The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

April 8, 2013
by Tammy
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Amigurumi Frank-en-Pig



Stacey Trock has become my favorite amigurumi designer. For me at least, I find her patterns very easy to follow, and she has a style that connects each of them so that once you have done one or two, you feel like you can make any of her designs. After making her Cliveton the Tiny Pig pattern, I wanted to do it again but larger. Cliveton is about 5 inches tall.

Of course, if I wanted to do the math, I could have just altered her Cliveton pattern, but who wants to do math when you don’t have to? Not me! I could also have used chunky yarn or even held two strands of yarn together. However since I have made so many other animals using her patterns, I realized that I could just take parts and pieces from different patterns to make a larger pig. I was not 100% sure it would work out, but luckily it did.

The final pig toy is about 9 inches tall, and I used the following parts and pieces from her patterns to make it: Stretch the Giraffe (ears and snout); Woodland Reindeer (arms and legs); Teddy the Bear (head and body); and Cliveton the Tiny Pig (tail).

Generally speaking, I am pleased with how it turned out. I’m still having problems with getting my heads stitched on straight. My animals always seem to be looking off to one side, but I think I might have a way to fix that in the future.

April 7, 2013
by Tammy
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Craft Link Love

ACreativeDream
An art doll leads June to make a necklace, and the necklace leads to a bracelet…

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a pattern for a knit polka dot bow, a tutorial on how to draw a Sakura chibis in action, some handmade book and Steampunk eye-candy, and a recipe for Paleo slow cooker chicken pesto.

How to Make Baseball Charms
Follow these directions from Sherri and you can make charms you can use to make a necklace, key chain, or zipper pull.

How to Make Giant Red Remembrance Poppies for Memorial Day
What a smashing impression these giant red Memorial Day poppies will make. But don’t forget to buy the little ones for purse or lapel to honor those who died in service of their country and to raise money for veterans in need.

Mixed Media Artist
Don’t you just love it when you finally get to the point in a quilting project when you can…well…actually quilt it?

That Fun Coworker Who Makes You Laugh
Cherie thinks about the fun people she’s worked with in this new print.

April 5, 2013
by Tammy
3 Comments

Infinity Scarf

I gave a little look at this infinity scarf (housed in my Zipper Pouch Thirty-One bag) earlier this week. It was an alternative to a shawlette pattern that I just could not get the hang of. I have wanted to make a cowl or infinity scarf for awhile, so I decided to just wing it.




I know that a lot of these types of scarves are usually done with one long strand of chain stitch that is connected, but you have to really be careful about not twisting it when you go that route. I wanted something fast and easy, so instead of working it with a long connected chain, I worked from the shorter end and connected both ends when I finished. Here it is shown doubled around my neck.



It ended up being 4 inches wide and 36 inches long, and alpaca yarn tends to stretch, so there is plenty of room. I used a size J hook, and the yarn is Cascade Baby Alpaca in the 3030 colorway. Here is how I made it:

  • Start with18 chain stitches,
  • Stitch one row of single crochet, making sure to chain one at the end of the row.
  • Stitch one row of single crochet, making sure to chain four at the end of the row. (This will work as your first triple crochet on the row that follows.)
  • Stitch one row of triple crochet.
  • Continue to alternate between two rows of single crochet and one row of triple crochet for a total of 27 repeats, making sure to end the last row with triple crochet.
  • At this point, you have a regular scarf. Connect both ends of the scarf using slip stitch.
  • Finish off both sides of the scarf with single crochet.
  • Lightly block. (I put it on a towel and spritzed it with water and shaped it.)

Here it is flat. You can either wear it around your neck as one large loop or you can wrap it twice. If you wanted it longer, you would just need to repeat the single crochet and triple crochet pattern until you got the length that you wanted.




I have not weighed the leftover yarn, but I’d estimate that I used about half the skein on this. I probably have enough to make another one, or I might try making one but knitting it this time. I’m very happy with how it turned out. Alpaca yarn is super warm, but since I used a lot of triple crochet stitch in this, it should be light enough to use in Florida on the few occasions it’s cold or when my hubby insists on cranking up the air conditioner.

April 2, 2013
by Tammy
2 Comments

April Bag Special

For April 2013, the Thirty-One Gifts special is a choice of two different gym bags: the Jr. Rec Duffel or the Pro Duffel. With any $35 purchase, you can also buy one of these duffel bags at a reduced price, $10 for the smaller Jr. Rec Duffel or $25 for the Pro Duffel.

Here’s a video that gives you a look at each bag.

I’m a Thirty-One Gifts independent consultant, so stop by my shop and find out about more about this great offer and shop or contact me (tammypowley @ yahoo dot com).

April 2, 2013
by Tammy
1 Comment

Zipper Pouch Project Bag & Crochet Experiment



I decided to make something for myself for a change and dipped into my treasured stash of Cascade Baby Alpaca yarn (colorway no. 3030). At first, I was going to make a shawlette, but I was having trouble understanding the pattern. After frogging it about six times, I figured life is too short and decided to make a cowl or infinity scarf. I’m going to make this long enough to double around my neck, attach the ends, and then single crochet around the edges. Of course, this yarn is so soft and buttery. I love working with it.

I’m housing it in a new project bag I purchased when I hosted an on-line Thirty-One catalog party. It’s called simply the Zipper Pouch, and the pattern is Woodblock Floral.




As you can see, it’s got plenty of room. This is just about a full ball of yarn (about 200 yards), and I could easily fit more in there. The bag is 9 inches high by 12.25 inches wide, and 2.5 inches deep.



It has a little ribbon tag connected to the zipper, and the inside is lined with vinyl, making it easy to wipe clean if you used this for something other than yarn.



The bottom flattens, and the material is stiff enough so that it stands up. The Zipper Pouch also comes in other colors and patterns and retails for $15. You can find it in my Thirty-One Gift shop, item number 3045.

The infinity scarf is working up quickly. Fingers crossed, I’ll have it done in a few days and can put another new project in my new project bag.

April 1, 2013
by Tammy
38 Comments

April’s Knitting Book Giveaway & Discount

For the month of April 2013, you can enter to win this new knitting book by Ruth Cross. It’s called The Knitted Home: Creative and Contemporary Projects for Interiors and is published by the Aurum Publishing Group. Here is a description from the publisher:

This exciting new book is a creative collection of over 20 knitted interiors projects by one of the UK’s most exciting textile designers. In The Knitted Home author Ruth Cross draws on her own experience of designing organic and freeform collections to guide you through the process of making and creating your own items. She creates desirable projects that can adorn many different items around the home including wonderfully textural cushion covers, cosy blankets and throws, fitted covers for chairs and footstools, stylish table runners and mats, seriously desirable wall hangings and smart floor rugs.

In addition to giveaway away a copy of this new book, the publisher is also offering a discount for my readers. Here is how that works:

To order The Knitted Home (9781906417727) for £16.00 including p&p*, telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code JS195. Or send a cheque made payable to: Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department, Littlehampton Book Services, PO Box 4264, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3TG. Please quote the offer code JS195 and include your name and address details. *UK ONLY – Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

This giveaway is available to all readers no matter where you live. To get a chance to win a copy of The Knitted Home answer the questions below in the comments:

Have you ever knitted an item for your home? If so, what was it?

Post your comment only once in this blog entry and you will get a chance to win. The deadline for entry is April 30, 2013 midnight ET. Then during the first few days of the next month, I will randomly pick one winner. Make sure to include your email address when commenting. I will email the winner who will have 3 days after the drawing to reply back with a mailing address. Anyone who does not reply after 3 days will no longer be eligible to win, and I will draw a new winner. The book will be mailed by the publisher, so the winner will need to make sure to allow time for shipping, especially if you are not located in the UK.

ETA: Congrats to #25!

March 31, 2013
by Tammy
0 comments

Fabric Fun, Mail Art, Jewelry, and Power

ACreativeDream
One thing leads to another… how creating an art doll led June to creating a necklace.

Bag Lady in Training
Tammy documents her training as a new recruit for Thirty-One Gifts, a company who sells bags and organizational products.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to measure a book for a slipcover, make a raw edge applique, draw a dramatic portrait and form a caramelle (candy) shaped pasta.

Fabric Photo Magnets
Discover how easy it is to make personalized magnets using a photo and some fabric.

Mail Art Inspires One’s Art
Have you tried mail art? Mail art inspires creativity in both sender and recipient.

Mixed Media Artist
Finding the right background fabric for an art quilt can sometimes be a challenge!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
How to make a pom pom Easter bunny

Strength
Cherie talks about strength and art.

March 30, 2013
by Tammy
0 comments

Laundry Room Organized, Check!



Admittedly, our laundry room is the smallest room in the house; in fact, I hesitate to call it a “room” because it is really kind of a hallway in between the garage and kitchen. There is just enough space to open the dryer door, and above the washer and dryer is a shelf that had turned into a catch all for rags and sundry items vaguely related to cleaning.

One mantra of Thirty-One Gifts is finding solutions, and after getting my kit when I joined as an independent consultant, I realized that I could use the Large Utility Tote included in the kit as a place to start with getting that shelf organized. The tote is one of the company’s most popular items, and now I know why: You can use it for all kinds of storage.

The tote pictured is in the Party Punch pattern. Without monogramming, it retails for $35. It measures 11.75 inches high, 21.5 inches wide, and 10 inches deep and has a metal frame around the top so you can collapse it down and flatten it in case you want to store it some place. It also has handles on each side, and mine came monogrammed with “Family Fun” on one side. I thought that was kind of a funny saying because I ended up storing all the dogs’ towels in there for when they get baths, some fun huh?

On the opposite end of the shelf, I have a few baskets, that were buried in the piles of stuff, filled with cleaning products and dog leashes.




It is just one tiny room, but I feel so good that it is organized now, and of course, this has got my mind thinking about my next organization goal. I ended up ordering another Large Utility Tote in the Woodblock Floral pattern without any monogramming for our bedroom, and I may get a second one for that room. My husband has a ton of shirts that need ironing, and they tend to pile up on one of our dressers…ummm…yeah because I do iron but not every dang day! Plus even if I got myself in gear and ironed every shirt he owns, there is no room in his closet, which he needs to purge some stuff from. I’m not waiting on that to happen any time soon.

If you are looking for organizing solutions, you can view the Thirty-One Gifts catalog on my shop site. Along with the large utility tote, they have a number of other products that can be used to organize your studio, home, or office.

March 27, 2013
by Tammy
0 comments

Crocheted Wash Cloths for a Change


I have been on the amigurumi kick lately. It started out with the idea that I wanted to give some toys to charity, but I have to admit that it just became addicting at some point. I have worked on other projects a little. I have a shawl that I need to crochet about another foot on and it will be finished. It’s all double crochet for the most part so tends to be my “no brainer” project. I have also started another shawl project, but that on requires paying attention to the pattern a lot. Still, the amigurumi just kept calling me back: “Don’t you want to make another teddy bear?”

Yesterday, however, I set down the bear and picked up some Sugar N Cream cotton yarn and started on some wash cloths for my mother. She is difficult to make anything for, so at Christmas, I gave her an IOU with a list of items she could check off. She picked wash cloths. I will be making a trip to visit her soon, and I needed to get these done.

I used a pattern from a nice little book from designer Drew Emborsky called All Washed Up (Leisure Arts #75272). It has 9 dish or wash cloth patterns in it. I made two using the Finished with a Flourish pattern. Because I was short on time, I opted not to do the trim in the pattern and just finished them off with single crochet around the edges.




I like the texture these have, and this is definitely a pattern that I could see becoming a staple for me because once you get going, it’s pretty fast. These were a nice break from amigurumi and gave me some instant gratification.