May 25, 2014
by Tammy
3 Comments

K2tog and YO K, I’m Knitting Lace!

Hopefully, I’m not getting too full of myself and will screw this up at some point, but hot diggity! Look at my scarf so far! This is the first project from the Knit Lab Craftsy class I’m taking. Before taking the class I already knew the knit stitch fairly well, and I had a basic understanding of purl, though not a purl lover when it come to knitting (pearls yes, but purls no). So I’ve been a tad bored with the class so far and even a little frustrated at time because it felt slow to me, but I take it all back. After knit and purl, we moved onto how to knit two stitches together (k2tog) and how to yarn over (YO) – easy peasy! Plus by combining these, we are actually make a little lace trip to the scarf.

I’m using some yarn I got during one of Drew Emborsky’s Mystery Yarn Sale. It’s Iconic in the Fer Sure colorway, and I’m using size 7 (US) Boye needles my mother gave me about a year ago. I won’t say my scarf is perfect at all. I goofed in spots, but it’s looking fairly decent, and I am thrilled to learn a few new stitch techniques and to discover how simple they are. They actually are not that dissimilar to yarn over and decreasing when it comes to crochet.

May 25, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Buttons, Father’s Day, and Foxes

Father’s Day Craft Tutorials
From Kids’ crafts to one-of-a-kind cards to hand-decorated mugs and door hangers, The Artful Crafter has all the “deets” for you.

Art Bead Scene
Take a peek Inside the Studio of Ema Kilroy – and be in with the chance of winning a stunning pressed flower pendant!

A Bead A Day
Do you ever get hooked on a particular bead, design, or technique? Then you’ll understand exactly what Lisa’s talking about this week. She’s hooked on foxes at the moment!

Resin Crafts Blog
This week I show you how to make neon coloured resin objects with acrylic paint.

Snap out of it , Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean has a giveaway of a book that is wonderful! See how to enter and perhaps win!!! Margie Deeb’s THE BEADERS GUIDE TO JEWELRY DESIGN !!!

Sunday Morning with Lynne
Lynne Suprock of Simply Pretty Things stopped by for a playdate with Andrew. Check out what they made!

Mixed Media Artist
So many collage techniques…so little time!

Beading Arts
Cyndi shares a really fun little project that will have you running for your button jar!

May 23, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Crochet Medium Size Bird Nest

This uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and a size H hook. The finished size should be 4 inches high and 6 inches wide. This should be stitched with a tight gauge so that there are no holes that the bird’s legs might get stuck in.

You can start with magic ring, or I prefer to do what some people call a “sloppy slip knot.” I got this technique from Fresh Stitches, and it works well for making sure you don’t have a hole in the center when you crochet in the round.
ch 2
Round 1: sc 6 times in 2nd ch from hook (6)
Round 2: sc twice in each st (12)
Round 3: * sc twice in next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * 5 times (18)
Round 4: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (24)
Round 5: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (30)
Round 6: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (36)
Round 7: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (42)
Round 8: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (48)
Round 9: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 7 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (54)
Round 10 through 16: sc in each stitch around (54)
End with 1 slip stitch in the next stitch and pull yarn through top of next stitch.
Weave in all tails.

Here’s a look at the inside of the medium bowl and the other smaller nests I’ve made so far:

I used left over yarn, so that’s why some nests use different colored yarns. If you switch colors, just make sure to weave the ends in really well. I don’t usually knot, but I did with the tails on these and then wove in the ends since I wanted to make sure they were extra secure.

May 22, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Pretty Little Potholders – Book Review

Pretty Little Potholders (Pretty Little Series) is a book from Lark’s “Pretty Little” series. It retails for $9.95 US and $10.95 Canadian and is 127 page soft cover that came out in 2013. Featuring hand-crafted potholders, this book includes 32 potholder projects that primarily focus on basic sewing techniques. Potholders can be both functional and practical gifts, and because they are not overly large, most of these projects look like they would work up pretty quickly. Plus, you need minimal sewing skills.

The supplies and techniques section suggest that you use a sewing machine, and I have to agree. Unless you have extremely good hand-stitching skills, you want to use a sewing machine as a way to save time but also to make sure you construct a finished product that will last. Save the hand-stitching, which is also covered in the techniques part, for ornamentation.

I liked the variety of design options provided in this fun book and think it would be a great gift idea (the actual book of course) for someone who has just started sewing. It allows for lots of sewing practice without taking on a huge project. Of course, the finished potholders would also make great gifts because anyone can use them.

For the price, which as usual, is always much less through Amazon, I think this is a nice addition to any sewer’s library.

May 21, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Knit Lab Crafsty Class…So Far

I am determined to learn to knit more than a garter stitch scarf, so I buckled down and started up the Knit Lab Craftsy class I’ve had in my queue for some time. I have to admit that it was not doing it for me at first. It really still is not making me love to knit. It feels like the class is going really slow. I understand that I can switch between lessons and skip parts, but I have learned that skipping around is not always a good idea. In between the lengthy discussion about yarns and needles (information I really already know), I could miss something. So I’m trudging through it, head down…determined to complete the entire class.

I was actually moaning about this the other day on my Facebook group, and then today, after watching more of the class yesterday, I realized I needed to shut up and do it. As someone who teaches general education classes which most students do not want to take, I realized I needed to think about my approach to this class differently. I’m always asking my students to be open to what they might learn in my class instead of turn themselves off and assume that this class (that they are required to take but seemly has nothing to do with their future career plans) has nothing to offer them. I found a quote that states this perfectly: “If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it.”

So today on my Facebook group, I posted this quote and have new resolve that I will keep myself open to learning as I continue taking this class. And my patience is now being rewarded a little as I start the first class project, a scarf, with garter, but with lace and purl stitching at some point too.

If I just assume that I won’t learn something from this class, that I won’t expand my meager knitting skills, then I won’t.

May 20, 2014
by Tammy
1 Comment

Baby Yarn Stash Busting

Well, I got a bee in my bonnet and have decided to do some baby yarn stash busting this summer. My first stash buster project is yet another star afghan. This is a free pattern I found on Ravelry, and it’s called the Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket. I follow the pattern for the most part until I get past the center, and then from that point on, I just keep doing the “large shell” and don’t switch to the “small shell” part of the pattern. It’s almost all double crochet and very addictive. Which means…of course….I started another one after the one pictured above.

This second afghan I am switching from pink to blue and will be larger than the first one (which is about 39 inches from tip to tip). Each color will have 10 rows, and depending on how much yarn I have left (I have 4 skeins of this Baby Bernat yarn), I might add a trim.

I am using a size H hook, and this yarn is sport weight. This combination means you can whip this up super fast, and you end up with a fairly light-weight blanket.

My baby yarn is stored in one large plastic tub, and it’s about half way full at this point. My goal is to use it all up in the next few months. I have a relative who just became pregnant (perfecting timing!), and anything else I don’t give to her, I will probably donate to a local shelter.

May 19, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Marcia DeCoster Presents – Book Review

For the lover of all things beadwork related, Marcia DeCoster Presents: Interviews with 30 Beaders on Inspiration & Technique (Spotlight on Beading Series), a new title from Lark Books ($26.95 US; $29.95 Canada; copyright February 2014), is worth considering.This books is not a how-to project book or even a gallery style beadwork book. Instead, it brings you into the creative minds of thirty beadwork artists while showcasing their artistic talents. Some of the artists include Debi Keir-Nicholson, Edgar Lopez, Christina Vandervlist, and Cynthia Newcomer Daniel. Bead artists from around the world are included in this book, so you get a really wide range of perspectives on the craft.

The designs exhibited in the book are, for the most part, very intricate, and include a variety of bead weaving techniques. The artists show how innovative they can get by using common stitches with both common and unusual beads. If you are not attracted to bead woven jewelry, this would not be a good fit for you probably; however, for anyone who loves beadwork and especially has an appreciation for high-end bead weaving designs, you will enjoy viewing the beautiful jewelry shown within this text as well as reading what inspires and challenges each designer featured.

May 18, 2014
by Tammy
0 comments

Paints, Beads, and Color!

Art Bead Scene
Take a peek Inside the Studio with Rebecca of Songbead – and be in with the chance to win some of her hand-woven beaded beads!

Resin Crafts
A week of working in molds is summarized in this post featuring the lovely Frida encased in EasyCast.

A Bead A Day
Sometimes you just need a little jewelry pick-me-up to make a work Friday a little more fun. Lisa is sharing her Fun Friday jewelry and would love to hear about yours!

It’s party time!
Andrew celebrates the Grand Reopening of Allegory Gallery in their new location! Check out the recap of the event.

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean reviews a lovely set of paintbrushes by showing what they do!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has been sharing some of the practice pieces that she made for her new e-book!

Mixed Media: Adding Layers
Cherie creates a mixed media picture with her favorite colors.

May 18, 2014
by Tammy
1 Comment

Crochet a Small Baby Bird Nest

I created this pattern using basic amigurumi techniques for crocheting in the round. The nests are needed by various wildlife rehabilitation groups. I originally put this pattern together for San Rafael’s WildCare, but feel free to use it for any group that needs small bird nests.

This uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and a size H hook. The finished size should be 3 inches high and 4 inches wide. This should be stitched with a tight gauge so that there are no holes that the bird’s legs might get stuck in. A few crocheters have used this same pattern and used doubled worsted weight yarn and either a G or F hook. Obviously, everyone’s gauge varies, so keep this in mind.

You can start with magic ring, or I prefer to do what some people call a “sloppy slip knot.” I got this technique from Fresh Stitches, and it works well for making sure you don’t have a hole in the center when you crochet in the round. A stitch marker to keep count of each row that you increase in is very helpful. I also crocheted in the back loops (something else I learned from Stacey at Fresh Stitches). I find this helps for counting rows since you actually have lines on the nest by doing this.

ch 2
Round 1: sc 6 times in 2nd ch from hook (6)
Round 2: sc twice in each st (12)
Round 3: * sc twice in next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * 5 times (18)
Round 4: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (24)
Round 5: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 3 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (30)
Round 6: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 4 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (36)
Round 7: * sc twice in next st, sc in next 5 sts. Repeat from * 5 times (42)
Round 8 – 13: sc in each stitch
End with 1 slip stitch in the next stitch and pull yarn through top of next stitch.
Weave in all tails.

The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog