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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.
She attended Livingston College (Rutgers University) where she earned an Anthropology Degree, then switched to Douglass College 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), The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting, Quilts Around the Year and Country Quilts. 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 and Oxfordshire with her husband and two Border Terriers. She works as a freelance writer and editor, lecturer and quilter. She is also a certified international quilt judge. Since the pandemic, Linda has turned her attention to the natural world and is enjoying doing nature photography to illustrate articles on various aspects of the natural world. Her main passion, aside from her dogs, is fungi. 
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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 2019 to present: The Henley Standard newspaper Feature articles on various aspects of nature 2003 to 2022: The Quilter magazine Quarterly column entitled At the Sharp End. 2014–2015: Justhands-on-TV Videos filmed for an internet show, including a tour of my studio and mini-workshops. 2010: Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4 Interviewed by Jane Garvey to mark the opening of the Quilt Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. 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 to design and set up: Quilt of Quilts and Patchwork Pattern Maker for the V&A (microsites on the V&A website). 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 18 books per year from manuscript to bound book. This entailed market analysis, acquisitions, copy-editing, rewriting manuscripts, hiring and supervising illustrators/photographers, layout 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 |