Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Valuable Glass Bead Making Tips and Tricks from Arrow Springs

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arrow_springs_home_page_2Are you a glass bead maker? Do you feel like you need more information about glass bead making? Have you been to Arrow Springs web site? If you have then you know that they provide a lot of valuable information for the new bead maker as well as those with experience. Besides that they have one of the greatest selection of tools and materials for all types of glass work.

I was teaching a glass bead making class recently and wanted to provide my students with more information. Information they could use to start setting up their studio or expand the knowledge they already have. Things like coating mandrels properly with bead release and the types or bead release they offer or hooking up your regulators once you get them home. There’s a page on how to make your own frit. I love using frit. Or using pixie dust, that’s different from fairy dust but just as magical. They even give you the information on how to test if the glass you have is compatible. Glass compatibility is so important so this is great information to have. You can download the pdf or just print the pages straight out from their site. This stuff is so helpful for making your bead making experience that much better.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.