Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2016 i Australian Homespun

THIS MONTH’S WINNER Jacinta Hanrahan, from Bungaree, Vic, for her Colour My World project: “After noticing my niece being very particular about the order of her pencils, I thought I would make her a pencil roll for her fourth birthday. I knew I’d seen a pattern before, so I searched through my Homespun collection and finally found it in Vol 11 No 10: Colour My World, by Kellie Wulfsohn. The main fabric in the pattern I substituted with denim, as it goes well with lots of colours. I also changed the outside cover from a flower to the word ‘colour’. It was very hard to hand it over to my niece, but hopefully she’ll let me share when we next colour in together! Thanks for the inspiration.” Congratulations to Jacinta…

HILL OF QUILTERS – SYDNEY Only a few more sleeps until Sydneysiders can enjoy the three-day 17th biennial Hunters Hill Quilt Show, which opens on August 11. Here’s what to expect: • Fun • A gallery of great quilts • Special new exhibition of baby quilts to be donated to the Grace Centre for Newborn Care at Westmead Children’s Hospital • Quilts to buy • Coffee, tea and homemade goodies • Proceeds to Dr Elizabeth Scott for the Brain & Mind Research Institute Where? Historic Hunters Hill Town Hall, 21 Alexandra St. More info? www.huntershillquilters. org/p/2016-quilt-show.html. PLUS HERE'S CHEERS – ADELAIDE Quilters deserve a night of glamour just as much as anyone! Well, you can enjoy a fun cocktail party to launch the 2016 AMQ Festival (Australian Machine Quilting…

Sew Illustrated: 35 Charming Fabric & Thread Designs By Minki Kim and Kristin Esser Use free-motion stitching and appliqué to create beautiful handmade gifts in Zakka style. The book includes 16 small projects with Minki’s signature flair for sweet design. Instagram: @zeriano Quilt Petite By Sedef Imer Learn how to make mini quilts, cushions, table toppers, doll quilts, placemats, potholders and more. Includes detailed instructions for 18 projects, featuring a range of techniques, including patchwork, hand and machine quilting, embroidery and more. All suitable for beginners through to advanced. Instagram: @downgrapevinelane Crocheted Abode à la Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects for Your Home By Twinkie Chan After the success of Twinkie’s first book, which featured fun food-themed crochet to create and wear, Crocheted Abode à la Mode…

Sitting pretty Of all the furnishing items around the house, the ones that most often get overlooked are stools – rating low on the aesthetic scale and high on practicality. Well, let’s redress the balance a bit with a little dressing up of our own. This sweet stool-topper is simply made with rounds of double crochet in your favourite colours (or a mix of whatever dyelots you have going to waste in your yarn basket). Starting at the centre, keep working rounds until you reach the size of the stool-top diameter, then add enough extra rows to comfortably accommodate the lip and turn-under. The cover can be finished with an out-of-sight, under-stool drawstring or with a piece of elastic. Seat sweater Luxurious linens, timeless ticking and country cottons make wonderful…

Materials • Cleckheaton Country Wide 14 ply 50g balls: two balls of Metal (0019) • One pair each of 6.00mm (UK 4/US 10) and 5.50mm (UK 5/US 9) knitting needles or sizes needed to give the correct tension • Scraps of pink, black and white fabric for the face and ears • Pink, white and black embroidery thread • Sewing and wool needles Finished size: To fit child 2-5 years; head circumference 52cm (20 1/2in) Note: Read the instructions before starting this project. This is an easy skill-level 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 they are from the same dye lot. Abbreviations beg =…

Materials • 30cm ( 3/8yd) white tone-on-tone print fabric (star centres) • 90cm (1yd) red tone-on-tone print fabric (star backgrounds) • 1.1m (1 1/4yd) solid red fabric (sashing, Border 1 and binding) • 1.1m (1 1/4yd) red and white spot print fabric (setting triangles and cornerstones) • 35cm ( 1/2yd) each of red print fabrics in four different values: light-medium; dark-medium; light-dark; and dark-dark (inner star) • 30cm ( 3/8yd) each of five light-value red on white print fabrics and five medium-value red on white print fabrics (outer star and Border 2) • 3.3m (3 5/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 165cm (64in) square • Paper for foundations, such as photocopy paper • Scrap of light cardboard • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine • General sewing…

Materials • Fat quarter off-white cotton or linen fabric (background) • Fat eighth red tone-on-tone print fabric (top and bottom borders) • 38 x 33cm (15 x 13in) fusible stabiliser • 40 x 36cm (16 x 14in) thin batting (framing) • Cottage Garden Threads in Toffee Apple (1), Swamp Gum (207), Carrot Seed (310) and Oregano (809) – see Note • Au Papillon Fil D’or Thread in Medium Gold • Embroidery needle • Very fine-pointed fabric marker • A4-size timber frame • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Backstitch, French knot, running stitch, satin stitch, straight stitch Finished size: 29 x 20cm (11 1/2 x 8in) not including frame; 23 x 17.5cm (9 x 7in) design area Note: Read all…

How would you describe your particular craft style? I love using bright and colourful fabrics in my creations. When I’m designing my softies, I try to give each of them personality and cute expressions on their faces. Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started stitching? I think I’ve always had the same look in mind that I’m trying to create, but perhaps I’ve got better at capturing that look the more items I’ve created. I guess I’ve refined my style over time and experience. Are you good at all the crafts you’ve tried? I haven’t actually tried that many different crafts. I did learn to crochet recently, and have found it relaxing and enjoyable, but I’ve only done a few simple projects, so…

STRING OF SAUSAGE(DOG)S There’s nothing new about putting a dog on a lead, but putting 10 dogs on the one lead and then stringing them up across a wall???? Radical! This Christmas dachshund garland is the creation of Patricia Welch – a rare breed of crafter, who likes to add a little design twist for whimsy and style. Don’t you love her addition of holly-sprigged bones to divide up the dogs? It’s not your classic Christmas decoration, but we bet it’s the most memorable. Contacts: PatriciaWelchDesigns. Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/PatriciaWelchDesigns.…

NSW – Sydney August 6-7 Camden Camden Country Quilters’ Guild Exhibition; AH & I Hall, Argyle St. Open 9.30am-4pm. Entry $6. More information: Phone Chris on 0413 762 028. NSW – Country July 15-17 Port Macquarie Port Macquarie Timeless Quilters’ Biannual Quilt Show; Port Macquarie Panthers Club, 1 Bay St. View quilt display, participate in a raffle, purchase craft goods and attend craft workshops. Open Fri & Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm. Entry $5. Funds raised will be donated to the Neo-natal Unit at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital. More information: Phone Lee McGlashan on 0402 437 604, email lee@reglee.com.au or contact Sue Richardson, sooricho@gmail.com. July 22-24 Wagga Wagga CraftAlive Wagga Wagga; Wagga Wagga Showground, Bourke St. Bringing together both talented interstate and local exhibitors, focusing on creative hand finished products,…

Materials • 110 assorted 5in charm squares OR about 2m (2 1/4yd) in total of assorted print fabrics cut into 5in squares (blocks) • 3.5m (3 7/8yd) grey fabric – see Note (blocks, border, sashing and binding) • 3.5m (4yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 178 x 165cm (70 x 65in) • Rotary cutter, ruler, square ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot • General sewing supplies Finished size: 162.5 x 148.5cm (64 x 58 1/2in) Finished block size: 4 1/2in Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton, pre-washed (with the exception of the charm squares) and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. Melissa used a grey shot cotton from Spotlight…

Materials • Fat eighth (25 x 66cm/ 10 x 26in) Liberty Tana Lawn – see Note (main print fabric) • One or two fat eighths Liberty Tana Lawn (contrast print fabric/s) • 50cm ( 1/2yd) ivory linen (cushion front background, lining and cushion back) • 33 x 43cm (13 x 17in) rectangle of batting or fusible fleece • 30 x 40cm (12 x 16in) cushion insert – see Note • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in and walking feet • General sewing supplies Finished size: 30 x 40cm (12 x 16in) Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. Materials listed are for one cushion. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton/ linen, pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements are based on Liberty…

Stockists AUSTRALIAN CAPIT AL TERRITORY Hobbysew Belconnen Belconnen Ph: (02) 6253 0011 belconnen@hobbysew .com.au www.hobbysew.com.au Motif By Hand Crace Ph: 0402 622 919 motifbyhand@gmail.com www.motifbyhand.com NEW SOUTH WALES Fabric Pixie Goonellabah Ph: 0415 826 994 deanne@fabricpixie.com.au www.fabricpixie.com.au Hobbysew Kings Park Kings Park Ph: (02) 9621 4000 kingspark@hobbysew .com www.hobbysew.com.au Hobbysew Top Ryde Top Ryde Ph: (02) 9877 5067 topryde@hobbysew.com www.hobbysew.com.au Lyn’s Fine Needlework Baulkham Hills Ph: (02) 9686 2325 sales@lynsfineneedlework.com.au www.lynsfineneedlework.com.au My Sewing Supplies Kirawee Ph: (02) 9542 3513 info@mysewingsupplies.com.au www.mysewingsupplies.com.au Nesting Needles Coffs Harbour Ph: 0400 055 989 lisa@nestingneedles.com.au www.nestingneedles.com.au Patchwork on Parker Cootamundra Ph: (02) 6942 1104 jock-commins@bigpond.com Picton Patchwork & Quilting Picton Ph: (02) 4677 2802 troy@pictonpatchwork.com.au Post Offi ce Patchwork Glenbrook Ph: (02) 4739 9555 popatchwork@eftel.net.au www.postoffi cepatchwork.net.au Rainbow Patchwork Lismore Ph: (02) 6622 3003 info@rainbowpatchwork.com.au…

What sort of Christmas weather do you get where you are in New Zealand? The weather in New Zealand is usually lovely and sunny at Christmas. The odd year may be raining, but it’s nice and warm. Do you love antipodean Christmases or do you like the idea of snow and red robins? I love New Zealand Christmases. When I was in England, I used to say to my mum, “One day, we’ll have Christmas on the beach”. We did a few times, and it was heaven. But I also love Christmas in England, as it’s so traditional, being cold and having roast turkey. The atmosphere is lovely, and you can always hear the Salvation Army bands playing in the high streets. What’s your favourite thing about Christmas? Being with…

Why this particular craft? I learnt to make patchwork quilts in order to sell the patchwork fabric in a store that I opened with my mum, in Mudgee, NSW, 24 years ago. I was hooked from the first quilt. Have you tried plenty of others? I did dressmaking for the family, made soft toys and knitted before I found patchwork. It has been a long time since I made a garment! If you weren’t doing this, what else would occupy your time? My husband would describe me as a foodie. I adore all the cooking shows, have an extensive library of cookbooks and love researching restaurants to try while on tour with Travelrite. So, I guess I’d be doing something in the food industry. I love exploring new ingredients and…

Why this particular craft? The simple combination of needle and thread offers such a vast array of options, doesn’t it? I love to create by hand. Appliqué, dimensional fabric work, embroidery and quilting ... they all centre around a needle and thread. Such a portable and commonplace tool, but there really is no limit to what you can create with it. Like many others, I grew up with women who stitched, knitted, crocheted and sewed. There is no doubt that this love of needlework has come from home. Over time, however, I have developed a love of breaking the rules. I now really enjoy experimenting, combining everyday techniques to discover something new. Often, a finished design ends up with a dimensional or textural element that you might not usually find…

Materials • 75cm ( 3/4yd) light print fabric (stars and Border 1) • Assortment of medium print fabrics to total about 1.2m (1 3/8yd): fat eighths are ideal • 1m (1 1/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 95cm (36in) square • Stranded embroidery thread to coordinate with the appliqué fabrics • 3.7m (4yd) brown ricrac 15mm ( 5/8in) wide – see Anni’s Ricrac Tip • Appliqué glue (optional) • Erasable fabric-marking pen or pencil • Fine pigma pen or graphite pencil • Small paintbrush • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot • General sewing supplies Finished size: 88cm (34 1/2in) square Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. It is recommended that…

Materials • 50cm ( 1/2yd) light brown spot print fabric (house background) • Fat eighth of pink check print fabric (roof) • Fat quarter of solid white cotton (window frames and lining for walls) • Rectangles, 10 x 18cm (4 x 7in) of two print fabrics – see Note (door and doorframe) • Rectangle, 10 x 15cm (4 x 6in) of red print fabric (windowpanes) • Assorted scraps of nine different print fabrics at least 6.5cm (2 1/2in) square (roof decorations) • Strip, 4 x 48cm (1 1/2 x 19in) of red bias stripe print fabric (eaves) • 15cm ( 1/4yd) multicoloured spot print fabric (binding) • Fat quarter of print fabric (backing) • Batting at least 43 x 51cm (17 x 20in) • DMC Perlé 8 Cotton in Bright…

THIS MONTH’S DESIGNERS’ CONTACTS PROJECT 1: KISS CROSS Melissa Gottliebsen Ms Midge Email: msmidge1@bigpond.com  Website: www.msmidge.com.au Instagram: @msmidge PROJECT 3: SWEET SORBET Peta Peace SheQuiltsALot Email: shequiltsalot@gmail.com  Website: www.shequiltsalot.com Instagram: @shequiltsalot Facebook: SheQuiltsALot Pinterest: SheQuiltsALot BLOCK OF THE MONTH: FOXLEY VILLAGE Natalie Bird The Birdhouse Email: thebirdhouse@bigpond.com  Website: www.thebirdhouse.com.au Blog: www.thebirdhouse.typepad.com PROJECT 4: FOUR DAYS OF CHRISTMAS  Linda Guy Sew Quilt Designs Website: www.sewquiltdesigns.com PROJECT 5: NATALIA Michelle Marvig Pieceville Email: michelle@pieceville.com.au  Website: www.pieceville.com.au PROJECT 6: WE WISH YOU A … Melissa Grant One Day in May, Creations by Melissa Grant Email: info@onedayinmay.com.au  Website: www.onedayinmay.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/ OneDayInMay.MelissaGrant Address: P.O. Box 7145, Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria 3156 PROJECT 7: BLINKY BELLE Anthea Christian Angel Lea Designs Email: anthea@angelleadesigns.com  Website: www.angelleadesigns.com Facebook: facebook.com/ angelleadesigns PROJECT…

XMAS 1: BUTTON TREES Cori George likes buttons, not branches, for mantel-sized celebratory accessories. And she’s happy to share her easy tutorial with Homespun readers. SUPPLIES •  Green buttons• Pearl straight pins•  Scrap of green fabric• Small foam cones DIRECTIONS Start by covering your foam cone with the green fabric. I actually just pinned it in place because I knew it would be held together by all of the straight pins. But you could glue, as well. Now, start adding buttons from the bottom, securing them with the pearlised pins. The hardest part of the project is to aim the pins into the cone so that the pointy end isn’t sticking out on the other side of the cone (or into your hand!). Work your way up the cone, and top with…

Learn How to Knit with 50 Squares by Che Lam, $34.99 If you’re just starting out with knitting or you’ve mastered the basics and are ready to stretch your wings, this book provides an excellent guide to a wide range of stitches and techniques. Learn a new stitch by following the step-by-step instructions and colour photographs, then practise by knitting a square. Begin with knit and purl, then progress to textured, twisted, cable, lace and relief stitches, such as double moss, mini bobbles, braided cable, openwork lace, intarsia and fair isle. For true beginners, there are introductory chapters on tools and materials, holding the yarn and needles, casting on and off and finishing. Instructions are provided for a small number of projects that you can make with your knitted…

Where do you live and work? I live in a beautiful part of the world – the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne. It’s a green and luscious landscape, and if I look out our windows, I can see the hills behind our house. My workspace is classed as a ‘storeroom’ on our house plans. And not an end-of-the-world, apocalypse-is-coming kind of storeroom! I call it the shoebox. All four of my children have their own bedrooms, so I compromised with my workspace. As small as it is, I can achieve so much in there, and I also have our huge dining-room table to pop my cutting board on and bring my sewing machine out to when I have large quilts to do. What’s your family structure? I…

Why this particular craft? Like so many people, I was looking for something to fill nap time after our first child was born. My mum had picked up a magazine and was giving quilting a go, so I thought I’d do the same. I haven’t looked back since and I don’t think I ever will. Have you tried plenty of others? I dabbled a little in garment sewing, but my heart was never really in it. I occasionally do a little bit of digital design, but that’s mostly for parties we’re having here. Any hard-learned lessons over the years? I was, and probably still am, a master of sewing clothing inside out. Somehow, the ‘right sides together’ message doesn’t click with me and garment sewing. If you weren’t doing this,…

When I fi rst started doing patchwork and quilting, I loved using fabrics from designers such as Debbie Mumm, Bareroots and Buggy Barn Quilts. I defi nitely had quite a ‘country’ leaning, early on. Other designers who I love are: Tilda, Blackbird Designs, Yoko Saito, Maggie Bonanomi, Anni Downs, Karen Styles and Kathy Doughty. Today, my style is less country, a bit more modern, but still with the same quirky, naive spin. My designs seem to follow that thread, of heartfelt images and messages about family and friends, lots of cute critters and homely sentiments. I want to design things that evoke a warm or happy emotion, with maybe a giggle here and there, too. My designs are sometimes inspired by a gorgeous piece of fabric or something that may…

Take a browse around this pretty, light-filled sewing room – check out the cupboard with bolts of fabric organised in colourways, the mannequin showcasing the latest garment and quilt blocks awaiting pressing. But all is not what it seems. This is a teeny sewing room in a suitcase, furnished with craft- and dollar-store finds, handmade pieces and repurposed items, all Thumbelina size. The cutting mat is cardstock with a gridwork of lines drawn onto it; the floorboards and wallpaper are scrapbook papers; buttons are used as plates; and that gorgeous white-lace rug? – a paper doily! And this downsized ‘room’ pays big decorative dividends for next to no cash. “If I am working with a life-size room, it can cost a fortune to design the whole thing, but with the…

BRANCHING OUT WITH APPLIQUÉ HOOPLA! Tabatha James, of Rhapsody and Thread, sees her wondrous, wall-mounted, embroidery-hoop Xmas tree as a space saver – no more chunky Christmas tree taking up valuable floor area in a small-dimension living room. But while that might be true, we think that’s just a practical side benefit to the ingenuity of the hoop construction and the pure joy of the design, which makes a fabric feast of yuletide icons – from Ho, Hos to baubles, stars, gifts, firs and candles. Contacts: Rhapsody and Thread, rhapsodyand thread.blogspot.com.au; or direct link to this ‘tree’ at rhapsodyand thread.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/embroidery-hoopchristmas-tree_16.html.…

Materials • 50cm ( 1/2yd) grey tone-on-tone print fabric (koala body) • 25 x 30cm (10 x 12in) white felt (ear overlays, hair spike, foot and hand pads and sack trim) • 25 x 30cm (10 x 12in) red felt (holly berries and sack) • Scrap of black felt (snout and eyes) • Scrap of green felt (holly leaves) • Fibre fill • 10cm ( 1/8yd) red and white stripe fabric (scarf) • Two 18mm ( 3/4in) white pompoms (scarf trim) • 50cm ( 1/2yd) white or natural twine (sack tie) • Stranded embroidery cotton in black • Thin cardboard, paper and 2B pencil • Water-erasable fabric-marking pen and chalk pencil • Compass • Loop turner • Sewing machine with1/4in foot • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Backstitch, ladder stitch,…

How would you describe your particular craft style? A little naive and whimsical, with warm hues and low contrast. Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started stitching? I am always developing, and my style is quite different from when I first began. When I started, I did much more piecing of images – now I prefer to appliqué my images. The colours I use now are much lighter than they used to be. Some of my earlier designs are still some of my favourites, but others look very chunky compared to what I do now. I guess it’s a ‘move with the times’ approach, whereby you constantly evolve and change what you do because of what is surrounding you. But I think, ultimately,…

What time of the day do you make it into your craft studio? It varies every day, but most days it’s between 9 and 10am. I have two young kids, and now that school holidays have finished, I hope to get back into a regular routine. On a regular day, what has to be done before you can pick up your stitching? Feed and dress my kids, shower and get ready, then take the kids to school or kindergarten. I then do my grocery run and any household chores before I can peacefully settle down to sewing. Your sewing business is relatively new but has been quite successful, hasn’t it? It feels so strange when I think that I had never even used a sewing machine until 3 1/2 years…