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Please notify us at least four months before the event. New South Wales 21-23 August Wangi Wangi Wangi Quilters’ Biennial Quilt Show Wangi Workers’ Club, Market Street, Wangi Wangi More information: wangiquilters@gmail.com September Tamworth Nature Machine: 6th Tamworth Textile Triennial Tamworth Regional Gallery, 466 Peel Street, Tamworth More information: gallery@tamworth.nsw.gov.au 17—19 September Rosehill QuiltNSW Exhibition 2026 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Grand Avenue Gate 1, Rosehill More information: quiltnsw.com 3-4 October Narooma Dalmeny Quilters’ Biennial Quilt Exhibition Narooma Sport and Leisure Centre, 100 Bluewater Drive, Narooma More information: dalmenyquiltersnsw@gmail.com Queensland 13-15 August Townsville CraftAlive Townsville Red Track, 24 Burke St, North Ward More information: craftalive.com.au 20-22 August Mackay CraftAlive Mackay Big Shed, Mackay Showgrounds, 24 Milton Street, Mackay More information: craftalive.com.au “The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art…

3RD SPACES FOR COMMUNITY CRAFT Tired of passive consumption, screen time and artificially generated art, people of all walks of life are turning towards active, tactile endeavours and building community. Craft cafes are quickly rising as the new ‘third space’ of choice: a place separate to work and home (the ‘third’ domain), where people are turning for craft and connection. Craft cafes provide a structured experience where the barrier to entry for craft is removed. The traditional coffee shop experience is replaced with a ‘creative menu’ and participants can engage either individually (but benefitting from the collective experience of this adult side-by-side play) or in group sessions. Many cater for corporate or party events and some run clubs for children. We take a look at four such places around the…

From experimenting with yarn colours, designs and materials to creating visual crochet patterns, Canadian-Jamaican designer Kiara Armstrong’s approach to crochet is intuitive and mindful. A form of meditation in motion, Kiara immerses herself in the gentle rhythmic movements of crochet. Not only can she crochet every day without getting tired of the craft, but each stitch gives her more energy and excitement as her designs take shape one stitch at a time. Before Kiara started her crochet brand, Crochetaccs, she was involved in animal rights activism and then later started an online community focusing on meditation. She had a podcast where she would have guests from around the world speak on topics such as self-love and vulnerability. Through crocheting, Kiara has embraced a different kind of mindfulness, tapping into her…

Terracotta, Sage, Violet, Periwinkle, Salmon, Caramel, Candy Pink, Pickle — these are a handful of Laura Veenema’s favourite colours in the Kona Cotton fabric range. All are in beautiful jewel tones. Together with her go-to wool batting, chosen for its high loft and warmth, Laura loves creating fluffy, thick and vibrant quilts — perfect for enveloping in and instantly cheering up, a room with the pops of colour. Without the restraints of following a written pattern, Laura was drawn to the freedom of improvisational piecing. “The improv techniques that I use and teach allow for the freedom of not having to follow the step-by-step regimen of creating uniform blocks or following a pattern’s trajectory, while still allowing the quilter to choose what shapes, sizes, repetition and orientations they want within…

This can be made with a jelly roll! MATERIALS ◌ One jelly roll or 26 brightly coloured 2½ × 42in strips ◌ 3m (3⅜yd) white solid fabric ◌ 50cm (⅝yd) print fabric (binding) ◌ Batting at least 1.7 × 2.3m (1⅝ × 2½yd) ◌ 4.6m (5yd) backing fabric ◌ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ◌ General sewing supplies ◌ Sewing machine with ¼in foot Finished size: 132 × 203cm (52 × 80in) Block size: 6in Note: This quilt was made using a jelly roll of bright assorted colours, but could just as easily be made with scraps. CUTTING 1 From the 26 assorted brightly coloured 2½in strips, cut: 60 strips, 6½in 60 strips, 4½in 60 squares, 2½in 60 squares, 2½in (Border 2). 2 From the white solid fabric, cut: 18 strips, 2½in…

MATERIALS ◌ 25cm (10in) square Aida fabric count 16 ◌ 18cm (7in) hoop ◌ DMC stranded thread: Lemon (307), Medium Pistachio Green (320), Light Lemon (445), Chartreuse (703), Golden Yellow (728), Dark Dusty Rose (961), Ultra Very Light Dusty Rose (963), Forest Green (986), Light Dusty Rose (3354), Very Light Dusty Rose (3716), Hazelnut Brown (3828), Dark Raspberry (3831) ◌ Tapestry needle: size 24 ◌ 20cm (8in) square felt (backing) ◌ 30cm (12in) ribbon (for hanging — optional) ◌ Matching thread for sewing ◌ Masking tape Finished size: 14cm (5½in) Note: You can purchase a kit that includes threads and Aida cloth from Jane — QR code can be found at the end of the project. STITCHES Blanket stitch, cross stitch, whip stitch PREPARATION 1 Line the edges of the Aida…

MATERIALS ◌ 50cm (20) square 14 count white Aida cloth ◌ DMC stranded embroidery thread: refer to the colours under the chart you wish to stitch ◌ Tapestry needle: size 24 ◌ Sewing scissors and embroidery scissors ◌ Red sewing cotton or water-soluble pen ◌ Frame ◌ Acid free foam board (fit chosen frame) PREPARATION 1 Cut the Aida cloth into four 10in squares and zigzag the edges to prevent fraying. 2 Tack the centre lines in red sewing cotton or lightly mark with a water-soluble pen. STITCHING 3 Each Rosella is a small size and therefore an embroidery hoop is not essential. 4 Refer to the colour chart and choose an area to begin that is near the centre of the design. 5 Select the corresponding DMC stranded embroidery…

MATERIALS ◌ One layer cake - this gives you 40 squares, 10in (tulips and centre panel squares). Kate used fabric from the Wonderland fabric range by Momo for Moda Fabrics. ◌ 90cm (1yd) cream print fabric (tulip and stem background) ◌ 45cm (½yd) red print fabric (Border 1) ◌ 80cm (⅞yd) multicoloured print fabric #1 (Border 2) ◌ 50cm (⅝yd) multicoloured print fabric #2 (binding) ◌ 3.5m (3⅞yd) backing fabric ◌ Batting at least 160 × 180cm (64 × 72in) ◌ Rotary cutter, ruler and mat ◌ Sewing machine with ¼in foot ◌ General sewing supplies Finished size: 157 × 178cm (62 × 70in) CUTTING 1 From the cream print fabric, cut: ● Four squares, 9 ¼in. Crosscut them twice on the diagonals to yield 16 quarter-square triangles. You will…

Kylie Moleta, Stitched Up Craft Instagram: @stitchedupcraft Email: stitchedupcraft@gmail.com MATERIALS ◌ Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply cotton: Fruit Tingle — 130gms (A), Parchment — 160gms (B) ◌ Crochet hook: 3.5mm (UK 9/US E/4) ◌ Tapestry needle Finished size: 33cm (13in) wide x 43cm (17in) high (without straps). Straps featured are 10in long but can be adjusted to your required length. Note: There are 485m (530yd) per 200gm (7oz) of yarn. This project is an intermediate skill level. It is recommended to read all instructions, particularly the joining section, before starting. Australian/UK terminology is used; North American readers should consult a crochet manual to ensure that the instructions are interpreted correctly. TENSION 20 sts x 9 rows = 10 cm measured over tr. SPECIAL STITCHES Puffstitch (ps): [Yarn round hook, insert hook into…