BEHIND THE QUILT
SEW SEASONAL BIRDS!
“For this seasonal series, I’ll be creating four cushions – each depicting a bird that’s typical of the season, starting with spring. The designs will all have a folk-art vibe with stylised flowers and foliage, contrasting with a more realistic bird, as well as decorative yet simple embroidery embellishment. After researching birds associated with spring, I found the Wheatear, also known as the Northern Wheatear. The size of a Robin, the Wheatear is a long-distance migrant. During spring, birds making their way to and from Greenland and Alaska pass through the UK. These birds undertake one of the longest migrations of any songbird, with some flying non-stop across the Atlantic to northern Spain and then on to West Africa.” – Jo Avery
You will need
■ Neutral fabric (background and backing) – 1¼yds■ Pale yellow fabric for bird body and flower centre – 8in x 11in■ Charcoal fabric for bird tail and face – 10in x 6in■ Grey fabric■ A variety of aqua fabrics for inner of tulips – in total 7in square■ A variety of pink fabrics for outer of tulips – in total 10in square■ Pale green fabric for flower petals – 5in x 7in■ A variety of dark blue fabrics for leaves and flower centre – in total 7in square■ Binding – Two (2) 2½in x WOF fabric strips■ One (1) 18in cushion pad
