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Danielle

Road Trip Idea – Visit Ararat’s Textile Art Museum

14 February 2023 by Danielle

A 2 hour & 45 minute drive from Melbourne (or catch the train out via Ballarat!) you’ll find Ararat, a town that is part of Victoria’s Central Highlands. The Ararat TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia) has been operating since 1968.

The dynamic growth in textile practice from the 1970s into the 1990s is reflected in a wide range of acquisitions including quilts, tapestries, baskets and embroideries, as well as experimental mixed media works that reflect the enthusiasm and optimism amongst textile artists during this period. 

Ararat TAMA – araratgallerytama.com.au

Current exhibitions include;

The Lady Barbara Grimwade Collection

Barbara’s interest and appreciation for well-tailored clothing and fashion began during her school days and her early adulthood. As a young woman Barbara favoured Marlowe of Sydney, a designer who had studied in France and was highly proficient in haute couture. Following a move to Melbourne, Barbara was a dedicated patron of Arija Austin, the owner and designer of Tu in South Yarra. Following her death in March 1990, Barbara’s son Mr Angus K Grimwade generously donated over 400 items from her wardrobe to Ararat Gallery, including clothing, hats, handbags, shoes and assorted accessories of gloves, belts and scarves.

Runs Until Sunday 19th March 2023

FREE

A tribute exhibition to local artist Carole Mules

Carole Mules (nee Anderson) was born in 1946, after studying art and teaching at the School of Mines in Ballarat, Carole moved to Melbourne to raise a family where she developed her interest in photography, textiles and ceramics. Carole created a rich pallet of textures and colours using combinations of contact printing with native plants and found objects, freehand machine stitching, hand stitching, cut and collage, floral resist, and tying and folding fabric. Carole passed away in September 2021.

Runs until Sunday 19th March 2023

FREE

Notions of Care

Notions of Care explores the ways in which art and nurture are interlinked. Through the works of Arini Byng, Snapcat, Polly Stanton, Kate Tucker and Katie West, ways of caring are unfolded, cultivated, and enforced. The exhibition asks questions about the ways that art can care for both viewers and artists. Throughout the exhibition, care is explored through a variety of means. From soft sculptural forms, bodily interrelations, field recordings and the scent of local flora, the exhibition welcomes a personal and intimate reverence of calm.

Runs until Sunday 26th February 2023

FREE

Filed Under: Events, Sew-inspiring Tagged With: Exhibitions

Christmas gifts for sewing lovers

7 November 2022 by Danielle

Are you looking for the perfect gift idea for someone who loves to sew? A beautifully crafted pair of dressmaking shears or thread snips is a quality gift that will last a lifetime.

For an extra special touch, consider having your loved one’s name engraved on the blade.

Click here to see our gift ideas.

Sohmo Dressmaking Shears

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Bobbin Tips

14 September 2022 by Danielle

Super quick and in some pics, here are our top bobbin threading tips:

bobbin tip 1

Avoid layering up threads on your bobbins. When you get to the end of the outer thread (white in our picture), a knot can easily be created as the needle thread tries to pick up the end of the white thread and the beginning of the yellow thread all at once.

Bobbin tip 2

Don’t leave a long thread tail after loading up your bobbin. Each time the machine rotates the needle thread around the bobbin, it will try to pick up both the working end and the tail end of the thread. Instead, snip off the tail thread close to the bobbin.

Bobbin tip 3

The thread in our picture isn’t neat, the threads crisis cross each other which will encourage skipped stitches. Double-check your manual to ensure you are threading up correctly to perfectly fill a bobbin with thread.

bobbin tip 4

If your thread feels squishy on the bobbin or you can easily separate threads like in our picture, you will likely be missing a tension guide when threading your bobbin.

bobbin tip 5

If you are following all the guides on your machine and pulling the thread into the bobbin thread tension guide you should have a good-looking bobbin, ready for a great session of sewing!

Filed Under: Sewing Tips

Tips for cutting out fabric when sewing

7 September 2022 by Danielle

These are the top tips for cutting out your fabric that we share when you join a sewing workshop at Thread Den. Doing a great job of cutting out all your pattern pieces before you even start sewing will help the rest of your project go smoothly.

  • Keep the shears and fabric as close to the tabletop as possible. Keep your fabric flat, do not lift it up or off the table to access it. You can scootch your shears along the tabletop (keeping the lower blade touching the tabletop).
  • Keep your shears straight.
  • Take long cuts.
  • Peel the fabric of the cutout pattern pieces out of your way as you cut.
  • Keep the pattern pieces on the left of your shears (if right-handed).
  • Use lovely sharp fabric shears.
  • When snipping in your notches, never cut them deeper than the seam allowance. 5mm or less is about right.

Filed Under: Sewing Tips

Thread Den: Next Gen’ Workshops

16 August 2022 by Danielle

🧵 Thread Den: The Next Gen’ ✂️
A sewing program re-imagined in 2025 for the makers of tomorrow!

Thread Den: The Next Gen’ is where young creatives learn to stitch with style and passion. Workshops cater to 9-to-13 year olds. Read class descriptions and titles carefully to ensure you are booking into the right age group.

You’ll pick up essential sewing skills, explore cool tools and fabrics, and build the confidence to create things you’ll be proud to wear or share. 🧷✨

Perfect for beginners and young sewists looking to level up, The Next Gen’ is all about discovering your creativity, mastering the basics, and joining a community of future textiles and fashion stars. 🌟

Filed Under: Workshops

Plan your Spring makes

3 August 2022 by Danielle

September and October banner

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Workshops

Measurements Workshop and PJ Pants Course Competitions

3 August 2022 by Danielle

Congratulations to the below mailing list member who won a place in our Taking Measurements and Selecting Sizes Workshop in August 2022:

  • K Walker

Congratulations to the below Thread Den member who won a place in our PJ Pants Course in August 2022:

  • L Dean

For your chance to win prizes like this, become a Thread Den member. Click here to read more.

Filed Under: Competitions, Uncategorized

Cushion Cover Workshop Winners Announcement

25 July 2022 by Danielle

Congratulations to the below Thread Den members who won a place in our Cushion Cover Workshop in July 2022:

  • A Christison
  • J Kelly
  • J Cahn

For your chance to win prizes like this, become a Thread Den member. Click here to read more.

Filed Under: Competitions, Uncategorized

Win our #MeMadeMay Prize Pack

11 May 2021 by Danielle

Win accessories pack

This May we are celebrating the annual wardrobe sewing celebration – #MeMadeMay, with an accessories prize pack worth $165!

The prize pack contains:

  • Jubly-Umph Vintage Sewing Machine Necklace
  • Colette Sewing Machine Pin
  • I Made It Myself Pin
  • Jubly-Umph Vintage Sewing Machine Pin
  • $100 gift voucher for online or face-to-face workshops at Thread Den 

How to enter via Instagram:

  1. Post to Instagram photos of your self-made sewing projects between 11th and 31st May 2021.
  2. Comment with #MeMadeMay and #ThreadDenCompetition.
  3. Like the Thread Den profile page to ensure we can direct message you if you are our winner.
  4. Keep your post on Instagram with both hashtags until midnight 1st June 2021. We will add all self-made sewing projects with both hashtags to the competition entries on 1st June 2021. The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries received via all three entry methods.

How to enter via Mailing List Signup:

  1. All new email addresses signed up to the Thread Den Mailing list between 11th and 31st May 2021 will be automatically entered in the #MeMadeMay competition. Not on the mailing list? Sign up now! Click here.
  2. The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries received via all three entry methods.

How to enter for Thread Den members:

  1. All members with a paid membership that is current as at 31st May 2021 will be automatically entered in the #MeMadeMay competition. Not a member? Join now!
  2. The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries received via all three entry methods.

The winner will be advised on 2nd June 2021 via direct messaging on Instagram or their email address.

Filed Under: Competitions

FreeStyle Sessions

10 March 2021 by Danielle

 
FreeStyle Sewing Sessions
Scroll down for upcoming dates.

Join us for relaxed evening sessions where you get the run of our fully-equipped sewing studio! With only 6 spots available, everyone gets their own spacious 4×4 metre sewing station—complete with a sewing machine, overlocker, steam generator iron, shears, sewing kits, and all the tools you could possibly need. You’ll also have full access to our cutting room and drafting tables. It’s your time to create, experiment, and sew without limits!

Grab the project you’ve been planning to create and make it happen with the added support you need. Complete your project, at your pace. One of our expert teachers is on hand to assist participants with simple things like finding all you’ll need, to providing advice on the best techniques suited to your project.

What to bring:

  • Your fabric, notions, haberdashery.
  • Note – pattern-making paper and pattern-making card, as well as a small range of haberdashery, is available for sale.

Appropriate for:

You’ve got your project ready to go, or maybe even underway and want to use a dedicated space to really get some work done! This session is flexible enough to allow for participants at varying levels. However, you will need to know how to thread and operate a sewing machine (maybe not specifically our machines, we can show you the nuances).

Upcoming sessions:

Filed Under: Sewing Space, Workshops

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