Warm Hands

Or hand warmers.  These are all over the place but I just made some a few weeks ago and thought I'd show you.  Now you should know, I'm at beginner level when it comes to crochet.  I've made one thing from a pattern.  Ever.  One.  I mostly just make stuff up and wing it.  I've made hats, scarves, kitchen sponges, and these hand warmers.  I love them.  I'm typing with them on right now. Sure, one thumb hole is a little bigger than the other.  And one is slightly looser than the other.  But you know what?  I totally don't care.  They are functional and pretty and purple. 

(in case you're wondering about the yarn I got it in Germany.  Which means I have no idea what's in it, how to wash it, or what it's called.  No clue.)

Loosey goosey instruction:

Step one: Chain stitch to whatever length you want to with whatever size hook you want.  I just kept holding it up to my arm til I got it where I wanted.  Mine are approximately 11.5 inches.

Step two: Double crochet, or single, or triple, whatever until you have a large enough rectangle to go around your arm on the elbow end.  Mine was about 8 inches.  Yep, this is just a tube folks.  

(See...tubes)

Step three: Fold that rectangle in half and slip stitch the long sides together.  If you don't want the seam you see on mine you can use a giant needle and whip stitch instead.  You'll slip stitch down about an inch and a half (a little more, a little less depending on how far up your hand you want.  Mine covers my knuckles) then you're just going to slip stitch on one side only leaving the thumb hole.  Keep putting it on to see how big the thumb hole needs to be (mine is 2 inches) then pick up both sides again in your slip stitch.  Slip stitch all the way down and weave in your ends.
 

*Let me know if you are trying to make 'em and these are crappy instructions.  It's the blind leading the blind here but I'll try to answer your questions.

My favorite photo from the shoot...cause you can see my photographers toes.

Speaking of my photographer, he had another fantastic suggestion for these.  He requested one in white they could use as a cast with their doctor kit.  Creative huh?  He's awesome.

How's the Weather?

You'll come to find sometimes our sewing is a little bit crafting and a little bit homeschooling.  This is one of those times.

I love the Wee Folk Art blog.  Like, love it.  They have fantastic ideas and free patterns.  Well, one of their applique patterns is a sunburst.  It got me thinking... weather flags.  I thought this would be a good way for the kids to consciously observe the weather.

They did a fantastic job with applique block tutorial so I'll just tell you about my changes.  I made these an inch bigger on one side than the suggested 6" square. (to allow for the pocket.)  So 6"x7".  You'll fold that top inch down and stitch across making the pocket.  You'll be back to the 6" square now.

Look around online (or freehand) for cartoon style clouds, rain, snowflakes, etc. Wee Folk didn't have these but they have tons of others.

Print the design off, cut them out of wool felt, and hand stitch.  Cut a dowel rod (I think I used 1/4") down to size  (7" or 8") and thread it through.  Make the hanger with yarn.

We look out each morning (sometimes more, sometimes less) and match what we observe outside to our flags inside.  The only thing I think I'm missing is wind.  So I may add that one later.  The kids love them and more importantly they use them.  I love it when blogland is a springboard for your brain.

It's Friday so that means it's Peek of the Week over at Happily Home Sewn.  You guessed it, I'm linking.

My Memory: Repost

This was originally posted on The Fipper Show on March 13, 2011 but I thought it was appropriate to repost it here.   

Okay, I thought I'd try my hand at posting about crafts every once in a while. I've got quite a few completed projects laying around I thought might interest you. So if you are here for cute pictures of my kids...this is not the post for you.

I was looking around for something to make the kids for Valentine's Day that they could play with together. I had all these little wooden circles left over from another project and they were just screaming at me. I had also seen similar wooden versions of the memory game. AND, I was wanting to try woodburning. (I happened to already have all the woodburning stuff from several years ago.) So, I put them all together and made this....

These are my favorite ones.

Up close

And everyone can play.

Not to mention it's perfect for travel. That little bag up there is made from my favorite pair of outgrown Pipey pants. (Cut off the leg, sew the raw edge, snip a tiny hole in the hem and string a ribbon to close.) I had all this stuff on hand and made this game up in a little over an hour (woodburning, painting and all) I did seal it with a homemade beeswax and olive oil polish the next day. It's pretty awesome...if I do say so myself.

I'm linking this to the Peek of the Week over at Happily Home Sewn!

I've got you covered.

A couple months ago my sewing machine got sick.  I know, super sad.  She needed a little love and some replacement parts.  Now, I don't know about you, but when I can't sew I get a little cranky.  I just need that creative outlet.  Well, my sweet mother in law came to the rescue!  She loaned me her machine while mine was at the doctor.  So to thank her, I made her (and her machine) a little present.  A machine cover or, as I like to think of it, an outfit.  (and I apologize for the not so great basement lighting.)

See, all nice and comfy in there.

Now, this is really just a rectangle with batting (A very small quilt, if you will) and some ribbon sewn into the sides to tie it closed.  I wanted to break up the flowered fabric just a bit so I pieced a little strip for the front but that's not necessary I did quilt around the larger flowers just to help hold everything together. That's not necessary either but really pretty.  You could easily tie it like a quilt if you wanted instead.

This was really simple and quick to work up.  That said, if anyone would like instructions just let me know.  It would make a nice Christmas gift for your favorite sewing enthusiast.

I'm linking up again with Happily Home Sewn and her Peek of the Week so head on over!