Category: Crafts

Am I Making This Easier?

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I’m currently using my “both sides at once” technique to make three scarves at a time. Because, in my brain, I’m only having to do the row once, rather than doing it six separate times.

Not only does this lead to very full needles, but things can get a little messy. Try as I might to keep the strings nice and untangled, like this:

it usually looks like this in a matter of minutes:

Which means I am having to stop and untangle them every few rows just to keep going. I’m probably not helping myself as much as I think I am by doing this. In fact, I know I’m not. But I have the delusion that this is making me be able to get everything done quicker. So I’m going to keep believing it wouldn’t just be faster to do this one at a time. Even though it most likely would.

Quick DIY: Rainbow Loom Handcuffs

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These are really useful for controlling rambunctious pre-schoolers.

Kidding! But they are apparently fun for them to play with. They are a little nicer than those plastic handcuffs that always break five minutes after you open the package, because these stretch.

They are also super easy to make. Start by using two rubber bands down the center of the pegs. Place a cap band on the end and work like you are making a regular bracelet. Instead of using a c-clip, place both ends on a holder (like a toothpick or some other type of stick).Now make a diamond bracelet using one end of the strand you just made as the cap band, and connect it with a c-clip. Do the same thing again for the other side of the handcuffs, and you are done.

Whole process takes ten to twenty minutes at most. Really super simple, and you can make it in any colors your tiny police officer wants. (Or super villain who likes being put into jail).

Early Hats

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Yes, you read that right. For once I have made something before it was needed and not six weeks after. Or even the day before. Woo!

Remember how I finished those baby blankets about a month ago? Well, I had a ball of the lace yarn left over that I decided to turn into hats for the whole family.

I had to use some sock yarn to create the bottom bands, partly for structure and mostly to stretch the ball of yarn to make three whole hats. Though, they did come out pretty slouchy:


“Father’s Hat”


“Mother’s Hat”


“Baby’s Hat”

They have even been delivered to the recipients, and I got back the cutest picture of all three “wearing” them. I say it like that because recipient number three is still a few weeks away from being born. These are for next winter.

I’ve got to admit, I didn’t take very good notes at the end, mostly because I was juggling trying to take out lots of stitches and replace them. That and I just generally was trying to get these things done. I used the pinecones stitch pattern from that lace baby blanket, and I was kind of getting tired of seeing it. But I think I have enough information to write-up the pattern rather quickly. When I do sit down to write some patterns, that is. I’ve got quite a few to get to, but I’m fully immersed in some more Starry Stoles at the moment. New patterns coming soon, though. I promise.