Sewing Machine Heaven!

Tonight, we experimented with making a 6mm acrylic (perspex) insert for my Horn Sewing Cabinet.... and it worked!!!

So Excited!  It looks so good!

Even though my Brother Sewing Machine (which I love) is over 20 years old... and it would be impossible to find one to buy.... we've managed to create a close-fitting insert with relative ease. (Tried it out on cardboard, first).

Gotta love that Laser Cutter!  (And my husband, of course, who is a genius!)

Market Stall for Acrylic Templates

Eastern Palliative Care - Annual Quilt Show, Uniting Church, Nunawading.  Busy day! Lots of interested potential customers.  There were four other stalls, being local patchwork shops. 19th & 20th October, 2012.

My first market stall for Acrylic Quilting Templates....!!!

We're barely back from our wonderful UK trip, (and I'm clearly experiencing jet-lag, writing this at 2am!).... and I've been asked to do a small market stall at the 2012 Eastern Palliative Care Quilt Show, in Nunawading.

About a month ago, I was asked to make some Acrylic Quilting Templates by an experienced quilting lady in Melbourne who had found my blog by chance, via Google.  She was so impressed by the templates that she kindly arranged for her friend to invite me to do a stall...to "spread the word".... and despite my initial thoughts ... I said yes!  (It's rather exciting!)

Lots to prepare.... and lots to learn.... as this will be my first market stall, so stay tuned!

Friday 19 October to Saturday 20 October 2012 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Uniting Church, 355 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading

Eastern Palliative Care - 2012 Quilt Show's Facebook page

Springing into action!

Busy week, catching up on Acrylic Template orders. Counting the days til our Scotland trip, then the Laser Cutter will be back, up & running from mid-October.

More Knitted Winter Scarves

As Winter draws to a close this week, here is a collection of my favourite hand-knitted scarves.  I particularly enjoy working with mohair, especially from New Zealand.  Most skeins were bought from the Stitches & Craft Show, which used to be at the Caulfield RaceCourse every March & September... for years! (See my earlier post, Fire Scarf, which I completed in June this year).

While we are we looking forward with anticipation to the first balmy breaths of a warm Spring breeze ...  in reality, I expect the weather will remain quite chilly for a few more weeks (or months?!) - That's Melbourne!

Purple / Green / Brown scarf:  "Touch Alpine" - 12 ply.  Knits up beautifully, and is SO light and warm to wear!  This is a lovely, variagated woollen thread, and amazingly, it arranged itself into those vertical stripes.  

I receive so many compliments about this scarf! Plus, it's really versatile to wear, colour-wise.  Cast on 22 stitches onto size 10mm needles.  Do Garter stitch (knit every row), until desired length.  (I prefer about 110-130cm).  It's 25cm wide. (Winter 2007)

Red Rib:  Use 2 threads: Cleckheaton De Luxe Velvet Ribbon + 8ply plain red.  Cast on 20 stitches, Size 10mm needles.  Pattern is Single Rib (Knit 1, Purl 1, continue). Chunky and bright.  I made this one 140cm, as it was a bit thicker.   (Winter 2006)

Lavender  Rib:  Used "Fairy Floss", from Lincraft.  It feels like Chenille - lovely!  Using 2 strands, cast on 14 stitches, Size 10mm needles. (Knit 1, Purl 1).  Looks great with jeans, for a casual look.  (Winter 2008)

Rust / Cinnamon Broken Rib - Another favourite!
Using Filatura Di Crosa - Multicolour.   60% mohair, 40% acrylic. 2 x 50g balls. Needles: 5mm.  Cast on 45 stitches - Knit 2, Purl 2 to end, Knit 1.  Repeat for each line.


This Rust scarf took a lot longer (smaller needles, and more care required to ensure pattern doesn't get mixed up...) needless to say... the occasional back-tracking was required to fix minor mistakes. Completed on the daily train commute from Ashburton to the City. (Winter, 2008)

Soft Smoky Denim Blue / Silver Grey.  Picasso Heirloom, 12 ply, made in France. 38% mohair, 59% acrylic, 3% polyester.  So Soft!  Cast on 22 stitches, 10mm needles.  Finished size: 22cm x 130cm.  Pattern is Garter stitch. This ensures the side edges don't curl in.  (Winter 2007)

As you can see, I'm very much influenced by flattering colours, and top-quality wool.  Then, you really only need a simple pattern which doesn't overpower scarf.  This allows the beauty of the fibre to shine through!  Try it!  I just love wearing my own creations!