Journal Quilts

In 2007 members of the Contemporary Quilt group of the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles were invited to join a journal quilt project. Those who chose to participate committed to produce one small quilt each month for the whole year. This was an opportunity to try out new ideas, techniques and materials on a small scale.

The project has been repeated annually with a different size specified for each year. From 2019 I decided to set my own guidelines.

Click on the year to see my responses to this project.

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

2020 Pandemic Project

This project, started in March 2020, was an ongoing handstitched response to my daily walks during the first twelve months of the pandemic. The work is 20cm high and it grew by approximately one metre in length each month. The final stitches were made in March 2021.


WIP	March	May	October

2019 Journal Quilts

I have chosen 20cm square as the size I will work to this year. The first six pieces are based on drawings I made of flowers in vases. The subsequent pieces are developed from those first six.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2018 Journal Quilts

The only requirement this year is for small quilts measuring 7in x 9in.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2017 Journal Quilts

The specified size this year is 11" x 11". Each participant has been asked to choose and register a theme. I have chosen "The South West Coastal path". I regularly enjoy walking sections of this 630 mile long national trail. Click on any image to enlarge it.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2016 Journal Quilts

The size this year is 10" x 8". Each must include a small area of a specified colour. The first four must include purple, the next four include green and the final four include orange.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2015 Journal Quilts

This year pieces have to measure 6" x 12". They can be portrait or landscape but must all have the same orientation. Mine are all landscape.


January	February	March	April

May	June	July	August

September	October	November	December

2014 Journal Quilts

The specified size this year is 8 inches square. Click on any image to enlarge it.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2013 Journal Quilts

This year all participants were asked to choose a theme. I chose “Footpaths”. The specified size is 8” x 12”.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2011 Journal Quilts

This year’s project specifies a size of 10” x 10”. The first four pieces have to include a circle, the second four to include some text and the final four to include a button. I used a combination of acrylic paint applied with a roller and various fabric paints to create enough original fabric for the whole 12 months. Click on any image to enlarge it.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2010 Journal Quilts

The specified size this year is 10” x 7”. My pieces all feature suns with faces. Click on any image to enlarge it.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2009 Journal Quilts

The specified size for 2009 was 6” x 12”. My pieces are based around the theme of cliffs. Click on any image to enlarge it.


January	February	March	April	May	June

July	August	September	October	November	December

2008 Journal Quilts

The specified size for 2008 was 12 inches square. My responses were all based on postcards received from family and friends during the previous three years or so. Click on any image to enlarge it.