We first met Jemima Flendt of Tied with a Ribbon a few years ago at Quilt Market. We fell in love with her work and never looked back! Her fabrics are always perfectly paired, her quilts artfully constructed. It’s clear that she loves her craft and she has a knack for sharing her skills with others in a way that makes everything feel easier!
Jemima joined us as an Aurifil Artisan in 2017 and when she came to us with a designer thread collection proposal, the only answer was YES! Her latest book release, Quilt Big (with The Quilting Company / F+W Media) is a stunning gallery of quilts, featuring 22 supersized versions of blocks that you know and love — Log Cabin, Flying Geese, Indian Star, Home Treasure, and more. Jemima shares step-by-step directions for creating each block and gives instructions for 17 different patchwork projects in which to use them. These blocks are perfect for showcasing large scale prints, an opportunity we don’t often have in quilting.
The coordinating thread collection features 12 large spools of 50wt threads, with 1422 yards on each spool. The colors are Jemima’s go-tos… a smart collection of brights and modern neutrals. We’re certain that it will inspire all to be a bit more adventurous with thread selection for both piecing and quilting.
[Read through to the end to learn how to win Jemima’s book AND thread collection!]
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Quilt Big
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool), 100% Aurifil Cotton
2405 – 2843 – 5007 – 4060 – 1135 – 2423
2479 – 4020 – 2830 – 1148 – 2810 – 1158
To view this info on our website, click here. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
QUILT BIG
Quilt Big is now available for pre-order through The Quilting Company. Click here or on the image above for more information.
THE INTERVIEW
What first drew you to the world of sewing and quilting?
I grew up around fabrics and crafts – my Nanna was always sewing and crafting and my Mum used to make a lot of clothes for us as kids. So, there were always lots of fabric scraps and pieces around which got me interested in how I could use these to make something myself. This is where I discovered patchwork and that I could use all these fabrics to create pieces myself.
In my Professional life as a Home Economics Teacher I was always around fabrics and loved teaching my students all about developing their own interest in sewing and textiles.
Who or what has been your greatest creative inspiration?
My Nanna, although I lost her many years ago. I have found so much inspiration in the treasures I own of hers, I have designed several of my Quilt Patterns – Viv’s Rose and Trinket Box, from different items that used to belong to her but now are so sentimental to me.
My two girls provide lots of inspiration and I love to make patterns and projects that they would like to snuggle under.
Tell us a bit about Quilt Big and how the book came to be?
The concept of Quilt Big happened just before the release of my first book Weekend Quilting. I wanted to work on a second title that had a natural progression from my first book. Beginner friendly quilts and projects that anyone would feel could be accomplished over a small amount of time. The idea was to take traditional blocks that usually are sewn at a smaller size and give them an Up-sized makeover in a modern way. From there it was all about designing patterns that would work with Maximum impact in minimal time.
Do you have a favorite project from the book?
Trick question right – I absolutely love the Half Square Triangles Quilt – the colours and fabrics make me swoon. The Strip Heart Quilt captures my two girls and I love the Lola Quilt for its simplicity and use of negative space to make a statement. Plus, the Back of this quilt is just so beautiful with the use of the floral print.
How did you go about selecting threads for your coordinating Aurifil Thread Collection?
I wanted my collection to have both those threads I use to piece the quilts with and then those I use to machine quilt with. As both options are important in my quilting I wanted the thread collection to reflect both uses. So it has some more neutral colours along with my favourite and most used brights. I use Denim and Chambrays fabrics quite a bit so it has the thread I use most to piece these style of fabrics with.
If I could only every use 12 spools of Aurifil Thread again – these are my picks.
How did you first come to work with Aurifil and what do you love most about working with the threads?
When I was putting together my first Book Weekend Quilting I spoke to the reps at the Aurifil Booth as I had attended Spring Market in Salt Lake City and chatted with them about this project in the pipeline. Aurifil was more than happy to jump on board to help me source the thread I was going to need. From there I became an Aurifil Artisan and then when beginning to work on Quilt Big chatted to Aurifil about this new book. We knew that there were several opportunities that could be explored and hence the beginning of the Thread Collection to cross-promote with the book – Quilt Big.
Do you have any tips for beginning quilters?
When starting out in Quilting – always buy the best notions and materials your budget can afford. There is little point to spending so much valuable time making beautiful handmade projects to be let down or frustrated by poor quality notions or materials.
FAVORITES
Karaoke Song: Fact – I have never sung Karaoke.
Book: Taming of the Shrew – Shakespeare
Color: Pink
Beverage: Coffee
Fabric Designer: Tula Pink
Quilt Pattern: Aerial Grove by Carolyn Friedlander
Notion: Aurifil Thread of course and Best Press Starch Spray
Sewing/Quilting Technique: Applique
THE GIVEAWAY
We are giving away 1 Large Quilt Big Thread Collection by Jemima Flendt for Aurifil + 1 copy of Quilt Big by Jemima Flendt for F+W Media! To enter-to-win, please click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Sunday, November 18! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Monday, November 19. Good luck!
ABOUT JEMIMA
Website — Instagram — Facebook — Pinterest
Jemima started quilting when she was about 16 – making quilts from leftover scraps from her mum’s sewing projects. She was quickly hooked and then started to take classes to learn all about different quilting techniques and skills.
Today, she designs and creates Quilt and Sewing Patterns for her label Tied with a Ribbon. They are distributed throughout Australia and Internationally. Her first book, Weekend Quilting, was published in 2017 and her second book, Quilt Big, will be available in stores in December 2018. She teaches workshops and classes in Quilting and is very passionate about introducing people to quilting and sewing. Jemima contributes regularly to a large number of Publications and Magazines throughout the world and has developed a series of Online Courses published through The Quilting Company.
** Images by Jemima Flendt & F+W Media (as marked)