It’s still pretty cold out here. I had this idea in the fall, and it has served us well over the winter so far. Being fundamentally a lazy person whose knitting is marginal but loves felt and likes to keep her hands toasty, this is the best, fastest, and pretty economical way for me to whip up a pair of mittens.

Find a felted sweater (or felt one yourself). The ones that are the best for mittens probably started their lives as big mens’ sweaters. What you’re looking for is a wrist cuff that fits comfortably and snug around your wrist after it has been felted. Put your hand in the wrong way in to see that it fits and that there’s enough wiggle room for your fingers. I’m using a felted alpaca sweater (sooooo soft!). Also very important: find a small helper to complete important tasks such as measuring the fabric and other random objects in the house.

Place your hand on the sweater and trace around just the top with some tailor’s chalk. This way the sides of the mittens will already be done because you are using the existing seam and side. Then cut out, about 1/2″ from your trace line.

Using a straight stitch and loose tension (and a walking foot if you’ve got one), make a seam, following just on the outside of your trace line. Then turn the mitten inside out and test for comfort. You can see that I made an adjustment for around my thumb.

Trim. No need to finish the edge! Make sure to round out the thumb to avoid getting a pointy-thumb :-) Turn inside out and ta-da! Embellish, if you wish. If you don’t, the whole project will probably take you all of ten minutes!

It’s also useful to make one pair that is really soft for a liner and make a slightly larger pair out of more dense wool felt for the outside. Then they’re extra warm even on a windy day and they dry faster after outside fun.

[Note: They're also perfect for drinking hot chocolate whilst contemplating the still very much dormant garden]

About the author: Marnie is always interested in creative, beautiful, economical and sustainable ways to fill everyday needs. Marnie is a crafter working from her home. her favourite medium is fulled wool sweaters, her favourite assistant is her beautiful daughter Safiya, and her favourite topics are sustainable living and anything having to do with good food. You can find her writing on craft, mothering, figuring things out, and her attempts to live a more sustainable life in urban Toronto at her blog: girl number twenty.

As part of our alt craft month, 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.

If you have not yet joined up to ravelry you really must. Of course ravelry is hardly ‘alt craft’, however I will be linking to a few projects that I found on ravelry over the next month which do fit the theme. And speaking of the theme - what is ‘alt crafting’ anyway? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird. - Yes indeed its going to be a month of FUN!

this image of a knitted landscape of Connemara, Diamond Hill by Dutch Jan.

and this image from sharkseasons flickr photoset of Calgary Yarnover

Valentines day propaganda is everywhere I look - but I am also noticing some alternatives to the lovey dovey sick making pink - so check these out - lots of fun.

plush black heart by etsy seller batteries not included

Submit your anti-valentines arts/crafts to Dabbled’s Black Heart Anti-Valentine’s Contest. Closes 11pm EST on Feb 12. Winners will receive either a stuffed cashmere black heart, or an original sketch of a suitably black hearted nature. [thanks craft for the tip]

LIMITED EDITION Valentine kits from the fabulous cartoonist, Natalie Dee! available at subversive cross stitch

and the ever fabulous domiknitrix has her ’spank me’ love heart pillow pattern available for a small fee on her website.

and something just a week bit cute is this knitted love heart ring - pattern available at pieknits for free download.

And I do love this knitted anatomical heart by flickr user pretty cranium [via ravelry]

I am so in love with these viking dolls (there is also a backpack) by herzenart [via swiss miss]

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

- February: Alternative crafting
- March: Ephemeral art and craft
- April: Home

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

ps. What is alternative craft? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird.

Christine is giving away one of her bags to someone who leaves a comment.

“Bags2Riches 2008”, the 3rd annual handbag competition to prevent homelessness. Create an original handbag to be eligible to win the “The Most Original Handbag Award” with a $1,000 Grand Prize Package. Deadline for Entry: August 20, 2008. For an entry form, go to www.bags2richesindy.org or send a SASE to Carolyn Wyatt, Co-Chair, Trusted Partners, 1035 S. New Jersey, Indianapolis, IN 46225.

Mamamade is Looking for creative mothers- artists and high quality crafters to
participate in Spring 2008 Mamamade Market in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Market Day: Saturday April 26, 2008 (9am-2pm) Applications due by March 1, 2008 for the $60 booth fee.

knitting in biology - dissected frog from crafty hedgehog [via craft]

kids socks from lulu beans Pattern: From Nancy Bush’s Knitting Vintage Socks, it’s the Little Child’s Sock. I don’t know about you, but I feel possessed to knit every pattern in this book. It’s a great resource.

little cotton rabbits - pattern for knitted easter egg covers [again via craft]

sock room by bobolina

Nicole Gastonguay - Nicole’s supercute milk cartons aren’t crochet - they’re plastic canvas needlepoint. [thanks commenter - ed

brooklyn tweed - pi shawl blanket The Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmermann

quilt while you’re ahead knitted merino rovings with gigantic needles then felted.

crochet balls and crochet flower necklace both from craftastica

As part of our alt craft month, 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.

Green kitchen has a tutorial for this kids sweater apron [and amy karol has a half cocktail apron style one from the recycled sweater]

exciting projects being showcased at the what are you making forum thread

bitter betty is tatting necklaces/collar - they were the sort of thing a girl might make from the abandoned detritus of a romance gone bad
to help ease the boredom of her own isolation.

ric rac has these quick fix button rings [tutorial]

the long thread is making the cutest plush geese [pattern/tutorial]

maurtiz is showcasing her finished quilt

and the most gorgeous plush toy diggers at elsie marley

The Natural Knitter: How to Choose, Use, and Knit Natural Fibers from Alpaca to Yak by Barbara Albright, published by Potter Craft (March 6, 2007).

For yarn lovers. A book devoted to natural fibres - wool and other animal fibres, silk, plant fibres and plant dyes. This book explains what the terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ really mean.

This book is filled with luscious images of yarn in all its manifestations - yarn lovers will drool over this book. The main important aspect of this book is the explanation of the various yarns, from good old wool, to camel, Alpaca and Angora, then followed by a few patterns/projects using each particular yarn - the projects are simple and stylish - lots of lovely sweaters, as well as some toys and children’s outfits. I particularly liked the meditation rug and the angora infant sweater.

It is a very readable book, I enjoyed not only reading about the yarns, but also about various yarn makers - small artisans, business owners and farmers who either produce the fibre in its raw state, who take the raw fibres and turn it into yarn and also those who use natural dyes to produce art yarns. Towards the back of the book there is a small section on spinning and dyeing fibres so you can give it a go yourself, however this is not primarily a how-to book, rather a combination of patterns, how-to’s, stories and descriptions of fibre. An excellent book if you are into using alternative and organic yarns - timeless - highly recommend.

Barbara Albright died in 2006 at age 51 from a brain tumor, leaving behind her husband and two children.

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Ask your whiptips questions at the ‘tips and tricks’ section of the forum - right here.

dulcet asked this question at the forum

My son made me the funnest little pincushion for Christmas in his scout group. (Yes, it’s the kind only a mother could love.) He made it by covering a half-sphere of styrofoam with felt, then gluing it into a washed out tuna can. There were even new pins in it when he gave it to me, which I really needed. But I cringe every time I stick a pin back into it and hear that crunch. (Some of you may have cringed as soon as you read what it was made out of.) I’m sure the styrofoam isn’t conducive for the pins to maintain their sharpness. So, the question is–what are appropriate materials for pincusion filler? I’m sure it will be super easy to dissassemble and maintain the original oddity that I adore. Any suggestions?

As part of our alt craft month, 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.

Kristy of craftastica sent in this link to how she made this patchwork bag from fused / recycled plastic shopping bags.

As part of our alt craft month, 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.

If you have not yet joined up to ravelry you really really must. It doesn’t take long to get your invitation (it is still in Beta), and joining and using is really very easy. For me so far I have just been browsing for inspiration, but there is a whole new world in the forums, as well as fantastic pattern, designer and yarn finding data bases.

Of course ravelry is hardly ‘alt craft’, however I will be linking to a few projects that I found on ravelry over the next month which do fit the theme. And speaking of the theme - what is ‘alt crafting’ anyway? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird. - Yes indeed its going to be a month of FUN!

Pattern for the thrifty critter is from the thrifty knitter

These bunny slippers from flickr user billthecat are adapted from a regular slipper pattern

Many department stores end up with bags of unsellable opened packages of nylon hosiery which they either toss away or try to donate to non-profit organizations, or if they’re lucky someone will take them off their hands. But who would do that and why would they?

Back in 2002, while in the Textile Arts Program at Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC, Katherine Soucie was working on a project learning screen printing, “we were supposed to apply different printing processes and surface design techniques. At that point in time I was really into finding and working with materials that were discarded in the [textile] industry and that no one else was printing on,” says Soucie. That led her to experiment with nylon hosiery to re-invent a strong and long-lasting material which was the beginning of her popular Polymer Series. This project won her two scholarships which allowed her to launch her business “Sans Soucie,” French for ‘without a care’.

Imagine pantyhose transformed into snag-free and long lasting form-fitting tops, skirts, and dresses. Soucie has achieved this by dyeing, cutting, and silk-screening regular grade nylon hosiery. Soucie’s hosiery garments are machine washable, more abrasion-resistant and less likely to ruin or run.

Katherine Soucie in her work garb and sweet Chauchi (having a snooze)

I visited Soucie this past November at her small work/live studio in historical Japantown in Vancouver. Katherine’s knowledge of the fashion and textile industry is impressive. What follows is part of our conversation on the textile industry, business, and on being an artist.

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Plush show with Jenny Harada, Heidi Kenny and Spooky Daddy Sat 9 Feb, Gettysburg PA.

Thank you to everyone for leaving a comment about your favourite kids craft activity and ingredients - so much inspiration … and thank you to kids craft weekly for the giveaways. - the five winners and their comments are listed below first [please email me ASAP whipup[at]gmail.com with your mailing address and full name etc. And listed below that are just some of the creative ways parents and kids create together … thank you all for a great month of kids crafts.

1. Rachael Said - Favourite everyday item would depend on the day and the craft! My kids definitely like string. My favourite kids’ craft project is the ones that the kids made out of their own imaginations. Can’t beat them.

2. Dawn Said - Our favorite everyday craft items are seashells (we live near the shore) and sticks — any kind of sticks including popsicle sticks, yard sticks, dowels — there is always something to make from them. My nomination for best kid’s craft project this month is that darn fish in a bag soap. How cool is that!

3. Desiree Says: Plastic drinking straws! Where do I start? Use them with paint, playdough, string, blow through them, cut them up, glue them… Our latest favorite project? Colored water “painting” on paper towels (using straws of course)!

4. Thien-Kim Said - Hmm, everyday crafting. I like to pull out the paints and let my toddler just smear paint on paper. She has a great time just dipping her fingers (ok, hands) into the paint, mixing it, swirling it, and spreading all over her paper. It’s just sooo juicy! I love watching her. I guess that’s my favorite kids’ craft project right now. Painting with no agenda, just having fun.

5. Rachel Said - Paper would have to be our all time favorite. Doesn’t matter if it’s construction, scrapbook or typing paper. They love the big paper that some shipping companies use to pack things with probably the most. We’ve made treasure maps and lifesize full body “portraits”.

other comments included:

- our current favourite is using freezer paper to transfer ‘original artworks’ onto t-shirts. My kids love to draw and very proudly display their own special t-shirts - good for presents and prolonging the life of special drawings.
- tissue paper and glue! Messy and fun!
- my favorite kids craft project is anything with popsicle sticks (you can do SO many things!)
- cooking ingredients. I love to make playdough, slime, salt dough and other fun mixtures to craft and play wth.
- Favourite crafting material? Paper, of course! Endlessly versatile. Cut it, paint it, fold it, draw it… What can’t you do with paper.
- leftover toilet paper + paper towel rolls. infinitely useful for crafting and imaginative play, especially for little pirates and star-gazers.
- As far as my favorite kids’ craft, I like the crazy crayons made from leftover crayon bits. Those are great.
- scissors are my favorite starting point……….a fresh notebook and a writing implement
- My favourite everyday item is things we find on our walks - sticks, bark, pebbles, leaves, seashells…we love making temporary sculptures in the garden and letting the garden gradually reclaim them.
- Favorite craft project is making books. My daughters (6 &4) love to make books for family and friends. They usually are about the individual person and the girls create collages about their stories. I love their creations and story writing ideas are endless!
- I love cardboard boxes (they can be cut up into pieces to make anything), egg cartons and toilet rolls. Recently I made a farmhouse, tractor and animals out of those items and my daughter loves it.
- My girls are always coming up with new ideas using crayons and found items, anything from beads to candy wrappers to toilet paper tubes.
- Our favorite everyday craft materials are tape, paper and string. My son can build all kinds of things with these - signs, bridges, buildings -
- My fave everyday item: cardboard box! You can add stuff to it, cut away from it, it can be transformed into anything from a doll’s house to a hiding place to something to store everything else into!
- I have to say my daughters favorite everyday craft item is the Popsicle sticks! It never fails that she can come up with a different idea or use for them every time!
- I asked my daughter about this and she said, “Blankets.” I never would have guessed this but she’s right. She makes temporary crafts all around our house out of blankets. She sets up little environments for herself and her friends.
- Some of our favorite projects aren’t really projects at all. We just sit down with a stack of scraps, a few embellishments, and have fun putting them together. I guess you could just call it collage.
- Favorite everday item: felt. You can glue it or sew it, you can make it soft and fuzzy with a needle point, and your can stick it to itself; we’ve made felt storyboards based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Our favorite around here would be yarn, especially the little leftovers from my projects. It’s amazing what kids can come up with.
- love love love potato stamps!
- My favorite kid craft (today) is making those crazy crayons by melting leftover crayon bitties into mini-muffin tins.

I am curious about why you have chosen to write a book and spill the beans on your designs?

Ha Ha thats what you think………The techniques I use are simple, and they can be taught, its having a certain style and skill that I have, or any other designer, that you can try to teach but everyone has their own style and you can’t teach that.

49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-kind Designs by Alison Willoughby, published by Interweave Press (April 1, 2008).

A bit about your background - you studied textiles as an undergraduate and then Constructed Textiles - Mixed Media as a post graduate and wrote your dissertation on the kilt. Making these skirts you say was an inevitable outcome of your process - can you tell me a little about how you came from the kilt to the simple design A-line skirt that you use now as a basis for your designs?

A kilt is basically a wrap with fabric manipulation in the middle, a very simple shape, a strip of fabric. I don’t use an A-line skirt, I use a pattern that is a wrap skirt between a half and quarter circle skirt. Its the idea of a wrap and the fact I can lay a wrap flat on a print table, or a sewing machine and manipulate it with surface.

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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

- February: Alternative crafting
- March: Ephemeral art and craft
- April: Home

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

ps. What is alternative craft? Making unconventional choices (materials + methods); taking different approaches to the problem, not conforming to accepted rules or standards; out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird.