Innehållsförteckning för June 2023/July 2023 från Australian Homespun

Regular readers will notice that after more than two decades, Homespun has had to increase its cover price. Increases in the cost of daily living have affected us all and these have extended to how much it costs us to bring you a quality magazine. At Homespun we continue to work to deliver fresh creativity to every page of the magazine, champion our designers and nurture the talent of newcomers to promote exceptional craft projects from Australia and around the world. We trust that our readers recognise we are still a ‘good buy' and a valuable and inspiring reading experience. So, who are our designers? What are their backgrounds and interests? And why do they craft? Up the front of the magazine, we introduce and celebrate a few of our…

The Taupo Museum on New Zealand's North Island hosted the biennial exhibition of works by local group Fibres Unlimited earlier this year. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Inspired by Taupo Museum'. Group members were challenged to create works based on an item of their choice in the museum's collection. Aletta Lamprecht's exhibition entry, Skeleton Leaf (above right, with detail below), was inspired by a unique display case containing a collection of skeleton leaves, fruits and flowers that was created in England more than 150 years ago by Elisa King and was among the 17,000 items on show at the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851. It was taken to New Zealand by her descendants in the 20th century and donated to the museum in 1986.…

SPECIAL CLOSE-UP DETAIL With walls painted bright yellow and sun shining through the large windows, it's clear why Megan Zaniewski's home studio is affectionally named the ‘Banana Room'. Inside you'll find her stitching away, along with her children who are sprawled out on the colourful chindi rug, working on their own art projects. The room is almost constantly buzzing with activity and creativity. From sweet ducklings making a splash on necklaces to bunnies that are ready to hop out of their frames — the art that is created in this sunny studio is vibrant and full of personality. Embroidery artist Megan combines thread painting and stumpwork techniques to create colourful, lifelike portraits of animal and botanical subjects. “I love nature and I love embroidery, so it felt natural to combine…

MATERIALS ○ Fat quarter of 32 print fabrics. Moira used fabrics from the Frisky range by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics ○ 40cm (½yd) solid dark blue fabric (binding) ○ 4.3m (4¾yd) backing fabric ○ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ○ Batting at least 215cm (84in) square ○ Template plastic and fine permanent-marking pen ○ Sewing machine with ¼in foot ○ General sewing supplies Finished size: 194.5cm (76½in) square Finished block size: 19in 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 fabrics 107cm (42in) wide. Seam allowances of ¼in are used throughout. CUTTING 1 Trace the two shapes for this project from the Pattern Sheet onto template plastic using a fine permanent-marking pen.…

WILD TEXTILES GROWN, FORAGED, FOUND Alice Fox Alice Fox, artist and author of Natural Processes in Textile Art, works with found, foraged, gathered and grown materials to create fabulous textile pieces that are inspired by, and made from, nature. In this new book, she encourages crafters to be open-minded and experimental, using local (and sometimes) unconventional materials, working with the seasons and learning what materials are available at different times of year to ground artists in natural cycles and integrate creative activity with a strong sense of place and character. Alongside advice on growing your own plants (such as flax or nettles) for creative work, the book is packed with practical ideas for foraging – from weeds, dandelions and other plants useful for making cordage, or leaves that can be…

These are just a few of them … LIBBY RICHARDSON After leaving my job as a graphic artist to become a stay-at-home mum in 1998, I started folk art classes and soon found myself creating my own designs. I then began to write patterns and teach folk art classes from home. I was asked by patchwork shops if I could convert my patterns into stitcheries and appliqué designs. Never having read a sewing pattern and not knowing what a ¼in foot was, I designed a few small projects. Designing has become my full-time career. PROJECT: Quilter's Cottage – page 32 CLARE COOPER After watching many (many!) hours of online tutorials on amigurumi, embroidery and doll-making techniques, and lots of ‘trial and error', I had an idea to design a flat-headed crochet…

The exhibition SHE has more than 20 years of history at the Walker Street Gallery in Dandenong, Victoria. This year's display, entitled SHE of mind and body, depicted body image and women's empowerment, mental and emotional health, showcasing the depth of textiles as a medium and its ability to speak without words. One of the most visually arresting pieces was by Aema Shin (shown left). Shin's work presents body organs and flowers as symbols of her life and emotions. They incorporate tapestry, mixed media embroidery, printmaking and papier-mâché, all created in her home studio.…

What has been your journey to this point in time? Gosh, that's a big question. I grew up in Cornwall, surrounded by nature – either on the beach or a boat with my mum and stepdad or letterboxing on the moor with my dad and stepmum. It was a pretty idyllic childhood, but there weren't many ways to make a living in Cornwall at that time, so like many of my generation, I headed to the big smoke to seek my fortune (via a Biology and Marketing Management degree) and spent 12 years working in advertising. It was fun when I was young, but I started to question both the toll it was taking on my mental health and the impact it was having in the world. If I had…

PROJECT 03 MATERIALS TO MAKE ALL THREE BIRDS ○ 40cm (½yd) solid ecru fabric ○ DMC Perle 12 Cotton in Black (310) ○ DMC Stranded Embroidery Cottons in Variegated Cornflower Blue (93), Very Dark Lavender (208), Dark Lavender (209), Bright Chartreuse (704), Medium Yellow (743), Dark Delft Blue (798), Light Emerald Green (912), Dark Autumn Gold (3853), Sunrise (4110), Bonfire (4124) and Mid Summer Night (4240) ○ Cottage Garden Threads in Passionflower (609) ○ Thin batting and stiff acid-free cardboard ○ Size 24 or 26 tapestry needle ○ 15cm (6in) embroidery hoop ○ Craft glue ○ Pencil or fine fabricmarking pen ○ Lightbox (optional) ○ Three matching picture frames with a matted opening of 20 x 15cm (8 x 6in) ○ General sewing supplies Design area: 12.5 x 10cm (5…

MATERIALS ○ 45cm (1⁄2yd) fine navy and white stripe print fabric ○ Assorted novelty print fabrics to total about 30cm (3⁄8yd) ○ 30cm (3⁄8yd) each of seven assorted toneon-tone print fabrics to coordinate with the novelty print fabrics ○ 65cm (3⁄4yd) multi-coloured print fabric to coordinate with the tone-on-tone print fabrics (border) ○ 40cm (1⁄2yd) coordinating spot print fabric (binding) ○ 1.5m (1⅝yd) backing fabric ○ Batting at least 140 × 110cm (57 × 45in) ○ Template plastic and fine permanent-marking pen ○ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ○ Perle 12 thread in coordinating colours ○ Sewing machine with 1⁄4in foot ○ General sewing supplies Finished size: 128 × 98cm (50½ × 38½in) Finished block size: 6in square Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. It is recommended that…

MATERIALS ○ Anette Eriksson Jeans yarn 50g balls: 5 Crazy (variegated) ○ Pair of 5mm (US8/UK6) needles Finished size: 70 x 85cm (27½ x 33½in) Note: Read all the instructions before you start. This is an intermediate skill-level knitting project. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between knitters. The yarn is variegated – colour is Crazy. Check the ball bands to ensure that all yarn is from the same dye lot. ABBREVIATIONS cm = centimetres, in = inches, dec = decrease, cont = continue, k = knit, p = purl, rem = remain/ ing, st/s = stitch/ es TENSION 17 sts x 22 rows stocking stitch = 10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) SPECIAL STITCHES Stocking stitch = knit one row, purl one row Double Moss stitch = Works on multiples…

Next time you are on the road, make plans to stop at some of the businesses listed on these pages – they would love to welcome you. 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 Fortunes & Fairies Shop 8, Magnolia Mall 285 Windsor Street, Richmond 2753 Ph: (02) 4578 1650 fortunesandfairies@outlook.com www.fortunesandfairies.com Open: Tue 9.30am–4pm, Wed–Thu 9.30am–5.30pm, Fri 9.30am–3pm, Sat 9am–2pm 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 Skein Sisters 721 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill 2203 Ph: (02) 9554 7444 info@skeinsisters.com.au www.skeinsisters.com.au Open: Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 11am–4pm, 24/7 Online SOUTH WEST SYDNEY Sew Can I Shop 3, 21 Lavin Crescent, Werrington…

diary dates Let us know about your events – email details to dsegaert@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. Queensland July 22–23 Brookfield Quiltsitters' 20th Biennial Exhibition Brookfield Hall 550 Brookfield Road, Brookfield More information: hlw2q@optusnet.com.au August 4–6 Bundaberg Quilt Expo Multiplex Building Civic Avenue, Bundaberg More information: bqi.quiltexpo@gmail.com New South Wales September 30–October 1 Dalmeny Dalmeny Quilt Show Narooma Leisure Centre Princes Highway, Narooma More information: Jann at cottagequilts@hotmail.com Victoria July 13–16 Melbourne Quilt Showcase Melbourne Exhibition Centre South Wharf, Melbourne More information: www.victorianquilters.org/showcase-2023 “I think anyone involved in craft senses two things – 1, that craftspeople are inherently circular and the rest of the world could learn a lot from…

I live on a hill in Tasmania and my work room has wonderful sea and rural views, which can be quite distracting at times, especially when I am trying to do designing and the magpies on the tree outside my window are calling. We have three children who are now scattered far and wide. There is also a dog and a cat. Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the clown of the family. She loves to sit in the middle of the road and let the cars go around her which they obligingly do. Fortunately, our road is quiet with clear visibility. I went to a school with a strong craft ethic, which gave one senior student a year the chance to work behind the scenes in the craft room.…

MATERIALS ○ 50cm (1⁄2yd) plush felt or cuddle fleece (body) — see Note ○ 20 × 25cm (8 × 10in) plush felt or cuddle fleece in a contrasting colour (ears) ○ One 10mm (3⁄8in) black pom pom (nose) ○ One pair of 6mm (1⁄4in) plastic sew-on eyes — see Note ○ Black embroidery floss ○ Black extra strong thread, such as Gutterman upholstery cotton ○ Fibre fill ○ Water-erasable fabricmarking pen ○ Standard hand-sewing needle and 8cm (3in) doll needle ○ Cardboard ○ Pink or red watercolour pencil ○ General sewing supplies Finished size: 23cm (9in) Note: Read all instructions before starting the project. A seam allowance of 1/4in is used throughout. Requirements are based on fabric 107cm (42in) wide. Kunin plush felt is thicker than regular felt and it has…

MATERIALS ○ Recycled cotton rope 1kg 4mm (3ply): one roll ○ 1 set of bamboo handles ○ 1 bag base to match ○ Piece of A4 cardboard ○ A4 size piece of fabric to cover the cardboard ○ Fabric glue Finished size: 28cm (11in) Note: Cotton rope, bamboo handles and the bag base are available from www.knotknitting.com.au PATTERN 1 Cut 60 x 2.5m (2¾yd) lengths of rope. 2 Attach 20 cords to each handle using a larks head knot. See Diagram 1. 3 Take two cords from the end. These will become your filler cords. Attach five cords over these filler cords using a larks head knot. Repeat this on each corner of the handle. You will now have a total of 60 cords attached to start your bag.…

The Millie Boho quilt was designed to show you how to make the most of your fabric. You will love the simplicity of this pattern and the speed at which the blocks come together – proving it is possible to create a beautiful patchwork quilt in a weekend! There is a bit of an organic approach when it comes to the piecing – your seams don't have to match perfectly, and fabrics can overhang each other slightly. And don't be scared to move blocks around, or switch two fat sixteenths with a fat eighth. Just take a deep breath and stitch, remembering that you can square off your blocks at the end when necessary. To find out more and get your free copy of the Millie Boho Quilt Pattern, visit…

Ashford Wheels & Looms Website: www.ashford.co.nz Australian Yarn Company Ph: (03) 5442 4673, website: www.ausyarnco.com.au Banksia Yarns Ph: (02) 4505 1615, website: www.banksiayarns.com.au Batik Oetoro Ph: (02) 943 8808, website: www.dyeman.com Catharina's Vintage Stitches Ph: 1300 308 261, website: www.catharinasvintagestitches.com.au Clover Manufacturing Email: info@clover-mfg.com, website: www.clover-mfg.com Craft 2 U Ph: (02) 4402 3101, website: www.craft2u.com.au Crafty Frog Ph: (02) 6296 6240, website: www.craftyfrog.com.au Cynthia's Ark Ph: (08) 8527 2120, website: www.craftyfrog.com.au David Roche Foundation Ph: (08) 8267 3677, website: www.rochefoundation.com.au Dragonfly Fabrics Ph: (08) 3889 6024, website: www.dragonfabric.com.au Faeries in my Garden Ph: (07) 3869 0808, website: www.faeriesinmygarden.com.au Fox's Cottage Ph: +64 6 363 5880 website: www.foxscottage.co.nz Janome Website: www.janome.com.au Kornacraft Sewing Centre Ph: (08) 8522 3246, website: www.kornacraft.com.au Lily Lane Quilting Ph: (03) 5199 2777, website: www.lilylane.com.au Lyn's Fine…