Most knitters use stitch markers
when they are knitting in the round to mark the end of the round, but many of us don’t use them as often as we should or could to make our knitting lives easier.
I … Read More...
Make an Easy Cross-Stitched Pincushion
Have you ever seen the Clover pincushion maker? It’s a cool tool that makes it easy to make a pillow-like pincushion, which Stitched Modern used to make a cute cross-stitched pincushion covered with stitched polka dots.
Of course you could … Read More...
Simple Lace to Knit for Spring
Lace knitting is fun any time of year, but I especially like doing it during the spring and summer because it allows you to make knitting projects that you can actually use when the weather is warm.
If you’ve never … Read More...
Knit a Gorgeous Pillow for a Ring Bearer
If you have a wedding coming up, check out this beautiful ring bearer pillow knitting pattern.
Designed by Debbie Trainor, it features a Double Moss Stitch back and a heart design on the front with a little cable in … Read More...
Cross Stitch a Cat for Prosperity
I adore this sweet cross stitch design by Luba Davies Atelier.
Called Prosperity in the House, it features a little kitty resting on a pillow with a Chinese character (I assume a symbol of prosperity?) on her back.
The pattern … Read More...
More Easy Crafts for Earth Day
With Earth Day coming up this weekend, you might want to plan an Earth-themed craft to do with your kids.
Crafts on Sea has a great collection of more than 30 Earth Day crafts, which it says are for … Read More...
Drip Paint a Rainbow Resist Work of Art
This beautiful idea from the Educator’s Spin on It is called a drip painting rainbow name recognition activity, but the basic concept could be used to make all kids of resist art.
The basic concept is to have something … Read More...
What to Do with Single Skeins of Sock Yarn
If you’re like me, and like most knitters I know, you’ve probably bought a skein or several of sock yarn
(let’s not talk about other kinds of yarn right now, OK?) with no real idea of what you were going … Read More...
Make Tulips for Mom from Plastic Forks
I’ve seen people use forks to make prints (like this version at Fun Littles) but I had never seen the corollary idea until now.
You can also paint forks to make them look like tulips, as is shown in … Read More...
Going Back to Embroidery Basics
Much as I love cross stitch, I really like using embroidery as a gateway to getting people interested in stitching because it is more free-form and there’s not really a “right” way to do it.
I’ve been writing a lot … Read More...
Great New Washcloths for Spring
There’s something about the change in the weather that makes people want a fresh start, which means spring cleaning, clearing and decluttering.
Why not also knit up some new things to help you with your spring cleaning?
DROPS has a … Read More...
Because Sometimes You Just Want to Knit a Giant Pillow
One great way to use a lot of yarn at once is to knit big projects on big needles. Whether you use yarn that was already super bulky or make your own fat yarn by combining multiple strands, it’s really … Read More...
Socks Fit for a Witch (Or a Mom)
I was thinking again about Hermione’s Everyday Socks, a fantastic (and free) sock pattern from Erica Lueder.
It’s a rather old pattern, first published in 2009, and I started knitting mine several years after that but maybe only finished … Read More...
Stitched Flowers for Mom or Grandma
This is a really pretty cross stitch design for Mother’s Day that has the benefit of being appropriate for moms or grandmas.
Better Cross Stitch Patterns shows this floral Mother’s Day design in two color palettes, saying either “for my … Read More...
Make Your Own Color-Changing Sidewalk Chalk
Now that the temperature is getting warmer, kids want to spend more time outside, and we want to let them. But it’s fun when we can add a little bit of learning to that play time, too.
Next time you … Read More...
Knit an Easy Ribbed Coffee Cozy
I love warm beverages pretty much all the time, but I don’t love that my mugs sometimes get too hot.
Coffee cozies are quick and easy projects that are also really useful for the coffee and tea drinking folks out … Read More...
Learn to Embroider the Fern Stitch
Cross stitch and embroidery look great together and can easily be used in the same project, so it’s worthwhile to know a little bit of both if you like stitching and drawing with thread.
Pam Ash Designs has a great … Read More...
Feed the Monster and Learn the Alphabet
Letter recognition is a big part of being able to learn to read, and making learning about letters more fun is always a great idea.
Instead of using flash cards or drilling kids to help them learn the letters, try … Read More...
How to Cross Stitch a Key Chain with Plastic Canvas
I was wandering around Pinterest, as one does, and I saw a picture of cross-stitched keychains.
I started looking for more, and found some that looked like kits where there was a plastic part that surrounded the cross-stitch fabric, … Read More...
Knit a Simple Tank for a Touch of Warmth
This time of year I want knitting projects that are quick and easy and that I can wear right away.
Gina Michele’s easy tank knitting pattern is just that sort of project. It’s knit in a flash, in two pieces … Read More...