Judy Martin, author of Piece 'n' Play Quilts, Cookies 'n' Quilts and many other quilting books, has created more than 900 quilt block designs during her career!
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Excerpts from the Experts
Interview with Judy Martin
What inspires your work? How do new ideas come to you in quiltmaking?
I don't lack for inspiration. Long ago, traditional patterns were my source of inspiration. Now, every new block or quilt I design suggests another. I like to play with some pattern element and say "What if....?"
What do you feel has been the most important thing you've had to offer to quiltmakers today?
I think most people would say that my most important contribution to quiltmaking is the body of my patterns. (I have published 900-some block and quilt patterns since 1980.) However, I am most proud of the help I have offered quilters by figuring all the math in Taking the Math Out of Making Patchwork Quilts and Judy Martin's Ultimate Rotary Cutting Reference. I feel best in the role of mentor to quilters who want to continue to grow as designers as well as technicians.
If you could offer one piece of advice for quiltmakers today, what would it be?
Actually, I'd offer two pieces of advice.
1) Take a few minutes to master a seam allowance that results in an accurate block size. When you have this down, you can easily sew any pattern.
2) 2) Pin, especially bias edges and long seams like borders. Trimming points and cutting long pieces to the properly measured length before stitching will help you align the patches properly, and pins will help you keep them where they belong while you sew.
---Judy
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