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Archive: CRAFT Podcast

March 19, 2010

Pillow Chair from T-Shirts and Foam

I've had a stack of t-shirts and a closet full of upholstery foam just waiting for a large-scale project like this to come along. Tiffany Threadgould and I show you how to make a comfy beanbag-style pillow chair from old t-shirts in this week's CRAFT Video!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, watch it on YouTube, Vimeo, or download the m4v video.

Materials and tools:

old t-shirts (approx. 12-18)
upholstery foam (scrapped from trash furniture, an old mattress, or leftover from another project)
sewing machine
thread
scissors
hand sewing needle
pins
utility knife or serrated bread knife
cutting mat
pattern paper
ruler
protractor
pencil/pen
marking chalk

Special thanks to Instructables user Seamster for the pattern inspiration! Photo above by Nathan Rosenquist.

More TIffany Threadgould:

More pillow chairs:

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.

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes
(Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. See directions on downloading PDFs.)

Read the full pattern after the jump!

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March 5, 2010

How To: Gourd Lanterns

Diane Gilleland's gourd lantern project appears in MAKE, Volume 21, and is the subject of this week's Weekend Project video! You can also download the project PDF that accompanies the video.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

From MAKE magazine:

MAKE Volume 21 is the Desktop Manufacturing issue! If you're a subscriber, you may have your issue in hand already, and can access the Digital Edition. Otherwise, you can pick up MAKE 21 in the Maker Shed or look for it on newsstands near you!

February 19, 2010

Quick Knitting Tip: Pick Up a Dropped Stitch

Fixing mistakes in your knitting can be frustrating! Learn how to use a latch hook tool to pick up a dropped stitch that has run down several rows in this CRAFT Video. Got tips for fixing mistakes in your knitting? Post them up in the comments!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, watch it on YouTube, Vimeo, Blip, or download the m4v video.

February 5, 2010

Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT

In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us a tour!

View on YouTube, Vimeo, or Blip.tv, subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

Photo by Sam Murphy.

January 29, 2010

Best of the CRAFT Video: Papermaking with Lisa Jacobs

In case you missed it, watch Lisa Jacobs as she guides us through the process of making art papers. A member of Conspire Phoenix and an elementary school art teacher, Lisa's a fun and clear instructor.

We learned how to use recycled office paper as the base for art papers, to which we added colored napkins for pigment and dried flowers, glitter, conductive thread, and many others as "inclusions," the things that jazz up the paper inside and out. With some simple supplies, this is a really easy, fun, and kid friendly project.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

More:

How-To: Handmade Paper

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!

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes

(Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. See directions on downloading PDFs.)

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 8, 2010

Craft Meets Tech at MIT

In this week's CRAFT Video, come with me to the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There I met with e-textiles pioneer Leah Buechley and students from her research group called "High-Low Tech," which Leah describes as "blends" of technology with traditional crafts to make new toolkits for creativity and learning. I had so much fun checking out the amazingly brilliant and fun projects by Hannah Perner-Wilson, Emily Lovell, David Mellis, and Bonifaz Kaufmann, I had a hard time leaving!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, watch it on YouTube, Vimeo, Blip, or download the m4v video.

More:

Read full story »

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

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes
(Right click to save PDF to your computer. More directions on downloading here.)

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 11, 2009

Urban Craft Uprising Recap

Last weekend was the 5th annual Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle, the city's biggest indie craft fair. With almost 9,000 attendees, it was the biggest UCU yet. Although the show's over you can still shop with the vendors from the show. Applications for vending at the second UCU summer show will open mid February.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

Read full story »

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.

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes
(Right click to save PDF to your computer.)

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.

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes

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