About Me

I have had an extensive career as a teacher and had the great fortune to work in a variety of educational settings, as a consultant, university lecturer and teacher of children and adults in Australia, New Zealand and England.

When I was young, my grandmother showed me how to crochet and my mother taught me to knit and sew. Mending and textile crafts were a central part of life.

Over the years, while I have followed my passion and love of crafts, I have become increasingly alarmed by the impact of the fashion industry has on the planet. I have always had an affinity to buying second-hand clothing and loved exploring Op Shops in the countries wherever I lived.

I have experimented with textile techniques using different fibres to upcycle, manipulate and recreate items to give them a new life. I search out old, rescued fabric, yarn or other fibres to weave, felt, knit, crochet and sew into new textile art piece.

While I know how to follow patterns and make garments from scratch using patterns, I prefer a freeform creative approach to sewing and crochet projects.

By applying an understanding of individual style, colour and pattern, I aim to sensitively repair damaged clothing by reinventing the imperfections and celebrating its beauty. I grateful that I am adding to the history and helping to extend the life of any item of clothing.  

I am a Fibre Artist and have had my freeform pieces published internationally. I love teaching others what I have learned along the way and believe there are already enough clothes in the world.

My aim is to assist local people learn traditional textile and fibre crafts in order to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and circular system to extend the life and use of  existing clothing.

Annette Sale