Brooke Ali Fibre Arts Blog
Why Do People Still Spin Yarn?
Why do people still hand spin yarn? Find out if any of these reasons inspire you to try. Or if you’re already a spinner, tell me which ones you relate to and what reasons I missed.
I Just Saw a Great Textile Art Exhibit in Toronto!
I love when a gallery highlights textile art! I checked out this exhibit at Gerrard Art Space here in Toronto and loved it! Check out some of my favourite pieces and make sure to see the exhibit in person for yourself.
The Great 4” Square Race! Knitting vs. Crochet vs. Pin Loom Speed
Ready! Set! Go! Find out which craft is fastest: knitting, crochet, or pin loom weaving. Can you guess who will get the gold?
DIY Your Own Apple Pocket (for Way Less Than $125!)
Apple recently announced their newest iPhone accessory which became available in select stores this month. It’s called the iPhone Pocket and it’s a thin cloth bag for carrying your iPhone. It sells for $124.99 USD for the short version or $223.99 USD for the long version. The craft community has done what the craft community does and come up with DIY dupes. I've seen lots of knitted and crochet versions but I haven't seen a pin loom version. So, I gave it a shot.
Why Learning to Knit is the Best New Year’s Resolution
Learning a new skill or hobby is consistently in the top 10 things people add to their New Year’s resolutions list. Among all the “good for me” resolutions like “eat healthier” and “go to the gym,” learning a fun new skill feels less like an obligation and more like an aspiration. If knitting is the hobby you aspire to this year, let me tell you a few reasons why you’re really smart and that’s a really good idea.
What Did I Learn From “Losing” an Entire Day of Filming
There’s more to starting an art and teaching career than just doing art. I’m finding the setting up workflows and systems to be some of the hardest aspects of this journey. Here’s the story of how I thought I’d lost an entire day’s work of filming (over half a dozen video files), and what it taught me.
History of Lavender Sachets
Who doesn’t like a whiff of a lovely smell in their home or on their clothes? While products like Febreeze and Downy Unstoppables are new, bringing the fresh scents of the outdoor indoors is as old as, well, the indoors itself.
Prevent Moths This Summer with Lavender
Moths are a problem for fibre arts and fashionistas alike. Does lavender really work to keep them away?
Online Courses Coming!
I’m excited to announce that I am producing a series of online courses for my website! Find out what my first course project will be.
Review: Louet Spinning Wheel Carry Bag
How does the updated Louet Victoria spinning wheel carry bag compare to the one from 20 years ago?
A Quick Look into How to Do the Bayeux Tapestry Stitch
A quick look at how to do the Bayeux stitch
Using AR to Transfer Embroidery Patterns
There are many ways to transfer an image to fabric for embroidery. The most common way is to draw or print the image on paper and trace it using a lightbox (or even a window). But my pieces are often larger than a standard 8 1/2 x 11 piece of printer paper, so this method wouldn't work for me (unless I printed it out in sections and taped them together, which is just extra work). So I've come up with a better way.
Studio Tour!
As an emerging artist, I'm not yet at the stage in my career where I can afford a dedicated studio in some hip artist loft in downtown Toronto. Instead, I'm a 43 year old mom who has had to carve out some work space in my house. Here's how it's going.
Medieval Stitches and Modern Themes
The story of the commission piece that started my textile art career.
Stitch Markers That Earn Their Keep
Knitting instruction stitch markers take the guess work out of your shaping and help you avoid having to check your pattern every row.
Welcome and a Little About Me
Welcome! Learn a little bit about me and what I do as a textile artist.