As children learn to write, they are also learning how to tell stories. Often when kids are starting to write stories we encourage drawing a picture and writing about what is shown, whether they are retelling a favorite fairy tale … Read More...
Cross Stitch for Left-Handed People
As a knitter, I know that there can be a big difference in how handcrafts work depending on which hand is dominant for you. My daughter is left-handed, too, so I have to think about this when I’m teaching her … Read More...
A Little More about Yarn the Film
A few weeks ago I told you about getting to see Yarn
the film and how I enjoyed seeing the different stories about how yarn crafts can go out into the world and give people a different perspective on craft.… Read More...
Stitch up Some Medals for Olympics Pretend Play
If you have little kids you know how much they love to pretend, and if they’re watching the Olympics they probably want to pretend they’re winning medals, too.
You can stitch up some easy medals for them to play with … Read More...
Knit Olympic Rings Double as a Stacked Bracelet
I wanted to knit a little something to celebrate the Olympic Games, so I came up with the idea to knit Olympic rings, since they are an icon of the Games that can come out every two years.
As I … Read More...
An Easy Way to Make Your Own Cross Stitch Charts with Text
If you’ve ever wanted to add writing to a cross stitch design or make your own cross-stitch charts that include words, it can be a pain to figure out how to draw the letters you want in a way that … Read More...
Knit a French-Inspired Cowl in Brick Stitch
I love Brick Stitch, which is a really pretty — and pretty simple — slip stitch colorwork pattern that makes a knit fabric that looks more complex than it is. Slip stitch knitting is a great beginner colorwork technique, and … Read More...
Check out this Brilliant Way to Help Kids Learn Multiplication Tables
I have to admit that I never really learned all my multiplication tables. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is. I couldn’t tell you want 7 times 6 is or 8 times 9 (well, maybe that one because … Read More...
Giveaway: Knitting Architecture by Tanis Gray
Deborah is the winner.
There are so many great knitting books published each year, full of inspiring patterns I wish I could make, but I have to admit to myself that I’m never going to knit all that I wish … Read More...
Science Activities for Learning about Water
Our town has a great little botanical garden that runs summer programs for kids, and the last one we went to was all about water, which has gotten my daughter interested in learning more about water.
Water is a great … Read More...
Sweater Patterns that Will Make You Wish it Were Fall
I started knitting a sweater the other day. It’s kind of a summer sweater, knit with lightweight bamboo yarn at a loose gauge, in a boxy, oversized shape.
I hope to wear it before the weather gets that cool (I’m … Read More...
Baby Feet to Cross Stitch
Is there anything cuter than baby feet? What better way to celebrate a new little one than by stitching up some sweet little feet?
There’s a sweet pattern at My Cross Stitch Patterns for a birth record cross stitch pattern… Read More...
Slow TV Hits Netflix
I remember when Norway’s Slow TV brought TV viewers in that nation hours of knitting, along with programs showing a train rolling down track for seven hours and a 24-hour broadcast of salmon fishing.
Now 11 of these programs have … Read More...
A Ton of Weekly Preschool Theme Unit Studies
Ellen at Cutting Tiny Bites is working her way through a list of 52-plus different weekly unit study themes for preschoolers, and there already a lot of great stuff there (as I write there are 32 themes), whether you’re working … Read More...
Kate Davies on Knitting Her Way Back to Health
Kate Davies is a knitwear designer you might have heard of before, who uses traditional Scottish patterns in her designs, but what you might not know is that she had a stroke at a young age and had to work … Read More...
Watermelon Cross Stitch Patterns
There are a lot of fun, made up holidays out there, and one of them is coming up this week. Aug. 3 is apparently National Watermelon Day, so why not celebrate by stitching up some watermelon-themed cross-stitch charts?
Galina Yoho … Read More...
Are You Stitching in the Ravellenic Games This Year?
It’s almost time for the beginning of the Summer Olympics, which means it’s time for another session of the Ravellenic Games (formerly known as the Ravelympics, but that’s a long story).
The Games are a time when knitters, crocheters and … Read More...
Helping Kids Learn About Geography
With the Olympics coming up you might be talking more to your kids about different countries and pulling out maps or a globe to show them where different countries are.
If this is your first time introducing concepts of geography … Read More...
Giveaway: Knitting Daily Workshop DVDs
Congratulations to Connie!
As I mentioned recently, I’ve been cleaning out my office and clearing out some old things that I don’t need any more, and passing on a lot of good, classic stuff to you.
This week I have … Read More...
More Cross Stitch Olympic Symbols
I realized after I published my post yesterday about a cross-stitch Olympic rings chart that Cut Out and Keep actually has some other Olympic-themed charts you might want to check out: