Oh You Crafty Gal

How to Defuzz Your Sweaters and To Stop Sweater Pills In The First Place

2013-03-15T18:49:00.002-07:00

Lark shows you how to defuzz your sweater with a Sweater Stone

This time of year I usually start de fuzzing my sweaters, since they're pretty worn by now and I usually start slowly putting my sweaters away this time of year. I've always used my trusty Ever Care fabric shaver I got for like $6 years ago at Target. It's always worked great, until now. It finally died on me, so I started to research into buying a new one by looking at reviews. After reading review after review about fabric shavers destroying people's sweaters I started feeling thankful for not having wrecked any of my sweaters with it so far and I no longer want a fabric shaver. So I started looking for alternatives that are safe and don't have the possibility of destroying my favourite sweaters. I found two products that sound promising and as an added bonus they're no tech so no need for batteries and they can't break they're also both available for under $6 including shipping.

Chelsea Clinton and Marc to buy $10.5 million apartment in NYC (PHOTOS)

2013-03-15T12:50:00.003-07:00

Chelsea and Matt's living room. I like the calming neutral colour palette

Photo credit: BB CREATIVE

I'm not a huge celebrity news kind of person, but I must admit I do like to peek into public figures and celebrities homes. I couldn't help but be curious what digs Chelsea has since I feel like I grew up knowing her. Like a friend of a friend from high school or something.

Start Our Free Online Sewing Class For Beginners

2013-01-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

Whether you just want to brush up on sewing or have never touched a sewing machine before, this is the place for you! I teach sewing (in the non virtual form) and developed this free online course as a way to help my students and to help inspire others on the web to start to learn to sew.

Check Out My New Etsy Shop

2012-12-28T21:32:00.001-08:00

Brown Tweed Lacey Wool Cowl Worn As a Hood

I've been having fun learning how to knit as you know if you follow this blog and I just wanted to share with y'all (yes I did live in the south for a while) that I decided to start my Etsy shop Ornute to showcase these items and more. After working in fashion for years I know starting anything just before Christmas (especially online) is not the best ideal, but I couldn't resist. I'm having so much fun knitting I just wanted to share it with everyone.

Best Ideals For Yarn and Knitting Supply Storage

2012-12-19T22:03:00.001-08:00

image via One Late Night

Since I've been learning how to knit lately, I've been acquiring yarn and supplies and am needing ways to store them. I've been searching the internet for good ideals and I found a lot I'd thought I'd share with you. I think my favorite is the yarn ball machine pictured above. How cool is that!

Free Lauren Headband and Earwarmer Pattern

2012-11-13T13:53:00.003-08:00

Living in MN we have long enough time to wear hats and other winter attire, so I wanted to make a headband ear warmer that blends in with my hair for those days when your not sure if you should wear a hat or not. I love the ideal that it looks almost like a hairstyle. I had the ideal for this last year after seeing a picture Julia Tyoshenko with her hair braided as if it was a headband. I've seen other stars (Lauren Conrad and Zoe Deschanel) rocking this look since well as well (in a hair style that is) seen pictured below.

Free One Skein Cowl Knitting Pattern

2012-10-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

I just started to learn how to knit and decided I wanted to make a cowl. The only problem is I couldn't find a pattern that I liked to use. I wanted it skinny enough to easily fit under my jacket and long enough that I could use it to cover my mouth if it gets really cold (I do live in Minnesota). I also couldn't find a pattern that didn't use circular needles. I don't know how to use circular needles yet, so I chose to join them together instead. You could definitely alter this pattern to be made on circular needles if you wish. I think it would have turned out nicer that way.

Learn How to Knit Part 1: Cast on, Knit, Purl and Garter Stitch

2012-10-16T13:55:00.004-07:00

image credit

I am just starting to learn how to knit. I am taking a class and we are learning how to make mittens. I have been using online resources to help me in between class, so I thought I'd share all the cool resources I found that have been helping me learn. Enjoy!

How to Recycle Yarn From Old Sweaters

2012-10-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

Weeble Knits got 2 lbs of wool yarn (the video is for perspective) from 1 sweater, check out there tutorial here.

I am currently taking a knitting class and learning how to knit. So when I was going through my closet and I realized that I had a few sweaters I no longer wanted, it hit me I could probably recycle the yarn in these. So I did an Internet search to see what was out there knowing I certainly wasn't the first to have this thought. And I found a lot of great posts on this subject that I thought I would share along with what I learned myself trying to unravel mine.

Check out Chloë Sevigny's Closet

2012-09-12T17:53:00.002-07:00

Chole Sevigny in front of her closet image NY Times

I'm all about my closet right now since I'm switching it out from summer to fall. I came across this video of Chloe Sevigny's east village (NYC) closet and I must admit I was intrigued to see what her closet looks like.

New Trend: DIY Jewelry For Your Hair

2012-08-08T14:23:00.004-07:00

Image found on Wedding Bee forum
This head band would be an easy DIY you could just hot glue an old necklace to a ribbon

Summer is a great time to put your hair up and show a little bling! I often buy great classic pieces that fit well, but that does get boring. My solution is to spice up my wardrobe with accessories. The one accessory often neglected is hair accessories. I thought what cooler way to dress up a look than by using jewelery you already have (or find at estate sales, thrift stores etc), and use it in your hair?

How to Make Yarn Out of Plactic Bags, T-shirts, and Sheets

2012-07-24T12:28:00.001-07:00

Check out Let Birdzfly's t-shirt yarn tutorial

Now that I've started to learn to crochet, I'm fascinated by the endless possibilities of crochet things form yarn made by stuff around our house I would either give away or throw away. You can make plarn (plastic yarn) out of plastic bags (not hard to collect those!), or make yarn from old t-shirts (which looks super cool) and old bed sheets or other old fabric you have around the house you don't want. I love the ideal of not having to go to the store and buy something, and cleaning out my stuff to get rid of pile and plastic bags i keep forgetting to drop off to recycle. And who doesn't love the fact that recycling these materials means less stuff in landfills?

Learn to Crochet: Beginning Tutorials

2012-07-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Check Out Maybe Matilda's Tutorial on Chain and Single Crochet

Well I;m finally a hooker! Of crochet....that is. I've finally learned (or should I say re-learned) how to crochet (I've been saying I'd learn for over a year). I figured it would be a good way to stay busy while I'm trapped inside with the air conditioner blasting. That way by fall, I'll hopefully have some ideal about what I want to make for winter. I learned how to single crochet as a young kid from my great aunt, but haven't done it in years. It's coming back to me pretty easily, luckily. It's so great that with technology we have so many tools to help us learn. So I thought I'd share some of the resources I've found helpful in learning how to crochet.

Fashion Designer Betsey Johnson's Sold NYC Penthouse

2012-07-11T13:27:00.003-07:00

Betsey Johnson in her home she has sold

I've always loved fashion designer Betsey Johnson for her unpretentious. This girl is all about fun. Her style is sexy, feminine, playful, bright, and full of pop culture. Her fashion shows are far from the ordinary, and sometimes fave a fun unexpected theme like in fall 2000 when she had Playboy Bunnies as her models. She's also known for doing a cartwheel at the end of her show. That's right girlfriend has some balls and energy for being 70! I'd be terrified to try that on stage with the press. My luck I'd fall flat on my face. I've heard good things about her second hand from a classmate that interned with her years ago. It sounds like she treats her interns nice and doesn't have the ego some designers have that I've heard about from other classmates internships and old teachers that were employed by some well known designers. The worst I heard about was Anna Sui and Donna Karen. A fellow student of mine who interned at Anna Sui said Anna wouldn't even speak directly to anyone. Her staff could only communicate with her through writing.....now that's a little weird if you ask me!

DIY Cut Out T Shirts

2012-07-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Check out the tutorial for this cut out t-shirt by Boat People

There's nothing sexier than a cut out back for summer. And it transitions well into fall. I know that seems forever away sitting here in MN with a 110 degree heat index. But having been in fashion retail for over a decade you get use to thinking ahead. In a month stores (even in the south) will start getting coats in! So I'm trying to make things I can wear now and for the next few months. You could easily layer these tops with a fun colored tank top, t-shirt, or long sleeve shirt. Or just wear it bear for a sexy surprise.

Dreamy DIY Ideals To Transform Your Home Into A Romantic Getaway at Night

2012-07-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

How cool is the DIY Pearl Strand Lamp from Chez Fifi? Talk about dramatic and romantic

Since it's July and a heat index of 105-110 here for the week, and the garden is finally done, I'm staying inside with the air conditioner and indulging in my inner interior designer. Since moving into our pre WWII house we have decorated our finished part of the house. We are laying off of big projects this year due to the fact that we have too many other things going on in our lives right now. But we plan to finish all the little projects and add all the final decorative touches before we move to bigger projects next year.

Summer Fashion Inspiration from Miami, St Bartz, and St Tropez

2012-05-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Love this makeup for summer!
image from Make Up For Ever via Black Market Mag

It officially feels like summer here in MN and it has me dreaming about what I want to wear this summer. When I think of getting ready for summer and going through my closet,I feel like I'm getting ready to go on vacation in a tropical paradise for a couple of months. So I thought, even though you're not going on vacation, why not look like your are everyday this summer? We live in an old house with little closets so I have to change my closets out every season. This season I'm going to pack as though I was going on vacation somewhere warm for 3 months.

The Best Lace DIY Fashion and Accessories Ideals, and Tutorials

2012-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

via OH The Lovely Things via ASOS

For those of you following my sewing school I plan to resume lessons in a few weeks, right now I'm focusing on teaching my non virtual sewing class and I'm taking a wood working class, planting my garden, etc. But I still have time to dream of fashion!

Sewing School Lesson 7: How to Sew a Basic Seam

2012-04-03T14:52:00.001-07:00

Check out A Beautiful Mess's post about different types of seams

Hi Everyone! If your following this class, good to see you back again. If your new welcome to the class! If you need to catch up you can see at the bottom of this post or click here to what our prior lessons were if you need to catch up Today we are going to finally sew a basic seam!

Sewing School Lesson 6: How to Sew a Straight, Curved, and Corner Line

2012-03-06T09:06:00.000-08:00

Less Cake More Frosting

Are you finally ready to hop on the machine! The moment you've been waiting for is here in today's lesson we will first get use to sewing straight, curved, and square lines on paper (using a template) without using any thread. This should be a quick and easy lesson. Next lesson we will move onto using fabric scraps and thread and learn how to sew a seam. I found this template on a site for teaching kids how to sew, and have used this in teaching kids (I worked with kids grades 3-5) and adults. I found all ages to find this activity as a great bridge to learning how to sew a seam (our next lesson). This activity should give you a good foundation for learning how to sew a seam, since you will be more comfortable with your machine, what it feels like to sew, and how to sew straight even in difficult seams (sewing two pieces of fabric together) like curved and corner seams, before learning how to sew a seam.

Spring Fashion Obsession: Lace Crochet and Knitted Socks Layered with Tights

2012-02-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

My Inspiration: from analogue me I would love to wear these with bright colored tights and nude pumps!

Every season I try to think of something new to add to my wardrobe that will help transition the seasons and liven up my wardrobe. If you follow this blog you've probably noticed I'm a bit obsesed with hosiery. This season what I really want is crochet and lace knitted socks. I love the idea of using color and layering with tights, lace knee highs and thigh highs, with pumps for spring. It's sexy, funky, and you can still be warm on a cold spring day even though you put all your winter stuff away. Living in MN, I can only assume I'll be faced with at least a few of these days!

Sewing School Lesson 5: How to Thread Your Machine

2012-02-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

From April Moffat Designs

This is Lesson 5 in our Sewing School series. Today we are going to cover how to thread your sewing machine. So now that you know more about your sewing machine from our last lesson, Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine, it's time to learn how to thread your machine. I found so much great info and tutorials online that I didn't feel the need to create my own tutorial here. I also think it can be helpful to sew a few different sewing machines as it can be confusing if your sewing machine looks different than the one being demonstrated on. I have picked tutorials with different types of sewing machines, so hopefully you can find one close enough to yours that it makes sense. If not, I would suggest watching other videos on you tube until you find one that makes sense to you.

Sewing School Lesson 4: Learning about Your Sewing Machine

2012-02-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

From Tilly and the Buttons

This is Lesson 4 in our Sewing School series. Today we are going to cover sewing machine basics. New to sewing school? Get caught up: lesson 1: welcome and intro first, lesson 2: Guide to Buying a Sewing Machine.
lesson 3: Sewing Machine Supplies

All machines are a little different, but the basic parts are the same just positioned in different ways. I labelled a picture of my machine using the same terms used in Tilly and the buttons picture (above) to show the parts that are located in different spots in different machines so you can compare it and get an ideal of how machines can very in their positioning. The parts that are positioned the same on every machine are the needle, presser foot, and hand wheel. What do you see that is different? Where are these parts located on your machine?

Sewing School Lesson 3: Sewing Supplies

2012-01-31T19:35:00.000-08:00

Tilly and the Buttons

This is Lesson 3 in our Sewing School series. Today we are going to cover sewing supplies and next lesson we will cover sewing machine basics. New to sewing school? Get caught up: lesson 1: welcome and intro first, lesson 2: Guide to Buying a Sewing Machine.

Gotta Love Cats Sewing

2012-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is so funny I had to share it. I found it on Gif Bin. If only I could train Mr Cat to do this.