Sewing Patterns & Supplies

australia sewing patterns

Life with Craft - or is it Art?

All my life I have been sewing.  It’s now 50 years, more or less, since my mother started teaching me to sew – buttons on shirts, making clothes, embroidery.
Maybe I started on dolls clothes, though I don’t remember them.  I do remember making a blouse (with Mum’s help) when I was about 12.  We went up the road to a

new shop, where fabric was very cheap.  When we got the fabric home, we discovered why – it was water damaged in places.  But it was such lovely fabric, we bought a bit more so we could still have enough to make the blouse, cutting pieces in between the water marks.By the time I was 16, I was making a great many of my clothes.  It was the Swinging 60’s in London, I wanted all the latest fashions, and I could have more of them if I spent my earnings from my newly-acquired job as a Copy Typist on patterns and fabric.  I wore Hot Pants, I wore the latest slinky 40’s-style dresses, I wore every fashion I could sew myself.  What I couldn’t make, I bought in the famous London Petticoat Lane market, which was near to my job in the East End of the city.  This world-famous market was where I developed my lifelong passion for bags of all sorts.  At lunchtime, the office girls – as we were called then – used to head off “down the Lane”.  Petticoat Lane, or Middlesex Street now, was in Tudor time known as Hog’s Lane.  From 1608 it has been a clothes market and still operates today, it’s rights being protected by Act of Parliament.  I found handbags of all sorts, with every variety of pockets and zipped compartments.  I especially liked buckled pockets on the outsides, and patchwork leather and suede.
I have been making patchwork and appliqué shopping bags for a number of years, and even a crazy patchwork handbag.  My husband quickly steers me away from Bag
Shops!  I used to make all my children’s clothes – knitted, sewn, whatever – until they went to school and discovered everybody else had “bought stuff”.  Then they wouldn’t wear my creations any more.
On and off, I have continued to make clothes for myself, and recently completed a Crazy Patchwork Vest from velvet, satin and heavy Chinese satin, donated to me
by my cousin.  I added velvet ribbon, heavy lace braid and another braid as finishing touches to the seams, and finished the edges with bias binding.  I was pleased as punch with the result, and wore it to our family Xmas gathering.  Christmas in Australia is hot, being in early summer, and I was glad to take it off once it had been duly admired.

My current big interest is embroidery.  I have always previously used stranded cottons, and just this year started using silks after reading – devouring – books
by renowned embroiderer Helen Stevens.  What a contrast!  The beauty of silk embroidery is breathtaking. 
It took me a long time to tackle my own drawing.  I have always designed, because I could never be satisfied completely with some else’s pattern, and always adapted it to suit my needs or to add the elements I was looking for.  Eventually I thought, here I am, tracing over some else’s drawing of a bird, say, then chopping it in half so I can turn it’s head around, then drawing inside the line to make it smaller, or outside to make it bigger – try it from scratch, Christine, other people can draw so why not me?
OK, I’m not great, but I can get a reasonable likeness if I keep the lines reasonably simple.  That’s quite a revelation to a non-artist.  And it’s extra useful now that I’m designing patterns for my new website.

The home I share with my husband is decorated with quilts, embroidery, patchwork cushions, mixed media pictures, and on my wardrobe door handle I have hanging a
hank of a multicoloured, multifibre yearn – the texture and the colours are so appealing that I keep handling it and looking at it.  It’s been there for months, and I can’t bear to put it away.  That’s Life with Craft – or is it Art?

About the Author

Christine Linton
Blog at http://craftconversations.blogspot.com/
Currently constructing website for my textile art patterns
Love the needle and thread in any form

VINTAGE STYLE #2012 PENGUINS SOLD ONLY IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND NEW OOP 1978 $25.99

70s Australia Stuffed Animals Koala Bear Kangaroo & Baby Penguin Platypus UNCUT $16.75

To do the "bunching" you would use a gathering stitch or make pleats.
Anyway I'm including a couple sites that may help with basic sewing stitches and technique.
OK here's a site that is an old book from the 1800's that they used in school to teach girls how to sew. http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-toc-long.html
And here is a "modern" site. http://www.needlepointers.com/ShowArticles.aspx?NavID=733
And when you get your machine here is a site to help you out http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/sewingbook/sewbk1.html

Good Luck and happy stitching.

P.S. working with felt always turns out better if you're hand stitching anyway. A machine pulls a bit too much. Especially if you're using inexpensive felt.

Wine Glass Holder Necklace -Black -Set of 2 $24.95 As Seen on the Rachael Ray Show And on the Today Show Keep your hands free at parties by keeping your wine close at heart! This clever little clip with adjustable strap holds a regular-size stemmed glass to your chest giving you the freedom to snack and socialize as you sip! Available in Black or Purple. Size: Strap - 36'L...

Crorey Creations My Friendship Bracelet Maker Kit $15.99 My Friendship Bracelet Maker. It's easy to make and share unique friendship bracelets with this handy tool. It features an adjustable Butterfly clip for knotting and securing your string, a String Holder for keeping up to 10 strings organized and firmly in place while you weave your design, plus it's travel-ready with a pull-out tray for storing all your threads. This package contains 1 friendship...

Hello Kitty Knitting Machine $29.95 Discover the delights of knitting! This machine creates a flat or round stitch in seconds with a simple turn of the handle. Knit your own fashionable designs! You can knit scarves, hats, shoulder, bags, socks, gauntlet warmers, and more. Includes pink Hello Kitty knitting machine, 2 skeins of Fun Fur yarn (purple & pink), yarn needle, and Do-It-Yourself Project Booklet. Overall measurements are 5"...

Pink Fig Lily Top Sewing Pattern Girls 6mos-7yr $12.95 This pattern comes from the Pink Fig collection designed by Chelsea Andersen. Her designs have a sense of wimsy with just a touch of retro. This frilly peasant look called the Lily top can be sewn with your favorite coordinating fabrics. The pattern also includes the kerchief and sash to complete your outfit. This is so cute and adorable you will want to make one for every girl you know. Pattern i...

Kwik Sew's Swim & Action Wear $20.00 Master Pattern Included Sewing swim and action wear will be easy and fun with this book. You can create a one-of-a-kind garment and select the style that looks the best on you. The Master Pattern in this book includes a variety of swimsuits, leotards, leggings and shorts. Many variations are included for one and two piece swimsuits, action wear for biking, gymnastics, aerobics, dancing and skat...

Patternmaking for Fashion Design (4th Edition) $113.20 Renowned for its comprehensive coverage, exceptional illustrations, and clear instructions, this hallmark book offers detailed yet easy-to-understand explanations of the essence of patternmaking. Hinging on a recurring theme that all designs are based on one or more of the three major patternmaking and design principles–dart manipulation, added fullness, and contouring–it provides all...

Patternmaking Made Easy (2nd Edition) $98.98 Patternmaking Made Easy was written to give aspiring designers, educators, students, and professionals an understanding of how to create and design in a very simple approach, using professional patternmaking skills. This book will provide the insight and knowledge to design one garment or a whole wardrobe with ease and clarity. It will provide them with the means to execute all of their creative ...

Ichigo Tensa Bankai Cutting Moon 68 Sword $65.20 This Ichigo Tensa Bankai sword is 68" with a amazing Black Blade With Handle has Metal Chain. Blade featuring High carbon steel this is truly a one-of-a-kind piece, a must-have for any Anime fan, comes sharpened!...

VINTAGE STYLE #2012 PENGUINS SOLD ONLY IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND NEW OOP 1978 $25.99

70s Australia Stuffed Animals Koala Bear Kangaroo & Baby Penguin Platypus UNCUT $16.75

PEPPERMINT~Melly & Me~Australia-Sewing Pattern~SOFTY $9.95

CHIC GEEK~Melly & Me-Australia-Sewing Pattern Bag $7.95