MEET THE QUILTER: NADINE ADELE
We talk to Nadine of Always Cosy about her quilty faves, running an indie craft business, eco-sewing and more…
Do you have a favourite quilt block or quilting technique?
I’m a huge Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) fan! At first, I didn’t get it at all and it seemed like a right faff with all the pieces but the finishing result makes it worthwhile. I love how you can use FPP to make really graphic or artistic pieces. As for a traditional quilt block, I love a good old fashioned Log Cabin block but have seen a lot of modern twists which are on my sewing to do list!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from quilting?
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that I can actually make a quilt! I was definitely one of those people for years that saw these amazing quilt accounts on Instagram and would say, “I could never do that!” – but I actually can. It may not look as great as theirs and the seams may or may not line up but I can do it! I spent years after art school not doing anything creative because I was burnt out. Quilting reignited my passion to make things and it's given me the confidence to explore other aspects of my creativity. Quilting will always be my first love though!
What advice would you give to someone who’d like to start their own indie craft biz?
I think the most important thing is to just go for it and start. You learn so much by doing and we spend so much time contemplating starting something and talking ourselves out of things, that our dreams don’t go anywhere. Word of mouth is still as effective as ever so don’t be afraid to put yourself
out there and tell everyone what you are doing! Never undersell yourself and make sure your price reflects the time, effort and materials you are using. And, importantly, don’t compare yourself to others. Some small businesses and content creators have been hustling for years to get to where they are. Take one day at a time and focus on what works for you and your business – everything else you will learn over time.
Do you have any tips for sewing more sustainably and sewing with second hand fabrics?
Nothing is really out of bounds and as the cost of living has skyrocketed, buying premium designer fabrics may not be on the top of everyone’s shopping list. It’s worth investing in remnant bundles and scraps as these often contain designer fabrics and it's a way to make some really colourful sewing projects without blowing your budget. Also, don’t overlook old clothes, bedding, cushion covers and other furnishings. Depending on the type of fabric, these can make for some interesting textures for your projects. I’m a lover of using cotton sheets in my projects, especially for quilt backs or within my FPP projects.
What fun things can we expect from you in the future?
I am in the process of designing my own FPP pattern collection, which is a slow but fun process! I have just bought a camera so I can start a Youtube channel which is scary but exciting. I've also just launched a blog – so lots of plans… wish me luck!