The Hook and I

It’s not often that I find books that I know I’ll hold onto for a long time–real reference books that I can refer to frequently and use as a valuable resource in my crochet and knitting. Clara Parkes new book, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn happens to be one such book.

Clara delves deeply into the science . . . → Read More: Book Review: The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Selma and I were wondering if we could create a little being out of only felt. This is our first attempt. I’m sure more will follow. We used random bits of roving and fleece I had lying around. The head is just roving rolled into a ball and punched a lot. The Ears were made separately, . . . → Read More: More Needle Felting

I’m trying to buy handmade for those gifts that I’m not making this year. My biggest challenge seems to be children’s gifts. I’m looking for interesting toys and games, things that are not just another wooden truck or name puzzle. I was so bored at the Sugarloaf craft fair today at the Montgomery county fairgrounds. Sugarloaf . . . → Read More: Local Craft Bazaars in and around DC

This shrug isn’t new–in fact it barely fits Selma now, I made it when she was four. It was the prototype for my Alpaca Silk shrug, and I’ve just now finally written up the pattern. Made from one skein of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, it’s sized from 4-12, and there are instructions for creating a custom . . . → Read More: New Pattern: Selma’s Shrug

The result of this project Selma is working on is a top secret gift, but she’s also discovered the usefulness of my thrift store sweaters and is applying her considerable needle felting talents to the secret task.

Oh, and after several days of cleaning and organizing, I’ve finally reclaimed my Studio as a workable space. It started . . . → Read More: More Reclaimed Sweater Crafting

Julie, over at SkaMama has a great post on creating your own craft kits to give as gifts. Julie teaches a lot of kids’ craft classes and is full of fantastic . . . → Read More: Handmade Gift: Craft Kits

If you’re in San Francisco this Saturday, consider checking out the Lara Miller trunk show at Azalea Boutique. I interviewed Lara for a recent Veg News article on sustainability in fashion. Lara uses exclusively plant materials in her designs and her new line features soy and bamboo (Lara says the manufacturer of her bamboo recycles the . . . → Read More: Lara Miller San Francisco Trunk Show

Thrift Store Re-fashion Step One (or two) Originally uploaded by plainsight

I bought this fair isle sweater at the thrift store (it was huge). I had planned on felting it and making pot holders out of it, but when it was felted, it looked like it might fit . . . → Read More: Thrift Store Re-fashion Step One (or two)

lizko Originally uploaded by me si

I love these lizard gloves that Flickr user Me Si crocheted. I haven’t seen many with half-fingers like these. She stitched in the front loop only which gives a more flexible fabric to the gloves, and I’m sure the recycled angora yarn . . . → Read More: Lizard Gloves

Says die-hard knitter Jennifer:
Dared by [Amy], I have made a crocheted item!

Saw the shop model at the store (A Tangled Skein), and liked it, so Amy dared me to make it. And I have! I think I will get much use out of this!

What I actually said was, “I’ll fall down if . . . → Read More: On a Dare…