Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
So life has been really crazy for the last few weeks, but I am finally getting around to announcing the October CraftEaze crochet project. The October crochet project is a market bag.
We are engaged!
So part of the reason life has been crazy is because I recently got engaged! So the number of wedding decor kits that CraftEaze sells will more than likely increase. Be on the lookout for new types of kits in the future.
October’s crochet CraftEaze project is for a market bag. This bag would be a good bag to keep in your car for quick after work Aldi trips. It could also be a good bag to take to the park or beach with a book, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
This bag uses an acrylic yarn that provides the bag with some stretch for purchases, but it is also strong. The yarn that is included in the CraftEaze kit creates nice blocks of different colors. If you would like to buy a kit for this project, you can visit here.
Materials To Make Bag
Below is a list of materials that you will need to make your very own market bag.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in the next 48 ch. 2 sc in last ch. You will now work on the other side of the chain. 1 sc in the next 48 ch (102 sc). DO NOT JOIN.
Round 2-5: Sc in each sc in the row below (102 sc). Do not join.
Round 6: Sc in each sc in the row below. Join the last sc to first sc (102 sc).
Round 7: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). *Skip first sc, 1 dc in each of the next 3 sc, yo and insert hook through (extending the loop that so it reached back to position of work and does not squish the 3 dc group). Yo and draw through first two loops on hook twice (this is called a long dc).* Repeat between the ** 24 times. Join to the top of ch 3 from the start of the row.
Round 8: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 1 sc in the top of each dc. Join yarn to the first sc in the round.
Round 9-38: Repeat rounds 7 and 8 15 times.
Round 39: Sc in each sc. Do not join.
Round 40-44: Hdc in each sc around. Do not join.
Round 45: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Hdc in 13 hdc. Turn.
Row 46: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch). Hdc in the 13 hdc. Turn.
Repeat row 46 until the strap is approximately 24-30″ long.
Once the strap is approximately 24-30″ long, you will attach the strap to the opposite end of the bag. Fasten off.
You have now completed your very own market bag! Join our email list to be the first to learn about new products. Subscribe to our monthly crochet subscription box to get a project like this mailed to your door every month.
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
So I don’t normally like to write back to back blog posts on a similar topic, but the recent announcement from Elon Musk and SpaceX made me excited. Earlier this week he announced the first civilian that will be traveling into space.
So in honor of this announcement, I decided to make a list of my favorite movies that are out of this world. Some of the movies on this list are older and some are relatively new. These movies can also help you get ready to see First Manwhich is coming out soon. I saw the trailer last night on HGTV and it looks really good. These movies are perfect to watch while curled up on the couch with a glass of wine or working on an outer space themed project. One of my favorite outer space projects I have ever worked on was this outer space blanket by Whistle and Ivy. The pattern is very easy to follow and fun to make.
This is the outer space blanket I made earlier this summer.
Apollo 13
Image from imdb.com
Apollo 13 is one of my all-time favorite movies. It was one of the movies that got me interested in engineering. This movie is about the true story of NASA mission Apollo 13. The crew of Apollo 13 were supposed to land on the moon, but an explosion happened in space and the mission changes to one of survival and trying to get back home.
Against all odds, the astronauts make it back to earth safely. The movie goes back and forth between the astronauts and mission control. It also focuses some on the wives and family of the astronauts. The movie shows who everyone worked together to get astronauts home.
One of my favorite scenes is when engineers at mission control are given a box of items and they are told to make the spare air filter fit into the system. I think this is one of the most accurate descriptions of an engineers job. Engineers have to find a solution to problems within all sorts of parameter ranging from cost to materials.
This is one movie that my boyfriend and I actually went to the theater to see when it came out. It is also a movie that I watch every time that I see it on tv. Mark Watney is an astronaut for NASA goes on a mission to Mars. While on Mars a storm causes him to be left by his crew who believes he is dead.
After the crew leaves and the storm is over, it is revealed that Mark is really still alive. Mark is a scientist that studies plants and starts to grow potatoes on Mars for food. He eventually gets into contact with NASA and they try to figure out a way to get Mark home.
The movie is based on a book by Andy Weir with the same name. I borrowed the book from a coworker and enjoyed reading it.
Space Camp
Image from imdb.com
Space Camp was one movie that I watched a lot growing up. My sister and I would watch it almost every month. We both thought it would be cool to go to Space Camp based on this movie.
Space Camp tells the story of a group of campers. The leader of their group is an astronaut who wants to go into space, but she is passed over several times. Her group campers include the typical 80s teen movie characters including the bad boy, an ambitious girl, a nerd, the athlete, and popular girl.
The nerd in this movie is actually younger than the rest of the group. He talks he counselors into letting him stay in the teenage camp because he has been to the junior camp so many times. Since he is younger, he doesn’t really have any friends his age. He ends up befriending a robot, just like in his mind Luke Skywalker.
The movie shows their time at camp up until the final days of camp. During the final days, they are allowed to sit inside the shuttle. While the group is on the shuttle, a computer malfunctions and sends the shuttle to space. At that point, the group has to figure out how to get back to earth.
October Sky
Image from imbd.com
I know that I included October Sky in my favorite book to movie list, but it also makes the list of my favorite space-related movies. I also like that it is based on a true story and it is a story many in rural areas can relate. When I watched this movie in middle school/high school, I really related to Homer. I knew that I want to go to college and become an engineer. Some of my classmates didn’t understand why I enjoyed math and science so much. They didn’t understand why I liked to learn more about these subjects in my free time.
This movie tells the story of Homer Hickam. Homer grew up in a rural West Virginian coal mining town. He knows he doesn’t want to mine coal the rest of his life. After Sputnik is launched, he becomes interested in learning how rockets work and how to make the best rocket.
After a few mishaps, his teacher encourages him to enter the local science fair and gave him books to read about rocketry. He ends up competing in the national science fair where he receives many scholarship offers for college. Homer ends up graduating from college and eventually gets a job at NASA where he works with the space shuttle program.
So I am going to start off by saying this movie is not scientifically accurate, but it is still entertaining. It is another movie that is on FX all the time. I watch it frequently when I see that it is on and there isn’t a football game or new show on.
Armageddon is a movie about a giant asteroid on track to hit earth. NASA is forced to call upon an oil driller whose patent for a drill they are trying to dissect. NASA is unable to figure out how to make the drill work, so they ask him to create a crew that he trusts to go to space along with the astronauts. The goal is to blow up the asteroid to prevent it from hitting earth. He creates a crew of various misfits that do not really fit into the traditional astronaut mold.
Will the crew succeed in blowing up the asteroid and will everyone get back alive? Will the young couple get the chance to live happily ever after?
I have watched this movie with my parents several times. It stars Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner. Like many of the other movies in this list, it was filmed and released prior to the Columbia disaster. It seems after the Columbia shuttle disaster the number of outer space movies decreased greatly up until the last few years.
So the movie begins with a Russian satellite has veered off its course. During an investigation, NASA discovered that the navigation system was from an American design. As a result, NASA tries to convince the developer to go into space to help stop the satellite. Unfortunately, the developer of the system is a retired Air Force pilot who is still mad that he was told he would be going to space when NASA was formed, but never got the chance too.
NASA finally convinced the retired pilot to go to space, but he had one condition. His teammates (who are also really old) have to be allowed to go too. There is a lot of old verse young dynamics in this movie as the current NASA astronauts see the pilot and his team as only old men.
Magic School Bus – Gets Lost In Space
Image from imdb.com
This isn’t really a movie, but it is a great introduction to outer space for kids. If you are like me, you probably remember watching this episode of the Magic School Bus in grade school. This is actually the first episode of the Magic School Bus tv series. This episode is based on the book The Magic School Bus Gets in the Solar System.
Arnold’s (the classmate who always has something go wrong) cousin Janet is visiting the school. She is going on and on about how her grade school is better than Arnold’s until Miss Frizzle takes the class to outer space to learn about the planets.
This episode does referencePluto as a planet, but other than that it is a good introduction to the solar system for kids. However, the Pluto controversy is back again. I recently read this article that says some scientist believe it should have never been downgraded. You can watch this episode on Netflix (Season 1, Episode 1).
If you enjoyed this list, be sure to check out some of our other movie lists including:
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
Two of my favorite hobbies besides crafting are reading and watching movies. Both hobbies provide me a way to escape the stresses in my life and be transported to another time or place. One thing I have noticed, that many time movies are based on books. Sometimes these adaptations are terrible, but other times the movie helps bring the book to life.
So let’s grab a snack or a glass of wine as I tell you about my top 8 book to movie adaptations! Be sure to also check out my other movie list: 7 Movies That Are Perfect For Girls Night In.
PS I Love You
Image from imdb.com
So the start of this book and movie is very sad. Holly’s husband Gerry has recently died at a very young age because of a brain tumor. She is extremely heartbroken because the love of her life has died and she is not even 30 yet. On the eve of Holly’s 30th birthday, she receives a letter from Gerry. It turns out that Gerry wrote several letters to be delivered to her at various times to help her get over his death. These letters help bring Holly out of her comfort zone and to start to live again.
The book and the movie varied a little, but I enjoyed both. Be sure to check out the book and the movie. This book would be a great book to read with your friends as a book club. The movie would be a good movie to watch with your friends as you drink wine in these stemless glasses.
The Princess Diaries
Image from imdb.com
If you are looking for a movie that you can watch with your kids and possibly get them to read a book, then you should check out The Princess Diaries. The Princess Diaries is about a teenage girl, Mia, who meets her long-lost grandma and finds out that she is actually royalty. The movie shows what happens when she is expected to make the decision to become a princess. This was Anne Hathaway’s breakout role and also starred Julie Andrews.
So The Princess Diaries is actually a book series written by Meg Cabot that consists of 10 young adult books. I remember reading these books when I was younger. There is also an additional book for adults called Royal Wedding: A Princess Diaries Novel that talks about Mia’s life after college that you can read while your kids read the young adult series.
October Sky
Image from imdb.com
This is one of my favorite science movies and books. This movie is based on the memoirs of Homer Hickam. Homer Hickam was born and raised in a rural coal town in West Virginia. Homer knew that he didn’t want to spend his life working in the coal mine. He was impacted by the launch of Sputnik to learn more about rocketry and engineering. He was encouraged by his math/science teacher to enter the local science fair. The movie follows his struggles as he works to win the science fair.
Homer Hickam worked at NASA and was responsible for training astronauts for science payloads and extra-vehicular activities (EVA). He helped train the astronauts who repair the Hubble Telescope. His memoir Rocket Boys was a New York Times Bestseller in 1998 and was the inspiration for the movie.
Holes
Image from imdb.com
So my boyfriend would be really upset if I didn’t include Holes in this list. Holes was one of his favorite books and movies growing up. I also read Holesas a child and enjoyed to book. I sometimes felt that I related Stanley greatly because I can be really unlucky. This movie is also another movie that you can watch with your kids (if you have kids) to get them interested in reading.
Holes is about a boy named Stanley who is wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. He is sent to a juvenile correction center where he has to dig a hole every day. So plan your next movie night with Holes with popcorn that you can make and eat out of this bowl.
A Walk To Remember
Image from imdb.com
A Walk To Remember is one of my favorite Nicholas Spark’s novels that was made into a movie. My next statement is bound to be a little controversial, but I am not afraid to admit that I like this more than The Notebook.
It tells the story of a troubled high school student (Landon) whose life is turned upside down when he falls for the preacher’s daughter (Jamie). What he doesn’t realize is that she has a secret that is probably going to limit the time they have together.
There are several differences between the book and the movie, but the movie stays true to the book for the most part. The book is told from the point of view of Landon several years later while the movie takes place in modern times. Be sure to have plenty of tissues when you are reading the book or watching the movie.
The Hunger Games Series
Image from imdb.com
The Hunger Games was one book series that a read in one weekend a few years back. I love dystopian novels and this is a very dark dystopian world. The movies followed the storyline pretty well. This series is also a good introduction to dystopian novels.
In this dystopian world, there are 12 districts and capital. Every year, each district is required to send one male and one female teenager (called tribute) to a fight to the competition that is televised. Katniss’s young sister is chosen as one of District 12’s tributes. She does the most selfless thing possible and volunteers in her place.
There are 3 books in the series and 4 movies. The last book is broken up to 2 movies. My one complaint about the movie version of the books is what Peeta looks like and it isn’t really a big deal. I always pictured him as a short kid that was slightly overweight. Maybe I thought he looked like this because his family was the local bakers.
Where the Heart Is
Image from imdb.com
I remember reading this book in high school and watching the movie with my mom on several occasions. This is such a heartwarming story. It is one that I am sure that you will enjoy.
Novalee is a pregnant 17-year-old who is moving across the country with her boyfriend. While they are in Oklahoma, he leaves her at a Wal-Mart. She lives in the Wal-Mart for a short time and even has her baby there. This book and movie tell the story of how she starts her life over in this small Oklahoma town and the people she meets. Some of her new friends include a local nurse, a librarian, a photographer at the Wal-Mart, and an elderly woman named Sister Husband.
This book is easy to read and would be great to read at the beach on vacation or on an airplane. The movie is another one that would be great to watch with your girlfriends. Or better yet, you can watch this movie while working on a CraftEaze box.
Christmas With The Kranks
Image from imdb.com
Christmas will be here before you know it, and one Christmas movie that I have watched the last several years is Christmas with the Kranks. This movie is heartwarming and perfect for the holidays. I feel a lot of people can relate to the Kranks in the movie at one point or another.
Luther and Nora’s daughter has left for the Peace Corps and will not be home for Christmas. They do not want to celebrate without her, so they decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise instead. As you can guess, hilarity occurs as their neighbors, friends, and coworkers find out that they are skipping Christmas.
Christmas with the Kranks is based on the book Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. This is one of the movies you can watch year after year around Christmas. Maybe, just maybe it might also convince you that you need to buy your own giant Frosty.
What is your favorite book to movie adaptation? Feel free to leave it below in the comment section.
Crocheting and knitting is a lot of fun. You can take the most boring color of yarn and create a beautiful handmade item. These items make great gifts and products to sell, but did you know that you could also make items to donate to charity? By making an item for charity, you are not only improving your skills but you are also helping someone in need.
This post will go over 12 places that you can donate handmade items. In many cases, you can also donate money to these charities in addition to the handmade items. It is important to donate throughout the year if possible. Around the holidays, many charities receive a lot of donations, but during the summer or after the holidays the number of donations decreases significantly.
National Organizations
There are several national organizations that collect donations of crocheted and knitted items. These organizations help a variety of different people ranging from little kids with cancer to the homeless to active military and veterans. So it is fairly easy to pick an organization that is related to your particular passion. Here is a couple of national organizations that collect donations.
Project Linus
This image is from http://www.projectlinus.org/
Project Linus is an organization that provides blankets to kids who are having a rough time. There are chapters in all 50 states. The blankets that the chapter collects are given to kids around the areas at hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies. Since 1995, over 7 million blankets have been given to children all around the US. This organization also has a list of blanket patterns that are free to use. The list contains not only crochet and knitting patterns but also quilting and sewing patterns. To find a local chapter or to learn more visit: http://www.projectlinus.org/.
Knots of Love and Crochet for Cancer
Photo from http://www.crochetforcancer.org.
So these two organizations are very similar. Both organizations provide free hats for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Both organizations have patterns on their website that can be used to make hats. However, you are not limited to just these patterns, but they can be a good starting point.
Knots of Love not only provides hats for cancer patients but also blankets for newborn babies. This organization serves 544 hospitals in all 50 states. Since forming in 2007, over 400,000 hats and blankets have been donated. For more information, please visit http://www.knotsoflove.org/.
Crochet for Cancer is a Christian organization that has chapters in 33 states, Canada, and Australia. This organization also accepts donations of handmade teddy bears, blankets, scarves, and other items that can provide comfort to a person undergoing chemotherapy. For more information, please visit http://www.crochetforcancer.org/.
Knit Your Bit
Photo from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/
Knit Your Bit is a community outreach program at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. This program provides veterans with handmade scarves. These scarves are handed out at veteran hospitals, veteran centers, and service organization around the country. These scarves can be knitted or crocheted in gender neutral or patriotic colors. Since 2006, over 50,000 scarves have been delivered to veterans around the country. For more information, please visit https://www.nationalww2museum.org/programs/knit-your-bit.
Warm Up America
Image from http://www.warmupamerica.org
Warm Up America is an organization that provides knitted or crocheted blankets to those in need. Some places where these blankets can be distributed include homeless shelters, women’s shelters, veteran centers, hospice, children’s hospitals, AIDS centers, and daycare centers.
What is cool about this organization is in addition to donating finished blankets and scarves, you can also donate 7″x9″ block. If you make an entire blanket, then you can use any type of stitch and make it as big as you want. There is a list of patterns that you can use to make the 7″x9″ blocks for crochet and knitting. With the blocks being smaller, you can use these blocks to learn how to do different stitches. For more information, please visit http://www.warmupamerica.org/.
Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude is an organization that sends care packages to military members during the cold months. Handmade scarves and hats can be donated. The scarves and hats can be made in any color, but it is suggested that the colors are more on the subtle side like blue, green, brown, grey, or maroon. This way they can be given to a male or female. For more information, please visit https://www.operationgratitude.com/.
Local Donations
There are also ways that you can donate around your local community if so choose. Like with the national organization, you can find local groups that are related to your passion. In many cases, it is best to contact these charities and centers to determine their current needs.
Nursing Homes and Hospices
Nursing homes and hospices in your local community are great places to donate crochet and knitted blankets. It is best to contact the nursing home or hospice before donating to see what exactly they need. Many times they are looking for lapghans that can use used with a wheelchair. Our September CraftEaze crochet box is an example of a lapghan that can be donated to a nursing home or hospice.
Homeless Shelters and Women’s Shelters
You can also donate blankets that you crocheted or knitted to your local homeless or women’s shelters. Like with the nursing home, you should contact the shelter before donating to see what they are needing. This way you can help provide the shelter with exactly what they need.
Local Children’s Hospital
You can also make baby items for your local children’s hospital if you don’t really have the patience or time to make an adult size blanket. Many times the local neonatal intensive care is needing hats or booties for the newborns. One of the hospitals near me (Akron Children’s Hospital) even has crochet and knit patterns for hats and booties you can make to donate. Be sure to check with your local hospital to see if there are restrictions on colors or types of yarn and how to donate items.
Pregnancy Centers
Pregnancy centers are also a good place to donate handmade baby blankets and receiving blankets. These centers provide expecting mothers with items they will need once a baby is born. If you are interested in donating to a local pregnancy center, you should contact the center to see what exactly they are needing at this moment.
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
Rosé wine is currently very popular. This is unbelievable especially since rosé has really only been gaining popularity over the last several years (aka since the early 2000s). If you Google rosé wine, you will find over 80 million results. Of these 80 million results, you will find several hundred relating to millennials and their love of rosé wine. Because of this, I was nervous about writing a rosé wine review out of fear that I would be just another millennial writing about a rosé. But I decided to go ahead and write one because I like a good rosé!
Last week I enjoyed a glass of this wine while knitting a baby blanket.
Rosé wines are wines that have a pink or blush color. These wines get their color from the interaction between the grape skins and the grape juice during winemaking. The skins are typically left in the juice for a couple of days which is just enough time to produce the nice pink color. Rosé wines are typically from the south of France but can be made elsewhere.
Based on my Wikipedia research, rosé wines were some of the first wines to have been produced. These wines had a resurgence after World War II when two Portuguese winemakers released a sweet rosé to the US and Europe. These wines were extremely popular for several years, but that popularity faded away like the slow death of the floppy disk. However, unlike the floppy disk, these wines made a successful comeback. The comeback was originally only a summertime drink, but it is slowly starting to be a go-to drink all year long. If you don’t believe me, just check out Buzzfeed and the number of posts related to rosé wine.
The September crochet CraftEaze box wine suggestion was the Prophecy Rosé. I found this rosé at my local grocery store, but it can also be bought at Target. This wine can be purchased for $20 or less. You can use this website to find a location near you: http://www.prophecywines.com/#purchase.
The Prophecy Rosé is a crisp dry wine. I can taste flavors of raspberries and peach. I enjoy drinking this wine while watching Netflix and working on a craft project. This wine would be a good wine to serve with dinner or at a brunch. These wine glasses would be perfect to enjoy a glass this wine in. The gold polka dots will contrast greatly with the light pink color of the wine. These glasses are also stemless, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the stems off when you are doing dishes. Speaking from experience, one of the worst things to break in the kitchen is the stem of a wine glass. Like the part that holds the drink is still perfectly good, but you can’t use it anymore because there is no way to set the glass down or hold the wine glass without getting a cut.
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
Are you looking for a cool way to display photos at your wedding? Or even for an easy DIY project to hang up photos of your kids? If so, look no further then this project. In this post, I will teach you how to make a wooden photo sign. If you like this project, then be sure to check out our other how-to posts (Wooden Wedding Sign and Unique Notebook).
CraftEaze also sells a kit to make this project. You can find our kit here.
Instructions
Step 1: Paint the wooden panel with the white chalk paint. You will need to apply 2 coats.
Step 2: While the chalk paint dries, determine the saying you would like on the sign. Here are a few examples for a wedding:
Once upon a time… And they lived happily ever after.
Love is patient, love is kind
God bless the broken road, that led me to you
If heaven wasn’t so far away.
Step 3: After the paint dries, you will trace the saying onto the board using an ink pen and stencil.
This is what the sign should look like after tracing the saying.
Step 4: Paint inside the traced lines. You will want to connect the different parts of the letters (like the base of the L to the verticle part of the L).
Step 5: After you finish painting the letters, allow the paint to dry. Below is what my photo signed looked like after painting the letters.
Step 6: After the paint dries, you will determine the amount of twine needed for the sign. The amount will depend on how much slack you would like. You will need several extra inches to glue the twine to the back of the sign.
Step 7: Glue the ends of the twine to the back of the sign using the hot glue gun.
Step 8: Allow the hot glue to cool. The hot glue dot should look like the image below. You will need to hold the twine into the glue until it well joined.
Step 9: After the glue dries, you can flip it over and add the photo to the sign using the clothespins.
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
I hate to tell you all this, but summer is almost over. If you watched anything on tv or listened to the radio the last week or so, then you have probably been reminded of this fact by all the “Back To School” commercials. Its the time of the year to buy your kids’ school supplies once again and for the teachers out there its time to get your classroom ready for students.
Now I don’t know about you, but I like colorful school supplies. In college, I use to buy several different color binders and notebooks for my classes. I liked each class to have a different color scheme. This helped me grab the right binder or notebook when I was quickly walking out the door. For example, one semester my Steelmaking class had a green binder while my Corrosion class used a blue binder. I had different tabs in each binder for lecture PowerPoint slides, homework, quizzes and tests, and handouts the professor would give out. I liked to have everything organized so information was easy to find and so I had a good reference for future classes.
There is one thing I really dislike in the school supply world, the black and white composition notebooks. You know the notebooks I’m talking about, but here is a picture of one.
Example of a boring composition book
These notebooks are so boring and dark. What exactly is the design? Is it a Rorschach test or the result of a 3-year-old throwing paint at a wall? Is there any way to make these notebooks brighter and more unique? Well, I have figured out a way to make these notebooks prettier and able to match your own personal style. Keep reading to find out how.
I personally like ColorBok brand designer paper. There are so many different types of paper you can find. My personal favorite is the vintage one. There is a sheet of paper that kind of looks like an old letter. Here are a few examples of the ColorBox design paper pads:
Step By Step Instructions:
Step 1: Determine what design you would like on the outside and inside of your notebook. The ColorBok brand designer paper comes with 2 sheets of each design. I recommend you use both sheets of a design for the outside of your notebook. In this example, I selected the 2 sheets with the map of North American and blue-green marble design paper as an accent for the inside cover.
Step 2: Using the Elmer Craft Bond glue pen, apply glue to the front cover of the notebook.
Apply the glue to the cover.
Step 3: Carefully line the first sheet of the design paper on the cover. You will want the edge of the paper to be laying next to the black fabric binding. There needs to be a paper overhang on the top and bottom. See the photo below.
Lay the paper so there is a slight overhang on the top and bottom of the notebook and the edge is laying right next to the black fabric.
Step 4: Press the paper to ensure that the paper is bound to the notebook. Try to push out any air bubbles to ensure the cover is flat and smooth.
Step 5: Open up the notebook.
What the notebook looks like after opening.
Step 6: Fold the overlay from the top and bottom over. The fold should lie right at the top and bottom of the cover (see photo below. After making the holds, you will glue the folded paper to the cover.
Hold the top and bottom extra paper.
Step 7: Apply glue to the remaining paper that is not currently on the cover.
Apply glue to the remaining paper.
Step 8: Fold the section that you just glued on to the cover. Press to create a strong bond between the paper and the notebook. Try to remove any air bubbles at this time.
Hold the remaining paper to the cover.
Step 9: Determine how much of the accent paper you will need for the inside cover. You can make this as big as you like. You can make it so that it covers up most of the inside cover or just the white part. I personally prefer this accent paper to take up 60-75% of the inside cover. Cut the accent paper to size.
Cut the accent paper.
Step 10: Apply glue to the back of the accent paper.
Apply glue to the accent paper.
Step 11: Apply the accent paper to the inside cover. You will want the edge of the accent paper to be right next to the first page of paper. Press to create a strong bond between the paper and the notebook. Try to remove any air bubbles at this time.
Place paper on the inside cover.
Step 12: Repeat steps 2-11 for the back cover.
Step 13: Wipe away all excess glue with a napkin.
Step 14: Place books and other heavy items on top of the notebook. This will help create a strong bond between the design paper and the composition notebook. Wait for approximately 20-30 minutes.
Place heavy objects on top of the notebook and allow the glue to dry.
Step 15: Examine the notebook. If there is any excess paper visible, use scissors to cut it even.
Cut off excess paper.
The notebook is now complete and ready for notetaking! Below are photos of the notebook that was made for this tutorial. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with!
The photo used in the image above is from MovieWeb.com.
Oh, Netflix suggestions they can be a hit or they can be a bust. I Give It a Year was a Netflix suggestion for me a few years ago, and I consider it a hit! I have seen this movie several times since it was initially suggested to me, and I have enjoyed every time I have watched it.
I Give It a Year is a romantic comedy that centers around a young couple’s first year of marriage. Nat is a highly ambitious advertising executive. Some of her friends and family members think that she is much better than Josh and they aren’t really a good couple. Josh is a writer who is more of a go with the flow kind of guy.
The movie begins with a quick musical montage of Nat and Josh’s dating relationship. It shows them meeting at a party, getting engaged in Vince a short time later. After the montage, we are invited to their wedding. Their wedding day is filled with mishaps from the priest unable to get through the vows without coughing to the best man’s super embarrassing speech. We don’t get to see the honeymoon after the wedding, but references/pictures from it come up time to time.
After the wedding and honeymoon, Nat and Josh try to adjust to married life. They meet with a lawyer to create a will, they have a dinner party with their friends, navigate the holidays, and they fight. One day at the advertising agency, a charming American (Guy) comes in looking for a new marketing campaign. One of Nat’s coworkers tells her to take off her wedding ring to get the business. This leads to many awkward situations, including one where Josh said he seems more like your type. During this time, Josh is trying the help Chole, his friend (and ex-girlfriend), navigate the difficult dating world. It seems Chole is still in love with Josh, but he doesn’t know. Will Nat and Josh make it to their first anniversary or will they break up? Will Nat choose Guy or Josh? Will Josh choose Chole or Nat?
This movie is a British comedy, so there is a lot of awkward situations. So if awkward situations aren’t really your thing, this movie would not be a good movie for you. I think the movie is hilarious and is the perfect anti-romantic comedy. Anna Farris plays Chole and is great as the lonely ex-girlfriend. Be sure to check it out on Netflix!
This month’s wine review is for a Moscato. I like Moscato wines because they are sweeter and are very tasty as you watch a movie on Netflix. This month’s wine suggestion with the CraftEaze crochet subscription box is the California Roots Moscato.
The California Roots is a wine brand that is found only at Target. I have spent a lot of time and money at Target. It has only gotten worse since they added the Hearth and Hand product line. I love watching Fixer Upper and its so much fun going through the Hearth and Hand section. Joanna Gaines style matches mine pretty well. I have also been on this organization kick the last few months, so I have been going to Target to find things to help with organizing my house. I really like their wooden cube storage units with the fabric boxes. It’s an easy way to add a splash of color to my home office.
What is nice about the California Roots wine is that it is only about $5. The California Roots Moscato has a fruity aroma. I taste peaches and melons as I sip this wine. I most recently enjoyed this wine after cleaning my living room while binge watching Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix. The bottle has a bear on it, what more can you ask for!
So next time that you are wondering around Target, and let’s be honest that will probably be in the next week or so, pick up a bottle.
Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.
So you recently started to learn how to crochet, but what is the next step? Maybe you are confused by all of the abbreviations that are basically another language. Maybe you have spent way too much time trying to figure out how to make a double crochet. Or maybe you are tired of making scarfs for everyone in your family. Well, this is the post for you!
In this post, I will go over some of the most common abbreviations used in crochet patterns. I will go over the different types of yarn (weights and materials). I will show you how to perform some of the basic stitches. At the end of the post, I will provide you with some of my favorite places to find crochet patterns/projects.
Crochet Dictionary
The abbreviations that are used in crochet patterns can be overwhelming to a person who is new to crocheting. However, over time you will start to read a crochet pattern fluently without having to look up the abbreviations. The list below contains common abbreviations. This list is in alphabetical order. These abbreviations are a good foundation for most crochet projects. If you master these abbreviations, then you should be able to read most patterns.
* * = repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
BL = back loop only
CC = contrasting color
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dec = decrease
fl = front loop only
gauge = the number of stitches per inch and rows per inch that result from a specified yarn worked with a specified-size hook.
hdc = half double crochet
inc = increase
MC = main color
RS = right side
sc = single crochet
sc/dc/tr2tog = single/double/triple crochet 2 together
sl st = slip stitch
sp = space
tr = triple crochet
WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over
All About Yarn
Yarn can be bought in many different weights, colors, and fibers. Weight is the thickness of the yarn. The larger the number the thicker the yarn. So a yarn with a weight of 3 is thicker than a yarn with a weight of 0. The weight of the yarn can also be used to determine what the best hook to use. A thicker yarn with a weight of 6 will use a very large hook like M/13 (9 mm), whereas a yarn with a weight of 4 will use a hook that is slightly smaller like an I/9 (5.5 mm).
When you are shopping for yarn, you can find many different fibers. Fibers are what the yarn is made of. There are different synthetic and natural yarns. Most beginners start crocheting using acrylic yarn. Acrylic yarn is made from a polymer (Material Science to the rescue!). Acrylic yarn is relatively cheap and is produced by a variety of different companies. Acrylic yarn sometimes gets a bad rap because it can be itchy and uncomfortable to work with. However, this is not true for all acrylic yarn and an unfortunate myth. Cotton yarn is used to make garments. It can be bought in many different weights. What I like about cotton yarn is that it is lightweight and very durable. Wool is also a common yarn fiber. Wool is made from the wool of sheep, llamas, or alpacas. Wool yarn is a warm fiber that is used to make scarves, sweaters, and other autumn/winter clothing items. There are many different types of wool including merino, cashmere, mohair, angora, or alpaca. You can also buy blends that contain two or more fibers like an acrylic and cotton blend. These blends are used to make the yarn stronger, improve the washability of the yarn, and even change the appearance of the yarn.
I have been crocheting for several years now, and have found different yarns that I enjoy to work with. I like to use the bulky yarn for projects because you can see the progress of the project easily. However, I really like the bright colors that are found in the lightweight baby yarns. Here are some of my favorite yarns to work with for each weight.
Weight 0 – Lace
Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Thread – So this crochet thread is perfect to make lace with. I have used it to make nameplates in the past that I have used on my fireplace mantle. I have also used it to make a wall hanging that put in a frame for my grandparents. This crochet thread is made from cotton and comes in a variety of different colors ranging from white to black to purple to red.
Weight 1 – Super Fine
Red Heart It’s A Wrap – So I have to be honest, but I have never used a super fine weight yarn before. However, every time I go to Joann or Micheal’s I pick up this yarn and almost buy this particular yarn. I don’t really have a project in mind for this yarn, so I always talk myself out of buying it. I love the colors this yarn is available in and that it is a cake which makes cool color changes. I also like the fact it is a cotton and acrylic blend. So it will be easy to wash and work with. This will be the yarn I use when I finally try to make my first project using a super fine yarn.
Weight 2 – Fine
Sugar Bush Itty Bitty Yarn – So I am using this yarn to make a lightweight summer vest. This vest pattern has many small openings and this yarn is perfect to make the designs. The yarn is great for clothing because it is a blend of merino wool, cashmere, and nylon.
Weight 3 – Light
Lion Brand Baby Soft Yarn– I love using this yarn to make baby blankets! I make a lot of baby blankets because many of my friends are having babies and my mom’s friends are having grandbabies. This yarn is an acrylic and polyamide blend. Both of these fibers are synthetic fibers, so the yarn is machine washable which is very important for a baby blanket. The yarn comes in many different colors that are perfect for baby blankets.
Weight 4 – Medium
Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable – So I am going to cheat a little on this weight and give you two of my favorite yarns. The first one is the Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn. I have used this yarn several times in the past to make scarves for gifts, to sell, and even to wear myself. This yarn is 100% acrylic. I love the color combinations available and it is also fairly soft. There are fairly long color sections that make this yarn self-striping.
Caron Simply Soft – This is my go-to yarn for most projects. I have made blankets, baby hats, adult hats, headbands, and a sweater from this yarn. This yarn is an acrylic yarn, but it is so soft. It is easy to work with and is available in many bright colors and even variegated yarns. Most recently, I have been using this yarn to make an argyle scarf using the Paint and Camo colors.
Weight 5 – Bulky
Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn– This is a fun yarn to work with to make pillows and other home decor items. I have also used this yarn to make a market bag. This is a tubular yarn that contains a cotton shell with nylon filling. The yarn is available in bright and modern colors. It is easy to work with and is very soft. I have created a couple of crochet patterns that use this yarn for throw pillows. You can find some of these patterns at our Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/CraftEazePatterns).
Weight 6 – Super Bulky
Bernat Blanket/Baby Blanket Yarn– So I like to work with super bulky yarns, and as a result, I’m going to provide you with my two favorite super bulky yarns. The first one is the Bernat Blanket and Baby Blanket yarn. This yarn is very soft and warm. The yarn is made from polyester. If it is used to make a baby blanket, it can is so soft and thick that it will make a great blanket for tummy time. I made my dad a blanket using the blanket yarn, and he said it is so soft and warm.
Lion Brand Hometown USA Yarn– I have used this yarn in the past to make winter hats and a Katniss cowl for my sister. This yarn is acrylic yarn. It is soft and each color has a US city in the name like New York White and Cincinnati Red. Another cool feature for this yarn is that its made in the USA.
Learning the Basics
So there are a handful of stitches that are the bases of almost every pattern. If you can master these stitches, then you should have the background to work on many projects and patterns. In this section, I will give you the steps to make the chain followed by a video tutorial. The stitches will progressively get taller as you go along. At the end of the post, there will be a video to show you how to make a magic circle which can be used if you are crocheting in a round.
Chain Stitch
The chain stitch is the first stitch that you will learn. This is because you make a foundation chain to start a project. Steps 1-2 are used to start the foundation chain only (aka the first chain of a project).
Make a slip knot and place it on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook (yarn over hook).
With the yarn at the tip of the hook draw the loop through the loop on the hook. This makes the first chain.
Repeat, yarn over (yo) and pull this loop through the loop on the hook until you have the desired number of chains.
Slip Stitch
The slip stitch can be used in a chain stitch or a row stitch (aka single crochet/double crochet/etc.). In the written instructions, the row stitch instruction will be in the paratheses. The slip stitch can be used when you are working in a round, joining a new color, to make a trim, or to invisibly move to another part of a row.
Insert hook into the chain (under top 2 loops).
Yarn over (yo) and pull through chain (stitch) and loop on the hook in one motion.
Single Crochet
The single crochet (sc) is one of the most commonly used stitches in crochet patterns. The single crochet is considered a row stitch. This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.
Foundation Chain Sc
Insert hook into the second chain.
Yarn over (yo) and pull through both loops on the hook.
Insert hook into the next chain.
Yo and pull through both loops on the hook.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 the desired number of times.
Row Sc
To start the row, chain 1.
Insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
Yo and pull through the stitch.
Yo and pull through both loops on the hook.
Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.
Half Double Crochet
The half double crochet (hdc) is the third shortest stitch after the slip stitch and single crochet. The half double crochet is considered a row stitch. This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.
Foundation Chain hdc
Yarn over and insert hook into the third chain.
Yarn over (yo) and pull through all three loops on the hook.
Yarn over and insert hook into the next chain.
Yo and pull through the three loops on the hook.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 the desired number of times.
Row hdc
To start the row, chain 2.
Yarn over, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
Yo and pull through the stitch and loops on the hook.
Repeat steps 2-3 the desired number of times.
Double Crochet
The double crochet (dc) is the second tallest stitch after the triple crochet, that I will go over in this post. The double crochet is considered a row stitch. This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.
Foundation Chain dc
Yarn over (yo) and insert hook into the fourth chain.
Yo and pull through the chain.
Yo and draw through first 2 loops.
Yo and draw through the remaining 2 loops.
Yo and insert hook into the next chain.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 until desired stitches are made.
Row dc
To start the row, chain 3.
Yarn over, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
Yo and pull through the stitch.
Yo and pull through the first 2 loops.
Yo and draw through remaining 2 loops.
Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.
Triple/Treble Crochet
The triple/treble crochet (tr) is the tallest stitch that I will go over in this post. The triple/treble crochet is considered a row stitch. This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch. This stitch is called a triple crochet in the United States but it is called a treble crochet elsewhere.
Foundation Chain tr
Yarn over (yo) twice and insert hook into the fifth chain.
Yo and pull through the chain.
Yo and draw through first 2 loops.
Yo and draw through the next 2 loops.
Yo and draw through the remaining 2 loops.
Yo twice and insert hook into the next chain.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 until desired stitches are made.
Row tr
To start the row, chain 4.
Yo twice, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
Yo and pull through the stitch.
Yo and pull through the first 2 loops.
Yo and draw through remaining 2 loops.
Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.
Magic Circle
A magic circle is sometimes used when crocheting in a round. I have used a magic circle to make hats and stuffed animals. In my opinion, a video is the best way to learn how to do this stitch. The video below is one that I have used several times when trying to remember how to make a magic circle.
Favorite Places to Find Patterns or Ideas
So now that you have learned the basics, its time to find some cool patterns. There are so many places where you can find projects, but here are some of my favorite places.
Books
So one place I have found projects is through books. Here is a list of books that I have used in the past to find projects.
So I was wondering around Barnes and Nobles one day after I moved to Ohio and came across this book. Several of the projects are super cute and it is also a great book for beginners. There is step by step directions of how to make certain stitches with pictures. I have made several patterns in the book including a bag, sweater, and shawl.
This is the first book I bought to help teach myself how to crochet. The cool thing about this book is that it comes with hooks. This is obviously a great book for beginners who are learning the art. The patterns progressively get hard as the book goes along. Even though this book is for beginners there are some great blanket patterns inside.
I received this book for my birthday one year. This book is a great resource. There are so many instructions to make different types of trims and stitches, but it also contains some cool pattern that varies in skill level.
Online
You can find many crochet patterns online. Some of these patterns are free, while others you have to buy.
Ravelry (www.ravelry.com/account/login) is a social network for people who do yarn art. There are so many patterns available on Ravelry. The search feature is very nice because you can search based on a variety of different parameters. If you know you want to make a scarf, you can search for a scarf but also include other parameters such as hook size, skill level, amount of yarn, or even if its free or a paid pattern. You can also post your completed projects in Ravelry, join groups, find local crochet groups, and comment on other crocheter’s projects.
Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/) is one of the most popular social networks. But did you know that you can use Pinterest to find crochet patterns? There are so many patterns available on Pinterest, so there is no limit on what patterns and projects you can find.
Our subscription crochet box will send a project to your door every month.
Our website (theCraftEaze.com) is another resource to find new projects. What’s special about CraftEaze, is that we have a subscription service which will send you a new project monthly. The subscription service contains all materials needed to make a particular project in addition to a Netflix and wine suggestion. It also provides access to a private Facebook group which is like an online craft group. You can sign up for our subscription service at thecrafteaze.com/Subscription. Each month, we have a Facebook live video revealing this month’s project. We talk about the materials that are included in the CraftEaze box, the wine suggestion, and the Netflix suggestion.
CraftEaze also sells individual projects that were featured in each month’s CraftEaze box. These projects are well suited for beginners. We provide tutorials for any stitched used in the project. You can find a list of past projects at thecrafteaze.com/individual_projects.
I hope you enjoy learning how to crochet and making new projects!
These notebooks are so boring and dark. What exactly is the design? Is it a Rorschach test or the result of a 3-year-old throwing paint at a wall? Is there any way to make these notebooks brighter and more unique? Well, I have figured out a way to make these notebooks prettier and able to match your own personal style. Keep reading to find out how.
– So I am using this yarn to make a lightweight summer vest. This vest pattern has many small openings and this yarn is perfect to make the designs. The yarn is great for clothing because it is a blend of merino wool, cashmere, and nylon.
Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable
Stitch ‘n Bitch Crochet – The Happy Hooker
So I was wondering around Barnes and Nobles one day after I moved to Ohio and came across this book. Several of the projects are super cute and it is also a great book for beginners. There is step by step directions of how to make certain stitches with pictures. I have made several patterns in the book including a bag, sweater, and shawl.
I Taught Myself Crochet
This is the first book I bought to help teach myself how to crochet. The cool thing about this book is that it comes with hooks. This is obviously a great book for beginners who are learning the art. The patterns progressively get hard as the book goes along. Even though this book is for beginners there are some great blanket patterns inside.
Crochet – The Complete Step By Step Guide
