Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2019 i Australian Homespun

Sometimes it takes long hikes through dense greenery to find the perfect spot for a refreshing swim — a hidden lagoon with crystal-clear water surrounded by lush foliage. Fenny Suter’s vibrant embroideries capture this idyllic scene in thread and fabric. They’re a little piece of paradise, but without the sweat and exhaustion of hiking. Her lagoon fibre artworks look like they’re based on exotic travel destinations, but Fenny was actually inspired by a more mundane location. “Growing up in landlocked eastern USA, I thought all oceans looked similar – dark blue and murky,” says Fenny. “On a trip to Asia, I saw the brightest, turquoise-blue ocean off the side of the road. The colours were so surreal and mesmerising to me that I couldn’t stop staring. Interestingly, I was not…

• To assist you in determining where to cut a fabric when you want to fussy cut, make a window template. Trace the relevant shape from the Pattern Sheet onto template plastic using a fine permanent-marking pen – for the Centre Star, that is the six-point star diamond shape. Add a 1/4in seam allowance around it and draw those lines on the plastic with the pen. Cut the shape out accurately on the outer line. • To audition a print fabric for fussy cutting, lay the template on the fabric and move it round – whatever lies inside the inner shape you’ve drawn on your template is what will be visible in your quilt. (The rest is lost in the seam allowance.) • When you want to fussy cut exactly…

How feel did you when you first started cross stitching? I started to cross stitch a long, long time ago and I’m not sure what first attracted me to it. But I find even now, when I start stitching after a couple of days’ break, I feel instantly calm so it’s very much a way for me to de-stress and relax. What is it that keeps you creating? Ultimately, I keep creating so I always have projects to work on. I always have two or three projects on the go at once or else I feel a little lost. But since starting my business, I’ve enjoyed seeing how far I can grow the business and seeing how many people I can re-introduce to cross stitch. I’ve spoken to so many…

“I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will” MATERIALS • 2.2m (2 3/8yd) solid white fabric • 30cm ( 3/8yd) green print fabric (binding) • Embroidery needle • DMC Stranded Embroidery Cotton in Light Brown (434), Very Light Avocado Green (471), Ultra Light Avocado Green (472), Light Yellow Beige (3047) and Medium Yellow Green (3347) • Embroidery hoop • Mechanical pencil or erasable fabric marker • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Backstitch, detached chain (lazy daisy) stitch, running stitch, satin stitch Finished size: 101.5cm (40in) square Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton, pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in)…

Touted as The Beatles’ most influential work in the psychedelic rock genre, Strawberry Fields Forever was released in 1967. MATERIALS • 1.1m (1 1/4yd) cream spot print fabric (appliqué background and Borders 2 and 4) • Fat quarter each of five red and orange print fabrics (appliqué and Border 2) • Fat quarter green print fabric (vine and leaves) • Fat eighth each of two more green print fabrics (leaves) • Scraps of print fabrics in blue and orange (bird) • 25cm ( 1/4yd) each of six print fabrics in pink and purple (Borders 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and binding) • 1.7m (1 7/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 130 x 115cm (52 x 46in) • 12mm ( 1/2in) bias tape maker • Seven 3/4in hexagon papers…

Where do you live and work? I live in a rural area on the fringe of Sydney. My sewing ‘studio’ is in the corner of my loungeroom. The design wall sits next to the fireplace, the cutting table greets you when you turn right from the entrance foyer. You are in no doubt about what enterprise is happening in our house. An IKEA shelf unit holds some (only a small portion) of my stash, the fabrics that I am currently working with. The rest is hidden in a linen cupboard. My Brother sewing machine is always on display, and as yet my granddaughter has not turned it on. However she loves playing with the bobbins and the bright fabrics When did you first become interested in stitching? My mum made…

Stuffing is a very important process in doll making. You should aim to achieve smooth, firm and even stuffing. • Use small amounts of stuffing at a time; this is especially important when stuffing narrow areas. • Pack an area firmly with stuffing, then layer more stuffing on top of it, gradually working from the ends of the limbs, furthest from the opening, back towards the opening. Take care not to leave any gaps or areas where the stuffing is less firm. • If in doubt, stuff more firmly than you think you need to. • Use haemostats to hold each piece of stuffing and insert it exactly where you need to. • Pay particular attention to the neck: pack that area with stuffing as tightly as you possibly can.…

Let us know about your upcoming event – email details to homespun@umco.com.au or send them to Homespun Diary Dates, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670. Please notify us at least four months before the event. NSW – Sydney February 14-16 Darling Harbour Stitches & Craft Show ICC Sydney, Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour, Hall 5. Open Thu to Sat 9.30am-4pm. More information: www.craftevents.com.au Vic – Country March 2 Terang Terang Quilt Show Presbyterian Hall, High St, Terang. A display by local quilters of quilts, cushions, wallhangings and other quilt-related items made in the past two years, including their challenge quilts. Refreshments available. Open 10am-6pm. Entry $5, under 14 free. More information: Contact Margaret McIntosh, email marmac51@hotmail.com or phone (03) 5592 1354 (AH) March 29-31 Ballarat CraftAlive Wendouree Sports and…

“I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin.” ALBERT EINSTEIN MATERIALS • 2m (2 1/8yd) solid white fabric • About 200 selvedge strips cut5/8in wide in various lengths from 2–21in • 2.1m (2 3/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 140 x 150cm (55 x 48in) • Fusible web • 6mm ( 1/4in) bias tape maker • 5mm ( 1/4in) fusible tape or fabric glue pen (optional) • Large sheets of tracing paper • Fine mechanical pencil • White thread (quilting) • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot and walking feet • General sewing supplies Finished size: 124.5 x 107cm (49 x 42in) Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended…

• Do not jump gaps in your stitching. Because there is no batting in this swaddle cloth, the threads joining two different areas can’t be hidden inside it and will be visible. Instead, weave the floss through the back of existing stitches on the wrong side of the fabric to get back to a junction. • Use a small embroidery hoop when you’re stitching to prevent the fabric from being pulled out of shape. • Pay attention to the thread tension in your stitches – don’t pull them too tightly.…

The piano was invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori around the year 1700. Traditionally the black keys were made of ebony and the white keys were made of wood and covered with strips of ivory. ED note: Thank you to my godson Ziggy for being our (super handsome) model. MATERIALS • Australian Superfine Merino by Cleckheaton 8 ply 65g: three balls of black (01) and one ball of white (06) • One each 4mm (UK8/US6) and 4.5mm (UK7/US7) circular knitting needles 80–100cm (32–40in) long • Wool needle Finished size: 12cm (4¾in) wide; 132cm (52in) long approximately, after blocking Note: This is an intermediate skill-level knitting project. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between knitters. Check the ball bands to ensure all yarn of the same colour is…

MATERIALS • Lincraft cotton 8 ply 50g – four balls of black • 5mm (UK 6/US H) crochet hook • Two galvanized metal rings 250mm (10in) diameter • Black Sharpie permanent marker (or black spray paint) • Tapestry/yarn needle • Two crochet stitch markers (optional) • Scissors • Tracing paper and pencil • Transfer paper (or your preferred method of transferring embroidery patterns) • Craft felt in red, teal and white • Sewing thread in colours to match the felt • DMC Perlé cotton No. 5 in Black (310) • Embroidery needle • General sewing supplies Finished size: 38cm (15in) tall with handle Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. This project requires intermediate crochet skills. Australian/UK crochet terms are used; North American readers should consult…

Whenever you find yourself On The Road travelling near or far, this national listing will be a great reference. It’s always a good idea to take regular rest breaks, and what better place to rest than at a patchwork and craft shop. If you are nearby you may like to visit these events 1. Stitches & Craft Show Darling Harbour, Sydney, FEBRUARY 14–16 2. Terang Quilt Show Terang, Vic, MARCH 2 3. CraftAlive Ballarat, Vic, MARCH 29–31 NSW SYDNEY Sew Many Stitches 4/147 Queen Street, Campbelltown 2560 Ph: (02) 4628 443 7 www.sewmanystitches. com.au Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm BLUE MTNS & BEY OND Hobbysew Orange 221 Peisley Street, Orange 2800 Ph: (02) 6361 7420 patriciajcole@gmail.com www.facebook.com/hobbyseworange Open: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm Pickle Mouse Corner 1/152 Megalong Str eet, Leura…

Ashford Wheels & Looms Ph: 1800 653 397, website: www.ashford.co.nz/yarn Asia Discovery Tours Ph: (02) 9267 7699, website: asiadiscoverytours.com.au Bellarine Sewing Centre Ph: (03) 5221 3034, website: www.bellarinesewingcentre.com.au 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 Catherina’s Vintage Stitches Ph: (03) 5852 3356, website: www.catharinasvintagestitches.com.au Clover Manufacturing Website: www.clover-mfg.com CraftAlive Ph: (03) 9682 5133, website: www.craftalive.com.au Craftbasket Ph: (03) 5154 1151, website: www.thecraftbasket.com.au Craft Events Ph: (02) 9452 7575, website: craftevents.com.au Cynthia’s Ark Ph: (08) 8527 2120, website: www.cynthiasark.com.au Dragonfly Fabrics Ph: (08) 8948 0691, website: www.dragonfabric.com.au Faeries in my Garden Ph: (07) 3869 0808, website: www.faeriesinmygarden.com.au Heights Sewing Centre Ph: (03) 5229 3558, website: www.heightsewing.com.au Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines Ph: (02) 4337…

Russian artist Vera Shimunia has taken the art of embroidery to a whole other level. Instead of using paints to create skyscapes and landscapes, she uses her embroidery skills and threads and fibres to create exquisite miniature scenes. Vera’s inspiration is nature – especially the sky – and she incorporates different materials to express the beauty of the world and nature as she sees it in her mind’s eye. You can see her painstakingly stitched scenes at Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Shimunia, or on her Instagram: @shop.shimunia…

Sharon Burgess lives in country Victoria in Australia. She started sewing when she borrowed her mother’s sewing machine in 2009 – not to sew patchwork! But it wasn’t long after that that she took a beginner’s quilting class at her local quilt shop, and then she was hooked. It wasn’t far into her quilting journey when she discovered English paper piecing, and when she made the La Passacaglia quilt by Willyne Hammerstein, she became truly addicted. “The ability and freedom to fussy cut fabric and make the project my own was wonderful!” she exclaims. Her next step was to discard her colour wheel – preferring instead to trust her own colour and fabric placement. This inspired her motto, “Create what you love”, and that is evident in all of Sharon’s…

“I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.” LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN MATERIALS • 30cm ( 3/8yd) aqua print fabric #1 – L01135-1 (note blocks) • 40cm ( 1/2yd) aqua print fabric #2 – L01134-1 (setting triangles) • 55cm ( 5/8yd) aqua print fabric #3 – L01133-1 (border and binding) • 15cm ( 1/4yd) dark grey spot print fabric (appliquéd notes) • 15cm ( 1/4yd) light grey print fabric (appliquéd clef) – L01135-2A • 1.1m (1 1/4yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 53 x 170cm (20 x 66in) • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot, free-motion and walking feet • Aqua and grey threads (quilting) • Fusible web • General sewing supplies Finished size: 38 x 152cm (15 x 60in)…

Even though felt is not a woven fabric, it still tends to be more stretchy in one direction than the other. This makes a huge difference in the doll shapes once they are stuffed, as shown in the photo of the doll’s arm below. To identify the direction of the stretch in your felt, place your hands about 3in apart and gently pull the felt in opposite directions. If you can see it stretch slightly, that is the ‘stretchy’ direction. If you pull it perpendicular to the stretchy direction, you should find that it resists stretching and feels tight – that is the non-stretchy direction. Once you’ve identified the stretchy direction on your felt, use a marker to draw an arrow close to one edge of the felt in that…