Hi again,

This week, I'm happy to give away a copy of Quilting for Peace, a marvelous book from STC Craft. (You might remember that I wrote about it here.)

This is a beautiful book – yet again, STC Craft has delivered a project that melds artful photography and great projects with well-written instructions. In addition, this book tells the stories of dozens of quilters (individuals and groups) who quilt for good causes – from animal shelters to children in need to adult victims of violence, war or natural disasters. The stories are touching and the projects are inspiring – they're part of what inspired a few of us here at Canadian Living to put our heads together and start a quilt for Project Linus Canada (more on that as it develops).

In conjunction with the publication of the book, STC Craft has organized a Quilting for Peace campaign. I think this is a wonderful idea – even though we live in a world where problems can seem so overwhelming, it's the little actions (even as small as a tiny quilting stitch) that can make the biggest difference in people's lives.  Learn more here.

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post: Tell me who you'd make a quilt for if you were quilting for peace. The contest will run until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 22; I'll post a winner here on Monday, November 23.

See you back here tomorrow – have a great Monday.

Good morning, friends.

I know it's Thursday, but I'm still thinking about what I did last weekend. No, there was no wedding to go to, no long drive to the cottage – just a regular weekend at home – but my Sunday at the sewing machine was momentous in its own way.

For the first time in more than five years, I made a garment. This is a big deal; there's a reason that the last time I attempted anything other than a quilt or a tote bag was five years ago. (Let's just say the pyjamas made out of repurposed flannel sheets and the three-sizes-too-small twirly skirt were not my finest sewing moments.)

But: I made a shirt. It took me the better part of 6 hours, but I ended up with an actual shirt. And not a "homemade" shirt with one arm longer than the other and lots of loose threads hanging everywhere, but a shirt that fit. I liked it so much that I wore it to work on Monday.

(Trust me: I looked better without a giant camera in front of my face. Also, know that I went home that night and dusted that mirror!!)

The shirt is the "Summer Blouse" from the Heather Ross book Weekend Sewing. It's a beautiful book, and for the most part the directions are clear and the diagrams easy to follow. I'd never made a neck placket before, or sewn a set-in sleeve, and I managed both without much trouble just by following the directions.

That said, there were a few tricks I had up my sleeve that probably made things a little easier. First off, I remembered reading a review of this pattern by Erin of House on Hill Road, and I kept that webpage open while I sewed. (Having her comments there was a bit like the reassurance you get from using your mom's old cookbook, the one with the helpful hints scribbled in the margins.) A hint in the comments on Erin's post made me go looking for an errata page for the book, where I learned that some of the pattern markings were missing from the pattern sheets (which was a relief, because I was starting to think I needed glasses!). I also tripped over to the Weekend Sewing Flickr group, which has, in addition to more than 700 project photos, a very informative discussion group. (All of which left me wondering: How on earth did people make things before the Internet?)

But there's a bigger question here. Now that I've seen how much work went into making this one piece of clothing, how can I justify walking into a big-box store and walking out, $10 later, with a brand-new shirt? It's tempting, sure – who has the time or ability to make all their own clothes these days? – but is it fair? If you look at that $10 shirt, then take into account retail markup, wholesale markup, shipping costs and material costs...how much is the person (or people) who actually made the shirt getting paid? It's certainly nowhere near minimum wage. Fair-trade, a word that entered my awareness when I started drinking coffee, seems to be gaining mainstream acceptance these days; it's something we think about when we're at the coffee shop, or buying bananas, or thinking about which hand lotion to buy. But aside from a few well-publicized campaigns, it seems like people aren't as concerned about fair-trade clothing. Is it time that we stopped thinking about the next great bargain?

It's a big issue and one I'm still working through in my head. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Are handmade clothes worth the effort? Do we pay a fair price for the clothes we buy?

Hi friends,

It's another grey and dreary day here in Toronto. All I want to do is go home and sit on the couch with a hot cup of tea and a pile of craft books to while away the time until the hot, sunny weather reappears.

Lucky for me, I have a pile of craft books waiting for me at home. I've had a good run of great finds recently, at writing this blog gives me just the excuse I need to pick them up and bring them home. Here are the books at the top of my reading list these days.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac - This is an oldie-but-goodie, a book I'd heard about for years but never actually laid eyes on. Until this weekend, that is, when I found a copy at one of the stops on the TTC Knitalong. It's got a year's worth of projects and a hearty helping of down-to-earth advice for knitters...and more than a little bit of sass. I'd like to have met Elizabeth Zimmerman; this book tells me that much for sure.

Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano - A long-time favourite for people with the wits to puzzle out instructions and diagrams in Japanese, this was just recently released in an English translation and I snapped one up as soon as I found it. I haven't tried to make any of the projects yet, but I've spent a good long time studying the photos and the instructions, and you can bet your sweet bippy that I've already got a wishlist on the go. I'll start with the cute fabric lunch bag and the long linen apron, and take it from there. The tea towels and embroidered pillow cases look cute, too.

Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson - I picked this up two weeks ago when I was on the hunt for something to knit during the knitalong. I'd looked for this on and off for sometime, but could never find a copy at my local big box book emporium. (Here's the thing: small, independently owned yarn (or fabric) stores are a great resource for crafting books. Box stores might have a wide variety, but you never know what you're going to get. At your local yarn store, chances are they've got the book you're looking for, have read it, and have tried a project from it, so they can tell you if it's worth the money. You won't get service like that elsewhere.) Anyway, this one's worth the money - and I've got an inch of baby sweater to prove it!

Lost Crafts by Una McGovern - This is less of a hands-on book than the first three, but no less interesting. Author McGovern covers 100 handcrafts, including guddling for trout, caning chairs, making thatched roofs, whittling, tatting, and many, many others. The instructions are basic but they get the job done; if you're interested enough to want more information, she points you in the right direction. There's a lot more to crafting than needlework and glitter-and-glue.

What are you reading these days?

Hello friends,

One of the perks of my job is the number of craft books that arrive on my desk. There's just something about a brand-new craft book, so filled with possibility, that makes me very happy. Late last week something a little different landed in my inbox: Knitting for Good! by Betsy Greer. I was just heading out for the weekend, and, intrigued, I scooped it into my purse. I'm glad I did.

Betsy Greer is the person behind the website craftivism.com, a site that's built around the idea that, as she puts it:

"...activism + craft = craftivism. That each time you participate in crafting you are making a difference, whether it's fighting against useless materialism or making items for charity or something betwixt and between.

It's about the not-so-radical notion that activists can be crafters, and crafters can be activists."

Knitting for Good explores the notion of using knitting to reconnect with yourself and your community, and as a way to do some good in the world, one stitch at a time. Current events – wars, economic crises, natural disasters – can seem completely overwhelming, so big and so complicated that there's no way for one person to do anything. Knitting for a good cause, Greer points out, is a very real, very hands-on way for a person to make a difference, whether it's by knitting items to donate to a charity, teaching knitting to young people, or using your knitting to foster relationships with elderly or marginalized members of society.

At a time when I have ideas for crafts coming at me from every direction, when the focus on crafting can seem more about material acquisition than on human achievement, I found this book to be a gentle push toward looking at knitting – and crafting in general – as more than just a hobby. The writing is friendly, conversational, and never preachy, and the book is peppered with anecdotes from well-known craftivists, as well as knitting patterns suitable for making and donating to charity. It was a refreshing read that made me look at my yarn stash in a whole new light.

If you're looking for a different perspective on an age-old craft, I'd recommend giving this book a read. Let me know what you think! And if you're already involved in knitting (or crafting) for a good cause, I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great night!

PS Don't forget to leave a comment on Monday's post for your chance to win the The Unibind PhotoBook Creator Starter Kit and coupon for two free products (with free shipping) from RocketLife. This week, I'm interested in hearing about your favourite craft to take on a road trip.