Peter Byrne is one of the three quilt designers on the True Colours Quilt Along block selection team. Learn more about the quilt along and join the fun here.
Above: Flow (detail). See full quilt below.
Every year, when Peter visited his Aunt Marg, she would show him all the quilts she had made since his last visit. “I always said, when I retire, I’m going to make a quilt!”
When that happened in 2009, Aunt Marg sent Peter home with a “quilting care package” that included fabric, a rotary cutter, and some quilting magazines. He picked up a sewing machine at a local big box store.
“To get started, I took a hard-cover book and cut up the cover to make templates, and then cut my fabric,” he explains. “I sewed the squares and triangles together into strips and sewed the strips back together to create the quilt top.”
One of Peter’s first quilts made for friends and family.
For several years Peter made quilts for family and friends, but never quilted them himself. With the intention of learning to do that, he joined the Toronto Modern Quilt Guild in 2017.
His goal was to make quilts that he could enter into shows and competitions.
“My main focus with quilting, plain and simple, is to make show quilts and perhaps win ribbons!”
After two years of practicing many different techniques learned from more than 100 online classes, he created Starring You and entered it into QuiltCon 2020.
It won Best in Show!
Starring You, 76” x 92”, made with two pieces of white fabric for the background, and an exploding star applied using turned-edge appliqué. The entire quilt was sewn by machine.
The quilt went on to win the Award of Excellence in Machine Quilting Frameless at Quilt Canada in 2021, and was selected by CQA/ACC for The Best of Quilting in Canada exhibit at the New English Quilt Museum in 2023.
Along the way, Peter has developed several workshops, which he hosts in-person and online. These include Puzzle (improv piecing, fusible appliqué, walking foot quilting), Cityscape Improv Inspiration (improv stitch piecing, fusible appliqué, several types of quilting), Hover Quilting (a form of raw-edge appliqué without fusible web), and two new workshops detailed below.
Cityscape, 78″ x 88″. “Composed with deconstructed improv strip piecing and creates a late summer’s eve cityscape, including raw edge appliquéd bright lights, dark sky’s and modern tower blocks.”
Peter devotes hours every day to practice, and advises his students to do the same. “Be kind to yourself as you learn and improve your skills,” he says. “Slow and steady wins the race!”
It’s not surprising to learn that he’s known as a very knowledgeable, supportive, and patient teacher. Sharing the techniques he has learned, developed, and perfected is what Peter calls his gift.
Veil 2.0, 52″ x 54″: “A vibrant exploration of texture, shape, and colour, resulting in a piece that is both refreshing and timeless.”
Precision Piecing Master Class: Peter offers a new, advanced technique-based workshop for The Veil block, which is foundation paper pieced. Other techniques include glue basting quarter circle pieces, straight line walking foot quilting, and advanced binding. Let the program coordinator know if your guild is interested in hosting this workshop, or keep an eye on peterbquilts.com for info about live workshops on Zoom.
What is surprising is that Peter doesn’t sketch out his designs before diving in. “The image of the quilt goes straight from my head to my hands,” he says. “I just make it!”
Creativity and innovation are therefore built into the process, along with, we expect, a lot of courage.
His least favourite part of quilting? “Sweeping the floor!”
Flow, 63″ x 73″: “The blending of strong geometric shapes with fluid lines results in a vibrant, energetic contrast that engages the viewer, adding layers of depth and movement to the artwork.” Inspired by the work of Irene Roderick and quilted by Sam Alberts.
Almost-Improv Inspiration Workshop: Peter’s other new workshop takes Improv curved piecing and makes it fear free, including creating your own pattern with freezer paper, free form cutting curves, glue basting seams, skinny line curves, and advanced binding. Let the program coordinator know if your guild is interested in hosting this workshop, or keep an eye on peterbquilts.com for info about live workshops on Zoom.
Peter is enthusiastically helping with the True Colours Quilt Along, as an advisor, as a member of the committee that chose the final 12 block designs, and also as a supporter on social media.
“We all know quilting is mainly a woman’s world, but I feel there is room for all of us to find success with our passions.”
This is what the Quilt Along is all about: helping to ensure that everyone feels there is a safe, welcoming, and creative space for them in the quilting community.
Email: petersquilts@gmail.com
Instagram: @petersquilts
Facebook: Peter Byrne
Website: peterbquilts.com
