stitches from the inside of the cuffs to
keep them in place. Press the overalls
once more before putting them back
on the bunny and fastening the
straps to finish.Carrots and basket
46
Match the orange felt carrot
shapes in pairs, right sides
together, and stitch around them,
leaving openings at the top as shown
on the pattern. Clip the curves and
corners and turn them right side out,
pushing the seams out gently. Stuff
them firmly with fibre fill and ladder
stitch the openings closed.47
Pin the carrot top shapes
together in pairs, wrong sides
together, and machine stitch^11 ⁄ 8 in
from the edges, leaving the bottomopen. Don’t turn them out. Stuff them
lightly – just enough to add some
body so they stand up – and ladder
stitch them to the tops of the carrots.48
Match the basket handle strips
in pairs, wrong sides together,
and stitch^1 ⁄ 8 in from both long edges.49
With right sides together,
match the short ends of the
basket side rectangle and stitch them
together to make a cylinder. Repeat
with the lining rectangle.50
With right sides together, pin
a basket base to one long edge
of the basket side and stitch them
together. Repeat this step with the
base lining and side lining.51
Turn the outer basket right side
out and stand it on the table. Pin
one end of a handle to the outside of aFIONA TULLY
How often do you start a new project?
Hmmm ... more often than I finish one! It
varies, but roughly around every six weeks.
Do you have the new design completely
formulated in your head before committing
it to paper and fabric? Most of the time,
I have about 80% of the new design in mind
and sketched, and around 20% of the design
may be altered or added to as I’m designing.
There may be a new element, such a pretty
button or ricrac, that I decide to include, or
I may see something that sparks an idea of
how to make my design better.
Do you avidly follow other designers online
and in magazines? I don’t follow particulardesigners, but rather am attracted to
different styles, including kawaii characters
and 1970s fabrics.
What is your least favourite part of
designingand making a project? When
quilting, I’m not a fan of basting, and when
making toys, I really dislike the stuff ing part.
Have you been stitching since you were
a child? es, I’ve been crafting and stitching Y
for as long as I can remember. My earliest
memories of craft activities would be when
I was around three years old and would paste
pictures with fabric and yarn scraps from my
mum’s projects. When I was in lower primary
school, I LOVED receiving craft kits for
birthdays and Christmas (does anyone
remember Hansa brand craft kits?). I recall
candlemaking kits, plastercasting kits,
weaving looms, bead threading, resin
moulding kits and kits to make simple felt
dolls. That developed into creating sock
puppets and simple toys when I was in upper
primary school. I never stopped crafting; my
methods just developed and evolved as I grew
older and learned diff erent craft techniques.
Do you remember your very first craft
‘triumph’? If so, what was it and did you keep
it? As I’ve been crafting since I was a child,
I don’t recall a first triumph, as such. I can
remember, though, my nan giving me a kit for
a log-cabin patchwork cushion when I was
around 11 years old – I still have it tucked
away. I also have the first thing that I made
in textiles class when I was 12 – it’s a
wallhanging with fabric paint, appliqué,
beading and embroidery.
Did you have professional training in
stitching crafts? I don’t have any professional
training in stitching, although I do come
from a long line of crafters. When I was little,
my great-grandmother lived with mygrandmother. Each time I’d visit, they were
always, without fail, sitting in their armchairs,
either knitting or crocheting – they could
both make the most amazing, intricate crochet
lace tablecloths. Nan also made beautiful soft
toys for me and my siblings. Their love of
knitting and crochet was passed on to my
mum, who as well as knitting and crocheting,
loved to try her hand at different things. I
remember different craft trends that she tried- ballpoint fabric paint on my school library
bag, bread dough moulding, polymer clay
modelling, folk-art painting and making little
old faces from carved, dried out apples
(remember them?). So, although I don’t have
professional training, my crafty surroundings
were many and varied.
Do you do your creative crafting in solitude
or do you prefer to be surrounded by others?
I prefer to stitch alone, usually at the end of
the day. I find it a great way to relax, think
over the events of the day and to plan for
the day to come.
What products can’t you resist buying
in patchwork and haberdashery stores?
I’m a sucker for pincushions! – I collect them.
Any cute little sewing notions, such as
pincushions, needlebooks and unusual
buttons always seem to make it home with me.
Have you got an unfulfilled stitching
dream? My stitching has taken me further
than I ever imagined – and dreams I didn’t
even dare to imagine have been fulfilled.
I tend not to think about ‘big picture’ future
stitching dreams; I prefer to focus on my
stitching at the present time.
Do you travel for your craft – exhibiting or
giving lessons? I don’t travel for craft, but
only because the opportunity hasn’t
presented itself. I have taught patchwork
quilting in the past, but several years ago.
Gett ing to know ...
46 Homespun