I love this idea for the kiddos going back to school or maybe heading to school for the first time. This “Pocket Pal” can be put into the backpack for a bit of plushie comfort while away from home. I used scrap yarn to make this easy amigurumi. I found the tutorial here. I’ll be making a whole bunch of these cute plushies. The creator of the tutorial calls them “Pocket Monsters”👹. Sooo cute!
Do you have scrap yarn that you need to use up in your stash? If so, this is a great beginner project for you. Depending on the size of your book, you can finish a project like this one in a few hours.
Scrappy Crocheted Book Cover
Measuring the length of my book, I used the half-double crochet stitch after chaining 40 stitches. The number of rows stitched depends on the size of the book. I used a 4.5 mm hook with 4 weight yarn.
CH 40 + 2, turn
HDC in to second stitch from the hook, continue across the row. Continue this pattern until you’ve reached your desired length to cover your book.
I ran out of the multiple-colored yarn before reaching my desired length so I just found a coordinating red yarn and continued stitching. For the scalloped edge, I used the following pattern- In the same stitch, put 1 single crochet, 1 double crochet, and 1 single crochet. Slip stitch in the next stitch. Continue across the row. To close up the envelope-style cover I used the half-double crochet stitch around the edges. I made a simple closure by chaining 12, tying off and stitching this into the center edge of the flap. I stitched on a button with a tapestry needle and added a “handmade” label. This cute cover will hold all of my cozy mysteries throughout the holiday season. Great gift idea!l
Baby it’s cold outside! The midwest winter has returned to Indiana and it’s the perfect time to take on a crochet project. I loved making this boxy sweater as this granny square pattern uses up the many scrap balls of yarn I have hanging around in my yarn baskets. While I didn’t rely on a specific pattern for this sweater, I took some advice from YouTube crafters and used my daughter’s general body measurements to gauge the size for this garment. She is an extra small size but wanted a chunky, loose-fitting cropped style that she could wear over a long-sleeved t-shirt or turtle neck. Here are the two resources I used for general guidance.
Sasser House YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yo2Aogz-qQ
Adore Crea YouTube:
https://adorecrea.com/how-to-crochet-a-daisy-granny-square/
I am new to crochet so I enjoyed the ease of making simple, colorful squares and joining them together to make this youthful sweater…
I enjoy making handmade gifts so I’ve been crocheting items for the holiday season. Recently, I visited a local craft store to find buttons that would adorn some of my crocheted cowls and book covers. I was thoroughly disappointed with the selection and voiced my concern to my hubby. He quickly gathered up some fallen branches from our forested property and made me these fabulous buttons. He used a vice to hold the branch (circumference about 1”) and a hand saw to carefully cut the 1/4” buttons. Then he drilled holes using a 1/8 bradpoint drill bit to secure the buttons with yarn. (He often uses a radial arm saw to quickly made several buttons.). He then sanded the face and edges of each button. I will lightly finish these with mineral oil and our beeswax. I am in love with this rustic look! Can’t wait to attach them to my latest creations…
Every summer, I attend basket making classes at a local county park. I always look forward to the project at hand. This year, we made an adorable Christmas stocking basket. I’ll fill it with lots of dried or fresh flowers for all my Christmas events.
Here’s a brief picture tutorial…
Happy Holidays!
Once again, I was able to join a great group of individuals at one of the local county parks for a day of basket making. I took several pictures throughout the day to capture the steps used to assemble this potluck or market basket. For those of you that are interested in basket making, I strongly suggest you find a class in your area. This is a dying art and learning the basic skills will build toward ideas for advanced methods. Local libraries, park district programs, and 4-H program leaders often offer hands-on opportunities to assemble basic baskets. Many basketmaking supply shops also offer classes. I really enjoy the process and certainly, the complete project. I always sign my baskets as I look forward to handing them down through the generations.
Sharing a few basketmaking tips…
We experienced some weather difficulties so we relocated to the interior of the old 1920’s barn. This June morning was cold and rainy. We usually meet in a covered pavilion but the winds were very strong and continued to blow away our supplies.
First, I measured 15 inches of weaving material (strips) for the length of the basket.
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I numerically marked all of my strips to help me weave a pattern on one side of the handle. Then, I duplicated the process on the other side of the wooden handle. Centering the project is very important.
Then, it was time to start working on the sides. I wanted to maintain my pattern up the side of the basket, so I used clothes pins to help me achieve this. The first row is always the most difficult to manage. The clothes pins act as another pair of “hands”.
Continue working up the side of the basket, adding any details desired. I added a colorful pattern of dyed strips. Make sure to alter the starting point for each strip, rotating the basket a half turn for an altered starting point for each row. Continue to shape the basket while building the sides.
Trim and bend alternate strips along the top edge of the basket making sure to leave enough length to insert strips under the existing basket weave.
Now it’s time for the finishing touches. An edge is placed on the top of the basket and sea grass is placed between the (half-round) edging strips. Once again, clothes pins act as extra “hands” to hold it all in place.
Lashing is used to complete the project and pull all of the finished edge pieces together.
A final dip in a black walnut wash finishes off the project by adding a weathered or aged look to the basket. Here the baskets dry in the shade of the old barn.
I love the size and shape of this beautiful basket. I can’t wait for our next basketmaking session!
Saturday’s unseasonable temperatures made for a very chilly (end of the summer) basketmaking workshop. Wearing several long-sleeved layers didn’t do much to shield us from the brisk winds during this cool and breezy day. It was hard to imagine that the temperatures had climbed to nearly 100 degrees the weekend before. Despite the weather, we happily socialized as we worked beneath a shelter at a local county park. The item that we were to assemble was a cute round, (continuous weave structure); a pumpkin-shaped basket. Here are the steps that our incredible instructor took us through during this four-hour weekend event.
Dividing the disk into 4 equal parts, place 23 spokes within the well of the disk; weaving while working in the spokes.
After weaving 6 continuous rows, gently begin shaping the basket upwards. Continue weaving upward for 14 more rows; loosely weaving to shape the belly of the pumpkin.
At row 19 or 20 begin to tighten the weave to form the top of the pumpkin.
At row thirty, the weave is complete.
Bend down, every other spoke. Clip; mark remaining spokes to bend under and secure under weave.
Secure wire handle before finishing rim of the basket.
Complete basket rim with sea grass and lashing.
We enjoyed a beautiful, but chilly, day at our local county park!
I had a wonderful time attending a local basketmaking workshop held at a rustic county park in my area. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was gorgeous. We sat under a shelter with several picnic tables that were lined up for all of the class participants. Just prior to the session we were mailed a list of supplies needed for the construction of the basket. We each brought along an old towel, some clips to hold the basket in place, scissors, a large bucket and a spray bottle to keep the wooden strips wet while working with them. We carefully listened to the instructor as she effortlessly managed teaching and assisting the 20 students before her. The item that we would be constructing is called a Footed Market Basket. I tried to take pictures as I worked through the steps while making this adorable basket.
…Can’t wait to sign up for another session!
On a recent trip to Kentucky, I purchased an adorable basket kit. I must say, I’m not an experienced basket weaver, in fact, I am constantly seeking out classes so that I might gain more knowledge and skill pertaining to this craft. Unfortunately, I have been unsuccessful finding a face-to-face class in my area so I usually review an abundance of internet videos to try to learn more about basket construction.
When I entered the darling, rustic shop, I was mesmerized by the abundance of wood strips, twine and basket making supplies carefully organized and perfectly displayed from floor to ceiling. I must have spent 45 minutes just looking over everything the owner had displayed. I was taking it all in when a friendly women asked if I needed assistance. I explained to the owner that I had very little experience and would like to complete a simple project. She suggested a garden basket that was hanging from the ceiling along with several other beautiful creations. With some hesitation, I purchased the suggested kit.
When I returned home and opened the package to review the project. I was pleasantly surprised by the simplistic instructions and the quality materials provided by the owner of this darling shop. Within the kit, each small bundle of wooden strips and twine was carefully measured and labeled to help me navigate through the supplies.
It took me some time to come up with the courage to begin this project, but once I started, I kept at it until the basket was complete. I am thrilled with the end product. While it’s not perfect, (It’s a little wonky and maybe a bit slimmer than was intended) it’s one of my first basket weaving projects and I’m quite happy with my beginner skills.
I tried to take a few pictures as I progressed through the instructions. Those of you that might be basket makers can chime in to let me know if I’m doing something wrong…
I cut a circle of craft paper tracing the wood basket bottom disk and folding the paper to divide it into four equal parts.

I then marked the wooden bottom.
I soaked the wooden strips to make them pliable.
I evenly place the spokes around the disk.
Time to add some twine.
As per my instructions, I begin weaving up the side of the basket.
I soaked the colored strips for a short period as they have a tendency to bleed onto the natural wood.
Trimming and bending the rim…
Tightening things up and making a space for the handle…

Setting in the hinged handle…
Finishing up…
Not perfect, but it will do just fine!
At a recent holiday party, one of my co-workers was kind enough to demonstrate the assembly of this adorable sock snowman craft. You won’t believe how quick and easy this no-sew project is to assemble. A simple white sock, some string, and a few sewing notions make for the cutest of holiday projects for any age to enjoy.
While I was lucky enough to have a personal tutorial, I was able to find a similar link for a quick tutorial video. Here it is… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pB4jFqkn8MY
Simply Made Kitchen and Crafts 