making a messenger bag from melted plastic bags brought to you by makezine – I love the pattern they have used – and all recycled materials too.

4 mins of basic knitting with some geekery ideas thrown in for free – from makezine.

Chita is a fabric form Brasil. There is a interesting information on Chita-Bonita´s blog:

   “Brazilian chita is a popular fabric that represents my country so well: it’s cheerful, colorful and beautiful! The 100% light weight cotton fabric tradionally comes in big, bold flower patterns, rich in color and detail. But also in small and delicate little flowers set up against a bright background. Recently this great fabric has been “rediscovered” by brazilian designers and crafters, who crave it’s bold colors and funky vintage vibe!”

     La Chita es un tipo de tela muy conocida en Brasil. Para saber más puedes visitar el blog de Chita-Bonita:

    La Chita brasileña es una tela popular que representa a mi país muy bien: ¡es alegre, colorida y preciosa! Tradicionalmente  es 100% algodón,con patrones de flores grandes, rico en colores y detalles. También en pequeñas flores en contraste con un fondo brillante. Esta gran tela ha sido redescubrierta recientemente por diseñadores y artesanos brasileños, que anhelan reflejar esos colores marcados y ese estilo vintage.

The Storque, Etsy e-zine! has launched and is replacing the Etsy Garden blog.

The focus of The Storque is to take part in the DIY movement. Starting with Etsy members and branching out to other small business people and artists, bloggers and notables, The Storque will have valuable insights into entrepreneurship, art, and conscientious consumption. The Storque covers all things handmade and inspiring — not just Etsy-centric items. YOU can contribute stories, photo essays, videos and audio podcasts. email storque@etsy.com if you’d like to participate.

———–

Amy Butler competition winner
Protagitron: My Rural Messenger Bag is not only my favourite Amy Butler pattern that I’ve made, it’s simply one of my favourite bags. I used a really cute Amy Butler print with this magical property of going with everything I own, and a salmon lining from thrifted material. I also have good memories, because I made it with my Mom over Christmas, as my introduction to sewing (aim high sez I), and it’s one of the few times we bonded without tears. I have a feeling the pattern may have been replaced by the High Street Messenger Bag though, alas.

———–

check out DIYscene.com – a discussion forum devoted to people who DIY and Craft and consider themselves Indie Designers – a community of girls (and guys!) to share ideas and strengthen the idea of DIY Culture.

Reproduced with permission by Heather who is recovering from an awful accident.

Since 2005, Swap-O-Rama-Ramas have popped up in more than 50 cities and 5 countries, from Whitehorse, Yukon to Paris, France. If one hasn’t happened in your hometown, there’s likely to be one soon – and if there isn’t one in the works, you’re welcome to organize one yourself! The community clothing swap turned DIY wardrobe re-fashioning event has become a global phenomenon, turning consumers into creators with one fun-filled afternoon after another.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama is shared through a Creative Commons license and to be able to use the name, event organizers must promise to include a few essential elements. (Lots of sewing and DIY stations, no mirrors, nothing for sale. A modest entry fee and a bag of clothes get a participant in the door.) Other than these common components, the SORRs are free to reflect the character of each community – from a cosy rural sewing bee to a large urban party with DJs and performance art.

Swap-o-rama-rama (SORR) began two years ago when founder Wendy Tremayne moved the clothing swaps she’d been having in her apartment to a community hall in Brooklyn. Over 500 people showed up, and did more than just trade clothes – they learned to silkscreen, sew, make jewelry, alter and re-design their new-found duds into something truly their own.

More than recycling (each SORR saves hundreds of pounds of clothing from landfill), the event emphasizes stepping back from habitual consumerism and gives participants the opportunity to experience the joy of making. As Wendy says, “There is no creativity in consumerism. Consumers are largely asked to express themselves by being selectors. Makers don’t make good consumers. The more you know, the more you can make, the less you’re going to buy.”

It can be hard not to be overwhelmed by the temptations of the giant pile of clothes, but Wendy has seen that sooner or later people realize there will always be more. “And not only that, once a person has had the experience of making their own clothes, it changes how they look at the wider world. They start to be aware of how many pesticides are used in growing cotton, and how so much clothing sold in the West is made by people in third world factories being paid a few cents a day.”

And the outfit a person creates at a Swap-O-Rama-Rama stays in their wardrobe a lot longer too. As Wendy notes: “No one’s kicking to the curb that garment that they spent the whole day having the greatest time making with five of their friends…That’s not going in the trash – that’s hanging around for a good long time.”

Making friends and community building is an aspect of SORR that evolves naturally. The events draw upon the talents of each community. Local reuse designers and artists staff the sewing and workstations. And remember the no mirrors rule? Odd as that might sound, think of how you will know how that fab pink shearling coat you just found looks on you without a mirror – well, you’ll have to ask the person next to you. Before you know it, you’ll be part of a team of personal wardrobe consultants, and by the end of the day may have met many new friends with a shared passion for making stuff. Wendy’s commitment to re-use has led her to a new project – building an eco resort and retreat centre in New Mexico, using retired shipping containers and papercrete (a mixture of cement and used newspaper) to create the adobe-like structures.

Green Acre has given her a new focus, and she is now sharing Swap-O-Rama-Rama duties with Vancouver artist Heather Cameron. The pair is organizing a SORR as part of Maker Faire in Austin TX this October 20 and 21. To take part, or for more information on starting a SORR in your hometown, visit swaporamarama.org

Hi everyone, sorry a little late this fortnight with the roundup. For those interested I find my links mainly through blogs I read and will endeavour to credit if found through another blog, I subscribe to over 300 blogs. When I don’t give a “via” link that infers that I’ve come across the link myself. Ok….onto the fun stuff…

Crochet edging on fabric yoyos. Link

Add a band of colour to the bottom of a skirt. Link

Dresser knob cosies. Link

Recycled jeans apron. Link

Making hand felted slipppers non-slip. Link

Child’s wrap dress pattern. Link

Oil cloth lunch bag. Link

Sewing even corners. Link

Fabric baby shoes. Link

French seams 101. Link

Fabric buckets. Link

Quilted fabric wallet. Link

Make your own preserves. Link

Using pixel fonts for cross stitch. Link

Smock apron. Link

Inseam pockets. Link

Make your own bubble mailers. Link

Offset square wrist pincushion. Link

Frayed flower. Link

Smock with pocket – smocket. Link

Patchwork oven mitts. Link

Free bird embroidery pattern. Link

the above [via]

Key fob. Link

Sewing square box corners. Link

Numbered cork coasters. Link

Covering a lampshade. Link

How to fold a fitted sheet. Link, [via]

How to bury serger threads. Link

Curly magazine ribbons. Link

Bag handles 101. Link

Shrinky plastic key rings. Link

Photo journal and notebook (excellent video tutorial). Link

Biscornu. Link, [via]

Flower pin. Link, [via]

Lovely linen bag. Link

Etsy Labs, The Storque, How To’s. Link

Whipup tutorial archive

If you’ve created an online crafty tutorial or spotted one you want to share, feel free to give us the heads up at whipup.tutorials[@]gmail.com. Halloween’s coming up and we’d love to see your Halloween tutorials/ideas.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hi. I’m just starting out in the sewing world and have found so many interesting projects to start with. I’m just starting to collect fabric and there are so many wonderful fabrics to choose from. My question is…how did you start your fabric stash? If you see something you love but don’t have any ideas about how to use it yet, how much do you buy?
Thank you for your help.

Violet

 Working as an artist can be a lonely post. Normally I enjoy both my creativity and my own company. However, I also do need the dialogue and the company of fellow artists. The net is very helpful in my daily life to feel connected – but of course it’s not sufficient.   For that reason I take part in two different art groups  Artrovert and X-piir both formed years back – to have a forum to meet, inspire and challenge each other, exchange information, give response at the artwork we ´re doing and in general share the experiences of our lives. We live in different geographical areas – one even abroad – but we try to meet at least 3 – 6 times a year to talk and to go and visit galleries, art centres, workshops – and cafés. It’s an excellent way to have new impressions – and it’s so much easier – and funnier – to get off when you have an appointment with your community of interest. 

The people in my groups are all active artists, always involved in new plans and projects. One can’t help getting sucked in. It´s like having a virtual vitamin injection to spend some hours together with these guys.  The net community is great – but going out for a rendezvous one Sunday afternoon at a real gallery and afterwards at a nice café with actual persons is great too! So if you are not in an artists group I suggest you create one. It doesn’t have to be in any way formal.      

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.

Hi–I’m looking for a free pattern or online tutorial I can use to make a backpack–I plan to use some re-purposed felted sweaters to sew the backpack out of–any suggestions? thanks
Aurora

Gryffindor Longies from crankypantsknits’ flickr photostream

circular sweater by Lymezilla’s flickr photostream

FrenchPress Cozi by hsteckba’s flickr photostream

The Stache Hat by Ginga’s flickr photostream