Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i Australian Homespun

It’s wonderful to be joining you all in this special 25th anniversary year for Homespun. This issue and for the rest of the year, I will be bringing you some special features highlighting leading designers and stories about the world of crafting that we love to share. And, of course, there will be many gorgeous projects to keep you busy. Our Teddy Bear Picnic felt project from Verity King might inspire you to take a trip to the woods. It’s delightfully playful with kites and sweet cupcakes. We delve into the impressive career and design inspirations of Australian knit icon Jo Sharp, and thank her for sharing a pattern with us from her collection — an easy-to-knit addition to your wardrobe. Brilliant colour combinations create a vibrant energy in the…

HIGH IN FIBRE Residue + Response: 5th Tamworth Textile Triennial is a celebration of 50 years of the National Textile Collection promoting and sustaining the unique cultural heritage associated with both the history and technology of contemporary textile practice. Featuring 25 artworks from across Australia that explore the theme of the connection between our histories and futures, the exhibition is travelling across the country and can be seen at the Glasshouse Port Macquarie until July; the Grafton Regional Gallery from July until September; and the Ipswich Art Gallery in October and November. NOEL TIME LIKE THE PRESENT With many months still to go before Christmas 2025, you may wonder why we’re already thinking about the Silly Season. But … who loves that last-minute panic of trying to finish handmade gifts…

MATERIALS ◌ 22 x 40cm (81/2 x 153/4in) hand-dyed Winterwood 100% wool felt: Cocoa 131, Mushroom 146 ◌ 10 x 15cm (4 x 6in) hand-dyed Winterwood 100% wool felt (optional), lighter shade than main bear colour ◌ Approx 30gm (1oz) wool stuffing or preferred stuffing material ◌ 35cm (14in) armature wire (kite) ◌ 10cm (4in) square handdyed Winterwood 100% wool felt: red, yellow (kite) ◌ 5cm (2in) square hand-dyed Winterwood 100% wool felt: light blue, mid blue (kite tail) ◌ Stranded embroidery threads: colours to match the felt, dark brown for eyes and nose ◌ 35cm (14in) length of cord (picnic rug) ◌ Freezer paper ◌ Sharp pencil ◌ Sewing needles ◌ Long doll needle ◌ Pins ◌ Scissors and pinking shears ◌ Wire snips Finished size: 23cm (9in) from head to…

MATERIALS ◌ Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed 50g balls: Posie 127, Size A — 10 balls, Size B — 11 balls ◌ 5.00mm (US8/UK6), 60cm (24in) circular needle ◌ 5.50mm (US9/UK5), 60cm (24in) circular needle ◌ Stitch holder ◌ Tapestry needle Note: The total number of stitches on the needles increases to add in the sleeves to the bodice width, so it is helpful to use a circular needle (working back and forth, not in the round). This is optional; straight needles may be used if preferred. The skill level is easy. This textured top is worked in moss stitch with garter stitch edges. The sleeves and bodice are worked as one piece for the front and back (so no need to sew in sleeves). Worked on large needles for a quick…

MATERIALS ◌ 20 x 75cm (1⅜ x ⅝yd) ivory wool and cashmere velour (top) ◌ 20 x 75cm (1⅜ x ⅝yd) of cream polycotton winter twill (back) ◌ 45 x 112cm (1/2 x 1¼yd) cream cotton featherwale corduroy (binding) ◌ Template plastic ◌ Permanent marker pen ◌ Water-soluble fabric marker ◌ Chenille needle: size 20 ◌ Appletons Crewel wool: Purple 103, Light Terracotta 123, Very Light Drab Green 331, Light Grey Green 353, Medium Leaf Green 426, Ultra Light Kingfisher 482, Light Scarlet 501, Very Light Turquoise 523, Light Bright Yellow 553, Very Light Sky Blue 562, Ultra Light Mauve 601, Mauve 605, Flamingo 623, Medium Flamingo 625, Light Fuchsia 801, Royal Blue 821, Pastel Purple 884, Very Light Hyacinth 892, Hyacinth 894, Dull China Blue 924, Dull Mauve 931,…

In the rhythmic experience of making knots, Isabella Strambio found a path to unknotting the stresses of her life. She is now dedicated to sharing that powerful experience. In her most recent book, Mindful Macramé: Create, Journal and Unwind Through Meditative Knotting, Isabella combines the act of knot making with the practice of mindfulness. Alongside 17 projects are suggestions for mindful practices and guided journal pages invite personalised participation. Isabella explains that she wrote Mindful Macramé as an invitation, “a gentle reminder that amidst our busy and demanding lives, there exists a s sanctuary of stillness and creativity waiting to be discovered”. In her book’s introduction and in blogs on her website, Isabella talks of her own journey becoming aware of how frenetic her life was in London as a…

Australian made ceramic buttons by Nikki Tervo Designs are perfect for adding to your craft projects. A button can be that perfect finishing touch on a quilted wallhanging, or on a bag. Or use them (as buttons!) on cardigans. Nikki has been making buttons since 1995, and still makes them all herself. They are fully hand-crafted and each button is individually painted by hand. There’s so many to choose from and a wide array of themes including Christmas. Nikki also makes personalised name buttons for that special someone. Have a look at these buttons, and more, at: nikkitervodesigns.com.au…

ONLINE Molly Bear Designs Ph: 0488 136 961 mollybeardesigns@hotmail.com mollybeardesigns.etsy.com Open: 24/7 Online The Maker’s Stash Ph: 0414 543 858 www.themakersstash.com Open: 24/7 Online ACT Crafty Frog Shop 4, 107 Marconi Crescent, Kambah 2902 Ph: (02) 6296 6240 shop.crafty.frog@gmail.com www.craftyfrog.com.au Open: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9.30am–3.30pm NSW SYDNEY Banksia Yarns 3c East Market Street, Richmond 2753 Ph: (02) 4505 1615 shop@banksiayarns.com.au www.banksiayarns.com.au Open: Mon–Fri 9.30am–5pm, Sat 9.30am–1pm Bumble Bee Designs Ph: 0414 264 953 bumblebeedesignsboutique@gmail.com www.bumblebeedesignsboutique.com Open: Online 24/7 Lyn’s Fine Needlework 2/9 Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills 2153 Ph: (02) 9686 2325 lynsneedlework@aol.com www.lynsfineneedlework.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 FB: Hobbysew Orange Open: Mon–Fri 9.30am–5pm, Sat 10am–2pm Post Office Patchwork 33 Ross Street, Glenbrook…

These are just a few of them … LEELA BROWN I live in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney NSW and love to spend days in my studio dreaming up ideas, stitching the day away and playing with pretty fabric, threads and my collection of vintage linens. When I’m not in my studio stitching and drinking tea, I’m out in my garden, planting, weeding and talking to my flowers. I’m fortunate to have a large studio inside our house that is bright and airy with a balcony so that I can take tea breaks outside in the sunshine. I have been a lifelong maker and creative. After school I studied interior design and worked in the industry for 15 years. Working in design, I learnt a lot about form, function,…

Artist Betsy Hershberg thrives on the mathematical, organised and sequential aspects of knitting. She is skilled and technical, and she never considered herself to be a creative knitter. This changed when she was introduced to bead knitting, shifting how she feels about her creativity and leading her on an exciting journey of creating her own unique style of knitted jewellery, using both traditional and her original techniques. Her work is one-of-a-kind and innovative, showcasing knitting in a new and exciting light. When Betsy was in her 50s, she took a course in bead knitting with master teacher, Lily Chin. After only six hours of class time, her mind was full of ideas and possibilities. She began exploring different ways to use these skills, creating intricate pieces combining fine threads and…

MATERIALS ◌ 50cm (⅝yd) black plaid flannel - Anne-Maree used Moda Farmhouse Flannels III - M49277-16F ◌ 50cm (⅝yd) Weaveline or Staflex fabric interfacing ◌ 40 x 30cm (15¾ x 12in) Steam-A-Seam 2 Lite ◌ Freezer paper ◌ Sharp pencil ◌ 250g (30oz) of polyester fibre fill ◌ Woven wools/felted tweed: colours and sizes as per chart ◌ Hand-dyed 100% wool felt: colours and sizes as per chart ◌ Sue Spargo WonderFil Eleganza Perle #8 thread: Green EZ33, Variegated Purple EZM87, Off-white EZ06 ◌ DMC Perle 8 Cotton thread: Black, Ecru ◌ Compass ◌ White chalk pencil ◌ Embroidery needle: size 8 ◌ Appliqué pins ◌ Small sharp scissors ◌ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ◌ Dressmakers (large) scissors ◌ Sewing machine Finished size: 45cm (17¾in) diameter Stitches used:…

MATERIALS ◌ 40cm (½yd) Tilda white fabric ◌ 25cm (3/8yd) Tilda Tipsy Teal fabric (lining and drawstring) ◌ DMC Perle Cotton #8: White, Medium Blue Green 503, Light Pale Yellow 745, Very Light Antique Rose 778, Very Light Blue 827, Very Dark Beige Grey 3864 ◌ Two pearl seed beads ◌ Bohin crewel needle: size 7 ◌ Mettler waxed cotton thread ◌ Wash-away marker (such as Sewline) ◌ Milliners needle: size 3 ◌ Smocking pleater or smocking dots (on Pattern Sheet) ◌ Scissors and general sewing supplies ◌ Blocking board (or ironing board) ◌ Safety pin ◌ Quick unpick Finished size: 15cm wide x 19cm high (5⅞in wide x 7½in high) Stitches used: Bullion stitch, detached chain (lazy daisy) stitch, French knots, trellis stitch Note: Read all the instructions before starting. All…

The 700-year-old craft form known as English smocking — with quaint connotations — is on the rise. It’s a resurgence fuelled by contemporary ideals, from ‘feminine feminism’ to slow fashion. When British luxury sector industry body, Walpole, selected notable future-thinking businesses for its prestigious Brands of Tomorrow program this year, an artisan smocking boutique was listed. It was a case of ‘mission accomplished’ for friends Laura Burch and Kajsa McLaren, who founded the boutique, Smock London, back in 2019 with the aim of modernising and shining light anew on the ancient skill of using embroidered stitches to hold pleats in place. As well as designing and selling limited-edition hand-smocked garments at their boutique a and website, the pair recently released Rocking Smocking: A Guide to Smocking for the Modern Sewist,…

Please notify us at least four months before the event. New South Wales September 18–20 Rosehill QuiltNSW: CraftAlive (Includes the Sydney Quilt Show) Rosehill Gardens Racecourse Grand Avenue Gate 1, Rosehill More information: www.quiltnsw.com, www.craftalive.com.au September 26–28 Singleton QuiltFest 2025 Mechanics Institute 74 George Street, Singleton More information: singletonquiltersinc@gmail.com November 22–23 Bungendore Bungendore 2025 Quilt Exhibition Bungendore Memorial Hall Molonglo Street, Bungendore More information: www.bungendorequilters.com.au Victoria July 12–13 Mt Waverley VAME: Miniatures & Dollhouse Fair & Exhibition Mt Waverley Community Centre Miller Crescent, Mt Waverley More information: vame.org.au Queensland August 7–9 Bundaberg Bundaberg Quilters’ Biennial Quilt Exhibition: A Wonderland of Quilts Bundaberg Multiplex Sport & Convention Centre 1 Civic Avenue, Bundaberg October 15–18 South Brisbane Queensland Quilters’ Annual Quilt Show Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Merivale St, South Brisbane More…

With her luxury yarn range made in Italy, boutique fashion approach to knitwear patterns, and her international brand based in a wool-growing region, it’s quite a fascinating thing to unravel Jo Sharp’s journey from non-knitter to knit icon. It began when Jo, who had trained in art and was one to be swayed by tactile and visual pursuits, was running a restaurant with her partner in Albany on the southern tip of Western Australia. Back in those days, Albany was one of a number of towns in wool-growing districts around Australia that had a wool mill — and this was the mill where Jo’s first yarn range was to be made from locally sourced fleece. But first, Jo took a step that she could never have guessed would be so…

MATERIALS ◌ 12 fat sixteenths of a variety of fabrics (octagon) ◌ Fat sixteenth fabric A (1in squares) ◌ Fat eighth fabric B (top panels) ◌ Fat quarter fabric C (back panel) ◌ Fat quarter fabric D (handles) ◌ 50cm (1/2yd) fabric E (lining) ◌ 35cm (14in) fusible, iron-on interfacing such as Pellon ◌ 25cm (10in) fusible, non-woven iron-on interfacing ◌ Milliners needle: size 11 ◌ Sewline glue pen (basting) ◌ Stiff paper (paper templates) ◌ Template plastic ◌ Permanent marker ◌ Erasable marker ◌ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ◌ Sewing machine with 1/2in and 1/4in feet ◌ General sewing supplies Finished size: 30cm wide x 43cm tall (11¾in wide x 16¾in tall) NOTE: Read all instructions carefully before commencing. The diagrams provided within these instruction pages show how to piece together…

MATERIALS ◌ 2m (2¼yd) of 40mm (1½in) cord ◌ Measuring tape ◌ Scissors ◌ Glue gun Note: Read all instructions before starting the project. We are delighted to share one of the 17 stunning macramé creations in Isabella Strambio’s new release book, Mindful Macramé: Create, Journal and Unwind Through Meditative Knotting. Isabella shows how, through learning a few basic knots, you can create beautiful items to wear, decorate your home or use in everyday life. Patterns are included for a chunky necklace and a Boho-style belt to accessorise your wardrobe, or trivet and coaster to enhance your tea-time relaxation. There’s even an aromatic car diffuser with wooden beads to which you can add your favourite essential oil. Peppered throughout the projects are inspirational insights by Isabella, along with journal entry pages…

MATERIALS ◌ 38 squares, 10in of assorted print fabrics (blocks) ◌ 2.9m (3¼yd) solid cream fabric (background) ◌ 3.8m (4⅛yd) backing fabric ◌ 55cm (⅝yd) floral print fabric (binding) ◌ Batting 188cm (74in) square ◌ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ◌ Sewing machine with ¼in foot ◌ General sewing supplies Finished size: 169cm (66½in) square Finished block size: 12in Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. This project is suitable for layer cakes. Seam allowances of ¼in are used throughout. PREPARATION AND CUTTING 1 Divide the 10in squares into 19 pairs: X and Y. Select prints with sufficient contrast between them so the block design is apparent. Each block is made from…