She's Crafty | Finding Time to Craft

Creating things makes me happy but I'm finding it harder and harder to find the time to craft. Or, perhaps, I'm not making time to craft? Either way, it might be best if I locate some projects that will fit in with my hectic weekdays. Some options include:

• Zentangle, which I talked about in this post, would be a great option during breaks at work.

• A crochet project, like opera-length fingerless gloves, can be worked on while vegging out with the family at night.

• Instead of checking Facebook for the zillionth time, I could go outside and snap some photos to use as layers in a digital collage.

Really, the possibilities are endless. I just need to make that commitment. And for me, it's worth my time and effort.

It's true.

Quick, simple projects might make it easier to inject some craftiness into my daily life. The more I think about it, doing some repetitive needlework while decompressing after work sounds like an excellent idea. Maybe these books have just the project I'm looking for...

• Quick Knits by Judy Ann Sadler.

• Simple Knits for Sophisticated Living by Barbara Albright

I even found a few blog posts by other craft bloggers who ave graciously offered their ideas on finding time to craft.

• Stacey wrote the post Tips For Making Time To {Craft} on her blog, Glued to My Crafts and Everything In Between.

• Hilary Chybinski wrote the post, Squeezing Time to Craft Into Your Busy Life for the blog, A Life In Balance.

Have you found ways to be crafty even when you're busy?

Malia

She's Crafty | Blankies!

Did you have a blankie when you were small? You know, the one that went everywhere with you, a couldn't-sleep-without-it kind of blanket? Chances are, if you did, it was handmade. Malia had just such a blankie I made for her. First, I painted a scene from Sesame Street on a white cotton crib cover with ball-point-tube fabric paints I got from the same party-plan folks I got the preprinted cover from. Then, I took a heavy flannel sheet and cut it to the right size, got some cute fabric for the back and quilted around the painted design to hold all three layers together. I remember the binding was bright yellow, to go with Big Bird. 

When she learned to talk, Malia called it her "street blankie."And, she did take that thing everywhere--I remember at least one time we had to go back somewhere to get it before she could go to bed that night (I was so thankful it was still there!) It was hard, sometimes, to get the blanket away from her to wash, but I must have been successful many, many times, because it's formerly bright colors faded to soft pastels over the few years it served duty as Malia's "best friend."

Quilts make fine blankie status blankets. They range in size from receiving blankets, just big enough to wrap a newborn snugly,  to crib blankets large enough to cover a five-year-old for a nap. The one I made Malia was a whole-cloth quilt, I suppose, because its top was all one piece. The most popular quilts, though, are patchwork, in which smaller patches are sewn together to make the quilt's top and then quilted along the patch seams once filler and backing are in place. Our library has lots of books on quilting, including these on quilting for babies and children:

   Alex Anderson's Baby Quilts With Love by Alex Anderson

   Baby Quilts by Linda Denner

   Quick Colorful Quilts for Babies and Toddlers by Good Books

Crochet is another technique which lends itself well to blankie making. Of course, many folks think of the popular granny-square afghans when they think of crocheted blankets, but there are many other stitch patterns in crochet which would make wonderful blankets for children too, from delicate-looking (but strong!) lace to heavier wind-blocking patterns, all of which can be soft, snugly and colorful. Have a look at some of these books in our library for some great blankie making options:

    100 afghans to Knit and Crochet by Jean Leinhauser

    Crochet With Heart by Leisure Arts/Oxmoor House 

    200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans by Jan Eaton 

I've made and given a few crocheted baby blankets in my time, one or two of which may have achieved blankie status. The main things in making one, I think, are to remember to use a soft, washable yarn and make your stitches fairly loose, so the blanket can snuggle and drape around the baby in soft folds. Also, don't let the old-fashioned colors in some of our library books keep you from trying what may turn out to be a great pattern. You can always choose updated colors for the yarn. Why not choose the baby's mother's favorite colors, for instance? Chances are, if mother and child both like a blanket you've made, it will become a blankie someday. What an achievement for the maker of a handmade blanket!

Due to a power outage at our main branch yesterday, Malia gets a reprieve on having pictures of her blankie published for all to see. Maybe I will be able to talk her into sharing another time. Meanwhile, we would love to hear about your blankie experiences. Have you made a blankie for someone? Or, maybe you have fond memories of your own blankie. Leave us a comment and tell us about it.

Stay crafty until we meet again--

   Kaye and Malia

    

She's Crafty | Discovering EZ Knitting

I have finally taught myself to knit well enough, I think, that I will keep doing it for as long as I have time left to do it. Knitting can fulfill some of my needs to be challenged, creative, useful, relaxed, appreciated, and lots more. I sure wish I would have come to this point a lot sooner, rather than later. But, oh well. My children probably won't mind that I didn't knit them baby hats and sweaters, and are probably glad I didn't knit them leggings (remember those?) or sweaters while they were in high school. They do like the slippers I made them for Christmas last year, however, and continue to say I can knit for them whenever I like...as long as I knit what they like. This means I don't knit sweaters for anyone yet (more about that in a minute), but I do make slippers, scarves, hats, bags, and wash-cloths. I can make lots of wash-cloths in lots of different designs. I've also started my first pair of socks, but haven't actually turned the heel yet (that's the hard part, I hear, and I'm scared.)

I say I taught myself to knit, but what I really mean is there wasn't a person sitting next to me to show me how. I've used some pretty good books, though, to teach me and show me how a left-handed person can too learn to knit without any more trouble than a right-handed person would have. One of the books I used was Stitch 'N Bitch, by Debbie Stoller, which was a good book to start with and still provides me with great illustrated stitch-by-stitch instructions for things like picking up stitches or casting off. This book also let me know I could knit lots of things that are modern and up-to-date cool. There was even a knitted bikini in there along with the scarves, hats, bags and sweaters.

I also discovered a type of knitting early on through Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee which taught me I could make hats, scarves, shawls, and socks by following a knitting recipe. Rather than a to-be-followed-exactly pattern, the knitting recipe is a general guide-line which allows knitters to choose the types and colors of yarn they like, the stitch patterns they want to use, and the size to make based on the wearer's actual measurements. I even learned how to "measure" a person for a shawl the sneaky way: "Hey, how tall are you?" The answer to this question gives a measure of the person's wing-span (fingertip-to-fingertip, arms outstretched), which will ensure their shawl will stay on much better than a shorter shawl would. Imagine that! I was still a bit scared, though, to branch out on my own like this.

Well, guess what (and this happens a lot to the self-taught in any field, I think)? I found yet another book in our library, called Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, which made me realize the serendipitous nature of learning to knit by one's self. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee wrote the introduction to the commemorative edition of Elizabeth Zimmermann's book (which was the edition I found) and let readers know how much EZ (because Elizabeth Zimmermann is a mouthful, and every knitter sooner or later knows who EZ was)  had influenced and inspired her own work. Well, I thought, if Stephanie thought so highly of EZ, I'm going to sit down with this book and read every word because I really want to like this kind of knitting. Okay, I haven't read every word yet, but that's because I'm stopping to order every other book EZ wrote about knitting. Here are links to the ones I found in the Stockton San Joaquin County Public Library:

     

      Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac

      Knitting Without Tears 

And, here are some more I found through our Link+ service:

     Knit One, Knit All

     Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop

     The Opinionated Knitter: Elizabeth Zimmermann Newsletters 1958-1968

     Knitting Around, or, Knitting Without a License

Now, you might remember I said earlier I don't yet knit sweaters for anyone. The reason for that is my first sweater was too big--way too big. It was so disappointing, I stopped knitting for a while. I finally ripped the thing out and really hope I don't need to be scared to try again. From reading EZ, though, I think I've learned why my sweater was too big, even though I got what I thought would be the proper gauge before I started. I was knitting the sweater in the round (in which I used all knit stitches) and I made my gauge swatch flat (in which I used both knit and purl stitches.) Evidently, I knit looser than I purl! Ugh! But, at least I know I can try again now, with a new swatch and a new way to knit. Once I make a sweater that fits me, I can make a sweater that fits anyone. I'll let you know how it goes.

Until next time, stay crafty!

          Kaye and Malia

She's Crafty | Decisions, Decisions

It's that time of year again, when I try to make up my mind about what to make my near and dear for Christmas. Shall I knit? Crochet? Sew? What colors should I use? Should it be something useful? Should I make something that would be good for both male and female, younger and older? Or, should I choose something unique for each individual? Oh, decisions, decisions! 

The longer I take to make up my mind, the narrower my choices become. I'll need time to get done with everything before the big day, for instance, no IOU's allowed! This year I've waited so long (I know, it's not even Halloween yet! But, when you make things, you need lots of time), it will have to be something small (small things are usually quick to make), always useful (why else would I be making it?), good for anyone--younger, older, male, or female (this is the quicker route too!), but still personalized for each and every one (of course!) Oh, and I can't forget the most important criterion--it has to be something they will all enjoy...or, at least consent to wear...if it turns out to be something to wear, that is. Maybe I should wait a little longer (that is, run out of time) and just make everyone some cookies. Good cookies, like peanut butter kisses, peppermint twist candy canes, pecan pie tassies...Cookies are good, right? But, it will be just my luck that they will want both cookies and something to wear!

You know, if I could find the perfect thing to make for everyone, wouldn't the stores already be full of them? Uggg, the stores probably are full of them, whatever they are. So impersonal. Ah! But not when we make them. When you give someone something you've made, you give them much more than what can be bought at the store. You give them a part of yourself. Someone said this to me last year upon receiving something I had made: "Is there love in the stitches?" I said, "Of course! That's why I made it for you." I meant it, too. Those who will make something for you care for you in one way or another.

Scarves by Kaye for Malia, Frank and Senta

Last year, I started earlier, around the first of September. I was able to make some broader choices. I chose to knit: A seaman's scarf for my husband Frank, who's retired from the Navy; a little poncho for 3-year-old Layla, daughter of close family friends Lois and Andrew. Lois got my first attempt at making knitted lace, in a scarf. Andrew got felted slippers, and so did Senta, my older daughter. Malia, Senta, and a few friends got infinity scarves, knitted in what I hoped would be colors they liked. Even then, I didn't have enough time to make something for everyone I would have knitted for.

Senta's felted wool slippers

 

I know it sounds as if I'll never find that perfect item to make for everyone, but maybe I will. There are some great places to look. Some of my favorites are online and one of these is Ravelry.com. To my knowledge, there is no other place quite like it. It is a knitting & crocheting community. There may be thousands of people logged on at any particular time, from all over the world. Signing up is free and you can customize your searches for patterns--thousands of them--in many different ways. You can look for specific kinds of things to make, specify whether you want to knit or crochet, look for specific sizes, and prices--many patterns are free. You can even save your favorite finds and purchases in your own Ravelry library online.

Another great place to look for free patterns is an online knitting magazine called Knitty, which publishes several times a year and keeps archives of past issues with patterns, articles, and reviews of products designed for knitting and other fibercrafts. There are fewer patterns here, but they are well worth looking through because they tend to be unique, sometimes funky and fun, sometimes beautiful, and always well written. Patterns from Knitty are also  rated by the ease with which they can be made, which is a good way to avoid frustrating yourself with patterns beyond your current level of expertise.

One of the best places to look for free knitting patterns is the library. Our library has many books with patterns appropriate for gift-giving, and you can search for them online or at your local branch. You can look for knitting patterns for various items such as scarves and socks. Or, you can just try knitting patterns and look through all of them. Always try expanding your search to Link+ too, for lots more books to chose from.

So, what will I make those near and dear to me this year? Have I found that perfect thing? Well, I was reading somewhere recently, I can't remember where, that putting soft and fuzzy materials on one's feet could help a person feel less stressed (it was something about nerve endings and oxytocin.) Like hand knit slippers, perhaps? Good for everyone, younger and older, male and female, and easily personalized with favorite colors...

Nola's slippers pattern, right. Image courtesy of Ravelry.com

Oh, hey! What about adapting the free pattern Nola's Slippers I found on Ravelry? I could sport-stripe them on a gray background in Hogwarts House colors: Red for Gryffindor, blue for Ravenclaw, Gold for Hufflepuff, and Green for Slytherin. It might just be something Molly Weasley would make (she's my hero--fierce protector of her brood!) It's perfect! Now, if I could just learn that spell Molly used to set her needles to knitting on their own...Because there will never be enough time to knit for everyone I would knit for.

Until we meet again, stay crafty--Kaye

She's Crafty | He's Crafty

We're all crafty!

So, funny story:

At work one day I was straightening the NEW book shelf when I came across, Made by Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff by Scott Bedford. I thought, "Duct tape on the spine, it's gotta be cool. Annnd, it'll make a nice blog!" But I left it for another time. Later that very day my mother excitedly presented me with Made by Dad and said, "We gotta blog about this one!"

It was meant to be.

We know plenty of crafty dudes and I'm sure some of you out there know a few too. They're everywhere!

Check out, Men Who Knit. A website devoted to promoting and supporting men who knit. And Mark Montano's Make Your Mark! videos on YouTube are my absolute favorites to watch. We also carry some of his books at our library. He has one of the most fun and fertile imaginations out there.

Of course I know a few male crafters personally too. My dad taught me everything I know and love about knots, which has helped me in many crafting areas. Dad also taught me the craft of splicing wires and got me hooked on the art of collage.

When I first spied Made by Dad I thought of a friend of mine. Dustin's one of the craftiest people I know. He's a blacksmith, does some great embroidery and he sews out of necessity and fun - in fact he's the one who taught me how to turn a pair of normal pants into bell bottoms! And he loves to get crafty with his daughters. He is definitely the perfect target audience for this book.

But so am I. And anyone else who loves to build fun, sometimes gross, but always kooky stuff.

Like this...pair?...of Rock, Paper, Scissors dice I made to quickly end disputes of where to eat out or who gets the last cookie. Users just choose a color and the dice do all the work.

Scissors cut paper. That cookie is MINE!

The projects in the book are leveled from Easy to Tricky. Zen Napkins is probably the easiest. Create simple circles and lines around coffee-shop treat crumbs much like a Zen garden and you're done.

Kaye is getting fancy with her garden in the background.

The Tricky projects are definitely harder but between the detailed blueprints with awesome illustrations and the step-by-step instructions even the Tricky projects seem extremely do-able.

With your brain box and these blueprints, nothing
will stand in your way.

Overall, I love this book. It is crammed full of practical jokes, games, and handmade gifts. I found the instructions easy to follow and the blueprints to be the most helpful guides in a crafting book I've ever come across. So, Dads (or uncles, grandpas, cousins, big brothers, mothers, aunts...), grab your rulers and glue and your nearest kid (or fly solo) and get crafting.

Before I go, I wanted to mention that we will be taking a little trip to the East Bay Mini Maker Faire later this month. On October 20th, Park Day School in Oakland will be hosting a celebration of creativity and learning with hands-on and hand-made fun. I'm sure it will be a blast and can't wait to share our first Mini Maker adventure with you.

Until then, stay crafty!
~Malia

Learning | What Would You Like to Say to Your Teacher?

I was surprised to see that Tony Danza wrote a book about teaching.  I remember him best for his character on the 70s television show, "Taxi"; I remember he played a sort of nanny on "Who's the Boss" after that.  I picked up I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had recently, because I thought the title was funny. I was surprised to learn that he had another show in 2010 called "Teach." It was a reality show, following Danza's experience as a brand new teacher at an urban high school in Pennsylvania.  This book is Danza's recollection of that year of teaching.  

Yesterday, a customer recalled her middle school Home Economics teacher, as she was checking out a book on knitting and crocheting. That teacher taught her how to crochet, when she was not necessarily interested in learning about it. "I was a tomboy!" she laughed. But she continued crocheting, and went on to make countless afghans and other beautiful items, many for charity.  "I wonder what she would think!"

Speaking of knitting and crocheting, the Troke Library has a Sew Knotty program,    on the third Wednesday of every month.  Bring your needlework to the library, to work in the company of others -- maybe you'll teach another person some tips, or learn a new skill.