Tonight, over at Etsy Labs, there is a Trunk Show featuring handmade items from all over the world. I belong to the Lincoln, Nebraska team, and we will be featured from 7-8 pm CT. All of the members of the Lincoln Handmade Team are so talented — from jewelry making and paper crafting to knitting, crochet, sewing and even soap! Check out all of the wonderful handmade gifts available and then head over to the Trunk Show at 7pm CT for special discounts and prizes. We’re in the “Teams” room!
During the month of November, whipup.net is featuring tutorials, ideas and stories for refashioning, re-using, up-cycling and recycling items made of paper, cloth, yarn or plastic. I submitted a tutorial for turning prescription bottles into useful storage containers and it was posted today! Go check it out!
Last month, Meredith, the Editor in Chief of Craftier magazine, asked me if they could feature my remote control pillow pattern in their DIY Holiday issue. Here I am on page 22!
I love this bag. It was a little challenging because it wasn’t felted. It was a custom order from an etsy member and the size she wanted was the exact size of the original sweater. I used every last bit of wool to complete it.
She sent me her own lining fabric, which was beautiful. I also used the hand-embroidered sleeve stripes as the strap.
This was another bag that was hard to let go. You can see all the pics over on etsy.
Next up on the handmade agenda: a custom baby blanket. In the meantime, did you make something yourself? Post it here!
The other day I was discussing my amigurumi addiction with Lauren. “I have to stop,” I said. “It’s getting out of control. Bella doesn’t need anymore little hippos, pumpkins, vampires, cats, etc.” She suggested that maybe I start giving them away. Aha! A giveaway! And just in time for Halloween!
What the winner will get: This cute amigurumi candy corn, which is totally fat free and has zero calories! It’s crocheted out of soft acrylic yarn and stuffed with polyester fiberfil. Eyes and mouth are embroidered on, so it’s safe (and washable!) if you want to give it to a little one. It’s about three inches tall and two inches wide at the base.
Here’s the skinny (ha, ha): Leave a comment before Wednesday, midnight CST and tell me about your favorite Halloween treat. M will draw a name out of a hat on Thursday and I’ll announce the winner on the blog.
Oh, and in case you are wondering, my favorite Halloween treats are mini twix bars.
Did you make something yourself? Post it here!
Have you heard of this site before? It’s cool! Mighty Junior is a kid-centric shopping and design blog, and a sister site to Mighty Goods. I received a note from them the other day that they had featured my trick or treat bags on their site.
Kind of makes me wish I had made more! Today I sold one of my Halloween cards and in the comments, she mentioned that she found me on Mighty Junior. Sweet!
A few weeks ago I totally got sucked in by Halloween marketing. “We’ve got glow in the dark yarn!” screamed the ad. “Wow! That would make a cool amigurumi ghost!” I thought. I marched off with my 40% of coupon, got my yarn, and then came home to look for a pattern. But I couldn’t find any I really liked, so I just improvised. You’ve already seen the first one.* I like this one a little better, especially with the picot ruffles at the base. This little ghost is for sale in my etsy shop, but if you know how to crochet, don’t buy it from me unless you’re really busy saving lives or something because it takes no time at all to whip one up. Heck, crochet a whole pile of them and string them together to make a Halloween garland!
*By the way, when T turned out the light and the little ghost started to glow, M handed it right back to him. It’s sitting on my windowsill now keeping my pumpkin and apple company.
Glow in the Dark Ghost with Picot Ruffles
materials:
glow in the dark yarn or any worsted weight white yarn
size G/6 (4mm) crochet hook
two black beads for eyes
black yarn for smile
tapestry needle for beads and weaving ends
optional: polyester fiberfil
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
R1: chain 2, sc 6 in second chain from hook
mark the beginning of your row, move your marker up on each completed row
R2: 2 sc in each stitch around (12 stitches)
R3: *sc 1, sc 2 in next stitch* around (18 stitches)
R4: *sc 2, sc 2 in next stitch* around (24 stitches)
R5-7: sc around
R8 : sc 9, sc with bead, sc 3, sc with bead, sc 10
R9-15: sc around
R16: *[sl st, chain 3, sl into same st] sc* around for picot edging
Tie off, sew on a little smile, and weave in your ends.
I didn’t crochet a base because of the picot ruffle. Not to say that it couldn’t be done. This is more decoration than a toy, so I stuffed it with fiberfil to give it shape, but it’s open on the bottom.
I found these little straw coasters and they were just begging for a makeover. I used wool from the sleeves of my felted sweater stash. I can’t decide which set I like more: the lights or the brights. I hope they find a happy home through my etsy shop. I had lots of fun making them.
Did you make something yourself? Post it here!
I made these muffins the other day they are awesome! I made the pumpkin chocolate chip. The mini chips are a great idea and they really hit the spot when we’re hungry for a little something sweet. I am going to make more today using some extra fruit purees we have: banana, pumpkin and nectarine. Yum!
Yay! My dad’s scarf is finally finished. He’ll be so happy. I bought him this yarn last year from Liberty in London. It’s Rowan Cashsoft and is super soft and cuddly! He got a hat for his birthday and this scarf was his Father’s Day present. Since it was hot in June, I gave myself until Fall to finish it. It still needs to be blocked—the edges could use a good straightening. You’re probably thinking, oh no, not more Halloween colors! Well, just so you know, they are Orioles colors. Heh.
It’s a simple slip stitch pattern I pulled out of my stitch calendar. I think it’s the same as the Mason Dixon burp cloths (from their first book). Work in multiples of five:
Row 1 (ws): k2, *p1, k4; rep from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2
Row 2 (rs): k2, *sl 1, k4; rep from * to last 3 sts, sl 1, k2
Repeat these two rows.
Other specifics:
I knit both sides at the same time from the stripes up and then grafted them in the middle with the kitchener stitch. I did that because I wanted to use up as much black yarn as possible and I figured it was the easiest way to make sure the stripes matched up at the bottom.
I also practiced weaving in ends as I knit. Kind of tricky, but I think I finally got the hang of it.
Finished size: 8 inches x 1 1/2 Bellas
Did you make something yourself? Post it here!