Jo Avery’s Temperature Quilts — Festival of Quilts Inspiration

Jo Avery’s breathtaking temperature quilts were a highlight at this year’s Festival of Quilts — inspiring visitors with her data-driven approach to modern quilting using Liberty fabrics. These innovative designs track daily weather through colour, creating stunning visual diaries.

What is a temperature quilt?
A temperature quilt is a visual diary of the weather – often tracking the highest and lowest daily temperatures over a year.

Jo’s First Temperature Quilt
In her first quilt, the background fabric represents the day’s lowest temperature, while the circle motif represents the highest. But Jo added a thoughtful personal touch. “I decided to draw out a circle every day depending on how I was feeling. If it was a small circle, I was having a bad day. If it was a large circle, I was having a good day!”

The quilt began in March 2020 – just as the UK entered lockdown, stitched during a difficult winter when we couldn’t leave the house! It also marked the start of what Jo describes as her “addiction” to temperature projects.

Temperature Embroidery
Jo’s next piece was a temperature embroidery panel – measuring 7 days by 52 weeks. Perfect symmetry for 365 days.
“I created the central circle using the middle of an Aurifil spool and filled it with satin stitch for the highest temperature and then two rows of chain stitch around the outside represented the lowest.”

Sea Urchin Temperature Quilt
“I realised, thanks to another quilter, Kelly Lautenbach, that you don’t have to do it day by day. You can use historical data, look up last year’s temperatures, and make your quilt later.”
The Sea Urchin Temperature quilt is a monthly design where each circle represents one month, creatively constructed using freehand foundation piecing and improvisation. This method beautifully solves the challenge of quilt maths while keeping the design cohesive and eye-catching.

Temperature Fabric Book
“I had an obsession with making fabric books – so I put together the two addictions”
Each block captures the high and low temperatures of each day, while a clever stitch code records the weather: cloudy, rainy, sunny or snowy. The format also allows Jo to document the story of the project alongside the design, creating a truly keepsake piece of textile art.

Feeling inspired?
Jo’s incredible journey through temperature quilts proves that there’s no one way to approach this idea. Whether you quilt, embroider, or love a mixed-media project, it’s all about creating something meaningful and personal.

Follow Jo on Instagram @joaverystitch

We loved hearing so many of you at Festival of Quilts say you’re starting your own version and we’re thrilled to help you gather the perfect Liberty fabrics for it.

👉 Browse our Liberty Tana Lawn collection here
👉 Want to experiment? Try our Liberty Stars Club to top up your stash with fresh colour and pattern each month!

Have you made a temperature quilt? Are you planning one?
Tag us on Instagram @alicecarolinefabrics – we’d love to see your journey.