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Irina Malyukova
Textile Artist and Pattern Designer
Helsinki, Finland
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For the love of patchwork, color and quilting....
This blog reflects my journey as a self-taught quilter. I am happy to share with you what I have learnt along the way. I hope these tutorials would inspire you to create and tips would help to solve some problems if needed.
If you use any of these tutorials and would like to share your creations on social media, please use the hashtags #nordiccrafterpatterns or #nordiccrafter and tag me at @nordiccrafter.
Happy stitching!❤
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The Ripple effect quilt - a true challenge
We often admire beautiful work and think we don´t have enough skills to make something like that. I would like to tell you a story of...
Irina
Feb 7, 20204 min read


Five days that changed my straight line ruler quilting
Frustration, tension issues, thread breaking, skipped stitches ... Do these symptoms sound familiar when you work with a straight edge...
Irina
Jan 21, 20205 min read


Knitting needle case tutorial
What could be a better gift for a knitter than the knitting needle roll up case? Beautiful and practical, it will help to keep knitting...
Irina
Jan 13, 20204 min read


Secrets to productivity in English paper piecing
English paper piecing is often referred to as slow stitching. But in my opinion the stitching stage is not that slow even though it is...
Irina
Dec 26, 20193 min read


Sewing machine cover
I needed a gift, a sewing machine cover. It has been long due, so I had enough time to at least think about how I wanted to make it. It...
Irina
Dec 16, 20195 min read


Tips for combining embroidery and epp
. The idea for this post came when I was working on the Christmas stocking for the Night before Christmas Sew along hosted by Lauren...
Irina
Dec 8, 20193 min read


Scandinavian Christmas stocking
These stockings are simple but they do let the fabric shine. I love making them from Marimekko prints. But any Christmas fabric with...
Irina
Nov 15, 20193 min read


Easy Christmas ornaments from upcycled denim
Every year I bake lots of Christmas cookies to give as gifts to my colleagues and neighbors. I like decorating those bags with simple...
Irina
Nov 1, 20192 min read


Scrappy Herringbone pincushion
For the Love of scraps, especially tiny ones... They always inspire me more than yardage. My most loved sewing accessories, which I use...
Irina
Oct 28, 20193 min read


A quick fabric basket tutorial
I have been making fabric baskets for ages and never get tired of them. These fabric containers are great as gifts or storage bins. In...
Irina
Oct 17, 20192 min read


In search for perfect thread...
Since I use different techniques in my work, I use variety of sewing threads. I understand that there is no universal thread that you...
Irina
Oct 10, 20195 min read


A new quilt - Colors of the sea
As you have noticed the sea theme has been in my work quite a lot this year. When I got the strips of beautiful batiks and teal colored...
Irina
Oct 6, 20193 min read


Review Pfaff Quilt Expression 720 - Quilter´s delight
I owned many sewing machines in my life. Then in 2012 I got my first Pfaff and since then I have been a Pfaff person. For me it means...
Irina
Sep 24, 20194 min read


A rug from old jeans
I like upcycling, especially jeans. It´s beautiful, super durable material. I made many things from old jeans in the past - pouches,...
Irina
Sep 9, 20193 min read


Ruler work on a domestic machine
Have you ever tried ruler work on a domestic machine? I have had my Pfaff quilt expression 4.2 for 4 years and have always been...
Irina
Aug 30, 20194 min read


English paper piecing - Clamshells, part 2
In the previous blog post I shared my method of preparing clamshells. Here I will talk about appliqueing them onto a piece of fabric....
Irina
Aug 23, 20192 min read


English paper piecing - Clamshells. Part 1
Clamshells - beautiful and fascinating epp shapes. I have always wanted to make them. For some reason it seemed very difficult. After...
Irina
Aug 13, 20192 min read


Flex frame pouch tutorial
I wanted to make a flex frame pouch for a long time but for some reason I thought it was not easy. But it turned out to be an easy and...
Irina
Jun 3, 20192 min read


Makes for the scrap basket and zip pouch tutorial
As you know I have been on a mission - to sew from the scrap basket for 4 weeks and try to empty it=) . To see what I made in the first...
Irina
May 14, 20193 min read


Scrap basket challenge, weeks 1-2
Has your scrap basket ever been empty? Mine - never. On the contrary I feel that it is like a magic pot - the more you use it, the fuller...
Irina
Apr 28, 20192 min read
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