Make It Mighty Ugly: Exercises and Advice for Getting Creative Even When It Ain’t Pretty is a book by OG internet crafting mover and shaker Kim Werker. This book is all about helping readers understand what creative demons are, why we might have them, and – importantly – how to identify, confront and overcome them.
The Long Tail Tubular Cast On
In this year’s reader survey, you might remember I had a lot of questions about your thoughts on knitting and crochet video tutorials. An overwhelming number of you (77%) said you’d love to see them, so I’m happy to say I’ve got TWO videos to launch the renewed Hands Occupied YouTube channel. The videos show you how to make a long tail tubular cast on for a knitting project. The first video in this post shows how to do it right handed, and the second video shows the leftie version.
Picks of the Week
There were some really fun and inspiring ideas on the knit and crochet blogs this week (I know, I always say that, but it’s true!). In particular some DIY rainbow stitch markers and rainbow shoelaces were big standouts for me! I love the idea of crocheting shoe laces, and the ones I’m sharing today are a DIY designed to help fight homophobia in soccer – how great is that?! And, hello, any stitch marker DIY will have my attention.
Announcing the Fall Knit Along! The Remy Pullover
Ain’t he a beaut? Meet the Remy Pullover, my latest pattern and the sweater we’ll be knitting in this fall’s knit along. Last spring I did a little experiment with a sock knit along, and the response was awesome, so this fall, I figured it was time to do it again. And really embrace sweater weather while we’re at it. This fall’s knit along features this lovely cabled pullover with raglan sleeves (a pattern I’m calling the Remy Pullover) as our project!
Picks of the Week
Knitting season continues to impress this fall! The knitting and crochet blogs have turned out another great week’s worth of sweaters, accessories, home décor, and blankets. All of which remind me of the total lack of holiday knitting I’ve yet to start this year. Better get on that!
DIY Knitting Nancy in Homespun Magazine
Homespun is an Aussie magazine all about sewing, quilting, embroidery, patchwork, knitting, and crochet, and it’s super adorable. In this month’s issue, one of my most popular projects from last year, the DIY knitting loom, is featured. I know I’ve got some regular crafty social media friends and readers from the land down under, so I’m excited & honored to find myself in your number 1 crafty mag!
Picks of the Week
It’s finally fall the first week of fall, which means it’s sweater knitting season! Scarf weather! Pinterest has flooded with some great fall knitting patterns this week, and I’ve been saving my faves on my Knitting & Crochet board. It’s also Fashion Week, so I was reminded to spend some time googling fall 2014 knitwear trends. It looks like extra-oversized (like comically so in some cases) sweaters are really big this season, which is really exciting. It looks like fall 2014 is going to especially be sweater season.
How to DIY the Perfect Book Cover
Last week I shared how to make my new favorite accessory, a DIY pencil clutch. In that post, I outed myself as a huge school supply nerd, revealing how much time I spent as a kid preparing and decorating school supplies for the coming year. Today’s tutorial shares my go-to method for covering textbooks (or any book), ideas for custom cover designs, and how to reinforce the covers to survive a year in a bumpy backpack.
Picks of the Week
Good lord, it’s Labor Day Weekend! As with other long weekends, I plan to spend the next few days finishing up a few works in progress on the beach (or on a porch in the rain – the weekend forecast isn’t looking amazing around here). It will probably be a good thing for me to avoid packing anything but my WIPs so they actually get done. There were some especially cute and fun knitting & crochet patterns and tutorials to be found on the blogs this week. Check out my faves!
