Comfort in Craft

Image: Issue 36, Roving, Erica Tanov, photography by Deborah McLinton.

Selvedge will do all it can to support our readers during their time spent at home and we ask our readers to support Selvedge. Like all small businesses, Selvedge will have to work hard to survive without the income generated from advertising and newsstand sales. Issue 94 will not be distributed to newsstands and galleries and will only be available online. Please consider renewing your subscription as this will enable us to sustain publication.

For anyone looking for distraction in a magazine, we have created a special discount code on all back issues, enjoy 50% off with code STAYATHOME. This will be active for the duration of the pandemic.

While we are monitoring government guidelines regarding events, we currently have no plans to postpone the Selvedge World Fair, however, should this become necessary we will reschedule the event for 2-4 September 2021. The date will be confirmed on 31 May 2020. All existing tickets will be honoured. In the meantime, if it is necessary to postpone a workshop or talk we will inform all ticket holders of the new date 28 days before the workshop. All existing tickets will be honoured.

Practising a craft, during time spent at home, can be soothing. Last year, a BBC Arts and UCL survey of almost 50,000 people found that even a small amount of creative activity can help people to cope with difficult emotions. The coping mechanisms within the creative practice were threefold; as a distraction tool, as a contemplation tool and as a means of self-development, by building up confidence through achievement.

The mix of relaxing repetition and mind-focusing concentration required by hand-making textiles, from weaving to knitting to basket making may be just what you need this week, so we wanted to remind you about our library of free craft projects. Each issue of Selvedge includes a project and we make many available in the Community section of our website.

Projects include How to make a boro inspired tote from Make & Mend: The Japanese Art of Sashiko Embroidery by Jessica Marquez. Defined by its use of the running stitch and geometric patterns, sashiko is traditionally used to mend and repair clothing and textiles. This simple, efficient stitch grew out of the practical need to insulate, strengthen, patch and mend textiles to extend their life, but it can just as easily be used to create beautiful projects for the home.

Also, How to make a Tide Beret from Hilary Grant's book Knitting from the North - inspired by winter in the northern Scottish Islands and using a traditional Fairisle stitch you can wear this as a slouchy beanie with the cuff turned down or as a little beret - and an Easter chick to sew by Tamar Mogendorff. There are 40 projects listed.