Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2019 i Australian Homespun

“I’ve always loved daisies. I grew up with them as they covered our garden at home. Perhaps they give me a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of making daisy chains with my sister and picking them for my mum when I was younger. She would use an egg cup as a vase to put them in the kitchen,” says Yorkshire embroidery artist, Louise Newton. With vibrant threads on neutral-coloured backgrounds, Louise captures these special childhood memories and her picturesque surroundings in embroidered artworks. A keen observer, Louise is drawn to the finer details found in nature – delicate twisted stems, missing petals and hints of colour. “My nana used to say daisies were blushing when they get the little pink tips in summer; that melts my heart!” Yorkshire’s dales, coast…

MATERIALS • 3.2m (3 3/8yd) solid white fabric (block backgrounds) • Assorted floral print fabrics in pink, blue, green, yellow and mauve to total about 4.5m (4 7/8yd). Raid your stash. If purchasing fabric, 30cm (3/8yd) cuts work well. You could also use layer cakes (for the blocks) and charm squares (for the yo-yos) • 60cm ( 5/8yd) pink and white stripe print fabric (binding) – see Debby’s Binding Tip • 3.3m (3 5/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 185 x 160cm (73 x 63in) • Threads to match the floral print fabrics • Off-white silk thread (yo-yos) • Cardboard, paper, pencil and glue (templates) • Compass (optional) • Spray starch and paintbrush • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot • General sewing supplies…

Where do you live and work? I live in the beautiful state of Tasmania. I am lucky enough to have river and sea views from my workroom windows, which does prove to be quite distracting at times but is also a great source of design inspiration. How did your love of embroidery begin? Fortunately I had a mother who was a beautiful embroiderer, and I went to school that had a craft room and a teacher who was more inspirational than practical. What are the embroidery tools that you couldn’t live without? That would be my camera and my computer as I use those to create my designs. How many different crafts do you do? I describe myself as a textile designer because my designs encompass embroidery, jewellery, drawing, mixed…

Where do you live and work? We live in Geraldton, Western Australia. My sister, Nikki Stokes (above right), and I run our business, Knot Knitting, as a home-based warehouse (our garage) and in our living rooms surrounded by our families. Wanting to spend more time at home with our families and our love of craft and fashion led us to this business. What business were you in together prior to this? We first started in business 20 years ago in a retail fashion store. We still run this business. When did you first decide to sell macramé cords? We were introduced to macramé two years ago and instantly fell in love with the craft. After doing pieces for ourselves, we were asked by friends to teach them. We found it…

Sock Yarn When choosing yarn to make socks, be sure to choose one that is created especially for socks. These yarns are generally a fibre blend that is hard-wearing Alpaca, wool or mohair blends, which will create a snug warmth. Keep in mind that they need regular washing too, so select a wool-mix sock yarn that contains a small amount of man-made fibre (nylon is best). Zauberball Sock Yarn is a self-striping yarn that generates stripes as you knit, hassle-free! With one ball can make one pair of socks or a gorgeous scarf. The range of colours and blends, from earthy to vibrant, means you can create some unique knitwear. New Zealand customers can visit www.alpacayarns.co.nz and search the stockist list for a store near you. Australian customers contact www.wondoflex.com.au…

Fiona Tully, Two Brown Birds – Blog: www.twobrownbirds.typepad.com MATERIALS To make two monkeys and two bananas • 40 x 90cm (16 x 36in) each of wool felt in two different shades of mid/dark brown (bodies) • 10cm (4in) square of light pink wool felt (inner ears and cheeks) • 10 x 25cm (4 x 10in) tan wool felt (faces) • 5cm (2in) square of black wool felt (noses) • 15 x 30cm (6 x 12in) cream wool felt (bananas) • 20 x 80cm (8 x 32in) yellow print fabric (banana skins) • Two pairs of buttons, diameter 15mm ( 5/8in) in colours to coordinate with the overall fabrics • 40 x 60cm (16 x 24in) each of four print fabrics (overalls outer and lining) • Four 10mm ( 3/8in) black…

Describe the space that you create in. I’m lucky enough to have a dedicated room for my work space. And even though it’s just inside our front door, I can just close the French doors to my room and pretend it’s all neat and organised in there. What are the prerequisites for your designing and sewing space – and the absolute “no-no’s”. I must have a really bright, light space and my reading glasses. As far as “no-no’s” … food and drink never come into my room. That would make me too nervous! You create lots more than dolls, don’t you? What are your favourite stitching projects? While I love designing dolls, I also really enjoy designing and stitching hand-embroidery patterns. I like that they can be simple and quick…

Jenny Edlin, quilterjen4@gmail.com MATERIALS • Fat quarter bright green/ blue batik (centre block background) • 1.1m (1 1/4yd) light cream mottled print fabric (Hibiscus block backgrounds and Summer Frame blocks) • 85cm ( 7/8yd) light teal mottled print fabric (block borders and Summer Frame blocks) • 65cm ( 3/4yd) black mottled print fabric (border) • Assorted tropical print fabrics (fussy cut squares) • 55cm ( 5/8yd) dark teal mottled print fabric (Summer Frame blocks) • Assorted mottled print fabrics in tropical colours (appliquéd flowers and leaves) • 50cm ( 1/2yd) green/ blue mottled print fabric (binding) • 3.2m (3 1/2yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 155cm (60in) square • Fusible web • Embroidery needle (hand appliqué) • Stranded embroidery floss to match the appliqué fabrics • Rotary cutter, ruler…

If you’ve bought a zipper that is longer than one edge of your pillow, it’s easy to shorten it. Close the zipper. Mark the length that you want the zipper to be – start measuring from the top (zipper pull) end of the zipper, as you’ll be trimming off the bottom (zipper stop) end. Set your machine to sew a zigzag stitch with a very wide side-to-side stitch and a very short stitch length. Centre the zipper under a standard sewing machine foot (not the walking foot you’re using for this project) at the mark you’ve made on the tape. Check to see that the zigzag stitch will completely cross over the zipper teeth – that is, that the needle will fall on the tape on each side of the…

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. Patchwork Quilt Show Warratina Lavender Farm, Vic, MAY 11-26 2. Inman Quilters’ Quilt Show Inman, SA, APRIL 13-15 3. CraftAlive Sunshine Coast, Qld, APRIL 12-14 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 & BEYOND 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…

New South Wales April 20-21 Macksville Verandah Post Quilters' Annual Quilt Show Macksville Senior Citizens Centre, 39 Princess Street, Macksville. Open 10am-4pm, Entry $5. More information: Diane Banks (02) 6568 1829 May 3-5 Eastwood Eastwood Patchwork Quilters’ Biennial Quilt Exhibition Brush Farm House, 19 Lawson Street, Eastwood. Open 10am-4.30pm. More information: Kaye Bridgement 0405 820 070 May 19 Young Lions Club of Young Annual Quilt Show Young Town Hall, Boorowa Street, Young. Beautiful quilts in all manner of designs, patterns and sizes will be displayed at the annual quilt show. Entry $5, children free. More information: vic@hilltops.nsw. gov.au or call (02) 6382 3394 ACT May 2-5 Thoroughbred Park Convention Centre 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham. Featuring both local and interstate craft experts, the show is packed full of the latest craft…

FABRIC KEY Finished quilt size: 203cm (80in) square Note: Refer to the Fabric Key for the specific fabrics used in this project. Seam allowances of 1/4in are used throughout for the piecing. Instructions are given for working from the printed Pattern Sheet in the magazine, but you can download the digital patterns from www.homespun.net. au and print them out instead. CIRCLE STAR BLOCKS 1 This instalment of our Block of the Month provides instructions for making the Circle Star blocks that are used in the corners of Border 3. The fabrics for these blocks are fussy cut. These blocks are being made out of the ordinary sequence for this project to ensure that you will have sufficient fabric to be able to choose motifs to fussy cut. The fabric that remains…

MATERIALS • Patons Patonyle Merino 4 ply 50g: one ball of Sand (1003) for Colour 1 (C1) and one ball of Dark Grey (1005) for Colour 2 (C2) • Malabrigo Sock 100g: one skein of Ravelry Red (611) for Colour 3 (C3) • One set each 2.25mm [UK 13/US 1] and 2.5mm [UK 13/US 1] double-pointed knitting needles • Yarn needle and stitch-markers (as desired) Finished sizes: There are three sizes: small (medium-large) Leg length from ankle: approx 18cm (7in) Foot length: approx 21 (23-25) cm [8¼ (9-9¾)in] Note: A pair of socks uses approx 115-135m (127-149yd) of C1, 145-180m (160-198yd) of C2 and 100-115m (110-127yd) of C3. ABBREVIATIONS  beg = begin, beginning; cont = continue; dec = decrease, decreased, decreasing; K = knit; K2tog = knit 2 sts together;…

Turning small toy parts can be difficult. Here’s how I do it. You need a narrow wooden skewer and a clean drinking straw, fat enough for the skewer to easily fit inside (such as a thickshake straw). Trim the seam allowance to 1/8in and slide the straw inside the shape as far as it will go. Push the flat, blunt end of the skewer against the fabric at the end of the straw and wiggle the skewer inside the straw, taking the fabric with it. Continue to wiggle the skewer through the straw until the piece is magically turned right way out!…

Tell us about where you live. I live just out of Cairns in Far North Queensland at Holloways Beach. My husband and I have been here for 25 years after moving across the ditch from New Zealand. We love the warm balmy tropical days and nights, tropical palms and plants, and walking around the corner to a palm-fringed beach. What is your sewing space like? Initially I sewed on the dining room table, cut out and stored my fabric in the laundry, and I probably had fabric stashed in every room of the house. I now sew in one of my spare bedrooms that I have turned into a dedicated sewing room. I currently have a big cutting table and a unit that doubles out on itself so I can…

MATERIALS • 7m (7 3/4yd) green spot print fabric (background) • Assorted scraps of print fabrics to total about 3m (3 1/2yd) (small sticks) • 70cm ( 3/4yd) orange print fabric (binding) • 2.5m (2 3/4yd) extra-wide backing fabric • 60cm ( 5/8yd) each of four orange print fabrics (large sticks) • Batting at least 245cm (96in) square • Pearl 8 threads in a variety of colours (hand quilting) • Size 9 embroidery needle (hand quilting) • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine with 1/4in foot • General sewing supplies Finished size: 223.5cm (88in) square Finished block size: 28cm (11in) 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…

Alice Springs Beanie Festival Ph: 0408 436 928, website: www.beaniefest.org Alpaca Yarns of New Zealand Ph: +64 (07) 325 3699, website: www.alpacayarn.co.nz Ashford Wheels & Looms Ph: 1800 653 397, website: www.ashford.co.nz/yarn Asia Discovery Tours Ph: (02) 9267 7699, website: asiadiscoverytours.com.au Batik Australia Ph: 0408 401 553, website: www.batikaustralia.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 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 Cynthia’s Ark Ph: (08) 8527 2120, website: www.cynthiasark.com.au www.dragonfabric.com.au www.faeriesinmygarden.com.au Fiskars Ph: (03) 8645 2400, website: www.fiskars.com.au Heights Sewing Centre Ph: (03) 5229 3558, website: www.heightsewing.com.au Home Sewing Warehouse Ph: 1300…

MATERIALS • 30cm ( 3/8yd) white cotton/linen blend fabric (background) • DMC Stranded Embroidery Cotton – Very Dark Cranberry (600), Medium Yellow (743), Dark Cornflour Blue (792), Mediterranean Sea (4022 – variegated) • DMC Perle No 12 – Black (310) • Anchor Stranded Embroidery Cotton in 1315 (variegated) • Clear monofilament thread • Size 24 chenille needle • 15cm (6in) embroidery hoop • Fine-pointed pen or preferred fabric marker • Thin batting and stiff acid-free cardboard • Four frames with openings 14 x 9cm (5 1/2 x 3 1/2in) • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Couching, French knot, seed stitch, straight stitch Finished size: 22.5 x 17cm (8 3/4 x 6 3/4in) framed Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. One strand of thread is used throughout, unless…

MATERIALS • 100m (110yd) of 5mm (1/4in) cotton rope or string – available from www.knotknitting.com.au • 50cm (20in) piece of dowel or a suitable piece of driftwood Finished size: 50 x 85cm (20 x 33 1/2in) KNOTTING 1 Cut eight cords, 3m (3 1/3yd) and 16 cords, 2.5m (2 3/4yd). 2 Using a lark's head knot, tie the eight 3m (3 1/3yd) cords to the centre of your stick. Then using the 2.5m (2 3/4yd) cords, lark's head knot eight either side of your centre cords. 3 Now that you have 24 cords on the stick, begin row 1. Row 1 – Begin with a full row of square knots across all cords (12 square knots in total). Row 2 – Leaving out the first two cords, continue row 2…

Panda Songbird 8 ply: Eight gently gradating colours. Light and lofty mohair blend with delicate, dappled colour combinations. 50 per cent mohair, 50 per cent acrylic. 160m/50g. Patons Gembrook: Five tonal jewel tones with an iridescent glow. 45 per cent wool, 55 per cent acrylic. 100m/100g. Cleckheaton Royal Alpaca Lace: Ten pure jewel tones. Luxuriously soft with a lovely drape. 100 per cent royal alpaca. 300m/50g. Cleckheaton Superfine Merino 4 ply: Eighteen colours ranging from white through to dark. Super-soft on the skin with a silky smooth finish. 100 per cent superfine merino wool. 158m/50g.…

Hold the two knitting needles with wrong sides together so that needle with the 50cm (20in) end attached is at the back and the end is on the right-hand side. Thread the end onto a yarn needle. You will work across the sts from right to left. Take care that the yarn is pulled firmly (but not tightly) through the sts and make sure the yarn goes under the knitting needles when working from one needle to the other. Insert the yarn needle purlways (as if to purl) through the first st on the front knitting needle and leave it on the knitting needle. Then insert the yarn needle knitways (as if to knit) through the first st on the back knitting needle and leave it on the knitting needle.…

Where do you live? My husband, Danie, and I live and work on our cattle farm in the northern part of rural South Africa near the small holiday town of Bela-Bela. The area where we live is typical African bushveldt and is well known worldwide among the bird watching community for the largely diverse birdlife found here. When did you start creating and what did you make? I have been a creative person since I can remember. Both my grannies loved needlecraft and my dad painted, sculpted and played various musical instruments. I guess I have creativity in my genes! I embroidered my first little apron when I was about five years old – of course with granny supervising! What other crafts do you like to do? Over the years…

What’s next on the agenda for you and your quilts? A friend and I have been collecting used cotton clothing (mainly men’s shirts) and bed linen, laundering them and cutting the usable fabric for quilts. They make lovely delicately coloured and soft quilts. Do you like to participate in craft shows, workshops and sewing bees? I love craft-related events and groups because not only am I kept up to date with new materials and techniques, it’s a chance to mix and mingle with like-minded people. How long have you been stitching? For as long as I can remember I have been doing different crafts. After discovering quilting in 1986, that has been my main focus, although in the past few years I’ve moved back to knitting a lot too. What…