Create a Sewing Cart with IKEA's RÅSKOG Utility Cart

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Fuzzy Creature Ear Flap Hat

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This pattern is for a very special little girl born this year. It is an over-sized style for those cutesy photo shoots, and the baby can wear it long after that because the loose stitch makes it pretty stretchy. I used a basic hat pattern and changed the ear flaps by decreasing more gradually for a longer, more dramatic look. I prefer this to the cords and pom poms we normally see on these hats. 

Supplies:
Lion Brand Fun Fur
Worsted yarn to match Fun Fur
Worsted yarn in Accent Color
Needle to obtain gauge (somewhere around an I).

Pattern:
Hat (in Main Color):
Begin with a magic ring, chain 2, DC 10 in magic ring, join to first DC.
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 DC in each around, join.
Round 3: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next, around, join
Round 4: Ch 2, 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next two, join. 
Round 5-8: DC in each stitch around, join, ch 2 (36 DC)do not fasten off, start on ear flap


Ear flaps (in MC): 
Row 1: Chain one, SC 10 stitches, turn.
Even rows (wrong side): Ch 1. SC decrease in the first two stitches, SC across. Turn. 
Odd rows (right side): SC across all sts. 
Row 15: SC across, bind off

Border (in Accent Color):
Single crochet evenly and loosely around entire edge. For the same look as my project, SC a second row in back loop of stitch. Bind off. 
Make pom poms to match. 



For decoration: add eyes, noses, ears, horns, and a tag... whatever you choose to make the creation uniquely yours!

For the eye pattern I based mine off of Angela Armstrong's Eye-Eye Amigurumi Eye Pattern. (You will need a Ravelry account to see this database of knit and crochet awesomeness.) 

This pattern is for personal use. You may sell items made from this pattern but do not sell this pattern as your own. As always, please give credit where credit is due! 

Stay crafty, my friends.  

Kaitlin 

The Ultimate Solution for Apartment Gardeners

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Being an apartment dweller, I'm faced with the problem of wanting to garden, but not having the room or the desire to cover the limited space of my home with potted plants. We want least of all to fill our narrow patio, our sacred space to enjoy the cool Arizona evenings, with bags of soil and planters. Still, the desire to have my own garden led me to seek a budget friendly AND space-saving solution. I found it on ana-white.com (of course, she's a genius!).

This Painter's Ladder Shelf is perfect for apartment gardening because it takes up just around three feet of space on my tiny patio. Mine was built with the instructed measurements, but they would be easy to adjust if you want a wider or narrower shelf. The angle of the shelves allows each pot to get a fair amount of light. I'm now growing veggies and herbs on my patio!!!

If you've never taken on a woodworking project, it's ok! This was my first time, and Ana White's step-by-step instructions and pictures make the whole process a breeze. It took me an hour to cut the wood and two hours to put the thing together, and I have some tips for you to drastically cut down the time.

Based on my experience, I recommend the following:
(At the hardware store)
1.) Check the scrap wood pile. Most of what you need you can probably find here. I spent $24 on this whole project, and it would have cost me less than $7 if only I had known to look there first!
2.) Ask your hardware store to cut the wood to the needed measurements for you; they will do it for free, and it'll only take them ten minutes (instead of an hour). They're pros, they won't make mistakes, and even if they do you won't have to pay for them (I spent $2 buying a replacement for a piece I cut wrong)
3.) Get advice on how to cut at an angle if you don't have a miter saw. I drew my angles and cut along the line with a jig saw.
(At Home)
4.) Read every step and study the pictures before you begin. You could even print them out and tape them up on the wall if that's your thing.
5.) Take on this project as a team. Invite your neighbor to craft with you, and make one for you and one for her! With a second set of hands, it would have taken well under an hour.
6.) For goodness sake, listen to Ana White and attach the shelves to the frame on a flat surface! It's not noticeable but my shelves are slightly off-kilter (refer to my last point).

I turned the ladder on its side to attach the shelves, since I didn't 

have an extra set of hands to hold them in place.

In Summary:
I paid: $24                   Could have paid: < $8
I spent: 3 hours            Could have spent: < 1 hour

Remember that you can tackle any project if you face it with the right attitude. Find joy in the work, not just the result of your work; you'll be proud of the outcome!

Happy crafting!

Kaitlin

My Craft It Forward Project 2015

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I decided to begin the tradition of setting a "Craft It Forward" resolution every New Year. The purpose is to bring together family, friends, and my community with a project that helps someone else in our beautiful, hurting world. 

This year I have dedicated my time to making and instructing others to make pillowcase dresses for one of my favorite organizations, Little Dresses for Africa. Being that I plan to get others involved, I have set a personal goal of one hundred and a community goal of five hundred dresses by New Year's Eve. Go bold or go home, right? You are invited to join me in your circle of friends to create dresses for this sweet cause.

I am working on a pillowcase dress pattern inspired by Craftiness is not Optional's adorable pattern I came across on Pinterest. My pattern - unlike the standard pillowcase dress that is tied at each shoulder and hangs loose - has an elastic bust and butterfly sleeves. It is also incredibly easy to make if you know how to sew a straight line. Best of all, it's a sort of one-size-fits-all. Yes, the same dress that fits a two year old fits a seven year old as a tunic and a small adult as a peasant shirt! Seriously. I will share a tutorial as soon as possible!

For now, here is a photo. 

Sharing my project at a local family owned restaurant;
They have offered to help collect pillowcases.

If you would like to get involved in Little Dresses for Africa's program, you can start by collecting pillowcase dresses in your community and getting your friends together (or make new friends!) for a craft night! 

Happy crafting!

Quick Crafty Tip: Use Sheets for Fabric

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Sheets bought at the thrift store can be a great way to get your hands on fabric on the cheap. Consider everything that a sheet is: Sheets are generally cotton or cotton blends, and can be found in any color or print. They are sturdy enough to withstand DECADES of nightly use, but are made of soft, breathable fabric with simple care instructions. What could be better for the comfiest clothes around?

I bought this coral and polka dot twin sheet at my local Goodwill for $3. It's brand new as far as I can tell. To see just how far three dollars will go, I am challenging myself to use all of it! I am already planning on making a dress - Simplicity pattern 2262 - and a matching bow tie for my husband; how I use the rest will be a surprise to both of us (will update with pictures). Happy crafting!

$2.99 twin sheet from Goodwill

NOTE: If you are planning on trying this at home here are some buying, washing, and SAFETY rules to follow:
1.) Only buy sheets that are in good condition. Unfold them and check for set-in stains and threadbare areas. People get rid of like-new items all the time, so keep looking!
2.) Buy sheets that you actually plan to use. It can be hard to resist when presented with a great price, but $2.99 is NOT a bargain when you spend it on something you'll never want to wear. Hold out for the color you want to save your money and to save room in your fabric stash.
3.) Don't forget that Goodwill now has a 20% off coupon when you sign up for their email, and Savers gives you one when you donate your unused stuff. Use the coupon!
4.) When you get home, put the sheet from the shopping bag into the wash with HOT water, detergent, and a colorsafe amount of bleach. Dry it on the high setting, or medium for cotton-poly blends.
***Side note: This ESPECIALLY holds true for retail store fabrics (like Jo-Schmoe Fabrics), which are treated with starch and harsh chemicals for longer shelf life. Wash your fabric first thing to remove whatever may be on it and to save time pre-shrinking!***
5.) Iron if needed, then store folded on a hanger until you're feeling some crafty inspiration!

UPDATE: My first creation and less than one third of the sheet used so far: 

Simplicity Pattern 2262