Chris Hammacott, a popular quilting writer for the British Patchwork & Quilting magazine and the online Quilt Pattern Magazine, was expelled from her first needlecraft lesson at school and has always vowed to make textiles fun and easy and nothing like that first lesson!
She trained as a weaver and has been writing, teaching and designing textiles for over thirty years. In 2012, with her husband Andrew, she fulfilled a long held ambition to move to a small croft in the Outer Hebrides. Here Chris teaches all aspects of ‘Harris Tweed’, from spinning and natural dyeing to designing items made from the wonder cloth. Andrew weaves ‘Harris Tweed’ in their old weaving shed.
For hundreds of years Harris Tweed has been produced from the wool (originally only from the local Blackface sheep) of the Isles of Lewis and Harris, used as a tough, warm material for outdoor clothing.
“It is one of the last indigenous fabrics and has to be produced on a hand loom,” said Chris. “Only tweed woven on the Islands can carry the Harris Tweed Orb stamp, a trademark protected by Act of Parliament and now fiercely upheld by the Harris Tweed Authority.”
For years Harris Tweed has been appreciated by haute couture fashion designers and top end manufacturers, but not by patchworkers,” Chris says. “I wanted to take this a step further and try out some of my favourite appliqué techniques on a variety of items. I have something of an addiction for cushions, much to the annoyance of my husband and the dogs who all take it in turns to ‘frisbee’ them from the sofas, but, patient woman that I am, I just make more!
So, she wrote an ebook: Harris Tweed Appliqué for Beginners.
Her aim with this ebook, published by Vivebooks, is to introduce you to the joys of using ‘Harris Tweed’ for appliqué instead of the usual cotton. When writing the instructions she assumed that the reader has no experience other than a willingness to have a go, so nothing is missed out.
She has structured this ebook the way she teaches; in little steps with a nice project or two to make you want to have a go yourself. None of it is rocket science, she insists. The world won’t end if your stitches are crooked and your tweed puckered – as long as you can thread a needle, this ebook is for you!
Appliqué can be likened to the ‘cut and stick’ that we did as children with paper. It is quick and simple and the appeal lies in the mix of colours and shapes. You can achieve something totally individual, adding charm and personal identity to your home.
The ebook covers all aspects of appliqué, from tools of the trade (nothing fancy is needed), hand stitching and machine techniques. Chris’ adorable patterns inspired by croft life on the Isle of Lewis include templates and instructions for four cushions: harebell, cats, hearts and wee croft houses. She teaches us how to jazz up an old sweater, how to decorate tea cosies, make a Charles Rennie MacKintosh scarf, make a wall hanging and a table runner.
Instructions on buying and caring for Harris tweed are also included.
I’ve been sewing and working with patchwork since I was a child and there were a few eureka moments while I was reading through this ebook. It is a very well laid out, easy to follow book with templates that don’t need to be enlarged or shrunk – you just print them from size and away you go!
Inspired by the information I’ve read in this book I have a few ideas for some projects, including a few sets of bunting as Christmas gifts using the sheep template and tweed grown, dyed and woven here in Shetland (I’m clean out of Harris!).
Vivebooks, the publishers, have kindly offered my crafting readers the chance to win a copy of the ebook just in time for Christmas – the perfect stocking filler for a crafter!
RRP £17 you can find this ebook on the Vivebooks website for purchase either as a digital download or on CD.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win a Harris Tweed Appliqué for Beginners CD RRP £17 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 7 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Vivebooks. The prize is a Harris Tweed Appliqué for Beginners CD. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this give away. The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the give away and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory!
Closing date is midnight on Monday 15 December 2014 (GMT) and the winner will be announced that day.
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was sent a digital copy of Harris Tweed Appliqué for Beginners for review, and a CD copy for giveaway. All opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post. Images used with permission from Vivebooks.
Aimee Aimee
Thank you for a great explanation. I was looking online for a similar idea and really appreciate it
Rachel
I adore that cat cushion, as a cat lady, I feel I need something like this in my life x
Gerri Tennant
I have always wanted to try this wqith some Welsh blankets that I have. Thanks for the inspiration.
Keith Hunt
No – Wife gets craft items for gifts
Irene Gilmour
im not but my mum in
Elaine B
Baby hats, learnt this summer¬!
Claire Davies
I love to knit but I am a beginner 🙂 I like to knit fun items such as teddy bears and at the moment I am doing a doorstop. I use kits as I am a starter but it is so much fun and I love being creative 🙂
Judith Allen
I don’t really do anything now, I did like dressmaking and needlework, but pesky MS has done for my eyesight and coordination. This looks a really sweet book though, and suitable for my mum I think. She loves spinning from fleece, some from her own sheep, weaving, knitting, felting, needlework. Bit of everything.
Clare Adams
I’m a crafter! I do knitting, crochet, cross-stitch and quilting
Jennifer Toal
Mostly crafts with the children but like to learn new skills
Anita Roberts
cross stitch and I make my own clothes
LYNNE COLLINS
I have started again doing craft with my little 2 year old Grand daughter,so we have made Christmas cards & pictures& collages so far
Morag P
Have been a crafter all of my life. Nowadays I mainly do knitting but also dabble in patchwork, cross stitch and upcycling furniture. Have to keep busy!!
Karen Gay
I’ve worked with Harris Tweed in the past, never thought about appliqué. A beautiful fabric to work with. Looks like an excellent book.
iain maciver
fab giveaway
The Pie Patch
I crochet all sorts of things – baskets, jumpers, gloves, shawls. Keeps me busy & out of trouble!
Karl Borowy
art work
Dymphna
Love the look of this book. Do a lot of sewing and fancy trying wuth tweed.
Hester McQueen
I don’t think I could describe myself as a crafter! I do enjoy making things but my skills are not on this league but maybe if I had the book they would improve. All the photographs are amazing.
susan applegarth
hope its easy
jon morris
the wife is just starting this and loves it
Retrowren
This looks like a great book. I have never appliqués with tweed before, but the projects look good and classic, so I’ll give it a try 🙂
Thanks for the chance of winning !
Jessica Powell
I do a fair bit of sewing, but I’d like to branch out more 🙂
Tracy Nixon
Yes, I do loads from cross-stitch, to tapestry, sewing home made gifts for friends and family and I have recently learned felting!
Ellie Spider
I’m not a crafter as such but I do recycle / upcycle stuff a lot. Recently I picked up a tatty looking computer chair where the seat and back were ripped and awful looking for free – I recovered it with an old bedding set that was going in the bin, even made a cushion cover to match – it now looks fab 😀 I also make up a lot of foam beds/pillows for a cat rescue. This generally involves me getting given old pillows and quilts, yoga/camping mats etc and bedding to make cosy square beds for the kitties for the colder months – as they cost nothing to make if they get damaged by the stressed kitties or unwell kitties it doesnt matter if they go in the bin after use
Rachel
I love that cat cushion, perfect for this house with my three boys x
Gemma
This looks like a really informative book with lots of projects, perfect for a crafter.