Patchkits was established in 2005 by Claire Blood and is based at her home in north Essex.
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The concept behind this online patchwork business is to make starting patchwork easy!
By providing patchwork kits of small projects with all the pieces cut out and everything you need included (even a needle and thread), much of the apprehension about how to start a new hobby is eliminated. The patchwork kits are designed to cover the main techniques so that after a few cushions or sampler quilts, you've learnt the basics and your confidence is soaring!
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Most of the patchwork books stocked on the site are also aimed at the beginner and the most frequently requested workshops are those for beginners.
Obviously Patchkits also caters for the established quilter in terms of providing wadding, backing fabrics and general patchwork and quilting notions. In addition a number of patchwork kits and workshops are also aimed at the quilter with a little experience under her belt.
Claire has sewn and fondled fabric from childhood. She first encountered patchwork quilts at the American Museum in Bath and was stunned. Unfortunately the demands of work as a corporate lawyer gave too little free time to have a go herself. But a move to working part-time enabled her to enrol on the City & Guilds patchwork course and the rest, as they say, is history!
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"I love the feel of fabric and the fact in patchwork you can mix colours and patterns together in a way you could never do with clothes!"
"It's a juggle sometimes between designing and sewing for the business and for my own personal development as a quilter - but what a juggle to have!" Fortunately the two often coincide. |
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Claire loves to experiment with colour and pattern. Her design style aims to achieve a contemporary feel while still using traditional designs and techniques. She has found designing with the novice in mind particularly rewarding.
Teaching workshops have also turned out to be a most enjoyable experience - helping others to create something is a real priviledge.
In addition to being a member of the Quilter's Guild of the British Isles, Claire also enjoys the insipration and support from the two local quilt groups of which she is a member - Roothing Valley Quilters and Little Waltham Patchwork Friends.
