American Girl Doll Triangular Shawl with Eyelet tutorial

Westport, CT

Materials:
1 skein Lion Brand Micro Spun
US Size 5 straight knitting needles

Difficulty Level: Beginner

Gauge: Knit in Garter Stitch (Knit every row): 4x4 inches = 20 sts across by 44 sts high

Dimensions: approximately 19 inches wide by 9 inches from cast on edge to point of triangle

Directions: Cast on 90 stitches.

ROW 1: Knit one row.
ROW 2: K2, K2tog, YO, K2tog, Knit to end of row.

Repeat row 2 for every row until only 7 sts remain.
Bind off all 7 stitches.
Weave in any loose yarn.

embroidery on yarn

Here are embroidered pattern and yarn, which were used in the paper


Rose embroidered mohair blend thread, flowers highlighted milanzhevymi Lurex threads, leaves flowers also embroidered mohair thread 

Embroidery on satin.

Video tutorial : Embroidery on satin.

learn to embroider: Knit dress with embroidered corset.

Video recording: Knit dress with embroidered corset.

learn to embroider

A master class in stitches In today's master class, I want to present you the options of different stitches on a well-known in the circles of embroidery designer - Ornan Willis (Orna Willis). This artist is known for its innovative approach to creative work and embroidery. In its design is dominated by oriental motifs and shades, as well as rare species of the dagger, French knots and decorative stitches. Some of them we'll try again:               Size of the final design of 12.7 x 13.3 cm, so we took a piece of black canvas 18 County, size 25 x25 cm For the beauty of embroidery thread, we used the transition of shades along the skein, the type series Color Variations Floss from DMC and Anchor, as well as the usual colored floss.

Recycling work: Making ball fower

Stash Crafted Ornament Extravaganza- Installment #1

There are just so many things to love about these no sew, nearly free, super easy, fabric scrap utilizing little gems! I had everything to make them on hand in my craft room (you might need to run to the dollar store for a pack of foam balls, but even then, the whole project will just cost a dollar). The best part? All of the scraps are bits from projects I made this year, so the ornament turned into a little mini-collage of my 2009 sewing projects. Fun, right?

Making Flower Pins

I thought with pretty good certainty that the last corsage I would ever pin on was at Senior Prom in High School.
But I was wrong.  A few weeks ago I visited the Quilting Cottage in American Fork, Utah.  I love the Quilting Cottage, which is not only a quaint little store, but they have a wonderful selection of fabrics.  While there, I spoke with Wendy, one of the women who works there…
She was making ribbon flowers pins for an upcoming wedding.  The pins look a lot like the ones they sell at Anthropologie, but hers are a fraction of the cost.  They were so darling I would happily wear one.
Wendy was kind enough to teach me how to make them.  Here’s what you need:

Tutorial: No Knot, No Tail

No Knots!
I have a few pet peeves about sewing but my biggest one is tying knots. I have that little bitty sense of dread everytime I have to do it - partly because I can't see up close as well as I used to and partly that I like to make several knots and I hate the angst I have over trying to match them up so they're on top of each other. Anyway, here's a nice little technique for handsewing to do away with knots :)

#1 double your length of thread/floss and thread the *tails* through the eye of the needle; this leaves a loop at the other end of your thread

gifts valentines: Valentines Day Cards

Valentines Day Cards

Materials: (for all cards)

•Card: Bazzill – French Vanilla, Blackberry
•Paper: Dark blue web paper; Graph paper.
•Embossing powder: Opals Franklin
•Heat tool
•Adhesives: Double sided sticky tape (DSST), Double sided sticky paper (DSSP), Foam mounting tape, Clear sticky dots (Bostik Sticki dots)
•Cutting Tools: Paper trimmer, Craft knife, Friskars ShapeCutter system and shape template HEARTS – 1 #4855
•Embellishments: Wooden craft hearts (4 of 30mm width, 25mm height, and 1 of 40mm width, 34mm height); 26 Gauge purple coloured wire; 32 Gauge silver coloured wire; Assorted beads in clear, blue and purple; 10 small silver eyelets, 3 heart shaped eyelets; Alphabet rub on stickers by Sticker Cafe
•Other Tools: Punch wheel; Card scoring tool; Ruler; Eyelet setting tools; wire pliers and cutter; forceps (to help with the beads); Needle; Metal Ruler, lead pencil.

Make the beaded hearts first

Method:

1.Cover the flattest side of the wooden hearts with DSSP, making sure the DSSP edges are cut flush to the hearts.

2.Make the large heart: 

Twist together the ends of a length of each of the purple and silver wires (approx 200mm long). 
String beads along the wires, choosing randomly from your bead selection, sometimes threading them over both wires, sometimes over only the purple wire. 
When the purple wire only has beads, wind the silver wire around a large needle to create spirals and then rejoin the wires together to continue stringing the beads. (See picture below) 
When the beaded wire is long enough, fashion it into a heart shape that fits onto the 40mm heart shape, twist the ends together, trim and wind the ends behind the beads out of sight.
Remove the top piece of backing from the DSSP and arrange the bead heart onto the sticky tile, pushing it down firmly to ensure it adheres tightly to the tile. 
Emboss as instructed below.

Rolled Rag Flowers and Fabric Ribbons: Last Minute Centerpieces!

Ever made these rolled flowers from fabric scraps that seem to be everywhere? Me neither, but there's always  a first time!

Felt Flowers For A Mixed Bouquet: Tutorial!

Fabric flowers are everywhere these days, and for good reason! They're so simple to make, and you almost can't go wrong if you've got a few simple tricks up your sleeve. And on top of that, if you use felt, (even inexpensive acrylic craft felt like I've used here), it's so easy to cut and holds it shape well, which makes you look good too! I'm not saying this is quick, yes it will take a few good hours, but it's time well spent, and if you make two or more at a time, it's time really well spent!
General How-To:
You'll Need:

• a 6" diameter styrofoam ball, or even 1/2 a styrofoam ball depending on your container.
• four types of felt flowers, in four complimentary colors, instructions below
• hot glue gun
• a suitable pot whose mouth is just slightly smaller than the diameter of your ball

Making Pom Poms

 

Pom Poms require a little bit of patience, but its quite satisfying when you finally get to cut them and produce your pom pom. You can make them whatever size you like, but I would suggest starting with a small pom pom so it doesn't take forever. 

• Cardboard
• Compass, or two circular items you can trace around.
• Wool
• Scissors

Fun Kids Craft: "Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve" Valentine

This is a favorite craft of mine, and you'll find me giving out hearts for sleeves again this year. I have a few friends that continue to wear their hearts year round - which I highly recommend.

For this craft, you will need:
Scissors
a glue stick
white paper (8.5 x 11)
construction paper
some safety pins
some scraps of felt
pencil crayons or markers
a small hole punch (smaller than the regular size!)

crafts for christmas

Snowflake Monday

Marikamum, I finally did it! Here's your flake! Thanks for all you've done in coordinating the SnowMon crochet-along all year. I've had the time of my life with Snowflake Mondays since I found you in September!


I designed this flake incorporating some of my favorite snowflake elements (so far), so it has a little bit of everything. I think it's my second favorite flake to date. (I'm still tweaking and writing the pattern for my favorite flake.) This pattern has been the most-requested pattern by snowflake lovers anxious for me to write a new pattern. So, merry belated Christmas, and may 2010 bring many blessings and enriching experiences your way.


You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

craft christmas and gift ideas

Card-making Fool

Last week I had a wonderful treat. An invitation to visit my aunt complete with bread-making, lunch for two and an introduction to the world of card making.

Years ago I did a little bit of the craft--certainly nothing special--and when I saw the boxes of hanging files full of special papers, the drawers full of stamps and embossing materials and boxes and boxes of cute little embellishments I realized that all this time there was a wide world of paper products that I'd never realized existed.

She taught me some basics and let me explore her creative archives and you can see the results here. Isn't that the cutest get well card? Because who doesn't smile when they see aliens with big ol' googly eyes. Even when dealing with strep throat or stomach flu. Almost makes me wish I had a friend who was sick just so I could give it to them. Nice friend I am, huh? Hoping my friends get sick just so I can show off my mad card making skillz.

There was a love note that I liked that had more aliens with googly eyes and the words "I only have eyes for you" on it. Now if that doesn't say love I don't know what does. And by the way, later I'll definitely be posting the fabulous spring-time shrimp salad she served. Very good.

But I'll end with the instructions for making this handmade pop-up card that is a perfect springtime bouquet. It's actually pretty easy to make, little hands could manage with a bit of instruction, and it makes you smile almost as much as a bunch of aliens with googly eyes.

I have to confess that I saw the original instructions while stumbling through the internet but I made things more colorful. Not only was the original video in double time, making it quite hard to see, the instructions were a little ambiguous, and what else was there? Oh, yes. I don't speak Italian. So I did my own English version of the video and it's much easier to understand if I do say so myself. Now get going and make those pop-up cards people! Let's move, let's move!

Valentines candy

Make Candy Cane Hearts

I think I've found the most inexpensive valentine treat ever. I made 43 candy cane hearts for under $1. Total. These will be just perfect for all of the cute kids in class with my kids.

Paper Christmas tree

Paper Christmas tree