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    Father’s Day Gift Personalized Nancy Zieman E-Tablet Keeper

    This Father’s Day make it personal!!  Try our Nancy Zieman Trace ‘n Create E-Tablet Keeper. Materials needed: Nancy Zieman E-Tablet Template  Nancy Zieman Fuse ‘n Bind Nancy Zieman Create-a-Strap in both 5/8″ and 1.25″ Nancy Zieman Pre-Cut Tablet Keeper Shapers Ultra Firm Interfacing D-Ring (optional) Elastic Velcro Fabric (Fat Quarter Bundles work great for this project) *Please note you have the options of making an E-Tablet Keeper in small, medium, or large. The instructions included in the package will give you the necessary measurements for each size. Instructions may also…

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    Summer Frost Mini Beading Loom Project by Carol Porter

    Supplies: Mini Beading Loom Art No. 9924 Beads 11/0 cylinder Thread Gray Beading Needle & Threader Darning Needle Scissors Earring Supplies: 10 Clam Shell Crimps 2 5-strand multi connectors 2 Jump Rings 2 Earring Findings Earrings Bead Design 10/Warps 11 1. Warp the loom with one continuous thread to form 11 warps. 2. Start weaving the design at the 5th warp and follow the Bead Placement Chart working from the bottom, left to right. 3. Follow the increase directions found in the package instructions. 4. Hide the Warp and Weft…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Mini Flower Loom

    What is it? – “Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.” That’s what Henry Beecher thought anyway. So how important are flowers? Claude Monet once wrote that he may very well have become a painter because of flowers. Art, literature, music, culture . . . all are replete with references to flowers. Can you imagine a Spring morning in the Colorado Rockies without fields of wild flowers? Or Japan without cherry blossoms? A prom without orchids. Perhaps Valentine’s Day without red roses?…

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    How to Fix a Dropped Stitch!

    We’ve all done it: dropped a stitch while knitting. Depending on how many rows down that slippery, little sucker fell we may or may not feel the dread of the inevitable: unknitting (aka “tinking”) several rows of precious stitching. One row down is simple: just use the right-hand needle to pick up the loop of the stitch in the row below; place it on the left-hand needle; pull the “rung” or strand of yarn from the current row through the stitch on the needle, letting the other strand drop down…

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    Hair Pin Lace Tool Review and Giveaway with the Underground Crafter

    Welcome to my themed blog series, Crochet Specialty of the Month! Each month in 2015, I’ll feature a specialized crochet technique, stitch pattern, or project type through several posts. As part of this month’s focus on hairpin lace, I’m sharing a review of my favorite hairpin lace loom along with a giveaway sponsored by Clover USA! Read on for your chance to win one of two Clover Hair Pin Lace Tools! I reached out to the nice folks at Clover because I really love their Hair Pin Lace Tool (also known…

  • Blog,  Tool School

    Tool School: Jumbo Amour Crochet Hooks

    What is it? -There was a time when almost all of the gals and some of us guys grew up learning how to crochet from our moms or grandmothers.  It was a necessary skill that seemed to play out as life became more fast-paced.  All of a sudden it was more economical to  purchase finished goods than to buy materials and devote the time required to complete a project. Times have changed and creativity is making a comeback. Crochet now goes to places where grandma never imagined.  And what takes…

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    Mini Beading Loom Woven Ring by Carol Porter

    We’ve had a lot of fun learning what can be done on this mighty little loom.  One evening my son Jon and I were talking about how to create a ring on the loom.  Here is how we figured out how to make the ring. We needed the warp to be stretchy, but realized the weft could be done with the regular 100% polyester thread.  A great bead design and we were ready to weave! Supplies Mini Bead Weaving Loom  Clover Art No. 0.5 mm clear stretchy cord 100% polyester…

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    Takumi Tuesday: Sea Breeze Bag Hack!

    You know that old adage, “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind?” Well, the same thing holds true for knitters (and crocheters!) We can find a project pattern we like, but then decide to adjust the finished size, the yarn type, or as in the case with today’s Sea Breeze Bag hack, completely change the gauge. With the help of a little math, the will to swatch, and by swapping out embellishments you’ll find that accessory patterns (which translate easier than garments, because fit isn’t as important) can often…

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    Flex ‘n Bodkins Project Sheet with Nancy Zieman

    Enjoy this free project sheet featuring Nancy Zieman’s new Bodkins, items will be available for purchase the beginning of June. Want to print the project sheet? No problem download it here, under project sheets. Nancy created this project sheet to show you the many uses of her new bodkins. You can see them in action at Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis at Clover’s booth # 2301!!! My excitement has been building as I’ve awaited the launch of Clover’s new bodkin tools. The wait is now over! I’m pleased to introduce…

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    Sewing and Quilting Items for Spring!!!

    See what’s new for Spring!!!  Clover is excited to introduce items in the sewing and quilting category. Come see these items in action at booth # 2301 at Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis on May 15-17, 2015. We look forward to seeing you there!! Flex ‘n Glide Bodkins Art No. 9581  The Flex n Glide Bodkins by Nancy Zieman are long, flexible bodkins that will swiftly pull elastic or ribbons through casing. Two available in each package. Clip ‘n Glide Bodkins Art No. 9582  The Clip n Glide Bodkin by…