Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (AZWH) is one of the busiest and largest wildlife hospitals in the world.

Their dedicated wildlife veterinarians, vet nurses and volunteers work around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured, orphaned and displaced animals and native
wildlife.

This month you can help the hospital and their animals by sewing these vibrantly-themed cage covers in various sizes! The covers attach onto the doors of the hospital’s bird and reptile cages to create a private environment where animals can get the rest and recovery they need.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Sizes and fabrics

The hospital has asked for bird and reptile cage covers in numerous sizes listed below. All covers you make will be used and greatly valued. Covers are rotated and washed regularly in warm water for disinfection so make sure your material is pre-washed and shrunk before you measure and sew.

Reptile cages

• Use fish or desert print fabric OR sandy desert coloured fabric
• Sizes (width x height)
  • 570mm x 350mm
  • 1190mm x 290mm
  • 1140mm x 460mm
  • 320mm x 740mm
  • 880mm x 380mm.

Bird cages

• Use bird, trees or plant-print fabric  OR  some green fabric with a bright coloured embroidery thread
• Sizes (width x height)
  • 490mm x 605mm
  • 850mm x 760mm
  • 1150mm x 760mm
  • 1050mm x 1230mm (upright)
  • 820mm x 270mm (make 2 curtains)
  • 1370mm x 980mm.

Pattern instructions

1. Measure fabric in the dimensions listed. Before you cut:
   – Add 9cm to the height of your fabric (5cm to form a top flap that will hook the cover onto the cage door and 2 x 2cm turned edge seams at top and bottom).
   – Add 4cm to the width of your fabric (to allow for 2 x 2cm turn-and-turn edge seams on both sides)
2. Press in top and bottom of fabric 2cm. Use the crease as a guide to sew a turn-and-turn edge. For each edge, fold in the cut edge of the material half way to the crease, then fold it over again to meet the crease. Pin and stitch across from end to end.
3. Fold down 5cm of fabric from the top edge (right sides together) and pin in place. This will form the flap. Stitch down each side of the folded flap with a 2cm seam allowance.
4. Turn right side out and press the side edges of fabric 2cm each. Stitch down edges using a turn-and-turn seam (same as in step 2).
5.  OPTIONAL: Place the embroidery design in the lower left hand side of the cover. The design is available as a single 13cm x 18cm design, or in two parts of 10cm x 10cm. Print out a template to see where it sits well for you.

• Logo embroidery file AZWH – 10cmx10cm, 2 parts (ZIP, 320KB)
• Logo embroidery file AZWH – 13x18cm (ZIP, 320KB)

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed covers into Echidna Sewing Head Office for us to pass onto the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Echidna Sewing
56 Neumann Road
Capalaba Qld 4159

OR

Drop your cage covers into your local Echidna store.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital sewalong will run from 1–30 April, 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of prizes throughout in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project this month and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Echidna Sewing facebook community – get inspired and share your creation with our online community.
• Past charity sewalongs – try your hand at some of our past projects.
• Suggest a charity –  Tell us about a charity you’d like to see in our monthly sewalong.

THE TEA-CUP COTTAGE

The Tea-Cup Cottage offers disability support services that help people to live the life they want and to achieve their goals and aspirations. The cottage was established in 2010 by Director Alexandra Shaw, who sought more choice and control over the disability support and services available to her own family. Tea-Cup Cottage now has 4 respite houses and their caring philosophy focuses on the present and future needs of each individual, whether receiving respite care, in-home care, high-care or day services.

This month you can help Alex and her team brighten their clients’ days with these adult-sized bibs. Cute and comfy, with a towelled backing, ‘pelican-bib’ pocket and embroidered logo, these bibs are a real treat for clients and their carers.

Watch Alexandra’s story

SEWALONG BRIEF

Download the Adult Bib pattern from craftsy.com. The pattern is free—to download it login with your Craftsy account, add the free pattern to your cart, and proceed to the checkout at no charge. If you haven’t used Craftsy patterns before it’s easy and free to create a new account.

To make the pocket:

Use the printed pattern from pages 21, 24 and 27 to make the pocket. Do not cut the excess off from the top of the pattern as you can use this for your seam allowance.

• Embroider the logo onto the pocket (optional, see instructions below)
• Sew a turn-and-turn edge on the top of the pocket.
• Pin the pocket to the bottom of the bib and baste stitch. This will keep the 2 layers together as you sew the other layers together.

To make the bib:

Print the pattern on pages 21-31. Create the bib using batting in between 2 layers of fabric or by using a bath towel as a backing (we’ve used a beautiful fluffy new towel that cost just $6.99 in KMart).

If using batting, stitch some decorative stitches down the bib to keep the 3 layers together (otherwise the batting may come away from the sides during washing).

To fasten the tie:

If you used towelling to back the bib, use a press-stud to fasten the neck tie.

Otherwise you can use an 8cm piece of velcro strap, with the hook on the bib side, and the loop on the neck-tie.

Logo & pocket options

Embroider the logo

Download the Tea-Cup Cottage logo embroidery file (ZIP, 45KB). Use Hemingworth thread in Misty Blue (or a very close thread colour like Summer Sky, Iceberg Blue or Frosty Blue) and embroider the Tea-Cup Cottage logo file onto the ‘pelican-bib’ pocket (we’ve placed it  toward the bottom left, if you’re facing the bib).

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed bags into Tea-Cup Cottage. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Alexandra Shaw
Tea-Cup Cottage
17 Honeygem Place
Birkdale QLD 4159

OR

Drop your bibs into your local Echidna store and we’ll send them on to Tea-Cup Cottage.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Boomerang Bags Sewalong will run from 1–31 March, 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes later in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Echidna Sewing facebook community – get inspired and share your creation with our online community.
• Past charity sewalongs – try your hand at some of our past projects.
• Suggest a charity –  Tell us about a charity you’d like to see in our monthly sewalong.

BOOMERANG BAGS REDLAND CITY

Every year around 50% of the plastic shopping bags we use end up buried in landfill. While a small portion are recycled or repurposed the remainder are unaccounted for—lost in our environment where they ultimately wash out to sea through drains and waterways. Sadly, much of the marine life that lands on your dinner plate is likely to have consumed plastic!

Boomerang Bags are changing all this!

Founded on the Gold Coast, Boomerang bags is global movement of volunteer groups whose dream is to reduce the use of plastic bags worldwide. Each group around Australia and the world works tirelessly to sew and recycle pre-loved textiles into fun, reusable fabric bags—which communities can use as a free, sustainable alternative to plastic shopping bags!

Join the movement in this month’s sewalong!

This month we’re calling for your help make to the Boomerang Bags dream a reality! By sewing one or more bags from material you already own you can help Boomerang Bags Redland City reach their goal to distribute 250 sustainable bags at their community’s upcoming green expo.

Sewing as many bags as we can this month will not only help at the expo but continue to help Boomerang Bags reduce plastic bag use throughout the year.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Download the Boomerang Bags Echidna Sewalong Pattern (PDF) and embroidery file (ZIP).

Use material you already own to create the bag from the pattern. You can use anything from curtains to pre-loved clothing and scrap material as long as it’s clean and in good condition. When cutting out the pocket, use a pale/light-coloured material. This will contrast with the red Boomerang Bags logo which will be displayed on the pocket.

Logo & pocket options

Embroider the logo yourself

Download the logo embroidery file. Use Hemingworth thread in Christmas Red, Candy Apple or Pomegranate (or similar thread colour) and embroider the Boomerang Bags logo file onto the pocket. Then sew the pocket onto the bag as shown in the pattern.

OR

Leave the pocket blank and unsewn

Cut out the the pocket from a plain, light-coloured material, but leave it blank. Sew the bag, but DON’T sew on the pocket. Instead, send the blank pocket in with your bag, unattached. Boomerang Bags will screenprint their logo onto the pocket and sew it onto the bag once printed.

Creative options

Make a patchwork style Boomerang Bag. You can even use spare pieces of material you’d usually throw away. Leave a 1cm seam where you join any patches and check that any joins and stitching are sturdy and will wear well. Don’t forget to save your scrap pieces up and make a patchwork bag later in the year.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed bags in to Boomerang Bags Redland City by 14 March 2018. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Boomerang Bags Redland City
Sharr Ellson
23 Sylvie Street
Thornlands Qld  4164

OR

Drop your bags into your local Echidna store and we’ll send them on to Boomerang Bags.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Boomerang Bags Sewalong will run from 1–28 February, 2018. The charity is always in need of bags so you can also sew and donate bags and fabric all year long.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes later in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Echidna Sewing facebook community – get inspired and share your creation with our online community.
• Past charity sewalongs – try your hand at some of our past projects.
• Suggest a charity –  Tell us about a charity you’d like to see in our monthly sewalong.

Ronald McDonald House Charity

To celebrate the last charity sewalong for 2017 and the first for 2018 we’re featuring a 2 month sewalong spanning December and January to create Snuggle Quilts for Ronald McDonald House Charity. This is the first charity project we ever ran that inspired so many of you to get involved and donate to a worthy cause.

Every year thousands of children are struck down by very serious long term illness or injury and endure weeks, and in some cases, months of hospitalisation. Snuggle Quilts can become a very special attachment for a child and they will be able to take it with them when hopefully the time comes for them to leave hospital and go home.

The quilts are a comforting and caring community gesture that help parents and family of these children keep faith in the human spirit. Quilts are often also given to young siblings of the sick or injured child as they too can need comforting during times of need.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Create a quilt of your own design and make sure it complies with the following rules:

• Quilt size must be between 100cm and 110cm square
• Be made from new materials
• Clean and free from chemicals, smoke and pet hair
• Cannot have any potential choking hazards like buttons, beads, gems or rhinestones.

A Snuggle Quilt can be as simple as a front and back panel with a layer of batting in the center or you can create a complex quilt, full of blocks and piecework. As long as you meet the requirements above your quilt will go a long way to help a child in need.

Prizes

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes, which will be drawn in February 2018. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community!

We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

How long do I have to create the project?

This sewalong will run for a 2-month block from 1 December 2017–31 January 2018.

Things to remember

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Simply fill out the Snuggle Quilt Submission form (pdf, 426kb) and either mail or drop it in with quilt to us at:

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Echidna Sewing facebook community – get inspired and share your creation with our online community.
• Past charity sewalongs – try your hand at some of our past projects.
• Suggest a charity –  Tell us about a charity you’d like to see in our monthly sewalong.

Ozcare (AU)

Ozcare clients Elizabeth and Lily with their walkers

Ozcare is a leading not-for-profit organisation of professional and caring people who have been delivering innovative and superior health and human services to the Queensland community for more than 20 years.

They offer a range of services to help people of all ages and backgrounds including aged care facilities, home nursing, respite care, retirement villages, homeless hostel services for men and women and much more!

This month we’re asking everyone to create some beautiful, vibrant men’s and women’s walker caddies so clients can gather their favourite items and attach them to their walkers or wheelchairs.

Age Concern (NZ)

This month you can also support a New Zealand based charity. Age Concern supports older kiwis and helps them have a healthy lifestyle full of opportunities and protection from harm.

SEWALONG BRIEF

• Create a sewing caddy – free tutorial

To add your own touch, you can choose to decorate the caddy in extra ribbon ties and stippling of your choice (we’ve used the Dream Machine automatic quilting function on ours). You can also fasten the caddy pockets with easy-open plastic snaps or velcro spots instead of buttons.

Prizes

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes, which will be drawn in December 2017. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community!

We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

How long do I have to create the project?

Since we are featuring a new charity each month, the November sewalong will run from 1–30 November, 2017.

Things to remember

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Ozcare

To send in your donation to Ozcare:

• Drop it off at any of our Echidna locations
• Mail it to
  Annamarie Garrood
  Ozcare, Ozanam Villa
  153 King Street
  Clontarf Qld 4019

Age Concern

To send in your donation to Age Concern:

• Drop it off at any of the Age Concern locations in New Zealand.
• Email our NZ representative, Mandy Chamberlin for a direct postal address.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Echidna Sewing facebook community – get inspired and share your creation with our online community.
• Past charity sewalongs – try your hand at some of our past projects.
• Suggest a charity –  Tell us about a charity you’d like to see in our monthly sewalong.

Melbourne Basket Brigade (AU)

The Melbourne Basket Brigade is a small but dedicated force of local volunteers who want to make a difference to those in need. Last year they packed and delivered over 235 baskets, which fed approximately 2,500 people across Victoria.

They are asking for our help to create strong, sturdy, Christmas themed bags. These bags will hold toys, groceries and other personal items for those in need, making their Christmas one to remember.

Thanks to Lindee Goodall, you can also decorate these bags with a Christmas Tree embroidery design from her Tis the Season embroidery design pack.

Foster Hope (NZ)

This month you can also support a New Zealand based charity. Foster Hope bring hope to the more than 5,000 children in foster care through their foster packs and other activities. The packs are filled with comforting and practical items and given to foster children to let them know someone cares and to symbolise community support.

SEWALONG BRIEF

1. Download the free Craftsy Drawstring Bag Pattern
   • Cut out your bag to be 80cm (h) x 50cm (w). Please use thick fabric for the bag such as canvas, linen, cloth or denim. If using lighter fabric, please line the inside.
   • There is also the option to decorate your bag in Christmas themed fabric or with a Christmas themed embroidery design.

DECORATE WITH EMBROIDERY

If you’re wanting to add some embroidery to your bag to give it a bit of extra Christmas pizazz, Lindee has kindly donated this bright Christmas embroidery design, which is free to download!

• Download the Christmas Embroidery Design (zip, 352kb)

This design is part of the Tis the Season embroidery design pack, available for only $39.95.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Melbourne Basket Brigade

To send in your donation to assist the Melbourne Basket Brigade:

• Drop it off at any of our Echidna locations
• Mail it to either:
  • Queensland
    Echidna Sewalong
    Alex Fitzgerald
    Unit 19, Level 3, 4 Kyabra Street
    Newstead QLD 4006

  • Melbourne
    Echidna Sewalong
    Alex Fitzgerald

    PO BOX 5186
    South Melbourne VIC 3205

Foster Hope

To send your donation to Foster Hope:

• Drop it off to any of the 8 Foster Hope locations around New Zealand.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

These Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing or embroidering then don’t despair, this is a great chance for you to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

Since we are featuring a new charity each month, the October Sewalong will run from 1–31 October, 2017. You can view the full list of Charity Projects online.

PRIZES

We will also be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes, which will be drawn on Monday 6 November 2017. However, we will also give away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is able to be submitted for a chance, no matter which month it’s sent in.

To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project, then post it to our Echidna Facebook Community or email it to digital@echidnasewing.com.au.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

• Visit the Melbourne Basket Brigade website
• Visit the Echidna Sewing Facebook Community for inspiration
• Visit the Echidna Sewing Charity Page