Setting up a Glass Fusing Studio…the small version

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So you want to fuse glass. But how do you get started? Well, I’ve been looking up different sites trying to find well rounded advice on what to do, how to do it and where to do it. I’m going to share a couple of different sites and you can check out what they have to offer and see what works for you. A little from here and a little from there.

First we’ll start with Tammy Powley at about.com and her advice on starting up fusing. Tammy has tons of great advice on jewelry making in general so you may want to sign up for some of her regular newsletters. She covers many aspects of setting up a starter studio which really doesn’t require a lot of space but does require you keep things organized and clean. It is glass you’re going to be working with after all.

The other site to check out is craftstylish.com. She gives good advice on setting up. A lot of the same things are covered but that’s because that information is universal for setting up a small glass fusing studio. In a future posting we’ll cover what it takes to take your studio to the next level. More equipment, glass storage ideas and other goodies.

It feels like it’s too early to be thinking about back to school, but as I write this my daughter has just a couple of weeks of summer left! So let’s get in that school and fall knitting spirit by looking at some apple knitting projects.

If you have a 22 needle circular knitting machine, knitting an apple is one of the easiest things you can do. I have an apple pattern over at Our Daily Craft that will take you just a few minutes to knit and they’re a great addition to your fall decor.

Apple hats are a classic, and whether you want to knit a hat that looks like an apple or one with apples on it, we’ve got you covered. For hats that look like apples check out the rolled brim version from Emma Crochet Design 4 U, which uses worsted weight yarn and comes in sizes for kids of all ages; and the ribbed brim version from Hand Knit Hugs. This one also calls for worsted weight yarn and comes in four kids sizes. Both include a stem and leaf.

If you’d rather have apples on your hat, try the Red Apple Hat from Little Red Window. This one is sized from newborn to 2T and calls for four colors of worsted weight yarn.

How about apple socks? You’ll find Ariel Chang’s Apple Picnic Socks as a free download on Ravelry. These use three colors of sock yarn and come in three sizes. Stone Knits also a pair of stripey apple socks that show the inside of the apple. These also have three sizes but they use six colors total, with the main color being a self-striping yarn.

If you want a little apple accessory for the house, the apple potholder from Nifty Knitter Designs is cute and a great way to practice double knitting. It uses two colors and you’ll find the colors in the reverse on the other side. The pattern only uses about 50 yards of each color of worsted weight yarn, so it’s a great use for odd balls, too.

Once you’ve got your double knitting skills sorted you can also try the double knit apple scarf from Crow and Chai Shop. The Winter Apples scarf is shown in red and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. There are apples, stars and random stitches in the design, which calls for DK weight yarn. There’s also a matching fingerless glove pattern.

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