Washcloths and dishcloths and hotpads are really fun projects to knit, both because they are small and because they are a great way to try new techniques (also, having something you made that you can use every day is pretty … Read More...
A Beginner’s Guide to Knitting from the New York Times
When I worked at a newspaper, it was often said that news is what happens to your editor on the way to work.
If that’s true, there must be a knitting editor at the New York Times. They seem to … Read More...
Stitch a Sweet Pencil for Back to School
Whether you are a teacher or you know a teach or just have an obsession with school supplies (tell me it’s not just me), this time of year, when the new notebooks and pens and other supplies are all over … Read More...
Cross Stitch Pattern – Sunflowers are Perfect for Summer
If there’s one flower that reminds me of summer, it’s the sunflower.
They’re just so cheerful and, well, sunny.
This pretty sunflower cross stitch pattern from Amanda Gregory is perfect for celebrating summer, or to stitch in winter when you’re … Read More...
Addition Facts Printable Games
A lot of time in the early grades is spent teaching kids math facts, because they are the basis for more complicated math they will learn later on.
If they can quickly and correctly answer basic addition and subtraction (and, … Read More...
An Easy Way to Weave in Yarn Tails as You Knit
Weaving in ends may be the most dreaded chore a knitter faces, except perhaps swatching, and at least swatching you can sometimes skip, but most of the time weaving in a few ends is a must. Even more so when … Read More...
Cross Stitch for Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events
A while back I mentioned that a Westworld cross-stitch pattern I shared reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events and that I wanted to find some patterns related to that series.
It took me a while, but I finally … Read More...
Knit a Simple Three-Strand Cable Braid Headband
I love the look of a simple cabled headband, and it’s a great way to learn how to knit cables if you’ve never done them before.
There are tons of knitting patterns out there for this sort of thing, but … Read More...
Word Building Travel Kit
When kids are learning sight words, it’s fun to play with them in all sorts of different ways.
This word building activity travel kit from I Heart Crafty Things is an easy way to give kids a learning activity they … Read More...
A Guide to Knitting Abbreviations
Different hobbies tend to have their own languages that are indecipherable to people not in the know, but in knitting the code can be particularly frustrating to break because so many abbreviations are used in knitting patterns themselves.
Whether you’re … Read More...
Garden and Flower Dramatic Play
This time of year it might be too hot to go outside, but kids still love to play with flowers and do gardening dramatic play.
This amazing set of ideas for garden and flower shop dramatic play from Pocket of … Read More...
Handy Tips for Choosing the Right Sock to Knit
Sock knitting is so fun. They’re great travel projects and I like to have one on the needles all the time to work on wherever I am.
But one thing that can be tricky for people who are new to … Read More...
A Great Way to Manage Thread on a Big Cross Stitch Project
I’ll admit that most of the cross-stitching I have done and most of what I share here are pretty small, easy projects that don’t require a lot of time, colors or effort to complete. That’s just what works for my … Read More...
A Knit Cardigan with Color-Dipped Arms
I love this idea for a really classy way to turn a sweater into a stash-busting project.
The Dipped Arms pattern from Katrin Schneider is mostly a simple Stockinette cardigan, but the ends of the sleeves are worked in a … Read More...
Check Out This Fun Sight-Word Battleship Game
Variations on classic games are so much fun to help kids learn.
This periodic table version of Battleship is a great one, and I just came across a sight word Battleship game with a pirate theme from Liz’s Early Learning … Read More...
How to Frame Cross Stitch Using Sticky Board
looking for a quick and easy way to mount your cross stitch or embroidery so you can frame it? Sticky board
, a press-on adhesive mounting board, is a great option.
The board can be cut to just the size … Read More...
Fun Activities for Learning about the Body
Kids seem to love learning about their bodies, and there are so many great hands on activities you can use and do at home to help kids explore and discover things about their bodies.
A Spectatled Owl has a nice … Read More...
Knit a Baby Hat with Style
I love knitting baby hats. They’re so quick and easy and you can do all sorts of techniques in them on a small scale. And babies look cute in anything, so you can make them a little more wild, colorful … Read More...
Stitch a Shrug to Get Through Summer
I’m still sad about the eminent closing of Classic Elite Yarns, in part because they have always produced such great patterns to go with their yarns.
One of their recent patterns is Riptide, a cute little shrug worked … Read More...
Cross Stitch a Little Gnome for Your Phone
Have you seen those phone cases that have holes on the back so you can cross stitch them? I had one but I didn’t make it fast enough and now my phone is too big for the holder.
But if … Read More...