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Making The Most Of A Small Closet (On a budget)

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  I often see American TV shows, and social media content, where folks have enormous bedrooms, with an even larger walk in closet. Something that I can only dream about in the older Sydney neighbourhood I live in, where most of the housing stock is Postwar, Edwardian or even Victorian, and space is at a premium.  I have helped a number of my clients reorganise their spaces to get the maximum utility, who, like me, often live in small homes with pokey, cramped bedrooms. Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way: Purge ruthlessly - I am no minimalist, by any means. But an easy way to start is to immediately toss out garments that are worn out, beyond repair, do not fit, and you have no intention of ever wearing again. A common suggestion is to donate clothes to thrift shops, which is a great idea, but please, do not donate something that is more suited to be cut up for rags - thrift stores are already groaning under the weight of fast fashion and raggedy garments. Make it...
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Sophie's Kmart 2025 Workwear Capsule For Under $350

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  There are any number of reasons that you'd want to update your workwear wardrobe. Perhaps you need a wardrobe refresh, have gained or lost weight, been out of the workforce for a while, making the switch from WFH back to the office, or moving from the blue collar world to the white collar one. It's not always practical or affordable to purchase everything from a less fast fashion-y brand, or at the op shop, as much as we'd like. Especially with limited time, and a limited budget. Here is my affordable, accessible Kmart workwear capsule for under $350, which, at the time of publication, was available at the prices I've listed below. I've kept the colour palette neutral (with a splash of leopard print to keep it fun!) for simplicity's sake, and for maximum mix and matchability.  I've also added two sets of jewellery - in silver and gold, to match your cool or warm undertones. Goes without saying, it's absolutely not necessary to rush out and buy every pi...
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My Top Five Thrift Shopping Tips

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    The first time I went thrifting (or op shopping, as it's known in Australia) was back in the nineties as a high schooler, with some of the money I made as a checkout chick (aka working the cash register at the local supermarket). My mother was horrified when I brought home what she considered dirty junk! I've been an avid thrifter ever since. I've made some great finds, such as a Georg Jensen candelabra, Murano glass, Selangor pewter, lots of crisp linen shirts and dresses, a Stella McCartney frock, and beautiful coats, dresses and Bunnykins for my daughter. Thrifting's popularity has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, and the thrift stores have certainly cottoned on by raising prices, and moving items they deem valuable online. There are still bargains and deals to be had, if you know where to look, and make a bit of an effort! Here are my top five tips that I've gleaned from years of op shopping. I hope you find these helpful if you are new to the worl...
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Finished Knitted Object: Snowflake Hat

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  Need a small knitting project you can whip up relatively quickly, that's simple enough, but not boring, that you can make with your DK yarn odds and ends? This is the perfect project for you - The Snowflake Hat (and Mittens, if you have enough yarn). You can find it here on Ravelry , or directly here .  I made mine for my daughter using 8 Ply DK acrylic yarn scraps from a magazine project kit. I added a red faux fur pompom (you can easily find an affordable one on AliExpress or eBay), after multiple unsuccessful attempts to make a yarn pom pom. The Fair Isle / colourwork portion was easy enough, yet kept the knitting from getting boring.  My daughter has worn the beanie out now a couple of times and loved it.  Let me know if you go ahead and knit this yourself, or leave a comment below if you have a similar project, I'd love to know!
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5 Free Knitted Tank Patterns For Summer

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  Do you have some cotton or linen yarn in your stash, not quite enough for an entire jumper or sweater, and stuck for ideas on what to knit with it? If you are in the Southern Hemisphere like me, summer is here, and it's too hot to think about your woolly WIPs (I have way too many projects in progress!) and start thinking about lighter, airier projects that you can complete relatively quickly, and wear straight away in the warmer weather. Below, I've linked 5 free knitting patterns for summery sleeveless tops in my Ravelry queue. I really love knitwear designers to be compensated for their work, and often buy pattern pdfs, but these designers have been generous enough to provide these designs to us for FREE! Be sure to check out their other paid designs too.  As much as I love to knit intricate laces and cables, I prefer to wear mostly minimalistic and sleek designs. I hope you enjoy these and find inspiration from them, as I have. Tip Top Tank by Emily Bolduan - This is a s...
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