What are the projects you are most proud of? As a designer, I am proud that other people enjoy making my designs. With social media, it is wonderful to watch their journey with my designs. 

Have you got favourite design motifs that you always return to? I am keen on putting a rabbit in quilts. I have put rabbits on lots of my quilts for about 20 years. 

Do you like to use seasonal colour palettes or do you just go with the mood of the moment? My quilts are often quite detailed and take more than one season to make, so it is definitely the mood of the moment. 

What’s the most flattering feedback you’ve ever had for your stitching?  I'm not a fabulous stitcher and I don’t need my work to be perfect. But I think, as a designer, when someone comes back to make a second or third design, it is flattering. It’s an honour to have one of my designs used to make a special quilt for their family member. 

You designed this little doll’s cot quilt as a Christmas present, didn’t you? Yes, I thought it would make wonderful Christmas gift - something to treasure for a lifetime.

Do you often make hand-stitched Christmas gifts for friends and family? Yes, I often do. I usually make some padded Liberty coathangers, someone usually receives a quilt and, last year, I knitted my daughter a detailed cabled hat. I cook a lot of things as Christmas gifts, as well. 

Are craft supplies always on your Christmas wish list? Not really, but I would always welcome them. I often wish for a class somewhere as a gift. It's wonderful to learn something new.

Did you always hanker after a doll’s crib when you were a child? I hankered after anything to do with dolls. I love dolls, dolls’ prams, cribs and dolls’ clothes. I started knitting as a child to make dolls’ clothes, and that's how I started making quilts - for my dolls. I still love to see a beautiful dolls’ pram or crib. 

Did you make lots of clothes for your childhood dolls? I loved to help my mother make dolls’ clothes. She made me so many beautiful detailed dolls’ clothes and packed them in little cases. I remember some very special Christmases, where I would wake up to my dolls dressed in new clothes, or there would be a little case full of clothes. She always managed to make them without us seeing them.  

Susan Smith, Patchwork on Stonleigh –