As a souvenir to this time in my life I am knitting a candy cane striped scarf. It's only the second scarf I have ever knit. It's cute, but I'm not convinced that it's entirely right.
I'm following the method for making stripes in the infamous knitting handbook "Stitch 'n Bitch". It basically states that to start a new color, or stripe, you cut the old color with about six inches to spare, hold the new color with this piece at about the same length, then just start knitting with the new color at the beginning of the row. With these six inch pieces that are hanging from the side of your scarf, you tie a loose square knot and then later, untie and weave it in.
It looks horrible. I have a bunch tassels hanging off one side of the scarf. I have yet to try weaving them in, but something just doesn't quite feel right. In the future I may try knitting one color, then weaving the stripes in over the knit piece. That might make for some nice texture.
On another knit note, I finally bought myself a knitting basket which I love. Time to start collecting yarn!
Jan 13, 2009. KNIT NOTE!
I visited my grandmother this weekend, a lady with over 50 years of knitting experience! I showed her my scarf and asked if I was doing anything wrong. She assured me that it was exactly how it should be, and even showed me a couple of other methods which may have even been more difficult.
She showed me how to weave in my leftover ends where the new colors begin and end, and even gave me a needle to do it with. The needle is thick and has a rounded point and a large eye to thread yarn through. To weave my ends through, first I'll untie any small knots I've made to keep them in. Thread the piece of yarn through the knitted stitches (of the same color) at least a third of the scarf's width or more. The most important thing at this point is to grasp your scarf width wise (not length wise) and give it a good pull, or stretch. This will allow the yarn to settle deeply into the knit and not be easily pulled out later by simple daily stretching of your scarf. Once you've done this, you can snip off the end of the now hidden yarn.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Embossing Bliss!
CRAFT SHARE!
There is no joy in my heart like the joy of embossing. I never grow tired of setting the heat gun to the powder and watching it melt into a glorious foil or wet-paint-like finish. It amazes me every time. Geeky, I know- but if you remember the first time you saw that powder run, you know just what I'm talking about. It makes me want to emboss my entire living space, my closet of clothes, my furniture, my friends...
This holiday season I will once again observe my tradition of sending New Year cards rather than Christmas cards. At some point I realized that I liked sending cards out after the new year. I like starting the year off by reaching out to friends and family. I like the idea of sending a card to someone after all the holiday madness has died down and it's just cold, lonely January. Really, how often do you just get a card or letter in the mail these days? It's a dying art, letter writing.
So this year I am not sending handmade cards, but I did want to personalize them. I did this by embossing the fronts of the envelopes in gold, red, and robin's egg blue. I'm also going to make some stationary for my grandmother.
If you don't know how to emboss, it's easy!! Here's what you'll need and how it works:
You'll need:
*Embossing ink pad
*Embossing powder
*Rubber stamps
*Heat gun
*Paper or other surface to emboss
How it works:
1) To start, cover your rubber stamp with embossing ink. For larger stamps, make sure you have a raised embossing ink pad so that you can cover the entire stamp with the ink.
2) Stamp the image onto your paper or surface to be embossed. The ink is clear but slightly tacky, so you should see an impression of your image.
3) Sprinkle enough embossing powder over the stamped image to cover it sufficiently. Make sure the image is well coated with powder, then lightly tap off the excess powder onto a piece of scrap paper. (Use this scrap paper to funnel the remaining powder back into the container for future use.)
4) Carefully wipe or lightly blow any excess powder away from the image, paying close attention to the details.
5) Once the image appears exactly as you want it, get ready to heat set! Turn on your heat gun and hold it carefully over your image (start at about 6-8 inches away). You will see the surface of the powder start to "melt" into a smoother texture. Move the heat slowly around the image until all of the powder is evenly melted. Do not hold too close or too long as this can cause scorch marks.
6) Set embossing aside to cool for at least one minute or until cool to the touch.
So easy and so impressive!!
There is no joy in my heart like the joy of embossing. I never grow tired of setting the heat gun to the powder and watching it melt into a glorious foil or wet-paint-like finish. It amazes me every time. Geeky, I know- but if you remember the first time you saw that powder run, you know just what I'm talking about. It makes me want to emboss my entire living space, my closet of clothes, my furniture, my friends...
This holiday season I will once again observe my tradition of sending New Year cards rather than Christmas cards. At some point I realized that I liked sending cards out after the new year. I like starting the year off by reaching out to friends and family. I like the idea of sending a card to someone after all the holiday madness has died down and it's just cold, lonely January. Really, how often do you just get a card or letter in the mail these days? It's a dying art, letter writing.
So this year I am not sending handmade cards, but I did want to personalize them. I did this by embossing the fronts of the envelopes in gold, red, and robin's egg blue. I'm also going to make some stationary for my grandmother.
If you don't know how to emboss, it's easy!! Here's what you'll need and how it works:
You'll need:
*Embossing ink pad
*Embossing powder
*Rubber stamps
*Heat gun
*Paper or other surface to emboss
How it works:
1) To start, cover your rubber stamp with embossing ink. For larger stamps, make sure you have a raised embossing ink pad so that you can cover the entire stamp with the ink.
2) Stamp the image onto your paper or surface to be embossed. The ink is clear but slightly tacky, so you should see an impression of your image.
3) Sprinkle enough embossing powder over the stamped image to cover it sufficiently. Make sure the image is well coated with powder, then lightly tap off the excess powder onto a piece of scrap paper. (Use this scrap paper to funnel the remaining powder back into the container for future use.)
4) Carefully wipe or lightly blow any excess powder away from the image, paying close attention to the details.
5) Once the image appears exactly as you want it, get ready to heat set! Turn on your heat gun and hold it carefully over your image (start at about 6-8 inches away). You will see the surface of the powder start to "melt" into a smoother texture. Move the heat slowly around the image until all of the powder is evenly melted. Do not hold too close or too long as this can cause scorch marks.
6) Set embossing aside to cool for at least one minute or until cool to the touch.
So easy and so impressive!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Cookie Candy Canes (aka Polka Gris Pinnar)
RECIPE SHARE!
The first time I made these I made them from scratch, but the store-bought cookies dough works well, too. Since I was kind of making the idea up and didn't really have a recipe, I learned that the more candy cane you use-the better! Actually, the more candy cane you use, the longer it may take to bake the cookies since the candy melts into a liquid. But it's well worth it!
1 package sugar cookie dough
1 box candy canes (8-12)
*1-2 tablespoons butter* *optional
Soften the butter and the cookie dough.
Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or no-stick spray.
Crush the candy canes to a fine powder, leaving plenty of small course pieces for looks. This can be done in a coffee grinder, with a mortar and pestle, or by placing them in a ziplock bag and crushing them with a hammer or other blunt object.
Add the candy canes (and butter) to the dough and mix throughout.
Bake on the lower side of the package directions (i.e. 8-10 minutes if package says to bake 10-12 minutes).
Take out of oven when puffy and white and let cool until cookies centers sink to a flatter appearance.
Roll each cookie up like you would a cinnamon roll, folding one edge slightly over onto the cookie and then continuing to roll in that direction until you have a "straw".
If cookies are still very soft, place back in oven for the additional 1-2 minutes, but don't overbake them. The chewy texture is what makes these so special.
Remove, let cool, and enjoy your extra chewy cookie candy canes!
The first time I made these I made them from scratch, but the store-bought cookies dough works well, too. Since I was kind of making the idea up and didn't really have a recipe, I learned that the more candy cane you use-the better! Actually, the more candy cane you use, the longer it may take to bake the cookies since the candy melts into a liquid. But it's well worth it!
1 package sugar cookie dough
1 box candy canes (8-12)
*1-2 tablespoons butter* *optional
Soften the butter and the cookie dough.
Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or no-stick spray.
Crush the candy canes to a fine powder, leaving plenty of small course pieces for looks. This can be done in a coffee grinder, with a mortar and pestle, or by placing them in a ziplock bag and crushing them with a hammer or other blunt object.
Add the candy canes (and butter) to the dough and mix throughout.
Bake on the lower side of the package directions (i.e. 8-10 minutes if package says to bake 10-12 minutes).
Take out of oven when puffy and white and let cool until cookies centers sink to a flatter appearance.
Roll each cookie up like you would a cinnamon roll, folding one edge slightly over onto the cookie and then continuing to roll in that direction until you have a "straw".
If cookies are still very soft, place back in oven for the additional 1-2 minutes, but don't overbake them. The chewy texture is what makes these so special.
Remove, let cool, and enjoy your extra chewy cookie candy canes!
Soap-pourri (harhar)
IDEA SHARE!
*Put a bar of homemade soap in a small organza bag (drawstring bag of fine, breathable, mesh-like material).
*Fill the bag with dried herbs and zest (i.e. cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange zest, anise star, lavender, chamomile, etc.).
*This makes a nicer presentation of the soap; and when the recipient takes the soap out to use, they can leave the pretty little bag of herbs on the countertop as a potpourri.
*Put a bar of homemade soap in a small organza bag (drawstring bag of fine, breathable, mesh-like material).
*Fill the bag with dried herbs and zest (i.e. cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange zest, anise star, lavender, chamomile, etc.).
*This makes a nicer presentation of the soap; and when the recipient takes the soap out to use, they can leave the pretty little bag of herbs on the countertop as a potpourri.
Rubber Stamp Inquiry
Combing over the selection of rubber stamps at the local craft stores always inspires ideas. But the last time I was there I saw some stamps that baffled me. When I think of buying a rubber stamp, I'm thinking of how versatile it is; How many times can I use it, and on how many different projects?
Who buys the oversized cartoon stamp that says,"I'm smiling because you're my sister. I'm laughing because there's nothing you can do about it." It would seem the creator/purchaser of the stamp is planning on sending his/her sister the same birthday card every year for the rest of her life. Or maybe he/she is planning to taunt her on a daily basis, crazily stamping the same image and phrase on every surface in the house- windows, walls, plates, toilet-until the sister is driven mad. That, or he/she has an endless supply of sisters. Creepy.
I don't know. I just can't see buying a pricey stamp that doesn't have reusability appeal.
Who buys the oversized cartoon stamp that says,"I'm smiling because you're my sister. I'm laughing because there's nothing you can do about it." It would seem the creator/purchaser of the stamp is planning on sending his/her sister the same birthday card every year for the rest of her life. Or maybe he/she is planning to taunt her on a daily basis, crazily stamping the same image and phrase on every surface in the house- windows, walls, plates, toilet-until the sister is driven mad. That, or he/she has an endless supply of sisters. Creepy.
I don't know. I just can't see buying a pricey stamp that doesn't have reusability appeal.
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