Author: thelongthread

Posted on

Halloween Crafts

It’s hard to believe, but if you like to make things for the holidays, it’s time to start thinking about Halloween. I’ve been busy helping plan our school’s Halloween carnival, so it’s been on my mind. And of course we’re thinking about costumes. My younger daughter wants to be Mary with her little lamb (our dog) and my older daughter wants to be a gumball machine. So this should be an interesting year.

Here are some crafts that I’ve featured here in the past:

Last-Minute Kids’ Owl Costume for Alpha Mom.

Bat Mobile made from recycled and natural materials.

Salt Dough Pumpkins for Alpha Mom.

Treat Sacks made with cereal box stencils for Alpha Mom.

Needle Felted Pumpkin.

Paper Bag Candy Bowls.

Jack o’ Lantern Jars.

Bat Costume from a t-shirt, with printable mask.

Scrappy Owl Treat Bag.

Plus, check out my round-up of 50 Halloween Crafts from around the web, another round-up of cute candy corn projects, and this slide show of 16 Homemade Halloween Costumes on Country Living featuring my bat and owl costumes.

 

Posted on

1, 2, 3 You Sew

The most rewarding part of this book adventure has definitely been seeing all of you make things from the book. It’s nice to know that someone is actually buying it and reading it! So here are more of your photos from 1, 2, 3 Sew!

Market Tote from Flickr user craftyozgirl.

Lunch Sack from Flickr user myittybittyquilts.

Play Your Way Reversible Superhero Cape from nuttermother.

Lawn Cosmetic Bag from Amy a la Mode.

Mouse Pincushion from House on Hill Road.

Craft Caddy from calathea.

If you’d like to share a photo, be sure to add your project to the 1, 2, 3 Sew Flickr group.

Posted on

More finger weaving

My kid is on a roll and has been falling asleep every night with yarn attached to her fingers! See my earlier post here for a link to finger weaving (or finger knitting) instructions. This is a great activity for fidgety 8-year-olds.

Posted on

Fall Handbag

Though fall isn’t quite here yet, the crisp air around here inspired me to get out the wool. I made this handbag from the Tiered Bag pattern in 1, 2, 3 Sew. As you may know, I can never follow a pattern — apparently not even my own, so I made some modifications.

If you don’t sew, you will be totally bored by this paragraph, so just skip on down to the next one. I made the folds, but basted them in place inside the seam allowance and just let the bag have a more slouchy look. I also added a middle panel and curved bottom, rather than the squared bottom that I made for the bag in the book. I was fresh out of magnetic snaps, so I’ve left the opening in the lining to add one later. Knowing me, I will walk around with it like this until spring comes. I’m undecided about whether I will topstitch around the opening after I add the snap. I did a zig-zag on the inside, so it should be plenty secure and though I recommend it for the bag in the book, I sometimes feel a topstitch spoils things.

The wool was sent to me by Heavens to Betsy and I used a vintage Vera Neumann sheet for the lining (along with some fusible fleece to make it nice and sturdy). I also added a strip of vintage lace down the center of the back and front.

This is a speedy bag to make and can be modified in all sorts of different ways. If you have the book, I’d love to see how you made it.

Proudly powered by WordPress