Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Ear Flap Hat

This is my son's friend's hat .... he brought it home and he said he'd like one .....
Of course I said - "OK - I can make you one...." While on recent holidays I bought some lovely lovely soft synthetic fur in Coonabarabran .... cutting it out was interesting - a furry mess!
I traced a pattern from the original and did my best ......
I used some black canvas weight for the outer layer ....
And here it is in action ..... not a cold ear in sight!!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Australian Sewing Guild NSW Industry Day - Kirry Toose

Three posts in one day!! At least I'm consistently inconsistent - anyway - WOW !!!!!!

My mind was blown away by this amazing person yesterday ...
My friend Nic and I went to the Australian Sewing Guild's NSW Industry Day at Simplicity at Revesby, Sydney - (where patterns were available for $5 each) and the lovely Rosemary from Chic Fabrique had lots of yummy fabrics available ...... I also met Sharon in the flesh - and you wouldn't believe it, but we both grew up in the same town and went to the same high school!!

Anyway, Kirry Toose was the main speaker - she is a Textile Artist extraordinaire .... my words and photos will go nowhere to doing her any justice - you just have to see it and listen to her to be fully aware and appreciative of her talents and amazing techniques.

You name it - she does it ...




She had lots of wonderful recycled suits that really inspired me .....
Sew, Kirry is a "local" - she lives at Cowan, NSW. There is an invitation to one of her Show and Tells from the Guild: Tues 10th August, 2010 at Wyong Council Auditorium, 9.30am to 12.30pm Cost $10 - contact Barbara (02) 49905091 if you're interested. You WILL be blown away!!!

A Short Break to Nundle

We have just returned from a quick little break - we went west ... first stop - Scone, NSW - and look what I found! In fact, every small town we went to had a very decent fabric shop - Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Gunnedah - anyway, I got some nice brown jacquard fabric at this shop ....
Then we went to Nundle, NSW and stayed here at the Nundle Pub - look at the size of these verandahs - you could house several families on this space alone!
Nundle has a working spinning mill - which is why we went there - here are a few shots ...

They also dye the yarn there ....







Sew, if you're ever heading out west - drop into Nundle - you can purchase their yarns online too! Also, if you con your family to going there because there is trout fishing - don't go on a Tuesday- the Trout Fishing Place is closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays - oops!

KnitWit Fabrics & Jalie 2682

How many Aussies remember KnitWit Fabric Shops? They were all the craze in the 80's I think when stretch sewing became the flavour of the month .... well, now they are an online store with a retail store only in Perth and I recently purchased some lovely fabrics from them. I made two tops for my sister's birthday (it was a BIG number!!) - I used Jalie 2682 - I have made them previously - great pattern!

The first fabric is AFFINITY BURNOUT - Acrylic / Polyester 150cm wide @$24.95 / m - not cheap by any stretch but excellent quality. It has a lovely Black Grey two tone texture ...

The 2nd one is called Regency Jumperknit - wool / acrylic 120cm wide and $25.95 / m.

I am on the KnitWit email list and they are currently sending out free swatches - so head on over and have a squizz! Happy Birthday G!!