Sustainable quilts at the Festival of Quilts

This was a category I was keen to explore once I spotted it existed. You’ll know I’m trying to use as much of my stash as possible and am reusing old clothes in at least some of the quilts and pouches I’m making, so it was a category after my own heart. Having already seen some of the fantastic quilts on show I was keen to see, and be wowed, by the creativeness of these quilt makers, and I wasn’t disappointed.

To class as sustainable for the Festival of Quilts the quilt needed to have been made with ‘minimal negative impact on the environment’ with at least 75% of the fabric used being repurposed, and the remaining 25% would ideally be organic fabrics or taken from their stash, and ‘the maker should use biodegradable or recycled materials wherever possible, or use materials from sustainable and natural sources’.

And none of these criteria meant the quilts didn’t have the wow factor, in fact they do a brilliant job of showing what can be done with repurposed materials.

Prepare to be wowed

I did warn you, it’s stunning isn’t it? I am rather partial to a Cathedral Window quilt and I’ve long had an idea that I would make one in denim, but I think making one that looks good would be tricky enough so I’m not sure I need to add in the complexity and thickness of denim. I downgraded my ambition and that’s how I landed with my ‘jeans and pyjamas’ quilt on my 2025 list, there’s still some curves and some denim but hopefully in my doable category, although as I write this at the beginning of December I’ve yet to start this one - so maybe it’s optimistic to think this will make it this year, but who knows?!

ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST, VICTORIA MILLER

I love the repeating circle pattern, and the uniformity of the white and almost taupe colour in the detailing of the circles, but most of all I love the colour and how much it doesn’t look like it’s made from repurposed materials! I bet those colourful centres hold all sorts of memories, and that’s what really does it for me especially when using old clothes that have been much loved.

This second quilt I’m sharing is a design I need to remember, as I have a growing pile of 2.5” strips from the quilts I’m making. With clever colour placement this quilt proves that you can use those strips effectively - note made!

ÅLAND, LINNÉA EHN

SHIRTSANDO, VICKY HAWKINS

The quilt above looks to have used old shirts in a really effective way, but again with a fairly simple pattern. I was drawn to this one by the circles in the quilting, and I suspect this is the quilt that influenced me to try something similar with my Half the Scraps quilt, but way less successfully!

Looking at this again now it looks as if those circles have been hand quilted, and I suspect that may be the way to go if I see circles in my quilting future. Those smaller fabric circles look to be appliqued on, which is another technique I’m trying in my latest quilt.

This next quilt also blew me away, I love a colour graduating quilt - but this one was huge and double sided. It was on display so you could view both sides, and while I’m sure I took a photo of the other side, I can’t find it for the life of me - I’m sure though it was equally as impressive.

ECLECTIC BECKY, ELIZABETH BARKER

But so many small squares, and so many seams to match up - but definitely a wow, wow, wow from me.

The final quilt that I’m sharing in this category (and there were more than I can include in this post) is this denim masterpiece with an equally clever title. The second picture shows the detail of the quilt, and the rivets, buttons, button holes and zipper sections used so effectively.

JUDGES’ CHOICE - RIVETING RESTRICTIONS - FROM WASTE TO WONDER, MARJA MATIISEN

RIVETING RESTRICTIONS - FROM WASTE TO WONDER, MARJA MATIISEN

It rightly deserved its Judges’ Choice label which admired the mind boggling texture, and how the madness is beautifully tamed by the dark central circle. It also called the quilt ‘Genius!’ and I have to agree, I think this was easily one of my favourite quilts at the show - and I thought I loved the Cathedral Windows quilt at the top of this post, this one I loved twice as much.

If you enjoyed this post from my visit to the Festival of Quilts 2025 then please do check out my other posts from the show. Even though my mind was blown by the sheer volume of quilts on display, I’m pretty sure I’ll be going again!

Additions and acquisitions to my craft room this November

I knew when I started this series that some months would be heavier than others, especially when visits to craft shows and stash sales happen in the same months - like this month.

I’ve learnt though that it’s good to go to the bigger craft fairs with an idea of what you want, otherwise there appears to be no limit to what you might end up with. For the Harrogate Knit & Stitch Show I had ‘some modern Christmas-type fabric’ on the list in my head, and I left with six Moda fat quarters, so that was good.

MODA CHRISTMASSY FAT QUARTERS FOR £24

I’m finding that I’m often drawn to Moda fabrics too, so it seems that my subconscious knows what it likes - look out for one of the quilts I have planned for next year (sorry, that was a complete teaser that I won’t share more about just yet!). And while having a list is good, I did end up leaving with more than these - well, it was a craft show after all, and there was so much loveliness there - including some gallery areas which were amazing, and I’ll share more from those in the next few weeks.

At the show I was keen to learn more about the Cone Exchange, based in Harrogate. It’s the flagship community project of Bettys & Taylors Group who repurpose waste materials from businesses, alongside donations from the local community raising funds for local good causes and creating a sense of community and new skills for all those involved along the way.

At the show they were selling, rather too cheaply for my liking, some fabric sample books. Even worse for me it was a buy two get one free kind of deal, so for £4 I couldn’t refuse three, thankfully relatively small, fabric sample books. They even gave me one of those sturdy canvas totes to carry them in, and when I was umming and ahhing about the weight (but still having my hands on the three I was interested in just in case anyone else nabbed them) they told me about the bag creche. I knew I was done for, but at £4 I couldn’t refuse. I have already made use of them though, so I’m glad I got them.

I also found out more about their shop, so I’ve a feeling that at some point next year I’ll be making a visit there - though going in the car is likely to be even more dangerous I’m sure. But perhaps I’ll wait til the weather warms up a bit.

ONE OF THREE FABRIC SAMPLE BOOKS

ANOTHER ONE OF THE FABRIC SAMPLE BOOKS

I went to the show with some friends from my sewing group, and one spotted that there was an embroidery section in another hall, and I’m so glad she did as that too was amazing. There were some recent graduates showcasing their work, more galleries and plenty of inspiration packs encouraging you to do whatever you wanted with them. I fell in love with the colours in the pack below, and especially was rather taken with the tassel-ly type thread on the white card at the bottom of the picture. Chatting to the people on the stall I asked how I could use it, and was quite promptly told ‘however you want!’

A MELEE OF EMBROIDERY THREADS FOR £6

I didn’t know how I’d use them, but as things do something has already turned up so now I have a plan - not an immediate plan, but a plan nonetheless. It was my first time at the Harrogate Knit & Stitch Show and it was a good show - I’ve a feeling this could be a regular November outing, though next year I’d welcome a bit more warmth and less threats of snow if you could manage it Harrogate!

I didn’t employ the ‘have a list’ approach at the Living Threads Sewing Room Sort Out sale earlier in the month, but then you never really know what you’re going to discover at these kind of sales. I was pleasantly surprised both by what I found and for managing to spend just under twenty pounds, plus a cup of tea and cake.

GREEN & ORANGE COTTONS AND COLOURED WIRE SPOOLS

LACE AND HAND DYED TRIMS

A DUSKY ‘INSPIRATION’ PACK

SOME SENSIBLE PLAINS

MORE SILKS - BRIGHTLY COLOURED AND A GREEN THAT MATCHES NICELY

I’ve no immediate plans for these items, but that’s ok and I think I’ll know when I know - and as the lady next to me who bought the other pack of coloured wire spools, when you need it you’ll have it. Exactly.

My craft room has a new look to it this month too, as once my long awaited shelves in the cupboard were up it was all gloves off for a huge rearrangement, bringing things I use the most often closer to hand and retiring some things I thought I’d use but haven’t yet. I even think that some of them may end up for sale as I’m not sure I’ll ever use them, but for now they’re stored in the large chest.

VINTAGE FABRICS FROM SNEINTON MARKETS FOR £9

On a trip to Nottingham I had another major find, and one that is likely to get more regular visits. In the Sneinton Market area, as well as the fabric shop I planned to visit, I also discovered the vintage fabrics above in the curios shop next door. Once again at a price I couldn’t resist - these fabrics, which have now all been washed and ironed, cost me £9, or £3 a bundle - and they’re gorgeous. There’s designs and colours in there I might not have chosen myself, but I think I will find plenty of uses for these - it’s another watch this space tease!

The appley green cord was from the fabric shop I wanted to look around, and was a compromise purchase as the cord I really liked came in at £27 for three metres - gulp! Even the girl in the shop had to check the price, and as it’s just for the drawstring of a picnic rug bag it wasn’t going to happen, however nice it was. I wanted to check out the fabric shop before they move to online only at the end of the year, but I was even more pleased to discover the curios shop and the vintage fabric next door.

BERNINA ADJUSTABLE GUIDE AND GREEN CORD FROM SNEINTON MARKET FOR £9

While I’m waiting for my Bernina Invisible Zipper foot to arrive (sigh) I decided to order the Bernina Adjustable Guide (from a different supplier) with the plan of getting to know that before the zipper foot gets here. I want to sew straighter lines in my quilting, and while they have got better with practice, at times they can still wander and so I think I need some more help. I plan to straight line quilt my Essex Linen Kisses picnic rug and I think the lines need to be sharper than my lines currently are. My plan is to test the guide out on my next charity quilt which is currently underway, before getting on with quilting the picnic rug, and then making myself a draw string bag to keep it in.

In repurposing news, I’ve acquired two shirts from MOH after a wardrobe change over and a bundle of potentially stranger things to weave with, including some lemon and orange ‘nets’, some old headphones and various cords from clothes tags and from those bundles of vintage fabrics above. I’ve also kept the latest Inntravel brochure, and not because there’s a holiday or two in there that’s tempting me, but because it’s really good quality paper and I’m wondering if I can use it for a future English Paper Piecing (EPP) patchwork project!

The final addition is a bit of a treat, and a bit of an unknown - a quilter’s advent calendar.

QUILTERS ADVENT CALENDAR FROM MORRIS WORKS

I do like a craft based advent calendar, but like most things they’re not cheap. Last year I opted for the Aurifil calendar and it was a good introduction to their threads, but I didn’t want to have that again. In previous years I’ve had Vicki Brown’s yarn advent and have been really pleased with its contents, and the throws that I’ve made with them.

It’s clearly early days for this year’s advent calendar but (so far) I’m impressed with its presentation and explanatory note. I’ll be spending this month opening the packages - hopefully knowing what they’re for, and will likely share more in a future update.

So that’s another month in my craft room, check out my previous updates for earlier additions, and remember to let me know below what you’ve added to your craft supplies this month.

Making my Mystery Block of the Month: October 2025

You’ll have seen that I plan to complete Sherri’s mystery block a month quilt and in my last post I shared the test blocks which I made into my twelfth charity quilt, today I’m sharing the centre block I made for my own quilt.

As I said yesterday I’m a fan of this block, and making it for my own quilt didn’t change my mind on that.

As it’s a ‘star block month’ that meant I’d be using the navy blue fabrics from the range I’ve chosen for this quilt, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use a selection of the three available, or just one. I knew from my blocks yesterday, and from the examples from Sherri that the triangle next to the inner square looked best if it was a lighter colour, and so I branched out a bit and opted for a non-navy fabric.

With that decision made I decided to go for a single navy fabric for the block - my gut instinct was to use this green and pink patterned fabric as I felt I hadn’t used that much. And once I’d finished the block I knew that was the right call as laid alongside the blocks that will be closest to it, that fabric didn’t appear. Phew.

Not only did the block come together quickly, despite the numerous triangles, it was one that seemed to match and keep its points without too much work on my part - maybe that’s why I liked it?!

But it’s done, and pressed and is now hanging alongside the previous month’s blocks. There’s just two more blocks to go, and then the real work of assembling and finishing the quilt starts. I’ve read today that Sherri will be sharing more about finishing the quilt next week, as well as the final block, so it’ll be good to see what’s in store - and I must remember to factor in actually finishing this quilt into my quilt plans for next year!

Join me next month to see how I get on with the next mystery block, and check out my previous posts for my mystery block quilt or the charity quilts made from the test blocks.