Natural Protection for Wool Yarns

Di Povey

Part 1: Keeping your stash free of moths Moths are attracted to wool fibers and their larvae feed on these protein fibers. They especially like dirty and dusty wool or wool that smells sweaty. It’s therefore imperative that you keep your stash as clean as possible so as not to make it attractive to the moths. Here are easy steps to take to ensure the safety of your stash. Don’t use mothballs Not only do mothballs not smell nice, the chemicals that they’re made from are carcinogenic. You also can’t…

Commemorative Throw Gallipoli Landing UFO

Di Povey

Many of us have UFO’s and I know that for many the making up and finishing off process is much less pleasurable than the making. But for me – this is a part that I really enjoy, it is the opportunity to use my acquired experience and realise the project in its best light! Just finished putting together this project for a much-loved sister-in-law.  The pattern was launched in 2015 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915. After knitting all the strips, my SIL encountered…

Re-Purposing Old Quilts: Table Mats and Napkins

Di Povey

After 43 years of creating quilts as a professional teacher and quilter, some of my quilts have started to show their age through normal use. So, what to do with un-donatable items? My fun solution has been creating table mats and napkins.   I’ve made many sets mostly from Australian Flora and Fauna prints.  Here is a set of table mats featuring finches and desert peas. Minimum quilting is required (I machine or hand quilt horizontally 5 cm apart and bind with straight cut binding folded double).  

Re-Purposing Old Quilts: Desktop Mat

Di Povey

After 43 years of creating quilts as a professional teacher and quilter, some of my quilts have started to show their age through normal use. So, what to do with un-donatable items? My fun solution has been creating table mats, and this, my latest, a desk mat for my keyboard and mouse to adorn! Minimum quilting is required (I machine or hand quilt horizontally 5 cm apart, and bind, or use a finished size 1.5 cm lazy fold over technique). For this desk mat I used “Scenic Route Wildflower Garden…

Re-invention of an old rug

Di Povey

  This is not a restoration, but a ‘re-invention’.  Restoration would mean the attempt to make it look like the original, but this is NOT the case here! It seems that ‘mice’ attacked this old and loved rug in Granny Squares, owned by a friend.  The conundrum of time vs the desire to honour the original item came into the conversation, so here is the result. I picked out the rodent-ravaged pieces, and using some squares from an abandoned project, inserted them into the item.  It now has a new chapter…

The cost of our time – only the well off can afford to buy Aussie made at Aussie prices.

Di Povey

Like all of us makers, I do what I do because I love it!! And that will always be the case! But every once in a while, I think about what it would actually cost to make if one were being commissioned to make it.  What if I factored in all the hours of making the components, assembling them, and of course, the cost of the materials themselves? – what sort of price should that command? Everytime I go to an arts and crafts fair in Australia where I live,…

Wave Pattern Throw Rug

Di Povey

This is my latest project,  a repeating wavy design in greens and browns, ‘Aussie’ style colours. I made a Flora de Flora for my daughter’s wedding gift, but she prefers a simpler style, so I’ve gone back to a relatively simpler style of project. I love this design and have used it a number of times in various projects, including my  hot colours stripey blanket. It is tempting to add different patterns, but I have to hold myself back to consider my daughter’s preferences.  I have however, indulged myself with…

Flora de Flora by Veronika Liachovic

Di Povey

This is my current project, now designated as an engagement gift for my daughter and her beloved. The design is by textile maestra Veronika Liachovic, an amazing textile artisan. The pattern is FREE via her website, you just have to be patient with the ads – but I believe it is totally worth it.  I am amazed and grateful that she offers it free, considering the amount of work that goes into the design creation, and then the work of translating it into accurate and readable instructions.

How to block a crochet blanket

Di Povey

‘Blocking’ most simply put,  means saturating the blanket, and then allowing it to dry in the shape you want it.  It’s amazing the difference this will make to your project.  The reason is the wetting allows the yarn to relax, allowing it to settle into the required shape as it dries. What you will need: laundry trough of nice warm water, some large bath towels to remove excess moisture, large towel or old quilt large enough to lay your blanket out single thickness for drying, tape measure, pins This is…