future girl has a bag pattern in the new anticraft book - I designed this lined crochet tote bag so it would be a canvas on which you could add your own personalized design. I submitted two designs for the book. …

treefall I made this bag yesterday and I’m really happy with it. I’m not very good in general with bags, but this one just worked so nicely. I obviously didn’t use a pattern, I just made it up as I went along and actually managed to make the whole thing from beginning to end in Bella’s nap time. I don’t think that you can tell from the photo’s but the whole top of the bag folds over to create the flap.

evil mad scientist Adding a seat belt buckle to a commuter bag improves its accessibility and usefulness. It’s a pretty easy modification, and super cool if you can find just the right buckle. Airline safety belt buckles (fasten low and tight across your lap…) are becoming more readily available and have a certain industrial charm.

wheelchair tote bag by my recycled bags wheelchair tote bag crochet pattern using regular acrylic yarn. I crocheted several of these handy totes lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. I made these with red, white, and blue scrap and recycled acrylic yarn to have a patriotic look for the Veterans.

wardrobe refashion - I fused the grocery bags using this tutorial. then i just sort of winged it on the pattern. Simple construction really. i just cut out a front piece and then the back with a flap and a strip for the sides and the bottom. i sewed in some belt loop things around the perimeter for the red scarf to run though.

wasp bag - pattern [via u-handbag]

baby tote pattern at whispering pine

Four years ago I taught myself to crochet. I was working at a local craft store while between jobs and bought a kit with hooks and a how-to book to get me started. Years before my grandmother, an avid crocheter, had taught me to chain but I never ventured further than that. The impetus to learn was that one of my friends was pregnant and I thought a handmade gift would be something lovely to give. I worked feverishly at home and eventually brought my project to work so that I could crochet on my lunch hour. I never encountered anything negative from crocheting at work and it was the only public crocheting I would do for awhile. The blanket was a success, despite my beginner status.

Now, four years later I have branched out with my crochet and have done numerous afghan’s for friends and their babies as well as making purses. My job now has me traveling several times a year and I frequently take a hook and some yarn to work on whatever project I have going at the time. Getting through security has never been a problem for me, though I do watch the scissors and try not to have them in my bag. While waiting to board the plane or during the flight I will usually crochet to pass the time. Most people just stare silently and dart their eyes if I look up. On a recent trip to South Dakota two older ladies watched in awe as I worked a single crochet baby blanket. They had crocheted in the past, making dishcloths and blankets, but now their hands were mired with arthritis. I chatted with them for awhile, but mostly kept to myself, due to my uncertainty about how to react when there is interest in what I am doing. Do I explain in detail or quickly state what I am doing and get back to my project?

Recently I moved my endeavors from airports to the swamp. My husband and I are avid hikers and we frequently explore the wilds of South Florida. We were planning to spend the night at a cabin in a local state preserve so that we could join several other hikers the next morning and take off bright and early for the swamp to look for orchids and bromeliads. Unfortunately I was also under a self imposed and baby imposed deadline to get an afghan completed before the little one arrived. So, I sat myself down on a hanging chair and whipped out a few squares in single crochet and a basket weave pattern. Two men, other than my husband, that were at the cabin showed an interest in what I was doing and asked a few questions. Later I found out a short video clip had been taken and I got nicknamed the “Granny”. I found it a little discouraging to be called that, but then again I have to take it in stride as grannies the world over started out crocheting when they were young. And to be called a granny is much less offensive than many other epithets that could be said.

A more positive public display of crochet I witnessed happened just last week. I went to visit my grandmother in a rehabilitation facility where she has been staying due to a broken leg. As I walked down the long corridor I saw a woman in a wheelchair crocheting away at a variegated yarn. I had brought a project to work on as well and as I sat with my grandmother for a while my mom and I mentioned the lady down the hall. My grandmother informed us that the lady had been making baby afghan’s for any of the nurses and doctors who were pregnant. Going beyond herself and thinking about others when she was in probably not in the best circumstances health wise, makes me hopeful that most crocheting and crafting receives a positive affirmation from non-crafters.

Crocheting in public or crafting in general is something that can bring both positive and negative aspects. I certainly wouldn’t stop doing something I loved because someone was misinformed or rude to me. The only thing you can do is to educate those who ask about your project, let the bad things roll off your back and enjoy the creative life you choose to lead.

About the author: Misti Little is an environmental worker by day and multi-crafter by night. When she isn’t hiking in the South Florida wilderness with her husband, she can be found crocheting to her favorite movies, oil and pastel painting, gardening and hanging out with her two cats. The photograph is of Misti taken by her husband Chris Little. You can find Misti at her blog Oceanic Wilderness.

Beautiful handmade designed calendars for 2008. here are some I love.

debi van zyl calendar [via freshly blended] limited edition count down the year with concentric circles, [sold out already] {blog here}

calendar from seasprayblue

linear calendar from lizardpress Poseidon 2008 is printed on Kitakata, a handmade, tree free paper from Japan of 100% Philippine gampi.

tarahogan letterpress calendar - INK+WIT has teamed up with Pistachio Press on this 2008 letterpress wall calendar. INK+WIT designed and illustrated the pages and Pistachio Press (pistachiopress.etsy.com) is doing all of the printing.

Whip Up is now taking article and tutorial submissions.

We are looking for tutorials and submissions that fit within Whip Up’s feel - read our Manifesto for more information. We are looking for thematic articles and tutorials to fit within the months themes - see monthly themes below - but also timely articles outside of these themes will be considered , such as exhibition and pattern reviews, craft memes, fun, frivolous and extreme ideas, etc that cannot wait and do not fit within the theme.

Submissions now being accepted for November, December and january

* November: Public crafting
* December: Holiday crafts
* January: Children’s crafts

To learn more about how to submit an article read the submission guidelines here

a creature for hugging from bobolina

kings hat from monster crochet

future girl shower scrubbie pattern review

crochet candy corn sweater for a cat [via craft]

bloody crochet saw from monster crochet

Buyhandmade.org is a collaboration between Etsy, Craftster, indiepublic, Craft Magazine, Interweave, Burdastyle, The Austin Craft Mafia, Design*Sponge, and The American Craft Council, nine prominent forces in the DIY and handmade worlds. Calling themselves The Handmade Consortium, they have banded together to encourage people to buy handmade this holiday season.

Clipboard advent, Link

Felt pocket advent, Link

Watchmaker tin advent, Link

3D joke tree advent, Link

Cookie sheet advent, Link and here

Of course Martha’s got some going on as well:
- matchbook advent, Link
- baby sock advent, Link
- greeting card advent, Link
- advent in a box, Link
- ornament advent, Link
- mini stocking advent, Link

Bottle cap advent, Link

Yoyo advent calendar, Link

Advent tree with walnuts, Link

Paper advent box, Link

Origami snowman advent, Link

Get on over to flickr and view an interesting array of calendars! Link.

If you find any more please feel free to email them to whipup.tutorials[@]gmail.com

[etsy store 'funky shapes']

The angst that is involved in gift giving in the holiday season is not diminished by taking the handmade option.

Some parts of the angst have disappeared such as the worry about becoming a rampant consumer and dealing with the crowds at the mall. And I always get so angry about the enormous amounts of packaging that seems to surround kids toys. And the price of everything is outrageous especially when you know that the item is made in a factory in China and those getting the profits are the rich fat cats in their tall towers who don’t care about anything except money. And then the day after Christmas when the toys fall apart and are tossed in the rubbish and all the little bits fall off everything and the item suddenly is useless - when the batteries are not included and you end up with piles of rubbish to throw away - makes me so so angry - the quality is just not there.

And of course there is no love in going to the mall, all sweaty and stressed, searching high and low for the perfect gift and then just buying something because you are running out of time. There is no feeling in all the plastic packaging and the and the annoying snotty nosed pimply shop assistants who really don’t care. Many people become a Scrooge and choose not to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Solstice or whatever your holiday celebration is at this time of year. But I just don’t see that as the answer.

[liquid paper 'inside my workshop']

Choosing to make something (or buy something that has been lovingly made from an artist or crafter) is one way of saying NO to the commercial holiday experience, saying NO to sweatshops and environmental damage, saying NO to crappy plastic landfill. You are saying that giving at in the holiday season is more than just stuff and things and spending money, it is love and joy and being part of something better in the world.

But that does not diminish the angst of giving. The angst of whether the person you are giving your beautiful handmade, thoughtful gift to, the gift that you have spent time and love making, is going to love it like you do, is going to appreciate it as it should be appreciated. The truth is that most of them will not realise how much work you have put in - especially if they do not make things themselves, and if they are not going to appreciate it - and they don’t need another handmade scarf/hat/bag then what is the point of giving it to them. Giving, I think, is about feeling good about what you have given but also equally about knowing that the person you are giving it to will love it, appreciate it and actually use it. It might be more environmentally friendly and in tune with the person receiving the gift to give them a voucher for iTunes or a book voucher or purchasing something from a fairtrade community co-op (like Oxfam).

[flickr photos: reindeer clips from Caruba]

Another thing to consider is whether you have the time and the emotional stamina to make gorgeous handmade gifts for all your loved ones? In our family - amongst the adults we have put a price limit on gifts and a time limit too - we are realistic - for children though we are a little more generous - while at the same time ensuring that Christmas lives up to its promises, we don’t wish it to be the commercial bonanza that is depicted on tv. For the shildren the holiday season should be about fun and family and celebration, personal traditions, cooking and preparation is a big part of it - the anticipation is almost too much - and too many presents on Christmas morning can be emotionally exhausting - too much choice inhibits creativity.

So while you may have taken the pledge to give handmade this holiday season - don’t wear yourself out, don’t make it a stressful holiday by taking on too much. Be realistic, set yourself limits, be easy on yourself and make this holiday more about the joy and fun of Christmas than about the perfect gift.

Hanukkah Crafts for Kids

Kids advent ideas - Origami cups

Alice at Futuregirl has a new pattern - called Supercute Sea Creatures. There’s a pattern for an octopus, fish, jellyfish, and starfish. Each creature is between 3 and 4 inches tall and wide, which makes them just the right size for ornaments, package tags, or clip-ons for backpacks.

Love makers sustainable Craft fair at Ambatalia Fabrics in Mill Valley. Ambatalia is a green, sustainable fabric store - and a truly a unique place. In addition to selling hard to find fabric and notions they also offer classes and hold art shows. They’ll be having a craft fair on Tuesday December 4th from 2pm-8pm. There’s a great list of people selling at the fair. There will also be two screen printers from Remade in America printing that day so that people can bring by t-shirts and clothing to print on.

elemental stitches needs your help tell her why you blog …

check out more on the forum:

Gracie desperately need some advice for good quality books on natural dyeing - if you can help go this forum thread.

Buhnuh says: I’m running low on ideas for my Dad and 21 year old Brother. If I give my little brother one more knitted beanie I think he might throw it at me! - ideas at this forum thread

See what everyone is making at this forum thread:

Towhee is submitting to The Visual AIDS Postcards from the Edge exhibit is coming up on World AIDS Day, December 1st.

fabulous fabulous is making laptop cozies

And some lovely little booties from bored and crafty

strikker - grey - pattern: bloom by carol meldrum in rowan 36 yarn: rowan felted tweed in 141 whisper, 3 balls - with modifications.

thanksgiving turkey finger puppet [via craft] original pattern at team knit.

fuscia sweater by olga jazzy. luscious Malabrigo and the pattern superfun! Norah Gaughan! Was inspired by jatta and knittingschooldropout pics and progress to make my own. 60% of the sweater was made within a week while watching 3 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy…

baby leg warmers [via craft] original pattern at zakka life.

The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing: Beautiful Color and Simple Knits by Linda Labelle published by Potter Craft (November 13, 2007).

When I spin or crochet or knit it is my meditative time, I sit and chat or watch tv or just think - it is how I relax, but when I dye yarn it is “play time” for me - time when I can experiment and try out new things. I am currently crocheting a baby rug for my soon to be born 5th grandchild and I have been dying the wool as I go. Experimenting would be the correct word in regard to the dyes. I have been using this book as a sort of guide - however it shows dyeing of large quantities of wool or other natural fibres, whereas I have only been dyeing small lots, (very small). I have been dyeing small lots mainly to experiment with colours and because I am making it up as I go along - seeing what colours go with the colour before and trying out various combinations. Having fun. I have been dyeing small mill ends wound around my fingers. The dye I use is a cold dye called “Earth Palette” which comes from Gladstone in Australia. The chemicals are already pre-mixed in powder/crystal form, with a separate “fixer” which I add. I am trying out various methods which are shown in the book such as fully immersing the yarn in a jar or a bowl, I am also mixing small quantities of two colours separately and placing one side in and letting the wool soak up the dye halfway and then pouring the other colour carefully on top - I am really enjoying this method as you end up with lovely colour variations and when I crochet this in to the blanket there is a lovely overall pattern and blend of colour on the squares.

I have a few proper skeins of wool and mohair blend which I have spun, and I intend to dye in a multi colour effect. I am using this book again, not so much as a reference but more as inspiration, although as a beginner to the dye world, I have found the book to be very easy to follow with good images to help me along the way - being a visual person this is very important. The book is well written using different methods and the patterns are certainly enticing if quite simple. The Eucalypt dye is rather interesting and I certainly don’t have to go far to gather the leaves. I will have a go at that some time but it does appear to be rather time consuming to just do it on small lots. I am quite interested in trying the food dyes and will do some of those for the rug.

there is a big area of the book that is completely missing, explanations of the chemicals. This had me pondering for a bit till I looked it up on the web that was Synthropol - it is evidently a detergent. Some of the terminology and none of the chemicals used in the book are explained very well for beginners like me, luckily I am getting quite proficient at using the online search tools.

All in all I find the book very inspiring and challenging. I was thinking of digging a small trench up in the yard and lining it with plastic and laying my skeins in that and pouring gently the dyes in strips and using primary colours to get maybe a rainbow effect. I would then cover and leave for a couple of days in this heat to take up and blend the colours. And I will also be trying ‘painting’ the wool as well. The main thing about this book for me is that I am so excited to try new things and it has really pushed my creativity in some new directions.

About the reviewer: Janette lives in Australia and is spending her retirement doing the things she loves. Gardening, playing with yarn and making things for her grandchildren.

If you’re a fibre artist and you’re considering taking up knitting in public, I’d like to suggest freeform knitting and crochet as the ideal way to start! It’s fast, portable and fun.

I should perhaps confess that until about six months ago, I would have sworn up and down to you that I would never, ever, knit in public – and especially not on the transit system. Thinking back, I can’t tell you why… did I think it was “uncool”? Were the projects I was working on too complex? Was I worried about being stared at? Instead, I was carrying a book. Problem is, I pretty much read and write for a living. I would inevitably wind up carrying work related materials with me to read. Suffice it to say that reading dry treatises on the state of residential landlord/tenant law through the ages is not the best recipe for arriving at work in a relaxed fashion – especially when combined with the pushing and shoving that is an increasing hallmark of the public transit system in the age of cutbacks.

So, a shift happened in my brain, and I thought “Why not just try knitting on the subway and seeing what happens?” I decided to focus on a project that, seaming aside, would be almost completely portable and amenable to public knitting. At that point, I was in need of a serious stashbuster of scrap yarns from a plethora of other projects as well. So, with this in mind, I started designing what was to be a blanket using swatches from former projects and bordered in log cabin technique. Knitting while commuting over the next several months yielded approximately 23” by 26” worth of future blanket:

Again, simple and portable… but I got bored with it. Also, being the type-A person that I am, I wanted to find something to do while in transit which would yield completely discrete pieces at the end of each travel session. Freeform technique, as advocated by Jenny Dowde sounded ideal The art of freeform involves, in part, creating small fragments of knitted or crocheted pieces using unconventional shaping and then using them in other finished pieces of work. Jenny talks about “taking your yarn for a walk” – so, why not take mine for a ride (or for ten rides a week, for that matter?)

Freeform is incredibly fun and simple to do, with funky and inspiring results. There is a ton of flexibility in the craft, and no real rules (aside from “play with yarn and see where it takes you). And - I finished two fragments today for a purse project on the subway coming to the office! I am preferring crochet to knitting for the commute as well. I suspect that some people were intimidated by my pointy little sticks (those Addi lace needles I’m addicted to could look like mini sabres, I guess!!!). The crochet hook is less potentially threatening, and takes up less space. So, all you need is a crochet hook and some yarn, and you too can “freeform” your commuting habits!

Now, if I could only figure out how to do large mosaic work on the tram…!!!

About the maker: Kristina Brousalis is a craft-daft hyphenated greek-canadian boygirl who lives and crafts next to a forest in central Toronto, Canada. She has been knitting for over 25 years and making mosaics for five or so. She practices law to support her Handmaiden silk, smalti and other craft habits. Her latest obsession is blogging, and she tries to blog something humorous every single day. Read on for a biographical essay on crafting.

With Christmas around the corner - I have put together a list of some books that I would love to get in my stocking and I know will not disappoint.

Taking Things Seriously: 75 Objects with Unexpected Significance by Joshua Glenn and Carol Hayes, published by Princeton Architectural Press; (August 9, 2007) Such a little unassuming book, who would think that it contains the power to make you laugh, cry, think and discuss all within a few minutes. (read the review here)

The Daring Book for Girls by by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, published by Collins (October 30, 2007). We immediately looked through the book and it fell open at the page ‘how to paddle a canoe’. My daughter was hooked. (read the rest of what my daughter thought here)

How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book, written by Esther K. Smith from Purgatory Pie Press, with illustrations by Lindsay Stadig and photographs by David Michael Zimmerman and published by Potter craft. This is one of those books that is a pleasure to hold and touch and you just want to keep on feeling it. (read the review here)

D.I.Y. Kids, Ellen Lupton & Julia Lupton, published by Princeton Architectural Press (website for the book and old blog). The sequel to D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself (Design Handbooks), bringing design to the home and to the family. I am impressed by the authors vision of design, using it not to sell stuff but rather to get away from the commercialization and consumerism of design and emphasize the DIY aspect of making and crafting and doing it yourself. (read the whole review here)

Hand Job: A Catalog of Type, by Micheal Perry, (see more of his work at his website), published by Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2007). I don’t look at design books from start to finish, left to right or whatever the real reading order is meant to be. This book is a delight in that regard. I can open it on any page and be swamped with some pretty cool examples of hand drawn type. Its perfect to have lying around the breakfast table for when you have 2-3minutes to have a look at it. (read the whole review here)

by Keri Smith called The Guerrilla Art Kit, published by Princeton Architectural Press. Keri in her book looks as moss art and guerrilla gardening as well as stencil art and poster art. And in her introduction, discusses why she wrote such a book and how essential guerrilla art is to our society. (read more here)

Homemade Contrivances and How to Make Them: 1001 Labor-Saving Devices for Farm, Garden, Dairy, and Workshop by Skyhorse Publishing (April 1, 2007) (First published in 1899). I love old technology, history and ingenuity and that is what this book is all about. (read all about it here)

Domiknitrix: whip your knitting into shape, by Jennifer stafford, published by North Light Books. I have to start off by saying - that I LOVE THIS BOOK. On the surface it looks like it might be just another gimmicky book. But it is not. It is a fantastic resource of knitting techniques, styles and designs. (read the whole review here)

Fitted knits: 25 designs for the fashionable knitter, by Stefanie Japel, published by North Light Books. [see Stefanie's blog and the knit-a-long for this book] This is such a beautifully presented book, and the patterns and styles are all so elegant and gorgeous. (read more here)

Stitch Dissolve Distort: with machine embroidery, by Valerie Campbell-Harding and Maggie Grey, published by Interweave Press. If you are into machine embroidery, mixed media with fabric and thread and textile design then this book is for you. (read the review here)

Animal, vegetable, miracle: A year of food life, by Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L.Hopp and Camille Kingsolver. Published by Harper Collins. A year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver and with contributions by her husband and older daughter, with her younger daughter also playing a big part in the story. This as you can see is a family adventure into living courageously. Together they pledge to eat only food that they either grow themselves or know who did (with exceptions, such as coffee, purchasing only fair trade). (read the whole review here)

Simple sewing: Patterns and how-to for 24 fresh and easy projects, by Lotta Jansdotter, published by Chronicle books. I like this book a lot. It is fresh and simple, just as the title suggests, with projects suitable for the absolute beginner sewer and as a quick in-between project for the more advanced sewer. (read the whole review here)

Whip Up is now taking article and tutorial submissions.

We are looking for tutorials and submissions that fit within Whip Up’s feel - read our Manifesto for more information. We are looking for thematic articles and tutorials to fit within the months themes - see monthly themes below - but also timely articles outside of these themes will be considered , such as exhibition and pattern reviews, craft memes, fun, frivolous and extreme ideas, etc that cannot wait and do not fit within the theme.

Submissions now being accepted for November, December and january

* November: Public crafting
* December: Holiday crafts
* January: Children’s crafts

To learn more about how to submit an article read the submission guidelines here

So, you want to craft and create together with other people instead of sitting at home feeling lonely with your supplies? Here are some tips to get you started if you have been longing for company but don’t know how yet. I think everyone should have creative friends because it makes life richer and brighter. Just seeing other creative people (both offline and on) inspires me!

1. Look around you - Ask your friends and co-workers if they are in a craft group or if they know anyone who is. If you don’t know the people in the group don’t hesitate to join anyway (if you are invited). Having a project in your lap makes it easy to socialise, just ask the person sitting closest to you about what they’re making or see if they have any advice about your own creation.

2. Try a café - If you can’t find a group of friends that meet at home, try to google your town’s name or area plus “knit café” or “craft store” to see if there are any courses, café days or regular meetings close to you. These are popping up by the minute even in small rural towns, so do a search and you might be lucky. If you can’t find it online go to your nearest yarn or craft store and just ask them. If there is nothing “official” you might be invited to a private gathering if you are lucky.

3. Make it happen - If all else fails you might have to do it yourself; invite your friends (both creative and not so creative) and bribe them with home made cookies until they promise to come! Then let creativity do it’s magic and some of them will be “hooked” and come back. Tell your friends, family, class mates or co-workers to bring their crafty friends and the next thing you know strangers will come up to you and ask “I heard that you have a craft group, please can I join?”

4. Don’t be shy - If you’ve just moved to a new town then you really need that network of friends with the same interests as you. Go find them; they’re sitting at home feeling lonely too! Put up messages, on online bulleting boards or at your local library, that you are starting a knit/craft group and will be sitting at the local café next Monday between six and nine. Maybe someone will show up? Maybe you’ll sit there alone and enjoy a great coffee looking at people looking at you crafting, wishing it was them who was knitting or crocheting!

5. Join a group online - Maybe crafting in public or joining a group of other people is not your thing after all? What if you don’t want to get out of the house or maybe you can’t find a baby sitter or you live in a place where there is no cafés or libraries at all? I recommend you try to join the fun of crafting with others via your computer (if you are reading this online the chances are you already know about the wonderful world of craft blogging). Join a mailing list, a knit-a-long for a project you’re making or create a blog so that people that don’t live close to you can share the creative fun you’re having. Maybe you’ll inspire others to join the Do It Yourself Revolution? Why you ask? Because it is a wonderful and great thing to share what you do with others who are genuinely interested!

When I started to knit I didn’t know anyone who was like me. Now I see “them” everywhere I go, those Creative People, and I love them to death and can’t imagine living without them!

About the author: Hanna Andersson is a Swedish journalist who writes about her creative adventures in her blog iHanna, where you can see her beautiful photos, learn about her projects and see her videos. She enjoys art journaling, sewing, knitting, writing and more. Hanna just published her first book, A Creative Year, as a print-on-demand book at Lulu.

Nifty Knits for Kids: Fun Wearables for Kids on the Go by Catherine Ham, published by Lark Books (May 1, 2007)

Basic patterns in bold colours and practical designs. Best thing about these is that the designs have room for the child to grow - they are not fitted designs where the child will grow out of it before you have finished knitting it. Lots of square shoulders and long lines. School style v-necks and vests are my favourites in this book. Kids might find some of these patterns out of fashion and as my kids would say ‘daggy’ (Australian slang meaning pretty un-trendy) - but grandma’s will love them. The patterns are given in several sizes with fairly easy to follow simple instructions with illustrations too.

Bag Style: 20 Inspirational Handbags, Totes, and Carry-alls to Knit and Crochet (Style series) by Pam Allen and Ann Budd, published by Interweave Press (September 1, 2007).

Another top quality book by Interweave. As always a mix of designs - some you will love and some you will like - not many terrible patterns in here - probably the best range of patterns in a knitting and crochet bag pattern book I have laid my eyes on in a while. Excellent images, instructions and design tips from some talented designers. For images and table of contents go here to the interweave site.
Lots of practical and beautiful designs - interesting to knit with various levels of skill and difficulty allowed. There is lovely knitted and felted messenger bag - looks very sturdy, there is a great big shopping bag crocheted from raffia ribbon yarn (looks like it could even be made from plastic bag yarn), on the other end of the scale there is a quirky knitting needle bag, petite and sweet with knitting needles as as the handles.

Fashion DIY: 30 Ways to Craft Your Own Style by Carrie Blaydes and Nicole Smith, published by Sixth&Spring Books (May 1, 2007).

Apart from the strange choice of rather dull cover, this book is not as underwhelming as it first appears. There are some rather sweet and original designs - mostly these are in the area of decorating dull or plain clothes to snazzy them up a bit. Ideas like beading and appliquéing are worked through in rather a lovely fashion, and the illustrations and instructions are really very good. There is a headband that can become a kimono belt and a felted sweater bag but where this books really comes into its own is in the second half of the book. In this section the designs and alterations become a bit more bold - such as using pintucks to change the shape of an outfit, printing bold designs onto fabric to change the look of an outfit and the deconstruction of the blouses at the back are the best t-shirt mashup designs I have come across. I was also really inspired by the embossing designs section using paper doilies to make a stamp design and using bleach pens and dyeing to subtly make design changes to a plain piece.

The Altered Book Scrapbook by Susan Ure, published by Sterling/Chapelle (August 1, 2007).

For those of you who love working with paper, vintage ephemera, found materials, and photographs this books is for you. This book has several designers and artists who have interpreted various themes to make original and very different versions of an altered book. The projects are described in detail and are very achievable projects. As with much of this area of craft the style of design varies dramatically and not everyone has the same aesthetic sensibilities - I prefer a simple design approach and much of these designs are overwhelmingly busy with multiple layers and textures and colours all used together. But for those who love the crazy patchwork style or the shabby chic vintage look then you will really love this. There are plenty of techniques and ideas to get you going on this interesting crafting pastime.

I consider myself to be a proficient seamstress, not advanced thats for sure - but proficient, I can tackle any project and get it mostly right most of the time - I can usually understand what is needed but I don’t tackle projects that are beyond me - I know my limitations but sometimes I like to challenge myself and push myself to learn something new.

My sewing machine has been a good old work horse 30 years old or so… It was given to me after my grandmother died. Its an Elna and has a few basic stitches, very heavy - it doesn’t move around much or vibrate when sewing - it sits solid on the table. It doesn’t break down … well once a spring snapped - but in 30 years thats pretty good going. I oil it and clean it regularly and in return it is capable and reliable.

But just recently I have begun to realise its limitations - it doesn’t do blanket stitch for example - and to put down the feed dogs I have to practically dismantle the whole machine and get out the screwdriver to remove the feed dogs (surely there is an easier way?) I am sure I can buy new fancy feet and accessories to extend it further, but the one time I did try that - I bought a walking foot for quilting - it didn’t quite fit. Well I suppose I am nitpicking here but the reason is simple my daughter wants her own sewing machine and I am thinking of giving her the sturdy reliable work horse and purchasing something slightly more advanced for myself. Having never purchased a sewing machine before I really need to do some serious research as well as making a list of what I really need and what would be useful as well as what I probably will never use.

I recently received a book which I have decided is going to be invaluable in helping me on this new journey to upgrade both my skills and my equipment. Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques by Nancy Bednar and JoAnn Pugh-Gannon, published by Sterling (April 1, 2007).

For those who already have the basics and want to know more - this is really a fabulous book, it covers a whole range of techniques with many different variables within each area. Most of the techniques are those in the creative realm, such as applique, cutwork, sewing braiding and doing fringeing, there is a section on heirloom techniques, which includes puffing, decorative hem stitching, lacemaking, monogramming, pintucks, ruching and ruffling etc. There is a big section of quilting and patchwork, and embroidery. After this creative/heirloom section comes a good sized section on basic techniques and includes bias binding, buttonholes, hemming, buttons, edge finishes, gathering, seam finishes and topstitching.

Each of these techniques has a page or two dedicated to them with additional pages for all the variations - for each technique there is an invaluable guide to sewing machine set up including stitch, foot, needles, thread, tension, feed dogs, etc and what materials are appropriate and any additional supplies. Images are clear photographic images in series with very good step-by-step instructions as well as a good explanation of what the technique is, its background and difficulty level and when it is should be used.

What this book does not do - it does not tell you what kind of machine to buy but it does give you a simple overview of the various possibilities when looking for a new machine. It also gives you a basic guide in how to care for your machine and how to get the most out of the machine you do have.

Each of the techniques give options with regards to presser feet - and how many there are out there that I did not even know existed - this book has opened a whole new world of possibilities for me with regards to making my sewing easier. Many of these techniques I probably will never do but I now know what I do want to do and what tools will make it easier for me. For example getting a freemotion foot for freestyle quilting seems like a good idea, and a button sew-on foot might make my life more fun and easier, I can’t believe I don’t already have a hemmer foot. There is an incredible complicated looking ruffler attachment, but what it can do - gathers and pleats can be stitched in intervals or continuously based on setting - wow! Something else new to me is the double wing needle - yes that rights two needles on the one shank enables elegant stitch patterns. And who else knew about the piping and braiding foot?

Well I could rave on and on even more - but I need to go and investigate my machine a little more and do some research. - Any tips welcome.

Just received the latest sampler with lots of lovely goodies. I particularly liked the strange prints of blind girls from Cate Anevski, the greeting card sampler from lizardpress (subscribe for these truly lovely vintage letterpress card sets), also really enjoying the really cool cufflinks made from coins - very cool - from wabisabi brooklyn.

More cool cards at microwave girl - really cute - I was sent a mr moustache set of 6 postcards but I also really like the ‘happy no particular holiday’ cards. My daughters favourite was the doggie hair pin by travelling rhinos.

I have been admiring Alicia Bock photography for a while now and was pleased to see one of her prints in the sampler. They are really quite delightful - slightly nostalgic. Check out her blog too - and etsy store.

Sampler has started collaborating with artists and illustrators on exclusive sampler prints - check them out here and the sampler select seems like a pretty cool deal - limited-edition samplers with exclusive items created for the Sampler by some of their favorite Contributors. To find out more about contributing to the sampler - go here.