When Your Sewing Machine Misbehaves

 I am often asked about problems with sewing machines.  People will suddenly find their machine jams or skips stitches.  I talk them through some of the obvious problems, such as unthreading and rethreading the machine--the sewing machine equivalent of "have you tried restarting the computer?"--but sometimes the problem is something more.

What we all need  is a reference guide to common machine problems that can lead us though the troubleshooting process.  Well, I found one!  Sewing Machine Problems and How to Solve Them is a convenient ebook that will help you avoid a trip to the repair shop.  Spend more quality time sewing and less time troubleshooting problems.

Wooden Yarn Bowl: Perfect Gift

 

If you want to surprise someone who is an avid crocheter or knitter, you should look at this wooden yarn bowl from Ravel.  While you could find a yarn bowl at a big craft store, it would not compare to this beauty.  It is crafted from a single piece of wood--no joins/weak spots.  As a bonus, this polished wooden yarn bowl also comes with two luxury rosewood crochet hooks.

A yarn bowl is ideal for keeping balls of yarn from rolling around.  Grooves and holes help keep strands separated for color work, too.  

Copying an Earloop Bandanna

 

For when your tyrannical government requires you to be faceless

I believe masks are part of the PsyOp being fought against all of us as dark powers seek to consolidate their control.  The virus is an opportunity for them to accelerate their goal of communism worldwide.  However, there are times I choose to wear a muzzle in order to blend in as I fight against the communists--it is harder to fight them if I end up in a cage for defying their mindless, unscientific, and unconstitutional "executive orders."

I began with a purchased covering given to me by my sister.  I made a paper pattern for the curved top and cut a square bandanna from the discount store.  The bottom edge makes use of the already-hemmed edges of the bandanna.  The back seam is sewn first.

Next I hemmed the front top edge and used narrow double-fold bias tape around the side and back, curving around for the ear loops.

Patriotic Wall Art You Can Make Yourself

 Diamond Art Painter is a small business offering easy to use kits for creating 3-D wall art.  Check out their patriotic-themed collections.  Designs honor first responders, military service, the U.S flag, and much more.  It looks like a fun craft and the kits include everything you need.

Recommended Source for Surface Pattern Designs

 Crystal Whitlow is a talented designer with a collection of colorful patterns you may license for your own use in a variety of applications.  Tired of looking for the perfect fabric print? She may have just what you are looking for.

https://www.cwdesign.studio/ is her page with links to her blog and helpful articles for crafters of all kinds.

https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/crystal_whitlow/collections is her link on Spoonflower.

Enjoy browsing the seasonal collection for Halloween as well as the general purpose designs.

Fun Crochet Pattern from CrochetViolet

I know many readers enjoy crochet as well as knitting, so this is especially for you.  How about a pattern for a heart-shaped bag with a shoulder strap?  This bag is large enough to hold a wallet, sunglasses, and sunscreen.  Crochet more than one to match your summer outfits.  The pattern is available on Etsy and on Ravelry, for those of you who still have accounts there.  Links are below:

Ravelry link for pattern

Etsy link for pattern

CrochetViolet has other patterns, too, available for instant download.  I know you will enjoy them.

Contemplating Some Loom Knitting

I am thinking of combining round loom and flower loom work to create some floral accessories for spring.  I fondly remember those hats and vests I made in the 70s and wore with flared jeans.

Winter, even in the South, makes me crave long days and short nights and flowers.  Time to knit some flowers in anticipation of the real ones to come--soon, I hope.

If you want to try your hand at some yarn flowers, I have written an article with suggestions.

Artisan Highlight: North Fork Gnomes

Artisan: a skilled craftsperson; one who makes things by hand, especially

I occasionally highlight an artisan I admire, and this is one of those occasions:

If you are looking for whimsical home decorating ideas or seeking a unique and delightful gift, you will love North Fork Gnomes.  These furry friends come with their own hats and personalities.  Choose tall or short (sizes range from 3.5 to 15 inches tall,) all handcrafted in the U.S.A. 

Take a look at the collection and admire the creativity. You might want a small one for your desk and a larger gnome for the mantel or window seat. Of course, if you have children they will want to play with them.  I'm wondering if my grandchildren might like....

Wonderful Warm Slippers to Crochet

Check out these warm, reversible slippers from Littlejohn Yarns.  They are quick to crochet and will keep you warm all winter long.  Alysha offers a video to help even the beginner create a proper pair of slippers.  She also offers a variety of patterns you are sure to enjoy.

Which side is your favorite?  I like the smoother side better, with the heavier texture on the inside for more warmth.  Make some for yourself and try them both ways.

Crochet is Groovy Again

It's time to pull out my pattern books from the seventies, gather some bright pinks, oranges, and greens, and create groovy handmade accessories for the new generation!  Always keep your patterns and books, because fashion runs in cycles and everything eventually comes around again.

This is just a long, skinny scarf in half-double crochet with crocheted flowers.  I think I will make another with daisy-loom flowers--I still have my looms from 50 years ago!

This scarf was made of Caron Simply Soft acrylic, so it feels good around the neck and is nice and flexible.

Great Resource for Quilters

Check out Adorableclick for a wide array of helpful products for quilters.  Their blog includes helpful articles on various quilting topics, such as this post on Stitch in the Ditch technique for machine quilting.

This online shop also stocks some quilting/sewing related gift items.  Take a look at the products, read a blog post, learn something new.

Knitting While the SJWs Try to Burn Down the House

I wish there were no such thing as the "knitting wars" but the large knitting database/social network which shall no longer be named by me instigated a hateful barrage of libel and slander toward anyone who knits and does not hate Donald Trump with a rabid, uncontrolled rage.

Enter the alternatives.  For affordable and attractive patterns that put vile pink hats to shame, check out Deplorable Knitter on etsy.  I have the Trump hat pattern already knit and just ordered the Choose Life hat pattern.  

While the so-called SJWs harass nice people who just want to sell yarn or knit, I plan to support anyone who stands firm and refuses to grovel to their unreasonable demands that everyone must agree with them on everything non-knitting-related or else be branded a "hater."  I am tired of the left redefining words on an hourly basis and adding new "offenses" and "triggers" daily.  I refuse to participate in the destruction of the English language and of millennia of biology and faith by people who think reality/truth is optional.

Knit beauty and live truth!!

Crafter Highlight: Vleporama Vinyl Decals

While I usually post about needlecrafts, I also appreciate artists who work on canvas, in wood, or...vinyl!  Decals are a popular decoration for automobiles and much more.  I'd like to highlight one source for great vinyl craftsmanship: Vleporama.

This Unicorn Decal is one fine example from their huge line of quality products.  The slick vinyl is great for decorating a laptop, car, boat, etc.  It's available in a variety of colors, including a glitter option.  

Vleporama also offers decals in bulk orders for car clubs, as well as a variety of designs based on popular games and entertainment, Polish symbols and slogans, biker emblems and much more.  Check them out and add some art to your car, motorcycle, or computer.

Fun Knitting Patterns

Just got this off the needles, ready for blocking and a bit of embroidery.  It will, when completed, be a flamingo scarf, from a pattern in the excellent book, Knitted Animal Scarves, Mitts, and Socks by Fiona Goble. Lots of fun animal designs, so look for the book in your library.

I don't usually do scarves in flat stockinette, but I am going to try blocking with steam and see what happens.  If I don't like the final result, I will adapt the next one to be tubular or ribbed or seed stitch to avoid the rolling edges.

Check out similar books at ThriftBooks, such as this one:



You know you want a knitted hedgehog, right?

The Death of Ravelry and Pinterest

Just recently, Pinterest banned a pro-life organization, Live Action.  Now I come home from church tonight to find that Ravelry bans any mention of Trump support (presumably it is still fine to be derangedly negative about him.)  They carefully state in their announcement that they are not banning conservatives, etc., which simply means they want us to keep contributing to the knitting database, but never out ourselves as Trump voters.  Even though most of us have stoically endured their obscene pink hats, nasty women pro-abortion rally photos, and blatantly left-wing politics.

As of now, I have deleted my Pinterest account.  Since Ravelry just instituted their anti-American policy, I am making sure I have all my important data first-- Unless they ban me first, since I quickly changed most of my project names to things like "Make Knitting Great Again Scarf" and "Conservatives Have More Fun."

I still have a personal policy of never unfriending people unless they are obscene or excessively profane, so I welcome everyone who enjoys fiber arts here--even if you otherwise hate me.  I also keep my facebook friends of various political flavors because, unlike the left, I don't fear opposition.  I know in the end truth always wins---if not now, then certainly in eternity.

Now go out and keep knitting great, no matter how the SJWs whine and rage and ban.

For a truly diverse and inclusive platform, without snowflakes and pompous, self-righteous liberal virtue signaling and banning, try STEEM.   Decentralized blockchain technology will eventually trump facebook and all the other banning Marxists. 

Playing with Colors and Stitch Patterns

These three scarves are all done in a color scheme inspired by the latest Doctor in the Doctor Who series.  Fans are creating multiple interpretations, so I tried several.  On the left is a crocheted moss stitch scarf (free pattern here)

The center scarf is a linen stitch done in the round with a wide steek that is cut and raveled to form the fringe.  

The scarf on the right is a simple garter stitch done on extra-long circular needles using the color sequence from Kate Heppell's post.

You could make these same scarves using warm autumn colors, pastels, or monochrome shading.  I especially recommend the steeked fringe, if only for the interesting technique.  Knit on, and please comment and share if you try these patterns!

Scandinavian Sweater Style

As a knitter, I recognize great style and quality when I see it in ready-to-wear.  This comes in handy when I don't have time to hand knit something wonderful. Take this excellent example of Scandinavian style color motifs from Stylish Portal:

This heavyweight 100% cotton sweater costs a mere $46.99 and is available in sizes M through XL. (XXL is already sold out.) You can get all the technical specs and purchase this great casual cardigan through this link.

Favorite Projects from 2018

Here, in no particular order, are my favorite projects from this past year, organized by craft.

Knitting:

Thirteenth Doctor-Inspired Scarf

Sewing:

Dirndl Blouse from a Burda Pattern

Crochet:

Kindle Cover 

Loom Knitting

 Adult and Toddler Hats in e-Wrap Knit Stitch

Creative Book Cover Resource

If you are like me, you would rather spend time knitting or sewing than designing covers for your ebooks.  Here is a business acquaintance who trades book cover designs for the social media work he does not enjoy.  Check it out: pdepages.com/uncategorized/book-cover-offer.

What do you enjoy and do well? Can you trade it with someone who is equally gifted in a different area?  Make a deal!

Margaret Beaufort Sweater--Sewn Together!

Check out this update on my Margaret Beaufort sweater on Steemit's NeedleWorkMonday.  I have finished the collar (which I made smaller than the pattern) and have just picked up stitches for the button band.