What can you make from sewing supplies including tape, 10 yards of fabric, four balls of white cotton sewing thread, a ball each of black, red and blue thread, black wool, 24 hanks of coloured thread, a thimble, 100 needles, threads, pins, scissors and two pounds of patchwork pieces (or almost ten metres of fabric)?

If you’re a nineteenth century convict woman being transported to Australia?

Elizabeth Fry and other Quaker women provided these supplies, and in 1841 on the ship Rajah, this quilt was made. It includes embroidery, patchwork and applique, and is, according to its inscription, a proof that they [convicts] have not neglected the ladies kind admonitions of being industrious.

Now part of the textile collection at the National Gallery of Australia and one of Australia’s most important historical textiles, it is only on display intermittently due to its fragility. Its value lies not only in its survival as art, but what it tells us of the times from which it came, the women who contributed to its making and the textiles and technology of those days.

Read more here, including a zoomable image of the quilt, or take the chance if you’re in Canberra this week to attend one of the viewings (9-13 August 2006).

The Canberra Quilters’ annual show is on this weekend in Canberra as well - always an inspiring and varied collection of quilts. Canberra Quilters celebrate their 30th year in 2006 - they are one of the most long-established quilt groups in Australia.

Rajah image from the National Gallery of Australia site.

(image from MaryJane’s Attic)

This weekend will be the 4th installment of the Felt Club here in Los Angeles. This time around there will be FREE CRAFTY CLASSES OFFERED! I am so excited! All classes will be taught by vendors participating in the fair.

The classes will focus on handspinning yarn, Shrinky-Dink charm arts, and needle felting. Each class is an hour long and all supplies and materials will be provided.

For anyone who is in LA, you can learn more about the when and where here.

In the mid-90s I was at a fork in the road in my professional life and was trying to decide between two directions. I read somewhere that one should choose three words that describe who you want to be and that those words would provide guidance for situations such as mine.

So I came up with mine–Love, Learn and Serve. They have indeed guided me on a daily basis. If I’m doing some of them each day I’m happy and if I’m not I feel as though something is missing. When I met Bill it became our family motto.

A couple of years ago I asked a student of ours with exquisite handwriting to write them with a giant marker on three pieces of paper so we could frame them. They are in our bedroom and are among the first words I see every morning. I’m telling you this is surprisingly powerful.

So I’m thinking now of other places to put words that are really important to each of us. Inside a handbag? Knit into a scarf? Appliqued on a quilt? I’d love to hear about any projects that people have done with words that are important to them.

Just writing the words and putting them in a frame was easy. It was figuring out which words to put in the frame that was the hard part.

I remember over 4 years ago having a knitting lesson at the Shack on socks. The teacher used Addi Turbo DPN’s and they terrified the crap out of me. Literally. They were slippery and silver and tiny. It was the first time I came away from a lesson disturbed and frustrated and was all “stupid sock knitting, why would you want to do that, it sucks, hate it”……

Come to 2005/2006 and I’m all about the sock knitting. When this came out at Knitty yesterday I was actually emailing friends EXCITED. Sock geek.

The above lessons was on DPN’s and I think that’s where the problem was for me. I just don’t do DPN’s. Other’s swear by them, but I just can’t do it. So it was straight to 2 circular’s for me and I haven’t looked back. Thanks to Cat Bordhi’s excellent book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. An excellent starting point.

Misocrafty has an excellent resources page
I’m about to try out Joelene’s turkish caston for 2 at once using the magic loop. Why’s it called the magic loop? It should be renamed “the surprisingly friggin easy loop”.

Handpainted Yarn
- Blue Moon Fibre Arts - SOCKS THAT ROCK!!! A current favourite.
- Cherry Tree Hill
- Fleece Artist
- I reckon cashmere socks would be divine, HipKnits offer a cashmere sock yarn. Decadent.
- The Knittery
- Knit Picks and dye your own (don’t ship internationally, very disappointing for those of us across the pond)
- Lorna’s Laces
- Sophies Toes
- Sweet Georgia Yarns - a new find via Knitty
- Vesper Sock Yarn

I’m not a fan of the self patterning, but for those that are here’s a couple:
- Lang Yarns, Jawoll
- Opal and I believe they’re now offering a handpaint…

For you Aussies that want to buy locally your own to handpaint Live 2 Knit is now offering undyed yarn

Needles
- Knitter’s Review
- Grumperina weighs in

Patterns
Well there are tonnes and tonnes of patterns.
- I’m loving My Fashionable Life’s Elfine Pattern, that’s next up for me I think.
- The latest knitty has some excellent patterns and don’t forget to check the archives.
- Knitters Anonymous.
- Magknits.
- Staggered rib pattern for 2 circular’s
- Sockbug, patterns and instructions
- Wendy Knits
- More here

Then there’s Alison’s famous Sockapalooza, how nice (and terrifying for me!) to knit someone some socks and have the favour returned.

I’m no expert and I know there’s a load of you sock knitters out there, please leave comments, opinions, links to your favourite sock yarn’s and any other socky stuff.

What do you get when you combine the imagination, skills and memories of older folk into a community art project? The Knitted House, a life-size creation of a 1950s home, including such wonders as a knitted Bakelite radio, knitted record sleeves and a luscious crocheted chocolate cake.

Project co-ordinator, Robyn Carney, has seen the project grow to include the community beyond the original nursing home residents: It really has had a wonderful effect as it develops self esteem, a long term sense of purpose and friendships across age groups, across communities and between regions.

And it’s funny, in the nicest, most quirky-charming way. More information here and here. If you’re in Australia, the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sunday Arts program will investigate knitted art in a mid-August episode. More information here.

Part of it was recently on display in Sydney in conjunction with the annual 702 Knit-in for charity, another remarkable demonstration of what the work of many craft-skilled individuals can achieve - tens of thousands of squares becoming over 3600 wraps for Wrap With Love.

From time to time we get reader submissions, asking us to link to a special project or website. This week, I will be featuring reader-submitted links. Send to whiptips at gmail.com to suggest a link!

“The American Red Cross has recently released a vintage line through its online store that we think your readers might be interested in. The
line includes a commemorative knit kit, which can be viewed and
purchased here https://www.redcrossstore.org/shopper/ProdList.aspx?LocationId=5 for $25, with a portion of sale
going to help the Red Cross. The kit includes the original WWII
Serviceman’s Socks knitting pattern, yarn and needles in a special
collector’s tin. The kit is meant to celebrate the work of the many
tireless knitters during WWII, whose skill made millions of socks and
other necessary items for soldiers and POWs.”

It’s hard to find commercial patterns that appeal to the young/modern/contemporary quilter. Of course we all know and love Funquilts, Denyse Schmidt, and Kaffe Fassett, but what else is out there? Here are some of my favorites.

Tracey Brooksheir’s immensely popular Bento Box — Sudoku and Shoji are also interesting:

Bento Box

Sudoku

Shoji

Speaking of immensely popular, Atkinson Designs’ Yellow Brick Road is popular for a reason. It’s easy, fun, quick, and really lets the fabric speak — a glance at the google image search results shows the diversity you can achieve.

Australian company Stargazey Quilts has a very distinctive, off-kilter style and their patterns provide a great bridge to improvisation. I like Ladybirdz, Leavez, and Spikey Starz:

Leavez

Spikey Starz

American Jane’s Red Cross — with gazillions of little squares, this one looks labor intensive! But I love the effect. See also the Granny Squares pattern. See them amongst their dozens of other great traditional quilt patterns here.

Red Cross

Whiptips is an crafts advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving your comments. View the Whiptips archive here. You can submit questions, to whiptips@gmail.com. Please include photos with your questions!

Thank you to Weeks Ringle for posting her response to some quilting questions we had received. Great drawings and ideas for what to do with unfinished quilts!

I thought this next question was good, but it means we’re asking people to divuldge their trade secrets…

“I know there are a lot of crafters here who have participated in shows and fairs and sell their goods and I was wondering what have been your best selling items? I have been asked to participate in a craft show of sorts through a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) fundraiser. We pay a $25 table fee and get to keep all of our profits. Sounds like a great deal but I don’t want to make 20 art smocks when the hot selling items are tissue holders! So, any advice or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so very much!”

This summer, we got a table at a concert. I made a wide variety of things, and got together with two friends to sell crafts at a stall. It costs us 100 USD for the table. Yipes! I I sold two things I called ‘travel collage holders’, which is really like a notebook holder with space for a pens, glue stick and scissors. I showed my own I had done as a sample to give ideas. I sold them for 15USD

But my friend, Danny, made a bunch of funky wrist cuffs which closed with velcro. So sold lots and lots of them. They were 10USD. I think she sold 15, but she could have sold more the next day. She was just too hungover to set-up. I was annoyed because I spent ages making alot of different things, and she had made these simple, inexpensive and clever wrist cuffs, and the girls were swarmed around them.

She also displayed them well, having made a sort of ladder by tying long peices of driftwood together.

I think the thing to consider is your audience, the price and the time it takes to make the item. Each one of the travel collage holders took about 2 hours, her cuffs took 1/2 an hour or less. They were also priced at an easy-to-part with 1000 Yen, which was a big help I think!

Best of luck to Shannon!

The travel collage holder, open:

From time to time we get reader submissions, asking us to link to a special project or website. This week, I will be featuring reader-submitted links. Send to whiptips at gmail.com to suggest a link!

“I’m conducting a little Project Runway inspired challenge and I need to get the word out to solicit as many entries as possible and I thought you be interested in helping get the word out. The challenge involves spending only $5.00 at the dollar store (or equivalent) and concocting something cool out of it. It’s more of a crafty challenge than a fashion challenge, but that’s what I’m all about. There are more details on my site,www.poopscape.com. I even have my own set of “celebrity judges”. No promised spread in Elle magazine or anything- but there is a cool prize!

All right, I’ve said enough. Carry on.

Claire www.poopscape.com

Best of luck to participants. Maybe the submissions could include second hand shops? I know most of the stuff in dollar stores is only cheap because of where it’s made. Mainly China. Ask the organizer, Claire!

Little red riding hood - the latest creation by Mimi - finished and in progress, check it out…

mimi kirchner is truly a genius with cloth and stuffing and applique - and she has a new applique method which she overheard in a shop.

You have your chosen fabric and then something like a very light not iron-on interfacing for backing. I had some used dryer sheets and thats what I used- they worked perfectly. You put your fabric face down on the backing. You sew the outline of your shape. Clip the curves and trim the seam. Cut a slit in the backing. Turn the little shape right-side out. Now, all your edges are turned in for you- iron it flat. Sew the shape in place.

Ibérica de punto is the new web where “la tertulia madrileña de punto” shares patterns, tutorials, directions and links.

If you have technical questions you can visit the forum(spanish). In addition, there is information in spanish,french and english about: Knitting and other crafts online mags, patterns, resources, glossaries, forums, Knitters meetings, blogs from Iberian and Iberoamerican countries… and more!

—————

Ibérica de punto es la nueva web donde la “Tertulia madrileña de punto” comparte patrones, trucos, direcciones y enlaces.

Si tienes preguntas técnicas puedes visitar su foro. Además hay mucha más información en distintos idiomas: Revistas de punto, labores y manualidades, patrones, referencias, glosarios, foros, tertulias de punto, lista de blogs iberoamericanos… ¡y más!

————–

A funny pattern from this site: in spanish, french and english(googel traslate).

Un divertido patrón de este sitio: en español, francés e inglés(googel traslate).

From time to time we get reader submissions, asking us to link to a special project or website. This week, I will be featuring reader-submitted links. Send to whiptips at gmail.com to suggest a link!

“My name is Kathryn Maresca. Currently, I am a textiles design student at RISD. Myself and another of my fellow textile students are in Guatemala volunteering with the Cojolya Association for Mayan Women Weavers. This organization was set up 23 years ago by Candice Krummel, an American whose fascination with backstrap weaving techniques has turned into a business that supports the textile tradition through the fair payment of its employees. Because of this fair payment, it is also becoming more and more difficult to compete with India and China´s cheap labor. As interns, we are attempting to introduce fresh design in order to appeal to a broader market… The association´s website is www.cojolya.org… Thank you for your time.”

Best of luck!

Here is just a small selection of some of my jewellery tools….to see this image larger, and with descriptions and information about the tools, click here!

I would whole-heartedly say that investing in jewellery tools is not a cheap business…but if you are careful, and buy the essential things first {believe me..there is ALWAYS another tool you want or need!} you will be able to make beautiful hand made jewellery for yourself and friends or for sale! I will be posting some jewellery tutorials in the future outlining simple techniques you can use as a beginner {or at any stage}, and how you can do little things, such as making your own findings..which add a professional and considered quality to your jewellery.

But first..you need the tools!! I have listed below some jewellery suppliers that I have used, and know to be good {UK, and US}..many tools are very expensive, but are good quality and will last a lifetime…so consider them an investment!! If you need any help or advice when considering purchasing some tools..do drop me a line and I would be happy to help!

HS Walsh
{a very good quality tool supplier..I buy much of my equiptment here}
Cooksons
{Sell bullion {precious metal} as well as tools}
Finding King
{a very reasonable tool supplier…good value if based in the US..be mindful of the shipping costs}
Otto Frei
{they often have unusual and specialist tools}
Rashbel
{small selection of tools, and bullion including decorative gallery strips in silver}

As a starter kit, I would recommend a Piercing Saw, and blades {2/0}..Needle Files {starter pack}…a drill {archemedian or dremel} and bits {approx 1mm}…a selection of jewellery Pliers…and wet and dry paper for sanding and finishing…from this you will be able to make simple pierced pendant forms, and you will have a good basis on which to build if you would like to progress your collection and repetoire by investing in a soldering torch and pickle tank….from that point on, the world is your oyster!!

Wynton, 36″ x 45″, copyright Alice Beasley

Alice Beasley makes portraits and still lives exclusively from commercial fabrics. Many high-caliber quilt artists like her dye/paint their own fabric to get the precise colors they are after, but by using bolder prints, Ms. Beasley achieves works with extraordinary movement and texture.

P.S. Sorry I’ve been less-than-weekly with my quilt artists of the week! If you know of any quilt artists you’d like to see featured here, please leave a comment!

Behind the Barricade, 62 1/4″ x 61 1/4″, copyright Alice Beasley

Whiptips is an crafts advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving your comments. View the Whiptips archive here. You can submit questions, to whiptips@gmail.com. Please include photos with your questions!

A couple weeks ago, Whiptips asked readers to send in some questions about unfinished quilt blocks. Thank you for sharing photos of your projects.

Paisley Womble’s

Shelina’s:

Weeks replies:
Below are sketches of what I would do with these specific pieces if they were mine. From these two pieces one could create a nice tote bag, a table runner or a couple of nice napping quilts without too much work. For those of you that have other unfinished pieces for which you have lost enthusiasm, here are a few guidelines for giving them new life.

For things that don’t lie flat
Steam iron them as much as possible, attach them through quilting or appliqué to a foundation piece of some sort and then quilt the heck out of them. I recommend to Paisley Womble that she make hers into a tote. If she decides to do this, she might want to have a somewhat rigid, yet flexible, foundation to the tote such as Fast2Fuse to prevent the curling points from curling. Quilting densely will also help the piece lie flat.

Oddly Shaped Pieces
Both Pailey Womble and Slhelina could cut their blocks up and distribute them in different ways in a quilt (see illustrations). If you gasp at the notion of cutting up a Mariner’s Compass, think about it this way: A cut-up Mariner’s Compass that creates beautiful corners in a quilt is far more useful than one that is in tact yet stays in a plastic storage container forever. What’s most important is that there isn’t one lone piece floating around. Anchoring corners or creating a band across the entire quilt will make the piecing seem intentional.

Unfortunate Color Choices
If you have pieces that have odd colors in them, see if adding some new colors will diffuse the differences. Sometimes adding more colors improves the relationship between two that don’t seem to work well together—kind of like that good-tempered uncle who always seems to be able to diffuse the squabbles at holiday dinners!

Current obsession is letterpress and screenprinting processes.

I was recently introduced to a screen printed gig posters site and have seen first hand some of the work. It’s excellent, tactile paper stock and lots of lovely ink. Great prices for original handprinted posters.

Bringing me on to lovely letterpress. I think that’s what it should be called, Lovely Letterpress. There’s something very satisfying about the way letterpress sits on paper, or more like sits IN paper. The romantic in me wishes for a letterpress machine.

Port2Port
Sesame Press
cake + pie, including tips on how to buy a letterpress
letterpressed

There are oodles more and I’m no expert, just sharing some of my fav’s.

Flickr tag, letterpress and screen printing

Poster pictured here available at gig posters, by strawberryluna.

Stephanie Syjuco, artist and proprietress of the wonderful anti-factory, has been running a really interesting project asking people to crochet knockoffs of couture bags. From the project page:

For me, this project pays homage to the DIY aesthetic of those who choose to make their own goods in an era of mass consumption and mass production, as well as addresses issues of high fashion piracy and counterfeiting–a hot topic in the news media these days.

It’s generating a bunch of great counterfeits, like this belt by pinku

and this Burberry scarf

and of course bags, like this chanel number

The project is ongoing if you’ve got the urge to crochet yourself a Louis Vuitton.

It reminds me of the knitted logos at microRevolt

The heat is on and the last thing you want to knit is a big bulky sweater, but what about using up those pretty little skeins of handspun you have lying about? Whether you are a spinner or a collector of these gorgeous skeins, you’ll appreciate the latest issue of MagKnits which focuses on small projects using these lovely bits of handspun luxury.

The AntiCraft has also released their latest issue and once again they have managed to come up with patterns that I guarantee you won’t see anywhere else. There’s everything from a knitted condom somewhat ironically named Old Reliable to a pretty little apron, adorned with. . . uh. . . a skull and radiation warning symbols. Their theme this month is danger, what could be more fun?

At our annual Design Camp for quiltmakers last week, students were assigned a painting. Using our scrap bins, they were asked to assemble in one hour the palette that the painter used in the piece. The goal of this exercise was to have students analyze just how many colors and in what proportion they were used. We also hoped that students would be able to differentiate between liking a color on a bolt of fabric and appreciating a single color can add to a quilt, even if it doesn’t look so appealing on the bolt. You don’t need to want a dress out of it, you just need to realize how much 4” of it might add to a quilt.

Many of the students expressed astonishment that they never even noticed some of the colors in the paintings until they had to stare at them for a long time. All of the students said that they learned a great deal from this exercise and it broadened the palette from which they will work in the future. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Fabric cuff bracelets around and about:

quiltlets by two straight lines

scrap patchwork cuff by head full of pixies

button-loop cuffs by A Bird in the Hand

ruffle cuff by Thriftcraft