When my daughter was younger, one of her favorite sensory things to play with was kinetic sand. This is a special kind of sand that has a soft and squishy texture, and it’s moldable and holds its shape until … Read More...
Knit a Headband Inlaid with Diamonds
Little projects like headbands are the perfect way to learn new knitting techniques or refresh your memory if it’s been a while sine you’ve worked with a particular knitting technique. If you’re new to stranded knitting, or you just want … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: TAM Stitch Designs
If you love pastels (and cross-stitched houses), TAM Stitch Designs has patterns for you. This collection of contemporary cross stitch patterns from the UK is heavy on cool colors, with calming designs involving flowers, beach scenes, little cottages and more.… Read More...
Review: Wild Languages of Mother Nature
Humans are the only species that talks in the way we do, but plenty of other animals have their own ways of communicating, whether through singing, whistling, barking, thumping or smelling each other’s poop.
Why Not Knit Yourself a Pigeon?
When it comes to adding whimsy to your knitting, nothing quite does it like knit amigurumi or otherwise knitting animals. And I haven’t seen anything (well, knitting patterns anyway) that made me smile recently like Bill the Pigeon did.
This … Read More...
How to Move Around a Cross Stitch Pattern
As with so many things in crafting and in life, there’s no right way to cross stitch. You can work all of one color in a project, skipping around the fabric as you do, or you can work stitch by … Read More...
Learning about Trees
Trees are a great topic any time of year, but I like to talk about trees in the summer because if you have to be outside, at least you can be in the shade. But of course you can learn … Read More...
Summer Shawl and Scarf Knitting Patterns
If you’re a fan of scarves and shawls (or of lace knitting more generally), you might feel like you need to give up your accessories when the weather gets warm. But the good news is there are plenty of projects … Read More...
Tropical Bird Cross Stitch Patterns
The weather is hot where I live as I write this, which has me thinking of the beach and more tropical climates, because if you’re going to be hot at least you should be somewhere pretty, right?
If a tropical … Read More...
A Cabled Sweater to Span the Seasons
I know it’s only July as I write this, and there is a lot more summer to come in the Northern Hemisphere, but I’m already starting to think about knitting for fall. For one thing, it takes a little while … Read More...
Harry Potter Crafts and Activities
True Harry Potter fans know that the boy wizard’s birthday is celebrated on July 31, so if you want to get in the spirit here are some fun Harry Potter-themed crafts and activities. Stage a reading of one of the … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Needleshaped Ltd
If you like your cross stitch patterns with a gothic twist, you’re going to love the collection of patterns offered by UK-based Etsy shop Needleshaped Ltd. I don’t know if they’re really from a town called Gravesend like their bio … Read More...
Modern Wedding Cross Stitch Patterns
Lots of people seem to get married in the summer and fall, so if you’ve got a wedding on your list of social engagements soon, you might want to stitch up a wedding cross stitch pattern.
There are so many … Read More...
Learning about Belgium for Kids
My daughter loved Martha Speaks when she was younger, and if you watched this show, too, you know what song has been going through my head the entire time I’ve been writing this. (And if you don’t know what I’m … Read More...
Easy Dishcloth Knitting Patterns
I guess it was after I did my post on washcloth knitting patterns that Pinterest decided I really wanted to see a lot of knit dishcloths and towels. Since that post was strictly washcloths I decided I should share some … Read More...
Tips for Stitching on Black Fabric
I generally like to use light colored cross stitch fabric when I work, mostly because I don’t want the frustration of not being able to see what I’m doing all that well. But I’ll admit the allure of working with … Read More...
Mermaid Activities for Kids
Summer is the perfect time for all activities related to the beach and the ocean, regardless of whether the things you’re learning about are real. Mermaids are a lot of fun and a great way to bring a little … Read More...
Silly Goose Sock Knitting Pattern
I don’t know why thinking about whimsical knitting so often makes me think of fun knit socks. There are plenty of other ways knitters show their whimsy, from knitting chickens to dinosaurs (kind of the same thing, I guess) to … Read More...
Camping Activities to Use at Home or at Camp
If your family likes camping but you aren’t able to get out as much as you would like, some at-home camping activities can be a fun substitute. Or if your little ones are new to camping and you want to … Read More...
Knit a Giant Shawl to Keep You Cozy
After sharing summer shawl knitting patterns the other day, I decided to go in completely the opposite direction for this one.
The Tigris Shawl by Olga Fahim is a big old shawl. It’s a triangle that measures 82 inches (or … Read More...