FaveCrafts

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How to Finger Knit

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Finger knitting is done without needles and is a great way to introduce children to knitting. With their new skill, kids can make scarves, headbands, and toys. The basic concept of knitting is grasped before kids every pick up a knitting needle!

Materials:

  • Ball or Skein of Yarn (Any yarn will do, but I recommend chunky, colorful yarn for children.)
  • Both Hands
  • Plastic Large-Eye Sewing Needle- To finish up headbands, scarves and other projects, this not-sharp needle is perfect for kids.

Steps:

1. If you are right-handed, use your left hand to hold the yarn. Lay the yarn across your upturned palm with the tail of the yarn (the end) held between your thumb and forefinger.

2. With the yarn end attached to the ball or skein, weave the yarn through your fingers. Wrap the yarn under your pinky finger, over your ring finger, under your middle finger and over the forefinger.

3. Weave in the opposite direction. Wrap the yarn under your forefinger, over your middle finger, under your ring finger, and over your pinky.

4. Wrap the yarn under all the fingers towards your thumb and over the top back towards the pinky. This should be the top yarn.

5. Starting with the pinky finger, take the bottom woven yarn and pull it over the top (wrapped) yarn.

6. Repeat with remaining three fingers.

7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until you have the desired length.

8. Pull on the tail of the yarn to tighten the knitting periodically.

9. To finish, cut the yarn, leaving several inches of extra yarn. Take the loops of your fingers. Pull the remaining yarn through the loops and make a knot.

Voila!

The importance of art classes

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As I mentioned in my first blog post, I grew up taking art classes. They meant the world to me.  I still participated in other activities — I played soccer from the age of 5 until my sophomore year of high school, I was on the newspaper staff and editor for the literary magazine.  But my heart was truly in the many, many art classes I took over the years.  I spent all my free time in the art rooms, glazing ceramic sculptures and learning how to draw from life.  Even outside of school, I took many classes through the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.  To this day, I believe that my education in the arts fully shaped the person I became.  I remember many nights spent forging forward to get my science and math homework done so that I could get on to finishing my self-portrait, keeping up good grades so that I could continue with my music lessons, involvement in the thespian troupe (I won best play of the year for my position as student director in the production of Blood Brothers!), and get courses out of the way to free up more time to take electives (all my art classes).

I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened had the art program at school been cut due to funding.  It upsets me to see important programs like that as the first things to go from underfunded public schools here in Chicago — these students are missing out on vital lessons on thinking outside the box, left with no motivation for creative expression.  It will stunt their mental growth.  Just check out these facts:

  • The arts are one of the six subject areas in which the College Board recognizes as essential in order to thrive in college. (Source: Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need to Know and Be Able to Do, 1983 [still in use], The College Board, New York ).

  • Arts Education has a measurable impact on at-risk youth in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance among those youth engaged in after school and summer arts programs targeted toward delinquency prevention. (YouthARTS Development Project, 1996, U.S. Department of Justice, National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts)
  • Arts Education helps all students develop more appreciation and understanding of the world around them (Business Circle for Arts Education in Oklahoma, “Arts at the Core of Learning 1999 Initiative”)
  • Arts Education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence. (Source: Joseph M. Calahan, Director of Corporate Communications, Xerox. Corporation)

So, what can you do to save the arts in your community?  Volunteer to teach children’s arts and craft classes, write to your senator and urge them to support a funding increase for the National Endowment for the Arts to help support the arts in under-served communities, or donate to and/or join Americans for the Arts, the leading non-profit organization for advancing arts in our world.  Make a difference in a child’s life!

Etsy Pick – The Third Night of Hanukkah.

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In honor of tonight being the third night of Hanukkah, I grabbed some things off Etsy that relate to the number three or come in sets of 3.

I love penguins. These represent the phrase “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” (From fliepsiebieps)

There are never two peas in a pod anyway. (Three Peas in a Pod Necklace from sudlow)

Because I’m a writer, I can truly appreciate the value of an old school typewriter. This vintage ring is made from an old typewriter key. (From KeysandMemories)

Happy Hanukkah!

If The New York Times says it, it must be true.

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An article from today’s NY Times about the increase in crafting sales.

“Across the country, people are crafting more,” Victor Domine, spokesman for the Craft & Hobby Association, said. “With the recession, people are looking for ways to save money, and doctors are recommending it as a major form of stress relief.”

Stress relief? I don’t know about you, but trying to weed through all my scrapbook supplies for hours and adjusting and readjusting everything to make sure the page is just right kind of makes me need a stiff drink. Maybe I’m doing this wrong…

Fun Hats

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Brrrrrr it’s cold here in Chicago!  So I’m in the mood for some warm winter crafts!  I found these adorable fruit and veggie hats on HGTV.com.  Here’s a step-by-step guide to create your own!

Crafting for Charity

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We have already shared our Holiday gift ideas here on the FaveCrafts Blog, so it seems time for some suggestions on how to give back this holiday season. There are a number of charities working year round to collect and distribute handmade items to those less fortunate. Since many craftings supplies are inexpensive and many of you readers are talented knitters, sewers and crocheters, this is a simple and wonderful way to utilize your skills and to bring someone joy this holiday. And while I can’t include all of them (though I would love to), here are a few ideas to get you into the giving spirit.

Care Wear

Care Wear is a national group of volunteers who sew, knit and crochet handmade baby items to donate to hospitals for premature infants. The group invites donations from all crafters and the website includes a list of hospitals in need as well as a selection of patterns to help you along.

(There are many other charities with a similar mission, including Stitches from the Heart and Newborns in Need)

Heartmade Blessings

Heartmade Blessings is a worldwide non-profit dedicated to providing handmade items to those who may have suffered a tragedy or loss. Donations can include afghans, baby cuddles, pins and shawls.

Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness

The mission of Love Letters is to create positive and inspirational homemade cards to children with terminal illnesses. The group is based in Florida but encourages those in other states to create a local chapter. So far the group has created and delivered over 27,000 cards.

 

The Snuggles Project

The goal of The Snuggles Project is to provide security blankets, or “snuggles”, to shelters where animals are often kept in cages with stainless steel or hard plastic floors. The website provides a shelter directory, as well as guidelines for how to get involved with the organization and make your own snuggle.

Favorites Friday: The Anti-Gift Guide

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With only a few days left until Christmas, I think we’re all getting a bit over-saturated with crafty gift guides.  Sure, you might have a few gifts still to make this weekend (I know I do, one more hat!!), but is another gift guide really going to help you out? Instead, we FaveCrafts editors thought we’d put together the anti-gift guide, full of crafts we would NOT actually recommend you make for your loved ones. As a disclaimer, we’d like to say we think all of these crafts are completely awesome in their own way and if you have a recipient with a sense of humor, have at it! Otherwise, we hope you enjoy a good laugh.

  1. 1. Your soap dispenser looks so sad and cold doesn’t it? Well, whip up a crochet “Soft Soap Dress” to keep it warm. The crochet is quite cute, but I’d feel somewhat odd harassing the head of an anthropomorphic soap pump to wash my hands. Still, if you are little less startled by doll-like figures in the dark, why not hide the ugly product label?

    Soft Soap Crochet Dress

    Soft Soap Crochet Dress

  2. This felted baby Yoda hat is the perfect gift for parents who happen to be major Star Wars fans. Others might want to restrict this kind of gift to Halloween. Personally, I want to see my nephew in this. I don’t think he’s take it off.

    Adapted Felted Baby Yoda Hat from iamsalad

    Adapted Felted Baby Yoda Hat from iamsalad

  3. If you missed the controversial 9/11 Softies, they deserve a look. While some might say these cute towers will ALWAYS be too soon, others have found something touching in them. Perhaps humor is part of the grieving process.
  4. Submitted by Mindy and found over at Life Art Yarn & Baby Poop, Jews can get into the spirit of overly-festive holiday sweaters with this knitted creation from HSN. Mindy says, “As a Jew, I always felt left out of tacky holiday sweater wearing, until now!”

    Festive Knitted Hanukkah Sweater

    Festive Knitted Hanukkah Sweater

  5. Even without knitting skills, you can get into the spirit of holiday sweaters by “knitting” one online and emailing to a friend compliment of Sullivan, Higdon & Sink. Do some “window shopping” while you are there of past creations. Priceless!
  6. Be festive in every room of your house with this slightly disturbing Santa Commode Set.  Yep, that’s right, you can dress your toilet up just like Father Christmas himself!

    Santa Commode Set

  7. Last, but not least, you can go green and tacky with this hilarious plastic Christmas wreath.  Just follow the step by step directions here.  But like the directions say, you might want to hang it on the back door when you’re ready to display it.

    Tacky Christmas Wreath

How to Make a Door Draft Stopper

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So, here in Chicago, we’re expecting yet another fabulous snowstorm this evening (are you sensing my sarcasm there?) and while I’m not fearing the trek home as badly as earlier this week (thanks to my new four-wheel drive car I got just moments ago), I’m just not a fan of the chilly weather in general.  So I wanted to share this quick, easy, and practical winter craft idea with you.  So when weather outside is frightful, stop the freezing draft from blowing inside and keep the fire oh-so-delightful!

You Will Need:

  • Sturdy, tightly woven fabric (8” x 41-45”)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine and thread
  • Yard Stick
  • Filler- sand, rice, dry corn, aquarium gravel, kitty litter (You can mix in aromatic elements such as potpourri or evergreen tips)
  • Funnel

Steps:
1. Measure the length of your door frame. Most will be around 41” or 45.”

2. Cut your fabric into a rectangle of the right width (8”) and length.

3. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise to form a 4” wide tube with the wrong sides of the fabric facing out.

4. Sew the length and one end together with a ½” seam allowance. Sew the length and one end again with a ¼” seam allowance. This keeps any filler from escaping.

5. Turn your tube inside out, using the yardstick to help push it out.

6. Using the funnel, fill the tube with the filler, leaving 1 inch at the top.

7. Turn in ½” of the top edge and sew closed. Repeat with another seam ¼” away from the first.

You’re all done! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

How to Make Your Own Rubber Stamps

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stampphoto

If you like to embellish your scrapbook pages with stamps, try making your own stamps for a completely personal design. Though many methods exist for transferring an image onto a carving block, tracing is probably the easiest. Creative Kismet shows you just how beautiful homemade stamps can be, with some tips on how to care for them. And if all else fails, hit the craft store and stock up on 3-D stickers, it always makes me feel better.

You Will Need:

  • Clip Art of your preferred image
  • Rubber Carving Block- Speedball sells large carving blocks, affectionately called “the pink stuff” by crafters, including a SpeedyStamp Kit with carving tools.  Mastercarve is another maker.
  • Carving tool- Craft or X-acto knifes will work for the initial cuts, but you may have trouble scrapping out the relief parts of your design. Detailed carving requires special tool(s) with a sharp, V-shaped end.
  • Sharpened No. 2 Pencil
  • Stamp Pad
  • Tracing Paper

Steps:

1. Print out an image from the web or find an image you would like to make into a stamp. For beginners, use a less-detailed image with thick, heavy lines. This will be easier to carve.

2. Place the tracing paper over your image and trace over the solid parts of the image with your sharp pencil. Don’t just outline; fill in the entire image.

3. Flip your tracing paper over and place your image face-down on the carving block (the pink stuff). For words, you want the mirror image of the word on the stamp so that the actual print comes out correctly. You can check this by holding your stamp up to a mirror. If you’ve traced a word or words, you should already accomplish this by flipping over the image onto the carving block.

4. Hold the image steady on the block with one hand as you rub the back of the tracing paper with a blunt object, such as a spoon. This will transfer the graphite onto the carving block.

5. Once transferred, you are ready to carve! For a better-looking “positive image,” you want to carve away the light areas from around your pencil image.

6. Cut off the block with your image from the rest of the carving block. Start with the most intricate areas of the design first. For carving between lines (the middle or insides of circles for example), carve around the lines of the image first, and then carve out the area between.

7. Carve away from the lines of the image using shallow, horizontal cuts. When working around curves, keep the carving tool in your one hand steady and guide the block with your other hand.

8. The cut out parts of the stamp should slope away from the raised surface, rather than straight down or undercutting the raised surface. This will make the stamp surface steadier.

9. Once your image has been carved out, remove all the excess rubber material from around the image. You want to remove everything that you do not want stamped. You can use a larger tool from the Speedy Stamp kits or X-acto knife to carve away larger areas.

10.  When you think you’re done, test out your stamp with a stamp pad or even a highlighter. With stamping, you will likely find additional areas that require carving. Don’t worry; homemade stamps are charming in their slight imperfections.

11. You can mount your stamp onto a piece of wood at this point, with or without a piece of foam separating the stamp from the mount, but it’s not a necessity. If you do mount the stamp to a slightly-larger piece of wood, remember to stamp the top of the wood with your stamp before gluing it on for easy reference.

How to Hem a Pair of Pants

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For the first installement of Tutorial Thursday, I’d like to share a little skill that’s easy but incredibly useful. Personally, I’m 5’8″ and generally have problems with paints being too short rather than the other way around, but hey, I might buy a pair of longs on sale someday and need to hem them. This guide will help you to hem a pair of pants but keep the original hem showing for a finished look.

  1. If you don’t know your preferred pant length, measure yourself or a well-fitting pair of pants. For dress pants worn with heels, hem the length to about an inch above the floor. Otherwise, pants should hit at the bottom of the ankle.
  2. With this measurement, decide how much length to take off the pair of pants.  Divide this number in half.
  3. Cuff your pants and measure this distance from the original hem. For example, if you want to take off two inches from the pant length, measure one inch from the hem. (Do not measure from the end of the pant, but rather from the thread of the original hem. The “abrasion area” is not included in your calculation. You will basically be measuring from the hem down towards the fold you made in cuffing the pant.)
  4. Using your small ruler or tape measure, pin around the cuff making sure the length is the same all the way around the cuff. (Pins should be parallel to the direction of the cuff, going up and down, and not perpendicular across the cuff.) Keep an eye on the seam of the pants, making sure the folded seam line ups when pining.
  5. Place the foot of your sewing machine right next to the original hem, at the opposite side from the end of the jeans of course, and slowly stitch all the way around the cuff. As you sew, do not lay the front and back sides of the cuff flush together and end up sewing your pant leg closed!
  6. Flip the cuff back out and push any extra fabric inwards. For a larger hem, you can trim off this excess fabric leaving ¾ inch for fraying in the wash.
  7. Press any excess material inside the pant leg upwards with your iron.
  8. Close the pant leg and push the new seam flat with your fingers.

If you had any trouble following these instructions, check out this wonderful video from LaycieDo.

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