Mending is that bridge between creative worlds. Whether a hobbiest or professional, we all have something to share, contribute, and a sock with a hole. For those of us that are a little more quiet, it gives us a task to keep attentive to and help with any social anxiety. […]
Craftea - howto - journal - knitting - Mend it Better - patterns & tutorials - wips
Re-Knitting Dropped Stitches in Realtime Live
Join me for 40 minutes of relaxed mending and afternoon tea. Today I reknit the top of my daughter’s hat that “exploded” at school. I also show off a few other projects in my mending basket and the socks I’m knitting up just for fun. Show Notes Sign up for the […]
journal - podcast
Ep 11: Should you Sell at a Fair, Fest, or Market?
Enjoy Episode 11 of the Craft Leftovers Podcast in video form (the abridged recording of the September 14, 2022 livestream and transcript are coming soon). Pull up a project and craft along. Over the last two decades I’ve coordinated, participated, and volunteered at over 100,000* art and craft festivals, fairs, […]
crochet - patterns & tutorials
Free Pattern: Crochet Tiger Kitty Plush
First published in the March Volume 2 issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly, this little Tiger Kitty spread its sweetness to Craftzine.com back in 2010. Get it here on the Craft Leftovers blog for the first time. Be careful though, he may be a little sweety when sleepy, but this Tiger […]
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 […]
knitting - patterns & tutorials
Free Knit Pattern: Cozy Matcha Mittens
These small cozy mittens were made just for me. I wanted something warm and soft for long winter walks. And this clearance/discontinued yarn was just the thing. Using up just one skein for a small pair (my size), they are great for reducing my yarn pile. They work up so […]
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 […]
embroidery - patterns & tutorials
Grandma’s Sew Kit | Free Plastic Canvas Embroidery Project
This post is part of the Pattern Archive Recovery Project. The pattern was originally posted back in 2009 and you can read the original content and get the full pattern on the original post. Enjoy the newly formatted, updated, and ad-free printer/screen friendly PDF in the Craft Leftovers Shop.
fabric - patterns & tutorials
Free Pattern | Reusable Grocery Bag Made for your Bike Basket
Fantasizing about riding my bike to the grocery store is a lovely image. A bit of a fresh air, get my legs moving, a handle bar basket full of …. too much? What. Wait, that wasn’t the idea I had in mind. I made this tote bag to fit right […]
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.
knitting - patterns & tutorials
Knit Pattern: Cat Hoodie
The Making me Purr Cat Hoodie. It’s one of those patterns that was so much of a joke between Jason and I that I almost didn’t write it down. I almost didn’t share it. It’s become a classic. Knit from stash yarn and lots of laughs it’s the most popular pattern I’ve ever written to date. Originally published in December 2009. Available for purchase on Ravelry, Etsy, and Here on in my Shop
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
Craft Leftovers Homecoming
More than a decade ago… whoa. I started a blog called Craft Leftovers to fill a need in my life. I needed some outside accountability in busting my stash. I had my own pile of yarn and fabric as well as all the craft supplies I inherited from my grandma. […]
journal
DIY Instruments Zine
This weekend Ames, Iowa is host to one of the most epic of Midwest music festivals, the Maximum Ames Music Festival. They use traditional and non traditional music venues and organize the hosting of local, national, and international music. It’s amazing. This year a local artist and curator lyndsay Nissen […]
little woods homestead - thrift kitchen
Making Horseradish Sauce!
Ah, delicious. Kind of. Horseradish is powerful stuff. It burns through your nose in a flash and then it’s gone. It’s unlike any other “hot”. Last spring I planted a few cuttings of it in a secluded bed that’s hopefully sectioned off enough to keep it from spreading everywhere. I […]
journal - wips
Weaving in the Winter
Winter is always the season of weaving for me. With my overly large floor room, it’s the only time of year that I’m okay being tucked into my basement studio for hours shuttling back and forth. I turn on the space heater, bring down a pot of tea and put […]
round up
Fall Decor Ideas
I’ve been wanting to spruce up the house and instead of doing a 100% halloween makeover, I’d like to do more of an autumn flavor.
round up
Candy Corn = nom nom nom!
CANDY CORNNNNN NOM NOM NOM NOM Okay, I just had to get that out of my system. Jason and I LOVE candy corn. But, it’s, well, a teeth rotter. Each year we get ONE bag and that’s it. Which is hard because it’s not one of those gallon sized bags. […]
round up
On the RAGBRAI Trail: DIY Cycling Gear
This week I’m on the trail of RAGBRAI for the first time. In fact, when this post goes live I’ll be well on Day 2 of riding. I’m nervous. I’m excited. And I’m dreaming about all the cool things I should make for my bike.
round up
Six ways to DIY your July 4th Celebrations!
Usually I’m not one to get all festive for the forth, but I started seeing all these super cute ideas in my blog feed and it’s really got me in the mood for fireworks, lemonade and those amazing ice cream sandwiches. I may just even do a picnic with Jason […]