I've spent the past few months designing, perfecting and putting together a knitting pattern for tiny jumpers and cardigans to fit my Willowynn animal dolls... you an see my progress here.

And HOORAY, the pattern is finally finished and available to download via my online store!

​It turns out, designing a knitting pattern for a jumper, to fit a certain sized toy was not as easy as I originally thought. Especially since I had to learn to knit first :) 

I had a lot of fun coming up with designs and trying out colours and differnent types of yarns. And it's lovely to see everyone on my work table, now with their own jumper :) 

You can download the knitting pattern for my miniature jumpers and cardigans via my online store. Pleaese let me know how you go. I can't wait to see what you make!

I finally learnt to knit!

I've been spending my nights knitting in front of the fire, trying to design and knit the perfect jumper (sweater) and cardigan to fit my Willowynn animal dolls.

My pile of not-quite-right tiny jumpers is growing but I think I'm almost there... 

Knitting pattern coming soon! 

Edit: My tiny cardigan/jumper knitting pattern is now available to download via my online store. 

I've made so many prototypes, trying to get the design and size right... now everyone on my table has a jumper :) 

P. s. The Willowynn animal dolls pictured are not for sale, I'm sorry, but the sewing patterns are available in my online store :) ​

I'm finally creating a downloadable sewing pattern for my snail soft sculpture!

There are snail prototypes all over the place here, and not just on my desk (pictured below). I have made so many snails, after first creating my design back in 2013, but offering it as a sewing pattern means I now have to make a proper template! So I'm tweaking and perfecting the shape, size and design. 

I took the photo above, years ago, upon discovering this little drawing on my work table. My family and I are fascinated by snails and have a very large (and growing) collection of huge snail shells. We live in a sub-tropical region of Australia, with rainforests nearby - where we regularly find the giant panda snail. 

As most of us are staying at home right now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I thought I'd offer this soft sculpture / embroidery tutorial as a free download ​... in case you're looking for something to do.  
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It's also a great beginner sewing project for school children - for those of you at home with kids (me included). You can sew these using the sewing machine or by hand, and then decorate them with some simple embroidery stitches. 

​​The pattern includes instructions for stuffed fabric star, tree and round ornaments which are easy to sew, make great presents and look lovely hung on a garland or mobile (or anywhere really). I've put together some simple instructions, photos, an illustrated embroidery stitch library and templates. You can download the PDF sewing pattern here, for free, ready for you to print at home.

I hope you enjoy making these. You'll find more Willowynn sewing patterns available to download here.

I've been looking for a more eco-friendly / plastic-free way to package my sets of greeting cards, postcards and art prints. Up until now I've used the standard resealable 'cello sleeve' to protect my card sets and prints when posting out to customers, thinking that these were cellophane and made of cellulose (plants).  A couple of weeks ago, I ran out so went to order some more and found that, here in Australia, the resealable 'cello sleeves' are mostly not cellulose at all, but plastic. In fact, I read that (correct me if I'm wrong) if they are resealable (in Australia), they are almost certainly plastic. 

As I'm trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use, I had to find a new way to package my cards for mailing to customers. So I did a bit of research and here's what I discovered...

These are made from biodegradable cellulose, which is a product made from plant fiber. Just make sure they are not plastic and that they are definitely made from cellulose (plants). The bags come in a range of sizes, look and feel like plastic but can be home composted. I couldn't find any that self-seal here in Australia (lots overseas but I'm trying to shop local) so ordered some open cellophane bags at Buy Eco Green.  I just use my logo sticker (paper) to seal the bag, and I think they look great. You could even use a bit of washi tape (made from paper, see below) or tie some twine or cotton string around the whole thing.

Glassine is a specially pressed, smooth, shiny and transparent paper that is apparently water, air and grease proof. Much stronger than tissue paper and doesn't tear easily. It's also acid free and PH neutral so is perfect for storing precious artworks, photographs and collectible stamps.

You can buy it in sheets for wrapping, or as envelopes or bags. I ordered small glassine envelopes for packaging my card sets. I think they look really sweet and I love that they're completely compostable and recyclable - I'd love them even more if they were made from recycled paper.  

Plastic sticky tape has always made me feel uncomfortable. Every Christmas morning as a child, I would try to take the sticky tape off all of the used wrapping paper strewn across the living room floor, before either carefully smoothing and folding the paper, or putting the un-salvageable paper in the recycling bin (a big job in a family with five kids). But what do you do with the sticky tape??? I guess you could put it in with the soft plastics recycling at your supermarket (if you have that in your area) but even that concerns me. What did we do before sticky tape?

Some alternatives to plastic sticky tape: 

• If your item is wrapped (in recycled or reused paper of course :), use string or twine to tie it all up, or,
• a sticker made of recyclable paper - printed with your logo, an image or text.
• Washi tape - a very beautiful Japanese paper tape made from bamboo, hemp or tree bark, is completely compostable and recyclable, and comes in an endless range of colours and patterns.
• A paper bag.
• Wrap your item in nice fabric or use a fabric drawstring bag.

For packing boxes and mailers:

• Paper packing tape - a gummed, water-activated, kraft paper tape. I get mine from my local art and framing store as I use it to stretch my watercolour paper (but that's another story). It's compostable and recyclable, and you can write or stamp on it. 
• Glue (non toxic and biodegradable) - you could seal reused envelopes or tough mailing bags (or even boxes) with a strong biodegradable craft glue. Just make sure it's made from natural ingredients (not petrochemicals), biodegradable and the packaging is recycled or at least recyclable. 
• Biodegradable cello tape - made from cellulose so it's biodegradable. Though I feel this should be avoided and only used as a last resort. I need to do some more research on the biodegradable sticky tape and how biodegradable it really is and what would happen if it goes in with the paper recycling...

Tough paper or rigid cardboard mailers and envelopes are great as they can be composted or recycled (as long as there's no plastic tape). ​You can even go one step further by re-using old mailers. I keep my my used cardboard mailers (and my local post office holds on to their used mailers for me). I'm a bit over particular about how things look so I've started turning mine inside-out and making new tough envelopes for mailing my card sets to customers (see pics below). I find it fun :) 

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the packaging I'll now use for my cards (and other things) and I hope it's been helpful. Maybe you'd like to share some ideas that I haven't thought of, or correct me if I've got anything wrong! I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. 
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Margeaux

Of all the embroidery and hand-stitches, ladder stitch is the one I use the most. It's how I close up all of my soft toys, dolls and soft sculpture, sew on extremities like ears and tails and attach tiny sleeves to doll dresses.

I recommend ladder stitch in all of my soft toy sewing patterns and, as I am often asked how to sew a ladder stitch, I thought it was time I filmed a little demonstration for you.

​Please excuse the poor quality, my less than lovely gardening nails and the sound of macadamia nuts being harvested on the farm across the road!

If the seam turns out a little puckered (as it has in my demo), you can go back over it with a second row of ladder stitch to smooth it out, or just make your stitches a bit closer together. 

​I also drew a diagram (below)... 

I hope that helps! 

After a few requests, I thought I'd demonstrate an easy technique for turning out very narrow sewn shapes for stuffing, with a short video demonstration (below), If you have ever tried to sew and stuff really tiny doll legs, arms or the stalks in my mushroom sewing pattern, you will know how tricky and seemingly impossible it is. 

I've found a brilliant technique for doing this with ease, using a drinking straw and something long, small and pointy - like a small crochet / knitting needle or skewer. 

I'm running a special mushroom-making workshop in the beautiful old Federal hall, in the Byron Bay hinterland on Sunday the 10th December. We will spend the morning making some little fabric mushroom ornaments... just in time for Christmas.

​In this workshop you will learn some soft sculpture techniques as well as various stitches for hand-sewing and embroidery.
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This class is most suitable for adults with some machine and hand sewing experience.​

​For more information, or to make a booking, please visit my online store.

I've been slowly making a sort of diorama / doll's house room to display my cloth art dolls in. As with most of the creative projects I take on, this one took a lot more time and effort than I anticipated... but I've really enjoyed it and have learned a lot along the way. 

I wanted to make one large room with interchangeable walls, windows, a door and wooden floor boards.  I really love the way it's turned out - kind of like a cottage or cabin in the woods. I'll continue working on it - adding things like book shelves, furniture, curtains etc., but just wanted to show you what it looks like at this stage and describe how I made the floor, windows and door.  

​I'll start off by explaining how I made the tiny floor boards, and save the window/door tutorial for a later post...

​These embroidered star, tree and round ornaments are easy to sew, make great presents and look lovely on a Christmas tree. I've put together some simple instructions, an illustrated stitch library and templates, to help you make these at home. You can download the PDF sewing pattern here, ready for you to print at home.

I hope you enjoy making these. You'll find more Willowynn sewing patterns available to download here.

I made a little video demonstration (below), showing how to embroider French knots. I found this embroidery stitch quite tricky when I first tried it and looking at diagrams in embroidery books didn't really help me. But I've since taught myself how to sew them so thought I'd show you how I do it.

​The key is to hold the thread taut with one hand while you wrap it around the needle and insert it into the fabric. Hold on to the thread until just before it is pulled all the way through the fabric (see video below).

This is an example of a singular French knot but you can make them larger by wrapping the thread around your needle twice rather than once. This video shows how I stitch the French knots onto my fabric mushroom hanging ornaments.

​... and here is a little diagram showing French knots in more detail. I drew this a while ago for one of my sewing patterns. Enjoy!

Matt and I had the beautiful task of making the arbour for my friend's wedding over the weekend. I made the flowers and he and the kids collected the branches and vines. It looked beautiful and was the most perfect day.

The flowers were really easy to make so I thought I'd share how I made them with you...

You will need:
Polyester or rayon lining fabric in cream and leaf green,
Candle and matches,
Scissors,
Needle and thread.

Instructions (for one flower)

Step 1:
From the cream fabric, cut out three circles about 10cm in diameter, and two smaller circles about 7cm in diameter. Cut one circle from the green fabric about 7cm in diameter. 

Step 2:
With your scissors, make five cuts (evenly spaced) into each circle from the edge of the circle towards the centre but don't cut all the way into the middle. These will be the petals (or leaves in the green fabric).

Step 3:
Hold each circle of fabric over a candle flame without letting the fabric actually touch the flame. The heat will make the edges of your fabric curl up like a flower petal and seal the edge to prevent fraying.  Turn your fabric slowly to curl all the edges. Repeat for all circles.

Step 4:
Arrange the layers of petals - green layer at the bottom, then the larger layers and finally the smaller ones. Make a couple of stitches in the centre of the circles, through all the layers and secure. You could leave your flowers flat and open or make a few stitches in the bottom to bring the petals up and together slightly like I've done. 

I threaded a large needle with thick cotton and sewed all of my flowers onto a garland. You could sew or glue yours onto a hair clip or brooch, or use it to finish off your gift wrapping, a corsage or make them into a bouquet. Whatever you like. Enjoy!
  

At last... my moth sewing pattern is finally ready for the world...

It's super detailed with step by step instructions and photos and is a lovely project to use those beautiful scraps of fabric you’ve been saving for something special.

It's available to download now in my online shop here. I can't wait to see all of your handmade moths (or butterflies)!

My little boy sorting through my button tin...he's made a rainbow.

My little boys and I made a few of these little tiny cardboard ships the other day. They wanted a little ship for their whales to swim underneath...

Once we'd designed and made a template, we sat down and made lots and lots of little ships using cardboard from an old box, craft glue, a wooden skewer and paper. If you'd like to put your ship in water, you could use waxed cardboard from an old milk or juice carton.

Here's the rough template we came up with (below). You could save this photo and print it off to make your own boats. Here's how...

Cut out this template and draw around it onto a piece of cardboard. Cut it out and fold it into shape, using glue to secure it all together. We used clothes pegs to hold it in place while the glue dried.

For the base inside that holds the sails up, just cut out a small rectangle of cardboard and fold it to give it three sides. Then poke a hole in the middle (for the skewer). Position it into the boat with glue and poke the skewer piece into the hole.

You can make sails however you like. I made three little sails out of some paper from old book pages. Just poke holes at the top and bottom edges of the paper and thread them onto the skewer. Have fun!

Today my boys and I turned some old cardboard boxes into houses. Something that I thought would be a fun thing to do for maybe half an hour, ended up occupying them for the rest of the day. I just cut in some windows and a door and stuck on a roof with masking tape...

Here are the houses at night with a lamp inside one of them. Pure happiness. I can't believe how happy this made them (and me).

Feeling all Christmassy today... We cut a pine tree branch and stuck it in a bucket of wet sand in the lounge and decorated it this morning. The kids used their Christmas rubber stamps to make cards and gift tags, and I went out into the garden and collected some bits and pieces to make this wreath for the front door...

It was surprisingly simple and quick to make. I had a wreath made of sticks that I found in a charity shop last year...all I've done is poke the ends of little sprigs of foliage into it. You need to make sure your sprigs are pointing in the same direction (clock-wise or anti-clockwise) and use a variety of leaves and flowers. I used camellia leaves, rosemary, lavender, fern and the flower of a weed that grows by the side of the road...not sure what it's called. Anyway...I think it looks lovely...