The Zen of Making

Organizing for CHA Craft Demos

2012-01-27T16:22:00.001-05:00

After a week of being tossed around in my usual pre-travel storm, I can finally see some calm on the horizon. (I'd better be able to, since I fly out to LA in the morning!)

For me, the best way to keep travel stress low—especially when there are demos involved—is by making sure that everything is ridiculously organized before I leave. But, because I'm doing eleven demos in four days (with 10 different projects) in the Waxman booth at CHA, I can confidently say that, this time, I took my travel organization efforts to a whole new level.

• I packed all of my pre-prepped materials and tools in a double-sided carrier with small compartments, then labeled each compartment.

• I outlined each project on its own color-coded note card (a different color for each day), so I have a quick reference on hand for the supplies and tools needed and any prep work that will need to be done before each demo.

• I created a complete demo guide for the show by combining my project cards with a master supply list and a master tool list on a binder ring.

• All supplies that were too large to fit in my carrier were sorted into individual ziploc bags and labeled by project.

It may look like I packed in a fit of OCD rage right now, but I can guarantee that I won't be sorry when I get to Anaheim!

Sunday Snapshot: Knitting Continental

2012-01-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

It's finally snowy and cold here in NYC, so I took advantage of the weather last night and stayed in to re-learn how to knit.

I'm a great lover of crochet, but I've known how to knit since college, when my friend Mike Topper taught me how while we were working at the Half-Ass (Halfway Inn) in Ann Arbor. Before last night, it had been at least five years since I'd last picked up my sticks, but, thanks to the knitting mysteries and romances I've been reading lately (don't judge—they're surprisingly decent popcorn reading), I suddenly found myself with the itch to try again. Like most Americans, I'd originally learned to knit using the English method, but, upon consulting my copy of Stitch 'N Bitch, I noticed that the yarn hold in the Continental method looked a lot like the yarn hold I was used to in crochet. I tried it out, and everything just clicked. Now, I only wish that someone had told me earlier that knowing my way around a crochet hook would make Continental knitting a breeze!

Review: Lion Brand Yarn Wool Stainless Steel Yarn for Craft Test Dummies

2012-01-19T12:58:00.001-05:00

Wool stainless steel yarn has a weird name, but it's some seriously fabulous stuff. (Also, can we just take a moment to talk about how much I love the packaging?) The lovely folks at Lion Brand Yarn sent me some to try out, and you can read my full review over on Craft Test Dummies: Craft Product Review: Lion Brand Yarn LB Collection Wool Stainless Steel Yarn

Craft Product Review: Lion Brand Yarn LB Collection Wool Stainless Steel Yarn

When I received a sample of the LB Collection® Wool Stainless Steel Yarn from Lion Brand Yarn, I immediately fell in love with the packaging and presentation. Plus, with such an odd name, I couldn’t wait to try it out and see what it could do (and how it would treat my hands). After testing it alone, then incorporating it into several different kinds of projects, I’m pleased to report that the yarn was a ton of fun to work with, performed beyond my expectations, and left my skin completely free of scratches and irritation.

What I loved:
1. The wool stainless steel was easy to crochet and knit, and did not feel at all stiff or rough to the touch.

2. Thanks to the stainless steel strand woven into the yarn, you can make detailed lace stitches and arrange them by hand without needing to block with water. This would be great for holiday ornaments or knit and crochet work that will be hung or displayed...

Curious? Head on over to Craft Test Dummies to read the full review!

Sunday Snapshot: CHA Homestretch

2012-01-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

There are just two weeks to go before CHA opens in Anaheim, and things are definitely hoppin' around TZoM headquarters. I'm absolutely determined to avoid the stress of a last-minute scramble, so I'm working hard to finish up my in-booth demo project designs for Waxman this week. My Mod Podge collection and pigment pens have been getting quite a workout, and I plan to spend the rest of the afternoon getting creative with self-adhesive bumpers and embroidery floss. (It's way more exciting than it sounds—I promise!)

Did you make anything awesome this weekend?

Tutorial: Perfect Felted Wool Balls and Beads

2012-01-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

For a recent project, I needed a whole pile of fairly uniform felted wool balls. I thought it would be easy enough to make my own—I'd seen quite a few tutorials kicking around the crafty blogosphere—but no matter what method I tried, I always seemed to end up with the same ugly ridges, cracks and creases. In my frustration, I started experimenting with different combinations of felting techniques, and finally stumbled upon the answer for creating perfect round felted wool balls, with no washing machine or wool yarn core required!

Supplies:
* Wool roving, dyed or natural
* Detergent, mild and unscented
* Hot water

Tools:
* Needle felting needles (I used a Clover needle felting tool.)
* Needle felting mat or foam pad (I used a Clover needle felting mat.)
* Large bowl or washtub
* Towel

Step 1
Gather a large handful of wool roving, fluffing and separating the fibers.

Step 2
Wrap the roving into a tight ball. (There will be some flyaway fiber at the beginning of the process, so don't expect immediate perfection!)

This ball will be about twice the size of your finished felted ball.

Step 3
Place the balled fiber onto the felting surface. With a felting tool or felting needle, begin to intertwine the fibers and fuse them together by poking the needle into the center of the ball.

Step 4
Continue working your way around the ball, smoothing any loose fibers down and poking them into place. In areas where layers of roving overlap, take special care to poke the layers together until the surface is smooth and uniform, and no evidence of the overlap remains. (This will prevent ridges and gaps from forming in your finished felted balls.)

When your needle felted ball is round and has a mostly smooth surface, you're ready to move on to water felting.

Step 6
Add a few drops of gentle detergent to the bottom of a large bowl, then fill it with the hottest water that your hands can safely stand. Dip a needle felted ball into the water and begin to roll it lightly between your palms in a circular motion. As the fibers fuse, periodically return the ball to the water bowl, then continue rolling, increasing the pressure of your hands slightly as the ball becomes firmer. The rolling process will take at least one to two minutes per felted ball.

Note: When you first start rolling, resist the urge to press hard—this could create creases on the surface of your felted ball.

Step 7
When the surface of your ball is completely smooth and uniform, the felting process is complete. Squeeze any water out of the ball, then press the ball in a towel. Once excess water is removed, roll the ball in your hands one last time to round it out, then allow it to dry for at least 12 hours before using.

CHA Sneak Peek: TARDIS Finger Puppet

2012-01-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

I'm deep into the prep work for my Waxman in-booth demos at the CHA Winter 2012 conference! Here's a sneak peek of one of my projects: a TARDIS finger puppet! (Don't worry—there will also be finger puppet examples for those of you who don't speak geek!)

Sunday Snapshot: It's a Lion Brand and Waxman Kind of Day

2012-01-08T13:28:00.002-05:00

I'm spending the day playing with new yarns from the Lion Brand Yarns LB Collection and working on projects for my in-booth demos for Waxman at CHA. It may be Sunday, but it's certainly not a lazy one here at TZoM headquarters!

Yesterday, my pal Jenny from Craft Test Dummies cheerfully reminded me that CHA is only TWO WEEKS away. In light of that revelation, I'm now taking deep breaths and trying not to panic. Two weeks is more than enough time to finish my projects, sew my clothes, write a review, and put together the tutorials that I need to hand in before I leave, right?! Right.

Edit: Phew. Just realized that CHA is actually in THREE weeks, not two.

Now, who else is totally freaking excited for CHA?

Friday Internet Crushes: Ms. Stitcher Stitched a TARDIS!

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

TARDIS iPhone case from TZoM reader Ms. Stitcher!

A few days ago, I got a very sweet comment on my TARDIS iPhone Case Cross-Stitch Pattern post from Rebecca over at Ms. Stitcher, letting me know that she'd used the pattern to make her own TARDIS iPhone case, and that she'd posted a photo on her blog.

Now, it's a treat for any craft designer to know that her patterns are being used, but this was the first time that I'd actually *seen* one of my projects in the wild, so it definitely made my whole darn week!

Rebecca made the case as a Christmas gift for her brother-in-law, who, like me, is a rabid Doctor Who fan. I think she did a great job, and I love how the the design looks on a black background! You can check out her original post—including the other handmade gifts that she made this year—on her blog. Head on over and show her some love!

Tutorial: Crochet 101 for Craftzine.com

2012-01-04T16:23:00.000-05:00

Were you excited about my crocheted snowflake ornaments or double sided dish scrubbers, but totally intimidated by the idea of learning how to crochet? Well, even if you've never picked up a crochet hook before, have no fear! Check out my Crochet 101 video tutorial on CRAFT, and I'll show you everything you need to know to get hookin'!

Crochet 101: Chain Stitch, Single, and Double Crochet

Welcome to Crochet 101! In this post, I'll introduce you to the basics of crochet and give you all of the information that you'll need to select your tools and get started. In the video above, I'll show you how to attach the yarn to the hook and make your foundation chain, then I'll teach you three basic stitches: single crochet, double crochet, and slip stitch. After that, I'll show you how to fix mistakes and finish off your work. Below, you'll also find a glossary of the crochet vocabulary words that I use in the video, plus brief overview of how hook sizes and yarn weights work so you'll know what you're looking for when you first visit the yarn store. When you're done, you'll have the skills that you need to complete your own basic square or rectangular projects, and a solid background that you can take with you as you move on to more complex stitches and patterns...

Need more information? Head over the post on CRAFT, where you'll find the video, a glossary of the crochet terms that I used in the video, and a brief explanation of hook sizes and yarn weights. That's everything you need to get started, all in one easy to find place!

Tutorial: Sewable Shrink Plastic Buttons

2012-01-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Did you know that you can make your own custom plastic buttons for just about any project, any time you need them, and for super cheap?

After seeing this awesome button tutorial from Scissors.Paper.Wok, I've been dying to make some buttons of my own. Mine aren't quite as artistically beautiful as Kimanh's—I erred on the side of simple kitties and polka dots—but I had a great time trying out different sizes, shapes, and shrink plastic colors and textures.

A confirmed sewing nerd, I'm a teeny tiny bit obsessed with buttons. If you are too, then this is a project that you don't want to miss!

Supplies:
* Shrink plastic sheets or #6 plastic food containers (I used Shrinky Dinks sheets.)
* Scrap paper
* Parchment paper (baking paper)

Tools:
* High quality permanent pigment pens (I used Pigma Micron pens.)
* Circle cutter or punches in various sizes (I used the Fiskars circle cutter and the Paper Source 2 1/8" punch.)
* Paper hole punch
* Paper scissors
* Oven or toaster oven
* Baking sheet
* Pencil
* Die cutting machine and dies (Optional—only if you want to cut special shapes.)

Things to keep in mind before getting started:

• If you're using frosted plastic, cut with the glossy side up—it will keep the sheet from sliding around while you cut.

• I tried the process with both a convection toaster oven and a conventional gas oven. With the toaster oven, my buttons were consistently slightly warped and not-quite-round. My results in the conventional oven were significantly better and produced much rounder shapes.

• Small buttons held shape better than large buttons.

• For this project, I used both frosted plastic (textured) and almond plastic (non-textured). Frosted plastic is sanded on one side, so it's much easier to work with and produces more consistent color results than non-textured sheets.

Step 1
Using punches or a circle cutter, make paper paper patterns for each size and shape that you will be cutting.

I used a 2 1/8" circle for my largest buttons, a 1 1/2" circle for my medium buttons, and a 1" circle for my smallest buttons.

Starting Size vs. Finished Size
2 1/8" = about 7/8" after shrinking
1 1/2" = about 1/2" after shrinking
1" = about 3/8" after shrinking

Step 2
To place the button holes, fold the circle template in half twice to create a plus-shaped crease. Open the second fold and use your paper hole punch to punch a centered hole about 1/8" or 1/16" (depending on circle size) in from the center fold.

Step 3
Cut the shrink film using a punch or circle cutter.

Step 4
Using your paper pattern, mark the button holes onto the shrink film.

Step 5
Draw your designs on the shrink film with a permanent pigment pen and allow to dry. If you are using frosted plastic, draw on the textured side of the sheet.

Step 6
Using your hole punch, punch the button holes in the shrink film.

Step 7
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange your cut buttons flat on the tray.

Step 8
Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 325° and bake your buttons for 1-3 minutes. Remove when they are finished shrinking and have settled flat on the backing sheet. If your buttons aren't completely flat when they come out of the oven, immediately and carefully press them flat with a folded piece of paper.

Allow the buttons to cool completely before removing them from the baking sheet.

Your buttons are now ready to be sewn!

As long as you've used high quality pigment inks, you should be able to launder buttons that are attached to clothing without losing color.

Bonus Points
If you have a die cutter or shaped stamps, you can also make shaped buttons. I made mine using my Spellbinders Grand Calibur die cutter and dies.

I ♥ buttons, don't you?

Done with Crochet Face

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my done-with-crochet face.

Of course, it was followed immediately after by my can't-stop-laughing-at-that-picture face.

Clearly, it was time to put down the hook and step away from the video camera. Video crochet tutorials are serious business, guys.

Organize: Embroidery Floss

2011-12-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

It's almost the New Year, and I'm hard at work tidying up my studio and getting everything in order for a fresh, organized start in 2012! My first big project in this year's clean-up: finally tackling my Massive Embroidery Floss Problem.

If you embroider or cross-stitch, then you're familiar with the drill: You're out at a craft store and you suddenly find yourself surrounded by skeins of beautiful embroidery floss. (How'd that happen?!) You just can't help yourself—you're sure that you're out of some of these colors, and if not, you'll definitely use them up someday anyway, right? (Sure you will!) Then, when you get home, you unceremoniously dump all of those lovely skeins into the floss drawer, only to have them reemerge in one giant multi-colored ball at the precise moment when you're on a deadline and need that color NOW.

Sound familair? Here's what you need to fix it:

Tools:
• Embroidery floss bobbin winder (I used the DMC Plastic Bobbin Winder.)
• Plastic embroidery floss bobbins (Get enough for your entire stash—guess high, then round up even more!)
• Glass jar with something heavy in the bottom to hold it in place
• A full season of your favorite mindless television show (I watched a ton of Law & Order: SVU.)

Step 1:
Gather the floss, bobbins, jar, and winder.

Step 2:
Turn on mindless TV.

Step 3:
Set up the glass jar feeder.

To make the winding go faster, I used a glass jar to feed the floss to the bobbin, which kept it from knotting and tangling. To use the jar feeding method, find the center of each skein (most skeins are wound in a circle then folded in half), then wrap it around the jar before you start winding the bobbin.

Step 3:
Start winding the floss onto bobbins, and keep going until you're completely finished. (If you've got a serious stash, you should also remember to take breaks to eat, go to the bathroom, and walk around the block!)

Tips:
• I initially tried to wrap my bobbins by hand, but quickly realized that a bobbin winder was the way to go. The time saved is more than worth the couple of bucks that you'll spend.

• To keep track of your floss colors, tape the tag with the color number to your bobbin before you start winding.

• Do all of your winding in one fell swoop, because you probably won't come back to it!

Ah, the zen of having everything in its place!

How do you organize your floss?

Sunday Snapshot: Merry Christmas, Crafty Muffins!

2011-12-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

From my family to yours: Happy Handmade Christmas, everyone!

Tutorial: Felted Mitten Ornaments

2011-12-24T21:05:00.001-05:00

In the middle of holiday crafting madness, my fellow CRAFT writers and I decided to take on one more crazy last-minute project: a CRAFT holiday ornament swap with a one week deadline. (I know, we're insane.) I made these quick felted mitten ornaments for the team, and now you can too!

Here's the tutorial for all of your Christmas Eve crafting needs:

Supplies:
* Wool felt craft sheets in your favorite colors or upcycled felted sweaters
* Additional felting wool (optional)
* Silver thread (or thread in contrasting colors to the felt)
* Decorative ribbon

Tools:
* Needle felting needle
* Foam rubber block at least 4" thick or felting mat
* Card stock or cardboard
* Marker
* Fabric scissors
* Paper scissors
* Paper hole punch
* Hand sewing needle
* Straight pins

Step 1
Make a pattern by drawing a mitten shape on a piece of card stock or cardboard, then cut it out with paper scissors.

Step 2
Pin the pattern to a piece of felt and cut out two mitten shapes. One piece is for the front of the ornament and one is for the back—they can be different colors.

Step 3
Using the paper hole punch, cut out as many felt dots as you would like to put on your ornament.

Step 4
Place the first mitten shape on the foam rubber block or felting mat. Using the felting needle, felt the polka dots to the mitten shape until each dot is completely attached to the mitten. Repeat the process with the second mitten shape, making sure that it's facing the opposite direction as the front so that the dots will be on the outside when the two sides are sewn together.

* You can also use felting wool to create your own shapes and patterns.

Step 5
With wrong sides facing, whipstitch the two sides of the ornament together in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the top left corner. Right before you finish stitching around the top, insert a 6" length of ribbon into the top of the ornament and stitch it in place with two cross stitches. When you reach the beginning, tie off the thread and tuck the knot into the space between the ornaments.

Done! Plus, for the especially crafty, mitten ornaments also make great gift toppers.

Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope you have a fantastic rest of the weekend, and get everything on your crafty wish list.

Review: Martha Stewart Crafts and Lion Brand Yarn Knit and Weave Loom Kit for Craft Test Dummies

2011-12-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

Attention yarn crafters: my epic review of the Martha Stewart Crafts and Lion Brand Yarn Knit and Weave Loom Kit is up on Craft Test Dummies! (Hello, last-minute holiday gift.)

Craft Tool Review: Martha Stewart Crafts and Lion Brand Yarn Knit and Weave Loom Kit

When the lovely folks at Lion Brand Yarn sent me the Martha Stewart Crafts™ and Lion Brand Yarn® Knit & Weave Loom Kit—and a giant box of yarn to use while I was trying it out—I was both very excited and completely overwhelmed. With more than thirty configurations for creating square, rectangle, circle, and oval looms in multiple sizes, plus tools for single knitting, double knitting, weaving, and making rosettes, there were so many possibilities that I didn’t know where to start! But, when I finally got down to business, I found the loom set to be flexible, easy to use, and bursting with creative possibilities. I tested all of the major configurations and techniques, and had a great time learning new skills and trying out yarn crafts that I’d never done before, like weaving and yarn rosette-making. Overall, I found that the kit delivered the beautiful results that were promised in the product description and on the package, and I think it will be a great addition to my yarn crafting arsenal!

What I loved overall:
1. The loom is easy to assemble and configure into different shapes.

2. You can choose between large and small pegs for knitting projects, so you can choose the size that fits the yarn size or texture that you want for your project ...

Head on over to Craft Test Dummies to read the full review!

Favorite Shirt Jersey Sleep Set

2011-12-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

Last night, I took a break from my holiday gift making frenzy to sew a little something for myself. I've wanted to make a replacement for my favorite well-loved (read: raggedy) t-shirt for a while—it's the most comfy thing I own, but, of course, it's no longer available in stores—and with flights coming up next week, I finally went for it. Then, just for fun, I made a matching pair of underpants too!

I'll show you how to duplicate your own favorite t-shirt in an upcoming tutorial. (You won't even have to take it apart!) But, for now, why don't you make yourself some fancy underwear? I made mine using the same basic method that's in my T-shirt to Underpants Upcycling Tutorial, but I stitched fold-over elastic around the leg holes and waistband before sewing the sides together.

I absolutely adore this fabric, so I may have to expand the collection to include some drawstring pants, shorts, and a nightgown. That would just about cover my lounging and sleepwear needs for all seasons, don't you think?

Snowman Stocking Mini-Me

2011-12-12T16:11:00.003-05:00

Just in time to start decorating, I finally put the finishing touches on my holiday stocking! I may have gone a little bit overboard with the details, but she just wouldn't have looked right without the fancy cardigan and ugly gold glasses.

Here's a look at the full stocking.

Each tree was individually decorated, and all of the details are hand sewn. I made the garland for the first tree by stitching twisted embroidery floss in place in irregular loops. Next, in a nod to my deep love of all things crafty, I sprinkled the second tree with colorful buttons straight from my stash. For the final tree, I added a little bit of sparkle with a handful of giant pearlescent seed beads.

To make sure that my snowlady would end up looking like me, it was all about the details. I created an itty bitty version of my signature gold glasses out of felt, then added some embroidered eyelashes and lipstick to make my original snowman pattern a bit more feminine. I also added a fitted cardigan, then used miniature white seed beads for the buttons and about 75 tiny french knots for the embellishments around the neckline.

Aren't they a cute couple? I can't wait to hang them around the fireplace!

(In case you missed it last week, you can get to know Mr. Snowman a little bit better over here.)

I made my snowman mini-me by customizing the printable snowman stocking pattern that I wrote for craftzine.com. You can get started on your own by downloading the pattern for free on CRAFT!

Sunday Snapshot: Cross-Stitching with Cats

2011-12-11T15:37:00.001-05:00

As it turns out, cross-stitching is relaxing for everyone in the room.

How cute is my upside down cat?

More interested in the iPhone case than the kitty? You can download my free cross-stitch pattern and find more information about the case that I used here: Dandelion iPhone Case Cross-Stitch Pattern

Review: Clover Sewing Measurement Tools for Craft Test Dummies (Stocking Stuffers!)

2011-12-09T12:36:00.001-05:00

My stocking stuffers review for the Clover Seams Right and Clover 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge is up on Craft Test Dummies! (Warning: You're going to want one of each!)

Craft Product Review: Clover Seams Right and Clover 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge (Stocking Stuffers!)

If you have a sewing enthusiast or fabric crafter on your holiday gift list, you’ll definitely want to stick around! For this review, I tested the Clover 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge and the Clover Seams Right, which are both products from their partnership with Nancy Zieman. I loved trying out both of these tools, and think that they would make wonderful additions to any craft room and great stocking stuffers for the holidays!

What I loved:

1. The two edge measuring system makes it easy and fast to add seam allowances to patterns or mark lines on fabric...

Head on over to Craft Test Dummies to read the full review!

Tutorial: Snowman Stocking with Pattern for Craftzine.com

2011-12-06T12:35:00.001-05:00

My Snowman Stocking Tutorial with Printable Pattern is now available for download on CRAFT!

Project: Snowman Stocking With Pattern

There are many ways to DIY your holiday celebration this year, but handmade stockings are one of my absolute favorites. When I see the time and care put into every single detail and stitch on a handmade stocking—no matter how old and worn it is—I just can’t help but feel the love behind it. For me, nothing brings forth more happy holiday memories than unpacking my childhood stocking, so I can’t think of a more perfect way to share joy of the season, year after year, with someone you love!

Materials:

Thick gray felt, ½ yard
Red flannel fabric, ½ yard
Craft felt, 1 sheet each of dark green, light green, orange, white, red, brown
Embroidery floss, dark green, light green, orange, white, red, black, brown, gray, silver metallic
3 Small black buttons, ½" or ¼" in diameter
12 White seed beads
5 small decorative buttons, ¼" in diameter
Red decorative ribbon, 8" length
Embroidery needle
Fabric scissors
Paper scissors
Tailor’s chalk
Fine point marker
Scotch tape
Straight pins
Fabric clips (optional)
Paper hole punch
Sewing machine (optional)

Step 1
Download the pattern PDF, then print and cut out the pieces. Assemble the stocking pattern pieces with scotch tape...

Head on over to CRAFT to see the full tutorial!

CRAFT Gift Guide: Books

2011-12-05T15:25:00.001-05:00

Made by Hand, by Mark Frauenfelder

Have a crafty bookworm on your list?

Check out my Gift Guide: Bookworms on CRAFT for creative book ideas for all of your favorite makers!

Sewing in a Straight Line, by Brett Bara

Sunday Snapshot: Giant Crocheted Snowflake

2011-12-04T13:09:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I had a crazy idea. At least, it might be a crazy idea. It could also be brilliant. We'll see. But, at the heart of this crazy idea was a GIANT crocheted snowflake, which, to complicate things slightly, I wasn't sure that I could actually make. But, never one to shy away from a challenge, I merrily got to work on some proof-of-concept tests anyway. When I started hooking, I had no idea whether the tiny lace snowflake pattern that I had written for CRAFT would even translate to something so large, and, if it did, I wasn't so sure that the the white glue and water hardening method that I'd been using for my tiny snowflakes would work for something that ended up being the size of my head.

So, it is with much excitement that I tell you that, with the first round of testing down, my affectionately nicknamed big-ass snowflake was a huge success! There was quite a bit of trial and error—and a second, much thicker layer of hardener— but I think it's going to work! This morning, when I took the BASF off of the blocking board, it was perfectly hardened and looked fantastic. Huzzah!

Who else is up to some crazy holiday project antics?

Tutorial: Crocheted Snowflake Ornaments for Craftzine.com

2011-12-02T13:17:00.001-05:00

My Crocheted Snowflake Ornament Tutorial—including the complete pattern, step-by-step instructions with photos, and a full crochet chart—is now available on CRAFT!

Project: Crocheted Snowflake Ornaments

My steel crochet hooks belonged to my grandmother. They're nothing fancy—some are a little bit bent, and all of them are scratched up from years of use—but every time I use them I feel deeply connected to a long and loving history of strong women creating beautiful things with their hands. I designed this crocheted snowflake pattern with my grandmother in mind, because I hope that they will become as much of a tradition in my home as they still are in hers! ...

You can also download a PDF of the pattern here.