Day 184 - How to Write a How-to

September 30th, 2012

How to Write a How-to

After a month of writing these myself, I feel I have become a bit of an expert. 

Step One:

Choose a topic. It should be one you know a lot about or one you can research.  Picking a topic that has fewer how-to's is helpful so that more people will refer back to your article.  Or you could pick something that you feel you have something new to add to the subject.

Step Two:

Take any pictures that you would be adding to your article and have them in reserve before beginning to write.

Step Three:

Create an outline of steps, giving each one a heading that you can later elaborate on when actually writing the how-to guide.

Step Four:

Start writing!  Follow your outline and add in any previously collected research.

Step Five:

Add pictures as required, and format your final product.

Step Six:

Post to blogger.

Ta-da!

Day 183 - How to make Arm Warmers out of Socks.

September 29th, 2012

How to make Arm Warmers out of old Socks.
A bit of a throw back from the 80's but Arm Warmers can still be fun, especially if you are a funky sock kind of person. Stretch socks are all the rage now a days as they fit so many different feet but this also means they can be extremely thin and prone to holes. You can only darn a pair of socks so many times before they start irritating your feet. Instead of chucking out those lovely funky dubs why not recycle them into Arm Warmers.

You Will Need:
Knee-high socks
Scissors
Matching thread
Sewing machine
Ball point pins
Attitude

Step One:
Take one sock. Turn inside out. Look at the sock, identify problem areas, usually toes and heel. The heel will be the base of the thumb hole. The top of the sock will be bottom cuff Arm Warmer.

Step Two:
Cut hole in heel. Pin down edges. Decide how far down the fingers you want the top cuff to be. Cut toe off sock, leave a 1/2 inch for hemming purposes.Pin down hem.

Step Three:
Sew thumb hole and cuff on machine. Repeat on second sock.

Step Four:
Use attitude to rock Arm Warmers 80's style. 

Day 182 - How to make a needle caddy out of recycled material.

September 28th, 2012

How to make a Travel Needle Caddy out of recycled material.
Now not everyone will know that a needle caddy is. As the name indicates it is a carrying device for your needles. This one with specifically for crochet hooks and dpns. This caddy is designed to be able to roll up and shoved in a handbag. The most satisfying part of this project is that it is made from recycled material.

You Will Need:
An Old Pillowcase
Sewing Machine
Matching Thread
Wide Shoelace
Pins
Measuring tape

Step One:
Take the pillowcase, pin the open end closed.

Step Two:
Starting at the bottom edge measure up 4 1/2 inches on both sides. Fold up and pin.

Step Three:
Take shoelace, fold in half and attach to the closed end of the pillow. To make a clean finish, sandwich at the top of the flap and back.

Step Four:
Sew the open end shut and attach the folded flap to the back. Sew other flap side to back of pillowcase as well.



Step Five:
Measure over from edge 1inch and sew a line making a thin pocket. Repeat across length of pillowcase. Pockets should be between 1 to 2 inches in width.

Step Six:
Fill with crochet hooks and dpns. Start rolling up case, starting on opposite side from shoelace.

Step Seven:
Use shoelace to close caddy.

Step Eight:
Travel and craft with ease.

Day 181 - How to Darn a Sock!

September 27th, 2012

How to Darn a Sock using an egg!
I know now days most people simply throw out their socks when they get a hole but sometimes you get a pair so nice you want them to last as long as they can. A good pair of hand-made socks, or simply a favourite funky pair can be saved by darning the heel or toe. And sometimes if you are good, fixed so no one will notice. As most people no longer have a darning egg (a wooden egg used for darning) on hand you can substitute with a hard-boiled egg.

You Will Need
Hole-y sock
Matching thread
Needle
Darning egg/hard-boiled egg- cooled
Scissors

Step One:
Turn sock inside out. Insert egg into open end of sock. Stretch hole over egg.

Step Two:
Thread needle. Make a knot.

Step Three:
Begin darning sock using darning stitch (darning stitch -  is a straight stitch that is woven in rows, working with the grain of the fabric. Then threads are run back and forth between grain stitches.Filling out the gap.) or a simple in and out looping stitch.

Step Four:
After you finish patching the hole. Fasten off thread. Cut with scissors.

Step Five:
Wear socks.

Day 180 - How to hem tapered pants.

September 26th, 2012

How to hem tapered pants.

Not all pants are straight or wide legged. Many, like suits, will taper somewhat at the bottom, even if ever so slightly.This can be problematic when hemming. Here are a few tips to help with this process.

You will need
Sewing machine
Pants
Shoes
Matching thread
Trimming scissors or stitch ripper
Iron
Press board
Pins

Step One:
Try the pants on the client while wearing shoes. Roll the hem inside the leg, both sides, and pin about 1 inch off ground or at client's liking.

Step Two:
Flip pants inside out. Pin all around hem, 5/8 inch seam allowance. Trim extra fabric. Finish with serger or zig zag stitch.

Step Three:  
On inside seam clip a few stitches so it splits apart. Pin in place. Press.

Step Four: 

Sew in place, 1/2 inch  from bottom cuff.

Step Five:
Wear pants.   

Day 179 - How to pick up/correct lost stitches.

September 25th, 2012

How to pick up/correct lost stitches.

There you are knitting along and suddenly your stitch count doesn't match up. Fear not. You can correct this easily.

You Will Need

Knitted piece you are working on

Knitting needles you are using

Crochet hook in a smaller size

Step One:

Work over to where the stitch dropped. Have needles positioned for one needles to hold all stitches in row before drop and other needle to hold all stitches after drop.

Step Two:

For Knitting - insert crochet hook in the front, grab yarn meant for that row, pull through to front. 

Step Three:

For purl - insert crochet hook in the back, grab yarn meant for that row, pull through to back.

Step Four:

Repeat until you are back to top/row you are working on. Slip last stitch from crochet hook onto knitting needle. TA-DA you are done.

Day 178 - How to read care tags!

September 24th, 2012

How to read care tag instructions

There is nothing worse then bringing home a fabulous new garment that you absolutely love and ruining it in the wash because you misunderstood the care instructions. Here is the most complete list I can find. Thank-you internet.  Most labels contain both written instruction and symbols.  Review the symbols carefully as several look very similar. Take both the written and symbol instructions into account when washing clothing and fabric.