Biography: Linda Seward (formerly Linda Macho)
Linda Seward has been doing needlework ever since she learned to hold a needle. She was taught to embroider and knit by her mother, and to crochet by her grandmother. She began to sew her own clothes at the age of 10, but didn't begin making quilts until she was in her 20s.
After graduating from Douglass College, Rutgers University, where she received a Home Economics degree in clothing, textiles and design, she studied fashion in New York City at Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers before working as a needlework and crafts editor in both America and England. She taught herself the basics of quilting while working as an editor for McCall's Needlework & Crafts Magazine in New York City. After that, although she edited dozens of books on all types of needlework and crafts for Dover Publications in New York, she always felt that she would rather be quilting.
Linda met her English husband at a ski resort in Idaho, USA, and since getting married and moving to England, has fulfilled her wish to be involved with quilting by writing twelve books about her favourite subject, including The Complete Book of Patchwork, Quilting and Appliqué (which is often used as a source book for the British City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting course), Quilts Around the Year, Country Quilts, Quilts: The American Story, Beautiful Patchwork Gifts, Small Quilting Projects and Christmas Patchwork Projects. She has also published books on puppies, babies, crochet, knitting and general crafts (under her maiden name, Linda Macho).
Linda now lives in central London with her husband and three children, and works as a freelance writer and editor, lecturer and quilter. She is also a certified international quilt judge.
After graduating from Douglass College, Rutgers University, where she received a Home Economics degree in clothing, textiles and design, she studied fashion in New York City at Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers before working as a needlework and crafts editor in both America and England. She taught herself the basics of quilting while working as an editor for McCall's Needlework & Crafts Magazine in New York City. After that, although she edited dozens of books on all types of needlework and crafts for Dover Publications in New York, she always felt that she would rather be quilting.
Linda met her English husband at a ski resort in Idaho, USA, and since getting married and moving to England, has fulfilled her wish to be involved with quilting by writing twelve books about her favourite subject, including The Complete Book of Patchwork, Quilting and Appliqué (which is often used as a source book for the British City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting course), Quilts Around the Year, Country Quilts, Quilts: The American Story, Beautiful Patchwork Gifts, Small Quilting Projects and Christmas Patchwork Projects. She has also published books on puppies, babies, crochet, knitting and general crafts (under her maiden name, Linda Macho).
Linda now lives in central London with her husband and three children, and works as a freelance writer and editor, lecturer and quilter. She is also a certified international quilt judge.
Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION
2004
Quilt Judge Certification Course, Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles
1978
Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers, New York
Associate Degree in Occupational Study
Fellowship recipient; graduated with Honors
1977
Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Jersey
Bachelor of Science Degrees in Home Economics and Anthropology
NJ State Scholarship; graduated with Honors
CAREER DETAILS
2014-2015: Justhands-on-TV. Videos filmed for an internet show, including a tour of my studio and some mini-workshops: confetti applique and soft sculpture faces.
2010: Guest on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4. Interviewed by Jane Garvey to mark the opening of the Quilt Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2010_12_mon.shtml
2009-2010
Consultant to the Victoria & Albert Museum textile and buying teams for the exhibition: Quilts: Hidden Histories, Untold Stories 1700-2010.
One of the experts featured on the audio guide that accompanied the show.
Helped design and set up: Quilt of Quilts (http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/) and Patchwork Pattern Maker (http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/patchwork) for the V&A.
2009–2012: Quilters’ Guild Judging Team
In charge of judging for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.
1995: BBC2 Television Show - Beautiful Things
Filmed for a BBC2 television show which was part of a series entitled, "Beautiful Things". The 45 minute show featured current work, thoughts on quilting and gave a short step-by-step guide to making a patchwork cushion cover.
1978 to present: Freelance writer, editor, consultant
Write books and magazine articles primarily on quilting and needlework. Act as a needlework/crafts consultant for several British publishers as well as edit books on the same subjects. See books and other publications.
1984–1985: Editor
Octopus Books Limited, London
Complete editorial responsibility for about a dozen cookery and travel books per year.
1981–1984: Needlework, Crafts and Hobbies Editor
Dover Publications, New York City
Responsible for editing about 18 books per year from manuscript to bound book. This entailed market analysis, acquisitions, copy-editing and rewriting manuscripts, hiring and supervising illustrators and photographers, layout and book design, and final approval of proofs. Travelled to trade shows to seek new authors.
1978–1981: Assistant Crafts Editor
McCall's Needlework & Crafts Magazine, New York City
2004
Quilt Judge Certification Course, Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles
1978
Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers, New York
Associate Degree in Occupational Study
Fellowship recipient; graduated with Honors
1977
Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Jersey
Bachelor of Science Degrees in Home Economics and Anthropology
NJ State Scholarship; graduated with Honors
CAREER DETAILS
2014-2015: Justhands-on-TV. Videos filmed for an internet show, including a tour of my studio and some mini-workshops: confetti applique and soft sculpture faces.
2010: Guest on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4. Interviewed by Jane Garvey to mark the opening of the Quilt Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2010_12_mon.shtml
2009-2010
Consultant to the Victoria & Albert Museum textile and buying teams for the exhibition: Quilts: Hidden Histories, Untold Stories 1700-2010.
One of the experts featured on the audio guide that accompanied the show.
Helped design and set up: Quilt of Quilts (http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/) and Patchwork Pattern Maker (http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/quilts/patchwork) for the V&A.
2009–2012: Quilters’ Guild Judging Team
In charge of judging for the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.
1995: BBC2 Television Show - Beautiful Things
Filmed for a BBC2 television show which was part of a series entitled, "Beautiful Things". The 45 minute show featured current work, thoughts on quilting and gave a short step-by-step guide to making a patchwork cushion cover.
1978 to present: Freelance writer, editor, consultant
Write books and magazine articles primarily on quilting and needlework. Act as a needlework/crafts consultant for several British publishers as well as edit books on the same subjects. See books and other publications.
1984–1985: Editor
Octopus Books Limited, London
Complete editorial responsibility for about a dozen cookery and travel books per year.
1981–1984: Needlework, Crafts and Hobbies Editor
Dover Publications, New York City
Responsible for editing about 18 books per year from manuscript to bound book. This entailed market analysis, acquisitions, copy-editing and rewriting manuscripts, hiring and supervising illustrators and photographers, layout and book design, and final approval of proofs. Travelled to trade shows to seek new authors.
1978–1981: Assistant Crafts Editor
McCall's Needlework & Crafts Magazine, New York City
© Linda Seward 2012