My visit to the Festival of Quilts 2023 (Birmingham, UK)

I visited the Festival of Quilts (the biggest quilt show in the United Kingdom) for the first time this year. It was held at the NEC in Birmingham England.
As well as attending the festival I also entered two quilts into a new category they had this year called 'Sustainable Quilts'.
This video is mostly quilts and you are welcome to play with the video settings to slow it down or pause to read the quilter's names.
Below are the competition category codes that you will see on the labels.
Quilt Competition Category Codes:
ST - Sustainable Quilts
MD - Modern Quilts
TD - Traditional Quilts
TP - Two Person Quilts
CT- Contemporary Quilts
AT - Art Quilts
PT - Pictorial Quilts
MN - Miniature Quilts
QG - Quilter’s Guild Challenge
GP - Group Quilts
JS - Joy of Sharing (a non judged category)
QC - Quilt Creations
NV - Novice Quilters
YQ - Young Quilters
Any quilts with a white label and no code or number were in special exhibits of which there were many.
Denim & Scraps QAYG Quilt Tutorials:
Denim & Sraps Quilt Blocks - • Fun Denim Quilt Blocks...
Denim & Scraps Quilt Assembly - • Quilt-As-You-Go Denim ...
My visit to the Scottish Quilting Show:
• Scottish Quilting Show...
Quilts For Care Leavers (Q4CL) Links:
Website: q4cl.org.uk/
Facebook Group: / quiltsforcareleaversma...
-Timestamps-
00:00 Festival of Quilts 2023
01:19 Sustainable Quilts
04:50 More Quilts
07:48 Quilts for Care Leavers
09:25 Friends & Shopping
10:05 Day Two
10:13 Sustainable Batting Workshop
10:34 Even More Quilts
12:38 Pinhole Quilting
12:55 And some more quilts
13:41 Angela Walters Lecture
14:01 Final Thoughts

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Let me know what your favorite quilt show is to visit - what is the best bit of visiting a quilt show for you?

[@sharonking8777]

CONGRATULATIONS on the shortlist! Please don't explain it away. You occasionally reference the amount of time you have been quilting as if it is a negative. I would like to say thank you for a new perspective on quilting. You have inspired and motivated me in many ways. I was thrilled to see your 1st quilt show entries and shortlist acknowledgement. It validates what so many of us have seen in you and commented on. So pleased for you!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

aw thank you so much! 💕💕

[@iangosling78]

Kate@ The Last Homely House is a fan of your lovely Denim and Scraps quilt - just watched her at The Festival of Quilts, I wished I could have gone this year, just wanted to thank you for showing some outstanding quilts. I loved both of your quilts, ❤ Kaz

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I just watched her video! Very surprised and flattered.

[@iangosling78]

❤ your work is brilliant, can't wait to see what you come up with next - no pressure 😂 Kaz

[@susanconner9158]

Great show and thank you so much. I was thrilled, one of the mini quilts was made by a relative who lives in Scotland...Fiona Johnstone, so that was a surprise and treat. I enjoyed your video

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Oh awesome! That’s fab!

[@FredaM]

I’m hoping to go to this quilt show next year. Thanks for sharing. I loved your quilts.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@lindachase2667]

Thank you for the video and sharing your time at the quilt festival. Congratulations on being short listed. I loved both your quilts, thank so much.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@kateeastick9821]

Thank you for the comprehensive tour and Overgrown is just gorgeous!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nancyb2261]

So much inspiration in one video! Thanks for taking us along.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@viviancothros5541]

Congratulations on your lovely quilts! Both beautiful! And thank you for making this video and sharing it with us.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks for watching!

[@SnapDragon764]

Thank you, thank you…thank you for taking us along to the show…so much inspiration…will Have to watch many times and yes please on letting us k ow about your process on the Overgrown quilt…it was so lovely and colorful. I think I liked the sustainable entires most and the music you chose to accompany 🎉

[@ScrapFabricLove]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@Amritadivya54]

I would love to see how you made your overgrown quilt! Thanks for taking pics of the sustainable quilts and sharing your journey with all of us!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I probably will make that second video.

[@edytaedyta2694]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us ❤️ Your quilt is a masterpiece!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much!

[@PinholeQuilting]

It was great to meet you at Festival! Thanks so much for stopping by the stand and featuring us on your video. I hope you have lots of fun with your purchases :-) Congratulations on your first show entry - I'm planning on encouraging others to do the same (including me!) in 2024. I know that others who did so in 2023 really found having the deadline good and bad in equal measure but the pleasure of seeing their quilt hang at Festival far outweighed that deadline!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

It was lovely to meet you too! I’m a deadline girl so it certainly helped me. Can’t wait to see what you enter next year!

[@PinholeQuilting]

@@ScrapFabricLove there are lots of ideas in my head. I should definitely have a group quilt entry as part of Comberton Quilters. They won the group quilt this year so it's going to be tough to beat this year's result! My block is designed but not quilted yet. Deadlines are required!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Looking forward to seeing it!

[@sdcgren6301]

Hi I’ve loved watching your video of your visit to Birmingham. Amazing what you showed us. Well done. Love all your quilts. Sibylle.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@mariejohns1387]

I think the quilt you entered is amazing! Kudos to you for thinking outside the box!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! 💕

[@chrislittebrant5235]

Good Afternoon Kristen, Wow, how wonderful that you were able to go to this Fun Show. I slowed down the video so I had a good view of all the beautiful quilts. I am happy you had a good time with friends❣️👍 I hope you have a great week and weekend and I bet the boys were so happy when you arrived back home. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🥰 Take Care and God Bless You and Your Family, Chris

[@chrislittebrant5235]

And Your Quilts Are Amazing ❣️❣️❣️ 🥰🥳👍 Chris

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! 💕. I was happy to be back home with the boys too!

[@greenquiltsgalore1326]

WOW! Thank you, Kristen, for your view of the quilt show! Your quilts were fabulous and we'll see if you add some feathers to your quilting! Id love to see how you did Overgrown and the Diamonds in Denim quilt, too.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

The one with the diamonds already had two tutorials - the links are in the description but I think I will make another video about the other one soon.

[@greenquiltsgalore1326]

I'll look at the previous videos!

[@kathleenswan4184]

Yes, I would love to see more about your Overgrown quilt!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@LisaLisa-zl9vu]

I loved your denim quilt and think it deserved a win!!!! Looks like it was a fun trip.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! Yes I was glad I decided to go.

[@connieking9873]

What an honor you were considered. Congratulations. Hope you get to keep your black dot. Thanks for taking time to do this video. Was really fun to see

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@elizabethamis9376]

Just seen your quilt on The Last Homely House. Love it. Love your channel.❤👍from Somerset

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I just saw it after you and a few others let me know - thanks for telling me!

[@jaynedough8708]

This is the best quilt show video I have seen, and I watch them all. I love the way you showed the quilts as still shots instead of walking around with a camera and getting us dizzy without seeing clear pictures of the quilts. Congratulations on getting your quilts into a show, I just make them for fun and don't have any plans to place them into a competitive show but I'm thankful you great quilters do so i can see them. Keep up the good work on your channel, I watch all of your videos.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Aw thanks! Here I was thinking folk would have preferred a video 😂!

[@sarahfriesner7442]

Loved your quilts, yes it would be good if you did another video about your quilts. Thanks😊

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@Charlie-tb6un]

Looks like a great time! Would love a video on the overgrown quilt! ❤❤❤❤

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@laurazavar]

I really enjoyed that. I’d have loved to have gone but just wouldn’t manage it. Thank you so much for taking the time to ‘take us with you’. Congratulations on shortlisting, your quilt was beautiful and so original. I joined Q4CL last month I’m in the Scottish group, have just gathered enough fabric to start making a couple of blocks ( I’m a newbie quilter and v-e-r-y s-l-o-w 😂 ) Well done! 👏🎉

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Awesome! So glad you’ve already joined Q4CL. Speed is not the object. I’m sure your blocks are lovely!

[@lyn9453]

Thank you for this exciting tour. You displayed the quilts meaningfully and perfect musical accompaniment. Yes, please tell us about your journey in creating Overgrown, and tell us more about the process of entering the show. I would give each of your quilts a clear blue ribbon!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so glad you enjoyed the video. I probably will do a separate video on the overgrown quilt - thanks for the feedback!

[@joanotto9984]

Wow! What a great show! Congratulations on your entries!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@cynthiaburja3526]

Loved your art quilt! Congrats on making the short list!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!

[@michelleinScotland]

Thank you for the virtual tour. I've seen many quilts online but you managed to show quite a few that I hadn't seen; will have to look through slowly. I also make blocks and quilts (well just one so far) for Q4CL - such a wonderful 'almost' charity. Would love to see a video of the making of the arty sustainable quilt; it looks amazing.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Ah fab! So glad you are already connect to Q4CL! 💕

[@jmur8784]

OMG! So happy for your 1st quilt show submissions, Kristen!! Thanks for sharing the show with us. I love to visit ANY quilt show! My favorite part? The vendors! :o))

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@mary-gu6gk]

Thank you ❤

[@QUILTINGCHAP]

Kate from the KZbin channel The Last Homely House loved your jeans quilt! She talked about it on her FOQ recap!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks for letting me know! I just had a watch - very flattered!

[@julias.8236]

Great video! I'll come back to see it all again with reduced speed to see all these beauties. I'd love to spend a vacation there one year (I'm from Germany, so would be a bit more than a 4h train ride). Would be interesting to hear you talk about the submission process. Had 2 of my quilts hung at a tiny show near me (without any rating) and it's really nice to see your quilts in a show. Best part was a little girl saying to her mom: They say you can take photos of the quilts for personal use and I want a photo of THAT quilt, pointing at mine. And I was like "gnihihi, how cuuuute!! ☺"

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Aw that is a brilliant story - so glad you overheard her!

[@kimcarter1810]

Kate at The Last Homely House liked your blue Jean quilt.😊She showed it on her video from the quilt show. Congratulations, it looked like a lovely garden.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much!

[@lafcustomdesigns]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks for watching!

[@shelaghfolgate1468]

Thank you so much for this lovely well presented video. I really appreciate you doing this. Maggie and I have been friends from the very beginning of Q4CL. I was unable to go this year. Well done on your shortlisted sustainable quilt. Best regards Shelagh

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks for watching! It was lovely to meet Maggie and the other Q4CL folk at the show.

[@rachelallen5534]

Thanks for sharing! I paused so many times to read about the quilts and look at them more. I'd love to sese another video on the process of entering, etc. Cool that you got to see Angela Walters speak. I love her channel, and that she does Tula Pink's quilting!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

So glad you enjoyed the video! I will do another one about entering soon-ish…!

[@rachelallen5534]

@@ScrapFabricLove Thank you for adding in the explaination of the letters on the signage--I wonder the differences between modern and contemporary categories. So many cool areas of focus. BUT the main thing I came back here to comment again on, was I so pleased to see Kate of The Last Homely House admiring your denim and scraps quilt in her video of her attending the show!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaLRaaGfoZ1qlc0

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! Just watched it. Also in your other question I think modern involves more negative space and clean lines and often solid fabrics and contemporary can be busier with prints etc but still look ‘modern’ if you know what I mean…

[@jennamckenzie647]

I’m so happy for you to have entered some quilts!! I’m love your “Overgrown” quilt. It’s beautiful art❤

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! 💕

[@pywagner]

Congratulations on your Short List! Both entries are amazing! It would be interesting to get an idea of how you put the AT quilt together, like how you came up with the design? Thanks for taking us along to the quilt show!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

My most recent video is all about making the overgrown quilt.

[@sueshortall1617]

I would love to see how you made your overgrown quilt. It looks fabulous and the judges were right to consider it. The Harrogate knitting and stitching show in November is quite good. It gets quite crowded.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I’ll probably make that second video.

[@deliad8826]

What an amazing feeling it must have been to see your quilt on display. Wowzer. Thank you for sharing your perspective of the show. No denying your talent now Kristen. Well done.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much! And thanks for watching!

[@gillgriffiths168]

I’d really love to see how u made your quilt, it looks like u had an amazing time!!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I’ll probably make that second video.

[@traceycoles1693]

Love your art quilt and REALLY want to know more about the process,please!

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks!! I made another video about entering the show and making that quilt. It should be no long after the one you watched.

[@traceycoles1693]

@@ScrapFabricLove awesome. I'll take a look and see if I can find it. Xx

[@lindachase2667]

Kate from The Last Homely House featured your denim quilt on the video today from The Festival of Quilts.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! Just saw it! Thanks for giving me a heads up 💕

[@thecheshirecrafter4522]

Great video, especially of the sustainable quilts. I slowed the speed down to take a really good look. I'd admired your large denim quilt before knowing it was yours. I enjoy the "randomness" of anything goes, then some of those art quilts are stunning. I'd be very interested in you talking about how you made your embroidered art quilt - was it from repurposed embroidery on denim? So glad you experienced it and thanks for sharing with us. X

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I will be doing another video about that quilt so stay tuned!

[@nancymathisen9707]

🤩 ❤

[@terrilynch1475]

Hi Kirsten I throughly enjoyed your tour around the quilts. I follow another KZbin channel The last Homely house Kate did a tour of the quilt show & stop in front of a quilt which really took her eye it was yours just thought I’d let you know. 😊

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks for telling me! I’ve just gone and had a watch!

[@elizabethamis9376]

Many, many congratulations on your quilt commendation! Wow! ❤👍from Somerset. PS I think my favourite quilt was of the Milky Way - not sure its official name.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

I think I know which one you mean - yes it was lovely but I can’t remember what it’s called either!

[@syoungb]

Wow! Excellent job filming the quilts and the contributors info! Thank you for taking the time to post those together. I just watched your video of the QAYG assembly of the Orange Peel quilt. Very nice. I am curious as to why you opt to QAYG when you have a long arm? I’m new to quilting and long arming (1 1/2 / 1 year). I did my first couple using QAYG, farmed one out but quickly decided I wanted to a long arm to finish my own work. It is definitely a challenge and learning curve is steep.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I only opted to QAYG that one because of the denim. I haven’t quite mastered denim quilts on the long arm yet - I tend to get a lot of stretch. Probably something about how I am loading them!

[@maureenreed7670]

Hi,I absolutely love your quilts you put in this.. what special place have you put them now? Hanging on a wall?. You are very inspiring to watch. I'm so hooked on watching your video's

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks so much. The denim and scraps one is cuddled with on my sofa 😂 and the funny shaped flower one usually hangs on the wall in my sewing room but I’ve been thinking of moving it so I can put something new up. We’ll see…

[@katehenry2718]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the denim and bright scrap quilt!!! Its on the short list for NEXT! Not fond of the overgrown one. Non-straight edge ones don't seem like quilts... not easy to sleep under. That's my definition of good quilt....can you sleep under it like a hug. There should be a category for "WELDED tooooo much stitching". Those are tooo tight.. not a hug.

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! It was definitely more of a wall art piece for me. A bit of a departure but I thought why not?!

[@sueduquemin7119]

I couldn’t go to Birmingham but enjoyed your video. Would love to know what you had to do to enter

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Thanks! I think I will make that second video.

[@jwall6006]

I really love overgrown, it’s incredible, and I can understand completely why it’s shortlisted. The second one would be Keeper of Broken Books is great with the dragon. A Walk Through the Village of Rowhedge. Must have taken forever. I love appliqué. Are there requirements other than being sustainable materials? Do they have a particular amount to be hand sewed versus machine stitched?

[@ScrapFabricLove]

No it doesn’t need to be appliqué at all. It’s about the materials used and there is a minimum overall size requirement.

[@dianaballew6329]

Your art quilt is stunning! Thank you for the generous photography! My eyes were soaking it all in as I kept hitting the pause button on my computer. I would be intereted in knowing how to make the transition from pattern to artistic placement. How did you learn to do that?

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Not sure I so much learned how to not use a pattern I just prefer not to use patterns. They confuse me usually 😂. I can use them/write them if I concentrate but for me it is easier to just experiment and put things together and see what happens. If you are looking for a way to use that experimental muscle you already have in you then looking at improv quilt videos or courses would probably be a way to start. You already know what is pleasing to your own eye so it’s just about trusting that gut instinct I think.

[@fsbateman69]

Thanks for sharing my QR code quilt MD25 Xx

[@ScrapFabricLove]

That quilt is so smart! Well done you!

[@TartantazCreates]

Congratulations on your quilt being shortlisted. So how does the Festival of quilts compared to the show in Glasgow? From what I can see if it from videos it looks a lot better than Glasgow. T x

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Way bigger. Much more room for the quilts and probably more vendors too but I wasn’t super focused on them. I will definitely go to this one again.

[@booomanchu]

Did you see the Last Homely House's video on the quilt show? She pointed out your denim quilt 😊

[@ScrapFabricLove]

Yes I saw it! Thanks for the heads up!

[@DamsonElvira1212]

5:29 7:07 13:14