Pattern Making 101Layout and cut out your patternSew Thomas the Tank Top

Don't drop your coffee cup, but I've finally posted a new project, Clone your Favourite Tank Top.  Great for girls and guys (yes, some do sew, I've seen it firsthand!) it involves making a pattern from your favourite tank top/singlet, cutting it out and stitching it up.

Top Tips for Thomas the Tank Top:

1) When making your pattern, be as accurate as you can.  If in doubt, err on the big side (ie. make it slightly larger - you can always take it in, but you can't take it out if it's too small!)  Learn by my mistakes - I was sloppy making a T shirt pattern for Aaron, and it ended up a whole size too small...

2) Buy fabric that's at least as stretchy as your original tank top otherwise the fit could be nasty.

3) Email me if you have any questions. Otherwise enjoy showing off those big Rafael Nadal sized guns in your new tank!

Hope you're having a lovely Easter break! 

Thank you Anna, for organising a crafter-night (as opposed to a crafter-noon) where we made these cute bunnies.  My Grandma's doggie pincushion

I made mine into a pin-cushion, as I feel too cruel sticking pins into my other pincushion, a lovely little dog I inherited when my grandma passed away. 

Awww... Here's a funny bunny cartoon to cheer us up!

Please mark your calendars for...

BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets –  handmade wares with a little soul -  handbags, jewellery, funky footwear, babies and children’s wear, soft toys, artworks, illustrations and vintage re-creations.

Where and when? King George Square, Adelaide/Anne Sts, Brisbane City
Date: Fri 30/4/10  5 - 9 pm.

Donut Brooch by littlechrissyGlass Earrings by Hot Toffee

Indie crafters are alive and well here in Brisvegas!  Last weekend was our first Finders Keepers market at a great venue - the Old Museum. 

For those who missed it, try Christmas shopping at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Markets (Sat 5 Dec 09 at St Augustines Church, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton 9am-4pm.)  BrisStyle is a co-op of local Etsy store-owners like littlechrissy and Hot Toffee, who only sell things handmade by themselves - no mass-produced, off-shore or on-selling of other people's wares allowed!

Digitally printed silk organza with hand-frayed trimPopped into Easton Pearson Exhibition (at Brissie's Gallery of Modern Art until 8 Nov).

Lots of garments on display. 

Nice glimpse of their workroom, with racks of pattern blocks, bottles of sequins and bolts of fabric.

Paper Doll Activity

Especially enjoyed the "children's" activity.

GOMA supply ladies and mens cardboard figures and photocopies of fabric textures, so you can make your own paper dolls. 

Loved it - couldn't help noticing there were no actual children cutting and pasting, just teenagers and adults!

My sister-in-law Kia runs her own indie craft business at www.kiahingfay.com making darling softies and applique kits for crafters.My nephew Finn makes a lovely torso model for his Mama's applique kits!

Frankie magazine is currently giving away some of her digit dolls. Visit the Frankie website to win some!

August is Ekka (Exhibition) time here in Brisbane - cream-filled waffles, bone-crunching rides, sheep dog trials and showbags! For those afraid of swine flu, here's a showbag you can get without visiting the show...

I so enjoyed making a goodie bag for the HEIAQ (home-ec teachers)conference (all that cutting, stamping and glueing is quite therapeutic!), that I've put together a limited number of extra ones.

The Clothesline showbag contains:

1. In the Beginning pattern pack

2. Black library bag with hand made Clothesline logo

3. Extra long (3m) tape measure in a tin (metric and imperial - good for American books and projects!)

4. 0.9m black jumbo ric rac (nice apron trim)

5. 2.4m red twill tape (for apron straps)

6. Big bookmark with a list of our favourite sewing resources

7. Tiny sewing repair kit (to keep in your handbag)

Price is $35 AUD. Sorry can't offer free postage as they're a little heavier to post than the  regular pattern pack. Plus $5 postage = $40 AUD. Order yours at our store ... 

August 2009Thank you, Sarah Tarca, for a free plug in this month's Girlfriend magazine!  

Aaah...my guilty secret is out!  Reality TV ... Since Masterchef is winding up, my new addiction is likely to be Project Runway Australia (8.30 pm Wed on Arena) - I even have a friend record it for me as I don't have cable. 

It's amazing to see a) men sewing and b) what people can whip up in just a few hours.  Last year 2 of the 3 finalists were from here in sunny Brisvegas.  Wonder how Queenslanders will go this season?

Hi all you Frankie-o-philes, who spotted a tiny article in the May/June issue of Frankie magazine and came to visit.  I've included it here, because it pretty much sums up what we're all about.                             

My craft show souvenirsCraft shows here in Brisvegas are often fairly ordinary affairs, with a good turnout from the over 60's.  But I'm pleased to report, when my sister-in-law Kia and I hit the Stitches & Craft show (www.stitchesandcraft.com.au)  yesterday, we were pleasantly surprised at some great stuff for sewing fans.

Entry was $16, but  found heaps of freebies after that...

• Fashion Parades - Burda Style had a  parade of very cool clothes made from free and low cost patterns from their website.  And as for the Craft Parade - Where else could you see a black-leotard-wearing model carrying a sock monkey down the runway? ( I suppose the crafts can't walk down themselves!)

• Craft Bars - Pull up a bar stool and sew a pincushion with Liberty of London fabrics.  You can also embroider a pair of handguns, a drum kit or (my choice) a shhhing librarian, courtesy of Sublime Stitching.

• Incubator - A row of stalls from Indie Craft businesses - my favourite, Thread Den - a great Melbourne Sewing Lounge -  had vintage patterns and handmade clothes (fabulous 50's style swimsuits!) for sale.  Online store coming soon.

• Reconstruction Zone - Lots of op-shop finds, buttons, trims, tools and a fleet of Brother sewing machines and overlockers to play with, thanks to Wardrobe Refashion.  Take a look at the set up here on their website.   A great concept, though I do think the addition of a few books like Megan Nikolay's Generation T  would've helped some of us get some ideas!

And when you need a rest, head upstairs to the cinema (we took our lunch up there, re-arranged the couches, let Kia's little boy Finn have a run around) and watch:-

• Handmade Nation - a film about Indie Craft movement in America, based on the book of the same name.  My favourite bit - an interview with a great little business called Buy Olympia.  (Showing footage of their warehouse - " In the days before Pay Pal and Etsy, we'd stand right here packing orders, working out postage...then after 4 months, we bought a chair...)  Found that funny, and at the same time, dangerously close to home...

Hope this helps you decide whether to make the pilgrimage to the Show (runs in Brisbane 29 Apr to 3 May 09, Sydney 19-23 Aug, Melbourne - you missed it but it's on again 10-14 Mar 2010.)