Collections – Oakshot Blog

November 1, 2016

Moonlight and Starlight

Designer Helen Butcher, of Little Patch Pockets, has been going all starry-eyed over a bespoke collection of Oakshott Fat Quarter Packs we’ve called Moonlight and Starlight.

Helen said that the Moonlight Pack (on left) reminded her of:

balmy summer evenings at sea with no sound but the ripple of waves against the hull.

While the strong contrasts of Starlight (on right)

evoked thoughts of bright moonlight transforming everyday objects into things unfamiliar and strange.

And she came with three stunning projects for you to indulge in: the Moonlight Serenade Cushion (and the kit makes three cushions); the Moonlit Sea Wallhanging; and the Cubitz Starlight Quilt.

moonlight-serenade-cushions-web — Moonlight Serenade Cushion Kit

moonlitsea-hanging-web — Moonlit Sea Wallhanging Kit

cubitz_starlight-web — Cubitz Starlight Quilt Kit

Happy dreams!

October 29, 2016

Locked to Scandinavia

Have you spotted our newest kit? mandy munroe exhibited her design at the Festival of Quilts in 2015:

Another of my “less is more” quilts … A restricted colour scheme (chosen in the winter), solid and low volume prints, lots of negative space and a split background. … “More” was added at the quilting stage by the amazing Rachael Dorr.

By proving that our new Scandinavia collection works equally well alone or in contrast with stronger colours we feel it is a perfect representation of the Danish concept of hygge – said to make homes nicer and people happier – which is why we’ve put together a kit for you (finished size 41″ x 41″ / 104 cm x 104 cm).

The kit contains a fabric pack that provides for the quilt top and binding (not the backing) and the pattern and full instructions.

October 5, 2016

Totally Totes

Since the whole point of creating Oakshott Fabrics in the beginning was to fashion a blended, colourful world we love it when a creative designer comes up with a project that uses that USP to its maximum!

In other words, there are three fantastic designs in three colourways – so one of them must suit your colour world, surely. The kits (available from the online shop) come with pattern and fabric at just £38 each and the finished size is W10″ x H14″ x D3″ / 25 cm x 36 cm x 8 cm (excluding handles)

That fantastic designer is Helen Butcher of Little Patch Pockets and she found herself inspired to create one tote; and then a second; and then a third:

NEEDLES AND PINS

I dropped my pin box, not for the first time, but the scattered sparkle of metallic slivers across the patchwork I was working on, and the table underneath, gave rise to an idea. By the time all the pins were picked up, I had designed this block. It is rarely that quick, however sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. Always worth keeping your eyes, and your mind, open.

JACOB’S LADDER

This was the first of the three designs in this series and it grew out of a development of the traditional rail fence block. By setting the blocks on point you really get to see the full effect of the beautiful Oakshott fabric. I called it Jacob’s Ladder because it reminds me of a toy of that name I had as a child, a clever arrangement of wooden pieces joined by ribbons which cascaded when held correctly.

EN POINTE

I have always liked half square triangles, the design possibilities are endless. But I like to give an old idea a new twist so I added the floating inset squares to give little flashes of unexpected colour to the otherwise uniform side of this block. The name sprang from the shape of the triangles which made me think of the pointe shoes worn by ballet dancers.

August 10, 2016

New Quilt Designs Reveal

11-14 August

Festival of Quilts

NEC, Birmingham, UK

Come and see our colours in all their glory and feel our new rich, soft drape. We promise a feast for the senses!
There’ll be Special Show Prices and a few surprises …
Find us in the catalogue under ‘P’ for Pinwheels.

To tempt you further, here’s a flavour of the NEW quilt designs that you’ll find on our stand.

July 30, 2016

New Lakes ripples across quilt projects

Whether or not you enter this month’s prize draw for a Lakes Fat 8ths Pack, do join us in celebrating the arrival of the New Lakes collection by making one of the amazing designs we can offer from Lynne Goldsworthy and Helen Howes.

The Lakes Table Runner has been designed by Lynne Goldsworthy (and coloured by Helen Howes) and the pack contains the pattern and a Lakes Fat 8ths Pack and the finished size is 53″ x 18″ / 135 cm x 46 cm

Alternatively, you may like a bit of a chunkier project. Have a go at City Lights by Helen Howes. She originally designed it for Ruby Reds, but as you can see it has a certain éclat in Lakes as well:

The pack contains a Lakes Fat 8ths Pack, a Ruby Reds 5″ Square Charm Pack and the instructions. The backing fabric will need to be bought separately. The finished size is 47″ x 47″ / 120 x 120 cms.

You could go on in Lakes with a Ripples quilt and a Shoreline quilt:

Or one of the six special designs that came out of Sew Mama Sew’s Oakshott Lakes Table Linens Challenge; mats, runners and napkins. Read all about them and introduce some iridescent blues into your home by downloading the free Lakes Table Linens ChallengePDF booklet.

July 26, 2016

Free patterns for Scandinavia

Download a free booklet of Seven Schemes for Scandinavia. Seven whimsical designs use a Scandinavia Fat Quarter Pack and the bloggers (who answered a call from Lily’s Quilts) have produced a tutorial and giveaway templates/patterns, as appropriate. So get whimsical with:

Scandi Windmill, Sarah of {no} hats in the house used a traditional block and added a freesia pack
Hop House Pillow, a whimsical house from Amy of nanaCompany
Saskia, Rossie of r0ssie.blogspot brightened up her winter with a baby quilt
Seminole Piecework, Elaine of messygoat shares her pre-table runner wedding dress story
Sewing Pouches, Sarah of the last piece reined in applique ambition for speed and simplicity
Mountains from a Mole Hill, Nicholas of Quilts from the Attic was inspired by Scandinavian landscapes
On the Wings of Love, Lori Landenberger of SewPsyched in Anchorage, Alaska went baby sized

See the patterns page for more free downloads.

June 20, 2016

Oakshott Monthly Prize Draw for Ruby Reds

Seize your chance to win this sizzling Fat 8ths Pack of New Ruby Reds.

Click on the image to enter. Entries must be received by 17 July 2016. One entry allowed per person.

From pink to blood-red and deep crimson, our New Ruby Reds ooze romance and passion, glinting like their gemstone namesakes. They’re as passionate and seductive, mysterious and misunderstood as the culture of Spain, their inspiration.

New Ruby Reds are available as cut lengths and in a choice of pre-cut packs, including Fat 8ths, Fat Quarters, Half Metre Blocks and 5” Squares.

May 12, 2016

Lipari bloghop: 2

A great visual effect with this mini quilt called Prism Plant Pot from Quilts From the Attic. Nick is a truly creative fan of Oakshott fabrics and we love his designs. He says this one was arrived at:

“After much thought and lots of fabric petting”

The blogpost will fill you with confidence to carry out paper piecing, blocking, quilting; and gives you all measurements and fabric info you’ll need to create this tangential piece.

All the fabrics were used out of the Lipari Fat Eighths pack for the blocks, but Nick kept back the Milazzo and Pollara for the background and side and acquired some extra Scandinavia Uppsala for the top.

He has certainly brought out the jewel-like qualities of this fabric collection.

May 1, 2016

May Prize Draw

Win this exotic bundle of Spice Fat 8ths.

Click on the image to enter. Entries must be received by 22 May 2016. One entry allowed per person.

You’ll love the depth and intensity of these shades, picked from our ever-popular Colourshott collection. And their dense weave means the fabrics are a delight to work with.

We even offer inspiration in the form of this fabulous Sunset quilt designed by Trudi of Trudi-Quilting Prolifically.

Download the FREE PATTERN.

If you love this Spice bundle, then check out our Multicolour Picks for more fun combinations of fabulous shades that work beautifully together.

Last month’s winner…
Congratulations to Joan Dobson who won last month’s Prize Draw, this Moss Fat Quarter Pack of delightfully fresh spring greens.

We can’t wait to see what she’ll make with it!

Your information will be held as confidential and will not be shared with anyone else. By entering the Prize Draw, you agree to our Competition Terms and Conditions.

March 25, 2016

Primordial, iridescent New Lipari

New Lipari perfectly captures the primordial beauty of the Aeolian islands. Its luminous colours mirror cobalt seas, lush greenery, pink bougainvillea and shimmering sun; a beauty shot through with dark, fine-grained volcanic rock and black sand.

The rich, soft drape of this 54″ wide fabric with its black warp and 18 lustrous wefts offers you distinctive, iridescent jewel tones to work with; see what inspired Oakshott Fabrics to create this collection.

Designers are describing this collection as:

‘luscious’ ‘dynamic’ ‘stunning’

New Lipari is available as cut lengths and in a choice of pre-cut packs, including Fat 8ths, Fat Quarters, Half Metre Blocks and 5” Squares. The 5″ Labelled Sample Swatch comes with a £5 Gift Voucher – now there’s temptation!

And if it’s inspiration you need, then look no further than our selection of Quilting Kits, created exclusively for us by some of the world’s leading designers.