Day 170 - How to Crochet a Magic Ring

September 16th, 2012

How to Crochet a Magic Ring

A magic ring is a great way to start a crochet project. Granny squares, amigurumi, hats etc...all need a nice start, this creates a tight ring.

You will need:

Crochet hook

Corresponding sized yarn

Step One:

Wrap tail of yarn around two fingers. Overlap yarn like you are going to tie a knot. End with the feed yarn at the back to the left.

Step Two:

Insert needle into ring, pull yarn through to front. Chain up two. This counts as the first single crochet.

Step Three:
Single crochet around ring according to the pattern. Here we are creating 12. Treat the two strands as one.

Step Four:

When you have crocheted the required amount of stitches, pull the tail to pull the stitches close together.

It should look like this.

What it would look like if you use a double crochet.

Day 169 - How to sew on a button

September 15th, 2012

How to sew on a button

 A simple skill. But not everyone knows how to sew on a button.

You will need
Needle
Matching Thread
Button
Scissors

Step One:
Thread needle. Tie a knot in end of thread. 

Step Two:
Refer to buttons already attached. Note how many holes and how the thread is placed. I.E two holes, four holes, single line of thread, double line or X.

Step Three:
Taking the needle and thread, decided where button goers. Flip garment to the back. Insert needle and pull through to front Then run needle and thread through button hole.

Step Four:
Insert needle and pull through to back. Insert needle and pull through to front Then run needle and thread through button hole.

Step Five:
Repeat step four until button is secure.

Step Six:
Pull through needle and thread to back. Twist thread into knot, repeat, you can twist it around other threads in back. Snip thread with scissor to cut off.

Step Seven:
Test. Button Item.

Day 168 - How to clean paint brushes after using latex paint

September 14th, 2012

 How to clean paint brushes after using latex paint

Cleaning paint brushes is a great way to extend their longevity. Removing all paint from a brush after finishing a project can prevent contaminating future painting projects. Soaps can strip a brush of the natural oils of the bristles. As you clean them, you will have to replace these oils.

You will need:

Liquid hand soap

Oil - olive or canola

A plate or plastic lid 

Dirty brushes

Step One:

Wipe as much paint as you can on the lid of the can. 

Step Two:

Pour equal amounts of oil and soap onto the plate or lid. 

Step Three:

Take brush and mix soap and oil together on the lid. Use a circular, swirling motion. 

Step Four:

When the brush is full of soap, rinse under warm water. 

Step Five:

Repeat steps three and four until the water runs clear.

Step Six:

Reuse brush.

Day 167 - How to make a wrist pin cushion.

September 13th, 2012

How to make a Wrist Pincushion.

Pincushions are a sewing essential but sometimes they can be cumbersome. Sometimes they can even get lost while working in a cluttered space or stolen away if you have cats. Attaching the pincushion to a wrist solves all these issues.

You will need:

A store bought miniature pincushion 1.5 to 2 inches across or 5 inch diameter.

Velcro

A wrist band

Scissors

Needle and matching thread 

Measuring tape

Pins

Or

Medium weight cotton

Sawdust

Plastic wrap

Sweat material/stretchy material

Sewing machine

Velcro

Scissor

Matching thread

Measuring tape

Pins

 Simple Method:

Step One: 

Cut open the wrist band so you have a long rectangle. Measure the wrist. Sew the ends closed with a 1 inch overlap.

Step Two:

Measure and cut Velcro. Pin to edge of wrist band. It should fit snugly when closed.

Step Three:

Sew pincushion to center of wrist band. 

Step Four: 

Sew up a storm.

Complicate Method:

Step One:

Decide what size pincushion you want. Lay out a sheet of plastic, pour sawdust into center and pull up edges and twist. Fasten off with thread. Note the sawdust will lose size and become compact when wrapped in plastic. 

Step Two:

Cover the sawdust with cotton. You can tailor the covering by make a ball shape. Sew with sewing machine. Using a needle and thread, close the opening, leave a length of thread. Do not cut. A pattern can be found here, ball pattern.

Step Three:

Cut a length of sweat material 5 inches across and X long. X is the length around the wrist plus 1 inch overlap and 1 inch for seams, 1/2 inch on each side. Using sewing machine, sew wrist band. The end result should be 2 inches wide and 1 inch longer than the length of your wrist. 

Step Four:

Pin Velcro to edges to wrist band. Sew Velcro on with sewing machine.

Step Five:

Using needle and length of thread left on pincushion, attach wrist band to pincushion. It should be centered in the wrist band. Fasten off thread. Make sure it is very secure. 

Step Six:

Sew up a storm.

Day 166 - How to tie dye anything.

September 12th, 2012.

How to tie dye anything you wish.

Whether you want to relive simpler times or you just love vibrant colours, tie dyed clothing can be a fun addition to any weekend wardrobe. Tie-dye should not be worn to work, even on casual Friday. Instead it should be reserved for fundays! 

You Will Need:

Clothing dye (cold or warm water dyes) several colours (follow direction on packs to prepare dye)

Garment to be dyed, at least 50% cotton.

Rubber bands.

Rubber gloves.

Squeeze bottles.

Plastic sheets or bag.

Ziploc bag.

Apron or old clothes.

Step One:

Change into old clothes or put on apron. Lay out plastic sheet or bags. Put on rubber gloves.

Step Two:

Prepare the dyes as instructed on the package. Put dye into squeeze bottles.

Step Three:

Prepare the shirt. It should be clean. Using rubber band bind up the garment. There are several ways you can do this. 1.Grab it from middle and fold it the outer edges down. Wrap rubber bands, a few inches apart, down the length. 2. Grab it from middle and fold it the outer edges down. Twist the garment. Wrap rubber bands, a few inches apart, down the length. 3. Lay the garment flat. Place a dowel or pencil in the center of the garment and twist. Twist until this creates a swirl in a flat disc. Wrap rubber bands across the length in all directions.

Step Four:

Using the dye in the squeeze bottles, colour the garment. If you are using the second method, you can create a beautiful swirl with three colours. (Mentally divide the garment into thirds, pie shaped thirds, and apply a different dye to each third.)

Step Five:

When you have completed applying the dye, wrap the shirt in a Ziploc bag, eliminate all the air in the bag. Let the bag sit for 8 to 36 hours in a warm place. 24 hours is the the optimum time for the dye to bond to the garment. Too short it will not bond, too long it will get super fuzzy.

Step Six: 

Put on old clothing or apron and rubber gloves. Unwrap the garment and remove the rubber bands. 

Step Seven:

Still wearing gloves, rinse in cold running water. Loads of dye will come out of the garment when you rinse it out. Rinse, rinse rinse until the water runs clear. 

Step Eight:

Hang to dry. After the item is dry, you can starting caring for the garment as you normally would any t-shirt. Basically wash it in a washing machine, alone for the first few time, and dry in dryer. 

TA-DA!

Day 165 - How to wash felted wool items

September 11th

How to wash felted wool items

Wool felting is a simple process (please refer to September 1st, 2012) that gives a beautiful finish to knitted items. The items end up as nice fuzzy, thick wool. But with any process that uses water and heat to create an effect, you then have to be very careful in how you would clean these items. There are four ways to wash theses items.

Method One: Soak and Rinse
Fill a basin with lukewarm water. Add mild detergent, Woolite or Snuggles. Swish around. Let soak for 20 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Gently wring out item. Lay flat to dry.

Method Two: Hand Wash
In a sink or basin run lukewarm water. Using a mild detergent, gently scrub the garment against itself. Rinse with cold water. Lay flat to dry.

Method Three: Dry Clean
Drop off at dry cleaner. Let them take care of your item. Pick up item.

Method Four: Washing Machine
Wash on gentle cycle in cold water. Also rinse in cold. Use mild detergent, like Woolite or Snuggles. Lay flat to dry.


Be Careful and Enjoy Guys!

Day 164 - How to join another ball of yarn into a knitting project.

September 10th, 2012

How to join another ball of yarn into a knitting project.

There is usually never a ball big enough to complete an entire afghan, so you will often have to add another ball of yarn into the mix. This simple yet important step is crucial to learn for any knitter. 

Step one:

Knit until you have until a 6 inch tail. Keep this right.

Step two:

Grab the new ball of yarn and line up the two strand of wool.With the new wool lying to the left and feeding from the right.

Step three:

Hold the two strands together and begin knitting use both pieces of yarn.Work about 6 stitches if possible. The drop the tail of the old ball of yarn.This makes it look like you gave increased stitches for those 6 stitches, double stitches.

Step four:

Continue working project as normal. When you go to knit these double stitches, work them as one stitch. Trim tails after project is completed.

Step five:

Knit away.