Approximately 25 to 30 years ago I started to make a patchwork quilt. It was made in the traditionally – English paper pieced style in which very accurately cut two inch squares of paper were wrapped in two and a half inch squares of differently patterned cotton material and tacked down. These squares were then oversewn together with tiny close together stitches.
I alternated these squares with plain white cotton to produce a checkerboard effect.
I then embroidered sprigs of lavender onto the same white cotton with no clear idea how big it would eventually be. It was like Topsy, it just grew.
I carried small boxes of prepared squares with me wherever I went and worked on them at every opportunity.
Occasionally they were put away into a cupboard for a few weeks or even months but they always eventually resurfaced.
I always had a very traditional approach to patchwork using recycled blouses, shirts, dresses and skirts garnered from friends, family and charity shops. I very rarely bought any new material.
The quilt became a collection of memories sewn together with love, with contributions of work from my daughter and granddaughter.
It was eventually finished during the lockdown with a large sigh of satisfaction from me and a sigh of relief from my friend Stephanie who had promised to complete it if misfortune of any kind overtook me before it was finished!