Stitch & Bitch!

A couple of weeks ago I attended my first ever public Stitch & Bitch. Over the years I have hosted regular Stitch & Bitch sessions (or craft group) with groups of mates and had a good old time learning and passing on crafty skills, having a few drinks and nattering away, enjoying some girl time. Of course the occasional boy has also been present, my long suffering partner, now husband, included.

Stitch & Bitch Kit.

This annual event, focusing on knitting, was held at the National Hotel in Fremantle, Perth, and hosted by the Perth chapter of the Country Women's Association (CWA) the CWA Perth Belles. The CWA is the largest women's organisation in Australia, beginning firstly in 1922 in both New South Wales and Queensland, then two years later out here in the west. Members work to improve life for people, particularly in country areas. They provide much needed community service, support networks, welfare and the passing on of old skills like knitting, baking, sewing and more. Their shops are renowned for selling some of the best chutneys, relishes and jams, handmade toys, and other crafted gems like crocheted tea cosies, beanies and kids clothes. The CWA Perth Belles are one of the newest branches, only in their seventh year, attracting a younger breed of women in the 20-50 age bracket, or as they say, the 'non-retired group of the CWA'.

It was the eighth year the Belles had held this event to create squares which the dedicated Belles members would later sew into baby blankets for struggling mums and newborns at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth's main public maternity hospital. This year the crafty ladies linked in with the Fremantle Heritage Festival, their Stitch & Bitch scheduled as part of the festival thus reaching a larger audience. It also coincided with the WA Day long weekend meaning those not venturing out of the big smoke for the three day holiday could attend a fun happening and learn a new craft.

The hook (pun intended) to get people along to the Stitch & Bitch was:
Want to learn how to knit and help a good cause? 

Well. Who wouldn't! I contacted the Belles and said I was an intermediate knitter, could my skills be of some use? Yes, they said, we'll put your name on the door. Sweet! I was there.

Women from various backgrounds and levels of expertise knitting squares for King Eddy's Hospital.

Over thirty women from all walks of life took over the spacious top floor, monopolising the bar and many tables. Those with gold stars were the specialists, teaching keen beginners how to do a garter stitch square. Beginners signed up online and received a kit on arrival containing size 6 needles, a ball of 8 ply wool, and a simple garter stitch pattern. Garter stitch is simply when every row is done in knit. It’s great for beginners and produces neat, uniform rows. 

Garter stitch, simple and great for beginners.

Every time a stitcher completed a square a great din of cheering was heard as glasses were clinked and she stood to show off her completed square. I completed mine later that night and am well on the way to knitting up a wee lil blanky for a newborn soul.

Beginning my first garter stitch square.

If you are interested in making your own squares to contribute to this worthy cause follow the pattern below courtesy of the CWA Perth Belles:

Garter Stitch Square for Baby Blanket

1. Cast on 35 stitches (try to make your stitches neither too loose nor too tight to help ensure uniform squares).
2. Row 1: knit
3. Row 2: knit
These two rows form the garter stitch knitting pattern square.
4. Continue knitting as per these two rows until you have knitted square.
5. To ensure your square is 23cm either use a measuring tape or form a triangle by folding one corner of your square over to meet the opposite corner, if all sides are equal then you have a square!
6. Cast off.

Tip: Leave a one metre length piece of yarn attached to your work after casting off to join the squares together later.


To contribute knitted squares to King Eddy's to be transformed into blankets for newborns get in touch with Claire at CWA Perth Belles: cwaperthbelles@gmail.com.

Or if you already have some finished post to:
CWA Perth Belles,
c/o CWA WA PO Box 97,
West Perth,
Australia   6872

Shipwrights Cottage Handmade Soft Toy Workshop

A couple of months ago I attended my first ever handmade soft toy making class. This was held courtesy of the aptly named Fiona Hook at her lovely home Shipwright's Cottage.

Fiona has been into craft in many forms since a young age, learning her skills from her mother, who in turn learnt them from her mother. Much the same as I learnt my crafts. It's such an organic and natural way to learn, sitting alongside another woman, passing on knowledge like that, in such an ancient, instinctive manner.

The beautiful unicorn Fiona made for her daughter, upcycled from an old silk dress,
she also whittled the horn herself from some acacia.

And that is how Fiona describes her craft lessons, as 'ancient skills for modern living'. She defines her workshops as 'helping you feel connected to people and the earth'. The lesson I attended was how to make a toy horse, but she also teaches spinning, felting, basketry, sewing children's costumes and a number of cookery, preserving and gardening classes.

My chosen material cut out and facing right side to right side,
 ready to be hand stitched.

We started off with a lovely hot cup of fresh herbal tea in her back craft room, the herbs picked fresh from her garden. Fiona had a variety of pretty materials to choose from for the horse, all of which she had upcycled from various op shop clothing. She showed me a beautiful white silk unicorn that she had handmade from a white silk dress from an op shop as a gift for her daughter.


I love that stuff. If I could make all my craft completely sustainably I would be stoked. That's why I learnt to spin wool, so I can knit and crochet from my own wool. One day I would love to have some sheep and alpacas too, then I can even source my own fleece from my own happy woolly creatures. Dreams aside, Fiona also spins her own wool and uses the raw fleece, washed and scented lightly with lavender oil, to stuff her gorgeous toys with. That connection to the earth again.

Me, concentrating hard!

After choosing two kinds of the brightest material (of course!), one for the sides and another for the underside, Fiona went through the pattern with me. It is easy enough for a beginner, although I have some experience machine sewing and a bit of hand sewing knowledge, Fiona took me through the process slowly, explaining it simply. I improved as I went along and after only a few hours, and not that many swear words, I had the body pretty much together, ready for stuffing.

Each step required specific instructions, for example when stuffing the body you must shove the fleece in really hard with a crochet hook to ensure the legs, body, head and neck are firm and not floppy. This way the horse will stand up properly. Doing a course with an experienced crafter like Fiona provides personalised one on one attention and you can question and go over details that are easy to miss when you watch a lesson on You Tube.

The finished product.

I finished this little beauty later that day at home, just in time for a friend's daughters third birthday. The present was well received!









For more information on upcoming workshops check out Fiona's website: http://shipwrightscottage.wix.com/mysite