Monthly Archives: June 2007

Hiding the Ends of Crochet Squares (tutorial and free patterns)

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Several years ago I made a couple of “granny square” type afghans that turned out fair.  I thought they were pretty, but just not quite professional looking.  Those pesky knots at the end of each square were not so bad as to stand up and slap you, but they just kinda made the squares look a little out of balance.   I have not make any square afghans since then and have stuck with “no squares to sew” patterns… but with this tutorial  I found at Panda Crochet showing how to end the square and make the joining invisible, I may be tempted to give it another shot. 

While you’re there, browse through his free patterns.. this Pineapple Square (12″) is one of my favorites but he also has doilies…

Have a look….

Rolling Basket Side Tables (tutorial)

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Rolling basket side tables…who knew?  I was wandering the Martha Stewart site and gt03sepmsl_basketbeauty_l.jpgclicked on Good Things.. and there it was on one of the back pages.. 8 or 9.. not sure which..  just the thing for us crafters who sit in our chairs watching television and crafting. 

Make Your Own Crochet Hooks (tutorial)

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j0153740.jpgIf you’ve ever wanted to make everything you use from scratch, here’s one more thing to add to your collection.  I have to admit that there is something really special about using my naalbinding needles that I made myself. 

So… I have come across 2 sites that show how to make crochet hooks.  The first is a craftster.org site where Monica  gives instructions for making your hook out of chopsticks. 

Serendipidy Crochet has a  page showing the steps using wooden dowel rods.  It gives the sizes of dowel rods and what they correspond to regarding the size of the hook made.  While you’re there, look over her free patterns. 

Have a look….

Sew A Quilt.com (tutorials)

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Being a new convert to quilting, I found Sew A Quilt.com and decided that her quilt will be my next quilt….for any who doesn’t know…that means #2..grin  The pic shows my first quilt which is a basic beginner’s quilt using the split rail fence.  That one I know.  The sampler quilt will use the rail fence, log cabin (with which I don’t foresee having any problem ), flying geese (with which I do foresee a problem), four patch, pinwheel and fair and square blocks.

Gloria Massard had put together one of the most complete tutorials I have ever seen.  She covers everything from how to choose your fabrics to sewing on the final binding.

Have a look…. 

Are There Any Spinners Out There?

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Look what came in my mail!  I ordered this roving from Carrie Cape at her  Funky Carolina shop on Etsy. The picture just does not do them  justice.  The colors are so soft and there is almost a creamy quality to the Poof that is shown on the right. The small red skein is a gift from Carrie that came with it and I just love it.   Thank you , Carrie.

The skein on the left is called Whisper and I have tried my hand with the drop spindle already.  I have been really careful about trying to keep my yarn even, but have to wonder if I am putting too much twist on it.  I really, really like this roving and really do want it to become something wonderful.  Sooo…. Jo……(and anyone else who would like to PLEASE critique)… if you  go to my Flickr  pic, you can see the twist about an inch or so up from the whorl.  Is that too much?  Thanks…

McCall’s Quilting has some new patterns up…

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Grandma S. quilt… now 3rd generation.McCall’s Quilting has soooo many quilt block patterns and as I was looking them over this morning I found several web only patterns and patterns marked “New”.  I especially liked the Grandma’s Legacy Quilts,  but found that it would be a hard choice between any of the patterns.  They are all so lovely.

This is a quilt made by DH’s father’s mother.  It has been in the family now for 3 generations and will be given to one of our daughters as time goes on. 

Have a look…

Show Off Your FPCs! (tutorial)

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What to do with Fabric Post Cards… I always want to have them where I can see them…or do I want to make them into a book… or do I want to just store them in a lovely box so I can pick them up and read the back over and over.  Well, one way is to make a lovely wall hanging that is very much like a multi-picture frame mat.  A new online friend named Kate has a blog called Kate’s Quilting (& Other Fiber Arts Blog) and she has posted a tutorial for a wall hanging with fabric picture corners that will hold your FPCs for you see all the time. What a lovely way to share the beauty of exchanged FPCs.

Have a  look!  And while you’re there, check out here Etsy shop for lovely hand dyed fat quarters and fabric postcards.

This is an FPC that I made last winter.  The picture is a fabric photocopy  of a painting that I painted last winter and is now hanging in my bathroom.

Brazilian Embroidery (free designs and tutorial)

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The Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery Guild has a wonderful site for anyone loving embroidery.  If you’re looking for something different to use on FPCs, ATCs this would be lovely.  The teaching free patterns with tutorials are here.

This is a dimensional sheep that I did about 2 years ago.  It is made using French Knots with detached buttonhole for the free “flopping” ear.  

Have a look…