Sometimes it can be difficult to get kids and teens interested in knitting. They tend to like to DIY nature of knitting but sometimes lack the attention span to see a big project through to the end (adults, too right?).… Read More...
Make a Cross-Stitch Kit for Travel or a Gift
I love this idea for making a cross-stitch/embroidery travel kit from Akamatra. She was traveling and wanted to be able to take her threads with her without having to carry full skeins.
It’s a really simple process to wind … Read More...
What Does it Mean to be an Intermediate Knitter?
I kind of have a love/hate relationship with skill levels on knitting patterns. I usually like to note in my reviews of knitting books if patterns have skill level ratings, because they give knitters a general idea of whether the … Read More...
Stitch Your Family with Help from Do-It-Yourself Stitch People
Last month I shared a post with different tips for cross-stitching your family from Do Small Things with Love. I’ve seen online that there’s a book all about making cross-stitch portraits, but I haven’t had a chance to look at … Read More...
Explore Natural Materials in a Jar
Playing with, exploring and mixing up natural materials like said, soil and stone is a lot of fun for kids, and you can make it an easy science exploration without a lot of effort, as shown in this tutorial from … Read More...
Encouraging Reading and How to Read Chapter Books with Preschoolers
My daughter has always loved books and reading. I think that the fact that we have read a lot, her whole life, made her see books and reading as important, and we still read together a lot, though she … Read More...
When the Knitting Thrill Is Gone – Have You Lost Your Knitting Mojo?
After I left About in the spring, I went through a period of not wanting to knit at all.
It has been such a big part of my life for almost 10 years, through three books and hundreds of articles, … Read More...
Check out This Super Cute Tiny Knit Pumpkin
My daughter has decided it’s officially fall, as in going to really start feeling like fall, as soon as it’s October. We’ve been having cool mornings and warm afternoons this week, so I believe her.
With fall coming on that … Read More...
Oldie But a Goodie: Floral Cross-Stitch Graffiti
I know I have seen the work of Raquel Rodrigo before, but it’s too pretty not to share whenever you come across it.
Rodrigo makes these huge outdoor floral cross-stitch installations, which she has installed in various locations in Madrid.… Read More...
Use This Fun Activity with Kids Learning Counting
Counting and number games are a fun way to help kids learn numbers, counting and addition. This Roll It, Write It, Count It mat printable from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls would be a great addition to a math … Read More...
Giveaway: Mason-Dixon Knitting Audiobook
Anne is our winner!
This week’s giveaway is brought to you by me cleaning my office. I have a copy (on CD) of Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines, by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne.
The thing about an audio … Read More...
Another Way to Make Halloween Cross-Stitch Pumpkins
The other day I shared a tutorial for giving your Halloween pumpkins a cross-stitch look with paint pens.
Then I stumbled upon this tutorial from Design Sponge, which actually uses a drill to make holes in the pumpkin so … Read More...
Easy No-Knit Yarn Crafts for Fall
Of course we are all here because we love knitting, but every now and then you want to do something with yarn that doesn’t involve knitting or crochet.
Yarncraft projects are a great way to use up yarn leftovers or … Read More...
Make a Garden Xylophone from Natural Materials
Music is one learning activity that doesn’t seem to go outside very often, and that’s a shame, because natural materials can be used in a lot of different ways to make musical instruments.
This idea for a garden xylophone from … Read More...
Make Your Bag Distinctive with a Cross Stitch Luggage Tag
I’m going on a trip this week and though I’ll be flying, I’m only taking carry on luggage. If I had to check a bag you can bet I’d be stitching up some cross stitch luggage tags, as shown … Read More...
What Does “Personal Use Only” Mean?
Often when you buy knitting patterns (and sometimes you see it on free knitting patterns, too) you’ll see a statement somewhere on the pattern or website that says the patterns are for personal use only or some variation on that … Read More...
Pumpkin Themed Learning Activities
Now that it’s really almost officially fall it’s time to break out all the fall-related learning activities if you haven’t already. Check out this article on the best STEM gifts for kids.
I put a call out to some of … Read More...
Book Review: Drop-Dead Easy Knits
By the title alone, I think a lot of people are going to be interested in this book. Drop-Dead Easy Knits
by Gale Zucker, Mary Lou Egan and Kirsten Kapur is the result of a bunch of knitters being in … Read More...
Make Cross Stitched Ombre Table Numbers for a DIY Wedding
I love it when crafty elements are incorporated into weddings and other celebrations (though I got married at a time when I wasn’t making a lot so there weren’t really any DIY parts to my own celebration).
These cross stitched … Read More...
Knit a Big, Bulky Bag to Hold More Knitting
I love knit bags, and there’s nothing better than knitting a bag to hold knitting stuff (though it’s better to line a bag if it’s going to have knitting needles in it; this pattern doesn’t cover that but because it’s … Read More...