Hunting for that perfect button for your project can be frustrating. Sometimes you want a button that is subtle and blends perfectly with the color and texture of your project yarn. But button-buying isn't an easy thing to do online. And spending time driving between stores can take an entire day and yield zero results. And we all know that no matter how many buttons you have, you never seem to have the perfect one for your current project! Enter the handy lucet. With a lucet in your fiber arsenal, you will always have a button that matches the color and fiber of your project. You can easily make a cord out of your project yarn and use it to tie a Chinese Button Knot....
If you are anything like me, you want to try something out before you make a commitment to buy. For example, when I first started crocheting, I went to Michaels and bought a Susan Bates hook for a couple of bucks. I didn’t commit to an entire interchangeable system or invest in a handmade hook. You may be interested in trying the lucet, but you just may not be interested in spending $19 plus shipping to find out it's not your thing. So I started taking a look around my house and searching Pinterest for ideas. How could I make a quick and dirty lucet with materials and tools that most people already have at home? No special skills required. The problem I found with most of the...
I don’t know what it is about Eastern European knitters and crocheters but they put out the most innovative technical stuff. If you aren’t aware of what they are doing, Duplet Magazine is a great example. The site I link to lets you preview the magazines online before you buy. I may not be a fan of the aesthetic in this magazine, but the technical level of work is phenomenal. It's my favorite needlework magazine. It just blows away what we publish in the United States. Why is that? Seriously! Would love to hear from any Russians, Ukrainians or other Eastern Europeans who can explain what it is about the culture that has preserved so much varied and interesting needlework techniques. What they are doing with Hairpin Lace...
Twisted cord is one of the embellishments I use most often. It’s so simple and it goes perfectly with your project because it’s made out of the same yarn. The best thing about it is that most people already have everything they need to make it at home. No purchases required. I made a quick little video to show how I make it, but if you’d like more information, check out our tutorial as well. The only thing I’d mention besides what's shown in the video (and tutorial) is that you might need a friend's help with a long cord. It's important to control the twist when you are twisting it back onto itself. A friend holding one end taut is essential if your cord is longer than your arm...
I’m always on the lookout for a good podcast. (Got any hot tips? Please share!) Makes knitting and crocheting (as well as driving, housework and gardening) 10 times more fun. Having great content always available on my phone, totally free of charge, still seems like magic to me. My thirteen-year-old son takes all of this for granted, but I grew up in the cassette tape era. I just never cease to be amazed by it. Never listened to a podcast before? If you’ve got a smartphone, you’ve got all you need to get started. Just read this article. You can stream them on your computer too, but having them stream from your phone is way more versatile. So what have I been listening to lately?...
