Australian Homespun — October 2017

7

Centre the zipper, right side

down, across one long edge

of the pouch front, right side up.

There should be^1 ⁄ 4 in of pouch fabric

overhanging at each end. Pin the

lining, right side down, over the

zipper with all the long edges level.

8

Sew all the layers together from

edge to edge using the zipper

foot. Stop with the needle down to

move the zipper pull out of the way

as you approach it. Fold the lining

and pouch front away from the

zipper, wrong sides together, and

topstitch close to the fold.

9

Centre the other edge of the

zipper, right side down, along

one long edge of the pouch back

rectangle, right side up. Pin the

second lining rectangle on top,

right side down, so the zipper tape

is sandwiched between them as

before. Stitch, press and topstitch

as for the front.

10

Lay the pouch fl at on the

table and open the zipper.

Fold one outer panel over the other

and pin the two layers together

around the edges. Do the same

for the lining pieces. Sew all the

way around the pouch and lining,

leaving a 3in opening along one

side of the lining. Clip the corners,

turn the pouch right side out and

stitch the opening closed. Push the

lining inside the pouch and press.

QUICKQUICK

STITCHSTITCH

Step 7 Step 9

Step 10

Step 8

STEPHANIE

CUNNYNGHAM

Where do you live and work? My family and

I recently moved into a cute, century-old

farmhouse in the country, just outside a tiny

little town in Indiana [USA]. With two little

boys, a husband, two cats and a dog, it was

a challenge to find a place where I could set

up my sewing space in our small two-bedroom,

one-bathroom home. After a few weeks, though,

I noticed the best sunlight came in through

a small window in the back porch that had

been converted into a laundry, so that’s where

I put my desk. The walls were already painted

a cheerful yellow, and I love the natural light

and the view of the farmland around us.

Why this particular craft? My mother sewed. My

grandmother sewed. I wanted to be just like them.

My mum is a perfectionist, especially when it comes

to making garments. My grandmother quilted and

sold her quilts all over town. When she passed, my

dad brought all of her quilting fabric and patterns

home for me. Quilting and piecing quickly became

my preference over garment sewing.

What does this craft mean to you? Quilting

makes me feel close to my grandmother. It

makes me proud to spend my precious spare

time creating and having something to show for

it, instead of wasting hours on a phone or other

device. It reminds me of days where everyone

worked hard all the time and when every scrap

and leftover was turned into something beautiful

and useful. I’m proud to be a part of such a rich

history and group of strong women, including

the ones in my family. It’s a hobby for me, as well

as a bonding experience between me, my mother,

my aunts and cousins, who all get together

several times a year for ‘sewing days’.

Is it hard to find time to do your craft or is it a

profession? With a family to care for and a career as

a nurse, I often wish I had more time to spend on my

craft. However, recently I scaled back on my hours

at work to focus more on my family and my sewing.

I’d love this to be a profession for me some day.

How would you describe your style? un, pretty, F

neat and tidy. I love to mix fabrics from various

designers and fabric lines. I also love to use

diff erent fabrics in my projects, including linen,

vintage sheets and even vintage lingerie.

Any embarrassing botch-ups along the way?

With all the zipper pouches I’ve made, I still

sometimes forget to open the zipper before

stitching around the outside, resulting in a date

with the seam ripper, because the pouch can’t

be turned right side out!

What is your advice for beginners? When you’re

learning something new, it’s easy to get excited

and want to make everything right away and want

it to be perfect. But it won’t be perfect and THAT’S

OKAY! A finished project is better than a perfect

one. And the more projects you finish, the better

you will get. Sew whatever makes you happy.

Gett ing to know ...

114 Homespun

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