Craft Gossip

BABY HATS – KEEP THOSE LITTLE ONE’S EARS WARM!

I’ve run across such cute caps for baby lately that I thought I’d better share. Check out some of these for gifting or for charity.

SPORT WEIGHT WITH H HOOK

http://www.lovinghugsfamily.com/hatpattern.html

There’s another one at the same website that is made with sock/fingering weight and a G hook.

This one is absolutely adorable – and will definitely keep baby’s ears snuggly warm:

BABY CAP WITH…

Autumn Air Freshener Recipe

Allison B. Kontur of BathBodySupply.com posted instructions for creating an Autumn Air Freshener on her blog. (found via Homemade Bath Products) There is also a video tutorial demonstrating how to make clear linen sprays.

Tutorial: Christmas stocking with embroidered name

Anne from Noodlehead shows how to make this Christmas stocking. She includes directions for adding a machine embroidered (satin stitch) name to the top. After all, you don’t want someone else claiming your stocking stuffers as their own, do you? Go to the tutorial.

[photo from Noodlehead]

[tags]sewing, tutorial, christmas, stocking, embroidery, satin stitch, name[/tags]

Tutorial: Wine bag hostess gift

The holiday season is close at hand, and with it the need for hostess gifts. Fawnda from Fireflies and Jellybeans shows how to sew up a quick drawstring bag sized just right to hold a winebottle. Keep a handful of these on hand, and stop by the liquor store on the way to the party – instant hostess gift! Go to…

Tutorial: Pants alteration for thin hips

Christine from Christine Sews shows how to alter a pair of pants to take in extra width at the hips. This alteration is for women who carry most of their weight in their waist rather than hips and thighs. Get the how-to.

[photo from Christine Sews]

[tags]sewing, tutorial, pants, alter, thin, hips[/tags]

Tutorial: Throw pillow with pleat details

Kelli shares a tutorial on Presser Foot showing how to make this throw pillow with pleated details. The pleats add interest to a solid-colored pillow. Go to the tutorial.

[photo from Presser Foot]

[tags]sewing, tutorial, pillow, throw, toss, pleats[/tags]

Tutorial: Hook and Eye

Beading Daily posted two free wire projects. I like the one pictured here. They use rubber tubing and wire to create a home-made hook and eye clasp.

Instructions are included, and I really like the look of this clasp – would be great with some chunky, funky beads.

Earring Ideas

Ornamentea have new ceramic beads by Elaine Ray and have posted them with cool earring ideas. I love these dangling earrings and variety of colors and possiblities that they show. It is also great that below the image on their site, they show you exactly which beads, finding and tools you will need to complete the project.

Natural Bath & Body Shop Giveaway

A Mom’s Balancing Act is currently having a giveaway featuring a $20 gift certificate to Natural Bath & Body Shop. This giveaway will end November 17th and is open to the US and Canada.

Freebie: Cardmaking Patterns and Projects

image by Free Cardmaking.com

Looking for some great free cardmaking patterns? Well, sign up at the FreeCardmaking.com website for free of course and download lots of great ideas like this pretty holiday accordion card.

-Heather

DIY Crystal Clear Ice

For all you foodie nerds out there (myself included) who would like to learn how to make crystal clear, yes, no cloudiness whatsoever, ice, CLICK HERE and visit Alcademics.com.

[tags]ice, science[/tags]

Chocolate Favor Tree

I love this simple, but clever party idea from Donna Hay: a favor tree with wrapped chocolates.

[tags]tree, chocolate, party, favor[/tags]

Fiber Friday, DIY scarf similar to the “Necklush”

I was looking for how to create a DIY scarf similar to the “Necklush” and found this tutorial on “NASH ON FASHON”. You could use an XXXL tee in two colors or tie-dye a white to get more volume in your scarf. Nash grew up in Southern California where she was inspired by the diverse and laid back styles…

Guzzisue’s bobbin-lace experiment

During a recent low spell (healthwise), Guzzisue of Travel, Fibre and Thread blog experimented with making bobbin lace from embroidery floss. Cool! See more on her blog post.

The Tarnished Tatter invents spiral earrings

These rockin spiral earrings are the brainchild and handwork of Heather, The Tarnished Tatter. She says, “I used the method of encapsulating a ring to do it on wire then curled the wire on a dowel rod.” Brilliant! See more on Heather’s blog.

Bunny building made from recycled materials and solar panels

OK I posted a fun project using solar panels on your purse to charge your electronic goodies, now here is one of a model of a bunny building I found over at the blog Olympia Dumpster Divers also known as Ruby Reusable, a fab blog filled with tons of great recycling!

“The “Jade Rabbit” entry which won the design competition of the…

An introduction to Crimean Tartar embroidery

John Hopper has posted a brief history of Crimean Tartar embroidery on The Textile Blog. Fascinating. He notes,

It is probably not an exaggeration to say that nearly every aspect of the daily life of the people of the Crimea was affected by the use of embroidery. It would have been both a part of every day life, but would also mark…

Allie’s angelina lilacs

This beautiful block is the latest in Allison Aller’s adaptation of a vintage CQ-flower quilt design. She says,

These are little angelina flowers made into a lilac spray. The leaves are of wool and silk felted onto cotton, with the beads added to the outlining buttonhole stitch.

Beautiful! Enjoy the entire series on Allie’s blog, Allie’s in Stitches.

Blue-and-white embroidery…and a free chart

Go to Needleprint blog to enjoy a comparison of and a bit of interesting speculation about traditional blue-and-white embroideries of the Amager Dutch community and rural China. A full-size chart of an Amager sampler is available for US $10.00. Or download the free chart of a Chinese motif shown here.

New and vintage Banjara patches available in the USA

Run over to Rayela’s Fiber Focus and check out Rachel Biel Taibi’s latest imported treasures, Banjara patches. Rachel says,

These patches are wonderful as you can incorporate them into larger textiles, attach them to bags, jean jackets, hats, and other accessories, or frame them as a small textile sample. The smaller ones are about 3×4 inches while larger ones can get up…

Haircare Don’ts

Mystical Aromas posted 10 Definite Don’ts Of Great Haircare from Michael Barrows’ website Great Hairstyles. Mystical Aromas offers Moonmist Shampoo, Conditioner & Herbal Shampoo.

Haircare Don’ts:
1. Avoid unprofessional and over-the-counter hair care products whenever you can. Many of these only offer false hopes and promises.
2. Do not cut your own bangs. Leave all of your cutting needs, even bangs, to your hair care…

Inspiration: Karen Ruane

I never tire of Karen Ruane’s work or her lovely blog, Contemporary Embroidery. Her creations are unique. And her photos are as exquisite as her needlework. If you haven’t visited her lately, go see what she’s been up to.

Leaf Lace Stitch!

As if you don’t have enough leaves around, here’s another one for you. But, this one doesn’t have to be raked up, or shredded, or mowed. This one is knitted. Bet you’re surprised, eh? A knitted leaf on a knitting blog? Courtesy of the folks from Lion Brand Yarn!

Note: this is a generic pattern for creating this stitch pattern. This…

A design of many uses

Brookelynn of Craftzine.com shares a pattern developed by artist Maria Merlino. Brookelyn says,

Maria Merlino, of Crochet Living, has transformed the peacock papercut into a fillet crochet pattern! Her work in crochet is creative and skillful, and she just happens to also be a member of the Guild of American Papercutters. Maria’s pattern is the perfect intersection of two distinct craft medias, and…

Hand-stitched-clock love

Prudent Baby blog steps us through the making of an appliqued and embroidered clock built on a stretched painter’s canvas. The Tea Party Time idea is adorable, but it’s just the beginning of the possibilities available with applique and embroidery. Brilliant concept! See the tute. And many thanks to CraftGossip sewing editor Anne Weaver for giving me the heads-up on this great find.

And if you’re…