Leethal has a new pattern – in her quick knits club this month – to make these pockets – you can add them onto any sweater – great idea + they look totally comfy too.
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November 2010
Pip from meet me at mikes has a tutorial up to make these crochet covered christmas baubles (ain’t she a cutie?). And if you are in the mood for crochet don’t miss her crochet hexagon tute too!
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aww! totally sweet – spool has a tutorial for making this felt christmas tree pincushion – for your sewie friends this holiday.
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Little Green Dresses: 50 Original Patterns for Repurposed Dresses, Tops, Skirts, and More
If you are into refashioning / diy fashion you will love this book. With 50 designs – including tops and skirts as well as super cute dresses you will never have to buy your clothes again. Tina Sparkles definitely has an eye for 80′s fashion verging on the cuter side of trashion – for the younger refashionistas I think.
With so many patterns and ideas in here there is a style suited to you – while I didn’t love everything (ie all the bows, lace and frills) this is mostly a taste thing and nothing that couldn’t be adjusted with a different fabric and a bit tweaking. There is a lot to love in this book – lots of make-from-scratch patterns, but also lots of tips to refashion classic styled thrift finds. With a big intro on ‘rethinking your shopping’ which includes how to buy quality, fair-trade and eco clothing and fabric – as well as how to use what you already have in your wardrobe!
Yes there is a techniques section – explaining how to identify which way the grain runs – how to use knit fabric and some tips on how to ‘refresh’ your wardrobe. Explanation of technical dress making terms, accompanied with illustrations will help those new to making clothes traverse this new world of diy fashion.
I definitely recommend this book for newbie clothes makers, young folk just starting out or anyone wanting to freshen up their wardrobe with a bit more style.
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Some refashion tips, ideas and tutorials that I have come across recently:
Patchy tunic : this overskirt is pretty special : t-shirt refashion belt : jeans laptop case : shoe refashioning : sweet sweater applique : fancy up a plain t-shirt : easiest recycled jean bag : ruffled shirt : 7 unexpected ways to refashion denim via : cool weather refashion [pictured above] : try this pleat and bleach method to grunge up your outfits :
[oh and check out the finalists in the denim recycle challenge]
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Yay! today I am the last stop on Elizabeth Hartman’s Practical Guide to Patchwork Blog Tour. Have you been following along? Every day there is a chance to win a pack of fabrics handpicked by Elizabeth + a copy of her book – so leave a comment here telling us about the first quilt you ever made – or the one you are about to make! – quick you have 48 hours to enter.
The Practical Guide to Patchwork: New Basics for the Modern Quiltmaker (Stash Books)
Elizabeth Hartman is a talented quiltmaker and seems to have a wonderful ability to share her knowledge. She has been sharing her love of quilting and offering tips and advice and tutorials via her blog for a little while now – who could forget her quilt alongs – the mod sampler and the paintbox quilts and she has quite an archive of quilting advice available on her blog.
I am seriously glad that Elizabeth has written a book, and has been able to share her love of quilting with new quilters. This book is aimed at beginner quilters – there is a lot of quilting basics all gathered here in one place – its perfect for newbies but also for those wanting a good solid and fun project for the weekend.
I asked Elizabeth a few questions about the book and about her love of colour
ME: Many of your quilt patterns involve geometric design (both in the book and on your blog) what is it about this sort of structured quilt layout that attracts you – what is your favourite kind of design to work with? Have you ever tried your hand at traditional quilting designs? or crazy quilting?
Elizabeth: I’ve always been someone who arranges her M&Ms by color before eating them. Structure and organization just appeal to me! I feel like I use traditional block motifs rather often, as in the Planetarium (hourglass) and Superstar quilts in the book, but I’m usually not looking to use them to create a traditional look. I haven’t really done any crazy quilting, but I have done improvisational piecing which, I think, is similar in concept, if not in looks.
ME: You have a very modern aesthetic – whites mixed with brights and I also have always loved your use of solid fabrics mixed with patterns – what fabrics do you have in your stash right now. You discuss colour quite a bit in the book, and on your blog – and you do really have a great sense of mixing and matching colours - what colours do you love working with the most (ie. your favourite palette) and do you have a fave fabric designer?
Elizabeth: Thank you! I adore color, and I tend to favor strong color. Most of the fabric in my stash (both print and solid) is saturated brights, but I also have a lot of deeper neutrals like grays and chocolate browns. My favorite color, in general, is red, but I’m not sure that I work with red any more than I work with other colors. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite fabric designer. I think that, more than anything, I just like prints in interesting colors and combinations of colors.
ME: This book is fantastic in how it covers the basics – great for beginners – are you planning another book that follows on from this? What is next for you?
Elizabeth: I’m not sure I can talk about future plans just yet. Honestly, I’m kind of overwhelmed by the response to the first book, and I’m trying to let that sink in before I make a lot of elaborate plans!
Check out the rest of the blog tour and to enter to win a copy of the book and this pack of handpicked fabrics leave a comment here telling us about the first quilt you ever made – or the one you are about to make! – quick you have 48 hours to enter. Wow you guys are great – a winner will be chosen and notified via email. Congratulations Ashley – you have been contacted via email
‘My first quilt was made from an Urban Chicks 1970 layer cake and was a total novice attempt, but I finished it and was so proud of myself for actually making a quilt from start to finish!’
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love this – my kids are big fans of dream catchers and have made them at school – way more decorated than this one – but hey its a great start! [via]
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For more kids craft, creative ideas and activities go to the Action Pack website
love this tute from the idea room to make these papier mache letters
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oh my! I LOVE this idea – reusing a springy insides from those springy throwaway $2 shop springy thingys. Anyway bad skirt has an awesome tutorial to show you how.
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