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Quilt Huddersfield Is Back: Building Community Through Sustainable Quilting
Op-Ed - 30th April 2026
Quilt Huddersfield is back! And is bringing people of all ages and abilities together to learn how to quilt using recycled materials, from old shirts to charity shop finds.
By Chris English
Participants sewing and experimenting with recycled fabrics during a Quilt Huddersfield workshop session
Originally, I set up Quilt Huddersfield as a week-long pop-up shop a couple of years ago. It proved very successful and showed me there was demand for learning to quilt. Fast forward two years, add in redundancy and lots of other stuff, and Quilt Huddersfield is back!
This time the format is different, and we meet monthly and focus on a different technique each month, so far we’ve covered one patch, triangles, curves and log cabins, the idea being that over the year attendees will be able to create a modern sampler quilt, with an exhibition at the end of the year.
Patchwork quilt blocks made from recycled fabrics, exploring colour, pattern, and traditional quilting techniques
As with my own personal quilting practice, sustainability is very important; we use mainly recycled fabric, and I encourage people to use what they have. Most quilters I know have a stash that needs using.
I’ve loved that we’ve had a mix of experienced and brand-new people. One attendee had bought a brand new sewing machine 10 years ago, but had been afraid to take it out of the box. We soon put that right, and she was loving sewing blocks by the end of the session!
Chris English outside Calder Art Studio in Huddersfield, holding a handmade quilt created from reclaimed materials
For me, Quilt Huddersfield isn’t necessarily about completing a full quilt, it’s about providing a safe, creative and fun space for people to try something new. There’s no pressure, and mistakes are celebrated as learning opportunities, after all, we’re using fabric that was destined for landfill, so it doesn’t matter if anything goes wrong.
I funded Quilt Huddersfield through a combination of council funding- The Kirklees Growing Great Places scheme, which uses Space Hive, a crowdfunding platform. You should see what opportunities there are in your area. I got a good amount of money that has paid for space rental and my teaching time. Aurifil also very kindly donated some of their beautiful thread to me, which helps make the sessions as accessible as possible. I also made and sold a series of risograph ( if you don’t know what this is, then find your nearest riso print centre- you can thank me later) posters, Make Quilts, Not War, so thank you if you purchased one, this is now enabling people to learn to quilt.
Chris English’s “Make Quilts Not War” risograph posters, created to raise funds and support Quilt Huddersfield
Frank Kibble, Partnerships Director at Spacehive, said: "Quilt Huddersfield is a brilliant example of what happens when local people have the tools and support to make a difference. Chris saw something his community needed: connection, creativity, purpose. He had an idea to address those needs, and he made it happen. That's exactly what Spacehive is here for. And when local authorities get behind projects like this, it shows that grassroots action and local government can work hand in hand to strengthen communities."
I believe in the power of quilts. They are powerful things and contain love, hope and positivity. Making a quilt for someone you love is an amazing thing to do: it keeps them warm, is filled with love and looks amazing. Quilts made now will outlive us and become family heirlooms, full of memories and love.
It's been amazing seeing complete beginners become more confident and actually use their sewing machines. They may not ever complete a full quilt, but they might get into dressmaking, knitting or another craft, and I see that as success. It's also been great seeing more traditional quilters push their boundaries and become more experimental. There is always time to learn something new. It was a labour of love bringing Quilt Huddersfield together, but seeing so many people start their quilting journey has made it all worthwhile.
We've used up loads of fabric that was destined for landfill. By creating quilts, we've turned it into something practical and beautiful. And on a practical note, if you put an extra one on your bed, you can turn the heating down too!
The next ambition is to get more younger people involved and more men involved. This is a challenge, but I believe in quilts, and I think once people realise how much fun quilting is, then they’ll be in.
We’ve now got a brilliant group of regulars, but there is still room for more if you’d like to attend. If we’re too far away, then maybe consider setting up your own group?
Or find a local quilt group and make the effort to attend. If people don’t attend, then these groups will eventually cease to exist, and whilst you can make a quilt at home, in my opinion, you’ll be missing out on some of the amazing benefits that being part of a quilt group brings. If you’d like to know more then I’m doing a talk on Quilt Huddersfield at this year’s Festival of Quilts.
Chris English standing in front of a series of patchwork quilt panels created using recycled fabrics as part of Quilt Huddersfield
Want to learn more about Chris English and Quilt Huddersfield?
Take a look at his website: https://www.chrisenglishquilts.com/
Follow him on Instagram: @afullenglish
Feel inspired to learn more about Quilt Huddersfield at Festival of Quilts? Book your place today
https://thefestivalofquilts.seetickets.com/workshops/the-festival-of-quilts-lectures-talks
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