The Eternal Maker Crafts

Friday 11 July 2014

All Change!! A Date for your Diary.

Fear not, readers, for The Eternal Maker is still here with everything that the sewist needs, but at the moment (as you know if you've visited recently) we are having some building work done. Soon we shall also have everything that the knittist needs too! We are expanding to have a yarn department - exciting times!

Um, well I would say that... Let me introduce myself: I'm Ingrid, have recently joined the merry band here at The Eternal Maker, and I am to be the resident knittist, seller of yarns and hostess of knit night.

The work has been going on for some time now, and today the builders have been whacking, cracking and drilling through the wall to create a new, bigger opening through to the yarn dept and cafe.

Yes, you heard me right. A cafe as well! With tea, coffee, cake and more. It's going to be delicious stuff too. We've all been letting out our belts a notch lately trying it all out. Entirely for your benefit, you know...

Oh, you'll be able to stay here all day *rubs hands with glee.*

Ahem. So, you ask, when can you come to sample these delights?

Well, our Grand Opening is on Saturday 16th August and we will open at 10am as usual.

Anna and I have been hard at work researching yarn lines, meeting reps, chosing a nice range of wools, books, patterns, needles and notions. As with the fabrics, we're hoping to have a range of organic wools, and as well as our core basic yarns, we will have a good range of more sought after brands too. Do keep an eye out over the coming weeks to find out what we will be stocking, but for now, here is a sneak preview of some things that have already been delivered.

Addi Turbos

Crazy Zauberball

Libby Summers aran
We are off to the knitting festival Unwind Brighton tomorrow, to snag some great indie dyers' yarns too, so see you there if you're going!

So for now, get your needles ready,  for the Grand Opening of the yarn department and Cafe on Saturday 16th August and stay a while for some tea and cake too!

Happy stitching (of both kinds)!

Monday 7 July 2014

Frolicing Elephant Bunting Tutorial

What could be more summery than a bunting parade of jolly elephants,whales and balloons?

We've recently had a delivery of the new Birch Organic fabric range and it included this gem - Frolic Triangles. 




It's just perfect to make a row of small triangle bunting, as you can see. Can't you just see it jazzing up your summer house while you sip your Pimms of an evening? Well, maybe that's just me.

Anyway, this is how to make some, wherever you decide to put it!

You will need:

One 60cm panel of Birch Organics Frolic Triangles.
3.5 - 4m coordinating bias binding*. If you want to have gaps inbetween the pennants, you will need a longer piece of 5-6m.
Matching thread.

1) Cut the four strips from the panel, and then cut out the triangles. You will have a few half triangles from the end of the rows, but these are not used in the bunting.

2) You will have16 plain and 32 patterned triangles at this point. Match up the triangles as you like to make a pleasing pattern, back and front.

3) Place each pair of triangles with right sides facing, and sew together along the two longer sides, using the edge of the printed pattern as a guide.

4) Once you have completed the 24 triangles, turn them the right side out and press them to get a nice sharp edge and point.

5) Arrange in a jolly line of pennants, remembering to check how your bunting will look on the back as well as the front.

6) Start by sewing along about 20-25cm of the bias binding, sewing closed the fold of the bias tape. Once you have a tail, add your first triangle by opening the bias binding's fold, and slipping in the top of the triangle. Just continue along the binding, sewing the first triangle inside.

7) Continue this process, adding triangles until they are all joined into the bias binding. We didn't leave any gaps between the pennants, but if you want to do this, you'll just need a longer piece of bias binding.  Once you’ve attached all of the triangles, sew a tail of binding at the end of the bunting (just as you did at the beginning).



And you're done! Now, enjoy that Pimms...


Happy stitching!

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