Saturday, October 31, 2009

Rena's Hemp Bracelets



Cooool.....


In addition to the tacky friendship bracelet, my lifeguard bud Rena makes hippie-like hemp bracelets that add chillness to any wrist. After teaching me how to do the simple "hemp knot," I went to town, and am now making my own bracelets!

Thanks, Rena :o)


Difficulty Level: Easy


Materials

-Wax cotton cord/"hemp" from your local craft store.
(Comes in packs of 6 colors for approx.5 bucks)
- Scissors
- Tape

Directions:

1. Select three colors of hemp: one color for the base (usually a beige or white), one color for the inside, and one for the outside.

2. Cut the hemp - you need six strings total: four of the base and one of each of colors. The color threads should be about two feet long each, while the base threads only need to be about a foot long.

3. Knot all of the threads together.

4. Tape the knot to a flat surface so you can braid freely.

5. Select one color to be your lead color. In this example, the lead color is purple. Make a triangle so the purple string makes a number 4, and lead the thread OVER the base color (in this case, the beige).

6. Make the same triangle with the other color (white). Go OVER the purple thread, and UNDER the beige base.

7. Pull Through.



8. FOLLOW your lead string - the purple! Make the triangle, and go OVER, OVER, UNDER.

9. When long enough to make your bracelet, anklet, necklace, etc, knot end.

10. Tie onto wrist.

Don't be frustrated - learning the knot can be a little confusing at first, but once you get the knot down, you're totally fine - smooth sailing 'til the finish.



New TWIST on the Hemp Knot: Instead of following one color, do the standard hemp knot, but stay on one side. Colors will switch back and forth if you keep doing the knot on one side, making a funky twist. You can alternate from straight knot to twisted knot if you want!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Sweetheart Baby Hat


I was tired of knitting scarves - one of the simpler items to knit, just knitting row after row of solid color yarn back and forth.

Luckily my Mom is a super-knitter and helped me cure my scarf woes by giving me circular needles to replace my straight bamboo pair.

How to solve the solid color problem? Bernat Baby Jacquards yarn is adorable and self-striping.

Difficulty Level: Hard

Materials

- Self-striping yarn = $1.75 (available at your local craft store).
- 16'' size 5 circular needle
- Double-pointed size 5 bamboo needles.
- Scissors



Directions

This is way easier to make than it looks! The directions for this project are a bit lengthy though, so click here for the full deets!

Don't know how to cast on? Get started with this video.


I gave the finished project to my stepsister @ her baby shower! It made a great gift.


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Friday, October 9, 2009

Iphone Case





I was so excited when I got my Iphone this summer - but simultaneously petrified that I would drop it/lose it.



If I do, it's back to TO-GO phones for me. Ugh.

Therefore, I decided it would be a good idea to get a Iphone case. Too bad they're like 45 bucks! Yeah right. I'll just make one instead.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Materials

- Small-ish piece of fabric. (From Wal-Mart craft bin. 79 cents.
- Sewing Needle
- Scissors
- Ribbon
- Hot Glue Gun(per usual)
- Embroidery Thread


Directions


1. Fold piece of fabric in half two times to make it thicker for Iphone protection!

2. Wrap piece of fabric around your phone to make sure it fits!

3. Hand-sew the sides to connect the edges of the fabric, as well as the bottom of case.

4. Spread hot glue onto the backside of a ribbon.

5. Quickly place the ribbon onto the fabric and wrap it around - make sure it's straight!

6. Tie a bow, and glue down the ends (for a fray-free ribbon end, burn the end of the ribbon with a lighter for 1/2 seconds.

Etsy

Sometimes I get tired of thinking up things to make... I'm itching to craft right now, actually. Look on http://www.etsy.com for ideas, like I'm doing! Or use it to buy and sell handmade items. I am especially into the Hair Accessories page right now. I kind of want to make one of the feather headbands...