Born in Yorkshire, England, Philippa discovered a love of sewing and knitting as a child. A second-hand sewing machine for her 13th birthday enabled her to progress from making doll clothes to full-sized garments for herself, family, and friends.

After training to be a clothes designer, she worked in industry for five years as a lingerie designer before moving to Saudi Arabia and setting up a business making bespoke wedding and evening dresses.

A chance meeting in 1996 led her to a quilting course, after which clothing became less interesting and quilting an all consuming passion (few garments have been made since this date, other than fancy dress costumes for Philippa’s two sons!). Philippa combines her technical expertise and designer training to produce intricately machine pieced quilts which are heavily machine quilted often utilizing trapunto.

Philippa has had great success in quilt shows in both the UK and America, and has won many prizes including awards in four consecutive AQS shows (including the Bernina Workmanship Award with Pop Stars in 2002 and Best of Show with Lime Light in 2003).

In 2004 after living in Saudi Arabia for 15 years, Philippa returned to Yorkshire and is enjoying the opportunity to teach more widely when she’s not working in her delightful, purpose-built studio.

See more of Philippa’s work

Visit Philippa’s web site

Workshop: Magical Free Motion Machine Quilting and Trapunto

A four day workshop where the students will:

• Learn lots of machine quilting techniques including trapunto.
• Discover their individual "quilting personality".
• Make reference samples and begin (and in some cases finish) a small wholecloth quilt.
• Have a wonderful time doing one of their favourite things!

A practical four day class for more advanced students who have some experience of free-motion machine quilting and are excited by the opportunity of designing and making a small individual wholecloth quilt. The class begins with a discussion of the materials and equipment Philippa uses in her work. Students then produce a number of small sample pieces to practise techniques and to act as design inspiration. This includes a small trapunto reference sample. Quilting possibilities are explored by looking at design sources and a variety of quilts. Philippa shares her own approach to machine quilting designs. Students then create their own quilt design which, after discussion of marking methods, is transferred to fabric. Students begin sewing their wholecloth quilts with the teacher on hand to assist and encourage!

Supply List for Philippa’s workshop

(Supply lists are provided by the instructor and you are encouraged to direct any questions regarding required equipment and supplies to the instructor.)