Tag Archives | learn to craft

Learn To Quilt by Using Templates

Learn to Quilt

Have you been wanting to learn to quilt but were a little intimidated?  Using templates makes your Learn to Quilt adventure so much easier.  Today thanks to my friends at Nancy’s Notions  I will be sharing a tutorial for using their Dresden Template.  This kit comes with the Dresden template, seam alignment template, and a colorful and information Instruction Booklet.  There are 15 variations that can be made using this template and the booklet gives you full instructions.   Remember, quilt tops aren’t the only uses for these designs.  I chose to make a decorative pillow and also created a small Dresden Plate in order to embellish a small canvas bag I purchased at my local Joann Craft and Fabric Store.

I think the hardest part was choosing my fabric.  Going to the fabric store has been an activity I really enjoy.  I could get lost there for hours.  Walking down the aisles and see all those bolts of fabrics can be mesmerizing.  So many fabrics and so little time.  First, I used my Dresden template to make a pillow top.  I can bring this pillow out to decorate during the holidays.  Place on my front porch chair or take along for a picnic or parade for comfort.  I had previously purchased a small canvas bag from Joann’s when they were on sale.  I decided to make a small Dresden plate using the templates to embellish my plain tote bag.  Now the tote is so much more colorful and will make a perfect gift for carrying crochet or knitting supplies.  I can already see my colorful yarn balls and crochet hooks and knitting needles inside my little canvas tote bag.  It would make a great gift.

Learn to Quilt - Using templates

Dresden Plate quilting design used on a pillow and a canvas tote bad

You can purchase the Dresden Template kit and other supplies here:    Nancy’s Notions  Grab it now while it’s on sale for only $9.99 until July 31, 2017.  That’s a great bargain.

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The Craftys Awards – Nominations now open

Craftys Awards time

It’s time for The Craftys Awards and that means nominating your favorite crafter.   The Craftsy Awards were created to celebrate the best of DIY and Crafts.  The categories range from traditional such as knitting, crocheting, sew, and scrapbooking to a category known as “geek crafts.”     The Craftsy awards were launched in 2014.   This is such a great way to recognize our creative community.   Crafters have submitted so many awesome projects that selecting a winner will not be an easy task.

Craftys award

Craftys award

I am so honored to have been selected as one of the judges for this year.  Here is the list of the other judges.  So many talented people on the judges panel.

The Editors of Babble
Marisa Pawelko – Modern Surrealist
Yolanda Soto Lopez – All Crafts Channel
Marly Bird – Yarn Thing Podcast
Beth Kingston – Kingston Crafts
Vickie Howell – DIY Network / HGTV
Ed Roth – Stencil 1
Mark Montano – Big Ass Book of Crafts
Galit Lebow – FoodStirs
Amber Kemp-Gerstel – Damask Love

 

 

 

The best in show winner will receive $1,000 and each category winner will receive $200.

Some of the  Categories include the following.  Please go to thecraftsy.com  to a complete list and instructions/rules to enter:

  • Baby Crafts
  • Craft Blogger
  • Crochet
  • Knitting
  • Decorative Painting/ Mixed Medium
  • Edible Crafts
  • Geek Crafts
  • General Crafts
  • Sewing

The winners will be announced in a Live stream in February 2017 from New York City.  There are so many great sponsors for the Craftsy Awards.   If you are a creator and would like to participate you can nominate yourself or another person for an award.  Please go to the website thecraftys.com in order to enter. and learn all about The Craftys awards.  You will also be able to see the complete list of categories and sponsors.  Each year this event has grown. with over 400,000 votes submitted.

Here is a link with the official rules:  Official Rules

Good luck and get those nominations in.  Let’s do our part to get recognization for all of those awesome crafters out there.

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Autumn is here and it’s Pumpkin Hat time

Pumpkin hat time is here.  It seems everywhere I look traces of Autumn are finally arriving in my neck of the woods.  OK, so I live in San Diego, California and there aren’t many signs of the seasons changing.  However, stores are now decorated with items that remind us it’s Autumn.  Pumpkins are making an appearance in windows and advertisements.  Halloween is just around the corner.  Pumpkin spice lattes are brewing and I am crocheting pumpkin hats.

Crochet Pumpkin Hat

I decided to design a pumpkin hat that can be worn by babies to adults.   I used medium weight acrylic yarn for my hat.  The hat in the photo I used an H hook however by adjusting the hook size the hat can be made for various sizes.  Here is a suggestion for hook sizes.  Please remember that everyone crochets with a different tension and these are just suggestions.   I used a fpdc (front post double crochet) stitch to simulate the ridges on a pumpkin.  You can choose any shade of orange and green for your hat.  You could even choose a ten or brown color as pumpkins come in a variety of colors.

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Easy to Crochet Baskets – Adjust sizes to fit your needs

Learn to Crochet Baskets

Easy Crochet Baskets

Easy Crochet Baskets

These crochet baskets are so fun and easy to make.  The best part is that you can adjust the size according to your needs.  You can even make several to rest inside of each other.   The crochet baskets I made measured about 12 1/2 inches in circumference and about 8 inches tall.  It is surprising how much fits inside of it.  What is also nice is that when not in use you can just fold it flat and out of the way.   I think crocheting your own baskets is a great way to eliminate landfill waste.  How many times have we seen throw away containers which end up in the landfill since they tear or break so easily.  These Easy to Crochet Baskets are so pretty and you can use them for all types of things.  I filled mine with yarn.  You can use your in kids room to store toys, shoes, etc.  They work great in a baby nursery.

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Announcing Yarnspirations Yarn Giveaway Winners!

Screen Shot 2016-04-06 at 4.09.38 PM

This is a short post to announce the winners of the Yarnspirations Yarn Giveaway.   This giveaway is a way to thank all of my blog members.   The winners will be able to select 10 skeins of their choice from among the yarns sold by Yarnspirations.   The 3 winners have been notified to the email they used when they become members of this blog.  They will have until next Thursday, April 21 at 5pm (PST) to claim their prize.

The mail contains all instructions to claim prizes.  If they do not respond within that time to claim their prize a new winner will be chosen to take their place.   Remember only those people living in the USA and Canada are eligible to enter and win.

The first winner is:   Saundra Shackelford 

 

The second winner is:   Margaret Ellis

 

The third winner is:   Ivette Gutierrez

 

If you didn’t win don’t despair, I have man more giveaways and some contests planned for the rest of 2016.  To be eligible you simply need to be a member of this blog.  It is free and your information is always kept confidential.  The sign up box is along the right hand side of this blog.    Be sure to become a member today if you haven’t already done so.

I want to thank my friends are Yarnspirations for their generosity and support.   Please help me in Congratulating all the winners.  Thank you all for your support.   I love you all so much.    Please be sure to follow me on all my other social media sites.  The icons are here at the bottom.

 

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