Category: Craft tips

Posted in Craft tips, motivation, timeless thursday

Do You Remember These Crafts?

Posted on by fruitofthesehands

…and would you make them today?

It is craft fair season — and I’m madly making items to sell — so I’m sharing a page from an old Workbasket magazine. The feature “Making Cents” highlighted projects for the crafter to sell. Usually made from common household items (these days we call it upcycling,) the projects even included a suggested price range. Why, wouldn’t someone just snap up a hat for a doll made from a nut cup for a mere $.25!  And for about the same price, everyone will be grabbing the crocheted chocolate chip cookie pins off  your table.

Get crackin’, time’s awasting.

thursday

Are you participating in craft shows this season? What are you making; what are your best-sellers? Do you have any tips for us? Comment below.

Posted in Craft tips, Crochet Technique, Personal

What’s on My Hook

Posted on by fruitofthesehands

Plus some finished items too. And, yes, I know it is Friday. But I have been working on this post for two days.

It has been over three weeks since I last posted my WIPs, but lest you think I’ve been slacking, here are some photos of what I’ve been doing.

I finished the 4-Hour Fall Sweater sample for the store, even though my own is not finished. I completed the Headband and Fringed Scarf sample for Michael’s, plus the phone cozy and Floppy Hat.  I’ve done everything but weave in ends and block my Blue Curacao. (What an accomplishment!) I had to prepare for the CAL, which meant making sure the correct yarns had been ordered, getting the pattern ready — to which I added two charts and some notes.

blue curacao not blocked
Blue Curacao by Doris Chan, finished but not blocked
fringed scarf
Fringed Scarf sample for Michaels, using Loops and Threads Charisma yarn
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Yarn Store sample of the 4-hour Fall Sweater for the CAL using Universal Yarns Classic Shades Big Time.

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Posted in Craft tips, motivation, Personal

On Making Mistakes

Posted on by fruitofthesehands

mistake

True story: I was weaving in some ends on a project, and when I trimmed the yarn, I cut the wrong yarn. Go figure! Hence, the hole where no hole should be.

The moral is, if you are a maker, you will be a mistake maker. Don’t let it define you. The best batters in baseball get hits in only one-quarter to one-third of  their trips to the plate. But they keep practicing, keep coming back, keep aiming for the fence. Every at bat is a new opportunity.

Posted in Craft tips

Needle-less Bead Stringing

Posted on by fruitofthesehands

When I’m making my beaded wrap bracelets, I like to use Fray Check on the ends of my cord. This makes a needle-like tip which passes easily through the beads. I cut the tip off the bottle of Fray Check, run the end of the cord about two inches into the solution for 2-3 seconds, repeat on the other end, then hang the cord to dry.fray check needle

I will do several cords at once which means that I’ve always got one ready when the urge to bead strikes.

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