Many years ago in Chile, I attended a fabric dolls workshop led by the visual artist Francisca Robles. I had discovered her amazing work on Instagram, and I was keen to learn how to make things with my hands.
At that time, I knew a little about knitting, but I had no experience with sewing or embroidery. To be honest, I never thought of myself as particularly talented at making things by hand. I wasn’t the artist in the family, not at all. But I was eager to give it a go, and this wasn’t the first time I’d had to push myself to try something just for the sheer joy of it.
The workshop was all about creating a fabric creature, and mine turned out to be a tiny greyhound dog. It’s now an old companion, but it’s always been by my side—right from Chile to the UK
My first fabric creature
I hand-sewed my dog, as I’d never used a sewing machine, and to be honest, I wasn’t brave enough to try it during the workshop (I was a bit shy and didn’t want to make a mess!).
Since then, though, I’ve started my own creative journey, making many more creatures. I taught myself to use the sewing machine—I even bought one!—and then I picked up a bit of embroidery and knitting along the way.
Of course, I’m not a professional, but I absolutely love my creations. I can see my own little ‘vibe’ in every one of them, and more importantly, I really enjoy spending my time recycling old clothes and stitching together little things to decorate my space.
Crafting, knitting, and using my hands to make small things is a peaceful way to spend my time. At the same time, it’s a lovely way to connect with others. After that first workshop with Francisca, I’ve attended many other courses and learned various kinds of crafting. I’ve met people and joined groups of women who knit or embroider together.
I can’t quite explain why, but crafting feels a bit like meditation for me. You just focus on the needles, colours, and fabrics, and everything comes together.
If you’d like to give it a try, you don’t need any special skills or knowledge. There are so many online tutorials out there, and you can draw inspiration from the incredible work of people who dedicate themselves to creating these creatures. Here are some of my favourites:
@francisca_robles_correa
@astrowolki
@donnawilsonltd
@antonantonthings
@karstenandco
@cathycullis
