Get to know The Guild better by meeting our talented members! We have interesting and inspiring members all over the country doing amazing sewing and we want you to be able to share their work.

Meet new Guild member, Chris English.

What are you working on now?

I’m busy working on a few different things, the main thing is my entry for QuiltCon 2020, I didn’t make the cut last year but was determined to try again, so wish me luck.

Other projects include a couple of commissions, buying and sourcing stock for my new retail experience (a flea market stall) and making a cushion cover for my secret Santa gift at work. It’ll be time to start on my Festival of Quilts entries as well soon.

I’m also working on growing my social media account, feel free to follow me on Instagram @afullenglish.

What is your favourite quilt that you’ve ever made?

I think each time I make a quilt it becomes my favourite until I make the next one. I love trying and learning new techniques and then mixing them with what I already know. My favourite thing is mixing up fabrics, imagery, quilting and throwing it all together and seeing what happens.

Who are your quilting heroes?

The Gees Bend quilters are the biggest influence on my quilting, I love the creativity and use of colour all achieved in pretty tough circumstances, these quilts definitely qualify as modern art in my eyes. I also took a couple of classes as well which had a big influence, one with Luke Haynes which really sparked my interest in recycling fabric and one with Sarah Fielke which really got me into hand quilting. I love the work of Sherri Lynn Wood and was fortunate to meet her last year in Nashville at QuiltCon and chat about quilts. Her book is wonderful as both a quilting book but also for an approach to life.

Can you recommend a good quilting read?

Definitely the new Quilted: From Pattern to Patchwork book and not just because I’m in it; it features 32 quilters plus other quilt stories. It’s part of the Uppercase ‘Encyclopaedia of Inspiration’ series. Plug over.

One of my favourite quilting books is The Quilts of Gees Bend; Masterpieces from a Lost Place, this is a beautiful book, it’s out of print now but you can still get it online. The images are amazing, as are the stories and interviews. I also love Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000. This is another fabulous book of really interesting quilts with beautiful images. Both of these books have really influenced my work. If I ever get stuck creatively these are the books I turn to for inspiration.

The other book I’d recommend is Oh So Pretty: Punk in Print 1976-1980, this is an amazing collection of punk artwork, I love the diy aesthetic of punk and the energy, rawness and accessibility that came with Punk.

When did you join The Guild and why?

I joined this year after meaning to join at Festival of Quilts. I joined to become part of a bigger thing, I struggle to get to my local quilting group so joining The Guild was the obvious thing to do.

 

A copy of Quilted: From Pattern to Patchwork is now available to borrow from The Quilters’ Guild Library Collection.

We are asking Members to tell us a bit about their sewing life using five simple questions. At the end of the interview each member suggests another to interview. This way we hope to bring you a wide range of makers from all corners of The Guild over the next weeks and months. If you know an inspiring quilter who we should feature, get in touch digital@quiltersguild.org.uk and we’ll send out a copy of our questionnaire.