Craft Focus - Dec 2017/Jan 2018 (Issue 64)

12 craft focus industry news AS PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE Alistair Macdonald from House of Alistair has just designed the Eastman Tailor 22S sewing machine in rose gold, which will be exclusively sold in John Lewis with other machine designs available for wholesale. The good news is that other colours including lace blue, lace white, pink lace, zebra and leopard print are available to the trade. The striking sewing machine from Eastman Staples is perfect for a range of dressmaking and craft projects and can tackle lightweight fabrics to heavier fabrics such as denim. It features 22 stitch options including embroidery and an automatic four-step buttonhole, and has a handy reverse button, lock stitch facility, thread cutter and can be used with a twin needle. It also comes with a darning plate, bobbin, screwdriver, needle pack, zipper foot, seam ripper, buttonhole foot, oil and twin needle, and will retail at £199. To stock email alistair@houseofalistair.com MORE FROM ART GALLERY FABRIC ‘Indie Folk’ by Pat Bravo is the last instalment of Pat’s Indie trilogy. This collection expresses a visual story of Pat’s love for folklore and the world around her. Ornamental florals and minimalistic ethnic designs are splashed with saturated colours for sewing eclectic projects with a trendy twist. The collection is made from 100 per cent premium cotton making it quality fabric for sewers for dressmaking, quilting and other stitching projects. Art Gallery Fabrics’ collections are distributed in the UK by Hantex. To find out more visit the company’s website hantex.co.uk CRAFT AND HELP THE HOMELESS National homelessness charity Crisis is calling on keen knitters, craft enthusiasts and people with sewing and alteration skills to help boost homeless people’s self-esteem at their temporary centres this festive season. In its 50 th anniversary year, Crisis at Christmas runs from 22 nd - 29 th December, 2017 with centres set to open across London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Coventry and Edinburgh. As well as warmth, companionship and hot meals, guests will receive healthcare and specialist advice on housing, work and benefits. The sewing service team plays a vital role carrying out repairs to guests’ clothing and belongings, with a variety of roles on offer from experts at making and repairing clothes to keen enthusiasts who can help with basic tasks such as sewing on buttons and taking up hems. There are also roles available for people to run craft sessions in everything from knitting to T-shirt making, helping guests try something new and develop their skills. Long-term volunteer Kerry Smith said: “I started volunteering at Crisis five years ago after signing up as a general volunteer. Giving a little bit of my time to help others felt like the right thing to do. From the second I walked in I knew I had made the right decision. Seeing all the services available to those who needed it most and the enormous part the volunteers play in making it all happen blew me away!” One in four homeless people will face spending Christmas alone this year. With the homelessness crisis worsening, Crisis says the centres are needed now more than ever. “Without our volunteers, Crisis at Christmas simply wouldn’t exist to help provide a warm, safe place to those with nowhere to call home. It’s because of their generosity that we can bring thousands of people friendship, support, and life-changing services each and every Christmas. And though we work all year round to help people experiencing homelessness – we know that the Christmas season should be a special time for everyone and that no one should have to spend it alone,” says Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis. “So as our charity turns 50, we’ll work harder than ever to make homelessness a thing of the past. And until then our volunteers will remain at the heart of what we do,” Jon adds. Crisis at Christmas centres are run by thousands of volunteers from all walks of life register now at crisis.org.uk/volunteer Sewing volunteers mending items by Jeff Hubbard for Crisis