Independent craft blog since 2007
Despite our best efforts while we are working on a project, our cross-stitched objects sometimes get a little dirty.
Prevention can help a lot: always wash your hands before you stitch, don’t eat and stitch (or drink colored/sugary liquids), store … Read More...
We’ve made what were supposed to be super strong bubbles before, but nothing quite like this un-poppable bubble.
Hip Homeschool Moms has a video from Labracadabra that shows how to make and play with bubbles that aren’t literally unpoppable but … Read More...
I was introduced to Sam Barsky, in the virtual sense, through a knitting group on Facebook.
Like many of us, Sam has a knitting-related obsession. His is sweater knitting.
In particular, knitting pictoral sweaters of landmarks or with a particular … Read More...
Martin Luther King, Jr., day is coming up, and it’s a great time to learn about the civil rights leader and the civil rights movement in general. This isn’t easy stuff to talk to our kids about, but it is … Read More...
Samplers
are the classic, quintessential cross-stitch project, probably what most people think of when they think of cross-stitch.
And while they are kind of old-fashioned, they’re a great way to build skills and to commit to working a larger project. … Read More...
Regardless of your political leanings, I think it’s always cool to see handcrafts used as part of a political statement, and that’s happening in a big way with the Pussyhat Project.
The idea is to outfit as many women … Read More...
This one goes to Chrystie!
In more cleaning out my office giveaways, I present this classic from Nicky Epstein: Knitting Never Felt Better.
This book from 2007 is a lot of fun and covers a lot of knit and … Read More...
Rolling a silly sentence is a great activity that you can take a lot of different ways and that doesn’t require a lot of setup.
Royal Baloo has the printables you need to play roll a silly winter sentence. … Read More...
Snow days and too-cold-to-go-outside days can add up to kids who just need to get some energy out, but it can sometimes be hard to come up with movement activities that are OK to do inside.
From ABCs to ACTs … Read More...
Sock knitting is a lot of fun, but the sad truth of the matter is that knitting a pair of socks takes a long time. So many little stitches, so many knitting needles (often) and you have to knit two … Read More...
I was recently perusing a collection of strange holidays and saw that yesterday (that’s January 5 as I write this) was Bird Day. I don’t know how one celebrates Bird Day, but we don’t need an occasion to stitch a … Read More...
It’s not often that you find hat knitting patterns that are sized for pretty much everyone you know, from newborn babies to large adults, and even less common to find a hat pattern that everyone in that range might universally … Read More...
Anyone remember the TV show “Animaniacs”? I was in junior high or high school when it came out, and I had a friend who memorized the states and capitals song just for fun. I don’t know if he remembered any … Read More...
When I think of loom knitting, I usually think of hats and tube scarves, because to me that’s what looms are for. You’re supposed to use all the pegs all the time, right?
The truth is you can use just … Read More...
Swedish designer Ulla-Stina Wikander gives old household objects amazing new life by covering them with cross stitch.
Items such as rolling pins, trays and teapots are transformed with cross-stitch fabrics she’s purchased over the years. She started covering household … Read More...
Actually, it doesn’t start until Feb. 1, which is maybe even better than starting at the beginning of the year, but this new knitalong from Berroco looks like a lot of fun and a great way to build some skills … Read More...
This time of year is ripe for starting new projects, and possibly new hobbies, or even just for trying new methods of doing things you’ve been doing with less success in the past.
I am the worst, for example, when … Read More...
Alicia is the winner!
As is the fashion this time of year, I’m trying to clean out my office of things I don’t use and don’t see myself using in the future.
And as much as I love Yarn Harlot… Read More...
If you’re looking for more things to knit in the new year, check out the top 100 knitting patterns of 2016 from All Free Knitting.
These patterns are from all over the web (you might recognize some of them from … Read More...
Just for fun I decided to check out the most popular patterns published this year on Ravelry. If you’re looking for something to make with yarn you got for Christmas or Hanukkah or to get a jump on your New … Read More...
