FaveCrafts

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The Right Yarn for Green Knitting

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As I’ve said before, I’m brand new to all needle work. Sadly, this is just not something I took any interest in growing up. I was too busy playing soccer all over the Midwest. I even traveled to Denmark for an international soccer tournament when I was fifteen. I don’t regret the time I spent playing sports, but it’s certainly a trade-off with time for acquiring skills. I can do some really neat pick-ups with a soccer balls and juggle to 100, but I can hardly sew on a button. My family still has an antique sewing machine somewhere in the house….not that it would be help me much, but it’s still inspiring.

Now that I’m introducing myself to this new skill, I am keeping in mind certain environmental concerns. For example, I’m interested in the kinds of thread you should use for your projects. The problems of traditionally grown cotton are starting to emerge. According to the Pan North American Pesticide Action Network, cotton relies on more insecticides and pesticides than any other single crop. These pesticides, some of the most hazardous on the market, can harm farm workers, especially in developing countries, contaminate ground and surface water, and kill beneficial insects, social micro-organisms, and wildlife.

Organic cotton production uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and instead relies on natural processes, such as enhancing soil quality, to increase yields and disease resistance. Just as more and more clothing manufacturers are using organic cotton by consumer demand, you can find organic cotton yarn quite easily these days.

Interesting, industrial hemp (not marijuana!) is a sustainable crop and viable alternative to cotton and tree paper (which uses bleach and contributes to deforestation). Hemp can be used for insulation, biodegradable plastic, fuel, and more.  More importantly, hemp requires little to no pesticides or herbicides and effectively controls erosion of topsoil. Nonetheless, the U.S. classifies hemp as a Schedule 1 Drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act and is the only developed country that prohibits the growing of hemp as an agricultural crop.

You can purchase hemp yarn from many different places but this one of the best I have found, a Canadian online shop called Hemp for Knitting. They have their very own page about hemp. Aside from the environmental concerns, they say that it’s the strongest natural fiber and gets softer with every wash!

Happy Knitting!

Sources:
“Problems with Conventional Cotton Production” Panna: Pan North American Pesticide Action Network
“Organic Cotton Production” World Wildlife Fund
“Hemp” Wikipedia

Recycled Paper Beads

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I cannot be trusted with expensive jewelry. I will inevitably lose it (one diamond earring from a gifted set fell right out of my ear), break it (my grandmother’s opal ring), or simply leave it in my jewelry box to collect dust. I’m hopelessly clumsy and a ring with a jutting diamond would likely end up scratching my eye, in what would be my third eye-scratching, ER-needing accident. In all honesty, and I realize this might be hard to believe, I detest diamonds and other precious stones. I just can’t understand spending that much money for something so inconsequential, and even more importantly, something which fuels conflict in parts of Africa. When did diamonds become an essential part of engagement? I suspect De Beers had something to do with it.

Despite my distrust for precious stones, I do think jewelry can be a wonderful expression of personality and style, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Hand-made jewelry is all the more exciting for how it demonstrates individual creativity. I’ve seen paper beads in several places and want to give them a try. Since they use any medium-weight paper (the very thin kind used for things like coupons won’t work), they are a great way to recycle all the junk mail we receive on a daily basis. You can also use plain brown paper, such as from lunch bags, if you want a bead that looks like wood. You can then draw on the bead with markers. Try drawing squiggles (the technical term, hehe) all over a piece of paper with different color pens before rolling the bead for an interesting look.

The only essentials are paper, scissors or a paper cutter, glue (Elmers works fine), a long needle or a thicker piece of metal for rolling up the beads (I’ve seen a straightened out clothes hanger recommended in several places), and a bit of thin wire for stringing the beads. Straw coffee-stirrers, from a nearby fast-food restaurant would also work to roll up the beads. You can use varnish or spray acrylic to make the beads hard and shiny after rolling. Clear nail polish might also work, but that would be more time intensive. A notched, cardboard box will work as a kind of drying rack while painting or varnishing your beads.
Here are two different methods for making paper beads:

Rolled Paper Beads from Recycled Junk Mail

Recycled Newspaper Beads

These are simple and really enjoyable. I loved making all the junk mail disappear. The newspaper beads are a bit more involved but definitely unique!

My Introduction and Handmade Gifts

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My grandmother knew how to knit blankets, can vegetables from the garden, and paint watercolors, and a few generations ago, this was pretty common. I regret that such knowledge was not an essential part of my education growing up, as it is not for most people these days, and continue to admire people who can create things with their hands. Indeed, a homemade quilt will always look more beautiful, a dream-catcher more touching, and jam much tastier when it’s made by someone you love.

The current economic situation has also rekindled my interest in crafting and DYI projects. With the doom and gloom of recession dominating the news, such knowledge seems to be an essential part of smart, frugal living. Though eager to learn, I’ll freely admit that I’m new to crafting, as I was to cooking when I began writing for a food and cooking website several years ago. Like many did then, I hope people connect with the beginner’s perspective in this new endeavor, as I gather advice from all over and learn along the way. I learned how to crochet in two weeks, so there’s hope for me yet.

My name is Caley, and I’m one of the editors for the wonderful new crafting website FaveCrafts.com. While I’m American, I currently live in Dublin, Ireland with my (Irish) boyfriend. Right now, like many out there, I’m thinking about gifts for friends and family with Christmas quickly approaching. Making gifts seems more personal, reflecting the time you devoted to the gift, with the added bonus of being cheaper (generally). In addition, creating gifts at home can be environmentally-conscious with its emphasis on recycling, whether you are re-purposing glass jars or pressed flowers from the garden.

At FaveCrafts.com, I’ve created a gift guide to help you out with handmade holiday gifts. Because I don’t believe in dividing things on gender lines (I personally hate shoes and handbags), the recipients are:

The Environmentalist

The Foodie

The Ever-Fashionable

The Worker Bee

The Kids

For another idea, handmade Bath and Body gifts are super quick and easy. Mix up the recipe, such as Cinnamon Coffee Bath Salts, pop it in a pretty jar and you’re set. For more ideas, check out our gifts sections.

Best of luck with your Christmas gift making!

How to make Papier-Mache

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Papier-Mache is an inexpensive and relatively easy craft project. Recycled newspaper is ideal for the paper component and you can even make the paste!  And who doesn’t love a good papier-mache project?  I remember quite a few awesome pinatas I made as a kid and an exceptional model of the solar system for a grade school sciene class — all thanks to papier-mache!  Be creative and enjoy these projects with your kids!

Materials:

  • Newspaper (you can use a mixture of newspaper and lightweight, brown paper bags)
  • Adhesive
  • Plastic Throw Cloths or Table Coverings
  • Paint
  • Large Container for mixing the adhesive
  • (Optional) Sturdy Mold- Ballon, Bowl, Plate, Milk Jug, etc.
  • (Optional) Paintbrush

Mixing the Adhesive:

There are many different ways to make the adhesive for papier-mache, but I like these three main types:

Flour and Water Paste

  1. Mix three parts water into one part flour until smooth (3 cups of water and 1 cup flour for example).
  2. Mix one cup flour into one cup water until smooth. Then add four cups of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes.
  3. Mix ½ cup flour into two cups of cold water. Add two cups boiling water and return to boil. Remove from heat and add 3 tablespoons of sugar. The mixture will thicken as it cools.

NOTE: These glue mixtures may not produce long-lasting results. The flour mixtures can mold, especially in humid climates. A couple drops of Wintergreen essential oil can make the paste last longer.

Wallpaper Paste (contains a fungicide to prevent mold)

  1. The paste generally comes in powdered form in large jugs anywhere wallpaper is sold. Mix according to the directions, or use a little less water for a thicker result.
  2. A good rule of thumb is to mix three parts water with one part wallpaper paste.

NOTE: Unlike flour and water mixture, wallpaper paste is toxic so do not use with children.

White Glue Paste

  1. Water down the white glue.
  2. Combine two parts warm water with one part white glue.

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