Craft Gossip

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Unique Sites to Shop

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I’ve been the editor for Kids Crafts for a while now. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I love finding new ideas and new places to shop! I hope you have visited some of the sites featured on my little piece of the world wide web. If not, nows to the time to do so. Here is a listing of some of my favorite sites so far. I know that the list will continue to grow as I continue my quest for the coolest crafts available on the internet.

HearthSongis a wonderful site that features arts and crafts projects as well as toys, gifts, jewelry, and accessories. I know you will be impressed with this site, the look is great and navigation is very easy. Don’t forget to check out their sale section, there are some great finds here!
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The Crayola Company has been around forever and they are continuously turning out fresh and exciting new ideas in children’s arts and crafts. This site features many of their new products including the “no mess” ones that I love so much! It’s a fun site that you will enjoy looking at with your child. There are lots of craft projects that you can do with things you will find around your house, and kits to purchase. It’s worth a look.
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Read These Next

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Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]