Join us weekly for "Behind the Stitches," our blog series where we interview quilters with 14 insightful questions. Discover their quilting journeys, inspirations, favourite techniques, and more. Explore what makes each quilter unique and find common threads in our shared passion.

Let’s start with your name, and without revealing too much about your age, could you share how long you’ve been a member of The Quilters’ Guild?

Hello. I'm Alexandra Kingswell and I have been a member of QGBI since 2017. I was unaware of the Guild before then - and unaware that what I was doing had a precedent!

What inspired you to join our Guild? We'd love to hear what you enjoy most about your membership.

A good friend suggested I join the Guild. I was looking for like-minded people who shared my passion for creating art from fabric. I enjoy receiving The Quilter - as an ex-graphic designer, I love having paper and something inky-smelling in my hands. Our regional events are great when I can get to them - I love meeting friendly people who are happy to share their expertise.

What region are you a member of? In your eyes, what makes your region so unique?

I don't have much experience of other regions, so I don't know what makes ours unique. But I do know our region is full of talented, friendly people - people who share their knowledge and are always prepared to help you out of a hole. I'm a proud member of East Midlands Contemporary Textiles, which is very art-focussed. That suits me.

How and when did you start quilting? Was there an individual or specific event that stands out as the catalyst?

I started playing with piecing as a distraction from the stresses of my day job. That was probably about 12 years ago. I didn't start actually quilting until much later. In the early days all my work was stapled over canvas stretchers and didn't need quilting to keep it all together. It was about 2017 (on a visit to FoQ) that I became aware of quilting as an art form. From then I started to incorporate stitch to keep my layers together. Alicia Merrett and Greta Fitchett have been influential on my journey and I am deeply grateful to them both.

What was your first sewing machine?

All my early machines were passed down to me, and I don't know what they were! The first one I bought was a basic Janome. As I got busier and more serious, I bought a Juki. It’s a real workhorse.

Are there any artists (quilters or otherwise) that you particularly admire?

I admire Tom Fruin for his amazing glass sculptures, Ememem flacking for the way he turns pot holes into beauty, Irene Roderick for her iconoclasm, Sheila Frampton-Cooper for her piecing, Alicia Merrett for her use of colour... there are many more!

Where do you find your inspiration?

I allow myself to play. That often leads to new work. I'm not aware of looking for inspiration, or of ever being short of inspiration - I guess it is always there. What I have less of is the time to bring all my ideas into being!

What are your favourite techniques and materials?

I love putting pieces of fabric together. And I use cotton, mainly solids, but I enjoy dying my own fabric as well.

What's your favourite quilt/alt. piece you've made and why? (We know this might be like choosing a favourite child!)

One of my favourite quilts is Memories of Summer. Its bright colours and lively design remind me of sunny, happy days in the garden with little ones.

What is one thing you can't live without in your quilting room/space?

Good lighting! (And chocolate)

What is your proudest quilting moment?

I really loved having a gallery at FoQ in 2018, and I know I will enjoy my upcoming exhibition in Coventry Cathedral later in the year, but the moments that 'feed' me the most are when people say a piece has lifted their spirits or moved them in some way.

Have you ever had a project that made you want to give up quilting altogether or, at the very least, not finish it?

Honestly? I can't imagine ever wanting to give up. But I do have (very few) pieces that won't get finished. Life is too short to spend on the pieces that aren't doing it for you.

Do you have any upcoming projects, exhibitions, or talks you'd like to share with everyone?

I'm taking an exhibition to Coventry Cathedral in August this year! It's a wonderful opportunity. I've been asked to display my work near the huge and magnificent Piper Window near the entrance to the Cathedral. I'm very excited (and slightly scared). The exhibition will run from August 1st to 31st. Anyone visiting FoQ could easily get over to Coventry from the NEC. The train takes on average about 20 mins and the station in Coventry is 0.7 of a mile from the Cathedral.

Please share any social media handles or a personal website you would like to promote

My website is

www.alexandra-kingswell.co.uk

My instagram and facebook handle is

alexandra.kingswell