Donating Hats and/or Mittens for Children

Nov11

One of my favorite web communities is called Craftsy and at the present time they are hosting a donation program for keeping homeless and/or less fortunate children warm this winter.  They have set a goal of 10,000 items to be donated for this program from November through January.  Your donation can be a new item or handmade.

Quick ‘n Cozy Winter Beanie with the Scalloped Scarf

They are looking for hats, mittens, scarves, etc.  Feel free to use my quick ‘n cozy crochet beanie pattern if you want to donate a handmade item.  Also, on the Craftsy website they have two (2) free patterns available to make for this donation drive.

Send your donations to:

Craftsy

Attn:  Keep Out The Cold

2150 West 29th Avenue, 4th floor

Denver, CO  80211

Just wanted to pass on this information and hope you can add your donation to this cause.  Click on the word Craftsy and it will take you directly to their site for more details.

HAPPY CREATING!! 

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Ideas for a Christmas “Wish” List

Nov8

I know with the upcoming holidays just around the corner, things at home can get rather “hectic”.  Especially, if you are like me, and do a lot of handmade gift items.

But sit down now with a lovely cup of tea or coffee, use one of your special cups and saucers and design a crafting “wish” list to give to your hubby, children, boyfriend, mother, mother-in-law, girlfriends, etc.

While you are inhaling the sweet aromas from your drink and maybe nibbling on a Christmas cookie, think of some of the sewing, crocheting, quilting, cross-stitching, knitting (the list goes on) accessories that you have seen throughout the year and would love to own.  You know, those one-of-a kind knitting needles or a crochet holder for all your hooks, or extra sewing machine needles, bobbins, or, hey, maybe a new sewing machine!!   Just quickly write them down on a notepad, and be sure to scour the many catalogs you receive in the mail this time of year for additional ideas.  Be specific so your family and friends know exactly what you want.  Don’t forget to suggest gift cards and books too!!

Now head to the computer and use Microsoft word or some other type of publishing program and start making your unique “wish” list.  Type your list using a different font, put those really special items in CAPS, change the ink color or add decorative borders around your list, add cute holiday or craft pictures that you can find by searching images, get creative.  Don’t forget those all important URL addresses for those on-line items.

Once you have your list ready, you can print it out on regular white paper or use a light weight card stock whatever will work in your printer.  Divide your paper in half or fourths and make 2 lists or 4 lists per sheet of paper.  Then cut them out and give them to those special people in your life!!

In reality, this should only take about an hour or so to prepare and it will really help alleviate the stress from holiday shopping for the purchaser!!   And maybe you will get the item needed to begin a new crafting project for next year or to complete a UFO (unfinished object)!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Simple Crochet Napkin Ring

Nov2

Here’s an easy pattern for a crochet napkin ring which gives you lots of creative options to make it match your decor or crochet this design in holiday colors.

Stitches used:

CH – chain

SC – single crochet

HDC – half double crochet

SL – slip stitch

Any type of yarn will work for this pattern.  My sample I used a 4 ply cotton yarn for napkin ring body and a size 10 thread for the edges.  I crochet body using a size G hook and the edging I used a size C.

Begin by doing 20 CH stitches.  Join with a SL stitch to form a ring  making sure your chain doesn’t twist.

Rnd 1:  CH 2.  Make 19 HDC in each chain stitch,  join round by making a SL into top of beginning CH 2.

Rnd 2:  CH 2, turn.  Make 19 HDC, join round by making a SL into top of beginning CH 2.

Rnd 3, 4, and 5:  Make exactly like Rnd 2.

Fasten off and weave your ends into your work.

Wow, you have a wonderful napkin ring just the way it is but the fun really begins now because you can do so much to personalize your project.  You could simply tie on a unique button with some thin satin ribbon centered in the middle of your HDC.  Or maybe you would like to add a small crochet rose or a different kind of flower design, or heart, or  star.  Making a design using sequins and beads is another creative option to give your napkin ring the personality that you are looking for.  The ideas are endless.

Using a smaller ply yarn for your accents will give you some nice depth or texture to your finished project.  For the holidays, think about using a bamboo thread that has some sparkle to it.

In my sample, I just edged the napkin ring in some red and green size 10 thread.    I began by making a SC into any of the HDC stitches.  Then I chained 3, made another SC in that same stitch,  CH 3.  Made a SC in the next stitch, CH 3, made a second SC in that same stitch, CH 3.  I continued in this fashion until I reached the end of the full round of the napkin ring then I fastened off.  Did the same stitches on the other side of the napkin ring using the other color.

If you would like a more sleek look, just do a SC in each HDC around the ring and fasten off.  I suggest using a size 3 or 4 ply yarn for that look.

This is also a simple project that a young person could easily crochet and make as a gift for someone special.  Crochet using a variety of different colors – shades of brown, green, yellow, orange, red – would look beautiful for a Thanksgiving table.

  • TIP:  When adding yarn for your edging, I like to make my starting place at the point where I joined each round.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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OoLaLa Self-Healing Cutting Mats

Oct23

FINALLY, after 12 years of almost everyday use,  I disposed of my old self-healing mat by Olfa and purchased a brand new smooth, shiny one!!!  So now my pictures will have a pretty background.  Still has that new “stinky” smell, which I will help alleviate by rubbing it down with 1 part water to 1 part white vinegar.

I just love having ready access to this mat.  The one I use consistently is the 18″ x 24″ size.  My serger table, designed by me and built by my talented hubby, has an extended side which this mat fits on perfectly.  So I have it readily available for trimming seams, cutting out fabric, designing patterns, working on crafts, whatever is happening in my sewing room.

I have the small version and the extra-large mat too.  Can you tell that I just love using these mats.  The smaller size is great for any sewing/quilting classes, fits easily into a tote for commuting and doesn’t take up a large space when sharing a table with other people in your class.

The extra-large mat is a good to use for actually cutting out your fabric and patterns.  Works great on a kitchen table, especially if you have limited space for preparing sewing projects.

These mats store away easily but you do want to insure that you don’t fold or bend them.  They will stand nicely behind a storage bin or slid easily behind a bookcase.  You don’t want them to come into direct contact with the hot sun or a heating vent.  If left in a car, for example, the hot sun can actually distort the mat causing it to bend out of shape and you can never, I mean never, get it back flat again!!

If you have the space, there is a very, very large self-healing mat that is wonderful for doing drapery treatments or cutting out several patterns at once.  The measurement size on the mat itself is 44″w  x  92″ long, marked off in 1 inch block increments on the entire face of the mat.  The actual mat itself measures 48″ x 96″.  Feel free to check out Megamat Pro and Sew Fit Cutting Mat for these very special mats.

Off now to cut out a new tote on my new mat!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Trick or Treat Pumpkin Applique

Oct8

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN!!

I know Halloween is really just around the corner but I thought I would share these applique designs with you.  Here are fun pumpkin faces that can be created and appliqued to the front and back of a sweatshirt or a tote bag used to collect all those goodies for that special spooky night!!   This would be great to showcase on two cute Halloween pillows  for your home decor too.

Felt works great for this applique  –  doesn’t fray and is easy to sew onto your project  –  or whatever scraps you may have in your fabric stash.  Refer to the pictures shown here to design your applique or “be creative” and make a different pumpkin face using circles or squares for the facial features.  I made bubble type letters but you could use square-shaped letters if you decide to applique words.

My design is approximately 10  1/2″ wide by 11  1/2″ in length and my letters are about 2  1/4″ square.  You can make your pumpkin face whatever size you need to fit your specific project.  If you don’t want the words “trick or treat”, you don’t have to use them or maybe you want your applique to say “Happy Halloween”.   Have fun with this design and make it your own!!

My applique design was created using orange felt for pumpkin, black felt for facial features, green felt for stem and gold felt for letters.  Sketched my pumpkin onto tracing paper so I could see how it would fit onto my project material, which was a black tote bag that I made.  Then I drew the facial features to fit the size of my pumpkin.   Using the tracing paper as my pattern, I cut out my shapes from the appropriate colored felt.   I appliqued the pumpkin onto a black twill fabric, first, using a small satin stitch.  Then I appliqued the facial features, did the stem and finally the letters.  Added satin stitches to give the pumpkin some dimension. Here’s a link to how I use wonder under to prepare my pieces. https://stitch4ever.com/2012/06/05/attaching-fusible-adhesive-to-your-applique/

I hope you enjoy all the possibilities with this design and can make it work for your own Halloween projects.

HAPPY CREATING!!

  • TIP – Print out coloring pages for pumpkin designs or use coloring books to help with your patternshapes.
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