As part of our Q & A series to find out a bit more about our LMQG members. Ruth Al-Mushadani shares her sewing story.
Tell us a little bit about yourself I’m a mother of one teenager, in my early 40’s. Have been sewing for as long as I can remember, my mother sewed a little when I was growing up and I learnt from her and from school. After school I studied millinery and worked as a milliner from home for years. It fulfilled my desire to be creative and was so much fun. Until I discovered blogs one summer after I had had major surgery, I had always made what I called patchwork – the old fashioned way (English paper pieced). The world of bloging opened up a wonderland of other people who quilted, sewed and where I discovered new techniques and machine piecing.
When did you begin quilting and what inspired you to start? I discovered English paper piecing when I was a young child at school, our sewing teacher was making a English paper pieced quilt and she taught us. I moved on to books after that, most noteably Golden Hands 1970’s craft books and then more modern quilt books. Quilt was my first book, simple well explained patterns and so easy to follow.
What is your favourite type of project? I make a mixture of projects, although I do love smaller sized useful projects – hot water bottle covers, tea cosy, cushions, items that make great gifts.
What fabrics do you love right now? I love Jennifer Paganellis fabrics, bright and fun. LillyBelle by Bari J, The Birds and the Bees by Tula Pink and Hope Chest by Josephine Kimberling.
How do you start a quilt, fabric or design first? Generally the design and then I look for the fabrics – I don’t have a stash. Yep some one who loves fabrics and quilts without a stash.
Do you prefer to follow a pattern of improvise? I love to learn a new technique and then move on with my own ideas. I prefer modern blocks, not very fussy cutting and piecing.
Which part of the process do you love / hate the most? I love the sewing and construction, machine quilting is still a stumbling block for me, so I tend to hand quilt or send my quilts to be long arm quilted.
Do you stick to one quilt at a time or do you have several on the go at once? I do like to work on one project at a time, so no confusion and just lack of space to store projects. Although having said that I do have a quilt top awaiting quilting and have started a new project .
What are you working on right now? I’m working on a quilt along, the Hexy MF with Fat Quarterly.
You can see what else Ruth is working on over on her blog Two Hippos or on her flickr pages.
Thanks Ruth for sharing your sewing journey.
