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October 2021: BOO!
or, A Skull is for Life, Not Just for Hallowe'en

I've always had a tendency to Gothiness, despite all the bright colours and Modern prints, I like to lean towards the Dark Side (and, as you know, this is always the best way to press) I make Goth Baby quilts to give away, for my own amusement and as an exercise in a very particular kind of generosity. So, this time of year amuses me, in a lightly irrational kind of way and I am always pleased to find another fabric with skulls and skellingtons and bugs... And, then, there's bats. My garden is filled with their fluttering presence on warm summer nights, and any creature that eats mosquitos is most definitely my friend.

This month's free pattern is for Bean-Bag Bats, you can hang them up, throw them around or annoy the cat by dangling them from a stick. CLICK HERE for a link to the batty PDF pattern on our website. Also, and most definitely not ghoulish in any way, a review of Heather Hasthorpe's lovely retrospective exhibition at Catfield Church this September.

I'm away for three weeks in October, taking myself around England, Scotland and Wales in a motorhome, with just a sewing-machine repair kit, a handcrank, and a couple of cut-out Goth Baby Quilts to keep myself amused. If you want me to visit your Group (informally), get in touch at once, on helen@helenhowestextiles.co.uk And lots of books, of course...

Helen Howes and AitchBee

Contact us direct on newsletter@modernartquilters.co.uk

HEADER IMAGE: GOTHY TIGERS by Helen Howes


TRICKLE OR TREACLE by Helen Howes. Link to HH's blog - see previous Goth Baby quilts.
BOX & COX by AitchBee - New class for October, see what I am teaching and where!


Just to prove that it doesn't have to be black, orange or green to be Hallowe'en, Nadra Ridgeway has designed a great row quilt featuring your favourite spooky motifs of ghosts, spiders, cats, pumpkins and, of course, bats. Even though I am not a huge fan of pink it does look good in this Hallowe'en quilt - who'd have thought it!

The whole pattern is available as a PDF download from Etsy - follow the links from Nadra's blog, Ellis & Higgs, to go to the page.
I have had an idea in the back of my mind for some time revolving around a monster quilt, but it looks like Heather Mulder Peterson has beaten me to it! This striking little quilt, NO MONSTERS ALLOWED, is on her blog, Trends & Traditions, and as she says "who said monsters are scary?"
The elongated hexagon shape used in English Paper Piecing has long been known as a 'coffin block' so this is just taking things to extremes! Combining the coffin block with a Dresden plate layout to make this perfect rosette was a happy accident according to designer Jessee Maloney on her blog, An Art School Dropout's Life, which she stumbled on when combining her love of EPP with circular blocks. However she got there, we are pleased to follow...
There is no denying that that our American cousins go in for Hallowe'en in a big way and they certainly have some great quilt designs to prove it. This is a round up of 50 free Hallowe'en patterns by Marina and Daryl Lynn on their blog, Quilt Inspirations - much visited by us - and despite the age of this post (2011) everything still appears to be working and linking correctly... hurray!
This natty little number is PHAT BOO by Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts and is available as a PDF download from Etsy. I must confess my ignorance since the word 'phat' had me puzzled enough to google it, where upon I find that it is a slang word meaning 'excellent' or 'gratifying' both of which seemed pretty apposite to me. Lorna's pattern gives instructions for these blocks in two size: 8 inch and 16 inch blocks so you can make a wall hanging or a lap quilt.
Not strictly Hallowe'en but perfect colours to be included here. This is a disappearing four-patch by Camille on her blog, Stitchin' the Northwest, and I am intrigued as to how it has been done. She says that you cut the four-patch on the diagonal rather than in line with the seams - I shall have to have a think about this. However it is achieved it certainly make for a dynamic quilt with lots of movement!

To save my brain, HH has been and found me a tutorial for this disappearing four-patch block with variations on rejoining the pieces on POLKA DOT CHAIR - have a look
We do like this blog, and regularly return to see what Amy has been up to on Diary of a Quilter. This flag, or bunting, quilt is a great way of showing off those large print Hallowe'en fabrics. Although the palette is very limited (black, white, grey and orange) it is full of interest.
OK, I know this isn't really anything to do with Hallowe'en, but I need to give you the heads-up for an event being held here at MAQ HQ (also known as The Raveningham Centre) The Centre is having a CHRISTMAS FAIR - lots of free parking and free entry, lovely refreshments at the Ravenous Cafe and gifty things to purchase. We will be here with an 'open studio' vibe going on selling patterns, kits, fabric and quilts.

Sunday 14th November - 10am to 4pm
The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk. NR14 6NU

Click on the picture to visit my calendar to see when I will be teaching this fun illuminated wall hanging! (Yes, it will be a pattern too)
Amanda, aka Jedi Craft Girl, welcomes you to her blog and shows how she made this MOD HALLOWEEN quilt purrrfect for the crazy cat lady/chap in your life. The pattern is available from Etsy and features Riley Blake's MOD MEOW cats panel and lots of applique.

Even if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, have a look at Amanda's blog - she's got a lovely tabby quilting assistant!




It seems that we keep going back to certain bloggers, but it's just because they consistently have good content. Here we are with Stephanie of Swoodson Says who had done a round up of 31 Modern Halloween Quilts - I think I need to go and make a paper pieced skull and perhaps some bats too...


If you are enjoying the dark side of quilting you will want to see this month's PINTEREST board entitled simply GOTH! Definitely packed full of ghosties and ghoulies and long leggety beasties and things that go 'bump' in the night.




We were thrilled to see so many of Heather Hasthorpe's quilts gathered in one place at her recent retrospective exhibition. As she said, they had been borrowed back from walls, beds and sofas up and down the country and she certainly had plenty to fill Catfield Church which provided a beautiful backdrop for the exhibition.

As promised, for those of you too distant or too busy to attend, we have produced a round-up on our Inspirations page.




Next month's Newsletter theme - Alphabets and quilts with a message:
SOMETHING TO SAY!



Modern Art Quilters SPECIAL OFFERS: NEW PATTERN releases, limited edition kits, lovely made things and fabrics galore
Modern Art Quilters FREE PATTERN: Bats in the Belfry! Or anywhere in the house for that matter. Make lots of lovely little bean bag bats for a bit of Hallowe'en fun.
Our mailing address is:-
4, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk, NR14 6NU. United Kingdom