Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 i Australian Homespun

Boy, have we got a revolution in knitting to run by you this month! It’s a feature that will have you scratching your head and rubbing your eyes, trying to work out if what you’re seeing is real … if that sweater is in fact knitted to match that bus upholstery or if that dog is actually dressed in a camouflage leafy coat to melt into the park’s foliage. While it’s all a bit of fun to look at, you can’t help but be blown away by the concept and the craft skills required to execute the patterns. There are garments stitched to make their wearers appear invisible and others that give sportsgrounds, railway platforms and graffiti a whole new perspective. All on page 54 if you’d like to see…

WHY IS IT SEW? “I tried sewing ½in hexis early in 2014. Do you remember Professor Julius Sumner Miller and his incredible science show for kids? Well, his hair was wild, and he’d ask the audience, ‘Why is it so?’ before he explained an experiment. Making ½in hexis sent my hair wild, and the people in the next suburb could hear me shrieking ‘Why is it so!!??’” HOT TOPIC “My perfect stitching day: rainy, windy and winter, with a pot of chai tea or Italian coffee, a good movie and no one else at home. Of course, living in the tropics means my dream is only realised for about eight weeks a year! But oh how I LOVE those eight weeks.” “When I stand back and look at what I…

SWAN LIKE In the process of crafting one of the world’s most beautiful creatures, Nina Fuhrer managed to retain all the grace of a real swan, while knitting its likeness into a winter-warmer. Her merino-wool and cashmere scarf is not only sublime, it’s also practical, with a strong (removable) clip attached to its beak to hold the scarf in place. And if you’d prefer another animal around your neck, you’ll find plenty of alternatives on Nina’s site (from badgers to raccoons) – all adorable. Just go to www.ninafuehrer.com.…

An ordinary bus ride led to an extraordinary idea for master-knitter Nina Dodd. It was her ticket to a whole line of creativity. “I was on a bus one day, and it just hit me – I love buses and I love knitting. Why on earth don’t I knit a jumper that blends in with the bus upholstery? Once the idea came to me, I just felt stupid that I hadn’t thought of it before,” Nina exclaims. She had just finished the last few stitches on the jumper when she met with talented photographer, Joseph Ford, and mentioned the jumper to him. “He immediately saw the potential and sent me out to find a hipster and a bus.” After the success of the first photo, they hit the city with…

‘Kirikomu’ in Japanese means ‘to cut up’. This quilt came about because I wanted to do something different with a preprinted sashiko panel. My thought was, after you stitch the sashiko squares, how do you quilt them? This quilt is the result of playing around and experimenting with different techniques. The sashiko panels were not stitched before making the quilt. The pre-printed lines were used as my guide for hand quilting those areas. It’s not necessary to work with a panel the same as mine, however. For example, you could use a solid fabric and mark your own stitching designs on it if you prefer.…

What sort of work space do you have? We have FINALLY moved back into our newly renovated house, and I work from home again. I have the kids’ old room as my office, which is very squishy. At present, I literally don’t have any floor space, as I’m still saving up for some built-in shelving. There are boxes piled around my computer desk, my printer is perched on the filing cabinet and plastic tubs of fabric are everywhere. Stitching happens on the couch in the living room. What are the prerequisites for your designing and sewing space – and the absolute ‘no-nos’? I’m pretty flexible. I’ve stitched at every kids’ sporting/school/music event known to personkind. The absolute creativity killer is a neat room. I can’t relax. I need the chaos,…

MATERIALS • 1.4m (1 5/8yd) white tone-on-tone print fabric (background) • 80cm ( 7/8yd) red tone-on-tone print fabric (appliqué, border and binding) • Fat eighths of assorted print fabrics – Val used shades of red, blue, yellow and green (appliqué) • 13cm (5in) square of brown tone-on-tone print fabric (butterfly bodies) • 1.9m (2 1/8yd) backing fabric • Batting at least 145 x 105cm (56 x 40in) • Anchor stranded embroidery thread in Medium Dark Desert (374) and Dark Wheat (944) • Machine-sewing thread to match the appliqué fabrics plus a neutral colour for piecing • White machine thread for quilting; Val uses Mettler Seralene overlocker thread • Size 8 crewel embroidery needle • 2B pencil and water-erasable fabric-marking pen • Fusible web • Fusible tear-away stabiliser (optional) • Rotary…

PART 7 BUTTERFLY WREATH 3 MATERIALS • Fabric Y (background) • Fabric BB (wreath) • Fabrics A, F, L, M, Q, R, S, CC (flowers and leaves) • Fabrics C, H, I, N, O (butterfly) • DMC Stranded Embroidery Cotton in Very Dark Rose (326), Dark Moss Green (580), Medium Yellow (743), Medium Blue (826), Ultra Dark Beaver Grey (844), Medium Forest Green (988) and Cyclamen Pink (3805) • 12mm ( 1/2in) bias tape maker • A3 sheet of paper • Compass able to draw circles with a diameter of 11in • Appliqué pins or glue • Spray starch • Template plastic and fine-point permanent-marking pen • Erasable fabric-marking pen • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • General sewing supplies Stitches used: Backstitch, colonial knot, detached chain (lazy daisy) stitch,…

LEUTENEGGER DMC AMIE DMC Amie is the lightest, softest yarn imaginable. This beautiful yarn is made from the finest Mako cotton and comes in a palette of fresh, punchy shades and classic neutrals. Phone: (02) 8046 4100 Email: cservice@leutenegger.com.au Website: www.leutenegger.com.au BROTHER AUSTRALIA SCANNCUT CM700 From scrapbooking to quilting, Brother ScanNCut CM700 is perfect for professionals or DIYers. Enjoy a 3.7in LCD touch screen, 12 x 24in scanning area and easy data transfer to your PC. Price is $649. Phone: (02) 9887 4344 Email: brothermarketing@brother.com.au Website: www.brother.com.au and brotherinspires.brother.com.au FISKARS AUSTRALIA FABRIC CIRCLE CUTTER Create perfect circles out of cotton, polyester from 2in to 12in in diameter. Push cutter handle rotates for smooth cutting without twisting or reaching. No-touch blade-change mechanism. Phone: (03) 8645 2400 Email: australia@fiskars.com Website: www.fiskars.com.au STITCHES & CRAFT SHOW…

NSW – Wollongong September 8-9 Dapto Illawarra Quilters’ Biennial Quilt Exhibition; Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, 93-109 Princes Highway. Opening night September 7, 6.30-9pm. Quilt display, traders, workshops, gift boutique and refreshments. Proceeds to the Leukaemia Foundation. Open 9.30am-4pm. Entry $8, children under 12 free. More information: Phone Alison on 0407 913 308 or email illawarraquiltersinc@gmail.com. NSW – Newcastle August 16-19 Broadmeadow Newcastle Stitches & Craft show; Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Brown Rd. Costume-making, quilts, crochet, specialist supplies and textile art exhibit by Studio Art Quilt Associates. Open 10am-4pm. Buy tickets at the door or online. More information: Visit www.craftevents.com.au. NSW – Country September 7-9 Tamworth CraftAlive show; Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre, Greg Norman Dr. Talented exhibitors, creative hand-finished and DIY product, craft supplies, demonstrations and workshops. Open 9.30am-4pm. More information:…

MATERIALS • 50 x 80cm (20 x 32in) white or pale cream medium-weight linen, cotton duck or heavy silk-linen fabric (outer bag) • 50 x 80cm (20 x 32in) red tone-on-tone fabric (lining) • 50 x 80cm (20 x 32in) heavyweight interfacing or cotton collar stiffening • 10 x 20cm (4 x 8in) each of gold and tan leather/ pleather and matching threads (fortune cookies) • 5cm (2in) square of white poplin (fortune cookie messages) • 45 x 50cm (18 x 20in) of 5mm ( 1/4in) thick fusible polyester batting • 40cm ( 1/2yd) tubular silver cord (handle) • 36cm (14in) length of 8mm ( 5/16in) stiff metal wire (handle) • 50cm ( 5/8yd) (or preferred length) silver handbag chain with lobster catches at each end • Four silver bag…

• Keep offcuts left over from other projects in a container separately from your main fabric stash. When you’re working on a project as scrappy as this one, it’s important to include a wide variety of fabrics, and a container full of bits and pieces makes it easier to do so. • As you complete each panel, add it to your design wall or lay it out on a spare bed. Take photos as the quilt grows. I find it easier to make decisions about colour choices and whether the balance and variety of colours are working using a photo.…

MATERIALS • One pre-printed sashiko panel in ‘Putty’ colour or alternative – see Note and Leigh’s Design Tips • 1m (1 1/8yd) in total of assorted light-value fabrics (background) • 1m (1 1/8yd) in total of assorted medium-value fabrics (patchwork and appliqué) • 1m (1 1/8yd) in total of assorted dark-value fabrics (patchwork and appliqué) • 1.9m (2yd) of extra-wide backing fabric • 1m (1 1/8yd) lightweight cotton fabric (foundation piecing) • 50cm ( 5/8yd) gold jumbo ricrac, 12mm ( 1/2in) wide (handle in centre panel) • Batting at least 210 x 195cm (82 x 76in) – see Note • Freezer paper, cardboard and glue • 28 pre-cut 5/8in hexagon papers or template plastic and stiff paper to make them • Fabric-basting glue (optional) • Threads to match the appliqué…

Carol Arnott’s work is all about capturing the essence of idyllic, seaside neighbourhoods (and the odd craggy fisherman!) in fabric and thread. As a testament to her talents, you can almost feel the sea breeze and taste the salty air while viewing her textile harbourscapes and felt hoops. From quaint cottages on one side to the wee fishing boats on the other, Carol’s shoreline walks along the east coast of Scotland provide the perfect scenery and characters to inspire her. “I live a stone’s throw away from the East Neuk of Fife, whose harbour cottages were built hundreds of years ago. This makes them all a bit weathered, unique looking and a bit higgledy-piggledy,” she says. And the fishermen don’t let her down, either. “I collect old photos of fisher-folk…

LETTING GO SO QUILTING CAN WORK ITS MAGIC “One of my favourite things about quilting is the state of creative fl ow you encounter when you’re in the middle of a project you love. Concentrating on piecing a block and what step comes next helps me to ‘let it go’, whatever ‘it’ might be for me that day. Often when I am weighed down with daily concerns, I use quilting as therapy to help still my mind and gain greater clarity and perspective. I pieced this quilt after having one of ‘those’ days, and by the time it was fi nished, I didn’t have a care in the world.” – Samantha Dorn MATERIALS • 38 squares, 10in in assorted print fabrics (blocks) • 2.9m (3 1/4yd) solid cream fabric (background)…

The instructions for cutting the borders, sashings and backing are based on the theoretical size of the appliquéd rows after they’ve been stitched. However, everyone’s stitching is slightly different, so instead of doing all the fabric cutting when you begin this project, you may prefer to delay cutting the borders, sashings and backing until after you’ve completed your appliqué. That will enable you to adjust the size of the cuts you make so that they are a perfect match for your quilt.…

Inserting a zip – I tried many methods before finding one that worked for me. Appliquéing difficult shapes – as mentioned previously, I learnt how to do this from Yoko Saito and never looked back. A tip from me: If something doesn’t work for you, don’t give up; there are many different ways of doing things. Try them out until you find one that works for you. Another tip from me: My preferred method of appliqué is drawing the shape on the right side of the fabric and needleturning. Turn a little at a time, following the drawn line.…

Arts on Ormerod Ph: (08) 8762 2804. 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. Ceebee Quilts Ph: 0429 727 636, email: ceebeequilts@outlook.com. Constantine Quilts Ph: (08) 8825 6214, website: www.constantinequilts.com. Country Fabrics ‘N’ Things Ph: (08) 8581 1663, website: fabricshop-aus.com. CraftAlive Ph: (03) 9682 5133, website: www.craftalive.com.au. Craft Events Ph: (02) 9452 7575, website: craftevents.com.au. Creatively Sewn Ph: (08) 8725 4933, website: www.creativelysewn.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. Faeries in My Garden…

• Leutenegger: (02) 8046 4100, cservice@leutenegger.com.au, www.leutenegger.com.au. • Lloyd Curzon Textiles: (08) 8362 2451, admin@lcurzon.com.au, www.lcurzon.com.au. • Melbourne Fabric: (03) 9636 3516, sales@melbournefabric.com.au, www.melbournefabric.com.au. • Millhouse Collections: (07) 5351 1400, sales@millhousecollections.com, www.millhousecollections.com. • PK Fabrics: (02) 9557 2022, sales@pkfabrics.com.au, www.pkfabrics.com.au. • The Strawberry Thief: robyn@thestrawberrythief.com.au, www.thestrawberrythief.com.au. • Two Green Zebras: (02) 9553 7201, sales@twogreenzebras.com, www.twogreenzebras.com. • XLN Fabrics: (02) 9621 3066, info@xln.com.au, www.xln.com.au.…

Where do you live and work? I live in a rambling old 1920s wooden house in Napier, New Zealand, that overlooks the city and ocean. I share my place with my 17-year-old son, a cat and two chickens. Downstairs, I have a sewing room that just fits an industrial sewing machine along with a few old Bernina Sports’ sewing machines (my trusty favourites), racks of shelves with bag hardware and fabric, and pinboards loaded with things that inspire me. Then upstairs, I have a room off the lounge that has great natural light for embroidery. It has a comfy sofa and an old Formica table, which is just perfect use for cutting. I try not to spread out from these rooms and, although I wish they were tidier, I know…

Where do you live and work? I live with my husband on the Central Coast of NSW – a short walk from a beautiful sandy beach. My sewing room is a sun-drenched room at the back of our house overlooking our garden. I’m surrounded by (far too much) fabric. What are the prerequisites for your designing and sewing space – and the absolute no-nos? I have my own room just for my sewing and all the bits and pieces I use. My sewing machine, iron and ironing board are set up permanently. I have my i-Pod and speakers playing my favourite music. I can leave my half-finished work on the floor and close the door. The major no-no is having to tidy up half way through a project. When you…

Where do you live and work? I live in Padua, a beautiful city in northern Italy. I live in a large apartment and work from home. In actual fact, I don’t have a real craft room, but I’ve adapted part of my large bedroom into a creative sewing workshop. One could say that every day I sleep in my workplace. What are the essential inclusions in your sewing space? In the ‘craft room’ area of my bedroom, there is a large table with my faithful friend, my sewing machine. I also use this table to cut all my material, and all around is a large creative order (or rather disorder): material, threads, patterns, scissors … When did you first take up needle and thread, and what did you make? My…

How often do you start a new project do you think? Every month or so I start something new. It might be in fabric or just on paper. That doesn’t mean that it ever gets finished! Do you have the new design completely formulated in your head before committing it to paper and fabric? Don’t think I have ever had a quilt complete in my head – too many bits that can sometimes take a while to come together. What is your least-favourite part of designing and making a project? Sticking with it to get it finished before wandering off onto something new. Have you been stitching since you were a child? Probably started around the age of nine, as far as I can remember. Do you remember your very…

“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what the kitchen fairy is really thinking ‒ it’s not suitable for print.”– Natashia Curtin MATERIALS • 90cm (1yd) yellow check print fabric (apron) • 40cm ( 1/2yd) blue print fabric (ties and trims) • 25 x 38cm (10 x 15in) solid white fabric (stitchery background) • 25 x 38cm (10 x 15in) fusible lightweight interfacing • DMC Stranded Embroidery Cotton in Medium Navy Blue (311), Very Dark Salmon (347), Medium Brown (433), Tan (436), Light Avocado Green (470), Medium Beige Grey (644), Dark Beaver Grey (646), Very Light Blue (827), Ultra Dark Beaver Grey (844), Very Dark Peacock Blue (3765) and Straw (3821) • Embroidery needle and hoop • Mechanical pencil or erasable fabric marker • Rotary cutter, ruler and mat • Sewing machine…

What was your inspiration for the Let it Go design? The quilt block is traditionally referred to as Twisting Star. I can’t recall where I first saw it, but I made a note of it in my sketchbook for a then upcoming block exchange I was involved in. The original block uses templates and tricky seams, but I was confident I could simplify the design for machine piecing. The block was so much fun to sew and came together with ease, so I knew it was one I’d revisit. What’s next on the agenda for you and your quilts? That’s a great question; if only I had a crystal ball! Right now, I am focused on making quilts that bring me joy and hopefully inspire others…

Where do you live and work? Nestled amongst lots of trees and cottage gardens, Mittagong, a town within the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, is a place I have called home for many years. Our house is quaint, with many eclectic pieces of handmade furniture and some stunning antique pieces. My sewing room looks out over the cottage garden that my daughter and I have shared many happy memories in. Together, we spend any chance we can tending to garden beds and sipping tea under our big tree. I live with my daughter, Abby, who is 22 years old and two long-haired dachshunds, Poppie and Daisy. Why this craft? Embroidery has always been a passion of mine. I find that when designing my projects, I am taken into another…

Where do you live and work? I live at Sandstone Point, a little piece of paradise in south-east Queensland. Our morning walks take us along the shores of Moreton Bay, where a multitude of waterbirds feed along the shoreline, while a couple of metres away, in the bush that adjoins the sand, whipbirds call and many beautiful birds greet us. Idyllic. I have a whole spacious room to myself for my craft. I can make as much mess as I like – have things all over the floor and the table, have gear falling out of the cupboards – and it can all be hidden away in an instant by closing the door. How would you describe your style? What makes it unique? I describe myself as an incurable romantic,…

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