Kelly Doust introduces readers to her wonderful world of reviving and customising vintage pieces, while bringing a modern and unique twist to wearing vintage clothes – Dita Von Teese
Aprons in your downtime
This is Mabel. Mabel’s mother Alison came along to the handmade gifts workshop at Surry Hills Library just before Christmas, and knocked up this oilcloth apron in an hour or so following instructions from my book, The Crafty Kid: projects for and with children.
These aprons have to be one of the simplest and most gratifying craft projects to create. Excellent gifts, the oilcloth also renders them perfect for little ones in the kitchen because they’re so utterly food-proof – simply wipe clean. I even made a grownup’s version for myself.
MINI-ME APRONS
Materials
For an apron fit for your favourite five-year-old, a 35cm wide x 45cm high piece of oilcloth
2 metres ribbon
2 metres bias binding
2 colours embroidery thread; one to match bias binding, one in a contrasting colour
Embroidery needle
Scissors
Ruler
One round saucer or small plate
Pen
Instructions
1. Take your rectangle of oilcloth, ruler and pen. Measure and make a small mark 10cm in from the top right hand corner of the oilcloth, and 15cm down.
2. Place one quarter of the saucer on the spot where these two lines will intersect, and use your pen to draw around the outside, directly onto the oilcloth.
3. Use scissors to cut away the excess fabric beyond the line you have made.
4. Repeat the above two steps on the top left corner of the oilcloth.
5. Take your bias binding, apron-shaped oilcloth, and fold the binding over the edge of the bottom left-hand corner. Secure in place with a couple of small, firm stitches, then use a running stitch to affix the bias binding around the entire border.
6. When you reach a corner, fold the bias binding under itself and keep stitching. You might want to insert another stitch diagonally at each corner, just to be safe.
7. When you get to the end, leave a few millimetres and chop off any excess binding. Fold underneath at an angle and stitch firmly in place.
8. Place one end of the shortest length of ribbon to the top right corner of the apron, at the back. Use your contrasting embroidery thread and needle to affix with three small, ‘x’ shaped stitches.
9. Close the loop by securing the other side in place as well.
10. Secure the remaining lengths of ribbon to either corner just underneath the armhole with the same ‘x’ stitches. Et voila, you’re done.
Cute Christina in her adult-size apron
Crisscross
With the birds
Sydney sunrise, courtesy Peter Lee
I’ve always been an eary morning person of sorts, but lately I have taken an almost perverse pleasure in rising with the sun. There’s something subversive about greeting the dawn. It’s like sucking a few more hours from the day. Never mind that I’m toast by 9pm, it’s worth it for the colours alone. Today’s task: find dye to match sun-orange, salmon pink and grey slate water before dawn. I’m staring at a batch of old white silks and linens, done with neutrals, envisioning India in a basket.
An Indian colour powder stall
Nani IRO fabrics
Shall we polka?
Last weekend at Surry Hills Library I ran a craft workshop for around 25, making early xmas gifts whipped up by hand and sharing favourite places to source materials. There was much discussion on Japanese fabrics, yarns and pattern books because as a rule, I think the Japanese have nailed the quirky craft market, consistently producing covetable materials I can never seem to own enough of.
Nani IRO is one such collection of stylish, unique designs. Some are printed on lovely cotton, others on linen blends or 100% cotton soft double gauze, and they’re perfect for fashioning homewares, bags, wall art and clothing. Duckcloth stocks an enviable range, as does Calico & Ivy. I’ve used them for skirts, cushions, curtains and lightweight scarves to name a few. And they wash so beautifully, too – well worth purchasing a metre or two in time for holiday crafting.
Love a wonky stripe
Poppy field
Love Vintage wrap-up
Ah, Love Vintage… why are you over until March next year? I’m in withdrawal.
Glam 1930s-era hairpiece from Circa Vintage Hats
Last weekend’s event was by far the biggest and most buzziest I’ve been to in some time. Perhaps it’s because vintage is so hot right now (need evidence, Mugatu? Read this article… if the Tele says so it must be true). Or perhaps it’s because all the workshops and talks – which I adored, by the way, and thanks to the scores of lovely people who attended mine – were just brimming with enthusiasm and admiration for such high-quality pieces from yesteryear. Indeed you could barely hear yourself think above the chatter, tip-sharing and general gasps when gowns fit like the proverbial glove. It was every vintage vixen’s dream.
Heart it: true vintage by Rosalie, Giorgio & Robyn
Channelling Betty Draper / Veronica Lake, thanks to Mistress Chrissy of the Lindy Charm School
How many 50s prom dresses can one girl own?
Jess Guthrie weaves a little feather magic
Lindy Charm school recreates Underbelly: Razor
I may not wear vintage head to toe in everyday life, but this was the place to indulge latent screen siren fantasies. Thanks to the fabulous Chrissy, Lucy Topp and ladies of the Lindy Charm School for Girls for their stunning ‘dos, MC Bonnie Rose and to Charlotte Smith of Dreaming of Dior fame & the Darnell Collection for her fascinating forays into clothing’s social history. Not to mention all the dealers who made the journey out to Canterbury Racecourse to sell their wares. Thank you thank you Coco Repose, Garden Street Bazaar, Empire 47 and Circa Vintage Hats, to name but a few.
Until next year.
Orange silk poppies on my immaculate Coco Repose 60s Wiggle dress
Garden Street Bazaar for spectacular vintage everything
And today's job: tea-dyeing white lace to cover the holes in a 1950s coolie-style hat
Pinspiration & yet more crochet love
Crocheted mushrooms from I Knit
Hours whizz by perusing Pinterest, the virtual mood board for all things inspiring. Type in crochet, and there you have some of the cutest, weirdest things anyone could think to make. Love it.
Don’t ask me why, but I’m obsessed with crocheting fruit at the moment. The plan is to fill little bowls around the house with fancies (just because I can). Here’s the first attempt below – two pears and a strawberry, made from one of my Japanese pattern books (which is entirely in Japanese – a bit of a punt following its instructions, but we get there in the end). The pears measure about 5cm from top to bottom, using a 1.75mm crochet needle. I’m going solo next, and trying to attempt making my own cherries and apples.
Fruitbowl
Below is our pinboard, depository of all beloved imagery in the kitchen, and the crocheted brooch I made Olive recently but am saving for a day when she won’t cause some horrific accident or maim herself with it (bull in a china shop doesn’t come close to covering it, god love her).
Kitchen pinboard = happiness
Klimt would love this Koigu yarn
And check out my new crochet bag, found at the Rozelle markets a few weeks ago. It’s currently storing the shapes below for a new, Swedish-style blanket I’m whipping up in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino – heaven to touch.
Will this crochet obsession ever end?
A cheery little crochet bag
Another blanket on the way
In it to win it
Cloud mobile by Prue Hilton
Just a reminder to get your skates on if you want to win the $100 Cloth voucher, girls. Prue’s already sent in images of her Rain, Hail or Snow cloud mobile, constructed from the fabric pack awarded recently. At this stage, she’s a sure bet. Entries close at the end of the month.
Don’t feel you have to make something big – here’s what I’ve done with the raspberry Rough Roses print; a simple girls’ frock with velvet ribbon tie and Liberty print bias binding. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Congratulations, Cloth winners
Zigzag quilt by Siobhan Rogers for Cloth Fabric
Oh you’ve made me smile. Reading through all your entries for the Cloth competition has been the best start to the day. It was selfish really, asking you to share what winter meant to you – in the middle of nursing a sickly two year old and my customary impatience for spring, I needed a reminder of why winter’s to be savoured. I will stop longing for longer days, and appreciate the fleeting pleasures of hibernation. I will.
Believe me when I say I’ve been agonising – I so wanted to award a pack to each of you. But in the end, I had to limit it to my favourite responses from readers who sent me their address.
The lucky winners are: Prue, Manon, Sarah Cortis, Alison Wright and Stitchy Britt. I’ll be popping your packs in the post first thing Monday, and so hope you’ll send through pics of what you made with them for a chance to win the $100 Cloth voucher. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
Happy winter crafting, lovelies. I’ll be thinking of you.
xx
Rose quilt by Siobhan Rogers for Cloth Fabric
It’s all about the crochet
Pansies made with Rowan Kidsilk Haze
Another love affair has begun – I’ve gone mad for crochet. And not just with any yarn, but the dusky-coloured wool I’ve chosen to make these two favourite crochet projects with.
The above is 70% super kid mohair and 30% silk (Rowan Kidsilk Haze). Heather Hunt, our fab Calico & Ivy crochet teacher came up with the pattern but I’ve been modifying it as I’ve gone along, basing changes on the pansies Olive picked out at Rozelle Markets last weekend.
Below is the scarf I’ve ground to a halt with. Must start up again soon, but somehow the pansies are far more satisfying, given they’re completed in under an hour.
For images of the crochet and string quilting classes I’ve been attending, check out the Calico & Ivy blog, which is of course new favourite supplier for all things woollen and haberdashery-wise.
Gaga for these Japanese pattern books as well...
Debbie Bliss Andes in a mustard tone, and more Kidsilk Haze
Knitting will have to wait -
Scraptastic
I decimated the darning pile last weekend, which was so intensely satisfying, it felt wrong. I spent all day Sunday stitching and playing with scraps. First up was this small dress we bought in France last year, which was stained down the front after an accidental trip to nursery school. I covered sad stains with bright yoyos and buttons. She’s a happy dress now.
Yoyo detailing
Then I attached a leftover yoyo to a hairband, made a funny little charm bracelet for me (inspired by something similar spied at Incu), and a necklace for Olive. I’m clearly having a Liberty moment.
Olive's hairband
Liberty features again
Whimsical bow & button necklace
Staying in: the new going out?
Cabbage (&) Roses
We chucked most commitments today in favour of time indoors, en famille. The knots in my shoulders are working themselves loose and I feel sane again, because Minxy Vintage is very nearly off to print, and the days brought various good tidings. Hooray for the turning tide.
I did, however, pop out for some flowers to cheer up the house – hence the kale and roses above. And my new/old egg cups, a collectible German design from the 50s. Who was I to resist such pastel charms?
And my chubby babe is due another bib, for the seams were bursting on the old one which featured in The Crafty Kid. Here’s the new version – done & dusted in under an hour. It should last until she’s four. By which stage, bibs will be redundant, right? (ha).
Googie eggs never looked so good
A new bib for Miss Olive