Australian Homespun magazine subscription

These are just a few of them … CHRIS AUSTIN I’ve been quilting forever but in earnest for the last 10 to 15 years and have made more than 100 quilts in that time. My very first two quilts were made in a lunchtime club while I was still at high school. They were hexagon quilts completely handsewn with fabrics left over from my grandmother’s sewing. They were never quilted as I didn’t know that was what you were meant to do, but they were backed and we had them on twin beds for years. After the birth of my second son, I decided to enrol in a local community college class and I chose silk painting. There weren’t enough takers, so I was asked if I wanted to change…

Please notify us at least four months before the event. New South Wales March 13–15, 2026 Hurstville Modern Quilt Show Australia Presented by Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild and Sydney Modern Quilt Guild Marana Auditorium 16 MacMahon St, Hurstville More information: www.modernquiltshowaustralia.com Victoria April 11–May 3, 2026 Clunes 2026 Biennial Textile Palette Exhibition STUFF: Purpose, profit and peril Esmond Gallery, The Warehouse 36 Fraser Street, Clunes More information: www.textilepaletteexhibition.org April 9–12, 2026 Melbourne Australasian Quilt Convention Royal Exhibition Building Carlton Gardens, Melbourne More information: www.aqc.com.au “Crafting your own decorations is such a nice, old fashioned way to spend time with loved ones, creating memories each year when you bring out these keepsakes you made together.” – HILARY FARR New Zealand July 1–31, 2026 Palmerston North Threads of Connection Association of New Zealand…

THE ART OF BEING A SOFTY The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, is currently hosting an inspiring textile exhibition entitled Softy. Often a term used to belittle sensitivity, ‘softy’ is reclaimed here to celebrate the generosity and tenderness of the textile pieces on display. The artists use the language of fabric and fibre to challenge old ideas about masculinity, labour and identity, showing that softness is both a choice of materials and a mindset. A standout piece in the exhibition is Malcolm Harrison’s Eclipse, the largest work on display (shown above) and a moving response to the early years of the AIDs crisis in New Zealand. As museum director Courtney Johnston said, “There’s an incredible tenderness in the idea of quilts as lovingly made objects of comfort…

From the desert plains of the outback to fields of colourful wildflowers and quaint cottage gardens buzzing with bees, the Australian landscape, shifting with the seasons and movement of life, is always fresh and exciting. For Adelaidebased artist Sue Brown, it’s the minute details of nature that capture her attention and bring her intricate knitted and embroidered wearable art to life. Sue describes her technique as ‘botanical knitting’ — she uses silk ribbon, beads and sequins to create complex nature scenes on hand-knitted garments. A new project starts with weeks of researching stitch patterns and botanical art illustrations, taking photos and considering yarn colours and combinations. “I calculate the number of stitches required for the piece, then it just happens. I cast on and off I go,” she says. “The…

MATERIALS 75 squares, 6in of assorted print fabrics (blocks) 25 squares, 2½in of assorted print fabrics (block centres) 2.8m (3yd) plain background fabric 25cm (⅜yd) green gingham fabric 2.8m (3⅛yd) backing fabric Batting at least 1.5m (60in) square  Fiddlesticks Wren yarn, Green: four balls 3.5mm (UK 9/US E/4) crochet hook DMC Perle No 8 thread: Black (hand quilting) Rotary cutter, ruler and mat Sewing machine with a ¼in foot General sewing supplies Finished size: 133cm (52½in) square Note: Read all the instructions before starting the project. A seam allowance of ¼in is used throughout. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton and pre-washed and well ironed. Requirements for full-width fabrics are based on fabrics 107cm (42in) wide. Australian/ UK crochet terminology is used; North American readers should consult a crochet manual…

MATERIALS 33cm (13in) square of neutral fabric (background) - see Note 12.5 x 18cm (5 x 7in) turquoise checked print fabric (first flower) 10 x 15cm (4 x 6in) purple print fabric (first flower) 8 x 15cm (3 x 6in) dark orange print fabric (second flower) 8 x 15cm (3 x 6in) light orange print fabric (second flower) 10 x 20cm (4 x 8in) green print fabric (outer petals of third flower) 8 x 20cm (3 x 8in) yellow fabric (inner petals of third flower) Scraps of pink and mauve print fabrics Fine matching thread for appliqué such as Aurifil 80wt Template plastic Permanent marker pen Fusible web (optional for raw-edge appliqué) Embroidery threads in several matching shades Water soluble pen or similar 25cm (10in) wooden embroidery hoop 30cm (12in)…

MATERIALS Seven fat quarters (18 x 22in) of assorted blue flannel print fabrics (stars) 3.5m (4yd) navy tone-ontone flannel print fabric (background, binding) 3.7m (4¼yd) backing fabric Batting at least 180cm (71in) square   Rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat Sewing machine with ¼in foot General sewing supplies Finished size: 167cm (66½in) square Finished block size: 12in square Note: Read all the instructions carefully before commencing. A seam allowance of 1/4in is used throughout, unless otherwise instructed. It is recommended that fabrics be 100% cotton and well ironed. Requirements are based on fabrics that are 107cm (42in) wide. CUTTING 1 From each of the seven assorted blue print flannel fat quarters, cut: • Seven strips, 2½ x 22in. 2 From the navy tone-on-tone flannel print fabric, cut: Seven strips, 2½in across…

The Australian Yarn Company — Website: www.ausyarnco.com.au MATERIALS Cleckheaton Country 8 Ply 50g balls: Misty Blue (2390) x 4, Mallard (2308), Dewberry (2368) and Pink (2267) x 2 each, 1 ball each of Soft Green (1962), Periwinkle (2344), Sea Green (2366), Royal Blue (0288), Gerbera (2348), Lavender (2190), Waratah (2399), Lotus (2395), Maroon (0018), Splice (2314), Coral Haze (2367), Gold (1085), Wheat (2385) and Harvest Gold (2361) 4.5mm (UK 7/US7) knitting needles 4.5mm (UK 7/US7) circular knitting needle (100–150cm, 39⅜-59in long) Tapestry needle Finished size: 190 x 40cm (75 x 15in) Note: Read all the instructions before you start. This is an easy-skill-level knitting project. Quantities are approximate as the tension can vary between knitters. Check the ball bands to ensure that yarn of the same colour is from the same dye…

MATERIALS 60cm (23¼in) square raffia fabric 60cm (23¼in) square fusible stretch interfacing 25 × 34cm (9¾ × 13¼in) cotton drill fabric 15mm (5/8in) thick wooden dowel, 47cm (18½in) long Twine Raffia ribbon: black, brown, green, light green, turquoise, white, yellow  30cm (12in) quilting hoop Carbon paper Toothed tracing wheel 51 × 56cm (20 × 22in) piece of paper Ruler and pencil Fine-tip permanent marker Chenille needle Sewing machine Dressmaker pins Overlocker (optional) Pinking shears (optional) Finished size: 36 × 40cm (14 × 15¾in) including fringe Notes: Read all the instructions before starting the project. Instructions are given for working from the printed Pattern Sheet in the magazine, but you can download the digital patterns from www.homespun.net.au and print them out instead. When working with raffia fabric, there isn’t a ‘right side’ – you…