Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Australian Homespun

Becky Anne Tilson has had many varied and interesting careers. She’s practised cosmetology, cleaned houses, taught preschool children and waited tables. She’s also worked at a zoo, retail store, salon and sandwich shop. Finally, she found her calling, as a gifted needlefelter and embroiderer, specialising in hooped animal designs. Her work is the result of combining two dreams – a yearning for a signature craft style that she could call her own and a hankering for a rural idyll with llamas grazing on lush pastures. She’s now got both – sort of! Her stitching style is charming, with a look that is purely hers, but her llamas have to make do with fields of fabric, rather than rolling acres. Right from the start, alpacas and llamas were her subjects of…

SAMANTHA GREEN How did you feel when you first started sewing? Considering I was only five when my mother taught me to use her heavy, old Pfaff sewing machine, I’m sure my reaction was some childish delight mixed with grand expectations of sewing dresses and pillows all the time. I think the ability to make anything and everything started very young, and the belief that, if I kept trying, no matter how many failed attempts, what I envisioned would eventually be created. I’m sure I now owe my tenacity and persistence to that little five-year-old girl who simply believed she could create anything from her imagination. Has your response to your craft changed much since then? I still firmly believe that if I can imagine it, then I can create…

MARILYN BELL Where do you live and work? I live on the Central Coast of NSW, a short walk from a lovely sandy beach, where I can walk our dog every morning. I’m lucky enough to have my own sewing room overlooking our garden, so I can leave half-finished projects lying around and just shut the door when I have to go out. Why this particular craft? I didn’t start quilting until my youngest daughter started school and I preferred patchwork to making clothes, as I didn’t have to make anything fit! Any surprises along the way? When we were in a hypermarket in France a few years ago, I had a big surprise as I picked up a French magazine and found a photo of a quilt I had…

There’s real science behind Ali Phillips’ stitching and studio space. Why is it so? Because she exchanged periodic tables for work tables and chemical compounds for a crafting compound of her own. And she’s never looked back. “When I was 18, I decided to turn my love of sewing into a dressmaking business and dropped out of my uni chemistry course. I still love chemistry and science but now have much more satisfaction seeing my designs come to life out of my head.” And as an unexpected bonus – as if confirmation that her university dropout choice was the right one – Ali can now dovetail family and her stitching career, through her Arabesque Scissors business. She home-schools her three youngest children, working their schedules around her professional stitching demands…

MATERIALS • 5mm ( 1/4in) diameter cotton rope: about 5m (5 1/2yd) for a cereal-bowl size and 30m (33yd) for the bag – see Note • Assorted coloured fabric strips1/2-1in wide – see Note and Tip • Strong machine-sewing thread in a neutral colour • Size 90 universal, denim or topstitching machine needles • Long, strong pins • Sewing machine with zigzag foot • General sewing supplies Finished sizes: bowls 18cm (7in) diameter x 5.5-6.5cm (2-3in) high; bag 19cm (7 1/2in) high x 34cm (13 1/2in) long approx. excluding handles Note: Read all the instructions before starting the projects. Rope quantities are approximate and should be used as guides – don’t cut the rope until you are very close to the end of a project. Cassandra says the…

How often do you start a new project do you think? I’d estimate it would average out to every couple of weeks. Some weeks I’ll start and finish a couple of projects, but then some will take a little longer. I’m always looking forward to the next project, before I’ve even finished the one I’m currently working on. Do you have the new design completely formulated in your head before committing it to paper and fabric? Generally, I have an idea in my mind of what I want it to look like, but the final design is never really finished until the project is complete. Sometimes, after I’ve finished, I think, “Oh, I wish I’d done that differently or added this or that to the block”. Do you avidly follow…

MATERIALS • Five sheets of soft seven-count plastic canvas, at least 27 x 34.5cm (10 1/2 x 13 1/2in) – see Note • Drops Karisma 8 ply (DK) yarn 50g: eight balls of Lavender (74), one ball each of Light Old Pink (40) and Light Beige (71) – see Note • 46cm (18in) chunky open-ended zipper to coordinate with the yarn • Four 30mm (1 1/4in) silver D rings • Size 22 tapestry needle • Size 16 chenille needle • Regular hand-sewing needle • Two mini fold-back clips • Permanent marker • Pliers • Craft scissors • Polyester sewing thread to match the lavender yarn • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Backstitch, cross-stitch variation, overcast stitch Finished size: 27cm high x 34.5cm wide x 10 cm deep (10 1/2 x…

1 TAJIMA AUSTRALIA ‘SAI’ Brand-new embroidery machine that’s sleek, compact and ideal for home embroidering or a start-up embroidery business. Options available. Check out our introductory offer and tailored packages. Phone: 1300 283 460 Website: www.tajimaaustralia.com.au 2 ECHIDNA SEWING BROTHER NV180 + FREE EMBROIDERY ESSENTIALS PACK The new Brother NV180 sewing and embroidery machine is exclusive to Echidna Sewing and comes complete with a colour touch screen, USB connectivity and automatic needle threading. Design your own stitches and receive everything you need to get started in the free Embroidery Essentials Pack, valued at $670! Phone: 1800 000 360 Email: sales@echidnasewing.com.au Website: www.echidnasewing.com.au 3 HANDI QUILTER AUSTRALIA HQ AMARA The HQ Amara 20in longarm machine with the HQ Studio 2 Frame is the perfect choice for your quilting. Frame lengths of 10-foot…

As you no-sew, so shall you reap There are lots of lovely garlands around these days, but we hadn’t seen this lovely no-sew yarn pumpkin variation before. It’s such a cute child-friendly project and would look bright and cheery hanging in any kid’s room. The creator is Shell Feis, and she shares her tutorial on her {Not Quite} Susie Homemaker website – www.notquitesusie.com. THE GIFT OF BUTTONS It’s the gift presentation that counts! Amy Weir, of Delineate Your Dwelling, sets the craft style with her button-fruit gift tags. You’d simply have to love a present that came topped with bright little cards like these. Go to www.delineateyourdwelling.com/2016/ 10/fruit-gift-tags.html for the how-to. Creative cooking Ever wonder why people set themselves impossibly difficult goals, like scaling Everest, rocketing off to Mars or…

NATASHIA CURTIN SMEE DESIGNS Website: www.smeedesigns.com LESSONS I’VE LEARNED: • A 40-year-old sewing machine without a walking foot cannot cope with heavy wool blanket batting. It will die a horrible death, right in the middle of your first project. • Pins and toddlers don’t mix. • You can’t grab an iron that’s falling off your ironing board. • Never give a toddler a packet of seed beads to shake to keep them occupied. • Chocolate can help keep you awake, but it’s a cow to get out of blanket stitching. MY WORKROOM “On a good day, I can walk in the room. On a not-so-good day, I have to clear a path first. You are NEVER going to see my work space featured in a magazine. EVER!” “Stitching is also…

Where do you live and work? I live in suburban Sydney and have been quilting for about 30 years. I recently renovated my studio; it’s a large, bright bedroom with a view of the park. I put a lot of thought into the fabric storage, desks, cutting table – every aspect, really – and enjoy nothing more than being in there listening to the television or music and stitching by hand or on the machine. Why this particular craft? I enjoy trying different crafts and have dabbled in punchneedle, rug hooking and scrapbooking. I was a folk artist many years ago and a potter but nothing held my interest until I started quilting. My sister was a quilter and invited me to join her group. From there, I’ve gone on…

BLOSSOM DEARIES “While the warmer weather is great for playing outside and collecting freckles, it’s not the best for crocheting chunky cowls and afghans. That’s where this mini flower pattern comes in,” says summer-flower-maker Jess Coppom, of Make & Do Crew. “This crochet cherry blossom pattern is a perfect lightweight project that won’t make you sweat up a storm while you’re working on it.” Plus, the finished arrangement has the asymmetric elegance of real Japanese ikebana, with the bonus that it will outlive the hardiest cut flower. Jess’s tutorial is at makeanddocrew.com/free-crochet-cherry-blossom-flower-pattern.…

Where do you live and work? I live in the country town of Strathalbyn, South Australia – home to many antique stores and lots of fresh air. We bought our 1970s house nearly three years ago, and when I was planning my longarm business, we renovated two rooms in our huge ‘man shed’ to make a fully functional studio for one. It contains my longarm ‘Winnie’, a large design wall, separate bench-height pressing and cutting tables as well as a desk for my regular sewing machine. Of course, we can’t forget the television, for keeping me company on long projects! What’s your family structure? I’ve been married to my partner nearly 21 years, and we have two boys, 20 and nearly 18, but the babies of our family are definitely…

Once upon a time (an embarrassingly long time ago), there was a young psychologist who lived alone in a flat in Oxford. She loved her home very much and was happy there, but she didn’t have much spare cash, so not being able to afford an antique overstuffed armchair on castors, she went instead to Ikea, where she bought a ‘Poäng’ chair. The chair served her well over the years and was sat in without obvious complaint by a long succession of friends, family and a couple of boyfriends. Eventually, she moved out of her lovely flat and got married. The chair came, too. (Well, it didn’t come to the actual wedding: she didn’t love it that much.) Her husband grew fond of the chair, which was fortunate because, for…

SHANNAN GRIERSON How did you feel when you first started stitch crafting? I found it freeing to express myself through stitch and loved changing the surface of the fabric, but when I first picked up a needle and thread, I was young and I found hand stitching frustratingly slow. I didn’t have the patience to see projects through until I hit my 20s. Has your response to your craft changed much since then? My emotional response has changed. Now, it’s a relaxing form of expression, and sewing has become a sort of meditative practice for me. The enjoyment isn’t so much in the end result; that’s fab, of course, but it’s in the act of passing the needle through the fabric again and again. My approach changes, though. For instance,…

A Cottage Garden by Kathy Cardiff, US$28.99 Combine cotton and wool fabrics, stitchery, quiltmaking and a love of gardening and you have this wonderful collection of projects by Kathy Cardiff. The masterpiece project is a stunning nine-block sampler of flowers in bloom. But there’s also a good mix of smaller projects to make for yourself, your home and as gifts for family and friends. They include a clutch purse, cushions, wallhangings, framed pieces, sewing notions and a table runner. Kathy also includes advice and tips for working with wool. Enjoy! Published by Martingale. Available in selected craft shops and as an e-book from www.martingale-pub.com .…

01 Cotton+Steel ‘Noel’ CS5137/2, designed by Alexia Abegg. Distributed by Dayview Textiles. 02 Northcott Fabrics ‘Mrs. Bobbins’ 21993-64, designed by Julia Icenogle. Distributed by Lloyd Curzon Textiles. 03 Moda Fabrics ‘Circulus’ 18131-27, designed by Jen Kingwell. Distributed by PK Fabrics. 04 Northcott Fabrics ‘Bohemian Vibe’ 21915-74, designed by Northcott Studio. Distributed by Lloyd Curzon Textiles. 05 Moda Fabrics ‘Circulus’ 18131-11, designed by Jen Kingwell. Distributed by PK Fabrics. 06 Moda Fabrics ‘First Romance’ 8408-20, designed by Kristyne Czepuryk. Distributed by PK Fabrics. 07 FreeSpirit ‘Artichoke Garden’ Pom Dots PWCH008.PINKX, designed by Corinne Haig. Distributed by XLN Fabrics. 08 FreeSpirit ‘Artichoke Garden’ Pom Dots PWCH008.GREEN, designed by Corinne Haig. Distributed by XLN Fabrics. 09 FreeSpirit ‘Celebrate’ Dotty PWMO023.BLUEX, designed by Kathy Doughty. Distributed by XLN Fabrics. 10 Moda Fabrics ‘Circulus’ 18131-21,…

MATERIALS •  30cm ( 3/8yd) each of two pink print fabrics (centre star)•  90cm (1yd) white print fabric (Border 1)•  60cm ( 3/4yd) pink stripe print fabric (Border 2)•  90cm (1yd) solid white fabric (Border 3)•  1.1m (1 1/4yd) pink and red print fabric (Border 4)•  1.1m (1 1/4yd) red and white spot print fabric (Border 4 corners and binding)•  Batting at least 205cm (80in) square•  4.2m (4 1/2yd) backing fabric•  Rotary cutter, ruler, large square ruler and mat•  Sewing machine•  General sewing supplies Finished size: 183cm (72in) square Note: Read all the instructions before starting the quilt. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton, pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. Seam allowances of 1/4in are used throughout. PREPARATION AND CUTTING…

MATERIALS •  20cm ( 1/4yd) each of eight assorted red print fabrics (blocks and appliqué)•  20cm ( 1/4yd) each of eight assorted blue print fabrics (blocks and appliqué)•  20cm ( 1/4yd) red stripe print (appliqué background)•  70cm ( 7/8yd) in total of assorted cream print fabrics (block backgrounds)•  10cm ( 1/8yd) each of four assorted red/white/blue stripe print fabrics (Rows 1, 3, 8 and 10)•  30cm ( 3/8yd) red and white diagonal stripe print fabric (binding)•  1m (1 1/8yd) backing fabric•  Batting at least 100 x 107cm (42 x 40in)•  63 1/2in hexagon papers or template plastic and stiff paper to make your own•  Perlé 8 thread in red and blue•  Freezer paper•  Fabric glue stick (optional)•  Rotary cutter, ruler and mat•  Sewing machine with 1/4in foot•  General sewing supplies…

VICKI KNIGHT How long have you been creating in fabric? Just about all my life. I started making dolls’ clothes before I started school and have continued to sew, off and on, since. My love used to be garment-making, particularly for young children, but it holds no interest for me now. I would much rather spend my time cutting up perfectly good pieces of material and sewing them back together again – which is how my husband views my patchwork addiction. Do you like to work in a wide variety of styles and designs? I do what takes my fancy at the time. I don’t think that my style varies much from project to project, but sometimes I like to break out and do something different. I think I might…

How long have you been creating with needle and thread? I’ve been sewing since I was a young child. The first item I made on the sewing machine was a small doll’s apron under the guidance and encouragement of my grandmother. I’m not sure how old I was, but I still have that apron today. Do you do a wide variety of styles and designs? Yes. I like to experiment with lots of different design ideas, although I always find myself gravitating towards muted florals and traditional designs and techniques. For me, it’s all about the process, rather than the end product; the journey is where the enjoyment is. That’s why most of the designs are based on traditional hand embroidery and piecing techniques. What was the source of inspiration…

MATERIALS • 1m (1 1/8yd) white and silver spot print fabric (background) • 70cm ( 3/4yd) red and white spot print fabric (sashing, border and binding) • 48 rectangles, 4 x 5 1/2in of assorted print fabrics (Dresden petals) • Three squares, 25cm (10in) of assorted print fabrics (outer flowers) • Three squares, 13cm (5in) of assorted solid coloured fabrics (inner flowers) • Three squares 25cm (10in) of solid white fabric (flower backgrounds) • 1.5m (1 5/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 72 x 168cm (28 x 66in) • 30cm ( 3/8yd) medium-weight non-fusible interfacing • 90cm (1yd) ricrac, 12mm (1/2in) wide, in each of three assorted colours – Anorina matched her ricracs to the inner flower colours • Perlé 8 embroidery cotton in white • Size 7 crewel…

Phil Saul is an incredible knitter and crocheter, using her skills in no small part to add creativity to her converted-brewery home in the glorious Oxfordshire countryside in the UK. Goodness knows how she finds time to painstakingly create an intricate handcrafted cottage-and-garden chair cover when she already has her plate full as a clinical psychologist, mother of small twins and blogger, who also writes a quarterly column for Simply Knitting magazine. But we’re very glad she did. JUST A FEW OF PHIL’S ACCOLADES: • The Twisted Yarn was a runner-up in the 2017 British Craft Awards, won Knit Now magazine’s 2017 Knitter Of The Year, and won the 2014 Deramores Award. • The site has appeared on apartmenttherapy.com, in Let’s Knit magazine and on the Tesco website. • Phil…

MATERIALS • Panda Soft Cotton Chunky 100g: 12 balls of Optical White (3) • Pair of long 12mm (US 17) knitting needles or an 80cm (32in) circular 12mm needle – see Note • Wool needle • Large crochet hook (fringe) • Cardboard Finished size: 117 x 60cm (46 x 23 1/2in) approx. excluding fringes Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. This is an easy skill-level knitting project. Use only the yarn specified. Other yarns are likely to produce different results. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between knitters. Check the ball bands to ensure that all the yarn is from the same dye lot. This project is worked with two strands of yarn at once. The first and last stitch of every right side…

Ashford Wheels & Looms Ph: 1800 653 397, website: www.ashford.co.nz. Asia Discovery Tours Ph: (02) 9267 7699, website: asiadiscoverytours.com.au. Australian Country Spinners website: www.auspinners.com.au. BeBe Bold Ph: (02) 6621 9188, website: www.bebebold.com. Bernina Australia Ph: 1800 237 646, website: www.bernina.com.au. Brother Australia Ph: 1300 880 297, website: www.brother.com.au. Carol’s of Midland Ph: (08) 9250 2722, website: www.carolsofmidland.com.au. Catharina’s Vintage Stitches Ph: (03) 5852 3356, website: www.catharinasvintagestitches.com.au. Ceebee Quilts Ph: 0429 727 636, email: ceebeequilts@outlook.com. Clover Mfg Co., Ltd Email: info@clover-mfg.com, website: www.clover-mfg.com. Craft Events Ph: (02) 9452 7575, website: craftevents.com.au Craft Project – Charles Parsons & Co Ph: 1300 364 422, website: www.craftproject.com.au. Dragonfly Fabrics Ph: (08) 8948 0691, website: www.dragonfabric.com.au. Echidna Sewing Products Ph: (07) 3390 3600, website: www.echidnaclub.com.au. Fabric Pixie Ph: 0415 826 994, website: www.fabricpixie.com.au. Faeries in…