Earth Day is coming up soon, and while it’s not obvious, I feel like crafters can be a force for good in the world in lots of ways, including for the environment. When we make things we tend to take … Read More...
What is a Shawl Cuff, How to Make or Where to Buy Your Own
I’ve always wanted to knit up or otherwise craft a shawl cuff for myself, but it’s on the long list of projects I haven’t gotten to yet. A shawl cuff is a little piece of fabric or leather with a … Read More...
Stretch Your Skills with This Brioche Shawl Knitting Pattern
I usually post knitting patterns that are relatively easy, not necessarily because I expect my audience is mostly beginners, but because knitters of all skill levels can potentially enjoy projects on the easier end of the skill level scale, especially … Read More...
Printable Bookmarks for Kids
April 12 is DEAR Day, otherwise known as Drop Everything and Read, a concept made popular by Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books. (It’s April 12 because it was her birthday.)
Reading is worth celebrating all the time, and I thought it … Read More...
Sunflower Cross Stitch Patterns
I know sunflowers aren’t an early spring flower, but I guess it’s the sun being around a bit more that makes me start thinking about sunflowers.
Did you know sunflowers are typically yellow, but they can also be orange, red, … Read More...
How to Draw a Bird
There are all sorts of weird holidays out there, and recently as I was scrolling through a list of them I saw that April 8 is draw a bird day. I don’t know why, but it seems as good a … Read More...
Get Some Texture with the Pass the Honey Knitting Pattern
I love a good stockinette stitch pattern because of the classic look and the fact that I don’t have to pay a lot of attention to what I’m doing.
But I’ll admit I’m a sucker for a good textured knit, … Read More...
The Best Cross Stitch Pattern Generators
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‘ve never used a cross stitch pattern generator before, but they look like a great way to make a cross stitch pattern that’s perfectly unique. In some of the crafting Facebook groups I’m in, it’s common for people to … Read More...
Marble Runs and Other Activities with Marbles for Kids
I read that April 7 is National Marble Day, but of course any day is a good day to play with marbles. Making marble runs is a great STEM activity, and you can even pull in some art activities by … Read More...
Paying Attention to the Ergonomics of Knitting
I learned to knit when I was a kid, and I learned the English/throwing/yarn-in-the-right-hand method. When I picked up knitting again after college I re-learned in the same way. But since helping other people learn to knit and enjoy their … Read More...
Felted Knitting Patterns
As I have been writing pattern roundups recently, I feel like I am getting more felting patterns than I have seen recently. I don’t know if felting is coming back or if it’s just that I have been searching for … Read More...
Strawberry Cross Stitch Patterns
It’s not quite strawberry season where I live, but as soon as the weather starts getting consistently warm I start looking out for local berries. They’re my favorite sign that summer is coming and one of my favorite things to … Read More...
Printable Game Board Templates
Making your own board games for the classroom or the home is a great way to extend the learning or just personalize a game to make it about your classroom or family or your interests.
While it might seem difficult … Read More...
Knit and Crochet Now! Ending after Season 13
Annie’s has announced that the latest season of “Knit and Crochet Now!,” which is the 13th, will be the last. The show, which has aired on PBS stations around the country, is currently midway through the season, which will wrap … Read More...
Soft Easy Crochet Blanket Pattern
This crochet blanket uses a simple crochet stitch that you might already know or will pick up on fast. This pattern uses only one solid color of yarn, and one size of crochet hook. The blanket pattern is fast to … Read More...
Cross Stitch Quilt Patterns
I love it when two crafts combine to make something even more special than either one of them could do alone. One craft that shows up in a lot of other crafts is quilting, probably because the graphic, geometric shapes … Read More...
Bring a Little Brightness to Your Knitting
It’s said that April showers bring May flowers, but what if we need some color right now? At least we can knit with bright colors any time of year, and the Let the Good Times Roll Sweater by Sylvia Watts-Cherry … Read More...
Ways to Use Plastic Easter Eggs in Learning Activities
With Easter upon us you might have an excess of plastic eggs in the classroom or at home. The good news is there are tons of different learning activities you can do with these simple plastic pieces. One year we … Read More...
How to Finish a Cross Stitch Bookmark
One of my favorite ways to introduce new crafters to cross stitch or embroidery is by having them make a bookmark. They’re useful even if they don’t turn out that pretty, and it’s a small enough project that it can … Read More...
Free Easter Basket Knitting Patterns
We’re getting pretty close to Easter but there’s still time to add a handmade touch to your festivities. Easter baskets are pretty easy projects to stitch up and they add an extra level of cuteness to your egg hunt or … Read More...