Our main preoccupation since the last issue has been with our quilt competition. With so many remarkable entries, every parcel has been an eagerly anticipated event. We were so fortunate to have Chris Porter’s
judgement, as well as comments from Laura Kemshall, two of the most eminent quilting experts in the country. Finally, after much deliberation, the winner was adjudged to be Angela Regan from Walsall. Our centre pages in this issue are devoted to photographs of all the prizewinning entries – we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Our delightful cover photograph is of one of my latest projects. Full instructions for making this handy little box can be found on page 56.

If you’re short of inspiration, turn to page 32, where Chris Hammacott takes us on a step by step journey from conception, through development to finished sew out, including a project for you to follow.

Sandra Carter explores the possibilities of thread velvet – and the joys of narrowboat cruising on page 50, sharing her experiences of time spent on two of England’s loveliest canals – as well as explaining how to have a bag to match every outfit!

Brother shows us how to help with environmental issues – page 38 features their ‘How can I help’ campaign, complete with a website from which you can download

a free Brother bag-making guide. Also from Brother, Gill Rogers continues lessons on using their software. We have had a tremendous response from articles featuring the application of software, including requests from ladies for lessons in other companies’ products. This seems to be an area in which many of our ladies are struggling, so we shall be following this up and hope to invite another tutorial from Husqvarna Viking’s 4D as well as including tutorials from Janome and Bernina.

Another request we have received from a number of readers is for a directory of resources for project  aterials. Whilst we will continue to include information on any unusual products we have used, and always detail which particular design sets we have employed, we deliberately try to use project materials which ladies can buy easily from their local sewing shop or may already have
in their sewing notions or fabric stash. Not only does this reduce costs, it does mean that when the urge to sew becomes irresistible, the materials are to hand. Failing this, most of the sewing shop advertisers in Flair have mail order departments and will be pleased to help.

With lots of varied projects and articles we hope that something in the following pages will inspire the ‘sewing itch’ in you.

Until the next time,