This is one of those projects that I’ve had in my head for months now and it just feels so good to finally get it done! This was originally destined for the glider that lives in my sewing room, but the boys have fallen in love with the texture on the chenille and I keep on finding that it’s made its way into their room. The chenille is quick to sew up, but takes a while to fluff – it’s [...]

My eldest son is obsessed with “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, at barely two he can recite the entire thing from memory, from Eric Carle’s awesome fabric line we now have cushions, aprons and even some pants with his artwork on. So now that he can sleep on it, cook in it and wear it, what comes next? He needs to cuddle it! Please be aware that this certainly is a tutorial, not a pattern. There are no exacts here, just [...]

New crewel embroidery pattern up for your stitching pleasure! I originally created these little guys in their costumed finery with the intention of putting them on a Halloween wall hanging, but now I’m more convinced that they should be on display all year! They’d look great stitched onto black fabric destined to become a bag, a notebook cover or even just framed. Just download the pdf, print it out and transfer the pattern onto your fabric (I like to use [...]

ALLITERATION FTW!!! Continuing the Halloween specials, I give you a super cute trick or treating bag, guaranteed to last from year to year no matter what outfit you’re pairing it with I would like to stand up in my own defence before I get into this one, yes, I quilt, but I am a crazy/scrap quilter, I have a phobia of seam matching and precise measurements, so my methods (and finished product!) probably make seasoned quilters and patchworkers shake in [...]

Better late than never for this weeks tutorial from me I recently wrote about my dramas after messing up some measurements when I was ordering some fabric to make up cushions for our playroom, I thought I might share the cushions as a tutorial! Envelope openings are (IMO) the easiest option for cushions, no zips or buttons to mess about with and the finished result is neat and professional. I also love the look of piping around a cushion, I [...]

My first (of hopefully many, but we’ll see!) free needlework pattern is up and ready to be put on anything you fancy! Pictured is my version of the twirly birdy, I wanted to add more colour to the outline so double threaded some pink in with black, and I must say it looks pretty good. I also chain stitched the legs to add a bit more bulk. It wasn’t placed onto anything special, just a piece of cotton, but I [...]

I first made one of these for my friend Morgan, it was my second ever sewing project and I just hope and pray that she never shows it to me ever again as there was some dodgy sewing going on there! I guess we all have to start somewhere, this one is slightly more complex than my original one, but the finished look is beautiful, and a great way to store your needles. The size also makes it perfect for [...]

Crochet on tea towels is (in my opinion) a very Aussie tradition, my mum thinks it’s hilarious that I’ve resorted to crocheting on tea towels and insists that this alone should be enough for Mr Rudd to grant me citizenship. I’m not quite convinced on this one, but I do love that something so simple can make an otherwise cheapy pair of teatowels look so much cuter. If you’re experienced at crochet this is a very quick project to throw [...]

Felting (or “fulling” as it’s correctly known) is the process of using heat, agitation and water to break down the fibres in your yarn so they bind together to create a solid fabric where the stitches are no longer obvious. It’s a great way to add some extra interest to a project. Felting can be done either by hand or by washing machine (post on that to come in the next couple of weeks), although it’s more time consuming by [...]

This is a favourite project of mine when I need something as a gift for a newborn or a baby shower, beautiful cottons on the front, mixed with a highly tactile fabric on the back and then lots of soft satiny ribbons to rub. It’s great for a new baby to snuggle into, and the size makes it an awesome carry around blanket for a toddler. Some may call it a “Taggie”, but those people are obviously not worried about [...]