Posts Tagged ‘Craft’

Hi friends,

I spent a bit of time thinking about Christmas this weekend (I can't help it: blame the cool weather, or the time change, or maybe the Christmas music at the drugstore) and made a major resolution:

This year, I'm buying gifts.

I know, I know, that's hardly earth-shattering. In fact, it's what most people do every year. But I've been giving homemade gifts for almost a decade now. This is a big deal for me.

Thing is, I miss shopping. I miss the hustle-bustle, the thrill of the hunt for the perfect present (and, really, for the too-good-to-be-true discount). I even miss (just a little) that Christmas music.

What I won't miss? The lineups at the fabric store. The late nights of knitting. The frantic realization that what I've made is the wrong size, shape, colour or...well, just wrong.

So this year, I'm taking a break from handmade gifts. What about you? (And if you are making your gifts, what are you making?)

Tired of the usual jack-o'-lantern with triangle eyes and a gap-toothed grin? Me, too. Last year, some friends and I experimented with a set of hand-carving tools and some plastic fangs.

But that still wasn't exciting enough. This year it was time to get serious. Because what's more fun than disfiguring a huge squash with power tools?

Some folks make incredible jack-o'-lanterns using a Dremel rotary tool. Since I had one gathering dust in my basement, I figured it was time to try my hand at this odd holiday craft. (Note: I bought my Dremel as a private citizen – I don't have a swish endorsement contract, though it might sound like I do.)

Dremel offers a pumpkin-carving how-to on their website, and there are some good tips here and there on the Interwebs that can help you figure out the process. (Reading either of those tip sheets before starting would have been a good idea, but whatever.)

The one tool you need more than anything is patience.

How to carve a pumpkin with power tools

1. Draw or transfer your pattern to the pumpkin. Dremel suggests printing one of their templates and using spray adhesive to stick it to the pumpkin. I did this, but it was really messy. I'd suggest freehand drawing your design or using a skewer to poke holes along the outline of your design.

2. Cut out the lid. Last year, we discovered that a sabre saw makes a dandy lid cutter. Use a sharp kitchen knife to make the first cut, then insert the blade into the cut. Rev up the motor and off you go. Just remember to clean all the pumpkin goop out of the saw before you put it away. Yeeech.

3. Trace the outline of your design with the Dremel. Once you have all the pumpkin guts cleaned up inside, it's time to get creative outside. Use one of the finer carving heads for this task. I made the mistake of using a thicker one, and it made the end result a bit of a mess (you'll see).

4. Carve to add depth. The black areas on this template represented deeper cuts, and grey areas represented shallower ones. The deeper you cut into the pumpkin flesh, the more light will shine through, adding depth to the design. I got tired of getting splattered with pumpkin shrapnel from the Dremel, so I just cut out the darkest spots around the castle with a knife.

5. Set it aflame. Votive candles or tea lights are great, but there are very cool little battery powered lights out there that don't threaten to burn down your porch if left unattended. Look for them at the dollar store.

The verdict? Hrrm. I think I do a much better job with the old-school knife method, but with a simpler design and a little less fine detail (or perhaps a smaller carving head), I might just starting turning out masterpieces. Next year.

Are you ready to give power-tool pumpkin carving a try this year?

Remember the Christmas craft fair quilt I didn't finish last year? Well, I'm back in full swing now, determined to finish it for this year's fair.

Each of the 12 blocks is pieced, then a stem and two leaves are appliquéd on the bottom half. I was not looking forward to making all those bias stems by hand, so I bought myself a little treat: bias tape makers!

They're the coolest little low-tech tools you'll ever find. The ones I got range in width from 1/4 inch to 1 inch.

Making homemade bias tape is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Cut a strip of fabric on the bias. Crisp quilting cottons work especially well. The instructions in the bias tape maker package should tell you how wide to cut the strip.
2. Slide one end of the strip into the bias tape maker. There's a little slot on top, where you can insert an awl or skewer and tease the fabric through.
3. Iron the perfectly folded bias tape that emerges as you pull the tape maker along the fabric strip. That's it!

With these cool tools, you can create single-fold or double-fold bias tape. Single-fold is the single layer that comes straight out of the maker, and it's good for appliqué designs. Double-fold is simply a wider piece of single-fold tape that's folded lengthwise down the centre. Double-fold is typically used for binding edges.

Check out the single-fold bias tape stem on that flower!

There are some very handy tutorials that walk you through the process. Take a look at the ones on You SEW Girl, MADE: and Craft Critique to see each step along the way.

Happy tape making!

Hi friends,

When I get close to the end of a big crafting project, my mind starts to wander from the task at hand to other (newer, shinier, and, in this case, not-as-brown) projects. I blocked the back and sleeves of my sweater over the weekend, and cast on for the front.

(Pro tip: Blocking your knitting makes a world of difference. Want to, but don't want to invest in a $40 blocking board? Hit the art supply store for a piece of foam core. The piece I use is 20 x 30 inches and cost just $3.50. Awesome!)

While I put in all those pins, I was compiling a mental wish list of new things to make and do. Here are some of the items from that list:

• Confetti "ribbon" – I wish I'd seen this in time for my sister's birthday. Also, it'd give you the perfect excuse to go shopping for a new hole-punch.
• It's been a while since I've felt like quilting, but isn't this skinny stacked coin quilt appealing?
• Patchwork quilts pieced from photographs – the Purl Bee hits it out of the park again. Love!
• I love this flowery hat, don't you? Kate is a colourwork genius.
• Speaking of colourwork and knitting, I'm thinking that I need to tackle this vest from the lastest issue of Twist Collective. Argyle? Yes please!

I'm happy to report that you'll be seeing more of us 'round these parts after today. We've got some great ideas lined up, but we're always looking for ideas, which means I'm wondering: What craft project, tool or book would you like to read about this fall? Please, let us know!

Hi friends,

I've gone and done it again: started knitting a sweater under a ridiculous self-imposed deadline.

The pattern is Gwendolyn, from Twist Collective's Fall 2010 issue. I've had the pattern and yarn for almost exactly a year. It took me that long to work up the courage – and work down the queue.

I want to wear it at Squam Art Workshops in six weeks. I've been knitting non-stop – even at picnics.

I've been highlighting charts like crazy. (I've also been watching a lot of Bones. Like, all of Season Five. In four days. But I digress.)

Things were going well, until yesterday. Things looked...lopsided. Oops: those decreases were supposed to happen at EACH end. I put in a lifeline and ripped.

And then I ripped some more. Almost 30 rows. Almost all of Sunday's work. Gone.

I ate some cookies, then started again. Because I know that sometimes, knitting is a no pain, no gain proposition.

Six hours later: success! That's one sleeve, finished. Except....

There's just one small problem. Can you see it? The mis-twisted cable? (Frankly, I blame Agent Booth.)

At this point, I've got three options:

1. Ignore it. This sort of thing is exactly why the phrases "wabi sabi" and  "design feature" were invented.
2. Ladder down. It's possible to unravel just the five stitches in that column down 32 rows, rework the cable, and then work my way back up again.
3. Rip it out. And then reknit the latter half of it for the second time. (In this case, I will definitely need to buy more cookies.)

I'm thinking #2. What would you do?

After a long hiatus, I've started knitting on the bus again. My Old Port sweater got a lot of concentrated stitching mileage before I grew weary of cabling and put it down indefinitely. I'm sure I'll come back to it one of these days, but for now, I'm concentrating on smaller projects that don't feel so much like work.

A project languishing in my knitting basket was a delicate Grapevine Lace Scarf from Azure Knits. I'm not a fan of wool-on-skin, so I picked up some heavenly soft balls of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo in a very pretty shade of lavender. The pattern called for a worsted weight yarn, but I figured the lighter DK weight would make the scarf a little lacier and better for all-season wear.

With World Wide Knit in Public Day coming up this week – June 11 to 19 – I'm thinking of other projects I can keep on hand for social, public knitting. The Grapevine Scarf does test my limits when someone's talking to me. The purl back rows are no problem, but the lace repeats can be a little challenging when you're trying to carry on a conversation with a friendly co-knitter.

So here are a few projects I'll be casting on to take with me to public knitivism events (or a working lunch with my knitting colleagues). Best part? I'll be using up my crazy stash at the same time.

• Honey Cowl from Madelinetosh
• Sockhead Hat by Bohoknits
• Sunday Swing Socks by Kristel Nyberg

What are you knitting in public or on the go? Share your links in the comments section!

Hi friends,

It seems like Toronto has been under a raincloud for weeks, and I'm looking for an escape. Preferably an escape that involves great food, comfy lodgings, amazing scenery...

Last fall, at Squam Lake.

...and maybe some crafty fun. So I've been doing a lot of reminiscing about my time at Squam Art Workshops last fall. And when I'm not daydreaming, I've been Googling craft camps, conferences, workshops and getaways – and there are a ton of options out there. Here are some that have caught my eye.

• Squam – Of course. I'm already looking forward to heading back in September.
• The Makerie – A crafty camp in Colorado. This year's session just ended – read about Karyn's trip, it sounds a.maz.ing.
• Sock Summit 2011 – All socks, all the time. It's the second time around for this epic event, and it looks even better than before.
• Interweave Knitting Lab – Awesome knitting instructors, beautiful surroundings (hello, San Francisco!)...Yes, please!
• John C. Campbell Folk School – This school offers a ton of craft-related courses in scenic North Carolina.
• Denyse Schmidt Workshops – I'd take an Improvisational Patchwork class, which would surely be challenging in all the right ways.
• Alabama Chanin Workshops – Slow stitching, great regional food, and good company – sounds good to me.

One thing I've noticed (and maybe it's just that my Google skills aren't what they should be) is there don't seem to be many Canadian options for eager craft campers. I don't know why – we've got great crafters in this country, and no shortage of beautiful places that would provide a worthy backdrop. If you know of a Canadian crafty getaway, I hope you'll share it in the comments!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a lotto ticket...

Hi friends,

Today I'm pleased to welcome back guest blogger Jeromina Juan of Paper, Plate, and Plane. She brought us the see-through Valentine vases; today she's here with a tutorial for making these fun Leprechaun Hat Favours. This would be a fun craft to make with your kids over March Break, especially if you're hosting a St. Patrick's Day party. Take it away, Jeromina!

These St. Patrick's Day little leprechaun bowler hats are exactly that – bowls. With some dabs of green paint, ribbon, and paper for embellishing, plus a handful of sweet treats, you can turn snack-size plastic bowls into charming party favours this holiday.

You need:

a.  Snack-size plastic bowls.  These came from the grocery store at $3.99 for a pack of 8 -- affordable party packaging at $0.50 a piece!
b. Green acrylic paint, a small paintbrush, and a small square of porous sponge.  You may use spray paint, however, the finish will be smooth, with some sheen.  The method of dabbing paint with a sponge results in a fantastic flocked appearance.
c. To decorate: green and yellow cardstock, 5/8" black ribbon, 1/2" double-sided tape, and a pair of scissors.

1. With your bowl upside down, paint the curved underside of the lip with a small paintbrush. Let dry. Paint a second coat.
2. Using a sponge, dab paint on the outside of the bowl to cover. Let dry; paint a second coat. Do not paint the inside of the bowl, since you will be filling it with food.
3. With the top of the lid facing you, paint the inner edge of the lid with a paintbrush. Let dry. Paint a second coat and let dry again.
4. Using a sponge, dab paint on the top of the lid. Let dry. Paint a second coat. Let dry. Do not paint the inside of the lid, since it may come into contact with food.
5. Measure the length of ribbon required by wrapping it once around the bowl and cutting accordingly. Affix double-sided tape to one side of the ribbon.
6. Remove backing from double-sided tape and adhere the ribbon to the bowl, close to the brim.
7. Using a pair of scissors, create a shamrock shape using green card stock and a 3/4"- x 1"-inch buckle using yellow card stock.
8. Use a little piece of double-sided tape or a dab of glue to adhere the shamrock and buckle.

Don't forget to fill with candy!  Your guests will be filled to the brim with delight and your neighbours green with envy.

If you're looking for unique party ideas for holidays throughout the year, head over to Paper, Plate, and Plane where Jeromina Juan shares countless creative DIY crafting and entertaining ideas.

Hi friends,

It's a kitchen-sink kind of day here, so I'm going to get a bulleted list on the go.

• Need some ideas for that Christmas list? Check out this Handmade Holidays 2010 post for 14(!) free downloads of gift-worthy projects from a handful of recent STC Craft releases (including Modern Top-Down Knitting, More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, Crafting a Meaningful Home and Material Obsession 2).

• If you're reading this in a reader, you might want to click through and check out the results of our little bloggy makeover last week. And while you're here, why not have a peak at our new blogs? We've got the bases covered with The Life Blog, The Health Blog, The Style Blog and The Food Blog. Fun!

• Speaking of changes, tomorrow you'll notice that in addition to being renamed, The Craft Blog has gained the enthusiastic participation of a new blogger. You might remember Tina Anson Mine's guest posts about organizing your craft space, or her trip to Green Mountain Spinnery – I hope you'll give her an enthusiastic welcome!

• Finally, I'm looking for a couple of guest posters to join us through December. Christmas is just one of the ways that Canadians bring a little light to this darkest time of year, and I'm wondering how you will adding a crafty touch to your celebrations in the coming weeks. If you'd like to share, please send me an email!