Quilt Improv Blog Hop: Interview with Lucie Summers

I have followed Lu’s work for some time from seeing her screen printed fabric on  Etsy, to her first fabric range, ‘Summerville’ for  Moda, to meeting her and taking part in her  fabulous Portholes class at the first Fat Quarterly Retreat so it is a pleasure to be interviewing her for this blog hop.

The book is stunning Lu, such beautiful photographs and I love the sketchbook style layout.  Did you have a strong idea of how you wanted the book to look when you set out to write it?

I didn't really have any idea that the finished book would be so close to the ideas pages I took to the initial meeting - I knew I wanted the instructional pages to be very visual because it's the way I personally work best, but I didn't think the editorial team would be quite so enthusiastic about it! I think that it was quite a departure for them in terms of style, but I'm so glad they took the risk because I think it's turned out brilliantly. The photography is amazing in the book - Mark, the photographer, was really easy to work with, everything he did worked so well. The book is more than I expected and at the same time everything I hoped it might be.

Do you still keep a sketchbook to record your inspiration and ideas?

Even at art school I was terrible at keeping a sketchbook - all those blank pages were so scary! I'm more of a 'scribble it down on the back of an envelope' type. I'm not terribly organised, but I try to keep sketches together if I can - I find pinboards a really useful tool - I've got two massive boards in my studio for keeping ideas in one place.

Who taught you to sew and when did you first get into quilt making?  What were your early quilts like?

My mum taught me to sew, but I was a very impatient pupil so I didn't really make anything properly until my GCSEs. During my A level Textile course I discovered Amish Quilts which coincided with my mum learning to quilt. I was fascinated by the process but not so excited by the twee fabrics associated with quitting in the early 1990s - the Amish quilts appealed because of their unfussy fabric choices. My first proper quilt was made for my then boyfriend (now husband) for his 19th birthday in plains and plaids in blues. I tied it rather than quilted it and it's much more conventional than my quilts now. We've still got it and use it for picnics, it's looking a bit pathetic these days!

You cover a lot of techniques in the book, I particularly like the bagging out method for the mini quilts, they look brilliant!  What would be your top tip for creating the improv look?

If you're a conventional quilter and the thought of improv is rather frightening, than my top tip for loosening up would be to pop some scraps from a previous project into a paper bag and shake it up. Sit at your sewing machine and pull out two pieces (without looking!) and stitch them together. Keep pulling out scraps, one at a time and stitch mindlessly and randomly - don't try and make anything in particular, it's just an exercise in loosening up! Using fabric scraps from similar colour groups will always make things look more cohesive, even with improv.

You make quilts, design and print fabric, teach and write for books and magazines- describe how you spend a typical working day.

I rarely schedule work that clashes because I don't enjoy working flat out on lots of different things. I prefer to finish one big job before beginning another, even if in reality that doesn't always happen! My typical day includes leaving the house at 8am to take the boys to school then I'm home just after 9am to I answer emails, package up any Etsy orders then work on designing/printing/writing/sewing until 3pm when I leave to pick the boys up.

You often mention how your family and home informs your work.  How does your creative activity fit into your family life and space?

Because my husband works on the farm, I'm very lucky with how involved he is in looking after the boys. He has never complained when a deadline means he's got to be around more. Sometimes it's just not possible and my mum and dad help out, but it's not such a problem these days as the boys are older and able to amuse themselves. When the boys were tiny, my husband always did the bedtime routine so that I could work into the evening. My studio is just off the boy's playroom so they know where I am if they need me and I can see them playing in the garden during the summer. I try to keep my sewing stuff in the studio, but it does tend to overflow a bit…

Can you describe your sewing space at home and the new Turkey Shed studio?

My studio in the house was the old kitchen. We live in the farmhouse that my husband was brought up in, and I've lots of fond memories of my late mother in law cooking and baking in what's now my studio. My print and sewing table is where the dining table was, I've painted the wooden kitchen cabinets a pale blue. The walls are white and I've got a blue floor. I've got a large storage room where the old pantry was and I've got light from 2 big windows and a half glazed door. It's a lovely space to work in - it seems slightly removed from the rest of the house, but in reality it's just a room away! The Turkey Shed studio houses my mum's long-arm quilting machine and lots of new tables for the workshops. It's got a cute little kitchen area at the bottom end with a blue wall and a loo just off it. It's a great space with large wall areas for pinning up work. I haven't personally hosted any workshops in it yet, but my friend does a monthly creative textile class in it and the space works really well!

Thankyou Lu!  The next stop on the tour is Justine at Sew Justine Sew.

 and here’s a recap on all the stops and a giveaway coming up.  If you want your info all in one place, go to Stitch, Craft, Create

Mon 16th – Blu-shed-Lucie’s blog

Wed 18th – The Long Thread

Thur 19th – A Stitch In Dye

Fri 20th – Fresh Modern Quilts

Sun 29th – Quiltville’s Quips & Snips

JANUARY:

Mon 6th – Diary of a Quilter

Wed 8th – Blueberry Park

Thur 9th –  Sew Take a Hike

Fri 10th – Very Kerry Berry

Mon 13th – Sew Justine Sew

Wed 15th – Lily’s Quilts

Thur 16th – Cut To Pieces 

Fri 17th – Happy Zombie

Mon 20th – Freshly Pieced

Tue 21st – Fresh Lemons Quilts

Wed 22nd – Crazy Mom Quilts

Thur 23rd – Gen X Quilters

Fri 24th – Handmade by Alissa

Mon 27th – Don’t Call Me Betsy

Tue 28th – I’m a Ginger Monkey

Wed 29th – Sew Mama Sew

TBC – Ryan Walsh Quilts 

There are giveaways along the way, including here!  A copy of Lucie’s book ‘Quilt Improv’ is waiting at David and Charles publishers here in Devon, ready to be sent to anywhere in the world.  

To enter the giveaway: leave a comment about your favourite motif on fabric.  

- for example, I like fruit prints, especially apples. Make sure your email address is included in your profile or as part of your comment e.g your name (at) gmail (dot) com otherwise I won't be able to notify you if you win.  Giveaway open until Wed 15th Jan.  Good luck!