A new year is a great time to learn new skills, and if you’re just now taking up knitting (welcome!) or are reminding yourself how to knit because it’s been a while (welcome back) or even if you’re trying to … Read More...
Valentine’s Day Themed Math Activities
Valentine’s Day is a great time to incorporate holiday themes in the classroom. We could all use some colors by this time in winter, and the idea of showing love and friendship to everyone in the classroom is one we … Read More...
Ways to Join New Yarn without Weaving in Ends
Lots of knitters hate weaving in yarn ends, so it’s popular to wonder if there are ways to join in new yarn that don’t involve having to weave in ends when the knitting is done. Here’s a quick look at … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Box and Fox
When I look at the designs of Box and Fox on Etsy, the first words that come to mind are lush and floral.
This designer has more than 1,000 (1,000!) patterns on their page, so I certainly didn’t look at … Read More...
Bust Your Stash and Keep Warm at the Same Time
Last year I wrote a post all about using advent calendar minis, and this is a little bit more of the same, but it’s more of a focus on ways to use lot of different bits of stash that … Read More...
King Cole Pulls Patterns for Hooded Baby Sleep Bags
Recent guidance from the UK Government Product Safety board called our various sleep bags, swaddles and hooded sleep sacks for being hazardous to babies. The report says “The sleep bag presents a serious risk of suffocation, overheating and death … Read More...
Super Bulky Sock Knitting Patterns
I recently shared a collection of worsted weight sock knitting patterns, which is thicker than some people would like to wear in their shoes (I think they make great boot socks, though!). But if you’re not going to be … Read More...
All about Antigua and Barbuda for Kids
There are so many nations in the Caribbean that I’ve not heard of or have barely heard of. Antigua and Barbuda falls in that category, so let’s learn together!
Antigua and Barbuda Basics
Antigua and Barbuda is an independent nation … Read More...
A Simple Cowl for When You Need to Think
The beginning of a new year (or the end of the first month, since we’re almost there already!) is a great time to reflect on the past year and to think about things you might want for yourself in the … Read More...
How to Cross Stitch on Paper
One of the crafts I want to try more of this year is embroidery on paper. It’s a fun way to add texture to a collage or just make a picture funnier or more interesting. I have this idea of … Read More...
A Scrappy Shawl Knitting Pattern to Use All Your Odd Balls
Since I’ve been writing a lot about using your yarn stash and leftovers from other projects a lot lately (see projects with two strands held together, patterns for leftovers, projects using minis, to name a few) the … Read More...
Quick Little Valentine’s Day Cross Stitch Patterns
After talking about mini cross-stitch patterns the other day, I decided to look around for some small Valentine’s Day cross stitch patterns that would be quick and easy to stitch.
Whether you just started stitching or just want a fun … Read More...
A Scarf Knitting Pattern for Learning How to Knit
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about learning how to knit, and what would be helpful or what essential skills are needed to get from that first project to other projects with confidence.
I know a lot of people start … Read More...
Bear Ears Hat Knitting Pattern
I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to resist the cuteness of a hat with animal ears on it. Whether for little ones or even adults, adding ears to a hat just ramps up the cuteness factor, and it’s really not any … Read More...
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year (also sometimes called Lunar New Year) is February 10 this year, and to celebrate we’ve got a great collection of new year’s crafts. 2024 is the year of the dragon. Dragons are said to be charismatic, intelligent, … Read More...
Use Your Stash Faster by Holding Two Strands Together
One of my favorite ways to use up stash fast is working on projects where more than one strand of yarn is held together while you knit. This is an easy way to make a heavier weight yarn using what … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Teeny Weeny XStitch
I have mentioned recently that I want to take on a large cross-stitch project this year, but the truth is most of the time I am drawn to projects on the other side of the size spectrum.
Tiny things are … Read More...
How to Get a Neater Edge on Your Knitting
If you’re looking to refine your knitting techniques in the new year, or you’re new to knitting and wondering why your edges look so weird, you might enjoy this deep dive into edge stitches, why they look that way and … Read More...
Book Review: African Icons
It’s a terrible thing that Black History Month so often focuses on the period of slavery onward, as if there was nothing of note happening in Africa during this time or indeed throughout the course of history before colonization.
I … Read More...
How to Work Quarter Stitches in Cross Stitch
I have done a fair bit of smaller cross stitch pieces in my time (and I definitely have working something bigger as a goal for 2024!) but for the most part I’ve only worked projects with full cross stitches, backstitch … Read More...