Message from the Editor

Greetings fellow crafters and welcome to the July edition of Crafty Yarns! 

Are you a glutton for punishment? If you are, we have it all in this issue. We look at the largest counted cross stitch currently available anywhere in the world, we drive ourselves quite bonkers trying to fold intricate origami designs and we turn to entertaining in style looking at a new book below.

As usual, we also meet some of our fabulous readers including Lisa and Kathy, both from VIC, and Petra from SA. You can read their letters below – or why not catch up with hundreds of other ‘crafty folk’ at the ChatterFox website www.chatterfox.com.au?

Remember, we love to hear from you! Send us an email with your story and a picture of yourself and any interesting or challenging crafting projects that you are currently working on and you could win yourself a great prize.

And until next time, keep crafting!

 

Small Stitch Projects!

In 1986 Danish needlework company Permin of Copenhagen took an enormous risk, creating the largest commercially available needlework kit ever made. At over one metre square this incredible work of art is sure to keep even the keenest of stitchers out of mischief for a while...

When visitors enter the foyer of Permin of Copenhagen they come face to face with the original ‘Water Flowers’ (code 29773) needlework which took their best designer over six months to finish stitching! It is such a popular piece that it is even lent out on occasion for international exhibitions.

‘Water Flowers’ was adapted from a painting by a Danish artist known simply as ‘EKE’. In his work he depicts a selection of protected wildflowers from the WaddenIslands, situated along the Dutch coast.

This amazing embroidery kit includes detailed diagrams showing the names of the native plants and flowers found amidst the dunes and wetlands of the picturesque chain of five coastal barrier islands, such as those seen here in the picture.

These islands shelter a tidal area of mud and sand flats called the WaddenSea, which last year was World Heritage listed due to the incredibly rich plant and animal life it sustains.

Each island is said to host up to 600 different flowering plants thanks to the nutrients provided by the mud – so it’s no wonder really that Permin needed almost a metre square when it came to depicting some of them in stitch!

Worked on 26-count white linen, ‘Water Flowers’ will represent the challenge of a lifetime for cross stitchers who are into self-inflicted pain... oops, I mean who have a desire to create an incredible piece of work that is sure to become a treasured family heirloom.

If you’re brave enough to give this a go, why not write in to Crafty Yarns and let us know how you progress? I’d love to see one in action!

 

Our Readers' Write...

 

Crafter of the Issue

Cathy from Talbot, Victoria,  writes:

“I'm back! Last time I wrote in, it was to show you the toys that I had been making – but now I have improved! I mentioned that I might try doing some jigsaw puzzles – and I did!
“I have included three photos of jigsaws that I have worked on. The picture with me in it below is a jigsaw that is on its way to get framed.
“I'll do puzzles up to 1000 pieces, but that's quite enough for me at the moment!!!
“I bought a puzzle holder from The Fox Collection and that has been one of the best things I’ve ever bought. It makes doing jigsaws much easier!
“I am a mother of two so I work on my puzzles when I can. Using the ‘Jigsort’ puzzle holder, I just slide the jigsaw I’m working on under the couch until the next time I get a chance to work on it –  and my children don’t know it is there so they don’t try and touch!
“I enjoy making jigsaw puzzles. It keeps your mind active and if you do ever find yourself stuck on a design, and you only manage to add one extra piece to the design, then that is still one piece closer to being finished.
“Once all 1000 pieces are in place, do you really want to pull it all apart and put it back on the box? I don't think so! I get my finished jigsaw puzzles framed and hang them up.
“If you have the time, take the time to do a jigsaw. They look so beautiful when they are finished and then framed behind glass!”


Petra from SA, writes:

“Hi. My name is Petra and I have been doing some form of craft almost as far back as I can remember – and  I still have some of the crafty stuff I did when I was a child.
“I remember my mum teaching me to knit. I was about seven and enjoyed it when we did it together however when I started learning knitting at school it wasn’t as much fun and I wasn’t very successful at it!
“I don’t knit now but I do do scrapbooking, card making, beaded jewellery, teddy bear making, cross stitch, tatting, crochet and some sewing. I am self taught with most of these crafts, except for the teddies and the tatting.
“Teddies I learnt at a craft club and I had one lesson in tatting from an 80+ year old lady while on holiday in the Netherlands. She had to get her shuttles and patterns from flea markets. When I came back to Australia I couldn’t believe it that I could buy these in almost any good craft store!
“I absolutely love crafts and am always looking for new crafts to try but it can take up a lot of space at home – and a lot of money to get started. But I don’t let that stop me in a hurry!”


Lisa of Ferntree Gully, VIC, writes:

“I cross stitch but I'm not a huge fan of it, and I also like to do crochet, and I am teaching myself how to knit again. But my main passion is for latch hooking.
“I bought my first latch hook kit quite a few years ago to try it out. I can't remember the first one I did but it got me hooked!
“I've just read the newsletter about Latch Hook Rugs and had to share my story with you.

The picture I’ve sent in shows just some of the many latch hook rugs I've completed over the years. I am not quite sure what to do with them all now, but I am thinking I might turn them into pillows.
“I don’t how to properly finish off a latch hook to make it into a wall hanging or a cushion, so at the moment all my lovely, finished work is just waiting around.
“One of my favourite designs that I have worked on is the giant  ‘African Elephant’ latch hook rug. Unfortunately I can't tell the colours apart enough to finish it off. I've made the mistake once before of guessing which colour was which and then having to undo two lots of colours and do a 'find and replace' on my rug – not fun at all! So now I am much more careful.
“I hope you enjoy the photos of my work. I've still got at least 10 more rugs lying around at home, ready to complete. Sadly, my husband won't let me buy any more until I finish the ones I've already got!
“Thank you once again for the lovely latch hook rug designs you have available at thefoxcollection.com.au. They bring me much happiness!”

Editor's Note
I love latch hooking and am currently working on the same massive ‘African Elephant’ rug, pictured here, that Lisa is working on.  If you haven’t tried this extremely addictive craft yet, then I suggest you do!  The ChatterFox website has an online video clip that teaches you all you need to know about latch hooking - including how to finish them off ready for display or use! There are some wonderful rug hooking kits available through The Fox Collection, including cushions, baby rugs, hallway runners, and even ‘how to’ books for every level of crafter.
Why not jump online now and have a little look?

http://www.chatterfox.com.au/ 
www.thefoxcollection.com.au

Step-by-step: Create Your own Origami Mobile Kit!

'Origami Mobile Kit '(code 29822) 

The traditional Japanese art of origami has been around for many hundreds of years, however it gained international popularity in the early 1900’s when a system of ‘diagramming’ was introduced – allowing even the most novice of folders access to this ancient craft.

In origami you’re not allowed to cut the paper or use glue. (That’s a bit like pulling the coloured stickers off the Rubix Cube in order to solve the dang thing). So no matter how frustrating it is, you must stick to folding alone. I must say, though, there were a number of times during my origami experience where I was very tempted to give my ‘sculpture’ a good going over with a sharp pair of scissors...

I’m not very good at spatial thinking. Failed dismally when it came to maths and science questions that required 3D visualisation so I have always struggled with origami. However, I persevered with the ‘Origami Mobile Kit’ (code 29822) and after a bit of refolding (and some help from the kids) I did end up producing some pretty fair pieces.

The paper provided in this well presented kit is absolutely gorgeous. There are shimmering sheets with different colours on each side, traditional patterns, flat colours and sunburst designs which made folding much more fun. Although I managed to produce a star, a fish and a bird I decided to let my crafty kids take over and make one each of the five mobiles provided for in this kit.

Needless to say, they had a blast and we are now the proud owners of some gorgeous new mobiles. Lots of fun!

 

Other Great Projects

‘Elegant Napkin Folding' Book (29657) This is a top book! If you have ever wondered about ANYTHING to do with table etiquette then this is the guide for you.

Damask linen or starched cotton? Where to place the napkin on a well-dressed table? Do you fold or shake it? It’s all in here along with so much more information. I found the whole book quite intriguing!

Napkin folding is really just simple origami with cloth.
I found it interesting to play with the many folded designs in this book – and with around 40 to choose from there is something there for every type of function!

My favourite was the ‘Classic Lily’ shown above. So simple to make and yet it transformed the dinner table. Of course the grubby little darlings didn’t fully appreciate mum’s new-found talent but I felt a surge of pride in the way my napkins stood so beautifully alongside the tomato sauce.
Luckily the authors of ‘Elegant Napkin Folding’ had thought ahead and included a very useful chapter on how to get a multitude of stains out of fine linen...

That’s all for this issue of Crafty Yarns. See you next month!

We hope you enjoyed this online edition of Crafty Yarns Online. Why not Email us with your story and photos - and win yourself a voucher? Also, don't forget to come and visit our website!!!  Also remember to check out our new online community at www.chatterfox.com.au/ and until next time... keep crafting!