handmade by stefanie

I love making projects to add to our holiday decorations each year, but lately I've found myself short on crafting time. Luckily, this project can be completed in under an hour, making it a great last-minute addition to your festive decor! You can make it in virtually any size you like and customize the look by varying the felt shapes you choose. Supplies:  1 skein Kartopu Alpaca Polo in Claret Several die-cut felt pieces in holiday shapes - I used pre-cut holly leaves/berries and a felt snowflake ornament** Fabric Glue or Hot Glue Scissors Marker Tapestry needle Small sandwich plate (the one I used was 8.5 inches in diameter) Small bowl (the one I used was 4.5 inches in diameter - make sure that you can pass your yarn through an opening of this size) Cardboard (to fit largest size of plate/bowl) **A note about the felt pieces: Between now and the time I was planning this project a few months ago, the place where I sourced these felt elements has discontinued making...

A friend of mine recently asked for a few pointers for finishing the tawashis I've been so fond of making since last December, so I thought I'd share this photo tutorial for anyone else who is interested.  I've knit several versions of Maryann Walsh's Two-Tone Tawashis , a great free pattern I found on Ravelry.  I became obsessed with this pattern!  If you are having a hard time picturing what the finishing instructions are telling you to do (as I did at first, too), hopefully this blog post will point you in the right direction. 1.  Lay your tawashi out as below: 2. Fold left side of piece over (fold line will be where arrow A indicates above - your piece should look like the photo below): 3.  Fold right side of piece over: 4.  Piece should now look like so: 5.  Using one of your ends and a tapestry needle, whip-stitch pieces together: 6. Your piece should now look like this: 7.  Now, use one of your ends or a new piece of ...

i found myself baking some gingerbread cookies the other day, and was excited to use the new cookie cutters i'd just bought, when i realized i didn't have a rolling pin.  i know i used to have one, but somewhere along the way it disappeared, or maybe it was sold at a garage sale.  the point is, i had a bunch of cookie dough and a preheated oven that was ready to go, and no rolling pin in sight! i know a normal person would just get in the car and go buy one. but i'm not normal (in case this is your first time reading this blog), and i don't own a car, and on top of that, i just didn't feel like going back out into the world that day.  so i did what any non-normal person in my predicament would do:  i improvised. in case there's anyone else out there who can't justify the expense of a rolling pin to make a few batches of cookies once a year, here's a tutorial on making your own rolling pin.  just like macgyver would do.  1.  Get a large (750mL) be...