Our Team: Linzi Upton

Longarm Specialist & Bernina Q-Series Ambassador

An expert in longarm quilting, 'The Quilt Quine' Linzi Upton has won many awards for her colourful, clever, creative quilting projects.

Linzi has had success at the Festival of Quilts, the Open European Quilt Championships, the International Quilt Festival in Houston, American Quilt Society shows, Quilt-Con and The Scottish Quilt Show.

She has exhibited quilts in the UK, The Netherlands, Hungary and the USA, and has had articles and projects published in British and American magazines.

Linzi is best known as the creator of Quilted Yurts and other 'daft' (her words!) 3D creations including a Coracle, Smart Car cover and 12-part seasonal Celtic henge.

She has taught patchwork and quilting workshops and given talks throughout the UK, USA and on board a cruise-ship to Norway. As the Bernina UK Q-Series Ambassador, Linzi loves to teach longarm quilting techniques including free-motion, ruler-work and computerised quilting.

Linzi's eclectic style shows her experimenting with unusual fabrics such as leather and spandex, and also celebrating the simplicity of traditional Amish quilts made from plain coloured cotton.

Being partial to a bit of bling and sparkle, Linzi isn't really known for a 'less is more' approach! She is both a perfectionist and a quilter who doesn't follow the rules.

We're delighted to welcome Linzi to the Quilt Direct team, and can't wait to show you her first classes!

Linzi's Own Blog

Linzi's Favourite Tools:

  • Bernina longarm machines, obviously...
  • Gadgets of ANY sort (she's done a presentation called 'Technology, Gadgets, and Unnecessary Purchases' 😂)
  • Anything she can take apart to figure out how it's made or how it works!

Linzi's Favourite Techniques:

  • Freemotion quilting
  • Improv curved piecing
  • Raw edge appliqué and other embellishments
  • Sewing curved pieces together without any pins!
  • Block printing

Some of Linzi's Favourite Projects

Smart Car Cover

This was a commission using celebrity clothing to promote the Pink Passion Car (Breast Cancer Awareness Edition). It was exhibited at the Loch Lomond Quilt Show, and purchased by Uptown Blanco Arts Center in Texas.

The Coracle

One of Linzi's projects that was inspired by creating The Quilted Yurt. It won Quilted Creations at The Festival of Quilts UK 2013.

Tartan Tattoo

This quilt has won many awards, including 1st place longarm quilting OEQC 2015, machine quilting Malvern 2015, 2nd place large wall quilts and judge’s choice Scottish Quilt Championships 2016, and World Quilt Show 'Best in Country' 2017.

Beelzebub - a demon of a project!

This double-sided quilt has won lots of awards, including Winner of Contemporary Quilts at The Festival of Quilts in 2017. Beelzebub was juried into many shows across the USA throughout 2018.

The Quilted Yurt

Designed and created by Linzi over a period of about a year, with assistance from a team of Stunt Quilters! It's been exhibited around the world, but being tricky to ship across the Atlantic has resulted in creation of 'The Quilted Yurt USA'.

Got questions for Linzi?

If you want to ask about longarm quilting or contact Linzi about anything else, please use the button below to send her an email.

For urgent enquiries, please call 01822 810877.
Our whole team are sewing specialists, and will be pleased to help.

EMAIL LINZI AT QUILT DIRECT