Discover Tiger Works Handmade in Illawarra handyman Illawarra
About Tiger Works Handmade
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Tiger Works Handmade is a one-man operation based in the Illawarra, NSW. Every single piece — every stitch, every bend of silver, every pair of earrings — is made by me, by hand.
I started making because I couldn't find clothes that felt like me. Everything in the shops looked the same. So I picked up a pair of scissors, found a pile of old crochet blankets, and started cutting.
Where the Materials Come From
The crochet blankets I use come from op shops, markets, estate sales and donations. Most of them were made by hand decades ago — they've lived in someone's home, kept someone warm, been part of someone's story.
Turning them into clothing isn't just upcycling. It's giving something handmade a second life as something handmade. There's a satisfying circularity to that.
The silver for my rings comes from old silverware — spoons mostly, picked up from second-hand shops and antique markets. Every spoon has its own age, its own markings, its own character. I shape them by hand into rings that nobody else has.
The Jewellery
The earrings are made from a mix of materials — bold, colourful, statement pieces. I make what I'd want to wear. Loud. Interesting. Not boring.
The rings start life as old silver spoons. I cut, shape and polish each one by hand. The result is a ring that carries the history of the spoon it came from — sometimes you can still see the original pattern in the silver.
Made for Mischief
The Tiger Works motto is 'Made for Mischief' and 'Life is Too Short for Boring.' That applies to both sides of the business — the handyman work and the handmade work.
Life really is too short for boring clothes. Wear the crochet jumpsuit. Get the spoon ring. Be the most interesting person in the room.
Custom Orders
If you have a crochet blanket you want turned into something wearable, I'd love to work with it. Family heirlooms, op shop finds, your nan's old blanket — bring it to me and we'll make something.