A FORMER accountant who turned her love for quilting into a business is celebrating after winning a national title.

Janette Chilver, 44, won the Best Traditional Quilt prize and the overall title at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.

The quilt, which was one of 1,800 in the competition, is going on a UK tour.

Mum-of-two Janette said: “I’m still stunned. It’s the first time I’ve entered.

“I was completely shocked asmy quilt was a bit more modern than I would expect the judges to like.

“They did say they were looking for workmanship and knowledge.

“The quilting is the main element.”

She found out she won the category the night before the awards ceremony at the start of this month, but only learnt she had won the overall title when it was announced during the event.

Janette started making patchwork quilts 15 years ago.

She said: “I never thought it would work as a business, I always thought it would be sideline.”

About five years ago she decided to cut down her accountancy hours to focus on her business J-Quilts.

She now has a studio in East Bergholt.

Although she usually uses a “long-arm” sewing machine by trade, her piece for the show was done free handed on her machine without the use of computer design.

She originally made the piece to go on her bed at home, and spent about 80 hours on it.

She said: “I was asked if it was done by machine a lot at the show. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

To get the design, Janette use two layers of wadding and a variety of heavy and light quilting to achieve different textures and patterns.