tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13565641471488921432024-03-12T20:21:42.224-04:00The Crafty LibrarianThe Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-69233067938067099972013-10-05T13:14:00.001-04:002013-10-05T13:18:50.847-04:00AN EYE-CANDY, SOUL-SATISFYING BOOK: NATURAL COMPANIONSEvery now and then a book comes along that just speaks to your soul and I recently came across one. Actually, I <i>should</i> say that one recently <i>came across to me</i> because I encountered it as I was discharging books at our circulation desk - the cover was so stunning that I was compelled to stop for a moment and open it. I was immediately sucked in by the sheer beauty of the photography. This simple action led to several remarkable events which I will soon describe. First let me show you the book:<br />
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<b>Natural Companions: The Garden Lover's Guide to Plant Combinations</b><br />
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<b>Written by Ken Druse</b><br />
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<b>Botanical Photography by Ellen Hovercamp</b></div>
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Isn't that a stunning cover? In my opinion, the photographer and the author make a very good team. Mr. Druse provides a lot of useful information without being overwhelming. The author has a relaxed writing style that is easy to read and makes you want to read more -- not always a simple thing to do in non-fiction writing. The book is divided into sections by themes, such as color, foliage, fragrance, and includes photographs of gardens from different climates that exemplify that section's theme.<br />
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The photography is amazing and while the outside garden shots are admittedly lovely, the <i>knock-out shots </i>are the compilations and pairings of varied species the photographer has achieved through her scanning technique which is described in the book. I contacted Ellen Hoverkamp, the botanical photographer, and asked her permission to post some of her images here and she very nicely agreed. Just look at some of these!!<br />
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I do not often ooze awed excitement but this book and photography have inspired me so much I just felt I had to share. <a href="http://www.myneighborsgarden.com/" target="_blank">Click here to link to Ellen Hoverkamp's blog</a> where you can see even more of her work.<br />
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Now, the experience part: Of course I had to bring the book home to explore thoroughly...but not alone. I took it with me the next tme I visited my mother. My mother has always been an avid gardener as was<i> her</i> mother. Both had beautiful gardens and I spent much of my childhood visiting gardens and nurseries (...flashback image of a childhood spent pulling a little red wagon through multitudes of nurseries!!). Well, I spent an<i> entire</i> afternoon going through the book, page by page, with my mother. She and I oohed and aahed every time we turned the page! We read the captions. We read some of the explanations. We perused the identification schematics that told us what we were looking at. And we were captivated. Together. It was a very soul-satisfying day and at some point my mother wondered aloud if she "might be able to put something like (one of the groupings) together". I said, "Why not?!" The following week I came to visit bearing Asters, Autumn Joy Sedum, and Japanese Anenomes I had gathered from my yard as well as a couple Autumn bouquets from the local grocery flower shop. I also brought miscellaneous odd containers for her to choose from. We spent <i>another</i> pleasant day playing with the flowers. No rules. Just fun. We called it Flower Therapy and we had a blast together. Here are some of our creations:<br />
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We had such fun together! Before I sign off though, here are a couple floral arrangement tips I would like to share. </div>
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<li>After my father saw the Anenomes I brought he shared a tip from his gardening friend: Quickly dip the newly cut Anenome stems into boiling hot water and then into cool. The flowers will last longer in the arrangement.</li>
<li>From one of the Garden Club ladies who bring weekly arrangements to our library (yay Garden Club ladies!!): Tulips will last longer and stand straighter in your arrangement if you simply drop a copper penny into the vase. I have tried this and it does work!!</li>
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<b>If you have a tip to share I would love to hear it. Please share it by typing it into the comment section below. To do so, click on the area where it either says "no comments," "1 comment," etc and type your tip in the box that pops up </b>. I look forward to hearing from you!</div>
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The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-971652969205161662013-09-15T13:15:00.000-04:002013-09-15T13:15:05.074-04:00HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG REALLY?! or, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!I have not posted anything at all since, OMG, March 2012!! Where did that time go and why the disconnect?<br />
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Besides helping with the downsizing and relocation of <u>three</u> households, the thing that really did me in was that the library I work at underwent a massive reconstruct in which we more than doubled the size of our building. This went on during THE HOTTEST SUMMER of all time and we REMAINED in the building with NO AC, listening to this all day:<br />
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Needless to say, this scenario essentially disabled all of my thought processes and sent my ability to focus into "duh" mode both at work and after. I <i>have </i>been crafting (all right, lets be honest, <i>knitting</i>) as a lifeline to sanity but was completely incapable of composing a legible sentence, written or otherwise.<br />
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I must confess that I completely dropped the ball where this blog stood since I simply couldn't handle it all. I wasn't alone though - my colleagues also ceased their library blogs and we removed the links from our library home page (so if you find links that don't work anymore that is why). So, I am on my own and hopefully I will be back at this more consistently again.<br />
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Oddly, while this has all happened, according to my statistics page, my blog has lived on in cyberspace and has been receiving hits and comments. Thank you!! The 3 most popular posts have been:<br />
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<li><a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/08/drawstring-bags-one-technique-many-uses.html">Drawstring Bags: One Technique, Many Uses</a></li>
<li><a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/03/knitting-for-charity-part-2-prayer.html">Knitting for Charity - Part 2: Prayer Shawls</a></li>
<li><a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-wreath-to-greet-your-guests.html">A Fall Wreath to Greet Your Guests</a></li>
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In addition, amazingly, a recent hit led to an award of a badge (see the icon/link to the left under "About Me") from the HGTV Design Happens blogger, Keri Sanders, who appreciated the craftiness of my <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/09/crafty-tip-and-aha-moment.html">Prescription Bottle Matchbox</a> project (click the badge to link her post). I am so honored to be recognized by HGTV's Design Happens blog and awarded this badge!<br />
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This recognition combined with the fact that the library and various households are settling down, and with that the restoration of my sanity (albeit oddly slow), is spurring me back into blogging action. Thank you for the continuous support and numerous emails!<br />
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<br />The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-2662531051665006062012-03-01T10:44:00.000-05:002012-03-01T10:44:01.103-05:00MARCH IS NATIONAL CRAFT MONTH AND I HAVE A CRAFTY TIP<div><br />
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</div>Did you know that March is National Craft Month? On their website the <a href="http://craftandhobby.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/march-is-national-craft-month/">Craft and Hobby Association</a> explains that National Craft Month was designed in 1994 "to help people learn about and re-discover the joy of crafting and all its many benefits." <i>How have I never known this</i>? Well now ... get out your fabric, paper, beads, buttons, yarn and glue...it's time to tap your inner-crafty!!<br />
To get the month started, I have <strong>A Crafty Tip</strong> if your craft project involves a small amount of paint (or other liquids that might dry out between coats such as decoupage medium): <b><i>use an old prescription bottle to hold your paint</i>!</b><br />
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I used one of my larger prescription bottles and a 1" foam brush which fit into the opening of the bottle perfectly!<br />
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The bottle can be easily sealed and unsealed between coats giving the paint less chance to dry out. In between coats I closed the bottle and wrapped the brush tightly in plastic wrap (but not so tightly that it distorted the shape of the brush).<br />
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I didn't use all of my paint up so when I was done with my project I made a small dab on the outside to easily identify the color. I also find that a Sharpie pen works well to write special color names or customized blends - mine was white so I wasn't too worried about it. Additionally, if it had been any other color I would put a dab of the color on the top of the lid so it would be visible in my storage drawer.<br />
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This is also a great way to store small amounts of paint for touch up jobs around the house - when you paint a room save a small quantity in one of these bottles, label it and set it aside. Then you are ready for those pesky dings, scrapes and mars that seem to come out of nowhere without having to open the giant can of paint you originally used. Much cheaper than those tiny paint sample bottles found at your local paint or hardware store...and is an exact match for the color you used.<br />
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Time to get Crafting!!!!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-10062866737244733952012-01-25T18:01:00.000-05:002012-01-25T18:01:20.630-05:00BOBBLES!Bobbles...I swore that I would never knit one again after the scarf I made for my friend's charity drive last year (see blog post: <a href="http://www.craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/03/knitting-for-charity-part-1.html">Knitting for Charity - Part I from March 2011</a>). <br />
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As I recall, I swore bobbles off because I found knitting them to be <em>highly tedious</em> as one must knit a few stitches (<em>really few</em>!), turn the work, purl those few, turn the work, knit those few, <em>blah blah blah</em>. And I have managed to avoid them. Until now. In the course of one week...<em>one week I say</em>!...several people have come to me regarding bobbles!! <em>Bobbles!!! Of all things</em>. <br />
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The first was my sister - who can refuse their sister? Not me (<em>shhh</em>, <em>don't tell her</em>). Finally having a peaceful moment in her life (<em>she doesn't get many</em>) she was trying to get back to her knitting. She picked a pattern that had...<em>bobbles...</em>and was asking for a bit of help figuring out the bobble stitch directions. Okay, it was brief, <em>she</em> was doing the work, no problem. Even though I had to pick up my needles and knit a bobble or two to refresh my own memory, I was grateful that it was a project <em>she</em> was making and not I.<br />
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Soon after my sister's request, that same friend who had presented me with the charity project from last year came to me with this years project...the same thing only bigger!!! Instead of knitting Bobble Ribbon scarves, she reported, her group is making Bobble Ribbon <em>shawls</em> for the Breast Health Initiative Race this spring. Bobbles. Out of my mouth comes, "No problem, love to help" (<em>what is wrong with me</em>?). It is for a good cause, I tell myself, and I can get past this bobble issue of mine, I think. I haven't seen the pattern yet... <br />
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Well now, here is the kicker. My friend has a problem with knitting bobbles as well. Additionally, she is more comfortable crocheting than she is knitting and lamented that if she could figure out <em>how to crochet a bobble</em> she would be so much happier. That's where The Crafty Librarian comes in!! I don't crochet (yet) but I can find resources to help her. And there are some excellent references available for crochet stitches.<br />
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The first book I found on our library shelf is titled "<strong>Ultimate Crochet Bible - A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques</strong>" by Jane Crowfoot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIWp1tcK4T0XZkBPXMwLnU7BhKYuVNS7N_ye3iWhB9EUFFEKSPOXJf4B3UELmQlBB6MGosK_jDYOkCIXN9dFOkeQ7mCupY2uonjwkdUe1_3n7l-ikarYa8w6I-DYoOqE2kI6_WFb6Cb_8/s1600/UltimateCrochetBibleCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIWp1tcK4T0XZkBPXMwLnU7BhKYuVNS7N_ye3iWhB9EUFFEKSPOXJf4B3UELmQlBB6MGosK_jDYOkCIXN9dFOkeQ7mCupY2uonjwkdUe1_3n7l-ikarYa8w6I-DYoOqE2kI6_WFb6Cb_8/s1600/UltimateCrochetBibleCover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
With a title like that, I reasoned, it must have a Bobble Stitch in it that even I might be able to follow. And I am correct. I found the Bobble Stitch in the index and turned to page 100 to determine if this book would be helpful to my friend. The diagrams are large and very easy to follow and are accompanied by a photograph sample of the stitches - the best of both worlds. Love it!! I learn that the crocheted Bobble is worked on the <em>wrong side</em> rows (unlike knitting) and is, very simply, a group of stitches worked into one stitch to form a raised "puff" that is pushed through to the right side of the work.<br />
For a 5-Stitch Basic Bobble (a double crochet bobble on a base of single crochet worked into the back of the stitch) it instructs:<br />
<ul><li>With the wrong side facing, work to where the bobble should be formed. Work 3 incomplete stitches (by leaving the last loop of each stitch on the crochet hook so that 4 loops remain on the hook. </li>
<li>Then work 2 more incomplete stitches to leave 6 loops on the hook. (<em>I don't really understand why it doesn't just say work 5 incomplete stitches until 6 loops are on the hook</em>...) </li>
<li>Wrap the yarn around the hook and draw it through all the loops on the hook. </li>
<li>Wrap the yarn around a final time and draw through the loop on the hook. Gently push the group of stitches through to the front of your piece.</li>
</ul>Sounds nice, looks easy (trust me, the diagrams that go with that description make it appear much simpler than what I wrote!), and it doesn't involve constantly turning your work. <em> Hmmmm, maybe I have to learn to crochet</em>.<br />
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This book is a wonderful go-to resource for anyone who wants to learn to crochet or learn some advanced crochet styles and techniques (such as Tunisian, Entrelac, Broomstick and Hairpin Crochet).<br />
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Another very good resource for someone who is new to crochet or for someone who is interested in learning some advanced stitches and techniques is one that relies specifically on photographs to exemplify each. It is aptly titled "<strong>The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet</strong>" by Margaret Hubert. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2FPEqH4mz-AgiizplpXEijUYP5zoOxVAUdpu1VSg6uhWt1FRK11CBgIhWGFVc80qfSgn8Pc2aYjQyiSt9NaGuTgpVENabaaUkyDWQx9lxhvh_DT49_sIMO0uEYYKADcdtLg7n2yPVQNJ/s1600/PhotoGuideToCrochetCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2FPEqH4mz-AgiizplpXEijUYP5zoOxVAUdpu1VSg6uhWt1FRK11CBgIhWGFVc80qfSgn8Pc2aYjQyiSt9NaGuTgpVENabaaUkyDWQx9lxhvh_DT49_sIMO0uEYYKADcdtLg7n2yPVQNJ/s1600/PhotoGuideToCrochetCover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As the title suggests it provides a wealth of excellent photographs of a comprehensive number of stitch patterns and covers a number of specialty crochet methods as did the previous book.<br />
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Here are the instruction for the Bobble Stitch provided in this book (also worked from the wrong side):<br />
<ul><li>Wrap the yarn over the hook and pick up a loop in the next stitch. </li>
<li>Wrap the yarn over the hook again and pull it through 2 of the stitches on the hook </li>
<li>Repeat this 5 times in the same stitch. </li>
<li>Then wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through all 6 loops on the hook. </li>
<li>The bobble stitch is worked from the wrong side and pushed to the right side of the work.</li>
</ul>These instructions are a little different from the other book in that a yarnover is done <em>before</em> the hook is put through the stitch but for all I know it is simply a different crochet stitch. You still work in the same stitch until 6 are left on the hook and pull the yarn through all of those (<em>but</em>, you don't yarn over and pull through that one.)<br />
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<em>Okay, I have to go get some practice yarn and a crochet hook....I think that I have some experimenting to do</em>!! <br />
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I started with the Ultimate Crochet Bible and taught myself the Single Crochet stitch. Easy Peasy! Instructions are good but I became a little lost when it came to the Bobble because a) I didn't know where to go in the row once I did the steps for the bobble, and b) once I got past that, I didn't know where to stick my hook on the way back. I looked at the Complete Photo Guide to Crochet and followed their instructions as well. It left me with the same questions but ultimately I figured it out. I think it was just my lack of crochet experience making me overthink things.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here's my little sample!</strong> </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Now I can provide resources for my friend as well as <em>show her</em> how to crochet bobbles. I can't wait. Bobbles <em>are</em> much less of a pain when crocheted...almost fun even!</div><br />
In the fianl analysis, when I am really ready to sit down to learn to crochet I think the Ulitmate Crochet Bible will offer me the most intital guidance while The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet will supply a number of stitch patterns to keep me occupied once I am off and running.<br />
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For those who would like to actually see the stitch being made I found a video on YouTube that helped me understand what the book instructions meant (again, since I don't crochet I needed to see!). You can search for Crochet Bobble Stitch instructions on YouTube yourself (or do a Google video search) however, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHFoIhvay3I&noredirect=1">click here to link to one video that I found helpful. </a><br />
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Both of the above books could be of interest to those of you who are already accomplished crocheters as they both offer a number of stitch patterns and an introduction to some advanced methods of specialized crochet as I mentioned. But, if you want to investigate a book of <em>patterns</em> that employs some of those techniques then the following book could be very interesting:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Crochet Master Class - Lessons and Projects from Today's Top Crocheters</strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;">by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss</div><br />
I found this book while I was searching for Bobble Stitch instructions and while it is not a stitch instruction book it has so many interesting and beautiful projects in it that I wanted to give it a mention here. It is not a book that I can use, yet, but one of you might!!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-83753859615449541872012-01-15T16:41:00.000-05:002012-01-15T16:41:03.668-05:00A KNITTERLY APPROACH TO THE NEW YEARI had great intentions about posting an article before Christmas...had a book picked out, projects selected, supplies purchased, notes written out...then I misplaced the whole shebang. It was on my desk, I had visitors, it was gone. Sometimes tiding up before company is NOT a good thing no matter <em>how</em> organized you think you are.<br />
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For once in my life I decided not to go too crazy and went with the flow. I switched gears, slowed down, put the blog aside, and focused on the gifts I wanted to make for friends and family...most of which involved my beloved knitting. I have to tell you, it was nice to approach the holiday in the relaxed state of mind that knitting puts me in. Not to mention the fact that, for the first time in maaaannnnnnyyyyy years, the gifts that I was hand-making were actually ready and giftable!!!!!<br />
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Among other projects, I knit two pairs of socks (one for my dad and one for my sister) using Plymouth Yarns Encore which is a really soft and pleasant worsted weight yarn. It was very calming to sit and knit these gifts, like a little gift to myself.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>My sister's sock in progress. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>In the photo above I have just turned the heel - a process that sounds intimidating but is actually quite simple. </em></strong><strong><em>Just trust the pattern and do what it says. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em> It is always magically rewarding to me when I have completed the turn!</em></strong></div><br />
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Funny thing - when I finished knitting those two pairs of socks and was cleaning up my patterns and supplies guess what I found folded into the pattern notebook I was using...all the copies of the projects I was going to make for my Christmas crafts blog along with all my hand written notes!! Right under my nose the whole time!! Lordy. <br />
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Well, it all worked out and I really did enjoy slowing down and just knitting for a while. I guess I needed that. A frame of mind to remember in the new year.<br />
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F.Y.I. Socks are a quick and fairly easy project to make. To those who have not made them ever, they seem like a daunting project to tackle but that just makes knitting them for someone even more fun!<br />
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In a nutshell you begin by knitting a tube with what ever stitch pattern you choose. I used a Knit 3, Purl 1 rib pattern for my sister's sock. When the tube is the length you prefer you knit a "Heel Flap" back and forth on 2 needles (that part of the sock that sits behind your heel approximately from your ankle down).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Here is a picture of my sister's sock with the leg tube and heel flap completed.</strong></div><br />
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Next you "turn the heel" which, as I said before, sounds terrifying but is simple and somewhat exciting to execute. Still using only 2 needles and working back and forth in "short rows" which means simply working only part of the way across...turning...and working back. If you follow the pattern instructions you will be in awe of yourself when you are done! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEwnbYmmEx0sOfson3pOUDTByoItFaHmTeJEPn4qtmJC1ctJWpyGdT53mN5nP8zn6wYAE54lPyJUhJypSQkFPiIJzkqLunfgQo-qBSTSy3nFXTeZzSmTiH56NjcWsma63-uFv_2wCAoHu/s1600/TurnedHeel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEwnbYmmEx0sOfson3pOUDTByoItFaHmTeJEPn4qtmJC1ctJWpyGdT53mN5nP8zn6wYAE54lPyJUhJypSQkFPiIJzkqLunfgQo-qBSTSy3nFXTeZzSmTiH56NjcWsma63-uFv_2wCAoHu/s320/TurnedHeel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here is a picture of my sister's sock after I turned her heel. </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> See the turn where her heel will nestle?</strong></div><br />
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Once the heel is complete you work with 3 needles again to create a "gusset" by picking up stitches along the heel flap and knitting all around the sock. This creates the part of the sock that fills in from the side of your heel flap to your foot section and looks like a triangle when completed. Before I made my first sock I always wondered how that mysterious section was accomplished only to find out it is a simple pattern of knitting with specifically placed decreases. Again, just follow your pattern and trust it!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here is my sister's sock after I have completed the Gusset.</strong></div><br />
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Once the Gusset is complete your pattern will tell your to knit, in the round, to create the foot section...more tube, this time usually in simple knit unless you have chosen a pattern that carries the design down the top of your foot...not me!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>Here are the stitches for my sister's sock all set to go round and round.</strong></div><br />
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When your foot section reaches about 1-1/2" shy (or whatever length your pattern tells you) of your total foot length (from the back of the heel) it is time to decrease for the toe. <br />
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<strong>In the picture of my sister's sock above, the marker shows where I stopped knitting the foot and began decreasing for the toe.</strong></div><br />
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<strong>CRAFTY LIBRARIAN TIP</strong>: Run a "lifeline" (a thin thread or piece of yarn run through the stitches on your needles) BEFORE you begin your toe decreases. This allows you to easily rip out your knitting back to this start point if you are not satisfied with the length of the decrease section (if it is too long and pointy or too short and stubby)!!<br />
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<strong>CRAFTY LIBRARIAN TIP #2</strong>: As you work your first sock <em>write down everything</em> you do (number of rows, etc) so your second will come out the same!<br />
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The final step joins the two sides of the toe stitches together in a such a way that there is no seam using what is called "the kitchener's graft. It is a way to "mock" knit stitches using a tapestry needle. I didn't take a picture of this step because my hands were full but a good tutorial can be found<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html"> by clicking here</a>.<br />
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If you want to learn how to knit socks there are a number of books and websites that offer good instructions. One of the best books I found when I taught myself is one published by Knitter's Magazine and titled "<strong>Socks Socks Socks,</strong>" edited by Elaine Rowley.<br />
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This book includes an overview of a basic sock, in a section called "Six Steps to Sock Success." Here the six steps involved in knitting a sock are clearly diagramed and explained. The diagrams are great in that they showed me exactly what I should have on all my needles at any given time.<br />
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A website that also helped me understand the anatomy of a sock, provides tips as well as additional links can be reached by <a href="http://www.weebleknits.net/socks.html">clicking here.</a>.<br />
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Happy knitting in the new year everyone!!!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-85288973130034999852011-11-23T14:25:00.000-05:002011-11-23T14:25:23.393-05:00THANKSGIVING DECOR - BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH!!!I apologize for the lateness of this Thanksgiving-related post. My intentions were great and I had time etched out for crafting, but the unexpected October 29th New England storm (<em>Storm Alfred...I didn't even know it had a name until the power came back</em>!) that left us without power for over a week and then no cable for a few days after ... not to mention the ensuing yard and home restoration that followed it, as well as the backlog at work, has put me way off my crafting game!! Darn those Nor'easters!!<br />
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The snow we shovelled was up to my knees. <em>Tired</em>!! I don't know if you can see those poor trees in the background weighted by the snow!! The oaks still had their leaves and the older ones simply didn't hold up to the weight of the snow. Needless to say, I am keeping things simple this holiday. <br />
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I completed my Fall wreath for the front door prior to the storm, thank goodness.<br />
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I started with a purchased twig wreath and some Fall foliage floral picks. I placed the picks around the wreath in a way that pleased me and added a few dried weeds from my yard for texture. I made my own bow using wire-edged ribbon that had a nice Fall ombre' to it. <em>I am particularly pleased about the bow because I am a Bow-Challenged Crafter (as much as I hate to admit it</em>).<br />
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For a decorative touch in my powder room I placed some tiny pumpkins and a few berry sprigs in a tall vase and set it on the shelf. <br />
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Here again I was lucky in that I set up the display initially for Halloween and when Halloween passed I simply removed the elements that were specific to that holiday (<em>the spiders and skull</em>...)<br />
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These tiny pumpkins are fun to use in your decor...you can find some additional uses in my post last year titled: <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/11/quick-fall-table-decor-using-tiny.html"><u><strong>Quick Fall Table Decor Using Tiny Pumpkins</strong></u>.</a><br />
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I wanted something natural and homey for my Thanksgiving table. I turned to <strong>Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts</strong> book because I recalled seeing decor using acorns and leaves (<em>and I have plenty of those</em>!)<br />
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Sure enough, the book has a section about "Acorn Crafts" that includes 4 projects: a pincushion; an acorn-topped box; a garland; and, a napkin ring. I really would like to make the garland but, for the sake of time I settled on the simplicity of the napkin rings. Each ring uses two acorns and one oak leaf.<br />
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Martha Stewart used real oak leaves and preserved them with a glycerin solution. I did not have the time, nor the desire, to preserve my oak leaves so I stole some silk ones off of the fall garland I had on my mantel.<br />
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I collected some acorns with caps that fit (<em>plenty of those lying around the yard now</em>!)and used my Dremel tool fitted with my 1/16th" bit to drill two side-by-side holes through the top end of each cap. I inserted 16" lengths of 22-gauge wire from the inside of the cap so the ends stuck towards the outside.<br />
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I twisted the wire ends and attached the acorn bodies to their wired caps with wood glue.<br />
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I wrapped the acorn stems with floral tape (... <em>which is stiiiiicky</em>!!!) . I also used floral tape to attach one oak leaf per napkin ring to a piece of 22-gauge wire (covering the wire as well.) To use floral tape you need to stretch it as you tightly wrap the element.<br />
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<strong>Note</strong>: I wondered why Martha used plain wire and then covered it, rather than pre-covered floral wire so I bought both types. I found out that when the cloth-wrapped wire is pushed through the hole, the cloth part gets jammed up behind the hole which allowed only the wire to poke through. You can see that in the photo below.<br />
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I do wish Martha would explain stuff like that.<br />
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The photo below, from left to right, shows the elements (and steps) that comprise one napkin ring: a wrapped leaf stem; two wrapped acorn stems in opposing directions; the leaf stem attached to an acorn stem, then all wrapped together and covered with brown hem tape.<br />
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Martha's instructions guided me to wrap the wired elements with floral tape, and attach one leaf wire and one acorn wire together with brown floral tape, <em>then</em> wrap the units together with brown seam binding...gluing at the ends. I did my first one that way but found an order of steps that worked better for me on all the others when I was ready to apply the seam binding (<em>which I could not find...so I used "Soft and Easy Hem Tape" and found that one package was good for two napkin rings</em>.)<br />
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After wrapping each wired stem with floral tape this is the process I found to be most efficient: <br />
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<strong>First</strong>: Wrap a leaf stem with the hem tape...securing the end with a small wrap of floral tape.<br />
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<strong>Second</strong>: Wrap an acorn stem with the hem tape...adding the leaf stem to the wrap when you get down an inch or so (which hides the ends of the leaf stem). See photo below:<br />
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<strong>Third:</strong> When you are a couple of inches from the bottom, add another acorn stem, positioning it so the acorn is heading in the opposite direction, and continue wrapping with the hem tape until you reach the acorn.<br />
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</div><strong>Last:</strong> At the acorn end, I wrapped the hem tape around a few times so hide any wire that showed and came back down the stem a little. I used a bit of glue and held the end in place with a tiny clip until it dried. I coiled the unit into a ring shape all ready to add a napkin.<br />
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These would also be pretty snaking up a candle stick, wrapped into a wreath, a vase, a chandelier -- the possibilities are something to think about. But not right now! Now I have to get everything else ready for my table...tomorrow!!! <br />
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-33183354947571858962011-10-28T12:30:00.000-04:002011-10-28T12:30:13.480-04:00A VARIETY OF PUMPKIN AND TREAT BAG IDEAS ON THE FLY!!Halloween is practically upon us and I, for one, can not believe how quickly October has flown by! I was hoping to publish one or two more posts before The Big Event but, given the time, will squeeze all that I have into this post. And, if I can guarantee you the projects here are quick (<em>even though the article will be long</em>...)<br />
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First however, a note for the reader who requested, via a comment, more instruction for my "Sewn Harvest Pumpkins" post: it has been updated to include <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_245401767"></span>a step by step tutorial.<span id="goog_245401768"></span></a> An email was not provided so I have no other way to inform them that it has been completed. To all other readers, if you <em>ever</em> have any questions regarding my projects, comments are great, but also feel free to email me at the address in my profile. I read all emails and comments, love getting them, and try to respond as quickly as possible. I thank all who have corresponded already! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here is a group shot of the Halloween 2011 dudes in this article.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Funny little guys</strong>.</div><br />
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So. Here I go. Halloween is Monday. Already. Wow.<br />
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<strong>Project One - Goofy Vampire Pumpkin:</strong><br />
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As I have been looking through this year's Halloween books and magazines it appears that the big trend in pumpkins is to <em>decorate</em> <em>them</em> rather than carve them. It's as though all the editors got together and said, "forget carving this year, let's dress the pumpkins up instead!" Some are decoupaged with fabric, tissue paper, or book pages (including mine from my last post); some are decked out with glued on embellishments such as rick rack and other trimming; some have been painted a solid color (white or black has been the norm) with a silhouetted image painted (or glued) on.<br />
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To be honest, I think we have Martha Stewart to thank for the development of pumpkin creativity. She has been stepping up the innovative ideas for a while now and the pumpkins in her magazine this year (Martha Stewart Living, October 2011 issue) made me laugh outright and are again different from the mainstream. She started with a couple of small pumpkins and on one, put zany eyeballs and a goofy smile, and decked the other out with vampire teeth and red map pins for eyes. I combined the two and made my own goofy guy.<br />
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I printed the templates from Martha Stewart's website <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/pumpkin-faces">www.marthastewart.com/pumpkin-faces</a> and, after laying the mouth template on the pumpkin, poked holes all along the outline into the pumpkin to transfer the design.<br />
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This lets you know where to cut. For the eye holes, I cut cone-shaped holes, slightly smaller than what I was going to use for eyes. As much as I enjoy Martha's creativity, I must admit that I find her instructions to often be vague and missing steps. In this case, I was a little flummoxed as to how to go about reaching through the tiny mouth hole to scoop out the innards. I used a long iced tea spoon but it wasn't easy. <em>Additionally, I am not really fond of scooping out pumpkin guts...</em><br />
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You can use store-bought eyeballs or you can make them. Last year I made some from Styrofoam balls in my post titled: "<a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-is-here-and-with-it-comes.html">Fall is Here - and With It Comes Halloween</a>." One of my readers made an anonymous comment offering an interesting suggestion: " <em>FOR REALLY GOOD EYEBALLS, open up empty cans of Guinness Stout. The things that float and rattle inside and make it foam when poured look exactly like white eyeballs. All they need added are the pupils</em>." I decided to give it a try. They were right! I used colored Sharpie markers to draw in the features and a pair of eyeballs was born.<br />
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Thanks for the great idea Anonymous. Good thing my husband likes Guinness Stout!<br />
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<strong>Project Two - Squash-kins</strong>:<br />
I think the various magazine and book editors agreed not to discriminate against the squash family since there is an abundance of decorated butternut squash, acorn squash, as well as other lesser known varieties of squash showing up . Naturally I had to jump on that bandwagon as well. I have seen many photos of pumpkins and squash painted white and adding black silhouettes of ghost faces, lettering ("boo"). So I decided to make a white butternut squash ghost for this post to demonstrate the idea but when I flipped the squash over to paint the bottom and leave it to dry, I noticed that the shape was similar to another common Halloween standard - the skull - so I went with that idea. <br />
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My skull came out somewhat less scary and more like a dude in aviator glasses, I think, but he goes well with my wacky "Martha Pumpkin".<br />
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While there are many resources that provide ideas for painting squash I initially inspired by the "Ghastly Ghosts" project in the book titled "Reader's Digest - The Ultimate Halloween Book," by Deborah Harding.<br />
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I like the variety of projects in this book and many of them are quick and easy. My Cool Dude Butternut squash above just took a couple coats of white paint and some details applied with black paint.<br />
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<strong>Project Three - Black Cat Acorn Squash:</strong><br />
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The author of that same book took the painted squash project one step further to include an acorn squash that was painted to look like a cat. I was really running out of time but wanted to make the cat too.<br />
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The author cut shapes from paper, colored them individually and glued them onto a spray painted acorn squash (leaving the stem unpainted for the nose). For the sake of time and my sanity I ran a google search for cat eye images, cut my selection out and glued them on to my painted squash. I cut black construction paper for ears and cut a yellow anchor-shaped mouth from felt. I cut several pieces of wire for the whiskers and simply poked them into the squash. <br />
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<strong>Project Four - Broomstick Treat Bag</strong>:<br />
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Now, some people like to throw Halloween parties and put some treats in individual bags. Here are a couple of ideas for "different" treat bags. I found the first one in the Family Fun, October 2011 magazine issue. <br />
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Making it is very simple. Cut lengths of raffia and tie onto the end of stick stuck into a brown paper lunch bag filled with treats.<br />
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<strong>Project Five - Pumpkin Tag Treat Bag</strong>:<br />
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I traced around templates that I drew freehand onto paintchip cards to make the individual sections.<br />
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After I glued them together I added a small curlicue made from floral wire and a tiny stem. I also used a brown marker to apply a little shading within the segments, smudging it with my finger before it dried to blur the line a bit.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Project Six - Fabric Treat Drawstring Bag</strong>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This photo was from an earlier post that I did titled <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/08/drawstring-bags-one-technique-many-uses.html">"Drawstring Bags - One Technique, Many Uses"</a> since it included a Halloween treat bag I thought I should include the photo here. Instructions can be found in that article when you click on the title. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-15162051501886586312011-10-18T10:55:00.000-04:002011-10-18T10:55:20.671-04:00EASY UPCYCLED PUMPKIN<ul><li>Orange and green spray paint ... check. </li>
<li>Floral wire ... check. </li>
<li>Sticks, no problem...lots after Hurricane Irene ... check, check and, triple check! </li>
<li>Glue gun ... check. </li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Dryer vent hose ... check. <em>Wait,</em> w<em>hat?!? Dryer vent hose you say</em>?</div></li>
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What has all of this got to do with Fall crafting? Well, put them together and you get the cutest and easiest little pumpkin ever, that's what. Look at these!<br />
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This project caught my eye last year but I ran out of time to make it - the Fall decorating season was over and the Christmas crafting season had begun. As usual, too many projects, too little time!! Anyway, here I am a full year later and I actually remembered to give this a try (<em>wonders never cease</em>)! I found the project in a book called <a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781601401472&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>The Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts</strong>, published by Leisure Arts.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3T0TAdJqMn2MJVz2dv4ai97_KDUrDB8V1KSVHw_JRdJwXXEzu7nDsTXksQnzymr9elGvCIP-Zpay-i-Qts20rV9rzSCdNJbL3nUqY_Pbr5e45znMgD6eA3zJ2abfh4J1OOfgKCw9tU96/s1600/IMG_20111013_094745-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3T0TAdJqMn2MJVz2dv4ai97_KDUrDB8V1KSVHw_JRdJwXXEzu7nDsTXksQnzymr9elGvCIP-Zpay-i-Qts20rV9rzSCdNJbL3nUqY_Pbr5e45znMgD6eA3zJ2abfh4J1OOfgKCw9tU96/s200/IMG_20111013_094745-1.jpg" width="180px" /></a></div><br />
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To make one pumpkin you will need 20-25" of dryer vent hose - I bought some at my local hardware store since my husband frowned at the idea of my cutting into the vent hose attached to my dryer. <em>Go figure</em>! Measure the hose when it is extended fully and then cut. Form it into a circle, matching the ends and glue to secure. <strong>Tip</strong>: I found that the longer length was better because I was more easily able to stretch it into the circle. <strong>Another Tip</strong>: I held the hose and glued it myself but it would be easier to maneuver if you had a helper to either hold the vent or apply the glue. <strong>Yet another Tip</strong>: I stretched a rubber band around it to secure the shape while the glue dried.<br />
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Spray the body orange and, when dry, spray a bit of green at the top. (Spray a 6" long stick green while you are at it or, if you prefer you can leave the stick natural.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqzZAgw3rVLUljJP7QYYq0rhD9uPltj-K1zbfnak_lvi25pXyNmnPMCPqeKtHlqMmKlHg0iz_fP6au_b3jDjjnd0QX1FElmtL1jTPHzwzzLOrAD_qQBxiTwq3bP4ptMZWz8vW0Sx5BtrO/s1600/glue+then+spray+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqzZAgw3rVLUljJP7QYYq0rhD9uPltj-K1zbfnak_lvi25pXyNmnPMCPqeKtHlqMmKlHg0iz_fP6au_b3jDjjnd0QX1FElmtL1jTPHzwzzLOrAD_qQBxiTwq3bP4ptMZWz8vW0Sx5BtrO/s320/glue+then+spray+paint.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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Curl a 16" piece of wire around a pencil....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2d9QwYivBM4Tl6VkJzyP81V8pnTK8cFLsHTMFc6yqGeavv5xxlhB8v6VZ9R-hzJx2_mEM6LaiBHsBH2Y1ixWuTm3v5B4qttgCINe9B30sEp-5IbzaBgfblS8PaveGqjR4S7snL5OxBd6/s1600/making+a+curlique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2d9QwYivBM4Tl6VkJzyP81V8pnTK8cFLsHTMFc6yqGeavv5xxlhB8v6VZ9R-hzJx2_mEM6LaiBHsBH2Y1ixWuTm3v5B4qttgCINe9B30sEp-5IbzaBgfblS8PaveGqjR4S7snL5OxBd6/s320/making+a+curlique.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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Slide pencil out...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeHxYTPJB7qcgJhyRnOMwjKOBpza13QzeSgS4w7O__KD1zYtsz0Fy7gYkcE-Ii3EZtpLIRv1lq8Of9p0E1RV_MkvDgrh9uDou7eKXR_cY6B-Z4fIZIrMQY-xpBDu0aygInWahHAqhGaJj/s1600/completed+curlique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeHxYTPJB7qcgJhyRnOMwjKOBpza13QzeSgS4w7O__KD1zYtsz0Fy7gYkcE-Ii3EZtpLIRv1lq8Of9p0E1RV_MkvDgrh9uDou7eKXR_cY6B-Z4fIZIrMQY-xpBDu0aygInWahHAqhGaJj/s320/completed+curlique.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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And you have a completed curlicue! Wrap the straight end around the base of the stick/stem. Apply some glue to one end of the stick/stem and insert it into the opening in the center of the top of the pumpkin.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ksw08dfibm8IZO6c_2-JAPptgFzVPDNMftz5jDeSMiKHjBgpasV-XRTztQxulDTx0tIwWFyqGLOy81spEsDoTLqO_bCmY7-LXZF3phvWVOJ2HLzqC5KVEivCYyrBpDe683bbg-_uTWgb/s1600/IMG_20111013_095122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ksw08dfibm8IZO6c_2-JAPptgFzVPDNMftz5jDeSMiKHjBgpasV-XRTztQxulDTx0tIwWFyqGLOy81spEsDoTLqO_bCmY7-LXZF3phvWVOJ2HLzqC5KVEivCYyrBpDe683bbg-_uTWgb/s320/IMG_20111013_095122.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I made the "leaves" by knotting a 12" piece of ribbon at the base of the stem and trimming it into a leaf shape.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStBTTDCacw0YIYuhK9R0pnthyWTXfGunaBu90iBOUhStqq4ZDSXViCs07O_yrIw-6I8bawqlXVaho30Z6Va7nBqJxW7OlW-jdAJoGJxmIYxiCuRezfLw31tPBs-wUzywMAit0RF8yN7Wn/s1600/finished+and+ready+to+display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStBTTDCacw0YIYuhK9R0pnthyWTXfGunaBu90iBOUhStqq4ZDSXViCs07O_yrIw-6I8bawqlXVaho30Z6Va7nBqJxW7OlW-jdAJoGJxmIYxiCuRezfLw31tPBs-wUzywMAit0RF8yN7Wn/s320/finished+and+ready+to+display.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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That's all there is to it! When my husband came home from work he was surprised at how effective the pair of these pumpkins were. He didn't even double-check to make sure our dryer hose was intact.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Crafty Tips</strong>: If you hope to use these outside make sure you use a spray paint that is appropriate for outdoors. Also, they are somewhat light and might blow away (<em>can you imagine what someone might think if pumpkins were flying by them in the wind!! funny</em>) so one thought I had would be to insert something weighty before you glue the ends together.<br />
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</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-79351377035501882982011-10-12T11:41:00.000-04:002011-10-12T11:41:01.027-04:00A LITERARY FALL LEAF WREATH AND PUMPKINThis week I am not writing about a book per se, but about the <em>pages</em> in the book. And I am not writing about the<em> pages</em> so much as I am writing about what can be <em>done</em> with those pages (once the book is no longer a viable reading option, says the librarian in me..)<br />
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I was wracking my brain for a different Fall wreath idea this year, thumbing through all those magazines and pre-holiday catalogues that had begun to pour, in when I noticed a recurrent theme: leaves made from book pages, book pages with leaf shapes cut out of them and inserted into vases as table decor, pumpkins decoupaged with old book pages (<em>hmmmm</em>). <br />
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I studied the pile of catalogues and magazines in my recycling bin. I studied my book shelves and recognized several paperbacks that really were falling apart and waiting for me to accept their fate. And an idea was born: I decided to put them all to good use and created a Literary Fall Leaf Wreath! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjl3lYR369UQQ6sJULXOvLQicxNnIfqRC3nIDuUtvPQShik3rbOZm7kYFPWmpoQDUI9KmFRsN6LhT7X9aIzbPtvyppTEk4Mr_nfQZnF87zR_x5R6uaJrLws889jUu9o_LLKOm34fwSEh4/s1600/all+done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjl3lYR369UQQ6sJULXOvLQicxNnIfqRC3nIDuUtvPQShik3rbOZm7kYFPWmpoQDUI9KmFRsN6LhT7X9aIzbPtvyppTEk4Mr_nfQZnF87zR_x5R6uaJrLws889jUu9o_LLKOm34fwSEh4/s320/all+done.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Isn't is pretty?</em></div><br />
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To begin, I went through my catalogues and magazines looking mainly at the colors and tones, searching for areas that would make good Fall leaves.<br />
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<strong>Crafty Tip</strong>: I used an old quilting trick taught to me by my sister who makes gorgeous quilts in her spare time. When she is trying to visualize whether a fabric (or section of a fabric) will work for her finished piece she puts her right and left thumb tips together and her right and left index finger tips together to form an open triangular space in front of her. If a smaller opening is required, she slides her hands closer together to make a smaller triangle. She then holds this opening above the fabric so she can isolate the small section she might use while the her hands block out the rest of the image that may be visually distracting. If she sees what she likes and feels it will "fit" the theme of her quilt, she buys it. <em> Easy-peasy</em>!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2iOu-gN2G9BDNvTTxnLCEJeOIaG9dHzUrVPBdYbuInUMfDvEKCKAhkUOyBYPjEZh-I8qw5Xb9MDMbd_GBcIwf0N3-PKNDtGDul6APGRjTL0qT_-Ib_2XJbOMdmMFZ71y7efsXszhMxcp/s1600/catalogue+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2iOu-gN2G9BDNvTTxnLCEJeOIaG9dHzUrVPBdYbuInUMfDvEKCKAhkUOyBYPjEZh-I8qw5Xb9MDMbd_GBcIwf0N3-PKNDtGDul6APGRjTL0qT_-Ib_2XJbOMdmMFZ71y7efsXszhMxcp/s320/catalogue+ad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>The photo above is an ad in one of my catalogues.</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2TYmV8XZ3MWfQM5RtsqzV-emWNDwBZPeWEYRW4tggwcjmEfLWoEVC3drDOMnlxBRkWjQnvNPweHpl6D1HuyZchnsWFE1WD9D6klcqUCS_X2Evzh2ePYSTs4rAyJg43azki3XUHM17fes/s1600/hand+triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2TYmV8XZ3MWfQM5RtsqzV-emWNDwBZPeWEYRW4tggwcjmEfLWoEVC3drDOMnlxBRkWjQnvNPweHpl6D1HuyZchnsWFE1WD9D6klcqUCS_X2Evzh2ePYSTs4rAyJg43azki3XUHM17fes/s320/hand+triangle.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>I use my hand triangle to block out visual distractions</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> and determine that I like that section of color.</em><br />
<em>(Please excuse the visual distraction of the butterfly stamp on my hand ...</em><br />
<em>I went to a butterfly conservancy recently which was incredible!)</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wahcgj-StsV_pTvGKauMODp22bsoVMpQrGfpXQd9ofSuMBxUnOl1i3iQ7VaU-ieAT6q1Y7gN7baJbgA3kgDgAyw5KYZFEXNJvnLsH5RSNq91wdeefD4P4Ura_fSbuV7Y0B3Hjspn2I1d/s1600/IMG_20111010_121548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wahcgj-StsV_pTvGKauMODp22bsoVMpQrGfpXQd9ofSuMBxUnOl1i3iQ7VaU-ieAT6q1Y7gN7baJbgA3kgDgAyw5KYZFEXNJvnLsH5RSNq91wdeefD4P4Ura_fSbuV7Y0B3Hjspn2I1d/s320/IMG_20111010_121548.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Ta da ... it is a beautiful Fall leaf!</em></div><br />
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I looked at everything on each page, the backgrounds as well as the image the photographer was trying to capture, isolating sections with my "hand triangle".<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQI8EjHuQb5aSXxu03x9AZ8YPRpP-ldBHqhSyw1rrkdGpRbMhzJ8sV3Jsp6ewno5csFvIR4xb3i0qiDw0jN5toBGEcLxvC-RiOPYUyHW0vZUfTX-Xn1Ta8RtxzZYtqy3eXK_hlnVrRSqmF/s1600/a+blouse+ad+becomes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQI8EjHuQb5aSXxu03x9AZ8YPRpP-ldBHqhSyw1rrkdGpRbMhzJ8sV3Jsp6ewno5csFvIR4xb3i0qiDw0jN5toBGEcLxvC-RiOPYUyHW0vZUfTX-Xn1Ta8RtxzZYtqy3eXK_hlnVrRSqmF/s320/a+blouse+ad+becomes+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>An ad for a blouse ...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1C0SWsdyjzLs6wUxQdRr6DNC_USXC0GB6nfz7FQqzS1byUYt_mhwI2tXN0lnHJiwz3PJGotV_ektCJ8TyOvoeTLTRqBl7xpAODSwWTv-ew4KuXW8RBZ_eD4wYCGE31rl3-JSXkAwekX5/s1600/a+blouse+ad+becomes+a+golden+leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1C0SWsdyjzLs6wUxQdRr6DNC_USXC0GB6nfz7FQqzS1byUYt_mhwI2tXN0lnHJiwz3PJGotV_ektCJ8TyOvoeTLTRqBl7xpAODSwWTv-ew4KuXW8RBZ_eD4wYCGE31rl3-JSXkAwekX5/s320/a+blouse+ad+becomes+a+golden+leaf.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>... becomes a leaf!</em></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsdDjL8YRJYH9z4Ws-D-asyVebyBTnSaKj_rAY4oxcjOEW4gQzUkZYTiBud0l6TQurpqdn5Vm_4DwMjBOG8hDm7DhudXRx7VeiEFsc3R8gIen57dRlE3ug1Dpd9leGn7DXlc4lB2S_GnZ/s1600/look+beyond+the+picture+itself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsdDjL8YRJYH9z4Ws-D-asyVebyBTnSaKj_rAY4oxcjOEW4gQzUkZYTiBud0l6TQurpqdn5Vm_4DwMjBOG8hDm7DhudXRx7VeiEFsc3R8gIen57dRlE3ug1Dpd9leGn7DXlc4lB2S_GnZ/s320/look+beyond+the+picture+itself.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Here's what I mean about looking beyond the picture itself.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>If you look carefully you can see that I have traced my</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> leaf template onto a section of the page </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>that might make an interesting leaf.</em></div><br />
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I do not own a leaf punch or a die-cutter so I made templates in the shapes of an oak leaf and a maple leaf . I cut two sizes of oak leaves from the magazines and catalogues and cut one size of maple leaves from the old paperbacks. My fingers <em>did </em>get a little "scissor-sore" after a while.<br />
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<strong>Crafty Cutting Tip</strong>: Make a <em>rough cut first</em> to separate the section you want from the larger piece of paper to reduce "drag" from weight of the sheet. Next, when cutting around the shape, <em>turn the paper</em> rather than the scissors for a smooth, even cut.<br />
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I spread my leaves out in front of me, roughly sorted by color and tones and pinned a foundation layer of leaves around a foam wreath that I wrapped with burlap strips. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>I used leaves that were not my favorites for this foundation layer</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> because I figured they would be mostly covered up anyway (as would the pins.)</em></div><br />
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I continued placing and pinning leaves randomly distributing the colors until the burlap was no longer visible and I was satisfied with the look. I finished by placing the paperback book leaves around the entire wreath in a random fashion.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Crafty Tip: I used some double-sided tape to keep some of the </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>leaves in place and to hide some of the pin heads.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I had some the paperback maple leaves left over I continued my literary holiday decor by using them to adorn a small pumpkin. I had noticed some pumpkins in the magazines I was "leafing" through (<em>bad pun but appropriate here</em>!) that had been completely covered with dictionary pages and others that had tissue paper leaves decoupaged on them. I combined the two ideas for my little pumpkin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mixed some white all-purpose glue with a little water and decoupaged (<em>fancy word for adding cutout adornments with layers of glue</em>) them on using a small foam brush. The spider is from one of my posts last year called: <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-is-here-and-with-it-comes.html">Fall Is Here - And With It Comes Halloween</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Fall crafting everyone!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-81977179617784072482011-09-28T15:32:00.000-04:002011-09-28T15:32:49.513-04:00EASY TO SEW REUSABLE COFFEE SLEEVES FOR FALLI stumbled upon a pattern for sewing coffee cup sleeves on <a href="http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting">the Fiskars website</a> and decided to conclude <a href="http://www.nationalsewingmonth.org/">National Sewing Month</a> by making a pair in Fall-themed fabrics for my coffee loving colleagues. The pattern was free on <a href="http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting">their website</a> and was super simple to sew. I really like the idea of a reusable sleeve because it cuts down on waste...just throw it in your laundry with the rest of your stuff when you need to.<br />
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You will need to collect two coordinating fabrics, some batting, a small piece of elastic cording, and a button (two if you want to make it reversible). You will also need a sleeve from an earlier cup of coffee to use as a pattern.<br />
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Use the sleeve to create a template by drawing around it, then drawing another line about 1/2" out from its edge thereby making it a little larger all around for seam allowance. (I have not yet drawn the larger outline in the above picture.)<br />
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Use your template to cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of batting. I used my rotary cutter to cut the batting - scissors tend to snag.<br />
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Layer your pieces in this order: batting on the bottom, then lay one of the fabric pieces with the right-side up, then your other piece of fabric with the right-side down. <br />
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You will want to lay your pieces so the edges line up nicely. I splayed the pieces in the photo above so you could see the order. Once they are lined up, cut a 5" piece of your elastic, fold it in half and lay it between the two fabric pieces with the cut edges hanging slightly outside your layers (loop end pointing towards the middle).<br />
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Pin the edges.<br />
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Sew a 1/4" seam around, back-stitching over elastic to secure and leaving an opening for turning the piece right-side out.<br />
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Trim your edges and clip your corners then turn it right-side out and hand stitch the opening closed.<br />
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Top-stitch, using a 1/4" seam allowance.<br />
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Add a button. I put buttons on both sides to make it reversible.<br />
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I made a second one for another colleague using different fabrics and style of buttons.<br />
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When we were all out together the other day, naturally we had to stop at my colleagues favorite coffee spot and when they came back to the car I gave them each their Fall Coffee Cup Sleeves. They were so delighted they immediately put them on theirs cups (right over the cardboard sleeves if you look carefully!). Cheers!<br />
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And now, I bid adieu to National Sewing Month 2011. I draw in a deep breath and pat myself on the back -- I have braved my sewing machine one more time (<em>anyone who knows me knows that I am not " at one" with my machine</em>.) The Machine and I have been associates since Middle School (<em>waaaay back in the day</em>) but have never mastered true friendship. At best we maintain a distant wariness. It's my fault really. I have never truly tried to reach out to It. It has always scared me with its mysterious elements. But I must say, I think I might be close to asking It to come out and play more often. Maybe get to know It a little better. We'll see.The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-2375994091471066762011-09-21T09:40:00.052-04:002011-10-21T08:32:42.443-04:00SUMMER DRAWS TO A CLOSE - LET THE FALL CRAFTING BEGINThe heat of the summer is soon to be a thing of the past (<em>I sure hope so</em>!), the open windows admit a slight chill to the night air, the endless weeding in the garden will come to a stop, and the desire to bake things will start. I like the change of seasons and the change of motivations it brings with it.<br />
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In the Fall, the magazines that arrive at the library begin showing pictures of soups, apples, pumpkins and all things "harvesty" (<em>I'm sure that is</em>...should be...<em>a word</em>). When the <a href="http://www.craftsnthings.com/">October issue of Crafts 'n Things Magazine</a> first arrived, its cover caught my eye and drew my attention to the fact that it was definitely time to start focusing on Fall crafting!<br />
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Isn't that inviting? Just the word "harvest" conveys images of corn, pumpkins, apples...warm apple cider. Of course I had to flip through it and as I did I was surprised by the variety of ideas and techniques inside - felting, painting, sewing, punch needle, clay, Styrofoam, paper crafts, cross-stitch - each project by a different designer and each listed resources for further ideas. <br />
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I found myself inspired and wanted to try a number of them. But where to start? Well, since September is National Sewing Month I opted to start with the Sewn Harvest Pumpkins. Fashioned out of a printed tan cotton fabric with brown velvet stems and green leaves made from clay, the pair of them looked pretty in the photograph and the instructions seemed simple enough even for me (<em>you may remember that I am not "one" with my sewing machine</em>...). Anyway, I thought a grouping of them in different sizes and fabrics might bring a little bit of the harvest season into my home.<br />
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<strong><u>Project One: Sewn Harvest Pumpkins </u></strong><br />
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I chose supplies that I already had: some upholstery, corduroy and quilting fabrics that went well together instead of the tan cotton fabric; raffia and hemp instead of the jute twine; and sticks instead of velvet for some of the stems. I also decided not to make the clay leaves shown in the pattern because I just wanted to focus on the sewing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzT6iCk8Vte2CcpyUE7hySztaT_ELULDyTYpf9rB_AfqB8T5nYvjmAe22xTGyXGUse8ZK4CJ1tILRotP1KvooncOh1TVsXIyIUfMdf3oRtjjJrQsA140A6hWWSL5bN357AhdTtERtYUKJ/s1600/sewn+pumpkins+aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzT6iCk8Vte2CcpyUE7hySztaT_ELULDyTYpf9rB_AfqB8T5nYvjmAe22xTGyXGUse8ZK4CJ1tILRotP1KvooncOh1TVsXIyIUfMdf3oRtjjJrQsA140A6hWWSL5bN357AhdTtERtYUKJ/s400/sewn+pumpkins+aaa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The instructions were pretty simple, although there did seem to be an error in Step 6 which reads "with <em>wrong</em> sides together...turn right side out". I think they meant "with <em>right</em> sides together...". Also, I was having some conceptual difficulty with the instruction for the pumpkin body which could have benefited from a diagram. <br />
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<strong>Tip:</strong> I learned that it is important to stuff the pumpkin firmly and pull the wrapping cord tight to best define the segments. The smallest light colored pumpkin was my last one and the segments are less "puckery" than the others.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The following instructional tutorial was added at a later date </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>in response to a request by an anonymous reader:</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Fold a rectangular piece of fabric in half, right sides together, to form a square.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy3rGUpDuffNgN1lYpD8Kr9qtdJHF_oegQ4a8KV33wDwSQhuyCuS9xOrD-cDmiVCGXjZTWVJ6s5sZZ-z045Ku6F4San8TpmhyphenhyphenPd3n0Bwn4iZ9_FbjQ3qUtWgAosZjxFCvN77XjLR1hRgI/s1600/a+-+folded+rectangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy3rGUpDuffNgN1lYpD8Kr9qtdJHF_oegQ4a8KV33wDwSQhuyCuS9xOrD-cDmiVCGXjZTWVJ6s5sZZ-z045Ku6F4San8TpmhyphenhyphenPd3n0Bwn4iZ9_FbjQ3qUtWgAosZjxFCvN77XjLR1hRgI/s320/a+-+folded+rectangle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Machine sew a seam along the edge that is opposite the folded edge (the edge to the right in the photo above).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. With strong thread and leaving a 6" tail, hand stitch a running/basting stitch along one of the open edges.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFAk5eqfoB9M603agAu4unbStcrG18L0YvLBX4DFuqrULBqDhSLnZoBfqrRbECYcwQWYo1pEJ9qCKf2aWBLpgy8L8gvvqL_OuuB6an6_mKcASL27tGRqaOqFBh5oKq8NCbaMEO8wcxmhS/s1600/aaa+-+sew+running+stitch+along+one+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFAk5eqfoB9M603agAu4unbStcrG18L0YvLBX4DFuqrULBqDhSLnZoBfqrRbECYcwQWYo1pEJ9qCKf2aWBLpgy8L8gvvqL_OuuB6an6_mKcASL27tGRqaOqFBh5oKq8NCbaMEO8wcxmhS/s320/aaa+-+sew+running+stitch+along+one+edge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Pull the ends of the basting thread to cinch the fabric ends together; tie off and whip stitch to secure. This will be the bottom of your pumpkin. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCA9ALpqm0GqJFh0x8YalGUxJvGJyfcgYmYx5fTBKuA-ez0e_UNYBPOkp8Fe_ry4pW4BH79MacGC_DRkJXXlNPr1G5v__LHIWg6r4hHFw5Y5DDRzF4u5os8oiWCsdOBhnA6wEfD__hA9q/s1600/aaaa+-pull+threads+to+cinch+closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCA9ALpqm0GqJFh0x8YalGUxJvGJyfcgYmYx5fTBKuA-ez0e_UNYBPOkp8Fe_ry4pW4BH79MacGC_DRkJXXlNPr1G5v__LHIWg6r4hHFw5Y5DDRzF4u5os8oiWCsdOBhnA6wEfD__hA9q/s320/aaaa+-pull+threads+to+cinch+closed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Turn piece right side out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCPzBqU8XzGt8_Nee0R9JCHI4Yl3lDT0MGpldLnXuqx7luU-ehCD2smDM9MaGoqzMzr8g9yPj-Am3UIVjw_91h7pluzsIi-D0Fw2A5dyD1yiz9HX_-nbsYcRR7kkROhAzvvWEvMY62Zdj/s1600/aaaab+-+tie+off+secure+and+flip+inside+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCPzBqU8XzGt8_Nee0R9JCHI4Yl3lDT0MGpldLnXuqx7luU-ehCD2smDM9MaGoqzMzr8g9yPj-Am3UIVjw_91h7pluzsIi-D0Fw2A5dyD1yiz9HX_-nbsYcRR7kkROhAzvvWEvMY62Zdj/s320/aaaab+-+tie+off+secure+and+flip+inside+out.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Stuff body <em>firmly</em> with polyfill and stitch another running/basting stitch along open edge.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GQDDwp1_Cx_HiWI7oVRxWlqPX_Gbclto00TpFZm9pysHMekbWOOHZfwTjcD0Xz6MKAuREBKuoJu73MZnucNLq7r7sdPYGTtpWrGwMgHWInpdVgMdXcVA-kP_kqvNBuopydFg_27gR7Fd/s1600/b+-+stuff+and+add+running+stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GQDDwp1_Cx_HiWI7oVRxWlqPX_Gbclto00TpFZm9pysHMekbWOOHZfwTjcD0Xz6MKAuREBKuoJu73MZnucNLq7r7sdPYGTtpWrGwMgHWInpdVgMdXcVA-kP_kqvNBuopydFg_27gR7Fd/s320/b+-+stuff+and+add+running+stitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Cinch that basting stitch, tie it off (<em>wow, the exposure in my photos change alot! Looks like a whole other pumpkin...) </em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLfY1VJ2GguKDRPf8F9O4LBDl-23yiB1b2y9SeHtSccBPPtfKZImbTdcH0qzQ0DPTyQLeB6LQY4n74vlfr-TIyX1Ae7xotBA0yDiVvQsvtAD2_1rZ4mpjwtc1DW-QY8NJvNH3cwvKYp0q/s1600/bbb+-+cinch+and+tie+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLfY1VJ2GguKDRPf8F9O4LBDl-23yiB1b2y9SeHtSccBPPtfKZImbTdcH0qzQ0DPTyQLeB6LQY4n74vlfr-TIyX1Ae7xotBA0yDiVvQsvtAD2_1rZ4mpjwtc1DW-QY8NJvNH3cwvKYp0q/s320/bbb+-+cinch+and+tie+off.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">8. Whipstitch it to secure as you did the previous one. This will be the top of the pumpkin and the ugliness will be hidden by your stem when you sew it on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboGTeLzM27BDKepsItTCUTXMb0fsj4XZxkyvl-fkgWnE_0K9iF9i6N8VXZ0aFfAEcVb6NbtM7gXQov_9oG99j8ByKOESorCV5d7Pw4MyDy9CGFn4aVNlRAU9M961sVoBe5PFnGFKX1T8T/s1600/bbbb+-whipstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboGTeLzM27BDKepsItTCUTXMb0fsj4XZxkyvl-fkgWnE_0K9iF9i6N8VXZ0aFfAEcVb6NbtM7gXQov_9oG99j8ByKOESorCV5d7Pw4MyDy9CGFn4aVNlRAU9M961sVoBe5PFnGFKX1T8T/s320/bbbb+-whipstitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Thread a large-eyed tapestry needle with a long piece of strong threading material (raffia, jute, embroidery floss, hemp...I found the hemp worked best). Thread it through the top, straight down through the body/core leaving a 12" tail. Move needle over slightly to avoid first hole and push straight back through the body to the top. Tie ends together to secure the pumpkin shape.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ81FTtDSAXtoxrl7DW2APU-IJ40_s5_y5eEEqbEzHrjzE2AY_Rn2m41WNkTyBFymN9WuBn4Jn4txzL2Rys39gUzK6VnZ0p7eDj0O_SBDYF4e-3sBCWoUjNH9-F-5QT1ov6flmLK02hHd/s1600/ccc+-pull+tight+and+tie+to+secure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ81FTtDSAXtoxrl7DW2APU-IJ40_s5_y5eEEqbEzHrjzE2AY_Rn2m41WNkTyBFymN9WuBn4Jn4txzL2Rys39gUzK6VnZ0p7eDj0O_SBDYF4e-3sBCWoUjNH9-F-5QT1ov6flmLK02hHd/s320/ccc+-pull+tight+and+tie+to+secure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">10. Continue by bringing needle <em>around the outside</em> of the body and pushing through the same area at the bottom of the pumpkin, up through the core and out the top. Snug (<em>I also tied it each time for security</em>) to form segment. Repeat to create more segments by wrapping around the outside, up from the bottom <em>through the body</em>, snugging (and tieing) as you go until you are satisfied with the number of segments you have created. If you run out of threading material before your segments are complete simply tie on another piece and continue.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">11. Sew a stem shaped piece of fabric.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTF4tFpQq6qW409GXA4pZ0wwPy_OPPeYz8vVOxS6u3qt-8oPxwL62VREkyGXncIko7zaR0Uqv3hJV6EEEFPEWu0MAa_gMHkGNALJ4FRPJWpp3J3g81u0fYN-EA3UoGpyMi6y7Bul51P5S/s1600/e+-+my+stem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTF4tFpQq6qW409GXA4pZ0wwPy_OPPeYz8vVOxS6u3qt-8oPxwL62VREkyGXncIko7zaR0Uqv3hJV6EEEFPEWu0MAa_gMHkGNALJ4FRPJWpp3J3g81u0fYN-EA3UoGpyMi6y7Bul51P5S/s320/e+-+my+stem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">12. Turn the stem rightside out, stuff the stem, whipstitch the ends together.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5MlWIe6tnxurAZjSuWnxo-evuydoOJDsQYWk_vgx_Vgb5hvJNdcXAHm1TrilHm8_54QCXJzPJAS0UWH6nCnBStwuJ8AVwlfWBrmSW6akai3hPK0pChG3P-qFIBSOMVjEiig6Ctg-2J4O/s1600/eee+-whipstitch+stem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5MlWIe6tnxurAZjSuWnxo-evuydoOJDsQYWk_vgx_Vgb5hvJNdcXAHm1TrilHm8_54QCXJzPJAS0UWH6nCnBStwuJ8AVwlfWBrmSW6akai3hPK0pChG3P-qFIBSOMVjEiig6Ctg-2J4O/s320/eee+-whipstitch+stem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">13. Hand sew it to the top of the body, concealing the pumpkin's closure as you stitch.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8fnb3MPNgY0ui7rnkX9V1IvMOUIzV-J9NlxAR_wfnW3bk16WozFX5roTyBcuYVy7n8FNeCkMFpcxALwBblZjdiRxJ573PwwXQ5J4arTEcCdnzfR_LOnG30EYI231VfxByMp_1QS488Ar/s1600/eeee+-+attaching+a+stem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8fnb3MPNgY0ui7rnkX9V1IvMOUIzV-J9NlxAR_wfnW3bk16WozFX5roTyBcuYVy7n8FNeCkMFpcxALwBblZjdiRxJ573PwwXQ5J4arTEcCdnzfR_LOnG30EYI231VfxByMp_1QS488Ar/s320/eeee+-+attaching+a+stem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
(The above photo example for step 13 is from one of the other pumpkins. My pumpkin did not magically morph...I just didn't have a good picture from the rust colored pumpkin for this step of how to sew the stem on. Actually for the tan corduroy pumpkin I left the bottom of the stem open which worked out just as well as whipstitching it closed. And in a couple of the pumpkins I simply hot glued sticks in for stems.) <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><em>I hope this photo tutorial is helpful. I thank the reader who requested it since I had originally written the blog as a tutorial and agonized over the length the article was becoming. Please let me know in email or comment whether this works for you. I love hearing from my readers and respond to the comments and emails as quickly as I can! Unfortunately, I was away from my computer when the comment was posted...</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><strong><u>Project Two: Needle-felted Halloween Mouse and Pumpkin </u></strong><br />
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Sewing done, I could then move on to the project that really drew me - the needle-felted items. Lured in by the warmth of the cover art and the <em>very cute</em> mouse inside, I got my needle-felting supplies out. I had blissfully forgotten that the last time I tackled needle-felting I had found it somewhat tedious with my insufficient tool. I remembered that fact once I got underway however, and I stabbed myself any number of times which is not a good thing when you are using white roving! Anyway, while I still am not completely enamoured with needle-felting (because I simply am not patient enough), I <em>do</em> love the completed felted items.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWUVPguUxEcwTJEJxhji2LvfHkZnrKQJ_QsVVPMzEQRV9LtpLzU6bpgmhbp80Y_rAzfVRnb1xHkrHal3bbPFUKGl9hjlzq4fblQFlmaMvBLGIuurLfyK5OGaHbmbj-WtWb1Bp5R3xrDYG/s1600/felted+mousie+with+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWUVPguUxEcwTJEJxhji2LvfHkZnrKQJ_QsVVPMzEQRV9LtpLzU6bpgmhbp80Y_rAzfVRnb1xHkrHal3bbPFUKGl9hjlzq4fblQFlmaMvBLGIuurLfyK5OGaHbmbj-WtWb1Bp5R3xrDYG/s400/felted+mousie+with+pumpkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I decided to nix my original plan to make the needle-felted Indian corn and larger pumpkins...<em>for now</em>. <br />
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The magazine has a lot of projects that are Halloween-oriented but I was still wanting to make Fall decor that was not Halloween specific. I decided to work up their napkin ring project.<br />
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<strong><u>Project Three: Harvest Jute Napkin Rings with Clay Leaves </u></strong><br />
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A couple of the projects in the magazine called for an adornment of leaves made out of Sculpey Polymer Clay. I didn't make them for the Sewn Pumpkins but I decided to give them a shot now. I used burlap glued to cardboard tubes as the base and then set to work on the clay leaves. The full-sized leaf templates are provided by the magazine and the leaves were easy to cut out and bake (especially after all the stabbing in the last project). The hard part was waiting for the various paint coats to dry before I could proceed to the next step. Also, I found the instructions for the painting techniques to be a bit vague - but I played around with the colors I had and applied them in a way that pleased me. I liked the end result.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2hrfhNsUqZ3geGtHnItL2zgtP8-TfVNW3N2jpQOlxPM8O8eCWvihTLfCkiVkLNBqoG9AiqJjd5l6F_EVFHrGmMwm4w89GVf_KAZfDhS0PsU7jCuOzuCDKAGB90zj8IT8NP8VEVWR6Fn5/s1600/IMG_20110919_081206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2hrfhNsUqZ3geGtHnItL2zgtP8-TfVNW3N2jpQOlxPM8O8eCWvihTLfCkiVkLNBqoG9AiqJjd5l6F_EVFHrGmMwm4w89GVf_KAZfDhS0PsU7jCuOzuCDKAGB90zj8IT8NP8VEVWR6Fn5/s400/IMG_20110919_081206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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When they were done, I glued them to the prepare tubes with some berry sprigs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKA1e1uV19lm4DQ7g8Jbqyo4cjdcTVe1G6iPvhXm0fxH3FsaCk2toRYJ7ojH1QVOJ5ytnJ_lJiRYtNO0j1Ql1-vk-aIoSjR9pXoU6c2ovxBMOBa5waoOrh-A0_b3Z-tQZ9FTkGU6Qiydz/s1600/leaf+napkin+rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKA1e1uV19lm4DQ7g8Jbqyo4cjdcTVe1G6iPvhXm0fxH3FsaCk2toRYJ7ojH1QVOJ5ytnJ_lJiRYtNO0j1Ql1-vk-aIoSjR9pXoU6c2ovxBMOBa5waoOrh-A0_b3Z-tQZ9FTkGU6Qiydz/s400/leaf+napkin+rings.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><br />
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I grouped some of the items together in a display by my fireplace. We will see how long the mouse lasts before my cat discovers it.<br />
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I would love to work on a number of other items in the magazine but I really need to get to work on the wreath for my door before Fall is over! I have already found the inspiration for that and will show you soon. Until then, browse through the magazines at your local library and you are bound to find some great inspirations! Magazines are great sources of information, providing a variety of up-to-date ideas of whatever the current trends, materials and resources are and should not be overlooked when you are researching ideas for things to make.<br />
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<strong>Some other magazines that might be of interest</strong>: <br />
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<strong><u> <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/">Country Living, October 2011 issue</a></u></strong> includes pumpkins that are <em>decoupaged</em> with all sorts of interesting patterns; crow silhouettes fashioned from static-cling window decal sheets (a very trendy Halloween craft this year); and a custom-stamped tablecloth for Halloween. <em> Decoupaged pumpkins, who would ever have thought</em>?!<br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">Martha Stewart Living, October 2011</a></u></strong> issue includes clever paper bats to hang outside your front door; a number of very funky, clever, and simple ideas to <em>dress up your pumpkins</em> instead of carving them which are bound to impress your visitors; and a beautiful idea for an artful arrangement of Fall foliage and fruit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mccallsquilting.com/index.html">McCall's Quick Quilts, October/November 2011</a> issue includes a variety of project types including some adorable ideas for Halloween. They also always feature some Quick and Easy ideas. This magazine is beginning to make even me think about learning to quilt!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-65571014195468016672011-09-02T12:44:00.000-04:002012-01-31T09:22:27.091-05:00A CRAFTY TIP AND AN AHA MOMENT<u><strong>Part I - The Crafty Tip:</strong></u><br />
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In my last post I used a nylon cord for a drawstring to use on the laundry bag I sewed. When nylon cording or rope is cut it has a tendency to fray. To keep the ends from fraying I needed to seal the ends. Here is a brief tutorial about how I did that.<br />
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It is a little hard to see against the white sink in the photo below but you can sort of make out the fuzzy tip where I made my cut.<br />
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To seal the ends so they don't fray, first <em>make sure the cord is nylon and not cotton</em>. Nylon melts, cotton burns. Once you have ascertained that it is nylon, hold a small flame slightly below the cord until the end melts slightly.<br />
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If it flames up, blow it out and be careful not to burn your fingers. It does not take long to happen. See the nice clean end on my cord in the picture below?<br />
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This works on nylon rope as well. This is a tip I learned from my father when I used to sail with him. My father has always been a fountain of knowledge. <br />
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<u><strong>Part II - The Aha Moment: A Prescription Bottle Repurposed as a Matchbox </strong></u><br />
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When I opened my kitchen drawer to search for matches to seal the drawstring cord I used for the laundry bag I sewed, I found them alright! They were all over the bottom of the drawer, happily intermingling with 500 toothpicks - all of which had escaped their containers and were partying in the bottom of my drawer. The boxes that had been holding them had fallen apart and the contents had spewed forth. This led me to an aha moment, however, as I thought of a way to repurpose an old prescription container into a waterproof, child-safe match container.<br />
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I collected my supplies: a matchbox, an old prescription bottle,double sided tape and, of course, you will need matches eventually.<br />
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Remove the old prescription label from the bottle. Most of them peel off pretty easily. (I had already removed the label before I took the photograph above.)<br />
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Remove the "striking" section of the matchbox (the part that you rub the match against to cause it to flame) and apply pieces of double sided tape to its back side, covering it completely (double sided tape is sticky on both sides).<br />
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Press that prepared striker section to the prescription bottle to adhere it.<br />
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I applied a small piece of regular scotch tape where the ends met. It isn't terribly pretty but I just wanted a little added security.<br />
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Put the matches inside the container and close it up.<br />
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You now have a waterproof, child-safe container to keep your matches in. When you need to use a match, take one out, put the lid back on, and strike the match against the strike section on the outside. <br />
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My husband discovered (<em>the hard way</em>) that putting the cap back on <u>prior</u> to striking the match is vitally important...matches all over the place!! <em>Oops</em>. <em>Good tip honey, thank you for testing it out for me!</em><br />
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Oh yeah, those pesky toothpicks got their own container in the drawer as well.<br />
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That's it for today! No book this time. Just a little Crafty Tip and Technique. <br />
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The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-48078863140546005922011-08-24T15:48:00.000-04:002011-09-24T13:27:40.708-04:00DRAWSTRING BAGS: ONE TECHNIQUE, MANY USESA drawstring bag is a very handy thing and it is actually quite easy to sew one. Once mastered, the same basic techniques can be used to create bags for all sorts of things: sachets, gifts, jewelry, jewelry to give as gifts...<em>kidding dear</em>, treats, camping gear, groceries, the list is endless really.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXFKUKTEUT394KiC8s-O9teBz2-Lpg5gg0Z4KCASP9oi34alspGRGqSrCYmJhaLDU8mWP_FgbnuGTEP_VwLMCH2CZFcgJVeQpxGiHkJn_baOCirZNkUIGLpOoS8zpXVlKE15KUskH2xWX/s1600/IMG_20110823_171648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXFKUKTEUT394KiC8s-O9teBz2-Lpg5gg0Z4KCASP9oi34alspGRGqSrCYmJhaLDU8mWP_FgbnuGTEP_VwLMCH2CZFcgJVeQpxGiHkJn_baOCirZNkUIGLpOoS8zpXVlKE15KUskH2xWX/s320/IMG_20110823_171648.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
To learn how to sew one, I decided to make a laundry bag, particularly since it is that time of year again...the time that many of our offspring leave the nest and head out into the world. Do you have a child who will be heading off to college soon? Said child will likely be doing their own laundry (<em>it could happen</em>) and will not, most likely, have their own conveniently placed laundering equipment (<em>I'm referring to the machine here, not the mom.</em>..) For some, this is the time during which a gigantic pile of laundry forms in the dorm in anticipation of the first visit home...often not until the holidays (<em>I have boys don't ya know</em>). Given the idea that a laundry bag creates an individual, controlled laundry portion I thought that I might try my hand at sewing one. <br />
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I flipped through the sewing books on our library shelves looking for a pattern that I could follow easily <em>and</em> had instructions for a drawstring sleeve (called a "casing") that would be open on both sides of the bag so I could pull the bag closed by drawing the string from both ends. I really wanted to learn this technique because it has always seemed soooo mysterious. <em>Odd, the things that befuddle me</em>...<br />
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There were a number of possibilities in several of the books but in the end I decided on the project for the "Drawstring Travel Bags" in <strong><u><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781584796756&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross</a></u></strong>. After all, it <em>was</em> the weekend...and I <em>was</em> going to be sewing! If a project is in a book about sewing that can be done over the weekend (<em>I reasoned</em>) it must be simple enough to follow.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpo6cnp_zPPAt5vkF7MvrfgyRPOZCByf0wCixMr1UtnutHJXUKZGVtFd5jhAkxniXJX8XXNYuo7cWrHU10PbMnL2f2Emqxu2B76NnOWYxnTuLtuV5dsEq4qppCQOsBaOMe5ZlXgNmhEf5/s1600/weekend+sewing+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpo6cnp_zPPAt5vkF7MvrfgyRPOZCByf0wCixMr1UtnutHJXUKZGVtFd5jhAkxniXJX8XXNYuo7cWrHU10PbMnL2f2Emqxu2B76NnOWYxnTuLtuV5dsEq4qppCQOsBaOMe5ZlXgNmhEf5/s1600/weekend+sewing+cover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781584796756&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">(click here to go to our library catalogue)</a></u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Right away I like that the project provides instructions for different sizes, suggestions for different materials to use for the drawstrings, and an instruction for an optional treatment for the bottom corners. <em>I love options</em>. I also really like the very simple technique the author uses to create the openings in the seam for drawstrings to come through (which I will get to shortly...).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, as with my knitting, I never seem to follow directions and patterns exactly and that is the case here as well. I had about one yard of denim fabric left over from one of my first blog posts "<a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/10/pattern-is-like-recipe.html">A Pattern is Like a Recipe</a>" (<em>almost a year ago, wow</em>!) and I am not bothering with the exact measurements the pattern recommends for the "large bag". The instructions/techniques are general enough, however, to guide me through the process for a bag of <em>any</em> size and there are only a few steps. So here goes!<br />
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<u>Step One - Sew the Outer Seams</u>:<br />
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Start with two rectangles of fabric, right sides together, decide which short end will be the open end and sew a 3/8" seam starting at the top of one side, along the bottom and up the other side. <br />
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<strong>Tip</strong>: Place masking tape on the plate of your sewing machine for a bigger visual line to follow than the itty-bitty one etched into the metal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVVArV9jtRpRPkzKf_J1af0kDUMBbPXbnpgusrzVafiSY9KDOI_2gYPzOWsOXSZiyH9sVnnJ1-lQOacZ0dpjuZEq-MXSd_5vChAPc5DLGvaUU6QVI02BMYJMEZrrn2EXikWZUSZJxcCim/s1600/IMG_20110820_162722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVVArV9jtRpRPkzKf_J1af0kDUMBbPXbnpgusrzVafiSY9KDOI_2gYPzOWsOXSZiyH9sVnnJ1-lQOacZ0dpjuZEq-MXSd_5vChAPc5DLGvaUU6QVI02BMYJMEZrrn2EXikWZUSZJxcCim/s320/IMG_20110820_162722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pivot at the corner edge by stopping while the needle is inserted in the fabric, lift the foot and pivot the fabric for a clean right angle. You can see in the picture below that my needle is in the fabric and lines up with the pencil seam guideline I made before I started to sew. I am about to lift the foot and pivot the fabric. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLXda6-_zytC2OZUfHO7UfkZRz869eCqE1piJjjz_W01DTjD4juvh3OK_ROe7fAPmKicaTz7WTj2GZYDs3pYvpRNoVPgEQI-rsEnC1Nmo06hyphenhyphenHGaq8cb0cNFiA1Qqwt7ARifI6FRJ78bE/s1600/IMG_20110820_162927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLXda6-_zytC2OZUfHO7UfkZRz869eCqE1piJjjz_W01DTjD4juvh3OK_ROe7fAPmKicaTz7WTj2GZYDs3pYvpRNoVPgEQI-rsEnC1Nmo06hyphenhyphenHGaq8cb0cNFiA1Qqwt7ARifI6FRJ78bE/s320/IMG_20110820_162927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<u>Step Two - Create the Casing</u>:<br />
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Sewing the casing turned out to be very simple as well. With the wrong sides still together, fold the top edge (the edge that will be the opening of your bag) down 1/4" to the wrong side and press.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwxs6ezt8ElxvHXG_9TaycLdc2ekWmLEx6PG-lohU_JaN5s4Z3uOHOIgHd_Ur8x6qhznbVWYK7saHmgpi9yCqNwhMo65YNe59uaJ48O3CIfxCigJ3aM6TeDyVN-J00JETSxoy6LxeK7AV/s1600/IMG_20110820_171437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwxs6ezt8ElxvHXG_9TaycLdc2ekWmLEx6PG-lohU_JaN5s4Z3uOHOIgHd_Ur8x6qhznbVWYK7saHmgpi9yCqNwhMo65YNe59uaJ48O3CIfxCigJ3aM6TeDyVN-J00JETSxoy6LxeK7AV/s320/IMG_20110820_171437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My sister taught me to use a "seam gauge" (that's the ruler tool in the picture above) to measure my seam as I press it which saves the time of measuring and pinning and unpinning. I never understood what that tool was for before she helped me one day. You can see I have the guide set for 1/4" and I move it along as I iron, folding the edge and pressing as I go. <em>I hate fussing with pins. Fun! Just be careful not to burn your fingers...</em><br />
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Next, turn the casing again toward the wrong side 2" (for the large bag) and press that double fold. You can see below that I have folded down the edge and have moved my measuring guide to 2". <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j0IqTmR2y4W-5JMPP_Ps21WIl1SSaiqxBQPkaNauBTdPdZbPxK7MNjD2nOEt3WCA_pKHS_WLTZOOWl4E23Cy0aU1Kr4x1j4tDazreG-f6AaCwJEKqxrpcw72ky3Rvvbap55leM8Hvqto/s1600/IMG_20110820_171834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j0IqTmR2y4W-5JMPP_Ps21WIl1SSaiqxBQPkaNauBTdPdZbPxK7MNjD2nOEt3WCA_pKHS_WLTZOOWl4E23Cy0aU1Kr4x1j4tDazreG-f6AaCwJEKqxrpcw72ky3Rvvbap55leM8Hvqto/s320/IMG_20110820_171834.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Next, edge-stitch about 1/8" from the edge (that edge that is closest to the 2" guide in the picture above.) The phrasing of the instruction in the book confused me here but their diagram was most helpful. In the photo below I am using my seam gauge to figure out how far in 1/8" is.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WfVO8czt-f5jMOPZ0FaqcXo6ZY5-X8RYy2tyrVc5IZSbi-9zV4GPsiF2GiBHKlnAxSxCQFv6CR6ZadmEpkL3aAD6w42mSDsvbTlRficiRwoPKxv7vhWJcTtIAvOOAMoZbjwaAkW9bnAL/s1600/IMG_20110820_173221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WfVO8czt-f5jMOPZ0FaqcXo6ZY5-X8RYy2tyrVc5IZSbi-9zV4GPsiF2GiBHKlnAxSxCQFv6CR6ZadmEpkL3aAD6w42mSDsvbTlRficiRwoPKxv7vhWJcTtIAvOOAMoZbjwaAkW9bnAL/s320/IMG_20110820_173221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">The idea behind edge-stitching is to secure the raw folded edge in place cleanly. My seam was pressed at 1/4" so my edge-stitch is half of that. When you are edge stitching your eyes are the best guide to help you stitch close to the edge. Below is my edge-stitched seam. Isn't it a thing of beauty? Maybe the sewing machine isn't so bad after all!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqUIcStm8nOMjFGMezllKZ0QRDMBF9BMVdOmU7dlevBIGGmQ2YJI7Ol4j3-INIvbSl-nvL2MbX20J-b1-iisc3BlRuZ1n5Ewc3FBFXrsf6kyV6eloVzRsMssywHoNGDl1PkXHlXu1wJV0/s1600/IMG_20110820_174411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqUIcStm8nOMjFGMezllKZ0QRDMBF9BMVdOmU7dlevBIGGmQ2YJI7Ol4j3-INIvbSl-nvL2MbX20J-b1-iisc3BlRuZ1n5Ewc3FBFXrsf6kyV6eloVzRsMssywHoNGDl1PkXHlXu1wJV0/s320/IMG_20110820_174411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
The next step is to turn the bag right side out and sew a top-stitch to create the upper edge of the casing. Again, I found the wording of the instructions slightly confusing but the idea is to create a channel that will be wide enough for whatever you are using as a drawstring to pass through. Whatever material is above your top-stitched line will be visible above your cinched drawstring area when you pull the bag closed. My top-stitch is about 1/2" from the top edge of my bag.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX5S0SXWcC_rFTB5xBeuSjMiV7MKCfpPfdWKBdAl8T2fkFrBY-IN2bDZY55EBJomHXRg0CHv5W6Rwp2keD20M2lESedrG2U-YNiEwXEqkDVm6pdYbj7GjU4VsTi-BdO591QVLDcALfuZo/s1600/IMG_20110820_175332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX5S0SXWcC_rFTB5xBeuSjMiV7MKCfpPfdWKBdAl8T2fkFrBY-IN2bDZY55EBJomHXRg0CHv5W6Rwp2keD20M2lESedrG2U-YNiEwXEqkDVm6pdYbj7GjU4VsTi-BdO591QVLDcALfuZo/s320/IMG_20110820_175332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">To create the opening for your drawstring (<em>here come the magical part</em>) the author uses a short zig zag stitch back and forth about 1/8" at the two points where the casing seams meet the side seams. I simplified this when I sewed my bag: I stitched back and forth <em>a lot </em>over the 1" area of the side seams as I edge-stitched and top-stitched the casing. In the picture below you can see (to the left) the completed lower edge-stitching with the thicker backstitched area extending across my side seam and I am just completing my backstitching across the top before I continue to the other side seam.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmh9pvBAvDJZ5hi1MB1MoVcUVm0fSNl7GoWZBO_C3xVIZvxYuTnTMCGGP2Brh644W2sJcM7T3zEY6C5arlrhyphenhyphenPhm6mazNm9YRv7bUqkit2TpWOaEfSxzA3pBDzWEUUin3ZdZxK8e-g9W57/s1600/IMG_20110820_175110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmh9pvBAvDJZ5hi1MB1MoVcUVm0fSNl7GoWZBO_C3xVIZvxYuTnTMCGGP2Brh644W2sJcM7T3zEY6C5arlrhyphenhyphenPhm6mazNm9YRv7bUqkit2TpWOaEfSxzA3pBDzWEUUin3ZdZxK8e-g9W57/s320/IMG_20110820_175110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In this pattern a seam ripper is used to open the side seam between those two heavily stitched areas. This is <strong>important</strong>: rip open only the <em>top layer </em>of fabric!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycV5KNVSdulNIGC3zVyiAL9EuFwCleqonZUfs-QQwaKiKypHvdNRzJsMzyPepT5cQzXpRsABiRPK0tpxivAkd8FCWkR0Y401i0rAjJLH0FULJNI0woYhsxqbPg_64s8ihYcOBQCDTmAJz/s1600/IMG_20110820_175725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycV5KNVSdulNIGC3zVyiAL9EuFwCleqonZUfs-QQwaKiKypHvdNRzJsMzyPepT5cQzXpRsABiRPK0tpxivAkd8FCWkR0Y401i0rAjJLH0FULJNI0woYhsxqbPg_64s8ihYcOBQCDTmAJz/s320/IMG_20110820_175725.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is what the completed opening looks like. You can see that the outside edge is open and the inside is still sewed shut. Do not rip through all that heavy stitching you did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5SowBhpD7cxt1gBsVdcAs8Qk0_mq0hbnKzrcldohxRkPBtDV6v7jVgIsp_vOjPDj4XRfGCQeUUyQyAaUYUgRaE5axg74xl9ITYhr3fjtpavDMhpAAZ2THWazfiIPYXfUl-XW2uoFL_8t/s1600/IMG_20110820_175801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5SowBhpD7cxt1gBsVdcAs8Qk0_mq0hbnKzrcldohxRkPBtDV6v7jVgIsp_vOjPDj4XRfGCQeUUyQyAaUYUgRaE5axg74xl9ITYhr3fjtpavDMhpAAZ2THWazfiIPYXfUl-XW2uoFL_8t/s320/IMG_20110820_175801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><u>Step Three - Inserting the Drawstrings</u>:<br />
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Now here is the part that was so mysterious to me: inserting the drawstrings so they extend out either side and cinch the bag closed when pulled. It is very simple really. Cut two drawstrings, equal in length, twice the width of your bag plus some (that will extend beyond your bag when fully opened). You can use anything for a drawstring as long as it will fit within your casing width-wise. I decided to use some nylon cording left over from the days of stringing my son's lacrosse heads (<em>sorry son, it was handy</em>...). <br />
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<strong>Tip</strong>: Attach a safety pin to the end of whatever material you choose for a drawstring (the book also has a pattern for sewing your own). This makes it easier to feed the drawstring through the casing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayU5xe-mmPnF0bI3QMHdm6n9TBSHIld8uPQeF1ACanOkKTip-bhyphenhyphenV7Ocd9VYuilRWctiinMcwv4doOytJIvumtK0_kFUlEbQtAQbMjSqyF1_-2fGbh_z8PJRy0h9-InpaNXULmmbYLHGE/s1600/IMG_20110820_180335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayU5xe-mmPnF0bI3QMHdm6n9TBSHIld8uPQeF1ACanOkKTip-bhyphenhyphenV7Ocd9VYuilRWctiinMcwv4doOytJIvumtK0_kFUlEbQtAQbMjSqyF1_-2fGbh_z8PJRy0h9-InpaNXULmmbYLHGE/s320/IMG_20110820_180335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Insert the end of the drawstring with the safety pin into one of the slits you just cut out and feed it through the casing channel. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYUgCvAnDhehVAj2nebFX9c2T54vTvIH3gKfZGUj3t8AgUTTqScM0sPLE3KtLh13genWp4r85xa60j3r7IH9bFmykheaf6G27AgfcqI_lLTlu5aLwtiabieblsACbJtishou6wH3Rdemm/s1600/IMG_20110820_180414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYUgCvAnDhehVAj2nebFX9c2T54vTvIH3gKfZGUj3t8AgUTTqScM0sPLE3KtLh13genWp4r85xa60j3r7IH9bFmykheaf6G27AgfcqI_lLTlu5aLwtiabieblsACbJtishou6wH3Rdemm/s320/IMG_20110820_180414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Continue feeding it through the channel <em>passing</em> the 2nd slit until you can pull it out the same slit you pushed it into.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0125EaQqoGXJ-dLAF0LNV7vH4qh4hNHFAwRsSymVSJRAhyphenhyphenAgMslttanWC4kmfTQq65DGa2iyjmgiM7sQNM5rrHW4-MYu9_DmK-yEXnvrgE8z62NMSwrkQaukl7-zr7Akv2bQUlL-3kYR-/s1600/IMG_20110820_180650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0125EaQqoGXJ-dLAF0LNV7vH4qh4hNHFAwRsSymVSJRAhyphenhyphenAgMslttanWC4kmfTQq65DGa2iyjmgiM7sQNM5rrHW4-MYu9_DmK-yEXnvrgE8z62NMSwrkQaukl7-zr7Akv2bQUlL-3kYR-/s320/IMG_20110820_180650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Remove the safety pin and knot the ends securely so the string doesn't slide back in. (<em>Funny how different lighting affects the color. The picture below makes it looks like I have made a gray bag as well as the blue denim but it is the same bag you can trust me on that</em>!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9t09AkHwTPOqdhmDC-qKEmI4Kd4p7fSVER12VFEkMdKsOyEuC0GwOXacWw4GvZ3MgMldoV1WA_nwIuAUfTyNi75hUAjQVOs0d2s7skOGeYdFpzbWwYTFBBNqFtV0r_5wqnB_G64f2DjA/s1600/IMG_20110822_083003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9t09AkHwTPOqdhmDC-qKEmI4Kd4p7fSVER12VFEkMdKsOyEuC0GwOXacWw4GvZ3MgMldoV1WA_nwIuAUfTyNi75hUAjQVOs0d2s7skOGeYdFpzbWwYTFBBNqFtV0r_5wqnB_G64f2DjA/s320/IMG_20110822_083003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Attach the safety pin to your second piece of drawstring and repeat the process, however this time begin and end with the slit on the <em>opposite</em> side. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4OPmbccidQX6pgu_tYvNjqgIEvWTXML8TolfuJOW0aGRJ4T2lZVLCym1uSc3jM7dmrCbfxDmeDymUKsTb6SPZ7zlIkHA3JvQuBlLgQXG0m2N08dzbNtB32fwoW2-Tqz71dUYHHWD3Din/s1600/IMG_20110820_180807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4OPmbccidQX6pgu_tYvNjqgIEvWTXML8TolfuJOW0aGRJ4T2lZVLCym1uSc3jM7dmrCbfxDmeDymUKsTb6SPZ7zlIkHA3JvQuBlLgQXG0m2N08dzbNtB32fwoW2-Tqz71dUYHHWD3Din/s320/IMG_20110820_180807.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Here is a diagram of the threading pattern for those (like me) who find pictures and diagrams very helpful.<br />
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<em>Ahhhh, that's how the magic happens!!! Pull the ends and ta-da!!!</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuSJfnlM2Aa5SDJUcUA5Im9OKgzNQqvyeFz_JxK_8QPoQm5XZrtN9LUlVbjYlPqqgqbpdSyyWJTqVwrVuiJSWKOhNWDfTL6jAIvc-wlpnU-FhOgpGE7fBeuErus_vNHajhuNiTYPl6Tiw/s1600/IMG_20110820_181232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuSJfnlM2Aa5SDJUcUA5Im9OKgzNQqvyeFz_JxK_8QPoQm5XZrtN9LUlVbjYlPqqgqbpdSyyWJTqVwrVuiJSWKOhNWDfTL6jAIvc-wlpnU-FhOgpGE7fBeuErus_vNHajhuNiTYPl6Tiw/s320/IMG_20110820_181232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Here is my drawstring laundry bag all done.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcq047aKbHD4Q4uOMKb1bsEtJbrEs0VIr0g0fAesJnX_HxnQGvZE5zN_FriKimhdDSRRdOXNM8y2GAa3zNc-P7xGzIaNnLEUI51mKdvKhdprqilQHAh0safWfa-XOsHZmnMzDsAOrBiya/s1600/IMG_20110820_181621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcq047aKbHD4Q4uOMKb1bsEtJbrEs0VIr0g0fAesJnX_HxnQGvZE5zN_FriKimhdDSRRdOXNM8y2GAa3zNc-P7xGzIaNnLEUI51mKdvKhdprqilQHAh0safWfa-XOsHZmnMzDsAOrBiya/s400/IMG_20110820_181621.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This really was a very simple project and the bag was completed in no time. I started when my husband went outside to mow and I was done by the time he came back in. He made my day when he remarked as he entered, "Wow, that really was quick!" (he doesn't usually notice these things and I am really not that fast...I hem and haw alot and try to reason things out...procrastinate...before I really get started.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so encouraged with the ease of this project that I decided to put my new found skill into practice with bags of different sizes. I had some Halloween fabric and some black satin ribbon that I decided to turn into small treat bags using the same techniques but on a smaller scale. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had some other fabric that boasted colors reminiscent of Fall so I cut <em>that</em> into long, skinny rectangles and sewed up a gift bag for the wine I will bring to Thanksgiving dinner. This time I made only one slit and used a wide wired ribbon for the tie.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrlIxsCLOwVMvB1zYFzv20zRJjHL3ujQ-KM8DuClxTEnTYy69FAPY2oSapOYDoyUJiQz6RtjrTZVDmj56_NbTgT0EH2eGAowTRdW7lHnoVLuLi2VokeBVLBCjWCgFVtdzhrvsnKzDXBvr/s1600/IMG_20110823_174452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrlIxsCLOwVMvB1zYFzv20zRJjHL3ujQ-KM8DuClxTEnTYy69FAPY2oSapOYDoyUJiQz6RtjrTZVDmj56_NbTgT0EH2eGAowTRdW7lHnoVLuLi2VokeBVLBCjWCgFVtdzhrvsnKzDXBvr/s320/IMG_20110823_174452.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
This was a lot of fun. I suspect I am just getting revved up, after all the sewing machine <em>is</em> out of the cabinet and set up and there <em>were</em> some interesting projects I saw as I was flipping through all those books I checked out. <em>Hmmm</em>...<br />
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<strong>Some additional books that might be of interest</strong>:<br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_72875153">Sew & Stow</a></u></strong><br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781603420273&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">by Betty Oppenheimer</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF1SBFQtRGBfbb5np72qDleFbDAYdVC7sdMDvHP1RGlzNhCw6wXBg2eU1YMHC9eVuW9rgvuNByWlueW7cRHkniNC128Yp9SionHPj_CrVCmfZ1c_r66hlPx-2gTw48USPLJGW5_JhNJHm/s1600/one+yard+wonders+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyF1SBFQtRGBfbb5np72qDleFbDAYdVC7sdMDvHP1RGlzNhCw6wXBg2eU1YMHC9eVuW9rgvuNByWlueW7cRHkniNC128Yp9SionHPj_CrVCmfZ1c_r66hlPx-2gTw48USPLJGW5_JhNJHm/s200/one+yard+wonders+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_72875157">One-Yard Wonders</a></u></strong><br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781603424493&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">by Rebecca Yaker</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyOqMl7feH1YmaZquXdibPWpwEvOwKNP0KoGbWhls9zWUaQ7NzhxjOcg6Untms2g3S5v9ahsa6jbjUDX6eNiljCF1HP-dTFI744mR8MoElSUBgCzs8p9yaOSO9RJpVJ_Lv6_RkxfY-nFK/s1600/sewing+bits+and+pieces+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyOqMl7feH1YmaZquXdibPWpwEvOwKNP0KoGbWhls9zWUaQ7NzhxjOcg6Untms2g3S5v9ahsa6jbjUDX6eNiljCF1HP-dTFI744mR8MoElSUBgCzs8p9yaOSO9RJpVJ_Lv6_RkxfY-nFK/s200/sewing+bits+and+pieces+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_72875161">Sewing Bits & Pieces</a></u></strong><br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780470539248&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">by Sandi Henderson</a><br />
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</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-63860039265916907522011-08-02T12:11:00.000-04:002011-09-23T18:52:22.902-04:00A GREAT IDEA FROM ANOTHER BLOGGERIn my last posting I wrote about summer being a great time to take on simple projects that can be quickly and easily packed up and taken anywhere to be worked on...the beach, vacation, your deck. One of my fellow bloggers seems to be on the same mind-track as me, at least in regards to thinking about projects-on-the-go. This girl is amazing and seems to write perpetually and I am in awe. Her blog is called Sew Many Ways (there is a link on the left of this page). On Tuesdays she publishes a feature called Tool Time Tuesday in which she thinks outside the box to find new uses for everyday items. My hat is always off to her for the way her mind works and the simplicity of the tutorials she provides. <em>We know how wordy I can be</em>!<br />
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One of her recent articles features a brilliant use for the type of fill and pour paint cups that you can find at any paint or hardware store.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcgo9J5UgvHylswGcCU95gSp6KQawSg4KrXNDrDy2jDoMdSP1ExA6REK8QjiL9IM6ppsHgEa9-HXK5-foFer3Px3T80eNI_VFpgrerSpog58UpJhZOMxPtpS1kRGmDHqq9ZG8UqvrQmrq/s1600/paint+bucket+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcgo9J5UgvHylswGcCU95gSp6KQawSg4KrXNDrDy2jDoMdSP1ExA6REK8QjiL9IM6ppsHgEa9-HXK5-foFer3Px3T80eNI_VFpgrerSpog58UpJhZOMxPtpS1kRGmDHqq9ZG8UqvrQmrq/s1600/paint+bucket+001.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><br />
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It makes a great portable container for toting your craft project around and the magnet can secure your needles, pins, scissors, etc.<br />
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Because it has a handle it can be hooked over the arm rest of a chair. <em>I love that</em>! Off I can go to the outside world and get to know the view from my deck.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZXw6oU8VJVqlkLp_6icEYT-pBwQ_jCxU0nTLhGN_vFnbG_uTzhOApqq-7fWteadDmZAmwvppjQZv5GDsFHrnKct2PVmUxPezZax2SGS_RsaZVJieu2CG7RJu8r1NnrwhsOemeri43BFg/s1600/paint+bucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZXw6oU8VJVqlkLp_6icEYT-pBwQ_jCxU0nTLhGN_vFnbG_uTzhOApqq-7fWteadDmZAmwvppjQZv5GDsFHrnKct2PVmUxPezZax2SGS_RsaZVJieu2CG7RJu8r1NnrwhsOemeri43BFg/s1600/paint+bucket.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><br />
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So simple. So Duh! So brilliant! Her article made me look around my house to see if I had any similar items that I could re-purpose...<em>hmmmm</em>.<br />
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<a href="http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/07/tool-time-tuesdaypaint-craft-bucket.html">Click here to go to her full article called Paint Craft Bucket.</a> <br />
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I thank her for allowing me to include her photos in my blog and <a href="http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/">link to her blog Sew Many Ways</a>. If you go to her site you will find her to be a very active blogger who is full of good ideas.The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-2733956970042752272011-07-20T07:47:00.000-04:002011-09-24T13:26:10.994-04:00SUMMER - KEEP IT SIMPLEI am <em>aghast</em> at how long it has been since my last entry - time got away from me - <em>oops</em>!! Problem is the seasons changed and with that change, the shifting of the day to day chores. Spring and Summer have come along and with them came <em>OUTSIDE WORK</em>: gardens had to be uncovered, deck furniture had to be brought up (and, in some cases fixed or painted); new plants put in - old plants divided and moved - new gardens dug to put them in...; weeds pulled - more weeds pulled - <em>where do they keep coming from</em>?!? Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I love gardening and being outside...but it <em>is </em>time consuming. More to the point, the gardening leaves me with filthy fingernails and aching hands, neither of which leaves me desirous of picking up knitting needles or any needlework that typically shows every microscopic bit of oil or dirt that might cling to your hands. But now, the outside dirty work has settled down and the weather is too hot to be out there much, so I am ready to redeem myself from my negligence both in the crafting world and the writing world.<br />
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First, a crafty fix for my dirty hands - a simple recipe for <u>GARDENER'S HAND SCRUB</u>:<br />
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<ul><li><em>Crush a small (about 5"x1") pumice stone in a heavy-duty zip style bag, using a hammer to smash it into a fine powder. It should yield approximately 1/4 cup of pumice powder. (I used pumice stone that was already crushed. It can be found in paint stores and comes in a cardboard box. It is used in furniture refinishing for gentle sanding.) </em></li>
<li><em>Combine that with 1 cup grated bar soap ( I used Dove because it has moisturizer) and 1/2 cup borax (available in detergent section of grocery stores). </em></li>
<li><em>Mix well. </em></li>
<li><em>Pour into a container with a tight fitting lid. </em></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><em>To use, pour a small amount of hand scrub into hand, and mix with warm water to form a lather; rinse hands with warm water.</em></div></li>
</ul><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">Since this scrub is for my own use, I am going to keep it in a recycled vitamin flip-top container so I can easily access it when my hands are filthy. I will have to improve the looks of the container at a later date so I don't confuse it with my real vitamins!!<br />
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I might consider adding an essential oil (available at craft stores) for some soothing aroma therapy while I'm at it, maybe lavender, bergamot or eucalyptus... <br />
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This summer-themed "recipe" was a gift-giving idea that I originally came across last winter when I was researching ideas for quick gifts to make for the holidays in <strong>Christmas with Southern Living- 2010. </strong>You never know where you might find ideas and I was glad I made note of it when I did since I certainly would not have thought to look for it there now!! (Note: I don't have a link to this title because our holiday books are currently inaccessible in storage due to the renovations at our facility, you can however call to place a hold on a copy from another library).<br />
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Okay, I am cleaned up and ready to rock! <br />
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Summer has arrived in full force. It is an active season involving outside chores, activities, and vacations, and many of us can not dedicate our time to (<em>nor do we want to</em>) big craft projects. During the summer I like "to-go/packable" projects: something that is small; can be quickly packed up (<em>requires few supplies</em>) to work on anywhere; can be easily picked up from where I left off, and conversely, simple enough to be able to stop at any time due to frequent interruptions/diversions (<em>in other words, a no-thinker</em>).<br />
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Some craft genres lend themselves more easily than others to "pack-ability". Obviously if you are on a driving or flying vacation you won't be doing any machine sewing on the way! Some craft genres that lend themselves to "to-go projects" are: knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, applique, hand-sewing, crewelwork, needlepoint, and macrame.<br />
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<ul><li>Knitting and crochet projects, particularly the simpler patterns, require very few materials (your needles, scissors, yarn and, maybe a pattern) and can be packed up in almost any small tote.</li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUADEZakJUgEgzyJj_H3L2BTdAlAW9oK2h9mmI_kI7MeJtfx1eFPVdDw1Uhttuaa804zLZN1ZBkkIAeMq6pvuHR9JXgEeWWT_i2KO9_6XIPKl9CM31MIJvhxouQCLVH-VHKWBI6h_PkVPy/s1600/IMG_20110715_082207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUADEZakJUgEgzyJj_H3L2BTdAlAW9oK2h9mmI_kI7MeJtfx1eFPVdDw1Uhttuaa804zLZN1ZBkkIAeMq6pvuHR9JXgEeWWT_i2KO9_6XIPKl9CM31MIJvhxouQCLVH-VHKWBI6h_PkVPy/s400/IMG_20110715_082207.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>This is one of my current packable projects that I work on intermittently. It is one half of a very simple cap-sleeved tee shirt that I am in no great hurry to finish. Very few supplies and I don't really need to refer to the pattern much at this point of the project.<br />
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I like to use my circular needles, knitting back and forth on them as I would with straight needles, because it seems to make the piece easier to pick up and put down. The whole thing just kind of rolls up. Also, when I am seated right next to other people, such as at the DMV or on a train, there is less likelihood of me sticking the person next to me with my needle.<br />
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I keep it in the paper tote and just grab it and go when I know that I am going to be knitting with friends or travelling in the car for any great distance.<br />
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<ul><li>Small Cross-Stitch projects are highly portable as well and can be packed into small bags.</li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDM8tSxmBgjUgcDAn9DjjWkg2bZq_CCmKIgdf0MF0nV1SfsfrKTcfrqleLjCapSsRWFWv4Ad4Ey8-iy2gU_pxQEZSnt-QfiFo-muTl2aPUd7yzELHQjJFi7iTN0MeLHYXsFCYc66Mm8GU/s1600/IMG_20110715_081103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDM8tSxmBgjUgcDAn9DjjWkg2bZq_CCmKIgdf0MF0nV1SfsfrKTcfrqleLjCapSsRWFWv4Ad4Ey8-iy2gU_pxQEZSnt-QfiFo-muTl2aPUd7yzELHQjJFi7iTN0MeLHYXsFCYc66Mm8GU/s320/IMG_20110715_081103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here is one of the kits I bought to work on sometime this summer. As you can see, not too much in the way of supplies: pattern, floss (which I have not yet sorted), fabric, scissors, needle, and the color picture of the finished piece for reference.<br />
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There are a variety of kits available or you can work on a design of your own. Many cross-stitch motif books are available with all types of designs to mix and match.<br />
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<ul><li>Needlepoint also requires few supplies and is a great "to-go" project. The needlepoint project in the picture below came in a kit which included a chart for reference, however, since the design is painted on the canvas you usually don't even need a chart or picture of the finished piece, just your canvas, yarn, needle and scissors.</li>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx5LyYCbwsFna4sLjhgnCv-A46q9G_wGpZBW7Ktt3PJ6xL66B1k_SosQnWjqBaYmzUodcuAW_PWEqKug6Gr4GTX727__9fgzPS97UHeE6sVpw0sQaHViywem3TMnjLPio3ND5GinOS1t0/s1600/IMG_20110715_081633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx5LyYCbwsFna4sLjhgnCv-A46q9G_wGpZBW7Ktt3PJ6xL66B1k_SosQnWjqBaYmzUodcuAW_PWEqKug6Gr4GTX727__9fgzPS97UHeE6sVpw0sQaHViywem3TMnjLPio3ND5GinOS1t0/s400/IMG_20110715_081633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<ul><li>Applique and hand sewing require only some fabric, thread or floss, needle (<em>of course</em>), and scissors. </li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iIIBwZGzbbjg_FRGn3s1aItI_C9xjNtHyW8izXEqBfX5hd9ERRkAfhQDXoJtLjPEcIIVvP4b7Jjhyg2wCirTtsfOyoiC2Apfn6oEfYxk0PXclbS1nYdzzktJ31edz8eUMvYWp_LsjZ6m/s1600/IMG_20110715_080308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iIIBwZGzbbjg_FRGn3s1aItI_C9xjNtHyW8izXEqBfX5hd9ERRkAfhQDXoJtLjPEcIIVvP4b7Jjhyg2wCirTtsfOyoiC2Apfn6oEfYxk0PXclbS1nYdzzktJ31edz8eUMvYWp_LsjZ6m/s320/IMG_20110715_080308.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<ul><li>Felt applique just requires some design elements, thread, needle and scissors and has the added benefit of no hemming...<em>simple, simple</em>!</li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGYbReG_HrAgVJsv787w0J74bbFWpwDfgbFTPeD2qr0tPgSs9hveX0Kcfw85yLUhyphenhyphenz8RB3uBbF9FmD9k3BC2BcyIIe0pAPoxmS4wnFbJsDWuyiGgoUGvx_7neqlD0QCq9TKtq6JixGDbN/s1600/IMG_20110407_111913-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGYbReG_HrAgVJsv787w0J74bbFWpwDfgbFTPeD2qr0tPgSs9hveX0Kcfw85yLUhyphenhyphenz8RB3uBbF9FmD9k3BC2BcyIIe0pAPoxmS4wnFbJsDWuyiGgoUGvx_7neqlD0QCq9TKtq6JixGDbN/s320/IMG_20110407_111913-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Needlework projects pack up nicely in one of my all-time favorite product: ziploc bags. These bags keep your needlework clean and come in a number of sizes so you can match it to the size of your project (although the giant ones are not easy to find so I snatch up a couple of boxes when I see them.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPaNcnBD2hUhytQhxBrFjsr7XyLQwkLL0jngMZIvltvrR7giYFh6qKfGYb_L5nx1g1zkL9bM1gE-0O3OSi17kra5fVxM1uRiVfHqVFviDugUwZIJn6DNBsIed6e5ZjYSowCdzrHJPF-tz/s1600/IMG_20110715_081323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPaNcnBD2hUhytQhxBrFjsr7XyLQwkLL0jngMZIvltvrR7giYFh6qKfGYb_L5nx1g1zkL9bM1gE-0O3OSi17kra5fVxM1uRiVfHqVFviDugUwZIJn6DNBsIed6e5ZjYSowCdzrHJPF-tz/s320/IMG_20110715_081323.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>One thing to remember is that small doesn't necessarily mean that the ultimate finished piece needs to be small. Think of working on sections of what will later become larger pieces, such as appliqued quilt blocks or knitted or crocheted squares that will be assembled at a later date into quilts, afghans, pillows, and the like. The individual segments are quite portable and the variety of each keeps the project entertaining.<br />
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Also, consider working small sections of a larger piece when you are going to be away from your supplies. Just pack the colors of yarn or floss that you will need to work the smaller portion while traveling and therefore take few supplies. Working design sections bit by bit creates a small sense of accomplishment that might hold your interest until the whole piece is done. Some designs are easier to do this with than other. These two cross-stitch pieces are good examples of designs that can easily be broken down into small areas to be worked when time occurs:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqmHDgkq3Dx8SZU8OHTvHHeHgyhMi-V5A6Bd0xpQHn3C27OZUnGJskuc3wG5pdAudfng5sIK_M1iLbtH4hgy8jHI0U8X-eNLby7_UqKcTZXKQMis5S5nMlrU8OtQKT7_nrjoPPoELMMHW/s1600/IMG_20110714_110650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqmHDgkq3Dx8SZU8OHTvHHeHgyhMi-V5A6Bd0xpQHn3C27OZUnGJskuc3wG5pdAudfng5sIK_M1iLbtH4hgy8jHI0U8X-eNLby7_UqKcTZXKQMis5S5nMlrU8OtQKT7_nrjoPPoELMMHW/s400/IMG_20110714_110650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVk8CXYPQMMXhud-sT8ZQkzMvgdWHiz5-_WIuBt0LwBocjECCeP758VyBoHrqiscJmFBuUIu4NvrnuOXsK68SupetD4miVdY4jsuuZcevEUGMOqxVyTIR2kF0koj2DmwuKYiVKc1a9AFr/s1600/IMG_20110714_110930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVk8CXYPQMMXhud-sT8ZQkzMvgdWHiz5-_WIuBt0LwBocjECCeP758VyBoHrqiscJmFBuUIu4NvrnuOXsK68SupetD4miVdY4jsuuZcevEUGMOqxVyTIR2kF0koj2DmwuKYiVKc1a9AFr/s400/IMG_20110714_110930.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Some projects that you might consider include (but are not limited in any way) to the following:<br />
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<ul><li>The usual small things such as hats, mittens, scarves, socks - don't just think winter materials here and turn away! Summer weight materials such as cotton, tencel, bamboo, linen can each be used to make some of these projects in a summer-perfect pattern. </li>
</ul><br />
My talented friend, Kathy, has made several Sun Hats that are quick, easy to work up, and beautiful as well. Here is a picture of one of them:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFBofx8s0TdH81EsbPkvAYBYWreWO2xZTE6UAD2zcKgN2uAvR-Y-wl5DfAXY7fSMSW6uKUzyHB9yYzEmTgi5rAS3LMO1DW7uusGoyKYpdHP5PdptwHNWbuP1Ftee0mASSwl2YcYJxsSUr/s1600/IMG_20110714_111828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFBofx8s0TdH81EsbPkvAYBYWreWO2xZTE6UAD2zcKgN2uAvR-Y-wl5DfAXY7fSMSW6uKUzyHB9yYzEmTgi5rAS3LMO1DW7uusGoyKYpdHP5PdptwHNWbuP1Ftee0mASSwl2YcYJxsSUr/s400/IMG_20110714_111828.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It looks really beautiful on her and the colors of the yarn remind me of the sea. The brim is held stiff by a length of thin wire that is attached at the end. The pattern comes from a book called <strong>Knitting in the Sun: 32 Projects for Warm Weather</strong> by Kristi Porter (<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780470416662&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">click here to go to our catalogue record</a>)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXrRuxNBSvlBp_EY7pel5hBNgmmkZACoTAdcWGuCasiS9f_VZ71FuFCTVwWYI0EO8451UK9DAffmsEB1LS79D3ZyGIvGIXOHPTMsngbmYyoVVMdK-eSSyUCywGutmji2fqWYajFI7Rbtb/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXrRuxNBSvlBp_EY7pel5hBNgmmkZACoTAdcWGuCasiS9f_VZ71FuFCTVwWYI0EO8451UK9DAffmsEB1LS79D3ZyGIvGIXOHPTMsngbmYyoVVMdK-eSSyUCywGutmji2fqWYajFI7Rbtb/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Starfish embellishment was not part of the original pattern. The pattern for that came from a different book called <strong>150 Knit and Crochet Motifs</strong> by Heather Lodinsky. Unfortunately it was her own personal book and none of the libraries in our consortium currently own this title. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoWUc_Kgy2mcYeZ92FSXDLUGrypFoMjeHt2q2Aq5dDkb591XxtREBoO207nRTw4rZqk4eF1WoCy8-NjIeiqMsRUu4hvshvVR_qoSnfYNA4G-BU6VOHDEOmbCHBo5PV2qdmzsmNosbIVag/s1600/IMG_20110714_111934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoWUc_Kgy2mcYeZ92FSXDLUGrypFoMjeHt2q2Aq5dDkb591XxtREBoO207nRTw4rZqk4eF1WoCy8-NjIeiqMsRUu4hvshvVR_qoSnfYNA4G-BU6VOHDEOmbCHBo5PV2qdmzsmNosbIVag/s320/IMG_20110714_111934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Fortunately, however, our library has a different book that includes a knitted starfish pattern in it if you really want to knit one. It is different but just as nice. In fact it has a bunch of really cute designs in it (some of which you can see in the cover art). The book is titled <strong>75 Birds, Butterflies & Little Beasts to Knit and Crochet</strong> by Lesley Stanfield. (<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780312656058&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">click here to go to our catalogue record</a>)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PPGoSymC1lyJcKjs8BVbFE0D5jybRD5aENRZ8Q2FeeToxZFr7cOaPXeuo1T8YoRln8S-jiTlUM3DJtJBK9kUnupMU0412VDGiw9y7btCiJSHBQvji20YYFK34K_PiF6fqfDQXIl8E0RQ/s1600/75+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PPGoSymC1lyJcKjs8BVbFE0D5jybRD5aENRZ8Q2FeeToxZFr7cOaPXeuo1T8YoRln8S-jiTlUM3DJtJBK9kUnupMU0412VDGiw9y7btCiJSHBQvji20YYFK34K_PiF6fqfDQXIl8E0RQ/s1600/75+birds.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Continuing the list of small project ideas...<br />
<ul><li>Jewelry, such as Bracelets and Necklaces - don't just think beaded here, I think beads would be a tad roly-poly on a car or plane trip! Think macrame, knit, crochet, fabric, ribbon. Friendship bracelets are a simple example.</li>
<li>Bookmarks</li>
<li>Headbands</li>
<li>Dish cloths</li>
<li>Kitchen scrubbers</li>
<li>Sachet bags</li>
<li>Needle cases</li>
<li>Placemats</li>
<li>Napkins</li>
<li>Coasters</li>
<li>Small pieces that you might frame</li>
<li>Pillows</li>
<li>Toys</li>
<li>Embellishments (like the Starfish pictured above) or Embroidered details to add as a finishing touch for other projects - such as handbags, barrettes, clothing, (or any of the projects above really)</li>
</ul><br />
This is a great time to get ahead with your holiday gift making and all of these smaller projects work well as gifts. <em>Hmmm</em>, I don't know about <em>you </em>but I think that <em>I</em> am properly motivated to get myself back into crafting action. I certainly do not want to go pull more weeds!!! <br />
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<strong>Some additional books that might be of interest are</strong>:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoppvXSjzy4JVJ4HqoxPD3itfreBSZ6pWx5BIQseF3irqs7Lc0yFTmlY3KKLbLwxg0VvgfObyqoUYb4R1MT3isqIBGh1IC7IOm6roXZYHLB1mcCn-jDs0nQRIx1g08D2W1z7COuWPLH4zM/s1600/doodle+stitching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoppvXSjzy4JVJ4HqoxPD3itfreBSZ6pWx5BIQseF3irqs7Lc0yFTmlY3KKLbLwxg0VvgfObyqoUYb4R1MT3isqIBGh1IC7IOm6roXZYHLB1mcCn-jDs0nQRIx1g08D2W1z7COuWPLH4zM/s200/doodle+stitching.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781600595813&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>Doodle Stitching: the motif collection: 400+ easy embroidery designs</strong></a><br />
by Aimee Ray<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc-lmlWowUBJle4LyPOAAmDHNidM7M1-zOqAYgkPvbqX7MiQZQR2WMaQn9V3bDdyI_1EoyW6iUoDDG22dFvJBb9_X2eX1Q_5zHFl1LQRWJGaaF8P2RvubyaWfa6A_s_MN2e4X0xerlKc7/s1600/prettylittlefelts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbc-lmlWowUBJle4LyPOAAmDHNidM7M1-zOqAYgkPvbqX7MiQZQR2WMaQn9V3bDdyI_1EoyW6iUoDDG22dFvJBb9_X2eX1Q_5zHFl1LQRWJGaaF8P2RvubyaWfa6A_s_MN2e4X0xerlKc7/s200/prettylittlefelts.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><br />
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<u><strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781600610905&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Pretty Little Felts</a></strong></u><br />
by Julie Collings<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26jhf1aZ5QZn2KHnF7r_9OEUThB2o0sXuVZWlnQx-GwXVc52RNPHb4qwdY4K1ddfJp5gM56AJbWJA80RJLqEawyOdP0O9lOWErJ16-fiX3KzYMbXabbbQ6AYGRrofcl7h9-7YHb-SYGC/s1600/embroidery+companion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd26jhf1aZ5QZn2KHnF7r_9OEUThB2o0sXuVZWlnQx-GwXVc52RNPHb4qwdY4K1ddfJp5gM56AJbWJA80RJLqEawyOdP0O9lOWErJ16-fiX3KzYMbXabbbQ6AYGRrofcl7h9-7YHb-SYGC/s200/embroidery+companion.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780307462350&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Embroidery Companion</a></u></strong><br />
by Alicia Paulson<br />
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<strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780307586520&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Knitting Block by Block</a></strong><br />
by Nicky Epstein<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLJOcT-3eEq28LWsuSx9rSsAZkYsb4CqrT-RolDayrnipyE8plS8GMYwdaWcE-_8Q_IPgAsCiMRohN-RKwYO9_kXH93hlYbfca_iTdQksRw2qJ0Wlz1ETdhIUmb9VKBt0PmVX2cW7EnMP/s1600/knitting+24+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLJOcT-3eEq28LWsuSx9rSsAZkYsb4CqrT-RolDayrnipyE8plS8GMYwdaWcE-_8Q_IPgAsCiMRohN-RKwYO9_kXH93hlYbfca_iTdQksRw2qJ0Wlz1ETdhIUmb9VKBt0PmVX2cW7EnMP/s1600/knitting+24+7.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781584798446&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Knitting 24/7 - 30 Projects</a></strong><br />
by Verokik Avery<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVcgsvEM9wuaP5_8xPhC6dUPhSFNwOFtiPVGZjrTx-2PU_O9Rnk48aNy7TN1ON6P1Pa5njPuAe-mxP1tJRygfscVcBHbyOSF1clFzYsxaXyCiHfkVx8qrwAVtfeLnAVGXUZ77tp6Rqk-Z/s1600/crocheted+gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVcgsvEM9wuaP5_8xPhC6dUPhSFNwOFtiPVGZjrTx-2PU_O9Rnk48aNy7TN1ON6P1Pa5njPuAe-mxP1tJRygfscVcBHbyOSF1clFzYsxaXyCiHfkVx8qrwAVtfeLnAVGXUZ77tp6Rqk-Z/s1600/crocheted+gifts.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<u><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781596681071&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>Crocheted Gifts</strong></a></u><br />
by Kim WerkerThe Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-66441373840561801302011-06-03T12:20:00.001-04:002011-09-23T18:57:16.361-04:00DON'T OVERLOOK COMPENDIUM-TYPE BOOKS!!Books that include a number of crafts (often prefaced in the title by "Encyclopedia of...", "Guide to...", "Compendium of...") are often overlooked when information about a specific craft is sought. I am here to say, "<em>Don't</em>" !!<br />
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Frequently, when people search for information about a particular craft they look for books that are specifically about that craft and miss books that include a variety of crafts. Generally I would agree with this tendency since, in most cases, books that attempt to cover a number of different types of crafts manage to only scratch the surface of each topic - providing only the basic beginning techniques for each. But <em>sometimes</em> it is too bad because some of them are quite extensive and provide a lot of information, projects, tips and patterns that you might not find somewhere else.<br />
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Point in case: research for my last post led to a nostalgic desire to explore embroidery for a little while. As I looked through our library shelves, I found some books specifically about Embroidery but I had a hard time finding as much information as I wanted. But I recently came upon one of our new books that covers a number of needlecraft techniques, including Embroidery arts, and I am impressed by the caliber and presentation of the information it provides for each technique it addresses. <br />
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The book that has caught my current attention is <a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780756661700&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>The Needlecraft Book</strong> (click here to go to our catalogue record.)</a> <br />
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This book is a comprehensive step-by-step guide that covers knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, quilting, applique' and patchwork. It contemporizes these traditional needlecrafts and related materials and would be a great reference for <em>anyone</em> who would like to learn a new needlecraft as well as those who would like to improve on the skills they already possess.<br />
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I shouldn't be too surprised by the thoroughness of the information provided since the book is published by DK. I have always loved the books DK publishes, no matter the subject, because they are well researched, comprehensive, and always include excellent photography. The close-up photographs in this particular book present the subject matter against a white background, mostly without the distraction of hands (<em>meaning the close-up focuses on the stitch</em>), which makes it very clear to the needlecrafter as to what they need to do to form each stitch.<br />
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DK has assembled three authors for this book - each with expertise in the needlecraft they write about: Sally Harding (knitting and crochet sections); Maggi Gordon (embroidery, patchwork, quilting, and applique' sections); and, Ellie Vance (needlepoint section). The information is presented knowledgeably, clearly, and in a logical fashion. Each author takes the reader through the skills necessary to master the technique. <br />
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The information provided for each of the needlecrafts addressed in this book includes the necessary tools and materials, technique and design recommendations, and an ample Stitch Gallery (<em>or Block Gallery in the case of quilting and patchwork</em>). Helpful tips, advice and information are sprinkled throughout each section as well and each stitch pattern or quilt block is accompanied by information as to how, or where, it is best put to use. All three authors cover the basic techniques that will get any beginner up and running, and then they go above and beyond by adding a surprising amount of the more complex/advanced techniques that will enable one to advance the skills they already possess. A final chapter regarding general finishing techniques guides the needlecrafter through the steps required to hem, bind, embellish and care for their projects.<br />
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I have to say "<em>wow!</em>" as I flip through the pages and examine the information, the presentation of that information, the clear photographs that support the step-by-step instructions (<em>we know I am a big fan of good photographs</em>), and the number of techniques and tips each section covers. This is not just for beginners! It is a great all-around go-to guide.<br />
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To test the depth of the information, and its "follow-ability," I first turned to the section on knitting (<em>what else?!</em>). I have looked at a number of books on knitting for beginners and I have to say that I am impressed. This book covers a lot more territory, and will take a knitter farther, than most of them, by putting an extensive amount of instruction in one handy reference. <br />
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I even discovered a new technique to use when I wind my yarn into a ball. I always like to to wind my yarn into a ball before I begin to knit because it allows me to discover any flaws or knots in the yarns that I can deal with BEFORE I meet them mid-project or mid-row. Also, when I knit from a ball of yarn I plop it into a bowl (to keep it from rolling all over) which allows me to keep my stitch "tension" even. In the "Beginner's Tips" section, the author describes a technique for winding a hank of yarn into a ball in such a fashion that allows the yarn to be fed from the center of the ball, thereby alleviating the tendency balls of yarn have for rolling all over the place (<em>and would mean I could use my bowls for cereal rather than yarn which would delight my husband who wonders where all the bowls have gone...).</em> As fate would have it, a friend recently gave me a pattern for felted slippers and some yarn that needed to be wound before I could begin, so I decided to give this method a try. <br />
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Starting with yarn from one end of the hank, I am instructed to create a yarn "butterfly." The instruction provides a cross-reference page number leading to instructions to create a yarn butterfly...and the page number is correct! (<em>Good editing</em>! <em>I hate when page numbers are provided but the information is actually on another page</em>!). Anyway, a butterfly is achieved by wrapping the yarn around your index finger and thumb in a figure-eight fashion.<br />
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I then pinch the yarn "butterfly" at its center and slip it off my fingers.<br />
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Securing the tail in my palm with the rest of my fingers, I proceed to Step Two which instructs me to continue by wrapping the yarn around the butterfly and my thumb to create a hole in the center of the ball.<br />
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I continue wrapping, and turning until I reach the other end of the yarn. I secure the tail under some of the outer strands.<br />
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Isn't it a thing of beauty? See the tail sprouting from the center hole waiting for me to get started on my slippers? (<em>So much for my piqued interest in embroidery</em>....)<br />
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When I prepare to knit I am instructed to pull the butterfly out of the center and begin knitting with that end. My cat is fascinated (<em>she was never all that interested when the ball was in a bowl!</em> <em>hmmm</em>.)<br />
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Lo and Behold! It works! My yarn ball stayed in place, the yarn played smoothly from the center, and I was able to maintain an even tension through my stitches.<br />
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I have never seen this technique in any other book. I asked my friend about it and she was not familiar with it either. <em>I guess my husband can have the bowls back - our dish set is once again complete!</em> <br />
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Oh, I finished the slippers. Here they are before I felted them:<br />
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They look very silly and I am unsure how these saggy-baggy pieces of knitwear are going to end up being wearable slippers. After I ran them through the felting process, however, I was delighted to discover they turned out exactly as they were supposed to.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have momentarily been distracted from re-entering my pursuits of embroidering. When I am ready to revisit embroidery or needlepoint, or learn how to applique', quilt (<em>my friend would be so excited if I started to sew</em>), create patchwork pieces or crochet I definitely plan to check this book out. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about needlecrafting.<br />
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<strong><u>OTHER NEEDLECRAFT COMPENDIUMS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN</u> (some older but containing lots of good needlecraft techniques that aren't always addressed anymore):</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7z_VgXTCT63QWMHa5pmAmVglCFMngvSzuNVRlerxLXIhvSN1kXe8ggdWjnPRSZqEx2aOmXmZRWmL_gxIDmWJ3mH4zJQyB35ALns62Hye9iAwb-eELmQ7vJD0GyI56K1OW3PCOpuF2A0q/s1600/martha+stewart+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7z_VgXTCT63QWMHa5pmAmVglCFMngvSzuNVRlerxLXIhvSN1kXe8ggdWjnPRSZqEx2aOmXmZRWmL_gxIDmWJ3mH4zJQyB35ALns62Hye9iAwb-eELmQ7vJD0GyI56K1OW3PCOpuF2A0q/s200/martha+stewart+book+cover.jpg" t8="true" width="159" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts</strong>, <br />
by Martha Stewart, Published in 2010<br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9780307450586&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">(click here to go to our catalogue record)</a><br />
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Covers basic techniques for sewing, applique', embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing. It was the focus of one of my first posts: <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/10/pattern-is-like-recipe.html">A Pattern is Like a Recipe, Oct. 2010</a>. Lots of techniques, lots of patterns and instructions. And, of course, pure Martha.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNZGdI_ztnFKp5vtw2s2kLijFhVuy_yWDt7uGj-0wWwMnPBPlSsRzEQ11r54rhQKIXD4S1FIjjKYVulWnBy813vYcga3tz-E5w6b9zjACcVHCuuBc7HFy8Qgtq3yq2LbDBXcFgCD1HBlg/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNZGdI_ztnFKp5vtw2s2kLijFhVuy_yWDt7uGj-0wWwMnPBPlSsRzEQ11r54rhQKIXD4S1FIjjKYVulWnBy813vYcga3tz-E5w6b9zjACcVHCuuBc7HFy8Qgtq3yq2LbDBXcFgCD1HBlg/s200/images.jpg" t8="true" width="149" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Needlework</strong>, <br />
by Donna Kooler, Published in 2000<br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=1574861840&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">(click here to go to our catalogue record)</a><br />
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Covering Needlepoint, Embroidery and Counted Thread arts, it includes an extensive stitch guide for each needlecraft (over 400 stitches!) and each stitch is accompanied by a clear photograph and color diagram. A brief history of the origins for each of the techniques is also provided, which is kind of interesting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2pAaIIO-d2zdm3hoULVGyo2TrYsJRJ0WkiKN3P2m3ygdlkqAVaC9Uc_mtAThgEqb_utggBjWniuobKEB79kzAEx9C9c3NlMucNtk0mZkrZstMwbro27gk4GZA5OTJ7XbpBnhTXYHHuqb/s1600/digest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2pAaIIO-d2zdm3hoULVGyo2TrYsJRJ0WkiKN3P2m3ygdlkqAVaC9Uc_mtAThgEqb_utggBjWniuobKEB79kzAEx9C9c3NlMucNtk0mZkrZstMwbro27gk4GZA5OTJ7XbpBnhTXYHHuqb/s200/digest.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><strong>Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework</strong>, <br />
edited by Virgina Colton, Published in 1979<br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=0895770598&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">(click here to go to our catalogue record)</a><br />
This is definitely an older book and the projects are somewhat dated, but stitches, instructions and most techniques don't change that much and Reader's Digest has always been good at compiling information such as this. Furthermore, it provides instruction for a number of crafts, many of which are hard to find new information about: including macrame', rug-making, and lacework.The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-55685477905743258402011-05-10T09:16:00.000-04:002011-09-24T13:47:17.318-04:00IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE - REFELECTIONS ABOUT CREWELWORKSometimes it's the little things in life that take you by surprise, make you pause to think, reflect and remember.<br />
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I was sitting up in bed, drinking my morning coffee when I glanced down and, for whatever reason, took particular notice of the binding on my blanket and the stitching that held it there. This is not a new blanket mind you, it has been on my bed all winter. Why I decided to focus on it this morning is beyond me but focus I did. Maybe it is because Mothers Day is this month and I have been thinking about my mother and my grandmothers. Let me explain some. This is not a regular store bought blanket. This is one half of a blanket that my grandmother (<em>my moms mom</em>) had cut into two because of wear and tear, and then hand-sewed the sateen binding around all four sides, neatly mitering and stitching each corner. People were more thrifty back in the day (although with today's economy more and more of us are learning new skills in an attempt to be thrifty) and my Grandmother had learned to be very thrifty during the Depression. She also had <em>wicked great </em>seamstress skills from years as a milliner (hat maker). <br />
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Anyway, it was the stitching in particular that caught my eye this morning. It wasn't a simple Running Stitch, Blanket Stitch, or Whip Stitch - it was more decorative, kind of cross-hatched and showed on both sides. To me it looked like a one-legged chicken had walked all around the edge.<br />
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It has been years since I have done any decorative stitching and I reflected on how long it must have taken my grandmother, and thought about the care she had put into a project for household use rather than decoration. It also reminded me of the <em>many</em> crewelwork, needlepoint, and embroidered projects my family has produced over the years...skills taught by and passed from both of my grandmothers and my mother, to my sister and myself. This simple piece of handiwork brought back images of sitting by my grandmother learning how to create different stitches - the Lazy Daisy, Chain, Stem, French Knot, Trellis, Woven and Whipped Wheels, and Herringbone Stitches to name just a few. I can not name them all here since there are over 100 crewel embroidery stitches (<em>and no, I have not learned them all</em>!)<br />
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Here is a piece I created for my Mother-in-Law back in 1983. I had forgotten about it until a recent visit...I guess it was because I was mentally formulating this article that the piece caught my eye. <em>How opportune</em>!<br />
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My Grandmothers taught me to always sew my initials and the date of completion in my work <em>(it is under the pussy willow in the lower left side as you face it</em>) - it surprised me to see I had made it nearly 30 years ago! <br />
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Closer views show many French Knots (the brown dots), lots of Satin Stitch (white pussy willow catkins and mustard flower petals), a series of areas filled with the Turkey Rug Stitch (the rust colored fuzzy mounds) which is also known as the Ghiordes knot, and flowers made up from radiating Pistil Stitches (the white and mustard colored flowers visible in the second picture below).<br />
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The shading of the pitcher is achieved with a series of Short and Long filling stitches and Block Shading. (<em>I was not terribly fond of working them as I recall</em>!)<br />
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I love the diversity of stitches used in Crewel Embroidery because each stitched section provides short-term goals and a sense of accomplishment which keeps the projects from being boring.<br />
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I have noticed a slow resurgence of interest in the old needlework arts such as embroidery, crewel work, and needlepoint (to name just a few.) I have seen an increase in circulation of our books on these subjects and needlework exhibits have been popping up, such as the recent exhibits on Needlework by Connecticut women at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme and the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford. Just the other day, in fact, I came home from vacation and saw in the local paper that members of<a href="http://www.crvc-ega.org/"> the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America</a> are showcasing examples of modern embroidery throughout May at <a href="http://www.granby-ct.gov/Public_Documents/F00014C44/index">the Granby Public Library</a> (click on the organization names for more information.)<br />
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There has not been a whole lot of new material written on these old needlework arts, however bit by bit new books <em>are</em> being published. I turned to one such book as I decided to explore the stitch used by my Grandmother and feed my nostalgia.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=1844485501&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">CREWELWORK by Jacqui McDonald</a> </strong><br />
<strong>(click on the title to go to our catalogue record)</strong><br />
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This is a wonderful little book by the <a href="http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/">Royal School of Needlework</a> (or, in brief, the RSN) and is part of their new series of Essential Stitch Guides which to date will include the following three titles: Blackwork, Stumpwork, and Silk Shading (the last two have not yet been published.) <br />
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The authors of all the books in this series are Graduate Apprentices of the Royal School of Needlework and, as such, are very knowledgeable on their subject matter. The RSN was founded in 1872 to ensure high quality arts and techniques of hand embroidery would be kept alive. <br />
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People from all over the world participate in RSN courses from beginners right through those pursuing degrees for professional careers in embroidered textiles. (FYI: the RSN has worked for every British Monarch since Queen Victoria and had a hand in helping designer Sarah Burton create The Duchess of Cambridge's beautiful wedding dress!)<br />
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Let me begin by saying that this is not a project book...you will not find designs to create here. You will, however, find all the essential information necessary to design and create your own crewelwork piece. For those who are unfamiliar with crewelwork it is a "surface embroidery" technique in which stitches are applied to a fabric to create an image (rather than a mesh as with needlepoint).<br />
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In addition to its extensive stitch guide (<em>hence the series title</em>...) this book includes a brief history of crewel embroidery; a good section about materials and equipment; and a comprehensive design section to help you develop a design, choose colors and stitches. Each section contains great photographs and clear step-by-step instructions. The comprehensive stitch guide is divided into four types of stitches: Essential Stitches, Filling Stitches, Outline Stitches, and Surface Stitches. Each stitch is introduced by a brief description of how it appears and what it is commonly used for.<br />
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Here are some photos of a chair my father's mother made years ago using many, if not all, of the stitches described in Crewelwork.<br />
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I can not imagine how long this took her to make! It was part of an exhibit in her municipality and is one of many crewelwork items featured in an older book (1962) called The Art of Crewel Embroidery by Mildred Davis (our library doesn't own it but several of the others in our consortium do.)<br />
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Oh, and that stitch on my blanket that started this whole rumination...I <em>think</em> I have identified it as a Slanting Feather Stitch. <em>But I could be wrong</em>..... The many years and many washings have created a bit of distortion - but now I have an odd need to continue exploring and wandering down my nostalgic path.<br />
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<strong>OTHER TITLES YOU MIGHT FIND TO BE OF INTEREST</strong>: <br />
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<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781881264118&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>Connecticut Needlework: Women, Art, and Family, 1740-1840</strong></a> <br />
by Susan P. Schoelwer<br />
(click on title to go to our catalogue record)<br />
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This book was issued in connection with the recent exhibition at the Connecticut Historical Society and is a historical exploration of the subject matter with many photographed examples.<br />
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<strong>Crewel Embroidery</strong> <br />
by Erica Wilson <br />
(we own this title but not possible to link to our catalogue record)<br />
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Published in 1962 it is an old, but classically good, book by an author who is well-known to embroiderers. Erica Wilson was trained by the Royal School of Needlework.<br />
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<strong>Blackwork</strong><br />
by Becky Hogg<br />
(recently published, our library does not yet own a copy)<br />
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The second book in the Royal School of Needlework's Essential Stitch Guide series. I haven't seen it yet, but look forward to exploring it since I am completely unfamiliar with Blackwork.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-52735516880687384042011-04-19T11:13:00.001-04:002011-09-24T13:51:30.066-04:00NEEDLE-FELTING FUNOne of the nice (<em>yet oddly complicating</em>) things about doing this blog is that it forces me to try crafts that I have thought about doing someday and then never remember to get back to it, or am not yet ready to put down my favorite craft to give a new one a whirl. But hey! If I can't do it how am I supposed to expose you to it? I have been comfortably writing about knitting (<em>yay, knitting</em>!!) for a while now and even I recognized the need for a bit of a change-up before this became The Knitting Librarian (<em>hmmm..</em>..<em>uh oh, focus</em>...!) After all, one goal of this blog is to explore the possibilities of inspiration located in the sewing and craft sections of the library with high hopes of enticing the browser to try something out. This time it worked on me!<br />
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I knew I needed to step away from becoming the Knitting-Only Crafty Librarian but I wasn't sure what to do next. Guess where I went? Yup, the craft shelves in the library. Almost immediately my hand settled upon a book by an author, Laurie Sharp, whose <em>first </em>book, I recalled had elicited innumerable "ooohs" and "aaahhhs" from any one who saw it, including myself. Literally. And so, here I am holding two books by the same author, Laurie Sharp, on the subject of needle-felting.<br />
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Needle-felting is a fiber art technique in which a very sharp, barbed needle is stuck repeatedly into dry wool fibers thereby encouraging them to mesh together. The more "needling" the fiber artist applies, the more compact, or dense the item becomes. Other than the needle, the only other supplies you need to needle-felt are a piece of foam at least 2" thick and some wool batting or "roving" (which is batting that has been processed into a sheet of fibers.) The foam is used as a surface to absorb the stab of the needle - which is much better than destroying your table or body parts!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I read and used Ms. Sharp's two books in reverse publication order, so I am going to review them in reverse order as well and start with the newest of the two - <strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781589235069&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">Wool Toys & Friends by Laurie Sharp.</a></strong><br />
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As the title suggests, the book provides step-by-step instructions for handmade wool toys. Most are simple needle-felted sculptural pieces such as a pop-up prairie dog puppet, a hedgehog, an elephant pull toy, a tiny teddy bear, and the sock monkey shown on the cover. But a few projects involve a simple "wet-felting" technique that creates a felt fabric which is then used as a base for those projects, such as her star shaped<br />
beanbags or, her finger puppet "pocket pals" that go inside a felted child's storybook. Since I have never needle-felted before, I chose to focus on the projects that would allow me to explore that technique rather than the wet-felting ones. Each step is accompanied by a photograph which gave me a sense of confidence.<br />
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After glancing through the lists and descriptions of the materials, supplies and techniques I purchased the very basics and launched right in.<br />
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This is the needle I purchased, if you look very closely you can see the barbs notched in it.<br />
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I flipped through the book and selected the cute Pixie character to start with. After all, folding pipe cleaners for an armature, rolling wool, and jabbing a needle into fluff sounds like great therapy to me. How hard can this be anyway?<br />
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Well, I can't believe how long I fumbled around with Step One - bending the pipe cleaner into the armature. For one thing, I read it too fast and made assumptions (because it was so easy); for another because I mistranslated the direction (again, it was too simple!) I literally said "duh!" when I finally latched on to the simplest of steps. Needless to say, when something directs you to "fold the larger piece over and around the arm piece, going through the legs," it means: wrap the "head" end of the body piece over over the arm piece and through the legs to secure the arm piece in place. I was busily trying to wrap one side of the arm across the body, around the other side and through the legs. Bit of a mess and not a good start. Oh well. Some Crafty Librarian I am... I decided to actually read the steps instead of trying to second guess them based on the pictures.<br />
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Step Two: Roll a 5"x2" piece of wool into a ball. Well, the photo shows a completed rolled ball but I am at a loss as to how thick or thin this initial 5"x2" piece should be...a picture of <em>that</em> would be helpful! Some amount of experimentation is required. The wool sheet I initially laid out is about 12" long so I tore a 2" wide section off, folded it in half length-wise, and <em>pushed</em> it into a 5" length. Then I started rolling. After fumbling around a bit timidly I decided to check the Techniques section to see if there was any guidance. <em>Come on, really</em>?! On rolling wool into a ball!? But yes, the Basic Techniques section had information, again one picture or two shy of being completely helpful but I worked at it some more. (To be honest, I think I was trying to delay using the Really Sharp Barbed Needle.)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Once I got brave enough (<em>and frustrated enough</em>) to poke at the "ball-shaped" wool with the Really Sharp Barbed Needle though, darned if it didn't start holding together. In the end, I had exactly what the book said I needed. <em>Huh</em>! Hint: just don't over think this stuff. It is as simple as it looks, it is not rocket science.<br />
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Steps Three and Four: Use large needle to poke hole in base of head. (<em>Simple</em>.) Then place dab of glue (<em>quick check to list of supplies in front of book - yup- suggests best type of glue to use</em>) on head end of pipe cleaner and twist head onto it. Yay!<br />
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Step Five: Thin wisps of wool are wrapped around tips of armature to form hands (<em>how much is a wisp</em>?). Somehow the first hand comes out great, but I struggled and redid the second hand several times. Go figure. Ultimately the form has two hands (although the second is a bit clubbed..) Oh well, I remind myself that crafting is a very individual process of creativity and move on.<br />
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Steps Six through Ten involve wrapping and needling the body, arms, feet and legs. <em>Note</em>: The needling action caused wee bits of loosened wool fibers to cover my table. Just be aware of that if you have allergies. Hmmm...the tiny, lighter colored typeface at the bottom of the page instructs one to "try to wrap firmly and evenly. Avoid loose wrapping." Wish I had read ahead and seen that "hint." It might have have with the bulbous hands and loose body.<br />
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Steps Eleven and Twelve are all about the Pixie's hat. I needled some wool into a fat triangle, then folded and needled the seam together, placed it on the head and needled it to attach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Step Thirteen: Needle a few wisps of hair tucked under the hat (<em>still am not sure how much a wisp is but I like the lyrical feel of the word "wisp</em>.")<br />
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Steps Fourteen through Sixteen involve creating the facial features. Usually the face of a character can make or break an entire piece. I was not terribly confident that I could produce as "cute" a pixie as the author but I plunged ahead...the pictures make it look very easy. The nose is tricky business - my first attempt involved jabbing it through the center a gazillion times and produced a flat pock-marked disk. I removed it, formed a smaller ball and found that jabbing it around the edges formed it much better. <em>This takes a little practice</em>.<br />
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The author never mentions ears in her instructions but her completed pixie definitely has ears. I later observe that this proves to be a common issue with her creations - elements that show in her finished creations are not referred to in her written instructions. Once again, I am reminded that creativity is a personal process and I decided to wing it based on what I have learned.<br />
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All done! I turned her into a knitting pixie, of course. And yes, those are toothpicks I used for knitting needles. And yes, I knit the teeny tiny thing for her. And yes, I probably have a knitting problem and need to join knitters anonymous!<br />
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About the time I finished the Pixie, our Children's Department staff changed the tree display in our stairwell - adding cherry blossoms to the branches to honor the people of Japan in their troubled times. (You may recall the tree, decked out for winter, in one of my earlier posts: <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/12/some-more-holiday-decorations.html"> Some More Holiday Decorations.</a>)<br />
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I decided to add to the honor by making the Japanese Doll project from the book before I moved on to the cute critters in her original book. The techniques were similar to the Pixie with the exception of the pipe-cleaner armature. This figure has no such armature in it. <br />
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I do everything backwards, so having given my due diligence to the projects in her second book I finally open Laurie Sharp's first book (the one with the cover art that had everyone purring).<br />
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<strong><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781589233850&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">WOOL PETS by Laurie Sharp</a></strong><br />
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<em>Isn't the cover art adorable</em>? Reading through this book made me <em>very</em> aware that Wool Toys & Friends was a follow-up book. Right away I discover that this book has information that would have been <em>great</em> had it been repeated in her second book (and I hope, any books she might come out with later.) Most importantly it included the instructions for the basic techniques of needling, rolling the shapes, and making flat pieces (like my Pixie's ears and hat.) However, the quality of the photographs and the variety of the projects are just as good as her other book. <br />
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Wool Pets has instructions for 20 needle-felted critters that can be used as toys, magnets, even jewelry - simply by adding the appropriate hardware. In addition to the penguins shown on the cover (and the critters I made and will show you), there are instructions for a variety of creatures including, for example, a turtle, chipmunk, border collie, bat, mermaid, and a gnome girl. After lots of needle jabbing here is the collection of critters I created:<br />
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A sweet little chicky - just right for an Easter basket!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9hNlXC5lfX3oE8AhwdeUB1o5zY2ZlJwRZGRvs9sz66_RWp8W_0H97wcjM2XztfoBTwpwP9M0fpFpCGDCPXJFWdPMP32G7k1ZreUzB-_-mTfVByRyMRmzIHQBsH7SHP6hludW5CfRiHnu/s1600/IMG_20110403_121018-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9hNlXC5lfX3oE8AhwdeUB1o5zY2ZlJwRZGRvs9sz66_RWp8W_0H97wcjM2XztfoBTwpwP9M0fpFpCGDCPXJFWdPMP32G7k1ZreUzB-_-mTfVByRyMRmzIHQBsH7SHP6hludW5CfRiHnu/s320/IMG_20110403_121018-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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My little sheep with his happy face has elicited his own "ooohs" and "ahhhs" from visitors which is a very satisfying thing for a crafter to hear.<br />
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A couple of insects later and I feel comfortable enough with this craft to call it a day. I used tiny pins for the eyes instead of trying to sew seed beads on and I didn't put any antennae on but I like them well enough(again, while the author did not refer to that addition her finished product did have a set!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>All in all I am very happy with the characters I have created. While not exactly the same as the authors pieces they have their own level of cuteness and my friends and family have all been impressed. What more can I say, other than: give needle-felting a try - it doesn't require a whole lot of space or supplies and there is no limit to what you can create. Here's the whole gang from both books.<br />
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While I initially thought that the repeated stabbing of the needle into the tiny bits of fluff would be somewhat somewhat therapeutic, I am now very weary of the action. A firm structure requires a fair amount of needling and in the end, cute as they are, I decide not to make any more right now. There <em>are</em> tools that I did not buy that might have made the process quicker such as a handle with multiple needles affixed. If you decide this craft is for you, then you might want to invest in such a device!<br />
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<strong>You might also be interested in</strong>:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxlPaQQOgDhgOxL0sj1-v1UOcX6hA_nvXZ-J5KH4w1NF_tBypAXWVolsEJI7mIyshk8J80XwaVn8_deuCWdMxXu3Npnyt459AkPB7DHSNFkGidUcsGh98ioim-slQEmQ4kMluksjSFVhO/s1600/imagesCAFWGHHC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxlPaQQOgDhgOxL0sj1-v1UOcX6hA_nvXZ-J5KH4w1NF_tBypAXWVolsEJI7mIyshk8J80XwaVn8_deuCWdMxXu3Npnyt459AkPB7DHSNFkGidUcsGh98ioim-slQEmQ4kMluksjSFVhO/s1600/imagesCAFWGHHC.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781600610394&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><strong>Sweet Needle Felts by Jenn Docherty</strong>.</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Naturally, I looked at this one after I finished my pieces and it seems provide some very good instruction and pictures of the steps which I missed in the two books by Laurie Sharp. The projects in this book are very cute also.</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-2303280255120859922011-03-23T14:50:00.000-04:002011-09-24T13:46:28.948-04:00KNITTING FOR CHARITY - PART 2: PRAYER SHAWLS<div style="text-align: left;">I pick up my needles and I prepare to knit. The yarn is soft, the color is soothing, the pattern is easy to work. Knitting quietly, alone or among my friends, I let the peace, the quiet, the calm settle into my stitches. I think about the comfort the recipient will feel as they wrap themselves in the hug I am knitting. Maybe I'll know them, probably I won't. It is not about the who, it is about the unconditional gift of comfort and care to someone who is probably facing hard times. And the process of making it is a gift of peace I give to myself. Stitch by stitch, thought by thought, row by row, a Prayer Shawl is created.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/03/knitting-for-charity-part-1.html">my last Post</a> I discussed the idea of knitting for charity, <em>any</em> charity, and presented two books that described a wide variety of opportunities for those in need of some comfort such as soldiers, refugees, premature babies, adults and children who have become sick or who have been traumatized in some way...even organizations that collect items for animals in shelters. Listed in both books was a charity that is dear to me - <a href="http://www.shawlministry.com/">The Prayer Shawl Ministry</a> . The Ministry was formed in 1998 by two Connecticut women who took a class together in women's spirituality at the Hartford Seminary's Women's Leadership Institute: Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo. They developed the idea of knitting shawls as a way to provide a little peace and comfort to others who might be suffering a hardship--no specifics--just someone who could use some uplifting and comfort and the knowledge that they are not alone. Prayerful thoughts and blessings knit into each make it a Prayer Shawl. The desire to bring comfort and peace to others must be pretty strong because what started as a grass-roots movement with one shawl here in Connecticut has grown by leaps and bounds with groups working on them internationally by the thousands.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Prayer Shawls (as known as "Peace" or "Comfort" Shawls) are what drew my interest back to knitting after <em>many</em> years of exploring other crafts. It happened when one of my colleagues was busy working on Prayer Shawls for her church. She was not able to put the fringe on and would bring them in to work for another colleague to attach the fringe pieces she had cut and ready for attaching. These shawls were so pretty and <em>so</em> soft - I would eyeball them every time she brought one in. My life at the time was in upheaval and the thought of quietly knitting (<em>knitters always look so content</em>!), combined with the fact that I might be able to craft something that would bring joy and comfort to another when I was having difficulty finding it for myself was appealing. I told my colleague that I <em>might</em> be interested in making one but that I hadn't knitted in years (...<em>years). </em>Lo and behold and never a fool, the next day she brought me a pair of needles and a skein of beautifully colored, incredibly soft, yarn. "Here," she said "cast on 60 stitches and knit three, purl three. It is easy." <em>Uh oh</em>, I thought, but inside I was excited. The rest is history. I haven't stopped knitting since! <br />
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The shawls I usually knit use a simple "knit 3, purl 3" repeat over 57 stitches which creates a modified seed stitch pattern. I like the rippled effect.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu60aQbmWua80T6_NG0E_JmCuIpDhM0h5F4w0_A2aFs4zj_aL9O_bvnvJV7lSSEyCvEMa97KOViF6JzH78yp-DZ28AZPsVPJcILMkFYK6EcyLYn3H-FzdjO-z6ESKRRxeXHCxggXHVKGt/s1600/IMG_20110318_133740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu60aQbmWua80T6_NG0E_JmCuIpDhM0h5F4w0_A2aFs4zj_aL9O_bvnvJV7lSSEyCvEMa97KOViF6JzH78yp-DZ28AZPsVPJcILMkFYK6EcyLYn3H-FzdjO-z6ESKRRxeXHCxggXHVKGt/s320/IMG_20110318_133740.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This shawl is still being worked on, but here is how the pattern looks bigger.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The pattern that the group my friend knits for uses the same "knit 3, purl 3" repeat, but over <u>60</u> stitches which creates a ribbed pattern.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_byUfPDT1xz1mvUR14bD4TQxWgrsOXQWibW6XSzRsCRjayVU06eT_OFzDp4ujqSJ3ibDGbCoY-ERz9eexS3osVCisegZUa6AHnfrjA9XwOE2H3d3u1OWQW_bNuNVsOwATj0ou7n9205a/s1600/IMG_20110323_132416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_byUfPDT1xz1mvUR14bD4TQxWgrsOXQWibW6XSzRsCRjayVU06eT_OFzDp4ujqSJ3ibDGbCoY-ERz9eexS3osVCisegZUa6AHnfrjA9XwOE2H3d3u1OWQW_bNuNVsOwATj0ou7n9205a/s320/IMG_20110323_132416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My sister used that pattern to make this shawl when I taught her to knit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaIJyHALpu5xcFzJleqi5a3iSVyZzMkdCeavQsOPeYctjFfIzjTr-DPn-Id-65TUGbzZ9FbTVFoy43eOyD_HZUeqePwQJbni9xPh6LujdG5U5JvS6rL5mBnZ35VFSZ9wk4ochB-viD_hL/s1600/IMG_20110320_163713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaIJyHALpu5xcFzJleqi5a3iSVyZzMkdCeavQsOPeYctjFfIzjTr-DPn-Id-65TUGbzZ9FbTVFoy43eOyD_HZUeqePwQJbni9xPh6LujdG5U5JvS6rL5mBnZ35VFSZ9wk4ochB-viD_hL/s400/IMG_20110320_163713.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Most of the shawls I have seen are made with Lion Brand's Homespun Yarn which is <em>very</em> soft and comes in lovely colors (although I have found that it has a tendency to split which makes it a little tricky for beginners to use.) But any yarn and any pattern can be used and most community groups will gratefully accept any shawl contributed to their Prayer Shawl collection. There is never a shortage of those who could benefit from receiving one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Having only seen the shawl patterns described above, I was amazed by the number of different patterns and project styles available in the books I discovered while researching for this blog. One book that I came across that I particularly liked was compiled by the The Prayer Shawl Ministry co-founders:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>THE PRAYER SHAWL COMPANION</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>by Janet Bristow & Victoria A. Cole-Galo</u></strong></div><br />
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The authors preface their book with the story of how the Ministry came to be and the creation of the first Prayer Shawl. The book is offered as a piece of inspiration for those interested in knitting Prayer Shawls. As such, a number of stories from those who have created shawls, as well as some from those who have received them, are sprinkled throughout as are a number of blessings and reflective prayers for those who would like to work them into their knitting. Helpful guidelines are provided for interested community groups as to the proper way to craft, bless, package and deliver Prayer Shawls and an appendix addresses how to start a Prayer Shawl Ministry group in your community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The information in one of the Appendices came as a bit of a surprise for me - a Color and Symbology chart. I can't remember seeing this in any other knitting book. This neat little chart was included to help the knitter make their <em>own</em> design choices based on the meaning of a color, a number, or the addition of certain shapes or symbols. For example, by choosing to use the color Aqua, according to the chart you are sending messages of courage, balance, harmony and stability. I have always thought of Black as a foreboding color, but according to this chart it symbolizes self-confidence, strength, mature wisdom, harmony, and absorbs negativity. <em>Huh! </em>The symbolism can be through the choice of yarn colors, or any embellishments that might be added, such as the color or number of beads or tassels used.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Prayer Shawl Companion provides 38 patterns from the contributions of a number of different designers, including some who are well known to knitters such as Kaffe Fassett and Nicky Epstein. All the patterns are clearly written and accompanied by good photographs of the finished piece. Each designer introduces their pattern with a brief description of what it means to them and why they chose that particular stitch or design. What surprised me was the <em>variety</em> of patterns and styles. Most are shawls but there are also patterns for neck-warmers, baptism blankets, lap blankets, a tallis, even a wedding capelet. What unifies the projects is the joy and comfort they are meant to bring to the recipient. <br />
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I have several acquaintances who have undergone a mastectomy so I was particularly surprised by and drawn to a pattern in the book called the "Heart Warmer," by designer Wren Ross. This is a shrug-type piece that wraps the shoulders and upper body of the person wearing it in a comforting knit embrace. I didn't have the yarn used by the designer but I did have some pink Homespun so I gave it a try. After casting on and knitting a few rows, the pattern calls for increases at the beginning and end of each row and working in a seed stitch until a certain length is reached. A few rows of garter stitch completes the top edge. This creates an elongated triangle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Once the triangle is complete, the ends are folded over and tacked in place. The addition of a button under the v-neck is a finishing touch that completes the piece.<br />
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The authors have also published a similar book for those who are interested in making prayer shawls but prefer to crochet:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>THE CROCHETED PRAYER SHAWL COMPANION</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>by Janet Bristow & Victoria A. Cole-Galo</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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According to the Shawl Ministy website, the authors are currently working on collecting designs for their next book. Their website has further shawl information and stories, <a href="http://www.shawlministry.com/">clicking here</a> will link you to their site.<br />
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The act of knitting has been found to be a great stress reliever - if you knit or crochet (or think you might like to learn) why not give a Prayer Shawl a try? You and the recipient will both benefit! </div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-40895873053907447882011-03-06T13:52:00.000-05:002011-09-24T13:45:04.241-04:00KNITTING FOR CHARITY - PART 1Before I start I would like to qualify this entire article by including crafters of many types - while I am discussing "knitting" or "knitters" specifically, I do not mean to exclude those who crochet, sew or quilt as I have seen similar charitable efforts from them. Much of what I claim about knitters is equaled by crafters with those areas of expertise. I hope one day to be able to address some of their contributions as well.<br />
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When I decided to address knitting for charitable purposes I thought it would be a simple article. It has not been simple at all - hence the great delay between my posts, for which I apologize. I started out thinking that I would describe a few projects or charities but I kept discovering more charities, more projects, more aspects, attitudes, and craft types than I could ever hope to address adequately in one article. I have stopped and started this posting more times than I can say. But I realized that if I wanted to say <em>anything </em> I just needed to forge ahead...so here I am, forging!<br />
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<em>Knitting for charitable purposes</em>: ie. knitting an item for a recipient, known or unknown, that will bring them comfort, maybe some peace, and the knowledge that someone out there cares about them and that they are not alone.<br />
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In addition to knitting items for themselves most of the knitters I know like to knit items for other people and will have at least one project designated for a charity. Some are drawn into knitting for a particular charity because someone they know, or a community group they belong to, is already involved with it; some are drawn by a cause that is near and dear to them for personal reasons; some just want to knit for the love of knitting and will search out a cause to knit for. Most of the local yarn stores support a cause - they provide patterns and collect items from their patrons throughout the year which they deliver en masse.<br />
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There are so many charities that you could contribute your skills to that it would be difficult to list them all adequately. But I don't have to! <br />
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In my research for this blog I came across two books on the subject that I found to be good compilations of charity opportunities: Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen, and Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - A Charity Guide for Knitters by Debbie Macomber. Both address a diverse cross-section of organizations with concerns for soldiers, refugees, adults and children (from preemie to 18) who are sick or have been traumatized, even organizations whose concerns are animals in shelters. The organizations in both books cover local, national and international needs and include websites and contact information for each of the organizations listed.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>KNITTING FOR PEACE - Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> by Betty Christiansen </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Betty Christiansen has put an awful lot of research into a wide variety of charity organizations and her passion for the topic shines throughout her book which I found to be highly inspirational. As is obvious from the title and subtitle of her book, the emphasis is on the organizations, the people that created them, and how a person can help them. The book also includes 15 patterns that would be appropriate for some of the charities she describes. A final section provides information and websites that enable the reader to get started by finding concerns within their own community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>KNIT ALONG WITH DEBBIE MACOMBER - A CHARITY GUIDE FOR KNITTERS</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>by Debbie Macomber</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Debbie Macomber is a beloved author who is well known in the knitting community...which has its benefits and ability to attract readers. She is a big supporter of knitting for charity. Ms. Macomber's book features 14 charities and 18 projects as well as a section regarding techniques and sources similar to the other books in her Knit Along series. The patterns are well written, easy to follow, and are accompanied by good photographs of the finished piece. It presents slightly differently than Knitting for Peace in that it reads more like a book of patterns which, by the way, would be appropriate for these charities but it is just as full of heart and inspiration.<br />
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I think that if a person were browsing the shelves, Debbie Macomber's book would initially appeal to different people than Betty Christiansen's book. I am a fan of both books because their different approaches/appeal means they might reach a wider number of knitters thereby inspiring a greater number of people who might end up making a difference in our world. <em>Pretty cool</em>. Both authors have culled the wide world of possible opportunities cutting through the process of endless online searching to present a manageable list of causes. This provides the knitter who might be looking for a charity with a quick and easy way to find a way to make a difference.<br />
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Unfortunately, our library doesn't currently own either title but you can call our Reference Desk at 860-673-9712 or go to our online catalogue to place a hold (click on library link on left of page). We can borrow it from another library in our consortium and have it here for you shortly.<br />
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I am no different than my fellow knitters in that I like to have a project designated for charity on my needles at any given time. I am currently working on scarves for a friend's community group (Prince Thomas of Savoy Women's Auxiliary) who are creating scarves for the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative Race taking place this Spring. Each year her group votes on the pattern(s) they will create. This year they chose two patterns: a Spiral Scarf and a Scarf with Bobble Ribbon. My friend provided me with the patterns and two skeins of their chosen yarn...but no pictures. I started with the Spiral Scarf because it seemed interesting and was different from anything I have made in the past. I must admit though, after a few rows I was a little concerned about whether I was producing much of anything:<br />
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</div>Doesn't look like much does it? After a little ways I began to recognize the "spiral" and felt better. <br />
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Sometimes you just need a little faith. Here is how it looks completed.<br />
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On to their second pattern, the Scarf with Bobble Ribbon. Again, without a picture I was a little confused by what I was going to produce and I must have been a little dopey as well because I wasn't understanding the "ribbon" of bobbles until I confessed to my friend my problem with interpreting the pattern. I experienced one of those forehead hitting "duh" moments as she drew out the breast cancer ribbon that the bobbles would form once it was knit. I have gotten this far with this second pattern so far:<br />
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Need more reasons to knit for a charity?<br />
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Did you know that knitting has been found to be a great reliever of stress? Many knitters will tell you that <em>knitting is like therapy</em> - while their hands are busy in one direction, their minds are freed up to think about other things. When I knit I think about the person or the cause that I am creating the piece for. Sometimes I just reflect on what is going on in my own life - it is my quiet, reflective escape time. I have heard this is true for other knitters as well.<br />
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Knitting projects for a charity can be even more therapeutic. The action of knitting is good for the knitter <em>and</em> the finished piece might make a difference to a someone in need, bringing them a little comfort.<br />
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Additionally, patterns that are designated for charity projects are often more simple and easy to follow because knitters of all skill levels need to be able to follow them. This makes them <em>excellent starter projects for beginners</em> - whether they knit them for charity or themselves! Also, because they tend to be small, these projects are an <em>excellent way to use up materials left over</em> from other projects. Kind of a good deal all around don't you agree? <br />
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If you have never knit for a charity, I invite you to explore the possibilities and give it a try. Obviously, one or both of these books would be a good start. I have also added a Charity Links section on the left side of this page that will connect you to lists of charities compiled by other groups. To surf the web on your own is as simple as entering something such as "knitting for charity," or "charity knitting" into your preferred Internet search engine. You could also make inquiries at your local yarn store, your religious organization if you are affiliated with one, hospitals, shelters, or nursing homes.<br />
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Very shortly (<em>I promise</em>!) I will publish KNITTING FOR CHARITY - PART 2 which will address the charity that got me back into knitting after a long departure: Prayer Shawls. Check back soon!<br />
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Any comments on knitting for charity? I would love to hear them, please feel free to click below on "Comments - Enter Yours Here" to enter one.The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-66022617054491343132011-02-08T17:23:00.011-05:002011-09-23T18:45:42.977-04:00HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!Valentine's Day is almost here and the Hallmark ads are coming fast and furious! While I was looking through a variety of materials for my upcoming article on Charitable knitting I came upon a project that I thought would be ideal for Valentines Day. It is one of 12 designs included in one of Debbie Macomber's "Knit Along with..." series: <strong>Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - Back on Blossom Street.</strong> <br />
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Debbie Macomber is the author of the popular Blossom Street fiction series that you may or may not already be familiar with. Her stories often include knitters (she herself is an avid knitter) and projects which she has followed up with a series of books of patterns inspired by her stories. Tidbits about the characters in her fiction stories are sprinkled throughout her "Knit Along with..." pattern books which makes it kind of fun. The Project book patterns are well written and the supportive instructional diagrams are good. In addition to the project I chose, there are patterns for throws, shawls and some baby items.<br />
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The project that caught my eye is named "You're Invited" and it is an edging embellishment designed to affix to a Wedding Invitation. With a very minor change (color of ribbon woven through it and, of course, the card) I think the project would be ideal for either a Wedding Invitation or Valentine's Day since the two events are closely related, <em>and</em> it sports a heart motif.<br />
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With Valentines Day drawing near, I got out my tiniest of needles and my teeny tiny thread (can't even call it yarn!) and set to work.<br />
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Here is a photo of the tiny size #1 needle required for this project. I put it next to a pencil so those of you who are not knitters can have a relative idea of how small it is. Kind of like knitting with toothpicks!<br />
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I started out using my circular needle, knitting back and forth on it as I would with straight ones, because it was the only size #1 needle I owned. However, the cable kept getting tangled with the thread (there is not much weight to hold the piece down) so I ended up borrowing some straight needles from my friend after this photo was taken.<br />
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There are two rules to remember when working on this piece...<br />
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First Rule: wash hands. I found that having absolutely clean hands was important because any oil or dirt will transfer to the piece you are working on and this is a white item (there's no hiding dirt in a white item)! Of course, the item in the book was crafted with Ecru colored thread and I <em>chose</em> to use White, none-the-less, washing is important. This proved to be tricky because with our cold weather my hands are very dry. Invariably I put moisturizer on just before I sat down to work and when I leaned forward to resume my knitting I realized what I had done and repeatedly needed to delay my start. <br />
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Second Rule: <em>don't</em> consume vast amounts coffee prior to working with teeny tiny needles and teeny tiny thread. That's all I have to say about that!<br />
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Here is how it looked after the first full set of row repeats. You can see the heart on the right side.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1j2ZGCvgYNLV90Ugvg3ZB3a8XDsEPPmNBjgzzntAZWeT8BJyD5BV55cOZTefaV6GKFmyWiwOzaskVku-uI78MOWIzKdJlrJDGudUCRP5NijNMKfIwdhmGI-C2CLJbQ93Dk_gIB2CqD7c/s1600/IMG_20110202_093040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1j2ZGCvgYNLV90Ugvg3ZB3a8XDsEPPmNBjgzzntAZWeT8BJyD5BV55cOZTefaV6GKFmyWiwOzaskVku-uI78MOWIzKdJlrJDGudUCRP5NijNMKfIwdhmGI-C2CLJbQ93Dk_gIB2CqD7c/s400/IMG_20110202_093040.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Although this is lacework, the smallness of this piece meant it was a relatively quick project to work up. Also, even though the pattern incorporates a number of slipped stitches and yarn-overs, it was fairly easy to follow. This is due, in part, to the fact that there weren't any "repeats" of the motif in which to lose my place, but it is also because every row (wrong sides as well as right sides) is written out which I find makes it simpler to follow than a pattern that instructs the knitter to do such and such on every wrong side row. You may remember from one of my prior posts, that I use a copy holder to hold my pattern instructions near eye level, sliding the clear bar down the instructions row by row as I proceed. It is easier for me to remember where I am when every row is written out. I am less likely to lose my place when the phone rings, for example, or when I realize that, once again, I have spent too much time knitting and not enough time getting ready for work! Here is what I am looking at when I am working on lacework pieces:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfKv2QmaXdBwsUMRm3LeOzhYr4nqbC26qSplHVKCExklMkTpl_s88_KfobrlsmeG_0RJrd79PMcNaNAdBk8g8h15upCcCBpDpeWjIXRwF3PsJyugKkzFb-xpLdPolHiPLAljZdEW44QY1/s1600/IMG_20110206_111206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfKv2QmaXdBwsUMRm3LeOzhYr4nqbC26qSplHVKCExklMkTpl_s88_KfobrlsmeG_0RJrd79PMcNaNAdBk8g8h15upCcCBpDpeWjIXRwF3PsJyugKkzFb-xpLdPolHiPLAljZdEW44QY1/s320/IMG_20110206_111206.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
This brings another helpful hint to mind...when you are working on lace, many books and experts advise the knitter to thread a "lifeline" through the stitches on your needle now and then. A lifeline is a yarn of contrasting color that holds those stitches as they were on the needle when you knit them - if you make a mistake farther along that requires you to "rip back" (take out) your stitching, this lifeline provides a row to "rip back" to. It is a safety net. I didn't do this on this piece because it was so small and shortly after I took that first photo, I began to daydream and made a mistake. I ended up ripping it all out and starting over. Not much of a problem with a small piece - real annoying with a big project!<br />
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Eventually, dry handed and caffeine deprived, I finished the embellishment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadCr-GlSf5zy3sWsms_Q7ydkkmrdodBm-H1nuPOk8jghkUzLstm66ZWEnhC66K6KEsnhu-320l7CUgtUpalQpJEClNIYuie1eXRwqyGyst6Qwy1-tuSGn27ENlPDo4eU85xMcVCXPSyNi/s1600/IMG_20110209_082033-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadCr-GlSf5zy3sWsms_Q7ydkkmrdodBm-H1nuPOk8jghkUzLstm66ZWEnhC66K6KEsnhu-320l7CUgtUpalQpJEClNIYuie1eXRwqyGyst6Qwy1-tuSGn27ENlPDo4eU85xMcVCXPSyNi/s400/IMG_20110209_082033-1.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
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I wove a pink satin ribbon through the left edge stitches (it doesn't show up too well in the picture, sorry) and affixed it to the card I made.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qEKo2xdB2KlVijhbUjC2e-ZpfmdCGDAwk3YmPLLeZNC2AfwqGZOoZzle7nH6386E8PpaG14dy7mSrUR-JJkIU0JOMgrTfaXNe2EMp62bAe56Sz2ZZNWGpH92zrubLqKgbnR4bb4bYPFW/s1600/IMG_20110208_155041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qEKo2xdB2KlVijhbUjC2e-ZpfmdCGDAwk3YmPLLeZNC2AfwqGZOoZzle7nH6386E8PpaG14dy7mSrUR-JJkIU0JOMgrTfaXNe2EMp62bAe56Sz2ZZNWGpH92zrubLqKgbnR4bb4bYPFW/s400/IMG_20110208_155041.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
Since the project was initially designed for use on a Wedding Invitation I decided to work one up so you could see that as well. I wove a white satin ribbon through that one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnDMZxA4yn_Bh42x-xW2oGXmlFK7pf1AJPN7fqe5lPvBBtTxb9D87xXvQ1oYKQvESbkQvC5zy7kCxAPHIY69pHikys_K6o4oj7f1LVf_HtVTbGizP8zwjDuWrPr4tjNAvDEwnZLqhGRoV/s1600/IMG_20110208_161344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnDMZxA4yn_Bh42x-xW2oGXmlFK7pf1AJPN7fqe5lPvBBtTxb9D87xXvQ1oYKQvESbkQvC5zy7kCxAPHIY69pHikys_K6o4oj7f1LVf_HtVTbGizP8zwjDuWrPr4tjNAvDEwnZLqhGRoV/s400/IMG_20110208_161344.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
Here is a close up of the weaving since it is so hard to see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGR-zA7GIFiS5t2dAhVuDvNmLxoAKUy8yaHiOt8IykkEvML9qlY5p5IxD5BW74qFkTjaHsmNepObo-fa8kgRcQ4Hr7td-7mh98yITTqRql-4eejr4xNw3is7pBtim3oKH0H0Us9fpNmYI/s1600/IMG_20110208_164735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGR-zA7GIFiS5t2dAhVuDvNmLxoAKUy8yaHiOt8IykkEvML9qlY5p5IxD5BW74qFkTjaHsmNepObo-fa8kgRcQ4Hr7td-7mh98yITTqRql-4eejr4xNw3is7pBtim3oKH0H0Us9fpNmYI/s320/IMG_20110208_164735.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Once the event the embellishment was made for has passed I think it could have a nice life living on as a bookmark. It is the perfect size for a bookmark, especially if the border were to be replicated on the right hand side so the motif were framed (<em>which, with a bigger yarn might also make a nice scarf...stop me</em>!):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymkJcs5QIEqFg8iUW_cos4tutzVGBKj2Uf6tNpn11CUF-zbs_ydFRoSUINxnjWh7VLUeln6lWVOVLvj-x0eZwRsecv_hB_yqG15dTR4y1Vcj6Y7saXEXjHS2YvgpAcDNMWuIpCnTo9vcE/s1600/IMG_20110209_081021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymkJcs5QIEqFg8iUW_cos4tutzVGBKj2Uf6tNpn11CUF-zbs_ydFRoSUINxnjWh7VLUeln6lWVOVLvj-x0eZwRsecv_hB_yqG15dTR4y1Vcj6Y7saXEXjHS2YvgpAcDNMWuIpCnTo9vcE/s400/IMG_20110209_081021.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
It also might be interesting to search through some stitch guides for other motifs that could be used in a similar manner for other occasions...I'm thinking of teddy bears or rattles for a Baby Announcement or Shower, fir trees or holly leaves for a Christmas card. I could go on but I think you understand my train of thought! <br />
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Happy Valentines Day everyone!!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-10574500849246971082011-01-30T13:39:00.000-05:002011-08-30T09:38:27.122-04:00WHAT'S ON MY NEEDLES? - JANUARY 2011Apparently I never really answered the question that prompted my <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2011/01/returning-to-my-comfort-zone-knitting.html">last article, "Returning to my Comfort Zone - Knitting" </a>and, apparently the question still begs an answer since it has been pointed out repeatedly that I did not <em>and</em> there are those who would like to see! Well, other than the cowl and coffee cup sleeve that I produced for that article I have several UFO's (UnFinished Objects in knitter speak) in varying stages of progress and several Finished Objects which I can share now that the holidays have passed.<br />
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I'll show you the UFO's first. I started several of these projects simply to keep newly possessed yarn from sitting in my stash, figuring that if I saw the projects in progress I would continue with them before buying more yarn...<em>nice try anyway</em>. Several pieces have been set aside because they are "seasonal" to me - projects geared to the Spring or Summer.<br />
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I am making an alpaca lace, cap-sleeved vest from a very fine lace-weight alpaca yarn that was given to me by a very good friend who knows me well (...<em>mmm, alpaca</em>). The light blue color is beautiful, the yarn is very soft, and I decided that the snowflake lace pattern would suit it well. The Vintage Vest pattern is a free one from Valley Yarns that I have been wanting to make but didn't have the appropriate yarn (<em>thank you, thank you really good friend</em>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns18Utl2bIV_XkP7nIZ7BX5CmPzCXqeWS7rguYc0ybZudty0At4-cSpsjWcosCO_kZFJxh1ZzRclJNZUSkcTTCu87A6PEYqaRjZJSrUBV0RWnmelDx3qVEnIIbOWk05L68XOjVfKNQ3oq/s1600/IMG_20110127_133637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns18Utl2bIV_XkP7nIZ7BX5CmPzCXqeWS7rguYc0ybZudty0At4-cSpsjWcosCO_kZFJxh1ZzRclJNZUSkcTTCu87A6PEYqaRjZJSrUBV0RWnmelDx3qVEnIIbOWk05L68XOjVfKNQ3oq/s400/IMG_20110127_133637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The stitch pattern has lots of yarnovers and slipped stitches so it is to be worked on when I'm alone and with no distractions. I like to have one lacework piece available for those quiet moments. You can tell from my lack of progress that I have not had too many of<em> those</em> for a while!<br />
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The next photo shows what will eventually be a very basic cotton tee that is worked purely in garter stitch with very little shaping. - the variegated yarn supplies much of the interest. I bought The Garter Stitch Topper pattern by Plymouth Yarns when I saw the top in its completed state at my local yarn store. I thought it would be an easy project to knit in a social setting. I like to have a very simple, no thought project to work on when knitting with friends. I can converse and knit with a project like this! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39fBtye2cOatRJK2uD2KxXYPJWDZEPI1rW6eDZ4C_s3-5xZ590mTdTUh93jZlsfdktcWuC1CadOSVOhI7urTAsOoZVu9xTYYkImkldx2QQbMqAYiO7J-e3oToOu2hWOF7jQEmtq-nONon/s1600/IMG_20110127_134029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39fBtye2cOatRJK2uD2KxXYPJWDZEPI1rW6eDZ4C_s3-5xZ590mTdTUh93jZlsfdktcWuC1CadOSVOhI7urTAsOoZVu9xTYYkImkldx2QQbMqAYiO7J-e3oToOu2hWOF7jQEmtq-nONon/s400/IMG_20110127_134029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Next up - a cotton lace Cabled Vest that is practically done. The Tahki Yarns pattern is one I bought several years ago but I didn't like the yarn they used so it sat, collecting dust in my pattern collection until I recently found a compatible yarn locally. I was excited to get this vest going! The pieces are complete and have been blocked. It is just waiting for me to be compelled by the promises of Spring to sew it together and add the collar and buttons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh0nld3QI8q1pmvILcyVTUHltwvZSom9hZNT14frsW3dAdzvPq0jqUHrOqPf4U2q-TGeH0TSotQrNBmiYQO_ExH4gfEK6AJQ_YRApootcsEd_7MWPmwIlJgp738dXA7JJTVJ58BlJ_8NZ/s1600/IMG_20110127_134243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh0nld3QI8q1pmvILcyVTUHltwvZSom9hZNT14frsW3dAdzvPq0jqUHrOqPf4U2q-TGeH0TSotQrNBmiYQO_ExH4gfEK6AJQ_YRApootcsEd_7MWPmwIlJgp738dXA7JJTVJ58BlJ_8NZ/s400/IMG_20110127_134243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a fun item to work on although I had some problems with a bit of "vagueness" in the pattern instructions that I purchased. Here is a closer view of one of the front pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(The color in this photo came out better also.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC6ntu0sFjh_Lv8OgdHbo2g0ybNbSRJYmfCg8BpizjOKK19B_f4_Zasoia7iWctRqY8L5avlF1b0ZOSQcVaAp-MUQCRGS4M8yq4b5foJdKAeunTWc_J3Up-B2bFdFQ0gxgxZfinNEp7m0/s1600/IMG_20110127_134252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC6ntu0sFjh_Lv8OgdHbo2g0ybNbSRJYmfCg8BpizjOKK19B_f4_Zasoia7iWctRqY8L5avlF1b0ZOSQcVaAp-MUQCRGS4M8yq4b5foJdKAeunTWc_J3Up-B2bFdFQ0gxgxZfinNEp7m0/s400/IMG_20110127_134252.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
Currently I am working on what will be a pair of fingerless convertible gloves at the request of my younger son. I have been working on the design details feverishly. Each will have a mitten-style flap attached to flip over the open fingers. He is a photographer and needs to have his fingertips available for camera adjustments. The photograph shows the prototype that I am working up. I have finished one finger so far.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WH3gt4t11nfJFX0gIPQors_xv1EOee-5AvJZq_GaNaZJDyS3sJcc_gMaTM1Agv8JZGld0pFUXtuLJo35fH10Z9_2j2fRjN4ViaKc9H1y1XG0vEsAg_Ih6pxrERbqMrh5CT76OmTg9sW6/s1600/IMG_20110127_134637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WH3gt4t11nfJFX0gIPQors_xv1EOee-5AvJZq_GaNaZJDyS3sJcc_gMaTM1Agv8JZGld0pFUXtuLJo35fH10Z9_2j2fRjN4ViaKc9H1y1XG0vEsAg_Ih6pxrERbqMrh5CT76OmTg9sW6/s400/IMG_20110127_134637.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
I call this a prototype because I am making up the pattern as I go, based on my yarn, my gauge, and my son's preferences. I already know that I want to use a smaller needle for the cuff...maybe the body as well so I can produce a denser fabric. The white strings you see are holding stitches yet to be worked into the rest of the fingers and the thumbs.<br />
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I also have two unfinished charity projects on my needles, I work on them intermittently between other projects and I will show those to you in a future article which will focus on knitting for charities.<br />
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Now that I have re-entered my comfort zone of knitting I seem to be blasting through small project and am full of ideas for more projects. I know I will have to switch gears soon and start roaming the library shelves for other craft books to review and techniques to share but for now, I am having so much fun with my knitting! <br />
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Here are some of the projects I recently finished and gave away as gifts:<br />
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I knit and felted (purposely shrinking a wool item to create a thick, durable felt product) a zippered case for my friend (the one that gave me the yummy lace-weight alpaca yarn) to store her circular needles in. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-rCdxm5eTRrZfJSG-vLKdTPN65Ht446ZN8UkZ_o7BxDETpqb78qnyyv0m0C-VtoPY5EJl_sp7yiGCOV8Xzknp6UC20dumGZ-yd67_Fq_2SfwtYP_ryQVhVovfeuulWKlK5Ehd_px9M5i/s1600/IMG_20101226_101743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-rCdxm5eTRrZfJSG-vLKdTPN65Ht446ZN8UkZ_o7BxDETpqb78qnyyv0m0C-VtoPY5EJl_sp7yiGCOV8Xzknp6UC20dumGZ-yd67_Fq_2SfwtYP_ryQVhVovfeuulWKlK5Ehd_px9M5i/s400/IMG_20101226_101743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When an item is felted it loses more length than it does width...I'm never really sure what I will end up with! My photo shows the completed length to be 7" and the width to be about 12". Prior to felting the piece measured 11" x 11".<br />
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I used the same pattern, but casted on 10 fewer stitches, to create a small clutch for my sister. I was amazed at the difference in the striping of the variegated yarn with just 10 fewer stitches! You never really can tell with variegated yarn how it will stripe. <br />
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Here it is before felting (note the difference in the pattern from the previous case):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKt4eeu3BAx_ezG4Khzp8tDGpH-W1uB9wRp3kNbJMYenqI6UsvUkb3igKhq5o0_JDWBe_8th14xbzKrVTOL4WQv16QY_qY3FoQUcqJ9Yfwfaa4zSDRxLLWoKtkby7QjRnU6lZbGX1FXm1/s1600/IMG_20110111_085241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKt4eeu3BAx_ezG4Khzp8tDGpH-W1uB9wRp3kNbJMYenqI6UsvUkb3igKhq5o0_JDWBe_8th14xbzKrVTOL4WQv16QY_qY3FoQUcqJ9Yfwfaa4zSDRxLLWoKtkby7QjRnU6lZbGX1FXm1/s320/IMG_20110111_085241.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And how it looked after felting:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqfKvp_c-ZodLp1O970tEySGqMZrk0uydG-DMgx_hPrFold3-Jrcx3ktMLF9NOUza41ceE6kLZUy6HlnpqXFmCFYk2zhqFHVYZ-oiU0v5cRhSSixRhXjSZxVYQlfLkoxhPNEOZq5Zp8HT/s1600/IMG_20110116_122037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqfKvp_c-ZodLp1O970tEySGqMZrk0uydG-DMgx_hPrFold3-Jrcx3ktMLF9NOUza41ceE6kLZUy6HlnpqXFmCFYk2zhqFHVYZ-oiU0v5cRhSSixRhXjSZxVYQlfLkoxhPNEOZq5Zp8HT/s400/IMG_20110116_122037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Staying with the 10 fewer stitches, but using different yarn I made a case for my older son's girlfriend. I inserted (and attached with a whip stitch) a small plastic zippered cosmetic case so she could keep some make-up inside if she desired. <br />
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It turned out well in the long run but the black yarn I used was not wool as I had thought so it didn't "felt". (<em>FYI: Wool fibers have microscopic scales on them that "mesh" when agitated which is how they "felt", and non-wool fibers are smooth so they can not "mesh" together</em>.) You can see the difference between the black stitches and the red. Originally I had a black band along the top that matched the bottom band. I actually liked the loose bottom band but not the top one because it made it too big for the plastic case I was inserting and it was too loose. To reinvent the piece I cut that off and pulled the pieces out of the felted red fabric which left tiny holes:<br />
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I then single crocheted some frizzy black yarn I had in my "stash" using the holes as a guide and it turned out better than my original idea!<br />
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I also knit my son's girlfriend a Neck Cozy - a collared style neck wrap (for lack of a better term), that she could wear under her coat and not be bothered by a long scarf. The pattern is one I made up but it is essentially a rectangle that I folded to create a collar and added a button at the top so she could snug it as tightly or as loosely as she desires.<br />
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And lastly, I knit a couple of hats because you can't make it through the winter without knitting a hat for someone!<br />
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I told you that I was on a tear!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-63639859555951142502011-01-13T12:17:00.001-05:002011-09-23T18:49:56.490-04:00RETURNING TO MY COMFORT ZONE - KNITTINGEveryone who works at the library, and many of our patrons as well, know that my favorite craft for the past few years has been knitting and many have been asking me what is on my knitting needles these days. When reflecting on my answer, I was surprised to realize that my focus has been on finding craft books to review for this blog (and crafting some items from them) and that my <u>own</u> craft projects have been languishing. Egads!! In fact, even though I was blogging about crafting holiday ornaments and decor, Christmas snuck up out of nowhere. (<i>Go figure</i>!!) It seemed like Christmas was weeks away and then BOOM!, no time left for all the projects that were on my needles, or planned in my head to give as gifts, or even to recommend to you in my blog (<i>next year</i>....). Oh well. At this point I did what every good little (blogging) knitter does - I looked through our library shelves for anything that might provide ideas for gifts to knit quickly and came up with plenty! <em>Uh oh, </em><em>I might need more needles</em>...<br />
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One book in particular caught my eye. It was on our cart of New Books that were waiting to be shelved so it was front and center, the cover showed a fun and playful take on an old project and, the title...well, you will know by its title why I was drawn to it:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781584798606&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">MORE LAST-MINUTE KNITTED GIFTS by Joelle Hoeverson</a> </u> </div><br />
This book provides a variety of ideas all of which are divided into sections by time required to complete the projects - less than 2-hours; 2-4 hours; 4-6 hours; 6-8 hours; more than 8 hours. I kind of like this method of organizing the patterns because it is time-saving in and of itself allowing me to jump to a very quick project or one that might take longer. While the projects include the expected last-minute ideas such as hats, mittens, fingerless gloves, scarves and socks their designs seem a little more creative than the usual simple ones. The author also includes many <i>un</i>expected ideas such as bookmarks, coffee cup sleeves, coasters, slippers, baskets, and ornaments. Some of the more time-involved projects such as the cardigans are simplified by their design elements. The Baby Cardigan, for example, is knit in one piece which eliminates the need to sew multiple seams at the end - a real time-saver in my world! The lady's Cardigan is also knit in one piece and has a simple, yet elegant yoke (although it is knit using a fingering weight yarn and would definitely take more than 8 hours!) <br />
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I would like to try many of the projects (<i>if only I had more time</i>) but in the hope of actually completing this article I have limited myself to two that I thought I could work up quickly and for which I had recipients in mind.<br />
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The first project I chose comes from the "less than 2-hours" section and is an item that one of my friends would certainly appreciate: the "Reusable Hot Coffee-cup Sleeve." <strong> </strong>This is an eco-friendly project in that it is reusable and uses 100% wool yarn (which is a renewable source). I like that! It is also much more comfy on the hand than those cardboard sleeves that are usually placed on the cups. I substituted the yarn suggested with an equivalent 100% wool yarn that I already had. Since the project doesn't require much yarn, it is also a good way to use up yarn left over from other projects. The Coffee-cup Sleeve did indeed reach completion in less than 2 hours and while I am not terribly fond of working with double-pointed needles I am ready to make a lot more of these for all my coffee-drinking buddies if they would like one. <br />
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The second piece I decided to work up is an accessory that is currently in fashion: a cowl. A knitted cowl, for those who might not be familiar with the term is essentially a loosely draped neck warmer. I have seen them in fashion magazines and catalogues all over the place this year - some very loose and "slouchy", some like a scarf that is joined at the end, and others that are more fitted. The author provides patterns for three elegant "Soft as a Cloud Cowls" which vary from each other by simple stitch pattern options. The pattern for each is pretty easy to master and remember which is also a time-saver. Each cowl project uses less than one hank of the yarn specified...which, happens to be a fairly pricey cashmere yarn, (lushishly soft I am sure but one I don't dare go near). Fortunately, I had yarn in my "stash" (all crafters have a stash, trust me) that I could substitute - an Alpaca yarn, almost as soft as cashmere but not nearly as pricey. I selected the simplest of the three pattern variations - simple in that it is a 5-stitch repeat and 4-row pattern which made it very quick to remember and I didn't have to keep marking my place or get "lost" in the pattern.<br />
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Note: It is easy to lose your place as you look back and forth from the pattern to your knitting which wastes a lot of time. When working a more complicated pattern I solve this by using a Copy Holder (typically used for holding documents upright so you can refer to it when you type it up) purchased from my local office supply store. I keep the Copy Holder next to me while I knit and I slide the clear bar down my pattern as I complete each row. <br />
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"Ahhhhh..." Soon after I casted on and worked several rows I felt the comfort of working with a favorite craft and enjoyment of the soft Alpaca yarn as it fed through my fingers!! This is going to feel so soft and cuddly on the neck of the young lady I am making it for. I am so excited, I love making gifts for friends. Whenever I work on a gift, I think of the person that I am making it for, focusing on all that makes them special and it makes me happy. While I have never thought of it this way before, I guess that the making of a gift is like a gift to myself.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>I like this stitch pattern especially because those five stitches and four rows create what looks like a complex cable and lace piece which, in fact, is achieved by an easy slip-stitch decrease in one row followed by a yarn over increase in the next. No cable needle needed, another big time-saver!<br />
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I will admit that this did take me a while to finish. It required a fine yarn which always takes more time to knit into any pattern. A friend of mine started this project with me to give as a Christmas gift and rapidly decided to switch to a cowl pattern that used thicker yarn and larger needles...she was definitely done way before me, even managing to ship it out in time for Christmas! Fortunately I was intending to finish mine for a January birthday gift rather than a Christmas gift and it was completed in plenty of time for that event.<br />
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As the title of the book implies, it is a sequel to another book by the same author that you might also enjoy called <a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=1584793678&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON">LAST-MINUTE KNITTED GIFTS</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This book also segments the patterns within by the amount of time most likely needed to complete them and includes interesting patterns for projects such as potholders, leg warmers, drawstring pouches, cushions, toys, even a yoga mat bag. I can easily recommend either of these books as a source of some interesting gifts to work up. I hope you give at least one of them a look!The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-61467364599664381782010-12-15T08:35:00.000-05:002011-09-23T18:34:23.374-04:00SOME MORE HOLIDAY DECORATIONSI guess I am not ready to stop crafting Holiday decorations. When I started looking through the books for one or two ideas, I found more and more things that I wanted to try ... I warn you, it can be addicting! Today I am trying some crafts from a Better Homes and Gardens publication from last year:<br />
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Better Homes and Gardens publishes one of these Christmas Special Interest issues each year. The ideas I tried for this post were from the 2009 issue specifically. (To place a library hold on a specific year's copy you will need to contact the library because it is listed as part of a series.)<br />
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I like these Special Interest series because they have something for a great variety of tastes and styles (<i>this issue claims to provide "256 easy and elegant ideas for your home"</i>). Also, the projects tend to be relatively simple to execute and use many different types of crafting techniques. <br />
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I still had all the scrap booking stuff out on my table from <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-season-has-begun-make-some.html">my post about making holiday cards and tags</a> so I tried my hand at the Tree Tag project first of all. I don't own the stamp they used but the tree was simple to draw out with my markers.<br />
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I was inspired by the tags they showed in "Tag Team" so I made a few more tags using some purchased stickers.<br />
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I have had a set of clear glass ornaments in my craft stash for years but never set myself to do anything with them so when I saw the "Custom-Color Ornaments" project I decided it was high time to drag them out. You swirl diluted acrylic paint inside them to coat the interior and then apply punched out snowflakes (or snowflake stickers) on the our surface. <i>Yay! Another opportunity to use my snowflake punch!! </i> The craft is simple and the finished project is very effective...my husband really liked these.<br />
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I decided to use up the rest of my clear glass ornaments and tried the project I originally purchased them for: marbleizing. For this project you squirt two colors of diluted acrylic paint inside and swirl it around to coat. Dry it upside down and you have a "marbleized ornament". My son really liked these...my photos don't show them off too well though.<br />
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Lastly, I made the "Circle of Snow" wreath by randomly piling felt snowflakes of varying sizes on a circular shape. (<i>The book's project used a foam wreath...I used a sheet of stiffened glittered felt that I already had and which I cut into a donut shaped piece</i>.) The glitter in the felt doesn't really show up well here unfortunately.<br />
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As I am writing this, the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas 2010 issue is being readied for circulation.<br />
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It indicates that it has "247 Festive and Easy Ideas for your home" including "39 simple and stylish ornaments." I'm looking forward to investigating many of those.<br />
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Meanwhile, a couple of my colleagues here at the library have been tapping <i>their</i> inner craftiness and have given me permission to share their endeavors.<br />
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If you read our ever so fine <a href="http://thelabyrinthlibrarians.blogspot.com/">SciFi blog "The Labyrinth Librarians</a>" then you are familiar with Adam. While he and I were talking about the crafts I was planning to make this season Adam thought he remembered making pipe cleaner reindeer sometime in his past. Not one to let any craft opportunity to escape, I challenged him to try making one. Not one to let any challenge go unanswered, Adam <u>did</u> make one.<br />
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I thought that his rise to the challenge was GREAT!! But, then we decided that the little guy was destined to be Rudolph, so Adam added some bling:<br />
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And there you have it, a blinged out pipe cleaner reindeer by Adam, The Labyrinth Librarian. We only need a few more, a sleigh and a Santa....Adam, are you able to rise to the challenge again?<br />
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Next up in the colleague craft-a-thon is a beautiful display by Mary, one of our Children's Librarians. During the Fall, Mary created a tree covered with Autumn leaves for our stairwell. Not yet wanting to see it go, she decked it out for the Winter. While I was working on my <a href="http://craftylibrarianct.blogspot.com/2010/12/quick-felt-holiday-decorations.html">"Quick Felt Holiday Decorations" post</a>, Mary created some felt cardinals to put on the branches of her tree. She looked through our books for Cardinal pictures to use as a reference and sketched one out. Once happy with her sketch, she made templates for the individual pieces: body, wing, beak,black thing that goes next to beak..., traced them onto felt and cut them out.<br />
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She used a blanket stitch to outline the wing and body.<br />
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She sewed the rest of the parts on and added a bead for the eye and put them in her snowed capped tree.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so pleased with my colleagues' crafting contributions and thank them for allowing me to share them in my blog...you never know what you are going to encounter in this place! As for me I think I had better start worrying about some gift making ideas pretty darn soon! Back to our shelves I go, exploring the world of possibilities. I will keep you posted. Until then, take a look through the Holiday crafting books at our, or your own library and tap into your inner craftiness!</div>The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1356564147148892143.post-12156669796083620072010-12-08T16:35:00.000-05:002011-09-23T18:30:38.730-04:00QUICK FELT HOLIDAY DECORATIONSWhen time is of the essence and handmade holiday decorations (or gifts) are needed, crafting with felt can be the solution. The beauty of working with felt is that it doesn't need to be hemmed...the edges can be left raw. I love that! You can work up some lovely pieces, as basic or as elaborate as you like, in practically no time at all.<br />
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The library has a new Christmas book that is full of cute holiday decorations, ornaments, and stocking ideas all crafted from felt. The title and the cover art grabbed my attention:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrn6_ut1H0vGIbXYdUGmypai-LErA5y32p82PXEhePliPHHwV5cwria6ZajNdycJ2Ol6VyVWGpFFHjuI_wJLNbGyGHdSOk8wnUBsPuHyfbuSo3mlZRxPK6Dzpk2XpI-Mt3pGyjRjp5OvA/s1600/falalalafelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrn6_ut1H0vGIbXYdUGmypai-LErA5y32p82PXEhePliPHHwV5cwria6ZajNdycJ2Ol6VyVWGpFFHjuI_wJLNbGyGHdSOk8wnUBsPuHyfbuSo3mlZRxPK6Dzpk2XpI-Mt3pGyjRjp5OvA/s320/falalalafelt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ibistro.libraryconnection.info/uhtbin/cgisirsi/AVONPL/x/0/5?&library=AVONPL&srchfield1=GENERAL&searchdata1=9781600596155&user_id=AVONPLPUB&password=public&gateway_name=AVON"><u><b>Fa La La La Felt by Amanda Carestio</b></u></a></div><br />
The book includes information regarding the various types of felt, basic needs for working with felt, as well as an overview with diagrams of some very basic embroidery stitches you might use to embellish your pieces. A brief description of how to use your old wool sweaters to create your own felt is also provided . (<i>If you have shrunk any of your sweaters accidentally then you already know how to create felt and now you will have an idea of how to put them to good use.</i>)<br />
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There are 45 projects described in the book. The projects are designed by different people which I like because it usually means that, while they share the standard set out by the author, they are not all the same style, ie. there's a little something for everyone. To test the instructions I decided to make the Christmas Candy Garland and the Holiday Hoot ornament. Templates for all the projects are provided in the back of the book. My first discovery was that the templates are not full-sized, however each one states the percentage you need to enlarge it by so you are not left completely guessing. It does lead to a little extra copying though and for me anyway, some quality time spent with my copier as I tried to figure out where to place the template on it so it would print the enlarged image fully on my paper... hmmm.<br />
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I started with the Holiday Hoot ornament designed by Lisa Jordan, and found it was definitely a quick and easy project. <br />
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To start, I cut out the required pieces of felt and applied a small dab of fabric glue on back of each piece to tack it in place.<br />
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Sew pieces in place with coordinating colors of embroidery floss using the whipstitch. Then sew body pieces together using darker brown floss and the blanket stitch. When you reach the center of the head, insert and tack in the hanging loop. Continue sewing until about 1" is left and insert desired amount of stuffing.<br />
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Finish sewing to the end and there is your Holiday Hoot ornament all ready for the tree.(It's much cuter in person...)<br />
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Next I tried out the Christmas Candy Garland designed by Esther Coar. I picked it because it looked really pretty in the photograph but seemed really simple to make. And it turned out to be both of those things, however I can not photograph it nearly as well as the book's photographer did (also, mine is still too short to show much draping as it is still in progress at this time).<br />
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The instructions and list of items needed is (purposely) vague since you will be determining how long you want to make it. None-the-less, you start by cutting strips of red and white felt. (<em>I can see the value of investing in a rotary cutting tool!</em>) You need twice as many red as white, it doesn't explain why - but I determined that I needed to double the red because it is thinner than the white. Then you stack the strips together with the white on top, with the white staggered forward a little (for a more solid center in the candy).<br />
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Roll the strips, keeping the long edges lined up.<br />
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Place pins to keep candies from unrolling until you need them. (The instructions indicate you might want to sew the ends to hold them in place prior to stringing them but I found that the beads held the candy together just fine - I just had to remember to remove all my pins!)<br />
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Also, while the instructions didn't say to do this, I trimmed the edges to even them after I pinned them since the layers seemed to "crawl" as I rolled them. I used waxed dental floss to alternately string the candy pieces with red and white pony beads. You will want to make sure the needle goes through the stitched (or pinned, as in my case) end of felt and the candy center.<br />
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Tie hanging loops on the end and hang.<br />
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You'll have to trust that it looks MUCH better in reality. Sorry I couldn't get a truly effective photo ... maybe once I get it to its finished length so that I can get more "swoops" going I will be able to post a better picture.<br />
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Other projects I really like and hope to try are the Stitched Gift Tags, Snowflake Coasters, Sorta Swedish Stockings, and the Merry Little Ornaments. I haven't worked with felt for years really and I found this to be a fun set of projects. I encourage you to try your hand at it as well - many of the Holiday books and a number of periodicals feature felt crafts.The Crafty Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15007805145052418360noreply@blogger.com2