MEET NIGHTINGALE QUILTS

2. What is it that you love about being a quilter?

It gets me out of my head. I find that sewing distracts me from my problems, all I think about is each step I’m up to. After 10 years of chronic health problems, it is good to be able to feel a sense of accomplishment when you’re not able to work a conventional job. I also love the sense of community within the online quilting sphere. There is so much support and encouragement. I feel as though even if I moved to the middle of nowhere, as long as I had access to the internet, I would never feel alone.

3. What made you start selling your quilt patterns?

Ever since the beginning my family said I should sell my patterns, but I thought they were just being supportive and not realistic.

I eventually decided to after a lady asked me for a copy of the pattern I used for one of my quilts. I told her that I made it up and she was amazed. I hadn’t really realised that most people didn’t just make what was in their head, and that they followed patterns. I wrote brief instructions down for this lady and she said that they were the best instructions she had seen. I had never read a quilt pattern and so I had just written out what I thought was a logical flow.

Since then, I’ve been told that my patterns are very easy to follow and neat. If I can make a hard looking pattern easy, then my work is done!

4. What gives you the most joy from sharing your quilting journey on social media?

Making friends and sharing stupid stories. I write a lot of nonesense because I’m a bit of a silly person. If someone responds with an equally ridiculous story or anecdote, it makes my day. I think people are too caught up with their image these days and need to learn not to take themselves too seriously. If I mess something up when sewing, I’ll let you know. I won’t pretend it didn’t happen in the hopes that people will believe I’m a perfect quilting machine. I also love seeing different people’s interpretations of my patterns. Some people can make the most amazing creations, and it feels good seeing them all over the world.