As part of our month of crafts for children, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com.

Alisa wrote in with this great letter and kids craft idea:

For Christmas I made playsilks for my kids. I bought the Habotai silk scarves from Dharma Trading for only about $3 a piece then I dyed them in the microwave with koolaid. It was a super quick and really satisfying project. Plus cost effective. It was only about $40 for 10 scarves instead of paying well over a hundred dollars somewhere else for playsilks. And my kids (2 and 5) seriously play with these all the time. They are a hit with all the neighbor kids too, boys and girls alike. We were even able to make the hankie dolls with them. There are a million great tutorials for dying with koolaid. Here is one that I used: Sara’s Toy Box.

by beagleskin on flickr

Tea Cozies (Cozy) by Guild of Master Craftsman, published by Guild of Master Craftsman (November 1, 2007)

The cover image with its pom-pom top captures what this book is all about. Kitsch at its very best - the variations of the tea cozy - shows how to dress up the humble teapot. With 30 patterns and a comprehensive techniques section, it is a great read for those knitters into cozy construction.

The book its well illustrated, but at times over done in that the final cozy is shown in a variety of repetitive poses, and there is a lack of work in progress shots. Clearly laid out instructions and design diagrams supplement the instructions.

A good little book for those into the craft, but I have to wonder how the ‘Seashore Surprise’ design made it in; somehow to me, seahorses and tea seem to clash. But maybe thats the point?

…………………..

Toilet Roll Covers (Cozy)by Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer, published by Guild of Master Craftsman (November 1, 2007)

‘Stacking Cube’, and ‘Comin up Roses’ are two of the names given to designs in this book devoted to the knitted Toilet Roll Cover. From the same series as Tea Cozies this collection of patterns to knit covers for the simple toilet roll is great if unusual. It opens the door of possibility to make a feature out of something
most people try to hide.

With clear instructions identical to the other books in the series, and a good section on techniques - especially crocheting the tops, the only downfall is the lack of work in progress pictures.

With designs such as ‘Office Supplies included’ - a pattern for a cover complete with paper clips and tacks, how could one go wrong. The ‘Paper Tiger’ is so cute, I briefly considered making him for myself, but then it may offend those who prefers things to be quite clean and organised in the bathroom. This book, and the whole concept of covering toilet rolls are for a select group of craftians but it would make a great present to any knitter just wanting to have fun.

My own reference to this kind of craft comes from the barbie doll roll holder seen throughout homes in the 80’s… unfortunately this pattern hasn’t made the book… perhaps its just an Australian thing. [see pic]

About the reviewer: Heather is a designer, film maker and generally crafty creative person. She loves to invite her friends round for a craft jam and craft-a-noon - and has a website which she occasionally updates with her adventures and experiments in design.

A new edition of Tejemanes, a spanish mag about Knitting and crocheting. All projects are great, but this hair accessory is fantastic.
*An explanation, “moño” means “hair up in a bun”.

Una nueva edición de Tejemanejes, una revista online para los amantes de la aguja y la lana. Todos los proyectos son geniales, pero es cubremoños es lo más original que he visto en mucho tiempo.

Graphic designer David Butler has an article on designing your own logo here.

If you’re after inspiration for typefaces/fonts/lettering, the printpattern blog had a heads up on a new book, New Vintage Type. It’s available from Amazon UK or US, or I’m sure at your local independent bookshop.

If you haven’t looked through the archives at printpattern before, treat yourself. She finds, and shares, the most wonderful range of ideas and covers so many designers’ work.

Whip Up is now taking article and tutorial submissions.

We are looking for tutorials and submissions that fit within our 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 January, February and March 2008

- January: Children’s crafts
- February: Alternative crafting
- March: Ephemeral art and craft

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

some beautiful patchwork detail from stitch in dye on flickr

As part of our month of crafts for children, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com.

We love these fingerpuppets made by school children and posted at dolls stories. The faces all have such expression and individuality.

As part of our month of crafts for children, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We have some great contributor tutorials lined up for the month including the very sweet and easy hankie dolls and worry dolls. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com.

I love this quiet book by elsie marley - and her cardboard dollhouse is really a cool idea.

karma sutra embroidered pillow from sweet ninja on flickr

The purse project theme has been announced and it should get everyone excited - ‘recycled linens’ can’t wait to see what everyone makes - the deadline is March 1 2008. The tie one on apron sew-a-long due Feb 1 2008 is ‘polka dots’. The last theme ‘local pride‘ gallery is up for viewing and there are some great shots.

This one by luvababy from Coober Pedy in central South Australia and has a large indigenous population.

and this one from honeyflake with a beachy theme.

get involved at the forum | join in to the ‘what are you making’ show and tell | introduce yourself here and meet others too | find out about swaps - Elsa Marley is hosting a mobile swap - mobiles for your baby’s room or your home, made out of any material using any pattern you can dream up - information here | tell us about exhibitions and artists you admire - such as Bonita Sennott’s exhibition “The Dickinson Series: Paintings and Lace”, at the Center Gallery at Kingston Gallery in Boston to the end of December | join the discussion ‘is selling your craft worthwhile‘ or start your own discussion topic.

the small object has a great family tree project.

my paper crane is covering containers.

nikkishell has a great card idea - love it -

and boogaJ is doing calendars

design sponge has a paper accordion card tutorial

Recycle and reuse. Barb’s looking for participants for the next Purse Project…

Recycled linens (not clothing this time–that will be a future theme).
Meaning make something from an old tablecloth, or incorporate grandma’s doilies, or refashion some old curtains into a purse.
Sound fun? And as always, push yourself–no simple square totes…make something really fabulous.

Get moving, deadline for image submission 28 February.

Plain winter gloves make a great backdrop for creative finger puppets. A great project that all kids can do … here goes.

Supplies: felt, pom pons, fabric markers, and tacky fabric glue. Everything found at a local craft store. You really could use any crafty item to create your puppets. I have purchased a set of fabric markers and they have lasted me a couple of years. For the glue, you can use a hot glue gun - young children would need supervision, but fabric glue is fine, you just need to wait a little bit for it to dry.

Decide what your puppets are going to be. We chose farm animals to go with the song “Old Macdonalds farm”. You could do story book characters like the Three Little Pigs or the Little Red Hen or to go with kids songs like “5 Little Monkeys” and “four Green Speckled Frogs” and have the thumb be the log. Matt wanted to make a Dinosaur Alien puppet. He designed it himself.

Cut out the shapes you need first for each finger and place them on to see if they work. Such as eyes and mouth and ears etc, then glue each piece on. You will need to wait at least one hour, maybe more just to be sure. We did have to re-glue one or two places [perhaps some quick hand sewing to be double sure].

Now you have a fun new puppet. You can sing the song or read the fairytale as you play with your puppet. I am going to bring it in the car for a little playtime distraction.

About the maker: Marie is a 30 year old stay at home mom, who loves to “make and take”. Before life as a mother, Marie graduated with a Teaching Degree in Elementary Education and taught 4 years of Kindergarten. After her
first child, she now stays at home wiping noses and tying shoes, bringing the crafty classroom ideas home to her kids.
Models in photo: My kids - boy: Matthew, girl: Lucy. Learn more about Marie at her blog Make and Takes.

this thread at the forum is still active and current and there are some awesome projects being added.

dabbled posted about her elepurse made from felted recycled woolen sweaters.

fabulous is making adorable pillows (see etsy store)

and ric rac has an absolutely adorable teapot softie - with tutorial.

and elsa marley has a pattern for a half eaten gingerbread man ornament (bit late but too adorable to miss out on)

knitology has been making very cool bags - called the Shirt Sleeve Tote and is made with re-purposed fabric from a men’s shirt, and also has a hat pattern available for free download on her site. [sorry knitology link here]

These worry dolls are fun and easy to make. Children of Central America would tell their dolls their worries at bedtime and then place them under their pillow. When the children wake in the morning, voila! Problems solved.

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As part of our month of crafts for children, we will be posting links to cool ideas and inspiration as well as tutorials and articles. We have some great contributor tutorials lined up for the month the first of which was the very sweet and easy hankie doll. We are still taking tutorial and article ideas for the month so please email your ideas and stories to me at whipup[at]gmail.com.

We love these pencil toppers which are perfect to little kids to sew and then to take to school. [via craft] check out the instructions and templates at one crafty mama

Three helpful sewing how-tos I’ve bookmarked lately:

How to choose a sewing machine. From Dress a Day.

How to sew with knits on a regular sewing machine. From the Fabric.com blog.

How I design my bags by Lisa Lam at U-Handblog.

My grandmother could entertain children all day with a button, a handkerchief, and a piece of string. When I was little she taught me how to make a doll from a handkerchief. All you need is a friend, a handkerchief, and a ring or small piece of string.

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