Here we all are staying at home doing our bit for Australia so we can flatten the curve and help prevent our health system being overwhelmed with the Covid-19 sick. I wasn’t much of a go out kind of person before the pandemic most content to stay home, pet my fabric and paint my pictures. I love the company of my husband and my children all have homes and lives of their own. Still, this upheaval has left me somewhat unsettled. I am unable to settle on any one thing for very long and find I am a little anxious at times. I have cleaned my studio, sorted my fabrics and started a few paintings.
On the net, trolling for more news, I came upon a story of how to make an Anzac Day wreath to hang on your door this year. It was made of paper and glue and most homes would have all the supplies. I thought I might like to make a wreath for my front verandah but being enamoured of fabric it would be fabric.
I will go through the steps here so that those of you reading, might be inspired to make one. Feel free to use any of my ideas. I’m sure there are sewers/quilters out there who can take what I have done and add or subtract and make amazing art wreaths!
Draw some gum leaves making them different sizes. I made the leaves three layers: various green fabric, wadding and a thick canvas fabric. Use whatever you have. The layers meant my leaves would be stiff and hold their position. I cut them out with my rotary cutter.
When you have a pile of layered leaves take them to your sewing machine and stitch them together. Free motion stitch around the raw edges. Don’t worry about the raggedy bits we will trim them when they are stitched.
All stitched and ready to trim. I cut some cute insect bites out of some of the gum leaves.
The sash is however long you want it and about 8 inches wide so that you can put a strip of wadding down the middle and fold the edges over the wadding, leaving a clean edge. I used a stencil to cut the letters of the “Lest we forget”, I could turn the stencil over making the letters backwards so I could use paper backed webbing to stick them to the sash. In hindsight I should have made the letters lighter so they were easier to see. Tuck in the ends of the sash to neaten them.
Arrange the leaves around the sash. The poppies are a three leaf clover shape x 2 with a black button. I stitched it all together free motion using monofilament thread. It is an easy, satisfying project which will look great hanging on the front verandah on Anzac Day.
Megan Byrne - Artist 