Classes with Anita Birtles
Anita has been quilting since 1982 when she inspired by her needlework teacher at school. Anita was already a dress maker but didn’t enjoy that. Her teacher introduced her to quilting, reigniting her love of sewing.
After teaching for many years in the Early Years sector, Anita came back to teaching quilting in 2018 because she was inspired by the modern themes in English Paper Piecing.
She loves the themes of recycle, reuse and no waste which has led her to scrap piecing projects as the main focus of her work. Anita loves to use up crumbs to make modern inspired quilts and bags. And she is keen to improvise in making quilts, so rarely follows a pattern.
Her favourite techniques include: crumb quilting, applique, EPP, and free motion quilting.
Anita believes that being creative is essential for your mental wellbeing and that sewing daily keeps her grounded and inspired – – allowing her to be more creative.
Signature Technique
Till Roll Crumb Quilting
Top Tips
- Bright colours brighten up homes and lives.
- Beautiful quilts grow from very small inspirations.
- Don’t throw away orphan blocks. Use them to create tote bags to give as gifts or as a special packaging for gifts.
- Practice free motion quilting on small blocks. The size makes it ideal for manoeuvring in the sewing machine.
- For thicker sewing (e.g. orphan square bag with wadding) use purple needles. They power through.
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Kintsugi Inspired Quilting with Anita Birtles
Improv Quilting is one of Anita Birtles loves and inspiration can come from all arts and crafts.
Utilising 10inch blocks and sashing, Anita shows how to build up the blocks to make a truly unique quilt.
Taking Crumb squares demonstrated in another class. She makes random cuts before adding ...
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Scrap Illusions with Anita Birtles
Anita demonstrates how to make a feature of crumb squares and focus prints with this effective illusion block. This particularly simple block uses cornerstones and shadow strips to give a 3D effect.
There are tips on the sizes of sashing, shadowing and cornerstones in relation to the size of t...
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Last Minute Baby Quilt from Anita Birtles
Anita Birtles quick and simple strip baby quilt uses till roll crumbs and raw edge applique to stunning effect.
Using left over Jelly Roll strips, Till roll crumbs and crumb squares this strip quilt can be completed quickly.
There are tips for keeping the strips straight, adding in till rol...
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How to Make Bias Quilt Binding with Anita Birtles
Used for binding curved quilt edges, oven gloves, tree skirts and bags. This simple method of making a bias quilt binding will enhance any project with a curve.
Anita Birtles shows how easy it is to cut the binding. Using a simple method of folding the fabric on the bias. And cutting with a S...
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Orphan Patchwork Block Bags with Anita Birtles
Valerie introduces us to Anita Birtles as she demonstrates what to do with left over blocks. These bags make ideal gifts for friends that they will use time and time again.
The Orphan block bag is an ideal project for a beginner patchwork quilter because it gives the chance to practice many te...
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Crazy 8 and 6 with Anita Birtles & Valerie Nesbitt
Anita and Valerie show how easy it is to use up scraps with Creative Grids Crazy temples.
Whilst Anita prefers the Crazy 6 for totally scrappy blocks. Valerie chiefly goes for coordinating fabrics with Crazy 8 to produce a beautiful star pattern.
Using these versatile templates, it's easy t...
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Scrap Crumb Squares with Anita Birtles
Ever wondered what to do with all those fabric crumbs? Anita Birtles shows how to make a 10 inch block from all your off cuts.
She talks through the process of sorting, sewing and using 10 inch crumb squares. An ideal thing to do when you just want to sew but don"t have a specific project.
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Till Roll Crumb Quilting with Anita Birtles
Using scraps to create fabric strips for bindings, borders, edging and quilts is a favourite method for Anita Birtles. These are generally used in her bright and colourful quilts.
Anita demonstrates how simple it is to sew strips to till roll paper using a short stitch. Building up a strip of ...
