Charity Sewalong – May 2019

Girls Time Out Young Women’s Support Service Inc

GTO-logo-smallGirls Time Out Young Women’s Support Service Inc provides a range of programs and support to women that are homeless, living in rough conditions, pregnant or need help with day to day living. They are committed to responding and attending to the needs of young women in their community that require this support, to help their growth and human potential.

Their mission is for these women to live in an equitable and culturally welcoming society. To ensure that they are empowered and valued, experience respect and support and have access to human necessities such as education, affordable housing and peer/parenting support.

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.

SEWALONG BRIEF

easycosmeticsbag_aiid1843727For this month’s charity, we are asking you to have a go at sewing a cosmetics bag which will be gifted to the young women participating in the programs at GTO Young Women’s Support Service Inc.

We have selected a beginners pattern of a cosmetic bag from bluprint (formerly known as Craftsy) for this project. The project can be downloaded for free if you are a bluprint member and is a great project to introduce beginners to some of the many techniques as they include well-written instructions as well as a YouTube video that is easy to follow and should allow you to achieve a great result!

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Charity Sewalong – March 2019

Impact

women-jumping-silhouetteImpact is a 100% volunteer charity committed to making a difference to women and children fleeing from home due to extreme violence. Having started as an ovum of an idea in March 2006, a small group of friends sourced donations to pack 100 hampers which were distributed to a few metropolitan refugees supporting victims of family violence. Twelve years later, volunteers of all ages, religious and cultural backgrounds come together twice a year to pack more than 1000 hampers or ‘Bags of Love’ as they now call them, to women in metropolitan Melbourne.

For this month’s charity we are asking you to create and sew a Bag of Love, which Impact can pack and use to distribute to these domestic violence victims.

Sewalong Brief

We challenge you to create a small laundry, bathroom or tote bag around 25cm x 30cm width. All styles, sizes and designs will be accepted.

This is the perfect project to challenge yourself to learn how to sew and decorate with zips, pockets, lace, embroidery, quilting and much more. Plus, if you’re a member of Bluprint (Craftsy) you can download a number of free sewing patterns which are ideal for this sewalong.

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Ashley Drawstring Pouch & The Anna Pouch Continue reading

Charity Sewalong – February 2019

Little Stars Kids

Little Stars Kids mission is to bring healing, happiness, fun, laughter and hope to the lives of children throughout Queensland who have experienced abuse and neglect. They are the only charity in Australia who has a camp program designed for children living in long term foster care aged 4-10.

Little Star Kids provides Cuddle Cases filled with new essential items like a quilts, pillows, hygiene kits, drink bottles, crayons and much more. This month, we are asking all sewing enthusiasts to get involved and create a special plush toy that can be included in these Cuddle Cases.

Sewalong Brief

Craftsy (now known as Blueprint) has a number of free adorable sewing patterns available for download. Including Fox/Cat/Dog/Wolf, Narwhal Whale, Bat, Koi Fish, Dolphin and Elephant! If you’re new to sewing, these are the perfect beginner project, as they include well-written instructions and step-by-step photos.

Download the Free Craftsy Sewing Patterns Continue reading

Charity Sewalong – January 2019

Dymocks Children’s Charity

monster-library-bag-1.jpgDymocks Children’s Charities supports early literacy in Australia by providing new books to children in low social economic and disadvantaged areas. The charity delivers programs that target students, primary school libraries and pre-school/ community centres. Most projects involve restocking school libraries where there is insufficient school funding for books, or following natural disasters in a particular area. Dymocks Children’s Charities pairs with sponsors to place a catalogue of quality titles to choose from in selected schools in these regions, so that they can get the books that they really want and need.

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This month we are asking you to create a Children’s Monster Library Bag to help Dymocks fundraise for their Annual Gala event, where they’re hoping to raise $325,000, which will go towards funding new books for these children. Continue reading

Charity Sewalong: October 2018

Little Windmills

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Little Windmills: The Country Kids Charity financially supports seriously sick and injured Australian country kids by subsidising things like medical costs, travel and accommodation. We relieve the financial burden on families during their darkest times and allow mums and dads to focus on what’s important, the well-being of their little one. Help us impart Hope, Health and Happiness to those who need it the most.

This month we are asking you to get creative and incorporate Little Windmills onto a child’s lunch bag, which they can hand out to children in need.

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Create a Lunch Bag

Create a lunch bag by quilting, embroidering or hand decorating it with the Little Windmills logo.

Download the Little Windmills embroidery design to include on your projects.

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Charity Sewalong: July 2018

adorable-animal-bulldog.jpgThe Animal Welfare League (AWL) is a national non-profit organisation caring for companion animals across Australia.

AWL works with local councils, state government, rescue groups and the community to improve the outcomes of stray and surrendered pets. They are nationally recognised for their unique and innovative programs, initiatives and re-homing strategies.

In this month’s sewalong we are asking you to stitch, embroider or design your most creative dog or cat bandana, which the AWL can give away with new adopted pets or sell in their stores to raise money for much-needed supplies.

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Sewalong Brief

Get creative by embroidering, appliqueing or decorating your dog or cat bandannas with sewing trims like the one below.

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Charity sewalong: April 2018

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

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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.

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March charity sewalong

THE TEA-CUP COTTAGE

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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.

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February charity 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!

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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

 

November charity sewalong

Ozcare (AU)

Ozcare clients and walkers

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

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.

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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:

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