Step 13BARBARA’S
CANVAS TIP To make
is easier to handle the long piece of
canvas, try using hair clips or quilting
clamps to secure the rolled ends.pen: trace both the outer and
inner triangles. Cut the shape out
accurately on the outer line.11
From the furnishing-weight
fabric, cut:- Two rectangles, 4^33 ⁄ 4 x30^3 ⁄ 4 in or 1^1 ⁄ 2 in
longer than the fi nished design length
if yours differs from Barbara’s (back).
12
Use the template you made in
Step 10 to trace two triangles
on the wrong side of the remaining
furnishing-weight fabric and cut the
shapes out on the lines. Then trim the
template to the lines of the inner
triangle. Centre this trimmed template
on the wrong side of each of the fabric
triangles and trace around it. These
are your stitching lines.13
Trim the canvas 2cm (^3 ⁄ 4 in)
outside the edges of the design.14
With right sides together and
the pieces centred, machine
stitch the longest side of an end
triangle to each end of the stitched
canvas, matching the stitching line
exactly with the edge of the last row
of continental stitches.15
With right sides together, sew
the long rectangles together
on one long edge to make the back
rectangle.BARBARA REINFELD
What’s your idea of the perfect stitching
day? I love those days when you’re unrushed
and the deadline for a project is on another
page of the calendar. The tea is brewing, I
have podcasts waiting to be heard and I can
settle down to some serious stitching. Bliss!
Where do you like to do your work – in a
studio, in the garden, in an armchair? I have
a very nice studio at the back of the garden,
but I stitch anywhere and everywhere. I like
to stitch in tidy surroundings, so depending
on what is going on in the studio, I’ll often
find a spot elsewhere. If I’m working on a
prototype, I like a quiet space to work outthe design, especially the colours, which you
need to actually stitch to see if they work
together. I usually work on a tapestry frame,
which means I can rest the frame on the arms
of my chair and stitch with two hands,
one on top and the other underneath the
frame, making for speedy stitching. (See
my website for a short demonstration video- http://www.studiostitches.com.au.))
What are your favourite projects to do?
The ones that include a bit of a technical
challenge, beautiful colours and a product
at the end that I’m excited about using.
Are you good at all the crafts you have tried?
Crafts by their nature require practice and
commitment, so at some point, you have to
decide where you’re going to put your time
and energy. It’s fun to dabble, but if I’m
making something, near enough is just not
good enough. Getting it right takes time, but
the satisfaction of good design and crafting
is always worth it.
What sorts of crafts do you avoid like the
plague? I’m not a fan of ‘cute’ projects or ones
that end up in a drawer. I see a lot of projects,
online particularly, that are beautifully stitched,
but I personally wouldn’t use them. To my mind,
a beautifully embroidered linen pillowcase or
table runner makes more sense because they’re
practical and make welcome gifts.
Other than crafting, how do you like to
spend your free time? The garden is one of
life’s pleasures. I have a regular-size backyard
filled with lots of fruit trees, herbs, flowers
and two chooks, called Red and Ginger. I love
to travel. My sister lives in the UK and my
brother in Tassie, so trips to catch up with
family are an important part of my life. Once
we are in the UK, trips to Europe and New
York are so easy. I also love Vietnam, which
I’ve been visiting regularly since 2000. Travel
always inspires.
Is your stitching a great diversion from tasks
you’d prefer to avoid (eg: housework)? The
words “I’ll just finish this thread ...” are often
heard in our home. Followed by “.... and then
I’ll do the dishes”. It’s just so hard to stop
when you are on a roll.
Is there any little annoyance that drives you
nuts when you’re busy stitching? (Dropped
pins? Jamming machine? Interruptions?)
Usually, it’s my own impatience that annoys
me most. I’ll guess a measurement and get it
wrong, take shortcuts and have to do it over
again. I’m hopeless! I’m actively trying to
change this character flaw, but bad habits
die hard, and sometimes, enough times,
I get away with it.
If you were stuck on a desert island, with
just one of each of the following, what
would you want them to be?- Piece of music – The Goldberg Variations,
played by Glenn Gould - Movie – Any of the Jacques Tati films
- Book – How to Survive on a Desert Island,
by anyone who has. - Sewing project – Wool in every colour,
needles, scissors and some fabric. I don’t
know what I’d make, but you can bet it
would be wild.
Gett ing to know ...
Homespun 97