Get Crafty Fast

Crafts are more popular than ever. But some people shy away from taking up a crafty hobby because they don't think they have enough time to learn something new and don't really know where to start. You could always spend some time at the library reading about your chosen field, or you could do it the easy way. Pick up a craft kit and start crafting right away.

If you're looking to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby, a craft kit is a great first step. You get to test the waters so to speak without investing a lot of time and money in something that might not be fro you. If you decide that you don't like your new hobby, no big deal. You won't end up with lots of money invested and a garage full of equipment you'll never use again.

I doesn't matter what craft you want to try out, chances are you'll find a kit just for you. There are sewing kits, needlepoint, macramé, woodworking, candle making, ceramic kits, and more than I can go into here. What all the kits have in common, is that you get everything you need for a project. Kits not only include all the supplies you'll need like cloth, thread, or patterns, but you'll also get any special equipment you might need to complete your project. Depending on the kit, the tools you get may not be the highest quality, but until you decide to peruse your new hobby further, you may not want the best most expensive tools. The best part about crafting from a kit, is you get simple step by step instructions.

Even if you're not looking to take up a new pastime, a craft kit can make addition to family nights. You hear so many people talking about never having enough family time these days. A kit you and your kids can work on together can be a great solution. Much better than sitting in front of the TV and not talking. The best part is you get to keep the finished product. Unlike a jigsaw puzzle that goes back into the box when you're finished, you can keep your craft for years as a wonderful reminder of time spent with the ones you love. Craft kits are also a great way to keep kids occupied when they're out of school.

Don't forget about craft kits when it comes time to give gifts either. I'm not talking about just giving someone a kit, but using the kit yourself to make a handmade gift. Gifts you make yourself are incredibly personal and can show that special someone just how much you care. If you're not exactly crafty but want to experience giving a handmade gift, just pick up a craft kit.

No more excuses, if you've been wanting to try out something new, pick up a craft kit today. You'll find all kinds at your local craft store from starter kits to more complex kits. Find one that's right for you and get crafty today.
Copyright 2007 Marge Snow

About the Author: About the Author: Marge is an avid crafter and gardener. She's always on the lookout for new craft ideas she hasn't tried before. In he spare time she's a regular contributor to My Arts and Crafts where you'll find lots of available craft kits.

Crochet Choice

Crochet has finally come into fashion. Go shopping and it will not be long before you find crocheted bags, shoes, clothes and coats and don't be too surprised to stumble across crocheted swimsuits or flip flops.

Crochet has not been this popular for a very long time. But when we use the word crochet, what do we actually mean? The Encarta English Dictionary states that crochet is: ‘a form of needlework used to make clothes or decorative items from wool or thread, by looping it through itself with a special hooked needle crochet hook.’ However this description only briefly scratches the surface.

Crochet work is obviously made up of many forms of stitches all formed as already said with a crochet hook. These stitches come in many different forms we have our basic stitches including chains, double crochet, the treble family and slip stitches, we also have variations on these stitches. We can work in their fronts, backs into both, or even between these stitches, producing different stitch variations and looks each time.

By slightly altering what we do with these basic stitches and where we work into them we can produce different types of patterns in our work, giving our garments different effects. These effects can be textured, looped, lacy, shell like or clustered in appearance.

When crocheting we have a choice either to work in a straight line and produce work that is straight in appearance, with straight edges, or in the round, producing circular garments. Obviously we can also increase and decrease in our garments giving us total control on the finished shapes produced.

Probably one of the most well known items made using crochet is the Granny Square. This is a square motif crocheted up in the round, used for blankets and cushions etc. and highly suited for beginners. There are many patterns for crocheted motifs both square – known as blocks and circular in shape – known as rosettes.

Crochet itself has more than one form. We can crochet as we have described above and make ourselves a vast array of garments for both the home and our family or we can use a variation to this technique.

We could crochet using more than one colour of yarn; also it is possible just as in knitting to produce pictures in our crochet work called jacquards, by following a colour chart.

Tunisian Crochet is another form of crocheting. The hook used is slightly different to a traditional crochet hook as it has a knob on the end and is more uniform in shape, similar to a knitting needle with a hook on the end.

If you have ever seen crochet work that has the appearance of lace then you would probably have been looking at Irish Crochet. Motifs are usually made for decoration for garments rather than as separate garments themselves. The most common motifs consist of flowers and leaves. Irish Crochet is extremely pretty but is probably not a good place to start when learning to crochet as it can be rather fiddly.

One of the least known adaptations of crochet has to be Overlay Meshes. You start by crocheting up a grid similar to the one used in rug making. Then to finish you either crochet up the grid in vertical lines or sew up them instead with a tapestry needle. Each technique provides you with a different appearance.

The mesh grid we were talking about above brings me to the most common of crochet techniques, Filet Crochet. The grid consists of both empty and filled squares set out in a pattern which can produce some very stunning and detailed pictures.

Crochet is a rather versatile craft which produces so many variations in form depending on the techniques and types used. It is also a really rewarding craft, is quick, easy and fun to do.

There should never be any worries about running out of ideas of what to crochet next, the main problem with crochet is what shall I make first?

To read the whole article and learn more about crochet go to: http://www.crochet-made-easy.com/Patterns/choice.htm

About the Author: Author Ruth Talbot owner of www.crochet-made-easy.com and Hooked newsletter has more than 30 years crocheting experience and over 10 years as a lecturer.

Learn to knit quickly and easily

Child Knitting Instructions

When knitting for a child knitting instructions can seem at first very daunting. Even to the more experienced knitter interpreting instructions can sometimes be a tricky task to say the least. To help dispel some of the mystery around knitting patterns, we cover some of the basic and more advanced sticking points below.

I noticed the letters 'BO' in my child knitting instructions, but I'm really unsure what it means?

This is instructing you to 'bind off' and is most commonly seen when working round the collar of a sweater. When binding off, ensure you knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you, and bind off loosely if you want the sweater to fit over your head. This can be achieved by using a slightly bigger needle.
What does ssk mean when it appears in my child knitting instructions?

SSK is an acronym, standing for slip, slip, knit and is a decrease that verges to the left. Slip two stitches as if to knit one at a time from the left to the right needle. Insert the left needle into the fronts of the two slipped stitches and knit them together.
What is a selvage stitch?

A selvage stitch is an empty stitch worked into each side of a garment to allow it to be sewn together, effectively acting as a seam. Selvage stitches can also be used for decorative purposes.

The pattern stitch reads k2, *p1, k1, p2, rep from *, k1. What does that mean?
This is just an abbreviated form. It is asking you to knit two stitches, then purl 1, k1, p2 across the row until the last stitch, then k1.

More valuable resources on knitting patterns and child knitting are readily available. Take the time to learn the standard terminology and practise before beginning to knit for your child - you'll definitely reap the benefits of a little hard work in the long run! After some minor research, you can begin knitting for your children, creating high quality, beautifully crafted, durable garments to keep your kids warm and looking adorable!
Read further other interesting articles at footnotes below.Also there you can find many free knitting patterns.

child knitting patterns

About the Author: a second treasury of knitting pattern

baby knitting patterns

Learn to Crochet and Knit – Keys to Success from an Easily Distracted Student

I decided to learn to crochet in college. Crazy way for a college student to spend free time? Definitely. I assure you that I was not as big a loser as it might make me sound though. One night, for some strange reason, I found myself on a creative kick. My mom had taught me to cross-stitch as a child but that wouldn't do anymore. I was ready for something new and exciting.

I ended up at Wal-mart late at night (best time to go for a college student!) browsing through the craft aisles and inevitably drawn to all the cool yarns. Ok, so what to do with them? Knitting or crocheting? At the time, knitting seemed over my head and maybe even a bit "granny-ish". Crocheting was so much... cooler. Yeah, that's it.

So for whatever reason, I picked crocheting. I envisioned super trendy afghans and throws adorning my dorm room and great gifts to impress my fiancé's parents. It was something that I could learn to do that could be useful in the future. I could decorate an apartment or house, clothe the children I'd one day have, and even give great cheap gifts to all my friends.

Good in theory, but I never finished my first project -- an afghan. What can I say? I was an easily distracted college student. And my reason for not having finished it since college? Let’s just say I'm an equally distracted adult. But despite my early failure, I did learn to crochet and, later, I even learned to knit.

Overall, there are two big things that I've taken away from my experiences in learning to crochet and knit:

First – you CAN be "self-taught" with the help of a good how-to book. There are quite a few out there. Just take a trip to any store that carries craft materials and patterns. Browse through the books to find one that is most user-friendly for you. One note -- don't be alarmed if some of the books with great instructions have patterns and pictures that take you back to the 70s or 80s. (My first how-to book had some real winners -- cheesy vests and sweaters with terrible color schemes -- but then again, 80s fashions are back aren’t they?)

Also keep an eye out for how-to kits. I started with a kit that included several crochet hooks and tools plus additional patterns -- which were much needed! Except for yarn, these kits should provide you with the basics but don’t walk away from the store yet. It's a good idea to go ahead and buy some additional crochet hooks or knitting needles since not all sizes are included in your kit. Other tools that could come in handy are: counters, markers, stitch holders, point protectors (knitting only).

Second -- it's good to have someone who can help you. This person does not have to be a full-fledged teacher, just a "consultant" -- someone you can turn to when you have questions -- because, let's face it, even the best how to knit or how to crochet book can confuse you at one time or another. In my early attempts to learn to crochet I got stuck on a particular type of stitch. No matter how many times I read the explanation I just could not make it work. It just didn't look right.

Lucky for me, I happened to be home from college on my winter break. I also happened to have what I was working on with me at a friend's house (not sure why -- again, I promise you I wasn't a loser!). Her mother had been crocheting for years and I took the opportunity to ask for her help. She was able to show me exactly what I needed to do. That set me straight and I’ve been crocheting just fine on my own ever since.

My knitting "consultant" was (and is) my mother. After I got my first knitting how-to book, I knew I'd have some questions. I found out that some friends wanted to learn to knit too. So we set up a "knitting night" and all learned from my mom. A good social hour and quite educational! If you’re able to find some people to do this with, I highly recommend it.

Knitting and crocheting are great pastimes. I'm no expert, but I have learned how to do both. There are some great resources out there for anyone else to do the same. Find yourself a good how-to book, and that "consultant" you can turn to when you get stuck, and you'll be well on your way. I never did finish that college afghan but since then I have crocheted several dish clothes, a baby blanket, a girl's sweater, and now I'm knitting another girl's sweater. If I could pull off these projects, anyone can! So go get started! Learn to crochet, learn to knit today!

About the Author: Lorie Grant DeWorken left a career in advertising to become a stay-at-home mom. She's always wanted to be a writer. So now she's writing about anything she's even remotely interested in. To find out what other topics are crossing her mind plus more resources for knitting and crocheting - including FREE lessons, patterns, and troubleshooting – visit www.whatIwannaknow.com/knitting_crocheting .

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