Self-proclaimed “damage detective” Celia Pym has made darning into a lifelong artistic practice, one that reflects on the close, intimate relationship we form with the clothing in our lives. She has an uncanny ability to transform once tatty, moth-eaten sweaters, careworn socks and even silk costumes through a deliberate and visible act of nurturing repair…
Memory and Preservation: Celia Pym’s Artful Darning
One of the small luxuries of life is having me-made rustic linen tea towels draped about in your kitchen. One on the counter underneath drying cups and bowls, one hanging on the stove handle to lift the hot pan off the stovetop, one tucked into your waistband, serving as an apron while you bake. When…
St Ives painter Ben Nicholson captured the crisp, fresh and invigorating air of the Cornish landscape in vivid shades of blue like SKYLIGHT, along with pale greys, soft beiges, and the occasional flashes of bold primary hues. Though he shifted through various styles in a long and prolific career, ranging from expressive landscapes to geometric…
Follow along for all the steps to add lining to the Mariana Notched Collar Jacket pattern. Linings can be tricky to figure out, that’s partly what makes them so fun! Pattern Notes All seam allowances 3/8” (~1 cm) I changed a few minor style elements of the jacket — I moved the pocket placement, used…
After years of sewing off and on with a secondhand, beginner Janome, my husband surprised me with my Singer Heavy Duty machine for Christmas almost ten years ago, and it’s been a beloved and cherished member of our family ever since. It has the perfect blend of mechanical simplicity (which allows me to perform almost…
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do. My name is Katie and I live outside of Portland, Oregon with my husband and our two young boys. I stay home with the kids, but as they’ve gotten older I’ve had more time to pursue creative interests. I sew, primarily quilts, but also do…
The tactile, shimmering silver of PEARL GREY made its way into the late work of American Pop and conceptual artist Ed Ruscha, forming the uneven patinas and tactile textures of old silver screen movies. For Ruscha, who has lived much of his adult life in Los Angeles, this luminescent shade of pale grey became a…
When it comes to looking and keeping cool, a linen jacket is an absolute must-have. Thanks to linen’s breathability and lightweight texture, a jacket made out of linen not only looks comfortable and laid-back but also provides the ultimate armor to see you through the warmer months. To wear linen confidently is to embrace all…
American fashion designer, textile, and performance artist Nick Cave has an uncanny ability to weave ordinary detritus, from sticks to stuffed-sock monkey dolls, crocheted doilies, repurposed sweaters, and dyed hair into the most fantastical, transformative costumes. The artist is best-known for his intricate, elaborate ‘Soundsuits’, which are designed to be both seen and heard, giving…
There are so many sewing machines on the market, options as well as opinions on each machine will always vary! Tastes may change according to personal sewing preferences and what type of items you are sewing. I encourage you to listen to the opinions that line up with your needs and the textiles you plan…
American-French Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt had an innate ability to capture the crisp, sparkling freshness of daylight, painted with a bright palette of cool, pastel shades like EUCALYPTUS. Women and children were always at the centre of her paintings, often painted with great tenderness, but her real subject was the shimmering light falling all around…
My first forays into natural dyeing began with the vibrant blue dye of indigo. Indigo is the name given to the dye that comes from plants (of which there are many species) containing the indican compound that produces an incredible blue dye. Used throughout Asia, South America & Africa, indigo has a rich and vibrant…
American artist Sheila Hicks creates whirlwinds of technicoloured thread, knotting, weaving, twisting and spinning dyed, natural yarns such as wool, linen and silk into richly tactile, all-consuming installations. Since the 1950s, Hicks has been producing woven sculptures of all shapes and sizes, pushing and pulling at the boundaries between art and textiles in order to…
Makes just over 500ml From April onwards, India becomes a mango-lover’s paradise, as Mumbai’s Crawford Market bustles with lorries laden with Kesar, Badami and Alphonso mangoes brought in from all corners of the subcontinent. Huge wicker baskets overflow with pale yellow orbs, carried into the large indoor market atop sellers’ heads. Inside the market, workers…
Icelandic textile designer and artist Ýr Jóhannsdóttir has recently been making waves in the realms of fashion and textiles for her whimsical, colourful and fabulously eccentric garments, all produced under the label Yrurari. Knitting is the backbone of her practice, but her response to the craft is far from traditional, ranging from upcycling old jumpers…
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14 Jan 2020 @ 1:00 am by Mary Garrison
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30 Apr 2019 @ 1:00 am by 72 Free Sewing Patterns to Boost Your Sewing Expertise - Create Function Thrive