At any given time I have a brainless knitting project going, something to work on while I’m watching Lucy play, or chatting with a friend, or just taking a brain break. Knitting that is easy to not mess up AND easy to fix if I do. This is my favorite […]
crochet - destash - journal - patterns & tutorials
This is the biggest milestone project of my crafting life!
What a mouth full. But it’s true. Have you wondered why all my writing, sparse though it’s been, has been about cooking and gardening? Well, because I haven’t finished crafting anything in FOREVER. Well, about two years. Whoa. To write it out like that makes it feel real. And surreal. […]
journal - knitting - patterns & tutorials
Free Pattern: Elda’s Knit Pin Cushion
A common problem when working from the stash, is having only a small amount of each type of fiber left. How can you successfully combine cotton and wool in the same project? How can you combine acrylic with silk? Should you? Would you? Could you dare? (Yes, I totally stole […]
crochet
Crochet Sun Tea Spot: Free Coaster Pattern
Materials Needed :: Cotton worsted weight yarn – at least 5 three yard lengths :: Size G Hook :: Sun Tea with Ice and Straw Finished Size 3 3/4” (9.5 mm) diameter Notes All stitches are worked through both loops. For one of the first times this year I sat outside […]
nosew - patterns & tutorials
Notepad Girdle Box
This little box is a great way to keep all your note paper in one place. Cut mis-prints and other scrap paper into quarter sheet size and slip it right in. Grab it when you need it, store it when you don’t. Cover it with fabric or paper and […]
journal - patterns & tutorials - stitching school
Stitching School: The Knit Stitch!
It really made me happy all the nice comment you gave me on the Cable Cast On How To, so I decided to follow up a little ahead of schedule with why it’s so great to use, especially when just learning. Like I said, the cable cast on is such […]
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Decent Exposure: Mending my favorite jeans
The irony that I’ve literally written the book on mending is not lost on me. My mending pile is a mile high. Most of the time I try and stay on top of it, but times like this summer happen and it really gets away from me!
howto - patterns & tutorials
Lawn Mower Repair and Maintenance
I just got a new homemaker merit badge — lawn mower repair! Our lawn mower was working just fine and then, poof, it wasn’t. Jason and I went back and forth over the last month about whether to take it to get repaired, try to fix it ourselves, buy a […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
DIY Plant Markers – Stick it up!
My friend Michelle has been helping me in the garden this year in exchange for a share of the bounty. It has been a boon! We dug the garden, corralled chickens, planted all the plants and seeds (on time, even early) — which I’ve never managed to do before. She […]
howto - little woods homestead
Woodworking Craft Leftovers: Building a quick gate!
They want out. He wants in so he can do to them what he’s doing to this bucket. Chewing the crap out of it. Since we got Bob in March we’ve been doing this shuffling act of letting him out, putting him in, letting the chicken out, putting them up, […]
nosew - patterns & tutorials
Tutorial: Polymer Clay Kawaii Toast
I love toast! I was freaking *de-light-ed* in Chicago and went into a japanese toy store and saw Kawaii Toast! So cute! Love them! But I didn’t really want a keychain. Or a coin purse. I just wanted a little toast to bring me joy and hang out on my […]
howto - little woods homestead - patterns & tutorials
How to Dig a Weed Free Garden Bed
This year I decided move a few things around in my yard. The coop is in the corner and the chickens get their own space (so Bob doesn’t terrorize them) and instead of having the garden in a square, I’m moving it along the fence. The hope is that this […]
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Quilted Pot Holder
Way back in 2006 I wrote one of my very first sewing patterns, a little quilted pot holder. The idea was good, but even back then it didn’t turn out quite right. So, as I’ve been poking around in the archive, I came across it and decided to remake it […]
howto - little woods homestead - nosew - patterns & tutorials - thrift kitchen
How to: Meal Plan Chalk Board
Just about every day Jason asks “so what’s for dinner?” to which I reply: “umm, I’m not sure, let me look it up”. And then I rifle around until I get distracted, and then 2 hours later when it’s about dinner time and I’ve forgotten to take out the chicken […]
patterns & tutorials
How to: Matchbook Notepad “Drawing All the Time!”
I was going to write up a how to on making a matchbook notepad for today, and then I realized that “hey, this feels familiar”. A quick search through the Craft Leftovers archive and I found this sweet little tutorial (circa 2008) on how to make one for drawing – […]
diy wedding - howto - patterns & tutorials
DIY Wedding: How I made my own invitations
There’s a common misconception that you have to have good drawing skills to make your own amazing invitations, but that’s not necessarily true. I *sheepishly* did absolutely no drawing for these invites. First I’ll take you on a little tour around my invites, then I’ll tell you how I got […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
Cardboard Box Looms: DIY Weaving at it’s finest!
Weaving is one of the best ways to use up buckets of yarn scraps. And, it turns out, cardboard boxes too! This is a super fun project to take up a few hours and end up with a mountable little tapestry at the end of the day. You can make it with your kids and have them take turns weaving.
journal - patterns & tutorials - round up
Crafting for those in Need: Pencil Clutches
I’m part of a really great local arts group called Ames Collaborative Art, we like to call ourselves Ames C.art. Each month we get together for what we call Creative Collision. Basically, we flood a local coffee shop, bring some kind of portable project, and hang out for a few […]
howto - nosew - patterns & tutorials
How to: Paper Cranes!
For my wedding, we are making a back drop of paper cranes to take pictures with. I was really inspired by this photo, which I now have no idea where I collected it: and this: (A Walk in the Closet posted this wonderful photo) So I have about 200 of […]
howto - patterns & tutorials
How to: Mat your work!
Getting your work matted and framed adds a level of professionalism to your work. It gives small intimate pieces a more dynamic presence in a large room. But… it’s expensive! Last month I showed you how to take an old beat up frame and really make it shine through fixing […]