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Archive: CRAFT Patterns

March 12, 2010

CRAFT Pattern: Crocheted Reversible Swiffer Sock

Banner Craft Podcast

By Linda Permann

I've always hated buying refills for my Swiffer sweeper -- even though I use both sides of the cloth, it just seemed silly to throw them away. My sweeper had been languishing in my closet because I had no refills when I realized I could crochet my own reusable cover from some yarn I already had in my stash. I came up with this reversible version that's loopy on one side (to grab the dust) and flat on the other (for damp mopping). This "sock" is fun and quick to crochet, easy to complete with scraps, and a great use for acrylic yarns, since they create static, which makes dust and hair cling. Once you're done dusting, you can brush the excess dirt and dust into the trash bin (really, it's okay to touch dirt!) and then throw the sock in the washer and dryer with your other laundry. This project is fast and satisfying -- you might want to make 2 so you can always have a clean sock handy.

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February 26, 2010

CRAFT Pattern: Jellyfish Paper Lamp

By Matthew Borgatti

I love folding paper. I especially love how a few elegant curves and pleats can turn a plain sheet of paper into something that is beautiful, at once organic and mechanically precise. Looking at those simple shapes and beautiful lines inspired me to make this paper lamp, which resembles some kind of exotic jellyfish creature. Read full story »

February 12, 2010

CRAFT Pattern: Heartfelt Gaiter/Heartless Gaiter

Banner Craft Podcast

By Nikol Lohr

Yes, you still have plenty of time to knit a heartfelt Valentine's Day gift! This bulky cabled gaiter is toasty warm, subtly be-hearted (or knit the heartless version), and knits up in a few hours. Experienced cable knitters will be able to whip it out in just over 2 hours; beginning cablers will probably spend closer to 4. Because you can combine multiple strands to achieve the super-bulky gauge, this is a great stash-busting project.

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January 22, 2010

CRAFT Pattern: Reversible Cable-Knit Scarf

Banner Craft Podcast

This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast is a special treat! It's a beautiful reversible cable-knit scarf by Becky Stern's mom, Bette. Doesn't Becky look adorable and cozy in her scarf that her mom made her for Christmas? Now you can cozy up yourself in this scarf that combines ribbing and cables to make it warm and looking good from both sides!

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About the Author:
Author Bette Stern
Bette Day Stern has been working in community recreation for the past 23 years. Currently she works as the recreation supervisor for a small town in northeastern Connecticut, where she's lived for the past 24 years. The one constant for the past 40+ years has been her love for knitting, cross stitch, and quilting (and a few other needlearts along the way). She's been married to the same man for 33 years, and has three grown children and two grandchildren.

January 20, 2010

Any Size Long Johns from Wool Sweaters

Recycle an old sweater into toasty wool long johns.
By Nikol Lohr

Cotton thermals and space age synthetic long underwear are all well and good, but nothing kills the winter chills like a pair of old fashioned, toasty wool long johns. Trouble is, despite improvements in softness well known to knitters, wool still has a bad rap among the general population for itchiness. So despite the prevalence of cottony-soft merino, wool long johns have fallen out of favor. Not only are they hard to find, but at around 50 bucks a pop, they're hard to justify. But fret not! Real wool long johns can be yours for the price of a thrift store wool sweater and about an hour at the sewing machine. If you get lucky and score a cashmere sweater, you're really in for a treat!

Recycled long johns are cheap, eco-friendly, community-conscious (supporting local thrift stores), and can be made in interesting colors or stitch patterns, depending on what you find on the sweater rack. You can make them thicker (read: warmer) than the typical off-the-shelf counterpart, and you can get a custom fit. While they're not as streamlined as their store-bought brethren, you're probably wearing them to bed or under layers, so what's a few extra seams between friends?

If you've got kids to dress, the recycled long johns are especially fun, because you're more likely to find Fair Isle options in the smaller sizes on the thrift store rack.

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January 15, 2010

CRAFT Pattern: Hook, Needle, Pencil Case

Banner Craft Podcast

This week's pattern podcast is the Hook, Needle, Pencil Case by Diane Gilleland from CraftyPod. Using plastic canvas you'll be able to construct and stitch a cute circular case to keep your craft tools organized! The PDF includes step-by-step directions and photos.

From now until Jan 20th, visit CraftyPod and get $3 off all eBooks.

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About the Author

Diane Gilleland produces CraftyPod, a blog and bi-weekly podcast about making stuff. Her first book, Kanzashi In Bloom is currently out in bookstores.

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January 7, 2010

Velvet Slippers Sewing Pattern

By Nancy Minsky These glamorous velvet slippers can be yours. Whether you are padding around your home in a pair of jeans, PJs or dressed elegantly, just slide your feet into the comfy velvet, gaze down at the pretty lacy bows, and enjoy the pleasure of handmade splendor!

Slipperpattern Thumb
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About the Author:

 Nancy Minsky has recently published Denim Revolution: Dozens of Ways to Turn Denim Cast-Offs into Fashion Must-Haves, a craft book filled with fun projects to recycle cast off jeans into fashionable, "new" clothing and accessories. A graduate of Parson's School of Design, where she has also taught fashion sketching, Nancy loves handmade, sewing, recycling, sketching and fashion. You can read her craft and fashion blog at: 21centurydressmakers.blogspot.com.

December 18, 2009

CRAFT Pattern: Bunny Hop Slippers

Banner Craft Podcast

Thrummed Bunny Slippers in 3 Adult Sizes
By Nikol Lohr

These slippers are soft as a bunny, thanks to their thrums -- unspun wool knit right in for a warm, cushy, fleecy lining. They're also quick as a bunny! Knit in bulky yarn, they have the same stitch count as your average worsted hat. Worked up quickly in economical ($5/100g ball) bulky wool, they're a recession-busting and adorable last-minute holiday gift. And you can always omit the "bunniness" if your subject isn't silly rabbit material.

Aside from the cush, these slippers have a great fit and actually stay on your feet, thanks to the heel shaping and wide button flap. They're entirely seamless, knit sole first, with stitches picked up all around, then shaped from the sole up. The fat button strap is picked up near the edge and knit in place, as are the floppy ears. The wide flap gives the style gender neutrality, but you can also substitute a narrow strap for a girlier Mary Jane.

All About Thrums

Thrums are little chunks of unspun fiber worked periodically into your knitting. Each thrum is a separate piece worked into just one stitch, along with the yarn, and its ends are left sticking out on the wrong side of the knitting. Imagine duplicate stitch if you used a separate piece of yarn for each stitch, except here the yarn is fleece and you work it in while you knit instead of afterwards. On the right side of your work, you get a little pattern of Vs or hearts, but on the wrong side, you get a crazy shag rug of super awesome fluffy-wuffy warmness! The thrums will compress a little and felt together over time, becoming less puffy but just as cozy.

Bunnyhop Final5

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Update 12/24/09: Errata to pattern is updated in this post for Rows 11 & 12 and is not reflected in the PDF. We will update the PDF after the holidays.

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December 4, 2009

CRAFT Pattern: Into the Woods Cape

CRAFT Pattern Podcast

Knit this adorable Into the Woods Cape by Nikol Lohr from her book, Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond.

Nikol has a brand new knitting project launching here on CRAFT so stay tuned! You can get a sneak peek on next week's project here.

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November 20, 2009

Katalin Möbius Wrap & Wristlet Set

This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast is the Katalin Möbius Wrap & Wristlet Set by Shannon Okey of knitgrrl, featured in CRAFT: 10. This cozy pair knits up fast and looks best in any multicolored yarn you like.

Catch up with Shannon on the Knitgrrl blog and check out some of her beautiful fiber, spinning tools, and patterns in the Knitgrrl shop.

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November 6, 2009

Jumping Paper Frog

CRAFT Pattern Podcast

Badge Supercraftykidz

This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast is the Jumping Paper Frog by Matt Hawkins, featured in CRAFT: 05. The PDF includes full instructions as well as the template for the paper frog. All you need to do is cut out the template and glue the tabs together. Then simply add a paper clip to create a spring so your paper frog can now JUMP!

Matt is the creator of Custom Paper Toys and you can find more downloadable paper toys and info on his site.

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October 9, 2009

Mah Jong Embroidery Pattern

CRAFT Pattern Podcast

Jenny Hart's newly released book, Embroidered Effects, takes the easy-to-follow stitching instructions Jenny's known for and pulls in new, more advanced stitches and design elements to help move stitchers to a new level.

Where Jenny's book Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To introduces basic stitches and provides dozens of very simple patterns, Embroidered Effects ups the ante by sharing more complicated stitches and ideas and inspiration for combining those stitches for a new, more stylized effect.

Jenny's fun and friendly voice is strong throughout Embroidered Effects, and the projects are reflective of her unique sense of style and ability to translate centuries-old stitching techniques into new, engaging designs.

Today's CRAFT Pattern Podcast holds special meaning for me on a few levels. I was lucky enough to be one of four women who helped stitch the sample projects that were photographed for Embroidered Effects. Last summer, Amy of Early Bird Special, Floresita of Things I've Made, Ginger of Ginger's Needlearts in Austin and I were each assigned three to four projects to stitch for Jenny's book.

I was over the moon excited to learn that one of my projects would be a Mah Jong tablecloth. My mom has played Mah Jong forever, and nine years ago, she finally convinced me to sit down and learn to play. (This is the traditional game of Mah Jong, not the computer matching game.*) My first game lasted five hours, and I had to be pulled away from the table -- I was hooked in a big way. Since then, my mom has gifted me with my own Mah Jong set, and I keep trying to find friends my age who know how to play or are willing to take a little time to learn.

It turns out that Jenny is also an avid Mah Jong player, and she designed this gorgeous tablecloth that I was able to stitch up for the book. The Mah Jong embroidery pattern offers a selection of tiles and gorgeous Asian-inspired ornaments, including Jenny's own stitch, the Lazy Lotus.

I had such a blast stitching the tablecloth, and I'm so excited that we get to share the Mah Jong pattern with you. If you aren't up for tackling an entire tablecloth, you could whip of a snazzy set of napkins, tea towels or even a Mah Jong case cover. Aside from stitching, I hope this also inspires you to check out the game of Mah Jong if you haven't played it before. Grab some friends and settle in for a fun, thoughtful and beautiful game! And be sure to check out Embroidered Effects for more gorgeous, fun and inspiring designs!

* Sadly, the photo stylist must have not been familiar with traditional Mah Jong, and set the table like a computer tile matching game.

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