a length of Perlé cotton and thread
a needle on each end. Pass a needle
through the shank of the decorative
button, slide it to the middle of the
thread and tie a knot to keep it in place.45
Push the two needles through
the centre of the smaller solid
fabric pincushion close together but
not in the same spot. Then push them
through the centre of the larger print
fabricpincushion the same way – they
should come out through the hook and
loop tape at the bottom. Pull the thread
to indent the button into the toppincushion. Insert the needles back
through the larger pincushion and
fasten the ends securely between
the two. Trim the surplus thread.46
Place the tile-weighted part of
the pocket on the edge of your
sewing table with the pocket part
hanging down, attach the pincushion
on one side and the fabric basket on
the other, using the hook and loop tape
to keep them in place in your preferred
order. Then fasten the thread catcher
to the front of the pocket with the
button and loop to finish.ANETTE LEDING
Where do you live and work?After arriving
from Denmark and living in Perth, we made a
sea change and now live in the south-west of
Western Australia, in the Margaret River wine
district, on a five-acre property. We recently
finished building our new home, giving me the
opportunity to hijack the building we lived in
during the build for sewingclasses. I do have
a wonderful work space in our home, as well,
making it possible to be creative at all hours
of the day and night.
What’s your family structure?I livewith
my husband, two dogs, four chickens and two
Betta fish (each in their own aquarium, as
they do not socialise). We have two sons; one
lives nearby with his wife and our gorgeous
six-month-old granddaughter, and the other
is in Darwin with his wife and another
grandchild on the way. Very exciting.
Why this particular craft?Sewing, any kind
ofsewing, simply makes me happy. I trained
years ago in dressmaking techniques, pattern
drafting, tailoring etc. and after working as
a sewing teacher as well as in the fashion
industry, I decided it was time for a change.
For nine years I worked in the medical businessdesigning and developing pressure garments
for burns and trauma as well as dynamic
splinting for neurological conditions. But with
our sea change, I started quilting, joining
several local groups. I have now returned to
teaching dressmaking techniques and pattern
drafting, as I realised just how much I missed
it, and am absolutely loving it. Upcycling
garments is my latest new adventure after
visiting Denmark (my country of birth), where
upcycling is taken to dizzying heights.
Have you tried plenty of other crafts? I always
have some sort of handiwork on the go. At the
moment, I’m working on a fine and very detailed
cross-stitch advent calendar for my little
granddaughter. I’m also knitting a jacket and
doing lots of other different kinds of sewing.
If you weren’t doing this, what would occupy
your time?Iaminvolved with the charity, Days
for Girls. It is a wonderful project. Please check
it out. I am enjoying time with my little family
and, of course, my granddaughter. I could quite
happily just watch her for hours – and I do.
Even when she sleeps, I can just sit and watch.
She is a miracle! And to think we have another
little grandchild on the way. Amazing.
Who taught you your crafting skills?My mum
wouldalways give me a ‘set’ of whatever she was
doing. We were always knitting, embroidering
or sewing. Anything, really. My fondest memory
is of my mum and me doing craft while Dad
would read aloud. My grandmother taught me
to knit before I went to school. She could make
anything out of nothing. She was fantastic at
dressmaking, as was Mum. I started my formal
training when our sons went to school.
Any good stories from those lessons?As
ateenager, I could ask my Mum to make me
something new for a party with short notice.
The deal was that I would do the chores she
would have done and make her a coffee and
place it next to her machine, as she got started.
What does this craft mean to you?It has
always been a part of my life – my working as
well as my private life. I made my own clothes
and I made my sons’ clothes. They would
often choose their own fabrics. And helping
people discover the joy of sewing or helpingthem develop their skills is just such a
pleasure. Truly, I get so excited before classes.
Is it hard to find time to do your stitching or
is it a profession? Yes and yes. Life is busy in
a wonderful way. I want to try everything and
am constantly researching new techniques and
methods and developing new ideas for projects
and classes. I spend a lot of time with my
granddaughter and I enjoy cooking, long walks
with my dogs and catch-ups with friends.
I have several craft groups I enjoy, as well.
From where do you draw inspiration? Oh,
I don’t know. Ideas just sort of pop up. I always
seem to resolve any design or construction
issues, any kind of issues really, when I walk my
dogs. It’s my time for happy and constructive
thinking. Having said that, I like beautiful
fabrics. I actually get heart palpitations when
I walk into a great fabric shop. I look with my
hands and want it all. I can always imagine the
finished product. Special buttons are a treat.
I have often designed a garment or a project
starting with special buttons.
Any embarrassing botch-ups along the way?
Hmm, where to start? Shortly after graduating,
Istarted work for a very lovely designer couple.
They would consult with individual clients and
sketch the designs, then source the fabrics.
The garments were cut, pretty much, free hand
as they were one-offs, and I assembled them,
guided by a sketch. Little did I know that they
used a seam allowance narrower than 1.5 cm.
Who does that??? Fortunately, the first
garment I sewed for them was a tailored skirt
and not a satin ball gown. The skirt was a bit
too tight. Well, the client was horrified, and
I was mortified. My bosses were absolutely
great about it, but talk about ‘baptism by fire’.
What is your advice for beginners? There is
notime like the present and so much fun to be
had. I think it is very important to really enjoy
and immerse yourself in the process and not
just wait to critique the end product. Be proud
of every achievement and never point out what
could have been done better. That is just so
unkind and unfair to yourself. Find a supportive,
fun group or start one yourself. Join classes
to learn some basic skills to get a head start.Gett ing to know ...
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