Jen Kingwell started her working career as a Midwife based over in Australia. “Falling” into quilting over 30 years ago Jen’s hobby became an obsession and she is now a textile designer, quilter, teaches and writes her own books!
Jen is a very early riser and hand sews everything! She describes herself as a traditional quilter with a modern twist, loves patchwork and bright, quirky fabrics and hand applique and quilting are among her favourite pastimes.
You can find a range of Jen’s quilt patterns and fabric over on our website.
Who/what inspired you to take up sewing and how old were you?
I grew up in a non-sewing home but my mother’s best friend, Mavis, was a beautiful seamstress and I was inspired by her. I would always go home with a bag of scraps which I was very happy with and played with and rearranged lovingly.
Who can you remember doing your first sewing with?
I think the first communal stitching I did was in the Nurses Quarters when I first started my training. Everyone was stitching EPP hexagons and those scraps of mine, from Mavis, were coverted!
What is the first thing you made?
The very first thing I ever made were curtains for my dolls house. I stitched all those tiny pieces together. I didn’t know at that time it would be the beginning of a beautiful love affair with scrap quilts
What is your favourite type of stitch?
Hand….everything by hand piecing, appliqué and quilting.
What type of sewing projects do you prefer
I mainly make quilts. Sometimes smaller projects like a cushion, but always patchwork…never bags as my Zipper skills are non-existent.
What is your inspiration for your designs?
Vintage quilts and old, traditional blocks always. I do also like a mixture of old and new. I like to mix my love of modern fabrics with the traditional ideas in quilting.
What do you consider your best piece of work
Gypsy Wife ….. not because it is necessarily my personal favourite but it seems to be everyone else’s favourite.
My favourite is always whatever I am working on. I just love the process!
What is your very favourite thing that you have made?
That is like picking my favourite daughter… differs from day to day {hehehe} but today I think it’s my Steam Punk quilt. I loved working on Steam Punk and enjoyed the challenge because, believe it or not, I did limit the colour palette.
What is your favourite tool or gadget?
I’m a simple girl and I don’t use a lot of gadgets but I have 2 things I can’t live without…a really-good pair of scissors and acrylic templates for their accuracy.
Do you have a favourite colour to work in?
No, not really… the more the merrier but if you look at my store I do seem to order a lot of green fabric.
What type of fabric would you choose to work with?
I mainly use quilting cottons but love, love texture so I add linens, denims, lawns and some of the gorgeous Japanese woven fabrics. I always back my quilts with lawns [voiles]
Do you prefer hand work or machine work?
Always hand. My machine gives me high blood pressure and a drinking problem! I think I’m just not that good on the machine – I feel I have way more control and accuracy by hand. Sometimes friends comment and say “I would machine that quicker”, which might be true for them but by the time I unpick all my mismatched points… I may as well of stitched by hand!
What’s your dream sewing machine?
One that works! I had a real dud for a while and I think that didn’t help my confidence with machines.
My advice to a newbie would be …………………..?
Buy the best equipment you can afford and make what you love. Don’t worry if you best friend thinks you have lost the plot – Trust your instincts!
What is the piece of work that has driven you mad/been a disaster or drove you to tears? .
Too many to name and all of them machine projects. I have quite an impressive pile of UFOs. I am the world’s worst machine quilter! Green Tea and Sweet Beans almost ended up in the bin but a design wall, and encouragement from fellow quilters, got me on track.
Do you make things for other people?
Rarely. Just not enough hours in the day… I started making a quilt for all my great nieces and nephews but fell behind…sorry guys. My own grandchild doesn’t have a quilt from me [bad, bad, bad Jen]!
Who (famous person alive or historical) would you love to create something for?
Definitely “Roux” aka the river rat Johnny Depp in Chocolat….and definitely a quilt. I will leave that to everyone’s imaginings!
What’s your best sewing background music?
Anything easy listening like Sam Smith etc. Don’t mind a bit of a 70-80’s covers list.
Are you an early riser or a night bird – when is the best time for you to sew/design?
Most definitely a morning person…if it’s not done by 3pm, it probably won’t get done at all. Sometimes my days start in the “ night owl” time slot eg 4am if I’m awake.
What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy? Very few. This is the real downside of design and self employment. You can fall into that trap of feeling like if there is no financial return, it’s a bit of a waste of time doing other things.
I do enjoy eating…and sometimes cooking … but mostly eating! Ooh and I’d love to improve my knitting skills.
Who in the sewing/crafting /design world do you most admire?
I have so much admiration for the quilters who kept quilting alive and well through the decades for us all to enjoy. I sometimes think we forget the ground breakers who came before us. People like Freddy Moran Gwen Marsden, Jean Wells and the list goes on. These ladies were making “modern quilts” before a lot of us even knew what they were so Thank You to you all!
| Jen Kingswell designs can be seen at the links below: https://www.amitie.com.au/about-us.htm https://www.jenkingwelldesigns.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jenkingwelldesigns https://www.instagram.com/jenkingwell |
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