Broom Stick Cowl... How To...

A couple years ago I taught myself how to knit... and I have been addicted ever since!  Although my projects don't always make it to my blog, you can sneak a peek here, here, and here...  Recently, I picked up a crochet hook... and we've become fast friends... It is so much faster than knitting!  Over the last two months I have crocheted many gifts for Christmas(given away to fast for pics).  Now, I believe it is my turn to make something for myself!

Using a broom stick lace stitch.. and scrap yarn... I quickly made up this cowl...  Soooo cozy!!!

Here is my pattern (and broom stick stitch how to)if you want to create your own...

I used a size N crochet hook

Chain 37(bulk yarn)

or

Chain 73(worsted weight)

Row1- insert hook into second chain from hook, wrap yarn around three times, pull through stitch(chain) and leave on hook... repeat to end of row... Then slip all stitches off of your hook(see in pictures below), flip work so you can continue from the right side.

Row2- slip first four loops(stitches) onto your hook, work four single crochet stitches around the 4loops, pick up four more loops...and repeat to end of row... chain 1 and turn over work. (pics below)

Row3- work 1 single crochet in each stitch... repeat to end of row... chain 1 and turn over work.

***Repeat these 3rows until you have 18rows, or desired length... stitch ends together...

This pattern can be bigger or smaller depending on what size hook you use... to create different textures I crocheted 2stitches of a thinner yarn(gray yarn) into one of the bulky stitches(cream and black).

The width can also vary, as long as your number of stitches can be divided by 4...

 

Here is the broomstick lace crochet how to...



 Insert hook into stitch...

 Wrap yarn around three times...

 Pull wraps back through the stitch...

 Leave these wraps on your hook until you come to the end of your row...

 Slip loops(wraps) off of your hook...

 Turn work so you can continue from the right side...

 Slip four loops onto your hook...

 Work four single crochet stitches onto those loops...

 Pick up four more loops and repeat...

 Continue to the end of your row... chain 1 and turn your work...

Work 1 row of single chain crochet...
These three rows make up the broomstick lace... repeat until you've reached the desired length... remember to chain 1 in between rows...

Hopefully that helps...
Happy Crocheting!
***Jennifer

Handmade Gifts... Pencil Case...

My Daughter came to me the other day requesting ideas for a gift she could make for her friends...


My son of course piped up and said he wanted to make Christmas gifts too! 

Luckily, I had filed away on one of my Pinterest boards this great idea from... One Good Thing By Jillee... using recycled cereal boxes and cutting out nifty pencil cases...
You'll find more recycled cereal box crafts... (and download instructions/templates)... HERE...



This project was so easy and fast to make!  All you need for this craft is...
* a cereal box
*tape
*pencil
*scissors
*Velcro fasteners (I used sticky back dots)

You'll also need to print out the template from this link by makezine.com (just a side note... I found I had to add 1/2inch to the template to accommodate the pencils I planed to use in the finished case.  I added this by cutting the template in half, and then taped an extra 1/2inch piece of paper to the middle...)

Opening the cereal box and laying it flat, I was able trace out two pencil cases...  I made sure to score the dotted lines, it makes folding so much easier...

After following the simple instructions... these come together in a snap!  Love that you can use the printed side, or the cardboard side and add your own drawings...

My kids found this craft to be both easy and fun!  No whining involved... Which is a win my book.

We also had fun filling them with Christmas pencils and erasers...

They are going to have so much fun giving these to their friends...

 

I'm glad I took the time to do a craft together... It seems to often we are caught up in our individual activities.  As my kids get older I feel like time is running out!  I want to make as many memories as possible... and hoard them away for later when hanging out with Mom is no longer cool... and maybe someday they'll think back on their childhood say fondly "Remember when..."

Happy Crafting!

***Jennifer



Paper Chains... Part 2

So, if you follow my posts... you know I've been making some paper chains...

Well I did'nt just stop there... I have been playing around with idea of adding other items with it...

I decided to use jute, felt cut into holly leaves, red beads, jingle bells, and some chestnuts that I gathered last year...

I strung these together with jute... and tied them to sections of paper chain...

The end result, was exactly what I was hoping for...

I could have wrapped them around my christmas tree... but I used them to dress up my windows instead...

Even the window above our bed...

 

So instead of fighting the crazy day after Thanksgiving shoppers...  I was speading some holliday cheer around the house...

Happy Holidays!

***Jennifer



Paper Chain... Part 1

One of my favorite decorations for Christmas are paper chains...  I love the simplicity, and they always make me feel a little nostalgic...  I have been wanting to make some for a while now... And finally got around to it... 

I wanted the paper chain to last... so I used Mod Podge with a gloss finish, some recycled cereal boxes(to give them some stability), and scraps of wrapping paper...

First cover your surface with the Mod Podge... then start layering the pieces of paper... the more torn the better... This is a great way to get rid of all of the radoms bits of paper we save "to use later".   I also used some pages from an old book... Make sure to get Mod Podge on the underside on any overlapping  sections also, or there will be a bubble there when it drys...

Next go over the entire work with a coat of Mod Podge...

After your work is dried... cut into strips... I made mine an 1 1/4 inch wide, and the length of the cereal box(minus flaps)...

I wanted my paper chain to be double sided(the chain at the top of the page is single sided, with the plain cardboard showing on the other side)... 
To make them double sided I just folded the strip in half, leaving one end a little bit longer... glue fold together with hot glue...

While the glue is still hot... form the strip into a circle shape...

Then add hot glue to the tab on the end...

Bring the folded edge in, and place it on top of the tab... hold in place for a second while the glue hardens... and you've got your first chain...

Keep chaining strips together until it's the desired length...

Such fun!
***Jennifer
P.S.  Save any scraps you have leftover from your Mod Podge strips, because they make great gift tags too!  Just hole punch the top... and add some jute or ribbon...

Adventures in Pattern Making... recreating some wordrobe favorites...

Lately it seems there are two pieces in my closet, that I am continually wearing over and over.  Being the bargain shopper that I am... buying more of these items is not an option(because they are no longer available)... So, I decided that I would just have to try and make them myself...
Here is the first item...

 The Maxi Skirt... I fought this trend, until I actually tried one on.  This one is really flattering on me, and not to flowy or bulky...

The next piece is this loose tank... I have worn it to death.  It is the ultimate layering piece.  I love to wear it with the maxi skirt... or pair it with skinny jeans and a bulky sweater... My must have for all seasons.  I was lucky enough to score one more in a tan floral print... but the store I purchased them from is now closed...
So... off to pattern making I go...

I first started with the skirt... Folding it in half I laid in on my paper and traced it out.  Adding 1/2 seam allowance to all sides, and a 1inch hem...

 I marked where the waistband was attached and added my 1/2 seam allowance...

 I measured the width(x2 so you can fold the fabric in half to enclose the elastic)and length of the waistband... of course also adding 1/2 seam allowances...

Using my new skirt pattern... I cut it out of black fabric... And the best part is it fits!

Next I will attempt the shirt... it looks a little more complicated than the skirt...  With a deep breath and a yes I can attidtude... here I go...

First I folded it in half(just like I did with the skirt)... and traced the shape.  This time I also pinned it to the paper, to prevent it from moving.  The top section is not touching the side edge(which will be the pattern's center fold line)of the paper, because the fabric will need to be gathered... I drew a line from the center edge(and along gathered section of the top I'm tracing) to the arm opening.  This should give me the correct amount to recreate the gathered back section on my pattern...

Next I traced the arm hole...

Then while leaving the arm hole pins and the bottom side pins in place...  I removed the center fold pins... this allowed me enough slack in the garment to lay the front shoulder straps flat... and continue tracing...

This picture is suppose to show the seam allowances that I added to my tracing, and the shape of the pattern... Sorry it isn't very clear... next time I am going to have to use a sharpie instead of a pencil...

I also needed to trace the back yoke... which was easy enough... and add my seam allowance...

And my second pattern is a success...

Here is my version... And the original... I think it's pretty close...  

I seem to be getting more adventurous with my sewing projects.  Since I started using my Burda Style Hand Book... it has opened up a whole new world for me.  A year ago... if you had asked me if I could make my own pattern, I would have laughed... While I'm not attempting anything fancy... I have gotten more confident in my abilities...  And even though I hate making mistakes(I am my own worst enemy)...waisting time on failed projects...  and thinking about the possibility of ruining my precious vintage fabric...  I have to take a deep breath and realize I will never know my potential, if I don't ever try... 
Thank you for joining me on my sewing adventures... 
Your support sometimes has been that extra push I needed...
***Jennifer