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December 23, 2011

Tool Review: Martha Stewart Crafts and Lion Brand Yarn Knit & Weave Loom Kit

Martha_Stewart_Crafts_and_Lion_Brand_Yarns_Knit_and_Weave_Loom_Kit2.jpg

I'm a yarn crafter, so when the folks at Lion Brand Yarn sent CRAFT the Martha Stewart Crafts™ and Lion Brand Yarn® Knit & Weave Loom Kit, I jumped at opportunity to put it through its paces. With loom pieces included for more than thirty configurations for making square, rectangle, circle, and oval looms in multiple sizes—plus tools for single knitting, double knitting, weaving, making rosettes, and weaving in ends—there are so many options for creative projects that it's almost overwhelming!

I tested all of the major configurations and techniques, and had a great time learning new skills and trying out yarn crafts that I'd never done before, like weaving and yarn rosette-making. The loom was easy to assemble and easy to configure into different shapes, but the pegs do require a firm hand to press them in and remove them.

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November 16, 2011

Book Review: The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook

Last Thursday, I attended the launch party for The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook at the beautiful event space at Housing Works Bookstore in NYC. I was so excited to be invited, and I really enjoyed checking out the book, talking to some of the project designers, and hanging out in a room filled with other people who were passionate about sewing!

The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook was written by Nora Abousteit with Alison Kelly, and was published by Potter Craft. It includes 15 projects, and comes with 5 complete printed patterns that cover nearly every aspect of a fashionable gal's wardrobe: the skirt, the blouse, the dress, the coat, and the bag. Read full story »

November 6, 2011

Book Review: Textiles: The Whole Story

I recently picked up a wonderful book published by Thames & Hudson, Textiles: The Whole Story by Beverly Gordon. It covers the history of textiles, both as functional pieces, as an art form and it shows the portrayal of textiles in art. Then the book moves on to show how textiles are now being used, not only the obvious clothing, but as tools in medicine, as new form of art in yarmbombing.

October 5, 2011

Book Review: Spooky Halloween Silhouettes

One of the best things about Halloween is haunted houses, and I've always admired and envied the folks who create them. I've fantasized about spooking up my own house for the month of October but I've never gone beyond synthetic spider webs on the gate, a couple of carved jack-o-lanterns, and a hanging bat or skeleton. To do more than that seems a little overwhelming - where do you start, and, more importantly, how much money and time will it take? My house ends up looking fun, but no way near haunted.

And then I got this photo of a haunted house sent to me by Spooky Halloween Silhouettes author Jeffery Rudell:

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September 26, 2011

Book Review: Sewing for Boys

I am so excited about this book. If you have a little boy, you will have already noticed that not only is it hard to find cute boy clothes, it's just as hard to find cute boy patterns so you can make your own. Enter Sewing for Boys, by the ladies who brought you Patterns by Figgy's. It is a fantastic addition to the field! It includes a pattern for pretty much everything a boy could wear (except underwear, darn it), and I'm pretty confident that I will be making most of the things in this book, working my way through the seasons and upping my skill level as I go.

While most of the patterns seem to be for beginning or intermediate sewers (from a simple baby romper to a double-sided jacket), there are also a few patterns for the experts out there, like my favorite, the Henry shirt. (See below.) The introduction also claims that anyone can tackle any project in the book if they give themselves enough time and patience, and after looking over the patterns and instructions, I think that's true.

Everything looks comfortable to wear (crucial if you want your boy to actually wear your creation), but with plenty of room for creativity. I like that many of the items are shown multiple times throughout the book in different fabrics, so you can get a sense of how they'll turn out.

The instructions are meticulously detailed, with plenty of tips for those of us who aren't seasoned clothes-makers. If you have a boy and you like to sew, this book should be on your shelf--I can't wait to get started. (More photos after the jump.)

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August 12, 2011

Review: Weave App for Craft Businesses

Whether you have a full-time craft business or some part-time projects you run alongside your day job, you might want to check out Weave, Intuit's new app for iPhone and iPod. It's designed to track your projects, tasks, income, and expenses.

The app centers around the Projects you set up. These might be individual freelance projects, or an upcoming craft show, or you could create a project for your entire Etsy shop for this month, quarter or year. There's a lot of flexibility so you can set the app up for your business.

Within each Project, you can create "Todos" and schedule them for any future date and time. If you're consistent about this, then Weave can generate a nice daily list of the tasks you need to complete. (It'll even send you friendly reminder messages.)

As you complete each task, you can mark it as done, and that will generate a display showing you what percentage of your overall project you've completed.

Where I think Weave really excels, though, is in income and expense tracking. With this mobile app, you can easily make an entry each time you spend money on a project, no matter where you are. Again, with consistency, you can then keep a running total of how much each project has cost you. When you get paid, you can enter this information as well and see at a glance how profitable each project is.

Weave is in its early stages and is actively looking for input from small craft business owners. How can this kind of tool help you better? You can download Weave for free from the iTunes App Store, and then join in the conversation on the Weave Facebook page.

July 29, 2011

"Something Blue" Corinne's Top 30

One of my favorite details about a wedding is the "Something Blue". In this video I share with you my favorite handmade somethings blue found via the good 'ole interwebs. How would you incorporate something blue? Let me know in a comment! Also, be sure to check out the links to all the things that were featured down below. xoxo c

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

July 11, 2011

Book Review + Project Excerpt: 1, 2, 3 Sew, by Ellen Luckett Baker

1, 2, 3, Sew: Build Your Skills with 33 Simple Projects, by Ellen Luckett Baker Book Site: The Long Thread

When you're new to sewing, many projects can seem intimidating - and yet it's much more fun to make something beautiful and usable than it is to practice seams on scrap fabric. 1, 2, 3 Sew is filled with projects that aren't only beginner-friendly, they're designed to teach you. Each one incorporates a new sewing technique, and expresses it in clear, step-by-step diagrams. Make your way through the book, and by the end you'll have a solid set of skills.

We have a pretty project from 1, 2, 3 Sew today - this Eyelet Headband. Made from wool felt, they're easy to whip up in every color your wardrobe needs. (More details on the book after the jump.)

Download the Project Instructions PDF

Download the Template PDF
Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.

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July 7, 2011

Book Review + Project Excerpt: Block Party, by Alissa Haight Carlton & Kristen Lejnieks

Block Party - The Modern Quilting Bee, by Alissa Haight Carlton & Kristen Lejnieks Book Site: Block Party!

Block Party is a lovely book for those who want to start quilting, but feel somewhat intimidated by the scale and precision of the craft. Alissa Haight Carlton and Kristen Lejnieks, both lovers of modern quilting, formed a virtual quilting bee, where twelve quilters from all over the U.S. shared the process of making twelve quilts over the course of a year. The book shares the patterns, color stories, and processes of making for all of the quilts, along with stories of how these quilters helped each other grow new skills and feel connected through making.

We'll have more pictures and details from the book after the jump. Below, you can find a PDF project excerpt from Block Party - the Wonky Log Cabin quilt pictured above. It's a beautiful, accessible project for new or experienced quilters.

Edited to add:Sorry, everyone - we aren't actually hosting a giveaway for this book, although other stops on the Block Party blog tour were.

Download the Project PDF
Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.

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June 21, 2011

Tool Review: Silhouette Electronic Cutter

I recently got my hands on a Silhouette SD electronic cutter. It's a little computer-controlled craft robot with very sharp teeth! Use it to cut out designs for all sorts of things: paper crafts and scrapbooking, vinyl lettering, glass and metal etching, stencils, and anything else that involves precision cutting of small planar materials. There's some pretty neat stuff out there: sticky vinyl, flocked vinyl, magnet sheet, even temporary tattoo paper.

I really like this lamp Meg Allan Cole has hanging in her living room-- it's the Midsummer Light by Dutch designer Tord Boontje. I found a flat-ish picture of the design online and traced over it in Adobe Illustrator, setting to cut out some delicate flowers. Hit the jump for the results, the rest of the review, and a discount coupon code for the machine.

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June 20, 2011

Book Review + Project Excerpt: Make Stuff Together, by Bernadette Noll and Kathie Sever

Make Stuff Together: 24 Simple Projects to Create as a Family, by Bernadette Noll and Kathie Sever Book Site: Future Craft Collective

Make Stuff Together is the work of two women who've made it their mission to help families create together. Bernadette Noll and Kathie Sever run the Austin, TX-based Future Craft Collective, which offers craft camps and classes for kids, along with project kits and curricula for parents.

We'll have more details on their new book after the jump. They've also offered us this PDF project excerpt: a quilted Pin the Tail on the Donkey game that you can use over and over, and loan to friends. Click below for the full project!

Download the Project PDF
Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs.

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June 3, 2011

Book Review: The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook

The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius

If you're a fiber enthusiast, The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook is a very deep resource. Authors Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius have compiled a comprehensive guide to over 200 different types of animal fiber, and explained in detail how each one performs in spinning, knitting, crochet and weaving projects. There's also an encyclopedic amount of information on wool itself - how it's structured, how the fibers are measured, how it's shorn and processed.

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