Enjoy Episode 6 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast (an abridged recording of the May livestream) in audio form. Pull up a project and craft along. I’m on a deadline this month so instead of mending, I’m slaying the reed on my loom. Thanks for the company! I’m talking all about […]
journal - podcast
Ep 5: How Every Year Builds on the Last
Note: These show notes contain affiliate links Enjoy Episode 5 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast (a recording of the April livestream) in audio form. Pull up a project and craft along. I’m working on mending my favorite pj’s and a vintage handmade shirt. Thanks for the company! It’s my birthday […]
journal - podcast
Ep 4: Textile Upcycling in Creative Businesses for Environmental Healing with Crispina Ffrench
Note: These show notes contain affiliate links Join Crispina and I as we explore a lifetime using sustainable practices to inspire and inform our work. Some highlights of our talk are: the state and hopeful decline of fast fashion, balancing sustainability with desire for staying current, upcycling vs recycling and […]
journal - podcast
Ep 3: Decluttering to Unlock Creative Flow
Note: These show notes contain affiliate links Enjoy Episode 3 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast (a recording of the March livestream) in audio form or pull up a project and craft along. I’m working on mending my favorite spring jacket. Thanks for the company! No matter your Cleaning or Cluttering […]
journal - podcast
Ep 2: Blog to Book & Beyond: Craft Leftovers Podcast
Note: These show notes contain affiliate links A full decade has passed since my book Mend it Better rolled off the presses. And this really got me thinking, where am I now? How did I get here? Over the next year, I’ll be posting a new monthly interview with the […]
Crafty Business - journal - podcast
Making an Year Plan that Works for YOU: Ep 1
Livestream introducing what’s on the horizon for Craft Leftovers and walking you through my method for annual planning and then implementing that plan ANYTIME of year.
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Knit Head Wrap | Practice Lace Stitches in this easy fast knitting project
Special thanks to Ravelry member dc2go for requesting this pattern be next to update! I love this pattern for teaching begging lace knitting, making a last minute gift, or keeping my on the go project bag light and easy. It is a great little pattern to practice many of the […]
journal
Introducing the Pattern Archive Restoration Project : aka the story of how I lost and found my crafty goodness
Here is the short story: Craft Leftovers was hacked shortly after Mend it Better was released, Jason found back ups 7 years later, we are rebuilding the archive, rereleasing patterns every Thursday.
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Free Knitting Pattern: Cherry Chirp!
For the next addition of the Pattern Archive Restoration project, I present the Cherry Chirp Knitting Pattern! First published in February of 2008 and has been missing from the archive for quite some time. Welcome Back my little friend! Standing about 8 inches tall, 4 inches wide, and 8 inches […]
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Knit Tea Cozy Free Pattern
For the next addition of the Pattern Archive Restoration project, I present the Knit Tea Cozy. It’s not just for tea pots, it can also work for nice big 13″ circumference tea mugs. Knitted way back in 2008… I still find this little cozy immensely useful, cheerful, and cozy! Made for a Tea-for-One tea set, it fits well on a large mug or any other small pot.
Visit the original pattern post for the complete free pattern.
Crafty Business - journal - round up
Speaking at 1 Million Cups Ames: Show Notes Edition
On February 17th, I woke up early and headed off to the Iowa State Research Park Core Facility to present my entrepreneurial story to our local 1 Million Cups chapter. I decided to scrap my usual presentation and tell my whole entrepreneurial story. Starting with Craft Leftovers and coming full circle with this year’s launch of my art business this October.
fabric - Home Redress - howto - journal - patterns & tutorials
Repair a Vintage Project Basket
Special thanks to a Facebook message that let me know the pattern link was broken for the Vintage Project Basket. Now that it’s fixed, let me share with you this project that still has a home in my studio.
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Free Beginner Knitting Pattern: Lucy’s Pinktastic Scarf
This scarf is a great for a beginner wanting to try knitting with two colors at the same time. For the more advanced knitter, it’s a simple garter stitch pattern so it’s perfect for knitting while enjoying a movie or waiting for kids to get done with sports. And only 4 ends to weave in on its entire stripy lengeth.
journal
Meet me at Chicago Zinefest
It’s here! Chicago Zinefest is here! And you know what? Craft Leftovers Volume 5, Issue 1 will be here too (check it out in the CL Shop & on Etsy! I’ll be putting it up for sale in my etsy shop when I get back from the zinefest and I’ll […]
journal
Free Sewing Pattern: Shop ‘n’ Ride Tote
Love this tote and re-reading this post had me thinking… where did that bag go! It would be excellent to pack my lunch in. This fun little tote was originally made to fit in the basket of my bike in college, then used to carry my lunch once I was […]
crochet - journal - patterns & tutorials
Free Crochet Pattern: Tribble Trivet
A reader request from @FA3RYL on Twitter bumped this to the top of the list to add next. Still love this crochet pattern, so I was only too happy to oblige. I may just hook it up myself. The original is long since missing and I am in need of […]
journal
Morning Sketch Book
Lucy is on the cusp of starting her first year of school. So. I did something different. Even though we pay for childcare so I can work 9-5 at the shop Monday – Friday, I opted to leave work early or go in late and grab her out of day […]
journal
Grandma Mini Sewing Box
I’m still in love with this little box, but can’t find it anywhere. Maybe it’s time I make a new one. I brought two posts together to tell the whole story with a few edits for ease of reading. Originally published 09/07/2009. This weekend I started the daunting task of digging […]
Home Redress - journal - Uncategorized
Siding the House: Part 1
I say part 1, but it’s more like “years one, two, and three”. It’s been a long time in progress. And I have a long way to go, though I’m technically about 2/3 done. Potentially, all my creative energy (and time) outside of the shop and family things has funneled […]
journal
Studio clean out
It always gets worse before it gets better. I’ve been listening to this book called Decluttering at the Speed of Life and have been… well decluttering. Big time. Talking 3 pickup truck loads to the goodwill from the kitchen, master bedroom, spare bedroom, and living room. It’s not been a […]