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Summer Garden Granny Square

Summer Garden Granny Square
I love making Granny Squares. There's just something about creating little stacks of them that is hugely satisfying. They are versatile, and easy for beginners to learn because the basic stitches and method of working "in the round" are simple to get to grips with. It's how I first learnt to crochet 18 months ago, and I still get a huge amount of pleasure from making granny squares. This particular square, which I am calling my Summer Garden Granny Square, is my own pattern. So :: For my blanket squares (pictured above) I'm using a DK weight pure wool, with a 4mm hook. I'm going to write the pattern in UK crochet terms where the main stitch is a UK Treble. Stitches used are as follows: sl st (slip stitch) :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook. Bobble :: yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops left on hook). To Start ::

Granny Square Blanket @ In the Wabe I started crocheting a few years ago with one goal in mind: to make a granny square blanket. Success! I started this baby in January and finally finished eight months later. I realize you can’t gauge its size by the photos, but the blanket is in total over 165 squares. It’s big and heavy, but the little holes keep it from overheating. I used Attic 24′s Summer Garden Granny Square pattern–I really like the circular centers. How to Make a Rag Rug tutorial Happy Labor Day! For a fun change of pace today, I have the cute girls from Everyday Art here to show us How to Make a Rag Rug tutorial. I love their super easy technique! This is definitely a great craft for fabric scraps. {don’t ya love scrap busters?} enjoy! Hi, my name is Jaime and my sister-in-law Emily and I are craftaholics. :) We like to share our creations on our blog, Everyday Art because we think that everyone likes to create a little art everyday. We’re excited to be here at Craftaholics Anonymous® today sharing one of our recent projects. Introducing, the Pink-and-Blue Rag Rug: And I must say, phew! We recently moved and I put my two oldest girls in a shared bedroom. As you can see, it turned out cute, coordinating, and much loved by the two girls. The rug really was simple to make, just time-consuming. You can see the rug mat in this image and about how often I skipped holes. Ready to make one yourself? Rag Rug Tutorial Supplies: Here’s an image-tutorial on how to make a rag rug:

Block 13: Lattice smocking – Textured quilt sampler « TeresaDownUnder Lattice closeup This block requires hand sewing. Block type: log cabin Block size: 11 inches Colour scheme: reds and neutrals Texture/fabric manipulation: lattice smocking Quilt size: The finished quilt is 52 ½ x 52 ½. Needs: one 7 in x 7 in rectangle in red tones for the textured centre squaretwo 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border Making the lattice Draw a 7 in x 7 in grid on a piece of fabric and mark it as per photo. Diagram Sew the lattice in groups of 4, i.e. 1 – 2, 3 – 4, 5 – 6 and 7 – 8. Arrow = pick up both dots together and stitch together and then do another stitch so the stitch doesn’t open Red dotted line = pick up dot without joining with previous dot, ie carry the thread to the next dot When moving from one pair of stitches, e.g. moving from 2 to 3, or from 5 to 6, always make a double stitch on the first dot, i.e. on 1, 3, 5, etc. and then make another double stitch after you join a pair, e.g. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, etc. This is how it goes

Tutorial: Pearled Shirt Collar Recently I blogged about DIY ideas using pearls, and I was inspired to embellish a shirt collar with some pearl beads I had in my stash. I’ve seen several versions of this DIY, some with many additional elements, but I wanted to keep it pretty simple. I used two slightly different colors of pearl beads, plus some metallic silver beads, to create a pearl gradient. Images all found on Pinterest. Materials: Shirt to embellish Pearl beads Thread Needle Scissors Methods: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Page 2 whenever you read this, we will either be on a plane or in a rental car or dodging potholes or already in THE BUSH. yes! we are going to the Kruger Park for our (hopefully) annual trip. you can read my post & see all the photos from last year here. i will only be gone a week, but i have lots of posts scheduled for while i’m away – so please do keep checking in. i have been waiting for a moment to share these exquisite aerial photos of the wildlife & landscapes in Botswana by Brooklyn based photographer Zack Seckler. i have looked at them time and time again, and actually have them rotating on my desktop as wallpaper right now. i love them SO much. not just because i absolutely love Africa – and feel so lucky to live here – but because they are obviously damn beautiful. i have never been to Botswana, even though it neighbours us. it is a trip i hope to make soon. Within the first few minutes of being up there, I was just completely blown away.

DIY Fashion: Paper Bag DIY No fashionista can be defined like that if she hasn't starved herself to save up the money to buy a bag (or at least to be written in a waiting list).Bags we love are made of the same material dreams are made of :have you ever a touched a dream?I have never got in touch with something so expensive.What is a material more down to earth present in our life we can relate with? Nessuna fashionista può definirsi tale se non ha risparmiato anche sul cibo per mettere da parte i soldi necessari per comprare una borsa (o almeno per essere iscritta in una lista d'attesa).Le borse che adoriamo sono fatte della stessa materia di cui sono fatti i sogni:avete mai toccato un sogno?Non mi è mai capitato di toccare qualcosa di così costoso.Quale materiale è più in contatto con la nostra realtà?

Tutorial | High waisted knit shorts Warning: heavy text post. My knit shorts have gotten a lot of attention on the internets and in real life, for that matter - and I have received so many requests regarding them I can't even wrap my head around it. Many of you asked me if I could make you a pair, others were ready to pay me a lot of money to knit a pair for them, some asked for a recipe and a couple of you guys wanted to know where I bought it: because you didn't believe I made them. I've never made a tutorial before, so please be gentle with me. I only use approximate measurements, mostly because if it doesn’t fit – I make it fit. Ingredients: Approximately 3 balls of yarn. The best tips I have is to use your own creativity to decide what you prefer. Good luck! *Remember to cast off somewhat loose in the end so that you don't have to redo it all when you don't get it over your bum, like I did. My knit shorts: Lovely friends who have tried it so far: Let me know if you've tried it, so that I can link back to you!

Lila Greengrass Blackdeer | Masters of Traditional Arts Education Guide Lila Greengrass Blackdeer learned to make black ash baskets as a child to help supply her famliy's roadside stand. Later, she took up needlework, creating a range of items in the Hocak tradition, from moccasins to beaded hair wraps. Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Lila Greengrass Blackdeer's supplies, Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Basket by Lila Greengras Blackdeer, Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Basket by Lila Greengras Blackdeer,Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Hocak traditional crafts (detail) by Lila Greengrass Blackdeer, Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Hocak traditional crafts by Lila Greengrass Blackdeer, Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts Lila Greengrass Blackdeer at work, Photograph by Lewis Kotch, Courtesy National Endwoment for the Arts

Adventures in Dressmaking How to make a fabric coil bowl or basket | The Red Thread Add a pop of neon to your desk or shelf with these woven coil bowls. They’d also make a lovely handmade gift, perhaps a small bowl with a few rolls of washi tape inside? … it’s not long until Christmas! Click on the ‘read more’ link below for the full instructions. You’ll need: Long strips of fabric – anything will work: I used knits, both cotton and acrylic. Cord – the neon orange is ‘Brickie’s Line’ from the hardware store ($5 for 100 metres) – or you can use more fabric or yarn like I did on the pink bowls. A large yarn needle with a big eye. Scissors. If you are cutting up fabric (T shirts, sheets, fabric yardage, etc) the thicker you cut it the chunkier and quicker your bowl will be. The instructional photos are for the grey bowl with neon orange stitching, so I’ll refer to those colours from now on. Cut a length of orange cord as long as you can manage it without it getting tangled, and thread the needle with it. Overlap the ends of the orange cord and the grey yarn. Finishing off.

Plastic bag Yarn - gooseflesh Since I posted my crochet Sea Creatures on Flickr in November, 2006, many people have asked me how I make the plastic bag yarn. So here is a How to lesson. There are many different techniques, but I found this one worked best for me. ** I have added an alternative technique tutorial at the end. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. This technique has been around for decades. Mmmmmm....... Method 2: THE SUN WAS HIGH: DIY While browsing for DIY ideas, I came across a few collar projects, but they all involved sewing doilies to your shirt/dress, cutting the collar from old shirts or crocheting your own neck candy. Therefore, I decided to make my own DIY tutorial on how to make a detachable collar out of old doilies I found at a thrift store for 1$ apiece. Since it's detachable, this kind of collar doesn't involve commitment: you can wear it with any of your dresses or tops. Approx. cost: 1$ Total time: about 10 minutes Cleaning & caring: hand-wash with gentle soap (and you do it by hand! Gather your stuff. Make an incision (just a straight line) on the side of the doily and carefully cut out the center. Sew the pearl on one side. Cut a small piece of embroidery thread, make a loop and twist the ends. Now you have a pearl on one side and a loop on the other. You can wear it as a Peter Pan collar, with the little pearl showing... If you make your own, be sure to drop me a line.I'd love to see your creation!

friendship bracelet chevron chair cushion Our previous DIY post mentioned the genius of former D*S contributor Brittany Watson Jepsen of The House That Lars Built. Coincidentally, a new tutorial from Brittany landed in our inbox, and we couldn’t wait to share it. Using the good old friendship bracelet knot technique (I do not want think about how many of these I’ve made in my life; my big toe hurts at the mere mention of them), Brittany created a beautiful, textural cushion for a spoked chair that can easily be removed, washed or tied off to create a loose pad. When friendship bracelets started coming back, I was floored at how popular they were becoming again. All photographs by Hilda Grahnat Read the full how-to after the jump! Materials chair with spokesneedlethreadscissors2 sets of 8 colors (you can repeat the colors) of fabric in 12″ x 36″ strips (the size will also be determined by the depth of your chair, so get extra and sew it on to extend the length if needed) Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

block-printed chevron fabric A while back, we received an awesome before & after — in video form, no less — from Jaime Morrison Curtis of Prudent Baby. Jaime transformed her empty porch into a stylish, eclectic gathering spot by creatively revamping salvaged items and throwing in a few well-chosen accessories. If anyone is interested in creating a similar look, you’re in luck! Jaime has created tutorials for several of the furniture and decor pieces on her porch, including this awesome chevron printed fabric bench. The greatest part of printing your own fabrics is how inexpensive and simple it is, and the irregularity of hand-cut prints works perfectly with patterns like this chunky chevron. Have a DIY project you’d like to share? Read the full how-to after the jump! Materials Speedball Block Printing Kitoil-based block printing ink in blackplastic trayglovesrollerfabric Instructions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

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