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Reviews Archive: Reviews

July 24, 2008

DIY Sock Potholder

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Apartment Therapy Re-Nest helps you recycle your socks and weave them into a potholder.

May 27, 2008

Book Review: Sweater Surgery by Stefanie Girard

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Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things with Old Sweaters by Stefanie Girard

Buy on Amazon

Sweater Surgery blog

I recently got my hands on a copy of Sweater Surgery, the new book by Stefanie Girard; it's literally "how to make new things with old sweaters." I never knew there were so may creative things one can make from well-loved-but-damaged sweaters, thrift store finds, or even that charming number your great aunt gave you last holiday season. If it weren't for the "before" pictures of each sweater she used in this book, I'd hardly believe her charming creations are made from former (sometimes even downright unflattering) garments.

Stefanie provides clear instructions and techniques for deconstructing the sweaters you use. She even goes over the basic tools and supplies you'll need. For each project, she includes a clear, concise materials list which includes brand and part numbers for accessories like handles and buttons. Cutting patterns for every project in the back of the book make it easy to get started, but my favorite part about this book are the generalizable techniques that allow you to get creative on your own. For example. use the ribbed bottom edge of a sweater to create the cuff for a new pair of mittens, or use felted sweater scraps to make adorable swirly bobbles for necklaces and other accessories.

The most dramatic transformation in this book has got to be the Snow White Scarf, where a downright ugly white bobble texture sweater is transformed into a lacy delicate scarf. The last section of the book is a gallery of projects created by Stefanie and other designers to give you plenty of inspiration and put those new skills to use.

Before reading this book, I thought I would have to know a lot about kitting to understand the projects inside, but I was completely wrong. Your sewing skills will come in most handy, as most of the projects treat the sweaters as fabric. Stefanie has a great eye for spacial transformation, and it shows in the creative ways she reworks any kind of sweater into something new and unexpected.

Posted by Becky Stern | May 27, 2008 02:00 PM
Bazaar, Refashion, Reviews | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email Entry

April 2, 2008

The Chronicles of Yarnia

Sister Diane wrote up a great post about her recent visit to a clever new shop in Portland called Yarnia, and the place sounds downright magical. At Yarnia, visitors can choose from countless colors, textures, and fibers to create their very own custom yarns that are whipped up right there on the spot. This place is definitely on my must-visit list for my next trip to Oregon!

March 19, 2008

How to Make Books by Esther K. Smith

Esther K. Smith's How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book came out late last year, but I only just got a chance to dig into it recently. It's a gorgeous book, with thick chipboard covers and a kinetic layout that makes you itch to jump in and start making stuff yourself. The good news is, if you've got scrap paper and some easy to find supplies like an awl, linen thread and scissors, you're good to go.

The book details various methods of bookbinding, from the simplest folded-paper quickies ("Instant Books") to sewn cloth books (perfect for making baby gifts), concertina-style books featuring multiple folds to hand-stitched leather journals. There's something for every interest and skill level, and the clear, easy-to understand instructions will have you hunting around your house to see what you can turn into a book next.

Here's an "Instant Book" I whipped up for myself after reading How to Make Books. It's just a single sheet of paper, turned into a sweet little inspiration book full of fabric and ribbon scraps with just a bit of super-easy folding and cutting. Next on my "Books to Make" list? The "Cake Box" book made with a cardboard cake mix box as the cover.

Visit Purgatory Pie Press to purchase How to Make Books directly from Esther K. Smith--it'll even arrive signed and accompanied by a free gift.

Related:
Bind Used Office Paper into a Stab-Stitched Book

March 17, 2008

Book Review: Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp

Sew Everything Workshop by Diana Rupp Sew Everything Workshop book page Diana Rupp's Make Workshop web site

At CRAFT, we have been seeing neat projects posted online from patterns in Make Workshop founder Diana Rupp's Sew Everything Workshop since it came out. I got the book a few weeks ago and I am really enjoying reading it. The introductory chapters are more comprehensive than any other beginning sewing book that I have seen. The "Gearing Up" chapter provides background information instead of just a list of supplies so those new to sewing know why they are buying what. There's also a bullet list of features to look for in a sewing machine like all-metal parts and a drop-in bobbin. Diana also includes personal anecdotes about why she sews and her family sewing history. I really like the picture of her mother's homemade prom dress. I was planning on giving the book to my sister, since she just started sewing, but instead we are both going to have a copy and have a "Knockout Knickers" sew-along. Sew Everything Workshop book page.

Related
Blissed Out's Breezy Easy Wrap Skirt from Sew Everything Workshop

March 11, 2008

Decorating Eggs Review

Easter's coming early this year, so I'm trying to plan ahead. Decorating Eggs, by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell (try saying that in one breath!), is my new best friend. For the past few years, I've dyed my eggs in onion skins with leaves for decoration (check out this Instructable for a how-to), but this year I'm thinking to try something different. This book has a ton of great suggestions. Some are simple, kid-friendly egg decorating projects, like painting faces on them with acrylic and filling them with dirt to grow cress hair or making an egg "bird" mobile with origami paper. Others are a little more sophisticated, like scrafitto, or felted wool egg cozies (see above), latex resist, or even using engravings from books to make very fancy eggs indeed.

The how-to illustrations are charming and clear, and there's a good run-down on which type of egg is best for each project.

January 15, 2008

Best Sewing Patterns of 2007

The indispensable Pattern Review site just came out with a list of the 15 best-reviewed patterns of 2007. Follow the link to read the pattern reviews and see photos of the finished outfits made by Pattern Review members. [via] Link.

December 21, 2007

Wee House Ornament Printed from an Ink Jet Printer

Houseornament
Jennifer of Swallowfield has made these wee house ornaments by running a fabric sheet through her ink jet printer. Link.

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Dec 21, 2007 08:00 AM
Digital Design and Photography, Holiday projects, Reviews | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email Entry

October 18, 2007

Prairie Girl's Guide To Life interview and contest

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My best friend and I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder's books when we were growing up (she now has Wilder's signature tattooed on her ankle, in all its copperplate glory), so I was thrilled to hear about Jennifer Worick's new book, The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life. It just came out, and it's a celebration of the genteel and the thrifty, those wonderful virtues that shine from every page of Wilder' books, from Little House in the Big Woods to The First Four Years. In her book, Jen talks not only about what she learned from Little House on the Prairie, but looked around her for people embodying what she thinks of as the modern prairie spirit. Full of nostalgia for simpler days (pioneer days as well as the fictional ones of the 1970s TV show), each section has a short how-to illustrated by a drawing reminiscent of the ones in the books. Sometimes it's a reminder of something we've probably forgotten how to do, like write a letter, or flirt the old-fashioned way, or make pin-curls, but there are also instructions for ice-fishing and panning for gold. I got a chance to ask Jen a few questions about the craft movement, if the Little House books are still fun to read as an adult, and how Laura was really an eco pioneer.

Also, inspired by Prairie Girl and the upcoming holidays, we thought we'd hold an apron contest! We know there are lots of wonderful homemade aprons out there, and we want to see them. Taunton books has generously offered a copy of Prairie Girl to each of the five winners, and we'll be featuring the aprons in the Curio section of the next issue of CRAFT. Send photographs of the aprons you've been working on to curio@craftzine.com by November 12th. (Be sure to include your website or Etsy shop!)

(Aprons above from Ashley Jayne and Annie's Attic, both at Etsy.)

Arwen: Here at Craft, we see a lot of people making knitted robots and embroidered skulls as well as rediscovering more traditional crafts. What do you think differentiates Prairie Chic from Hipster Chic? Do you think that the embrace of "cozy" crafts is a backlash against modern design?
Jen: Perhaps the basic skills used for Prairie Chic and Hipster Chic are the same; it's what people are doing with the skills. I like to knit traditional shawls in unexpected colors and textures, such as a multicolored bright pink, with an eye toward creating an heirloom. Hipster knitters, on the other hand, might choose to knit more trendy items, like boy shorts or a tote bag with Rick Springfield's face on it (although Rick Springfield is pretty timeless).

I think cozy crafts and prairie skills definitely counter both modern design and the modern world. Not to be a drag, but on 9/11, I walked home from work and knitted for two days. I was on a knitting bender. I find working with my hands and crafting is a way of connecting me to my family and the world. As far as modern design, I love sleek lines and modern conveniences but I love softening my home with quilts, rag rugs, and knitted throws and pillows. I reach for lotions and potions I concoct myself over fancy-pants high-end products. And I love my spendy jeans but I pair them with a skinny knitted scarf wrapped around my neck.

Arwen: I noticed in the book that you talked to a lot of friends and family members about their crafts and skills. Did you know about these beforehand? Or were you surprised that some people had a hidden talent?
Jen: I knew my family had mad skills but even they surprised me. I asked my dad if we had any relatives who knew how to milk a cow and he sarcastically replied, "I grew up on a farm with cows." I realized that I hadn't spent much time talking with my family about our roots. This book allowed me to reach out to my uncle, who's a woodworker; my brother, who likes to pan for gold and poke around in abandoned mines, and my dad, who grew up on a working farm in the forties and fifties. I was also surprised at how many friends came out of the woodwork with random talents. There are more people than you'd think out there, organic gardening, darning socks, canning and making preserves. Some are crafty, some are thrifty, some are trying to go green, and some are a lovely combination of all three.

Arwen: Which of the projects or skills do you find yourself doing or using most often?
Jen: Knitting, for sure. I like to knit in my downtime and I have to knit when I'm a stress-bomb. It's therapeutic. I also mix up lotions and potions quite a bit (I make a decadent Crème Brulee Body Souffle). But I really incorporate more genteel skills like spinning a yarn or writing a heartfelt letter into my everyday life. Writing a note or presenting someone with a customized handmade gift is self-serving, since I feed off their surprise and appreciation. I get positively weepy when I nail a gift. Is that so wrong?

Arwen: I love that some of your how-tos are for life skills, like waltzing or flirting or predicting the weather. Did you put those in with the hope that something like letter writing will make a comeback? Which is the front-runner?
Jen: Etiquette and old-fashioned manners are very important to me and there's nothing more I'd like than to see a return to civility. I don't get the appeal of thongs peeking out of waistbands (or, gasp!, letting the world know you're going commando). I'd rather have a more select viewing audience, if you get my drift. Cell phones and text messages in restaurants are rude no matter the circumstances, and they don't allow you to be fully present. I like to retain a bit of mystery; people don't always have to know where you are or what you're wearing underneath your petticoats.

I don't know what the front-runner is but I love letter writing. And I love getting notes. I squirrel them away in whatever book I happen to be reading at the time, using them as bookmarks. I've noticed over the years that I leave them in the books even after I've finished them and I find random thank you notes or birthday cards tucked between the pages. It's a nice way to capture a moment in time and it's a lovely surprise when I happen upon a card and get to reread it. My grandma loved getting cards and she would cut the card at the fold, reusing the front of the card as a postcard or gift tag. Thrifty and ingenious!

Arwen: There's also a strong undercurrent of thriftiness throughout the LIW books (and of course, your own). That seems very timely, given the current awareness of global warming. Has embracing your prairie girl self also made you a better global citizen?
Jen: It certainly has. While it wasn't a conscious decision to go green when I worked on the book, it was a natural byproduct. After all, those prairie girls were using what they had at hand, which were natural items, not chemical-based solvents and unguents. And more and more, I enjoy making my own natural products and caring for my belongings. Sewing up a torn shirt or darning a sock makes me feel worthy of my thrifty grandmother. Rather than donating a box of clothes to Goodwill, consider making a rag rug out of the fabric. And there's a lot of pleasure to be had in cutting up those pants that don't fit anymore!

Arwen: Which is your favorite scene from the books? (I loved the sugaring off from Little House in the Big Woods and the scene in On the Banks of Plum Creek where the runaway ox puts its foot through the sod roof in Plum Creek :-)
Jen: I dug that sugaring party too! Food, family, and festivities are a wonderful combination. I also remember another scene pretty vividly: After they married, Almanzo brought Laura to their new home that he tricked out with custom cabinets in the pantry and a very snug root cellar. He placed the contents of her hope chest around the house to make it feel more like her home, spreading a quilt over their new bed. I suspect that took the edge off the wedding night.

And gosh, all the courting between Almanzo and Laura formed my early impressions of romance. I think on some level I'm still waiting to hear the jingle of sleighbells, indicating my own Almanzo is coming to take me away. When Nellie elbowed her way into the buggy on Sunday afternoon rides, Laura figured out how to stake her ground and point out to Almanzo (as if he needed any direction) how unsuitable Nellie was for him. There's a lot to be learned from Laura Ingalls Wilder, and I'm not talking about sewing!

I went to Walnut Grove in early October and saw a reconstructed sod house. It was 10 x 10 with maybe a six-foot ceiling. This is what the five members of the Ingalls family lived in. Are you kidding me? I love the romance of the prairie but I also like personal space. In a sod house, there was no such thing. But it's beautiful country and the prairie winds were in full force.

Arwen: How many times have you read them now?
Jen: Gosh, I don't know. I do still have the battered paperbacks from my youth. It's been fun rereading them as an adult, but my opinion of the books is much different. Instead of sharing Laura's sense of adventure, I got mildly annoyed with Pa for continuing to pick up and move a family of five (including a blind daughter!), rather than staying put. I could now sense Ma's quiet resignation when as a kid, all I could think was, "Yay, they're loading up the wagon. A new story is in the making!"

July 26, 2007

Martha Stewart Kids

Martha Stewart Kids is now on newsstands, with some cute ideas for summer parties (my birthday was always lost during the Christmas holidays, so I pined for a fun summer party): "From themed birthday parties, to scrumptious cookie cakes and irresistible goody bags, the Summer 2007 special issue of Good Things for Kids is chock full of inspiring ideas and activities that you can do together with your kids." I'm particularly fond of the baby shower goody bags made from padded mailers and the cookie layer cake (yum!), but there are some super cute gingerbread people ice cream sandwiches, too.

June 25, 2007

HOW TO - Make a Bikini from T-Shirts

ThreadBanger's Threadheads has a tutorial on how to sew up this sizzlin' summer bikini from old t-shirts. Also, don't miss their recent coverage of the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. Link.

April 25, 2007

Book Review: The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer

The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer
Book Site - Link.
Amazon - Link.

For all you multiple crafts lovers, you'll go ga-ga over this new book The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer. The book is chock full of projects from a wide range of craft topics such as needlearts, electronic crafts, homemade beauty, recycling projects, paper crafts, and more. Finally a book that covers it all! Peppered also throughout the book are guides to important events and resources for us crafters such as a listing of top craft fairs, craftivism, special events related to crafting like Stitch N' Pitch, and more. The projects featured in the book are like a who's who of the crafting world, including some of our CRAFT contributers! The electronic crafts section particularly appeals to me as this new mergence of tech crafts is just gaining some important exposure. In this section, Alison Lewis of Switch shows you how to sew up some Lovie Circuits and Syuzi Pakhchayan of SparkLab has a tutorial on how to make her LED Bracelet. Both of which were featured at our Maker Faire last year. Other projects also include Julie Jackson of Subversive Cross Stitch stitching "Is That All There Is?", Susan Beal of West Coast Crafty sews up a Vintage Slip Camisole and Travel Bag set, and Shannon Okey of Knitgrrl knits up a Red Light District Peekaboo Scarf. I mean there's just too many projects for me to list and name them all! You can check out the full project list and go to the sneak preview for sample pages/free patterns from the site such as the cute Sofia Loren Cross-Stitch and recycled plastic crochet bag pictured above. The end of the book has handy craft resources from conversion charts, book lists, and all the websites you'll ever need related to crafting. With all the great color photos and juicy content, you will not want to put this book down. It's definitely a must have handbook for the new wave of crafters!

April 20, 2007

Scrapblog: DIY Multimedia Scrapbooks

Web 2.0 has entered the crafts world with this great site, Scrapblog. You can create some beautiful looking photo albums that incorporate photos and video straight from your Flickr account or You Tube!! That's right, there's no need to upload anything new to this site. You can design your own pages through their web interface and use an existing theme or spend time to make your own. When you enter the site, you can play and create an album right away without having to commit to registering on the site, which is free anyway.

Scrapblog Theme
The web interface of Scrapblog is a Flash application. It's very easy to use but I had to remind myself not to do the Apple-Z command to undo. All the commands you need are on panels that float on the right hand side to modify photos or basic commands. I started with an existing theme called Etherality. There are some beautifully designed themes in Scrapblog and you have a lot to choose from. You can also just start with a blank page and design everything yourself with all their backgrounds and frames provided.

Scrapblog Flickrimages

To start designing just click on the "Get Photos" button on the left of the application. Enter in your Flickr account info to pull up your photos. You can also upload photos directly into the Scrapblog app, or get it from Yahoo!, Photobucket, and Webshots. Once your photos are pulled in, you can browse freely or by album. For demonstration purposes I picked a few photos from my Maker Faire CRAFT set in Flickr to test out this new application.

Scrapblog Frames

From the left hand accordion bar navigation, you can drag and drop your chosen photo over the template photo and it's immediately scaled and replaced. You can also choose to change background patterns and picture frames. TO add captions to your photos simple type in the text area. You can also enlarge any caption area to your liking. Navigate between your album pages from the bottom bar by just clicking on the icons. You can also add pages from there and duplicate any you like. There are so many cool features you could probably spend hours just playing with all the different elements. If you're in a hurry, you can just make a standard album quickly. I love this about Scrapblog.

Scrapblog Final

Here's the final preview. I made a simple five page album here to just test out all the features. Overall it was very easy to use and I'm looking forward to creating more elaborate albums and adding in video. There's settings to create a slideshow or to post this to your blog. There's no print feature yet but you could easily take a screenshot and print your album out as a keepsake.The web site is really well designed so you can go straight to you own Scrapblog right away or explore all the other Scrapblogs out there.

You can see craftzine's Scrapblog here. - Link.
Play with Scrapblog yourself! - Link.

Book Review: Crochet to Go and Interview with Author Alicia Bergin

Crochet to Go: 25 Chic and Simple Patterns by Alicia Bergin
Book Page - Link.
Amazon - Link.
Crochet to Go Blog - Link.

Crochet to Go by Alicia Bergin (published by Chronicle Books) is a new crochet book that's printed like a card deck. It comes in a box with 25 fold out pattern cards with projects you will no doubt drool over. I love this format because you can sort out right away which projects you will tackle first and take your working pattern with you in your tote bag. My first project I want to tackle is the cover shot of the Wrap Top which is a perfect spring crochet project. I'm also happy to say, it's also this week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast! Hurrah! You'll also no doubt love the bevy of other projects that are packed in this box. I love the iPod Cozies. I can't seem to get enough of them. (I have about 5 iPods which is crazy enough.) These cozies are cute with the musical note intarsia. Other favorites are the crochet necklace, cupcake pin cushion (pictured above along with Alicia herself), placemats, blanket, baby patterns, home accessories, and more. There's also a good number of fun quick projects you can probably finish in a day or weekend. You'll love the fresh new patterns and the versatility this Crochet to Go deck gives you.

I was delighted to get a chance to talk more with Alicia Bergin to find out more about her Crochet to Go Deck and get all her great crochet tips!

Nat: How did you first get interested in crochet and what other kinds of crafts do you do?

Alicia: I made my first crochet project as a gift for a pregnant friend. I bought a book with illustrations demonstrating how to make a foundation chain and single crochet, and got to work. It was a tiny, baby blue cardigan with snap closures and little yellow star buttons. I knew nothing about gauge and yarn weight, and ended up with a carefully constructed, doll-sized sweater. It never fit the baby, but gets use on a favorite teddy bear.

I loved the process of making it (as well as the fact that I could now say I was "working" while watching TV). I stuck with baby clothes for a number of years, only recently moving on to adult-sized garments.

Crochet is definitely my main craft, but I also enjoy sewing clothes and simple items for the house. I have a minor obsession with aprons. I like to "fix" things as well - painting walls, refinishing furniture, and general prepping and polishing. I am also fortunate to have a job at a graphic design firm (Method Inc), so I'm surrounded by creative people all day long. My mother, an accomplished quilt maker and all around crafter, deserves all the credit for my creative ability.

Nat: Tell me more about Crochet to Go and what was your process for designing/developing the patterns?

Alicia: Crochet to Go was a wonderful accident. After that initial baby sweater, I continued making gifts for friends, including several for people at Chronicle Books, where I worked for a number of years. I took a long break in 2005 to travel, and returned at the same time my editor, Carey Jones, was looking for an author for the deck. She gave me an opportunity I hadn't even imagined was possible, based on those gifts she had seen.

Of course, there's always a complication. I had planned having long, leisurely, unemployed days to crochet and casually job hunt. I received a job offer only hours (seriously - the same day!) after agreeing to write the patterns. To make my deadline, I outlined a work schedule - 1 project per week, 2 hours of crocheting per weekday, 4 hours per weekend day. It was intense, and I'm somewhat proud to say I can now crochet standing up on a bus. The initial list of projects I outlined with my editor actually changed very little over the development process.

Nat: What are some of your favorite patterns from Crochet to Go?

Alicia: That's a tough one. I use the striped hat pattern constantly (I made it 6 or 7 times for Christmas presents). I love the Open-Weave Shawl and the purple wrap top shown on the cover - I actually kept that one for myself and wear it all the time. I'm really fond of the baby projects, and I just adore the photograph of the cupcake pincushion.

Nat: Can you share some crochet tips for our readers?

Alicia:

Don't be afraid to substitute yarns and colors: the finished project might not look like the picture in the pattern, but you'll end up with a custom, personalized garment.
Try different materials - fabric, metal, plastic, twine, etc. Crochet is very flexible.
It may take awhile for your stitches to become even - it takes practice and hand strength to achieve a truly consistent result. Just keep trying, and eventually perfection is effortless.

Nat: What are you working on this spring and summer?

Alicia: I have a huge list of projects. Three friends are having babies this summer, so I'm making baby clothes first. I plan to make a felted wall hanging (which sounds horrible and very 1970s, but I think you'll like the result). My mother recently gave me a stack of pattern books from 1910-1950, and there are a number of patterns in there I plan to try. You can follow my progress on my blog: http://crochettogo.blogspot.com/.

April 17, 2007

Book Review: You Can Draw Star Wars by Bonnie Burton

Youcandrawstarwars
You Can Draw Star Wars by Bonnie Burton
Book Page - Link.
Bonnie Burton's Web Site - Link.

As a kid I was always taught the importance of picking up a pencil to draw. You Can Draw Star Wars by Bonnie Burton is a new book that's refreshed my memory about the art of drawing and makes it more even more fun by learning how to draw all the Star Wars characters. You'll learn the important foundations of illustration, most especially form and proportion which is reinforced throughout the book. Each character or spaceship, includes a vellum overlay of a rough pencil drawing sketch over the finish piece so you can see how they come together. Illustrators Matt Busch and Tom Hodges do an amazing job of inspiring you with detailed imagery, yet also draw out all the simple steps you need to do to get there. There are also basic design principles that are taught such as color basics, shading and light, perspective, and more. There's also lots of fun trivia in the book such as the design of the Millennium Falcon is based on a hamburger! Who knew! This is the perfect book for anyone, young or old to be inspired and pick up a pencil to learn how to draw Star Wars.

About the Author: Bonnie Burton is an avid crafter and works on the Star Wars Kids site creating some super cute Star Wars kids craft projects, such as her famous Yoda doll project. Come and meet Bonnie at the Maker Faire, May 19-20 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds where she'll be teaching some cool Star Wars kids crafts!

Read more about You Can Draw Star Wars via the Star Wars site - Link.
Video on Drawing Star Wars by Illustrator Matt Busch - Link.
Listen to a Boing Boing podcast interview with the author, Bonnie Burton - Link.

January 8, 2007

Review: Winter Knits Kit

Chronicle Books' Winter Knits Kit by Sara Lucas and Allison Isaacs is the perfect antidote to the cold weather outside. (Allison is the owner of one of my favorite yarn stores in San Francisco, Imagiknit.) The kit features 25 cozy knitting projects and also comes with a cool array of extras: size 8 circular needles, 2 stitch markers, lifting ribbon, yarn needle, yarn, as well as a booklet on the basics of knitting. Each pattern is printed on mid-sized pattern cards which makes it extra easy to tote around in your knitting bag. The projects are fantastic because there are a variety of things you can make for yourself, your home, or as a gift for friends -- such as the Ruffle Scarf, Cozy Lap Robe, Throw Pillow, or Dog Blanket. And I love that most of the projects you could probably finish in a few days, such as the Mug Cozy which I'm dying to try out. The photography by France Ruffenach is stellar and makes it extra hard to decide which pattern you want to start first. Featured on the companion book site are 3 free patterns from the kit: Mug Cozy, Feather and Fan Hat, and the Cozy Lap Robe. This is also a perfect gift to give to your knitting friends! Link.

December 15, 2006

Book Review and Interview: Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond by Nikol Lohr

Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond by Nikol Lohr
Booksite - Link.
Amazon - Link.
Nikol Lohr's Website: Disgruntled Housewife - Link.
Nikol Lohr's Blog: The Thrifty Knitter - Link.

Knitting just got a bit naughty (said with Austin Powers accent) with Nikol Lohr's fun new book, Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond. This is a book filled with sexy retro-styled patterns such as the cover "Gidget goes Hawaiian" bikini, an Austin Powers' inspired fembots pattern and a Bond Girl tank/dress (featured in today's CRAFT Pattern Podcast). The book takes its inspiration from the swinging 50's and 60's with a wide range of cute patterns as well as some brought to you with tongue-in-cheek humor, as in the "Dress-Up" section. Nurse anyone? There are also some modern patterns such as the criss-cross gloves that show some beautiful embellishments with ribbons. This book takes a fresh and stylish leap into the sexy and saucy world of knitting. Finally, a book with patterns we can really indulge in and make something fun for ourselves!

Note: This book is out next tuesday, December 19th so pre-order your copy today!

Some of you may also remember that Nikol Lohr is also the crafter who knit the Katamari earmuffs which I posted up here on CRAFT last month. Nikol was nice enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to talk more with me about her love of knitting, katamari, and her new book.

Nat: Please tell me about your craft background.

Nikol: I was 3 or 4 when my mom taught me to sew. My mom sewed EVERYTHING back then--clothes, curtains, elaborate dolls, Christmas ornaments--and we always made stuff together when I was little. I didn't learn until much later that it was mostly because we didn't have much money. So while it wasn't necessarily her intention, my mom gave me a love of craft. I learned crochet and embroidery in a summer program in 2nd grade, and I've always loved to make and build things. I went through an incredibly long Mod-Podge-and-glitter phase in early adulthood. I didn't learn to knit until a couple of years ago, when my girlfriend Kelly Sue sent me a copy of Stitch 'n Bitch and insisted I knit. These days, I'm digging knitting & crochet, needlepoint, a little paper--and putting some crafty energy into helping fix up the old school building where my partner (Ron Miller) and I live: http://harveyvilleproject.com.

Nat: I love your new book Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits. Can you tell me more about it?

Nikol: Thanks! It's a cheeky collection of unconventional knitting patterns with a bedroom-friendly undertone. The patterns range from cutsiepoo (the bikini on the cover, pom-pom sock garters, etc.) to a little naughty (a cashmere blend garter slip), to bondage-lite (felted corset, tapered leather I-cord whip) and role-play (nurse cap, mermaid tail). I'd rate most of the patterns "adventurous beginner"--really, that's about what I consider myself. But I think the nature of the garments will make them great fun for all levels of knitters. The whole thing was shot by my old friend Robyn Eden with a sort of retro pinup calendar/mens' magazine look, so even the racier patterns look kind of sweet and demure.

Nat: What are you favorite patterns from the book?

Nikol: The Great Bikini Experiment, because the pattern's so versatile (variations on a theme: one basic pattern that forms 4 different garments, including the cover bikini and "Bond Girl" patterns, plus a halter variation that will be on naughtyneedlesknitting.com); "Kitten with a Whip", because the knitting transforms stiff leather cord into this lovely, snakey, flexible thing and "Into the Woods" (felted Red Riding Hood cape) for the handsome shaping (plus: knits fast). Oh, and the pasties, because they're funny and take like 5 seconds to knit.

Nat: Where do you find your inspiration?

Nikol: Generally, I like to amuse myself. If something I'm working on (or wearing) makes me laugh, then I'm very happy. And apparently, I'm a little preoccupied with sex.

Nat: What advice would you give to budding knitters who hope to be able to knit up their own patterns? Any tips?

Nikol: From a mental standpoint: Don't be afraid to mess up. Nothing terrible will happen if something you try is a big failure. Nobody even has to know--just frog it and try again. Or scream and rip it apart and throw away the evidence--whatever works for you.

From a practical standpoint: when you're in doubt, take it off the needles (thread it onto some waste yarn with a yarn needle) and look at it flat. My biggest hurdle in creating something new is telling what size it will be inreal life. And while gauge swatches are essential once you have a pattern, when you're making one up, they're less helpful, because so much depends on the nature of a particular yarn. I find work on the needles absolutely inscrutable. I'm constantly tearing back hours of work because I didn't take stuff off the needles and look at it when I started to get suspicious about the size.

Nat: What other knitting or craft projects are you working on this winter?

Nikol: I make a limited run (usually around 250) engagement calendar each year that I hand-finish with gocco and unusual or recycled materials. Each year has a theme. 2007 is The Year of the Oddball, so I'm making each cover different, using vintage magazine scrap. They're for sale at disgruntledhousewife.com.

I'm knitting myself a sweater to match one I just knit my mom from Loop-d-Loop (the Yoke Vest), so we can put on goth makeup and get some dour-looking portraits made over Christmas, hopefully at Sears or Olan Mills. I am way too excited about this. (My mom is Mrs. Robinson in the book, by the way.)

I'm working on getting the Art Club shop up and at 'em. Art Club is our (our = Ron + me) artsy-craftsy collaboration. He's the artsy, I'm the craftsy. There's a very skinny representation of our projects at http://harveyvilleproject.com/artclub and we just opened a little store with like 5 wee items at http://artclub.etsy.com.

I've been writing a craft column for Shojo Beat (the source of my Katamari earmuffs), so I hope to be filing a few more projects for them.

And the big one: Etta Vendetta (of Etta Vendetta's Eyeful Tower and the Burly Q Girly Crew, Kansas City burlesque) and I are working on an all-knitted burlesque show in February, so I'm going to be doing lots and lots of naughty knitting for that (and we're looking for submissions/knitters, so knitters: get in touch if you're interested).

Yikes, I'd better get busy.

Nat: What's one thing on your holiday wish list?

Nikol: The Sew E-Z blocking board.

December 12, 2006

Book Review: Saturday Night Hat by Eugenia Kim

Saturday Night Hat by Eugenia Kim
Book Site - Link.
Buy it on Amazon - Link.
Eugenia Kim Site - Link.

Hats are back in fashion, thanks to a large part by the work of hat designer, Eugenia Kim. With a collection of women's and men's hats, as well as a roster of top clients like Madonna and Sienna Miller, Parsons educated Eugenia hasn't forgotten about the rest of us who love sewing and DIY. In her new book, Saturday Night Hat, Eugenia gives us what we've been waiting for -- a fashion forward DIY book for making hats. With this book, you'll learn all about how to make hats, such as the basics of hat shapes she focuses the book on: the beret, the cloche, the cocktail hat, the pillbox, the fedora, the newsboy and the sunhat. Each section starts with basic construction and hat pattern, then follows through the many different ways you can embellish the styles and make them different. Eugenia also shows you how you can take thrift store hats and take them to a new level with her embellishment how-tos.

This book not only gives you the technical know-how to start making and embellishing your own hats, it's filled with a lot of beautiful design inspiration and photography. The illustration style is fun and helps spotlight the step-by-step process on some of the projects. I've been trying to see which hats are my favorites, but then I just end up staring and loving every page. With Saturday Night Hat, Eugenia Kim will make "making hats" just as fashionable as wearing them.

If you are in the LA area this Saturday, Dec 16th, Eugenia Kim will be at Inago USA (8364 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles) at 1pm. - Link.

November 22, 2006

CRAFT Pattern Podcast: In Stitches - Sash with Beaded Fringe

This week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast comes a couple days early so you can get started on it for the long Thanksgiving weekend. We are so excited to be featuring a pattern from Amy Butler's new book, In Stitches. Here's a quick and easy pattern on how to make a sash with beaded fringe trim. Ooh la la! It's the perfect accessory to make and wear to your upcoming holiday parties this season!

Subscribe to the CRAFT podcast and get this pattern and other CRAFT content delivered automatically via iTunes - Link
Download this week's CRAFT pattern PDF - Link.

Related:

In Stitches Book Review and Interview with Amy Butler - Link.
Amy Butler Web Site and Fabrics - Link.

November 17, 2006

CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Speed Knitting - Scenester Scarf-Hat

It's time to get cozy with this week's CRAFT Pattern Podcast featuring the Scenester Scarf-Hat from the new book, Speed Knitting by Kris Percival and published by Chronicle Books. This scarf is a three in one special. It's a hoodie hat, a scarf, and hand warmer mitts -- all in one! This is the perfect quick gift you can make this weekend for a friend to brave the cold chill that's waiting outside.

Click here to get the PDF (and other CRAFT content) delivered automatically via iTunes - Link.

Curious about this new book Speed Knitting? Read Brian Sawyer's review on the book right here:

Speedknitting Cover
Speed Knitting by Kris Percival
Book Info - Link.

By Brian Sawyer

At this time of the year, when many of us are scrambling and sweating over our commitments to get every member of our extended family (and, perhaps, their dogs) a handmade gift in time for the holidays, there's a definite need for the collection of projects Kris Percival provides in Speed Knitting. Of course, the purpose and timing for the book are no coincidence. Though there's a whole chapter devoted to "Gifts to Give and Get," the entire book is written with quick gifts in mind. If you're in a time crunch, there should be something in here for just about anyone on your list.

To prepare for this brief review, I whipped up the "Scenester Scarf-Hat" from the book, provided as a download in today's installment of the CRAFT Pattern Podcast. Before you start knitting it yourself, you might want to check out my build notes for some general advice and some specific things to look out for along the way.

Speed Knitting offers 24 projects that you're almost guaranteed to get done quickly. There's not really any secret sauce to what makes a project "quick and easy," and Percival doesn't claim any magical formula for the projects in the book.

In brief, here are the cornerstones to speed knitting:

Heavy, bulky yarn Really, the thickest "superbulky" stuff you can find or, in some cases, the ideal yarn is bulkier than you can easily find.

Giant needles I'm talking size 15 or 17.

Small or abbreviated projects Full-sized stuff on the small side (such as a baby hat, booties, toddler dress, mittens, or dog sweater) or stuff that cuts corners in one way or another (such as a shrug, vest, "skinny" scarf, halter, shawl, or "capelet").

With quick projects like these, knitters of just about any skill level should should get what they need to satisfy their emergency holiday gift-making regimen. Beginning knitters will find simple projects and enough gentle, hand-holding supplementary material to get them a few finished products under their belts quickly. But even more experienced knitters will appreciate patterns that they can crank out on a deadline.

Scenester Hat-Scarf Pattern:
Click here to get the PDF (and other CRAFT content) delivered automatically via iTunes - Link.

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