle to piece… Continue reading 1982 Modern Quilt

Usually I post about a quilt once its finished but my plan is that this quilt is a long term make, and i've had quite a few questions about it so I thought i'd post a Part 1 to be going on with to explore the original inspiration quilt and my plans for my version.… Continue reading A Pinch of Mothering Quilt – Part 1

This quilt was a kind of 'accidental' make that came about one rainy weekend in November. Usually my quilts sit in the back of my mind for months or even years before they get their turn in the making queue, but this one came out of nowhere and somehow got made in record time, in… Continue reading The Hearts and Whiteleaf Cross Quilt

Of all the amazing, technically challenging quilts in the historic section of The Quilters' Guild Collection, I still find myself returning to the humble, simple, often wonky but charming quilts. One of my favourites is the Cumbrian Triangle Quilt. The original of this quilt is attributed to Bertha Mitchell (but may have been made by… Continue reading The Bertha Mitchell Quilt