ravelry roundup: 5 amazing knitting projects for baby
for this month's roundup, i am highlighting my favorite projects for babies and kids! i don't know about you but i've reached that age where all my friends are having kids, and i'm constantly trying to think of cool ideas to knit for them. i scoured ravelry, and here are 5 of my favorite projects that i found:
1. this sweet shark plushie:
my go-to for new babies is stuffed animals, because they won't grow out of them too fast. this looks like a quick and easy project!
© Two Sisters Teddy Bear Co.
2. this incredible rainbow baby blanket:
would i ever have the patience to knit this? i'm not sure, but it. is. goals.
© Tine Holilökk
3. this super cute pair of shorts:
i'm already thinking of different color combos and ways to personalize these. how cute would it be to make each element a different color or make stripes in the garter stitch?
© Rosa Gröszer
4. this totally hip pair of moccasins:
i can't get over how cute and creative these are! the perfect project for stylish babies.
© Katherine Teixeira
5. this speed racer hat:
i love the applique and embellishment on this pattern. super cute and creative!
© Fiddlestyx™
which project is your favorite?
DIY: save-the-date banner
my best friend sammie recently got engaged, and i'm so excited for her to get married next year! since i love any excuse to break out the craft supplies, i made a banner with their wedding date for the engagement photoshoot she has planned next month.
this banner was super easy to make, and i'm already thinking of all the different kinds of banners i could make with this process. it would be great for birthdays, baby showers, seasonal decorations...really anything you can think of!
to make your own banner, you will need:
1. a computer and printer. i used photoshop, but you can use microsoft word or any word processing software.
2. two (or more) sheets of 12x12" decorative cardstock/foil/scrapbooking papers. the scrapbooking section of michael's has an incredible selection of different colors and patterns to choose from. how many sheets you'll need depends on how many numbers or letters you need to complete your banner.
3. (optional) one (or more) 12x12" contrast paper. since i created a banner with a date, i wanted to use a contrast color to separate the month, day, and year.
4. twine, string, yarn, or ribbon. choose a string color and material that fits with the design of your banner. i chose this navy paper twine:
5. scissors.
6. glue stick. i think a "traditional" glue stick would work great on most scrapbooking paper, but since i chose glitter cardstock i knew i'd need something a little more heavy-duty. i like ones like this:
the first thing i did was pick a font (i chose one with a hand-lettered feel), typed out the wedding date in 250pt, and printed it out in a navy color. if you need some font-spiration, check out dafont, where you can choose from and download a huge variety of font styles for free.
next, i carefully cut out the numbers. some fonts will be easier to cut out than others! the font i chose has some interesting brush marks, so i kept a very thin white border around the numbers to make sure the details of the font would pop against the background and in photos.
for the next step, i measured out and cut the glitter cardstock. i measured out 4x7" rectangles to keep my design simple. i love the idea of measuring out triangles to make it look like a flag bunting, or cutting out a small triangle in the bottom of a rectangle to make it look like cut ribbon. you could also cut the backing paper around the number or letter for a more free-floating look.
once all my glitter cardstock pieces were cut, i simply glued the cut-out number on top. to prevent any buckling in the paper, i immediately put them under a few heavy books and left it to dry for a few hours.
to separate the day, month, and year, i chose a rose gold foil paper and cut out two hearts using a template i printed out.
the last step is to attach the string. i used clear gift wrapping tape...super easy!
what kind of banner would you make?
knitspiration: artist dave cole
this week, i want to share some amazing work by the artist dave cole.
i first discovered his work sometime around 2007 when i was a junior in art school, focusing in hard on fiber and textile arts. i was just starting to discover the world of fiber artists and how they were transforming materials and processes typically associated with "craft." when i discovered dave cole's knitting machine, a large-scale installation from 2005 that utilized custom john deere excavators to knit a giant american flag, my whole notion of what knitting could be went out the window.
photo credit: Mass MoCA, from www.davecoledavecole.com
the installation took place over the course of a week, during which the machines knit the entire flag. this piece is inspiring because it introduced me to the concept of extreme knitting (now pioneered by the incredible artist jacqui fink), and to the idea that knitting can make a social and/or political statement.
to check out the video of the machines in action, click here.
another piece by dave cole that i love is the money dress:
photo credit: Stewart Clements Photography, from www.davecoledavecole.com
the dress is knit from $1,124 of hand-cut bills. i would love to know how he cut them and how the cuttings were connected to create yarn. i also wish i could touch this piece, i bet it feels really cool! i love the idea of using non-traditional materials to create knitted fabric.
what do you think about the knitting machine and the money dress?
to learn more about artist dave cole and check out his other textile work and sculpture, visit his website at www.davecoledavecole.com.
#WIDN: patching jeans with crocheted lace
i follow and admire so many amazing artists on instagram, so my feed is a constant source of inspiration for knitting, crochet, weaving, embroidery, hand-lettering, illustration, and more. the visual candy is so good and there is so much that sometimes (okay maybe a lot) it takes me down crazy art-overload time warps that i emerge from, wide-eyed and blinking, wondering where the hour went and why i haven't made anything yet.
but every once in a while, i come across a really cool idea that makes me put down my phone and run to my stash. this time, it was a post from lion brand yarn linking to a great blog tutorial showing how to use a bit of crocheted lace to patch holey jeans.
i gasped! it was exciting for two reasons: first, anyone that knows me knows that i'm desperately searching for any excuse to embellish things with yarn (#PutASweaterOnIt), and secondly, i recently taught myself to crochet so i loved the idea of playing around with some lace! having just patched a hole in the crotch my vintage 501s with some shibori embroidery, i knew a knee hole patch was the next step in their fibery customization.
the blog tutorial references and links to the original blog post that inspired her, and wow...talk about inspo!
but, being stubborn and wanting to try my luck at a freehand pattern (and also admittedly not knowing how to read crochet patterns very well), i grabbed a 3.75mm hook and some variegated fingering-weight silk wool and just started going for it.
now bear with me, i don't really understand crochet patterns and have never written one, and there are certainly a million better doily patterns around (like here's one from the aforementioned blog post that's great) but i will try to explain my process as best i can. i started with a beginning chain of 4 stitches, joined in the round, and single-crocheted 6 stitches around the circle. marking my starting point with a bulb safety pin, i made a chain of 6 stitches and anchored it two circle stitches away, and repeated it twice more so there were 3 anchored chains around the inner circle. to start the next round, i anchored my yarn to the middle arch of the first loop with a single crochet stitch, and then increased the amount of chain stitches to 8, anchoring each in the middle of each prior 6-chain loop. as i went around the circle, i kept increasing the chain stitches by 2 and anchored them to the middle of the previous row. i just kind of kept going until the size of my lace stretched over the knee hole in my jeans.
it's important to note that you'll need to be wearing the jeans as you patch them, to ensure the patch and your stitches are properly placed and attached to withstand bending and stretching. i sat on the edge of my couch with my knee comfortably bent and attached the lace with some embroidery floss and a simple running stitch.
i love the way it turned out! the pretty, neutral colors of the variegated silk wool i chose blend in nicely with the faded jeans, but i love the unexpected lacy, fishnet-like look.
will you try patching your jeans with some crocheted lace?
knitspiration: spooky halloween knits
halloween is one of my favorite holidays. not only is it the perfect excuse to eat your weight in candy, i love occasions that inspire people to get creative. hopefully you've got your costume idea on lock by now, but if you still need more scary, check out these awesome halloween knitting and crochet projects!
1. a crocheted gremlin !
it's spike from the movie 'gremlins!' sure, it's a christmas movie...but these guys are scary all year round. what an amazing design!
find the pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gremlin-3
2. crocheted spider webs
these are really creative and pretty, and you could make them in all different sizes. i love that these "spider webs" could be reused every year.
tutorial here: http://www.mysocalledcraftylife.com/2012/10/18/13-days-of-halloween-doily-spiderweb-corbels/
3. gruesome knit eyeballs
i want to make a bunch of these and display them in a big jar!
4. knit pumpkin dishcloth
this cute little dishcloth could also work overtime as an oven mitt or trivet, and i love that you could keep it in your kitchen through thanksgiving. it would also make a great thanksgiving hostess gift!
find pattern here: http://www.knitting-bee.com/free-knitting-patterns/dishcloths/pumpking-dishcloth-free-halloween-knitting-pattern
5. witch hands gloves
perfect for any witch costumes, and functional to boot. i bet kids would love these year-round!
find pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/witchy-hands
what halloween projects will you try this year?