Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Australian Homespun

THIS MONTH’S WINNERS Rebecca Atkinson, from Sanctuary Point, NSW, for her The More it Snows and Jonah’s Whale projects: “In October 2013, I bought my very first sewing machine and also my first copy of Homespun. My husband loved the penguin quilt (by Wenche Wolff Hatling, in October 2013 issue/Vol 14 No 10) and asked if I could make it for him for our bed. First, I spent the next year learning the basic sewing skills for both quilting and clothes, as I’d never used a sewing machine. It took most of my Christmas break to make the quilt, but it was really enjoyable to do. I made extra blocks and more penguins, as it was for a double bed. I’ve also attached my version of Jonah’s Whale (by Dawn…

Tough guise We took our inspiration from the creative types at Lantlollorna (lantlollorna.se) for this patchworked fashion statement. Using discarded denim as the foundation, they pieced together a summer dress, complete with the original patch pocket transferred from a pair of jeans. There’s plenty of clever denim upcycling around, but the reason we wanted to show you this was the juxtaposition of fabrics and trim. Who would have thought to not only mix up the denims (some old, some new, some faded, some crisp with colour) and then top them off with girly pink-and-white floral cotton? Then, for good measure, they added chocolate braid and lace and a modern cross-hatched, machine-stitched mend – flaunting its flawed stuff with pride. It shouldn’t work, but it sure does! Wristy business If you’re…

Do you like to do a wide variety of styles for your projects? Yes. My favourite is machine piecing, but I also enjoy sitting and doing some stitchery or even crochet while I watch television. Who taught you your crafting skills? Mum taught me to sew on my toy sewing machine, as a child. I used to make dolls’ clothes and bedding, even mini quilts for my dolls. But it was my nana who taught me how to embroider and all the different embroidery stitches. It was also Nana who taught me how to crochet (and when I could crochet, I found out that I could also knit). What does this craft mean to you? Quilting and embroidery is a part of my life. I can’t imagine how dull life…

Do you make lots of dolls and softies? Softies have become the thing that I make. In the past, I’ve dabbled in patchwork and embroidery, but softies seem to be where my mind and hands turn to most days. My designs always begin as simple sketches, and I love to see those 2D scratchings leap out of the page and become creatures that can be held and loved. You’ve been working on a few fairytale ideas recently, haven’t you? Are you creating lots of Frazzy Dazzles versions of classic characters? I’ve been caught up in a land of magical creatures, like bunny rabbits and wee mice, for a while now. Although they don’t tend to follow any true fairytale, as such, they do inhabit that world of imagination where anything…

Materials • Panda Magnum 8ply 100g balls: one ball each of Fawn (334), Inca Gold (336), Orange (378), Fuchsia (381), Geranium (307), Saxe (310), Lime Sorbet (1004) and Jungle (1018)• 4.00mm (UK 8/US 6) crochet hook• 40cm (16in) square ready-made cushion – see Note• Needle and matching fawn machine-sewing thread• General sewing supplies Finished size: To fit 40cm (16in) square cushion Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. This is an easy skill-level project. Correct tension is not essential for this project. Use only the yarn specified. Other yarns are likely to produce different results. Australian/UK crochet terminology is used; North American readers should consult a crochet manual to ensure they interpret the instructions correctly. Refer to the table and circle motif instructions together as you crochet the motifs to determine…

Once upon a time … well, just last month, actually … I introduced myself to you as your story narrator for our 10-part tale of Foxley Village. I’m the district’s winged wonder (if I do say so myself), and perched high in the trees above the cottages, farms and shops, I can keep a weather eye on what goes down around town. This month, it’s all about the so-called ‘hero’ of the piece, Fabian the fox (I know, I know … we all laugh about it, but his mother had a serious crush on a certain Brylcreemed 1960s American singer and thought, by virtue of a mere moniker, she could inject the same swoon appeal into her offspring. It didn’t work!). Anyway, somehow, the good townsfolk named the village after…

NATASHIA CURTIN I was at the markets and picked up these starched, lace-trimmed handkerchiefs because they cost next to nothing and had a lovely old-fashioned feel. Didn’t have a clue what I’d do with them (I’m more of a tissue girl, myself). But when I got them home, they started to ‘speak’ to me about table decoration and embroidery. And that can’t be sneezed at! Materials: • 1.5 metres of main fabric (includes backing and binding strips of 2.5 inches)• 3 skeins of DMC thread; dark, medium and light. I chose Blue, and used 311, 322, and 813.• Fat quarter of similar colour light toned light fabric.• 6 lace hankies.• Fusible webbing x 3 hanky pieces.• Wadding – width to match your hanky size corner to corner plus 1 inch wider, and 1 inch longer.• General sewing…

Materials • 10cm ( 1/8yd) each of 17 assorted print fabrics (strip piecing)• 1.4m (1 5/8yd) white homespun fabric (appliqué background)• 1.7m (1 7/8yd) solid grey homespun fabric – see Note (border)• Four squares, 25cm (10in) in solid red, coral, yellow and aqua fabrics (appliqué flowers)• 25cm (10in) square of green print fabric (flower centres)• 55cm ( 5/8yd) binding fabric – see Note• 3.6m (4yd) backing fabric• Batting at least 180cm (71in) square• Fusible web• Stranded embroidery cottons to match the appliqué fabrics plus black for the quilting (optional)• Rotary cutter, ruler and mat• Sewing machine with 1/4in and walking feet• General sewing supplies Stitches used: Blanket stitch, whipped backstitch variation Finished size: 160cm (63in) square (approx.) Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabric be 100% cotton, pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements are based…

TOUR GUIDE 1 WEST BURLEIGH 2 WARWICK 3 TOOWOOMBA 4 NORTH IPSWICH 5 KEPERRA 6 MALENY 7 WARANA 8 FOREST GLEN 9 COOROY 10 COOROIBAH 1. West Burleigh FIFI’S FABRICOLOGY Where’s West Burleigh: Situated on the gorgeous Gold Coast, with beaches and gr eat shopping right on our doorstep . Where in West Burleigh: Unit 1, 18 Township Drive. We are just a hop, skip and a jump around the corner fr om Exit 89 off the M1 Pacific Motorway. Who plays host: Owner Fiona Wright will always give you a warm welcome, along with friendly helpers Suzanne, Kelley, Yvette and our two Judys. We are all dedicated and passionate about patchwork and quilting, and are more than happy to assist you with your patchwork and quilting needs. Worth visiting…

Alice Springs Beanie Festival PO Box 3521, Alice Springs, NT 0871. Ph: 0408 215 700, email: hello@beanie fest.org, website: beaniefest.org. Alpaca Yarns of New Zealand Website: www.alpacayarn.com.au. Ashford Wheels & Looms Ph: 1800 653 397, website: www.ashford.co.nz/yarn. Asia Discovery Tours Sydney, NSW. Ph: (02) 9267 7699, website: asiadiscoverytours.com.au. Australian Country Spinners Toll Free: 1800 337 032, ph: (03) 9380 3888, website: www.auspinners.com.au. Bellarine Sewing Centre 395-399 Moorabool Street, Geelong, Vic 3220. Ph: (03) 5221 3034, email: bellarinesewingcentre@outlook.com, website: www.bellarinesewingcentre.com.au. Belleli, Sue – see box at left. Bendigo Woollen Mills Bendigo, Vic 3550. Ph: (03) 5442 4600, email: order@bendigo woollenmills.com.au, website: www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au. Bernina Australia Castle Hill, NSW. Ph: 1800 237 646, (02) 9899 1188, email: bernina@bernina.com.au, website: www.bernina.com.au. Birch Haberdashery & Craft Ph: (03) 9450 8900, website: www.birchhaby.com.au. Bird, Natalie –…

pots of luck! COMPLETELY POTS ABOUT CROCHET – or should that be completely crocheted about pots? Some pots – not all, but some – could do with a little decorative attention. Well, Patons thought so, anyway, and we can’t help but agree. These sweet flowerpot crochet covers make a designer statement of what could be forgettable. The patterns are in the Beach Home book and are classified as ‘Easy’. Pick up a copy of the book at your favourite craft outlet or contact Patons for your nearest stockist – call 1800 337 032 or visit www.patonsyarns.com.au. EASTER BUNNY 1 HAIR GROOMING ON THE HOP Twirling Betty got all in a spin about the calibre of fluffy bunny ears on the market, so Christen (the creative force behind the TB site)…

THE WINNER WAS: MARILYN CRON, from the Gold Coast, Qld. Marilyn’s rich and colourful embroidered design was so beautifully detailed with paisley, leaves and French knots that we couldn’t go past it. And it featured a sweet little caterpillar crawling along the lower inside edge of the B. THE FINALISTS WERE: MRS K. MARGANELLI, from Bluewater, Qld sent in two memorable works. First was her clever graffiti design, with brown ‘brickwork’ created from stitching and fabric paint. The ultra-bright, three-colour B shouted against the wall background, just as true graffiti does. KERRY COOPER, from Dapto, NSW. Kerry lavishingly satin stitched her letter, graduating in tones, from indigo to mauvy-blues through teal to aqua at the centre of the B, then embellished the letter with tendrilled tips and beadwork. ERICA KAIN,…

How many projects have your completed, do you think? If I included all my knitting projects in the count, it would be thousands. I think that I would have made several hundred quilts, but in reality, only a few really special ones. How did you start your quiltmaking career? Back in the early ’80s, as a result of entering a quilt of mine in the local craft show at our community centre, I was asked to teach quilting. At the time, there were really only a few people interested in quilts, and very little available in the way of supplies. What would you do without this craft? Quilting is just one thing I like I do. I also like to crochet, draw, make things with paper, and I especially like…

An Apple a day (or hour or minute) keeps the fun police away. After the launch of Apple’s much-anticipated watch, Hiné Mizushima came up with this delicious crafty substitute for kids. Her lo-tech soft versions run on fun and never require a battery change! “I saw a photo of the new smartwatch in a newsletter, and all the apps on the screen looked like colourful tiny buttons,” says Hiné. “I thought it’d be great to make one from felt.” Check out her site at www.hinemizushima.com (lots of amazing critters!) or buy her hand-worked wonders at www.hine.etsy.com.…

NSW – Sydney March 11-12 Avalon Beach Avalon Quilt Show; Avalon Uniting Church, 44 Bellevue Ave. Quilt show, craft stall and raffle quilt. Open Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm. Entry $5. Proceeds to Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. More information: Phone Anne Perry on (02) 9918 7196. NSW – Country March 12-13 Nowra Lioness Club of Shoalhaven’s Annual Lioness Quilt and Craft Show; St Michael’s School Hall, North St. Open 10am-4pm. Entry $5, children under 16 free. Proceeds to local charities. More information: Phone Narelle on (02) 4423 2657 or Delma on (02) 4442 1438 or 0405 685 897. March 12-13 Armidale Quilters and Patchworkers of New England Annual Quilt Exhibition; Legacy House, 89 Faulkner St. Quilts and needlework on display, trading table, demonstrations. Open Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Entry $5. More…

01 The Moroccan-inspired, gold Caravanna wall mirror, designed in collaboration with Anna Gare, is available from Zanui. 02 Classic daisy design, classic blue and white, classic charm. This 450ml-capacity teapot features a metal mesh infuser and is available from iTea. 03 Annabel Trends’ pink petalled hanger is a fabulous and functional design to store scarves, belts and ties. 04 Fresh-as-a-daisy, soft-soled baby shoes plant full-blown blooms on top of tiny toes. Contact All the Cool Kids. 05 Frugi’s Little Norah tights are covered with cheery daisies on a gorgeous raspberry-coloured background. They’re available from Baby Gift Works. 06 Don’t just send potted daisies – send them in a daisy bucket, too. Green Thumb Gifts offers a large selection of plant gifts that are beautifully presented in watering cans, baskets, pots…

Materials • 20cm ( 1/4yd) flesh-coloured tricot fabric (body)• Fat quarter yellow print fabric (pyjamas)• Fat eighth solid white fabric (pyjamas)• 10 x 20cm (4 x 8in) red gingham (teddy bear)• 15 x 20cm (6 x 8in) grey wool felt (slippers)• 15cm (6in) square of pink wool felt (cheeks, slippers and teddy bear)• 10 x 20cm (4 x 8in) brown wool felt (teddy bear)• 2 x 10cm ( 3/4 x 4in) white wool felt (teddy bear)• 40cm ( 1/2yd) of cream cotton lace (crown)• Stranded embroidery thread in grey and pink• Two 6mm ( 1/4in) black glass toy eyes with wire loops• Four 15mm ( 5/8in) clear plastic two-hole buttons (jointing)• One small press stud (pyjamas)• 3mm ( 1/8in) wide elastic (pyjamas)• 5mm ( 1/4in) wide elastic (pyjamas)• Three 50g (1.7oz) balls of 8-12 ply natural fibre in various colours (hair)• Extra strong sewing thread to match…

Do you make lots of quilts? I’m nearly always sewing, but I prefer hand work. I’m not really that fond of machine piecing. However, sometimes a design needs it. How did you come up with the idea for this lovely design? Summer Oak is based on one of those quilts that’s frequently found on Pinterest. The original (owned by quilt historian and appraiser Phyllis Twigg Hatcher) is green, salmon and cheddar on an ecru background, circa 1840-1850, but I just wanted to ‘scrap it’. Phyllis was delighted with my version, and she includes it in her quilt-history talks. An image of the original quilt can be at quiltnotes.wordpress.com/tag/lectures-on-old-quilts. Did the design take long to perfect? Not at all. I drew up four different large leaves and two little ones…

Why this particular craft? I couldn’t say, specifically. I’ve tried tons of other artistic media, from stained glass to watercolours, but, for some reason, it was cross stitch that stuck. I think it might be the repetitive motion of cross stitch that makes it a relaxing pastime – it’s almost like a meditation. Plus, cross stitch brings with it such a sense of achievement; after all your hard work, you’re rewarded with something that’s handmade and meaningful to you. Do you teach your skills to others? I started designing my own patterns using grid paper when I was young, because it was difficult to find patterns that I wanted to create. Then, this year, I had some free time after graduating from university (I call this my ‘funemployment’ stage), so…

I have three gorgeous daughters, Jemma, 20, Eliza, 17, and Georgia, 15, and a wonderfully supportive husband, Trevor, otherwise known as SuperTrev! We also have two furry children, Roxy and Hamish, and two chickens, Schnitzel and Layla.Our home is in Brisbane, in sunny Queensland. In my work, I am always inspired by my home and family. Heartfelt sayings and moments from my life feature in my stitcheries and appliqué. In fact, my first fabric range, for Clothworks, is called ‘Heart and Home’. I wanted to start with a theme that was close to my heart, and so it features images of our happy home and family fun. I love to include my family in whatever project I’m working on. The girls are often called on to help with photography, as…

What would you do without this craft? If I weren’t crafting, I’d probably read a lot more books or spend too much time on the internet. I don’t think I’d do more housework with my spare time. I’m sure I’d find a way to procrastinate about that. What are the stitching/design tools you couldn’t live without? I couldn’t live without my Photoshop program. I use it to draw up all my patterns and appliqué templates, create graphics for my website and edit my photos. Do you have a designated crafting studio? No. I’ve taken over a corner of our living area with my sewing cabinet and bits and pieces, and usually have stuff spread out all over the kitchen table. I’m hoping it will be a big hint to my…

How would you describe your particular craft style? I like to think my style is clean and fresh. I love to use bold colours along with light tones and I also love to combine different techniques and play with different textures. Above all, I believe in the beauty of simplicity and choosing colours well – they are key for me. Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started stitching? Finding my style has been a process. It wasn’t immediate, and I think it’s constantly evolving. Although some features always stay, I let others change from time to time, and this sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t – you never know. Sometimes, a mistake becomes a permanent feature in your work, and this is extremely exciting.…

Do you make lots of quilts? I love making quilts, especially from scratch – taking a favourite piece of fabric and letting it talk to me. But, sometimes, I also like to make other people’s quilt patterns, to learn new techniques and to not have to think too hard – just sew. How did you come up with the idea for this lovely design? I was on a picnic with my girls and thought I’d love to make a picnic quilt that reminded me of nice sunny days filled with flowers and gentle breezes. And the fabric called ‘Just Dreamy 2’ seemed a perfect pick for the idea. Did the design take long to perfect? Not long once I’d dreamt about it a little. I came home and decided on…