Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i Australian Homespun

THIS MONTH’S WINNER Di Renfrey, from Goolwa Beach, SA, for her A Birdwatcher’s Blooms project: “Thank you for this gorgeous pattern (designed by Linda Guy and published in the June 2015/Vol 16 No 6 issue of Homespun). I thought I would send you a photo of my version of it.” Di incorporated some of Linda’s suggested variations as well as a few of her own and changed the colour palette of the threads and fabrics better to suit her white sofa. Congratulations to Di for her great effort. As the winner this month, she will be receiving the following prizes: • For Keeps – Meaningful Patchwork for Everyday Living book by Amy Gibson. Each attractive quilt and keepsake is imbued with special meaning as Amy shares their contexts. Published by…

NSW – Sydney August 12-14 Hunters Hill Hunters Hill Quilters’ biennial Quilt Show; Hunters Hill Town Hall, 22 Alexandra St. Open 10am-4pm. Entry $6. More information: Phone Iris on (02) 9953 5097. August 20-21 Cherrybrook Cherrybrook Quilters’ Quilt Show ‘Winter Weather Quilt Together’; Cherrybrook Uniting Church, 134 New Line Rd. Open 10am-4pm. Entry $5. More information: Email info@cherrybrookquilters.org.au. NSW – Country August 12-22 Bowral Southern Highlands Textile & Fibre Network ‘Journey into Texture’ Exhibition; Bowral & District Art Society (BDAS), 1 Short St. Open 10am–4pm. More information: Email www.shtfn.org. August 27-28 Dapto CareWays Dapto Art and Craft Show; Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, 93-109 Princes Hwy. Open 9am-4pm. More information: Phone Joanne on (02) 4262 1918 or email JoanneR@careways.org.au. September 2-3 Kempsey Macleay Quilters’ 30th Anniversary Quilt Exhibition; Kempsey Showground, Sea St.…

This is a strikingly different idea for a quilt. How did you come up with the idea? Like much of my work, it’s based on an antique quilt. I saw the original quilt on Pinterest and developed it from there. The original quilt, circa 1865 and made in Indiana, had a similar colour scheme, but with solid colours and it was a much larger nine-block quilt. Very simple, which I loved, but I was in my ‘crib quilt’ phase. Do you like to do a wide variety of styles with your quilts? I definitely do a variety of styles in my quilts. But one of the follow-through themes of my quiltmaking is the use of many fabrics. Nearly all my quilts could be described as scrappy. If you weren’t quiltmaking,…

Materials • Cleckheaton Country Wide 14 ply 50g balls: three balls of Bone (0016) • 6.50mm (UK 3/US 101/2) knitting needles or size needed to give correct tension • Cable needle • Wool needle • 15cm (6in) circular bamboo handles Finished size: 24cm (9 1/2in) high approx. excluding handles Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. This is an intermediate 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 all from the same dye lot. This bag is worked on smaller needles than usually recommended for this yarn. Abbreviations  alt = alternate; beg = begin/ning; foll = following; inc = increase; incl…

Do you love these sorts of retro ideas? I have a fascination for household items that have a secret life and, conversely, when practical items are given a whimsical life apart from their function – the kitty plush on the bed with a zipper for holding pyjamas; the topsy-turvy doll, with its waking and sleeping faces; peg bags that look like little dresses; crockery shaped and painted as anthropomorphised fruit and vegies. There’s something to be said for extending the life of an object in a time of limited resources (topsy-turvy dolls are two in one for nearly the same amount of materials), but when that becomes an intentional design element in times of plenty (and even excess), it’s just plain art. How long have you been creating softies? My…

How would you describe your particular craft style? ‘Sophisticated naive’ was how a friend once described my work, and I really like the sound of that. It’s certainly not primitive, although it’s perhaps a little whimsical. Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started stitching? My style has developed and changed over the years, much the same as any other artist. When I first started designing for the patchwork and quilting industry, my focus was on quick-fuse blanket-stitch appliqué projects, which are still popular today. However, as the years have passed, my design style has evolved to combine traditional appliqué with embroidery/stitchery, and to add texture to my work, I often use my own hand-painted buttons, which are handmade here in our studio on…

Materials • 20cm (8in) square (minimum) of medium-weight ivory fabric (background) • Scrap of small-scale print fabric – see Note (rug appliqué) • DMC Stranded Embroidery Cottons in Blanc (white); Red (321), Coral (351), Light Tan (437), Off White (746), Medium Parrot Green (906), Medium Copper (920), Dark Golden Brown (975), Medium Golden Brown (976), Very Dark Forest Green (986), Black Brown (3371), Light Peacock Blue (3766), Dark Turquoise (3810), Very Light Turquoise (3811) and a colour to suit the rug fabric (Nicole used Medium Light Topaz (725)) • Embroidery needle • Fusible web such as Heat ’n Bond • Pencil or water-erasable fabric-marking pen • 13cm (5in) embroidery hoop Stitches used: Blanket stitch, chain stitch, long and short stitch, satin stitch, split stitch, straight stitch Finished size: 11 x…

Materials (makes 2): • Striped ribbons: 1m (1 1/8yd) each of green and pink (2.5cm/1in wide); 50cm ( 5/8yd) green (1cm/ 3/8in wide) • 2 x 38mm (1 1/2in) self-covering buttons • Vintage hankie or floral fabric scraps • White scrap fabric (optional) • 2 x brooch backs • Felt (for backing): 10cm x 20cm (4 x 8in) + scraps • Needle and thread • Pressing cloth • Clear quick-dry craft glue • Pencil For each brooch: Cover buttons with floral fabric or a piece of hankie as per button kit instructions. If your fabric is a bit see through, back it with a scrap of white fabric before assembling the button. Use the circle template from the button kit to trace and cut a circle from felt. Place a…

Here’s a timeless example of embroidery meets watchmaking. Frenchwoman Sylvie Deschamps is an acclaimed embroiderer who has collaborated with luxury jewellery brand Piaget with ultra-creative results. Reinterpreting the Yves Piaget rose motif on the dial of the Piaget Altiplano watch, she used needle and thread and the micro-pointillism technique to create the effect she was after. An 18k white-gold watch featuring a bezel set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds would normally not need embellishment, but it is all the richer for its exceptional embroidery and the fact that it is a limited edition of just 18. For more information, visit www.piaget.com. WATCH THE PROCESS 1 Using a pricker, the Yves Piaget rose is traced onto white silk fabric. 2 The outline is then drawn on. 3 The outlines of the petals…

Bright idea Furnishings that show a little personal creativity and lateral thinking always have the edge on those that are mass produced. And that applies to this pendant lampshade, now dressed in strips of denim and lace. All you need is a bare wire shade frame, some old, never-to-be-worn-again jeans and the patience to slice the fabric into long strips. The bonus is that you don’t even need to be neat with your cutting: rough edges maketh the funkiness! Weave the strips of denim and lace through the wire framework, circling each wire support once to help secure the fabric in place. In the background is an MDF noticeboard that has been upcycled with patchworked old denim, complete with jeans pocket. Jeans pool From little acorn decorating ideas come mighty…

Materials • 30cm ( 3/8yd) blue chambray fabric (appliqué, base, back panel, straps and folded trims) • Large scrap or half a jelly-roll strip of feature trim fabric (top trim) • Fat sixteenth each of seven coordinating print fabrics or seven jelly-roll half strips (patchwork panel) • 20cm ( 1/4yd) print fabric (lining) • 20cm ( 1/4yd) fusible batting such as Pellon 640 • 15cm (6in) hook-and-loop tape such as Velcro • Fusible web • Machine sewing thread to match the appliqué fabric • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in and walking feet • General sewing supplies Finished size: 16cm high by 25cm wide (6 1/4 x 10in) approx. Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabrics be…

Have you made other scrappy quilts and, if so, are they always such a celebration of colour? I’ve made several bright and colourful scrappy quilts. I particularly enjoy making them because the combination of fabrics – including vintage, modern, beautiful and sometimes downright ugly fabrics – can result in an interesting, quirky quilt. I also enjoy sourcing the fabric from different places, including thrift shops, clothing offcuts and donations from quilting friends. Do you like to do a wide variety of styles with your quilts? I have made many different types of quilts and have enjoyed them all. However, there’s something very satisfying about a quilt like this postage-stamp quilt, because it doesn’t require many design decisions, and you are converting a basket of disorganised scraps into something beautiful to…

Materials • Fat quarter of solid light blue cotton fabric (dog and inner ears) • 20cm (8in) square of print fabric (outer ears) • Seven scraps, 4cm/1 1/2in square, of assorted print fabrics (hexagon appliqué) • Toy stuffing – Allison used wool fleece • Black embroidery cotton • Stiff paper for patterns • Two small black shank buttons (eyes) – see Note • 60cm ( 3/4yd) of 10mm (3/8in) wide yellow satin ribbon • Liquid laundry starch (optional) • Sewing machine • General sewing supplies Stitch used: Satin stitch Finished size: 16cm (6 1/4in) tall and 28cm (11in) nose to tail Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. This softie is unsuitable for children under three years because it includes buttons, which could work loose and…

Ballyhoo Vintage Clothing www.ballyhoovintage.com Buyers from Ballyhoo Vintage Clothing have combed through the storerooms of American retailers for long-forgotten merchandise, in order to offer you clothes from the 1930s to the 1980s – for men, women and children. The shop specialises in items that have never been worn. Bumble and Boogs www.bumbleandboogs.etsy.com Bumble and Boogs has done all the hunting for you, sourcing its stock from estate sales, attics, basements and thrift and second-hand shops. Vintage children’s clothing from the 1940s to 1970s, and occasionally beyond, are only a few clicks away. Petit Poesy www.petitpoesy.etsy.com At Petit Poesy, you’ll find clothing, accessories, decor and toys from the 1900s-1990s, all for babies and children. The store is filled with classically styled garments that feature charming details, like smocking, embroidery and appliqué.…

Being European, do you love cosy days inside in winter or do you dream of swaying palm trees and golden beaches in the tropics? I’m definitely more a fall/winter person. The idea of snuggling under a quilt with a book is more appealing to me than lying on a beach with a book. If I could only keep three seasons, I’d drop summer first. What’s your idea of the perfect winter’s day? Waking up to a white wonderland. Maybe going out for a walk and coming home and having a cup of homemade Dutch pea soup. Doing some crafty things and playing a board game with the family. (We have a quite a selection of games.) And eating some more home-cooked food. Stews, pies and Indonesian food are my favourites…

green zebras Tilda fabric distributed by Two Green Zebras (02) 9553 7201 twogreenzebras.com 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 Park er Cootamundra Ph: (02) 6942 1104 jock-commins@bigpond.com Picton Patchwork & Quilting Picton Ph: (02) 4677 2802 troy@pictonpatchwork.com.au Post Office Patchwork Glenbrook Ph: (02)…

BUTTERFLYING COLOURS If you love these two new patterns from Elizabeth Hartman, you’ll be happy to hear that the fabrics (called ‘Paintbox’, from Robert Kaufman) are available this month. Two Green Zebras is the exclusive distributor of these patterns in Australia and New Zealand – you can find out more at www.twogreenzebras.com. BOOK STORE - OF SORTS! We loved this storage tin that has been designed to look just like a vintage craft book. Decorated on all sides, and even inside, it has a convincing spine and pages and is ideal for storing all kinds of crafty bits and pieces. Tucked into a shelf of craft books and magazines, it might also prove to be a fabulous way of storing important documents, jewellery or spare cash. The tin measures 25.5cm…

How did you come up with this natty idea for a kid’s scooter carry-all? When my daughter was smaller, she took her bunny with her everywhere. She used to hold his ear in one hand as well as hang onto the handle bars of her bike. So I thought that I should come up with a safer option for transporting bunny around with her. When you made one for your daughter, what was her reaction to the design? She loved it. Bunny went straight in it! What does she like to put in her new scooter bag? We have a huge frangipani tree out the front, so she used to fill the bag with the flowers. Like all small kids, she would also fill it with knick-knacks from her room.…

Think ‘basement’ and you’re just a step or two away from a dark, dank dungeon, right? Bleak, airless, under-house afterthought. Well, not if you’re crafty Hayley Crouse, who made her subterranean studio a picture of light and creativity. She did have the advantage of interior-design experience and therefore an innate understanding of form, function and well-considered organisation, but she topped it up beautifully with personal styling, creating a space that meets the needs of her fabric/pattern/clothing-designer business. What makes it notable, however, is the decorative flavour she’s added. “I wouldn’t say the studio has a specific style, per se, but more of a feel. It’s a cheerful, fun and creative space, with good energy,” Hayley says. The craft basement is on the bottom floor of the family home, which is…

Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started? I find it hard to describe my style – I’d have to let others judge that, I think – but, generally, it has changed a little over time. I think everyone’s does. I’m still attracted to the same colours and themes, reproductions, piecing and appliqué, but other colours are finding a way into my stash lately. Other than crafting, how do you like to spend your time? I really love being in my garden – although it (the garden) would say I’m never there! Otherwise, being with family and friends, watching movies, cooking and helping with farm work can all make up part of the day. If the good fairy granted you three wishes, what would…

Materials To make one racquet cover • 50cm ( 5/8yd) floral print fabric (outer cover) • 50cm ( 5/8yd) print fabric to coordinate with the floral print fabric (lining) • 30cm ( 3/8yd) plain fabric to coordinate with the floral print fabric (binding, piping and button loop) • 50cm ( 5/8yd) batting • 1m (1 1/8yd) of 3mm ( 1/8in) piping cord • One 12mm ( 1/2in) self-covered button • Large sheet of paper (pattern) • Machine sewing thread to match the fabrics used for the outer cover and for the binding and button loop • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with zipper or piping foot • General sewing supplies Finished size: 53 x 28cm (21 x 11in) approximately Note: Read all the instructions before…

When I first started designing, I found it quite a challenge to explain how I had made a project, when writing the pattern. A lot of the time, I am working it out as I go, so I keep notes, measurements and take photos of the project, as it is in progress. As well as illustrating how the project is made, it helps jog my memory as to how I’ve made it. I always try to write my patterns for all levels of ability, from beginner to experienced sewers. For a long time, most of my appliqué designs were blanket-stitch appliqué. This might be because I was too scared of needleturn appliqué and thought I couldn’t do it. I loved the look of it, though, so I had to give…