One of the first things we often do when teaching kids to write is to have them learn how to write their name. There are lots of ways to make recognizing and learning the letters of your name more fun, … Read More...
Knit a Mister Rogers Sweater
With the 50th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and a new movie about his life coming out this year, interest in the sweater-wearing TV star has never been higher.
If you’d like to knit a Mister Rogers-style sweater for yourself … Read More...
Stitch a Lovely Bug with Cross Stitch and Embrodiery
It had been a while before I checked out the freebie patterns at the DMC website, but I happened past there the other day and checked out some of their free patterns.
This one of a lacewing is really striking, … Read More...
Knittting Pattern- 4th of July American Flag Dishcloth
With Memorial Day and the Fourth of July coming up, it seemed a good time to share a somewhat patriotic knitting project.
The American Flag Knit Dishcloth by Designs by Emily uses alternating rows of knits and purls to make … Read More...
Knit a Bath Mat with Poufy Yarn
A few years ago — probably more than a few, the way my sense of time goes — Red Heart had a yarn called Pomp-a-Doodle, which was basically a string with puffy pom-poms attached to it. When you knit with … Read More...
Another Gorgeous Top to Knit for Summer
I may be slightly obsessed with summer tops to knit right now, thanks to school being out at the end of the week and completely having summer on the brain.
But this one, the Sommer sleeveless top by Mari Chiba, … Read More...
A Cross-Stitched Insult, Monty Python Style
When I was a teenager I loved Monty Python. And I had a group of friends who loved, it, too. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was our favorite, we could recite it, some even acted out part of it … Read More...
Sewing Tools that are Also Great for Knitters
There are lots of times when different crafts cross over, or when tools that might be used for one craft (say, a crochet hook) can be useful for other crafts as well (such as picking up stitches or weaving … Read More...
A Simple Top for Summer Knitting
I’m all about knit tops and tanks for summer. They are great projects to knit when the weather is warm but they also give you a way to wear knitting projects when it’s too warm for sweaters.
Blackwork Embroidery Inspiration
I’ve never done blackwork embroidery before, but it’s such a striking crafty that I’m always intrigued when I see it.
Wandering around Pinterest the other day I found this post from Craftster, showing a blackwork background behind a large E. … Read More...
Another Cross-Stitch Project for the Book Lovers
Last month I shared a cute cross stitch pattern about reading past your bedtime and this one really goes right along with it for me.
Don’t Eat the Paste shares this great design about the problem of having not too … Read More...
Get Yarn Inspired by a Book Cover
Yarn dyers are inspired by many different things, from their favorite movies and TV shows to the colors right outside their doors.
I think this may be the first time, however, that I’ve heard of a yarn bundle being inspired … Read More...
A Little Monday Motivation to Cross Stitch
Some days we just need a reminder to be nicer to our fellow human beings.
No matter how much we would like to do otherwise.
This gentle reminder to try not to murder people comes via a cross stitch pattern … Read More...
Melting Ice for Summer STEAM Fun
Even though it’s not even summer yet, my daughter is already complaining about the heat and wanting to do things that will help her cool down.
We love doing activities that involve water and ice, and this melting ice sculptures … Read More...
Harry Potter Dementor Cross Stitch Pattern
I don’t think Harry Potter stuff will ever get old, so I was happy to see this free cross stitch dementor pattern from Albion Gould.
It’s worked on cool printed fabric, but of course it would be great on regular … Read More...
Say Good Morning to This Fun Knit Rooster
I love knit animal patterns, and I really should make more of them because they always make me smile.
This knit rooster pattern from Sara Elizabeth Kellner is really detailed and colorful and looks like it would be a lot … Read More...
The Perfect Kickstarter for Lovers of Knitting and Role Playing Games
There are a lot of geeky knitters out there, so I couldn’t resist sharing the Kickstarter for Yarnia, a role-playing-game based knitting pattern system.
The idea, as designer Tania Richter explains it, is that you role up a character … Read More...
The Cost of a Knitting Pattern, Annotated
I love this post from Thread & Ladle breaking down the potential time and monetary costs of producing a quality knitting pattern.
People sometimes complain when I share patterns that cost money, and I do try to stick with … Read More...
A Super Simple Towel Knitting Pattern
I love projects that are useful, and if they can be both useful and stash busting that’s even better.
The In the Kitchen Taffy Towel from Be Sweet on Craftsy has the potential to be both of those things.
It’s … Read More...
Stitchers Share Snarky Reactions to Design Contest
I don’t know what thread maker DMC was thinking when it proposed a design contest in which the winner’s design would be made into a pattern without compensating the designer, but the design community definitely didn’t like the idea.
Because … Read More...