Welcome to Fat Quarterly!
Fat Quarterly is a new e-magazine written by modern sewists for modern sewists.
New issues of Fat Quarterly will be released four times per year, and each issue will feature a vibrant mix of content by some of today's most exciting crafty bloggers, including:
- quilting and sewing patterns
- designer challenges
- fabric giveaways
- designer interviews
- behind-the-scenes reports on quilting shows and exhibitions
- previews of up and coming fabric lines (start saving those pennies and cents!)
- ... and much, much more!
Here are our introductions - In our own words.
| Tacha | @ Hanies | Flickr | tacha@fatquarterly.com |
As a kid Tacha dabbled in all sorts of crafts. She spent many happy hours in her Grandma’s pottery, used to send all her relatives hand made bead necklaces and sticky home baked sweeties for Christmas every year whether they liked it or not and made clothes for her dollies.
But she only discovered her love for fabric when she moved to North Carolina and stumbled across one of the most amazing fabric stores she has ever been in. She decided then and there to make a Memory Quilt for her grandfather’s 75th birthday despite the fact she had never made a quilt before. Tacha spent hours hand piecing the quilt and true love was found. Since that moment in time it is rare to find Tacha without yarn, thread or fabric in her hand or about her person!
The birth of Tacha’s two daughters just increased her need to sew, sew, sew and sew. Changing bags, cot quilts, stuffies, bibs and the list goes on. Her addiction was made worse when she discovered the online quilting community. Tacha now participates in 8 online bees and in the regular swaps held on flickr.
Not content to ever do one thing at a time, Tacha also enjoys screenprinting and carving stamps to use on fabric. She would love one day to design her own fabric line.
| Katy | @ imagingermonkey | Flickr | katy@fatquarterly.com |
Katy has always been a little bit crafty. Her childhood was spent trying her hand at knitting (failed), crochet (failed), making little creatures out of potatoes and matchsticks (a relative success), and stitching little bits and pieces of fabric together to make clothes for her beloved bear, 'Piglet'. Under the careful and patient tuition of Nanny Noo, her grandmother, weekends were spent in front of the log fire sorting through boxes of buttons and embroidery floss and sewing, whilst Nanny knitted.
Soon enough creating things was pushed aside as boys and growing up distracted the fickle Katy. It wasn't until her daughter was born that she rekindled her love affair with all things fabric and crafty. Playdates were spent creating fairy wings, tutus and wands. The house was glitter friendly, the children happy, and so was Katy.
Once her son was born the lure of the sewing machine was too great, and soon enough she was whipping up little toys and bags for the children of friends and friends friends.
It was Katy's friend, Beth, that finally eased her along into the world of quilting by encouraging her to join in with a monthly mini quilt swap on flickr. Now she's obsessed. There's at least one quilt on every bed, on couches, and chairs. Even hanging on the back of doors.
If you happen to be a friend of Katy's and you're pregnant, you know what you're getting at the baby shower. Whether you want it or not.
| John | @ Quilt Dad | Flickr | john@fatquarterly.com |
We all know that guys like their power tools. But for John Adams, his power tool of choice is a bit unusual. It’s his sewing machine. As one of a handful of male quilters active in the online community, John (also known as Quilt Dad to his blog readers) had become known for his modern aesthetic, his inspired fabric and color combinations, his willingness to push his own boundaries, and his high-quality craftsmanship.
John always had a creative spirit. While his friends were playing little league on Saturday mornings, John could be found in painting, cartooning, pottery or music classes. After college he followed a more traditional corporate career path, ultimately earning his MBA degree. But John never lost touch with his creative side.
In 2004 John’s wife left the work force to be a stay-at-home mom for their newborn twins and decided to learn to sew. The family invested in a sewing machine, and John soon found himself drawn to the many designer fabrics that his wife was purchasing to make bags and purses. He asked her to show him the basics of how to work the sewing machine, and a new passion was born.
In 2008 John discovered the vibrant online communities of quilters and crafters via blogs, About.com, Craftster and, ultimately, Flickr (where he has been most active in swaps and quilting groups). That is when he decided to start his now-popular blog, QuiltDad.com. John credits the many swaps he completed for enabling him to rapidly learn and advance his quilting and sewing skills. He has since moved into pattern design and is a contributor to the Moda Bake Shop (www.modabakeshop.com).
John is thrilled to be part of the Fat Quarterly family and can’t wait to share his inspiration and ideas with its readers.
John lives in Cary, North Carolina with his wife, 5 year-old twin daughters and 4 year-old son. He works in branding and marketing for a major global software company.
| Brioni | @ Flossyblossy | Flickr | brioni@fatquarterly.com |
Brioni has been sewing on and off for most of her life which was inevitable being the daughter of tailoress and dressmaker. It’s in her genes.
Her first sewing machine was a Holly Hobby wind up one that she got one year for Christmas and she would get that out when ever Mum got hers out. She (badly) made handbags and Sindy clothes and was never very satisfied with how they turned out.
She got her first ‘grown-up’ sewing machine when she was 21 and studying Textile design and technology at Uni and had marvellous fun sewing bits of knitting, paper, masking tape, lumpy handmade felt and anything else that would fit under the foot. Not surprisingly that sewing machine – although still alive – has taken the hump and reluctantly grinds into action on the rare occasions it is called upon.
She had been itching to make a patchwork quilt for what seemed like forever and finally she bit the bullet about 4 or 5 years ago, never imagining that it would suck her in an lead to the biggest obsession she’s ever had!
She works full time (unfortunately in a very uncreative job!) so her time is limited, but she does manage to squeeze quilting into just about every waking moment and collects fabric like others collect Lladro figurines!
She already has more quilts and fabric than she knows what to do with but the more quilts she makes and the more she wants to make. She will most likely just stack them up and stroke them!
