…ant to thank everyone for making the FreshStitches Celebration Sale such a success! Deals were had far and wide… and the most popular pattern snagged was… you guessed it! The Choose Your Own Dragon Adventure pattern! Looks like we might have some more folks joining in on the CAL… yay! Okay, back to the business at hand. On Tuesday, I talked about how to strand your yarn as you changed colors for long color changes (like for the d…
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14 Things I’m Really Proud of Accomplishing in 2014
…on teaching If you read my financial reviews, you’ll know that my income comes from a variety of sources: pattern sales, book royalties, teaching and physical good sales. I love each component of my business, but I was delighted to spend some time this year to focus on teaching. I’m very proud of the classes I offer and my students seem to love them, too! 11. I ran a half-marathon This July, I ran a half-marathon. I registered for the…
Continue ReadingSuggestions for skin color yarns!
It can be hard to find a nice skin-tone yarn. So, I’ve compiled a few suggestions for you! Keep in mind that it’s going to be hard to find a yarn that’s exactly like a skin tone… remember you’re crocheting a toy, not painting an exact likeness! Keep your mind open, and you’ll find a yarn that’s at least close! Doll Day is tomorrow! Don’t forget, tomorrow is the release day for my new, super-exciting…
Continue ReadingStitches Midwest and lots of inspiration!
…ung oil, which gives a great finish. It’s good to go outside of your comfort zone! Here’s the photo! Here’s the video of the awesome hinges in action! Tips and Tutorials Here’s a video for how to use a ball winder and swift. You might also be interested in my review of my favorite at-home winder. Here’s how to read a bead crochet pattern. Surface Single Crochet is such a great technique and Moogly posted a great tutor…
Continue ReadingBook Review: Beastly Crochet
…s. Check out ‘A Zombie named Skip’, a marionette who sports an open mouth with beads as teeth! The other critters (including a Frankenstein & his bride and an adorable yeti-type monster among others) feature colorwork, textured stitches, appliques and even felting (the cuties on the cover!). While there are a few patterns suitable for beginners, this book is targeted at crocheters who are looking for innovative patterns and want t…
Continue ReadingHow to Sew a Personalized Bunting
…tep 1: Cut out Your shapes Step 2: Cut out your letters and sew on You can freestyle the letters… but if you’re not good at drawing (like me!) don’t fret. I made a template by printing out large letters from a nice font on my computer. I sewed the letters on using a simple running stitch. If you have a fabric that will fray, then you might want to use a zig-zag stitch around the edges. Step 3: Sew your flags Place the right sides…
Continue ReadingSchaefer Yarns Outlet: Interlaken, NY
…urs: I suppose luck wasn’t on my side, because the shop wasn’t open. But, I did take a peek inside: According to this news article I found, the outlet is leftover inventory, and it’s unclear if new stock is being added. I can’t vouch for the yarn (or prices) of what’s inside… but what I can offer is directions! (since the address/directions are missing from the outlet’s webpage…) From Ithaca, NY: dri…
Continue ReadingKool Aid Bear!
…y. If the yarn feels crunchy, give it another rinse. The color won’t come out. Here’s my finished skein: Pretty, huh? Crochet your bear! To crochet your bear, wind up your skein into a ball and crochet according to the directions! Since there’s only one color, you’ll be using the yarn for both the MC and CC. For Teddy’s nose, I picked a spot of super-orange yarn… it really contrasts! New to using a skein? If thi…
Continue ReadingQuick Crochet for the Home Review + Giveaway!
…to the forums and comment in the Quick Crochet for the Home Giveaway thread! A winner will be chosen at random at noon Eastern (US) on Friday, July 28th, 2017. The giveaway is open internationally. Please be sure to include your email so I can contact you! Good luck! …
Continue ReadingInterview with Kristen Rask from Plush You! and Schmancy Toys
…other galleries in SF and LA. This year, the show was only in Schmancy. It opened up this [October 14th]. I had a few hundred apply but Schmancy is pretty small so I could only host about 65 artists. People apply in Feb. and then I jury and the show is ALWAYS the second Friday in October. I will slowly be putting the pieces still for sale online and then a lot of them end up finding new homes for the holiday season. There are some amazing pieces….
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