Archive for May, 2007

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Color Blocking 101

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

Color blocking is a form of scrapbooking where you use blocks of colored paper to create a dynamic dimension on your pages. The visual effect of color blocking is very attractive, and makes your photographs really stand out on the page.

Why use color blocking?

The lines of color blocking add a great splash of color to your pages without adding bulk and too much pattern and texture.  So, when you want to save the expense of costly embellishments, or if you simply want to simplify things, try color blocking. It acts as a substitute for pattern and texture, and can give your pages a bright, bold, contemporary, and unique feel.

How do you color block?

To create a visually artistic and appealing layout using color blocking, for a normal size sheet of paper, follow the steps below:

Step one:

Simply using a pair of scissors, free-hand cut six, four inch squares and six four by four and three quarters inch rectangles, and five half inch wide strips from colored and patterned papers (of course for a different size of paper, you can adjust the sizes accordingly).

Step two:

After you cut your blocks out, you will want to trim them up so that they fit your pages just the way you want them to. This is entirely up to you. You are the one who will be looking at the pages, so you should make them how you want them.

Step three:

Use a non-acidic marker to shade some of the squares and strips edges, this will give them more definition. When finished set aside

Step four:

Carefully silhouette crop 7 or 8 selected photos with scissors. You will want to be creative with this. Cut slowly and carefully, especially around hair and facial features. You will also want to use random photos of feet, hands, your child’s mouth, etc.  This will give your layout a unique and abstract look, and it will be something fun to enjoy later.

Step five:

Assemble your color blocks on a blank sheet of paper. Lay them out in a color scheme you like, and then layer with the silhouette cropped photos. You will want to make sure that whatever adhesive you use to adhere the photos to the colored blocks will make a nice adherence, even on tiny corners, etc.

Step six:

Finish off your pages by adhering hand cut, slightly uneven paper strips on top of color blocks and seams. You will probably also want to spice it up a little but more even by adding journaling in bold colors. Journaling is an important part of scrapbooking, and is especially important when you color block because you are not using entire photos, only silhouettes, so you can’t let the photos tell the whole story, you need journaling to support the images. So, pick bright acid free makers and pens and include the date, a fun title, interesting memories, a description of what the event was, etc.

With color blocking you are not limited to bold, bright colors, or primaries, etc. The color combinations are up to you. Use pastels to highlight an Easter page, or reds and greens for Christmas. It would be smart to experiment and see what look and feel you get when you try different color combinations. Color blocking is a fun way to add a contemporary effect to your scrapbook pages. For an even more fun effect, try using lots of different sized blocks, and arrange them in a way that they all fit nicely on the page. Just remember to highlight the seams, so that you can see the distinct shapes of the blocks of color.

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Crochet Hook Brands

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

Crochet is a traditional craft dating all the way back to the Sixteenth Century.

It was an art that once helped save nation of Ireland from starvation and it became the accomplishment of queens. The word itself is derived from the French word croche, meaning hook.  In the beginning it was almost entirely a convent art, classified with other types of handiwork under the general heading of nun’s work. During the great Irish Famine of 1846, the nuns taught it to their pupils and the proceeds from the sales of fine lace helped alleviate the existing miseries. It was then that it became, (along with playing the harpsichord) one of the graceful accomplishments of the well-born young lady. One of the loveliest is that known as Irish Crochet, famous as far back as 1743.

 Fast-forwarding to today we see the reemergence of the hot new trend of crochet.  Now a whole new industry has sprung up to cater to the needs of the crotchetier.  Entire websites, magazines and books are devoted to the many aspects of crochet.  Some of these deal with the multitude of crochet stitches, types of yarn or patterns that can be had.  Many of these deal only with the most basic of needs for the crotchetier –the hook (or croche). Most crotchetiers begin with the basic aluminum hook.  They tend to be the easiest to learn on and the cheapest to purchase when beginning crochet.  These hooks are sized using a simple alphabet system. These hooks can be found very cheaply and easily on-line or by simply visiting a nearby craft store.   After the basic aluminum hook the crochet hooks move into different materials including steel, plastic and wood.  These are sold singly or sometimes in sets.  Sets are a wonderful option for the crotchetier since it allows for easy switching of sizes when needed.  Sets generally hold a minimum of 3 hooks (a small, medium and large size) but can hold as many 12 hooks in one set.  This would allow for almost limitless options while crocheting.  When it comes to crochet hooks, the specific brand name is not nearly as important as the material type, and whether or not you like the hook, and it is comfortable for you to use. So check out the different options, brands, and materials to determine what crochet hook brand you like best.

One of the newest trends in crochet hooks is the luxury hook.  These are crochet hooks that are painted, decorated and sometimes even bejeweled.  Some of the companies selling these luxury crochet hooks even allow for the crotchetier to design their very own personal hooks.  These personal luxury crochet hooks can be embellished with just about anything.  Some of these hooks that are designed for one-of-a-kind looks have jewels, stencils and have even been monogrammed!  This allows the user to really have something that connects to only them while pursuing their hobby.  Yet these personalized embellished crochet hooks do come with a much higher price tag than the simple aluminum hook.   One of the companies that sell these luxury crochet hooks is the Son shapes Company.  Their slogan runs that “this isn’t your Grandmother’s crochet hook!”  With names like Bamboo, Cascade, Clarity, Equinox, Summit, and Crescendo the potential crotchetier can easily see that these are something special!  The manufacturer of these luxury crochet hooks even goes as far as to make the hooks out of exotic material like bamboo or even polished stone! The hooks can then be carved to your very own specifications.   They even advertise that your personalized crochet hooks can be adorned with Swarovski Crystals in your choice of color of course!  Should one worry that this is to daunting many of these luxury crochet hook companies have websites that will walk you step-by-step through the process of designing your own crochet hooks.  Whatever your desire for whatever type of crochet hook they can be found!

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Finding free paper craft ideas

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

There are so many things that you can do with your kids or on your own as far as crafts go. You can do wood crafts, or paper mache crafts, you can even do paper crafts. There are a lot of paper craft ideas out there you just have to find them. Finding free paper craft ideas is a great thing because it will save you money. Here are some ways to find free paper craft ideas.

The first way to find free paper craft ideas is to go online. You can find anything online these days. First go to the major search engines like Yahoo, or Google, ect. Here you can search for free paper craft ideas and you should be able to find some.

The second way to find free paper craft ideas is to sign up for free ideas by going to different craft sites that offer free paper craft ideas. Most craft web sites or even craft magazines offer free paper craft ideas if you sign up for them. Some even will just send craft ideas once a week or once a month as part of promoting their website or magazine.

The third way to find free paper craft ideas is by asking around to friends and family. This is a great way to find out about different crafts and they might be able to tell you tricks that they have learned by actually experiencing doing the paper craft rather than just reading off of a site how it is suppose to work.

The fourth way to find free paper craft ideas is by going to workshops. Some scrap book stores, or craft stores offer craft nights where you can go and work on crafts. This is a way to work on your own crafts and be able to see what other crafts other people are doing to give you an idea about what you can do with paper crafts in the future.

The fifth way to find free paper craft ideas is to look through magazines. There are magazines at the dentist office or Doctors office that you can look through that might have paper craft ideas.

The sixth way to find free paper craft ideas is to ask your kids school teachers. A lot of teachers go to conferences that have fun paper craft ideas and maybe they have seen paper craft ideas that they could tell you about. Plus usually school crafts are inexpensive because they have to do so many of the same craft they don’t want to have to spend a fortune on the materials.

The seventh way to find free paper craft ideas is to go to boutiques or craft stores. This is a great way to look around at things that other people have out together and paper crafts that are on display. This is a great way to get ideas and make your own paper crafts with out the extra cost that you would pay to buy and already made paper craft.

There are so many ways to find free paper craft ideas. There are paper craft all over that you can get ideas from and so many resources online and through the mail and even in magazines that you can use as resources. You just have to look around and start paying more attention to articles in different books and magazines and so forth. It will make finding free paper craft ideas easier. Just make sure to always have a paper and pencil ready for when you do find that perfect free craft idea so you can write it down so you won’t forget it.

 

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How to find the right boutique to sell your crafts

Wednesday, May 30th, 2007

Finding the right boutique to sell your crafts is a key component of developing a successful business selling your crafts.  Here are some tips that will help you discover a boutique that helps you sell your crafts, find consumers who want to purchase your products, and will enable you to actually make a profit doing what you love.

4 tips to finding the right boutique to sell your crafts.
 
Step 1: Find a boutique that works for your style, your niche, and your product.

Not just any old boutique is going to work for you and be successful for your product.  Different boutiques cater to different niches.  They have different customer bases. You want to sell only at boutiques that appeal to the type of customer who will be buying your particular crafts.

The first step to finding the right boutique to sell your crafts is by doing a little research. Look in the yellow pages to find boutiques in your area.  Then start visiting the boutiques.  Look carefully at the types of products that they are selling, what the set up is like, and what the customers seem to like.  This can help you determine if this boutique will be a good match for you, and if you will be a good match for the boutique.
 
Step 2: Contact the boutique owner.

Introduce yourself to the boutique owner, either in person or over the phone.  Tell the owner that you would like to be a vendor in their boutique.  Discuss why you think that you would be a good match.  Bring the owner samples of your products so that the two of you can discuss how it will be a beneficial relationship.

– There are some items that you need to discuss with the boutique owner.  Here are some questions that you should ask.  Make sure that you write down the answers.
  –Will you have to rent a space from the boutique owner?
  –How much will the rental fee be?
  –Will the boutique owner require a portion of your profits?  Is so, how much?
  –What types of crafts sell well at this boutique? 
  –What types of customers frequent the boutique?
–Does the owner have a well-formed marketing plan in place?  Will this be a profitable place for you to sell your crafts?

Step 3: Compare boutiques.

 Now, you have gathered all of the information that you need about each boutique.  It’s time to compare.  What are your own personal selling goals?  What kind of budget are you planning on?  What kind of profit are you gearing towards?  Which boutiques will fit within your budget and will help you turn a profit?

 Think about your experience with the boutique itself.  Did you get along with the owners?  Did you feel welcome and treated well?  If you didn’t, then it’s time to find another business relationship with someone else.

Step 4: Sign your contract.
 Sign a contract with the owner of the boutique.  Look carefully at the contract.  Are there any surprises?  If there are, then you should walk away.  Ensure that everything is clear on payments, on dates, on stipulations, and on fees.

Congratulations!  You have now secured a place in a boutique to sell your crafts.  Now it’s time to get to work on your display and on your pricing.

 

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How to get knitting designs

Wednesday, May 30th, 2007

Knitting has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Young and old, male and female, are all realizing that knitting can be a pleasant, relaxing hobby that not only brings enjoyment, but that creates beautiful, practical items as well. 

In order to knit, you’ll need designs and patterns. You can find a wide variety of designs from a number of different places, some even for free. The following are a few ways to get knitting designs:

Knitting groups and clubs

If you don’t belong to a knitting group or club, you may want to in order to get designs. Many times, members of the clubs will swap their knitting designs, so instead of spending $50 or more on one design, you can freely trade with the other members of your group. In many cases, you can even learn how to design your own knitting patterns. 

There are a number of places you can go to find knitting clubs. Contact your local library, which often has groups such as these, civic center, or continuing education center in your area and ask about classes and costs if any.

If there are no knitting groups available, advertise your own or tell your friends who also cross stitch that you’d like to start one.

Online

Another great resource for knitting designs is the internet. You can download them for free or pay a nominal fee for them. The following are some sites for knitting designs:

 www.bigskyknittingdesigns.com. Not only does this site contain books for knitting, but it also has a number of patterns, such as afghans, to download as well.

www.knittingatknoon.com. This site contains a variety of free patterns to download, including items for babies, children, and adults, as well as patterns for accessories and toys.

www.onepieceknitting.com. This website has a number of books for sale that has knitting designs and other helpful hints and resources. These include sweaters and seamless designs.

www.knittingpatterncentral.com. This site contains an extensive directory of free knitting patterns in a wide variety of categories, including afghans, doilies, clothing, rugs, potholders, and wedding items, just to name a few.

www.fibertrends.com. This site, like many others, has a wide variety of products to knit and patterns you can download for free or for a nominal fee. Shawls, accessories, toys, and even shoes are just a few patterns you can find on this site.

Books

With the rise in popularity with knitting, there are a number of knitting books and designs available for all skill levels. These designs range from everything from clothing to blankets to baby blankets to toys.

You can find books with knitting designs from craft stores, book stores, and craft sections in department stores. You can also order them from online knitting websites, or from ebay.

Make your own

Another way to get knitting designs is to design your own. As you become more and more familiar with knitting techniques and patterns, you can begin to design your own favorite patterns and designs. This technique is both original and free.

Part of the fun of knitting is trying new designs and patterns. There are plenty of resources available that offer knitting designs for free, whether it’s in a club, online, from books or magazines, or something you’ve designed yourself.

 

 

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How to adjust knitting patterns to fit

Wednesday, May 30th, 2007

You have now found the perfect pattern for your new knitting project. Now you just need to make it fit your size. Here are some simple standards for fitting that knitting pattern to the size you want.

There are some basic hints to changing the size of knitting. Though for each type of fiber you might, use for your knitting may make it a little different.

Take for instance, sizing for a lace garment. Lace can be very fluid. In addition, blocking will change some of the sizing. However, blocking will increase the length not the width as much.

So then, you will need to use the technique knit-to-fit. When you knit-to-fit you simple increase or decrease the yarn requirements.

Yarn measurement requirements

Chest    Neck    Raglan    Sleeve    Wrist    Body length    Yards bulky    Yards worsted    Yards Sport
27    11    9    11.5    6    9.5    620    750    900
28    12    10    13    6    11    660    800    960
30    13    10.5    14.5    7    13    790    950    1140
32    13.5    11    16    7    13.5    830    1000    1200
34    14    11.5    16.5    7    14    910    1100    1320
36    14.5    12    17    7.5    14.5    1040    1250    1500
38    15    13    17.5    7.5    15    1080    1300    1560
40    15.5    14    18    8    15.5    1120    1350    1620
42    16    15    18.5    8    16    1200    1450    1740
44    16.5    16    19    8.5    16.5    1250    1500    1800
46    17    17    19.5    8.5    17    1290    1550    1860

You will need a measuring tape, calculator, and pencil to figure the measurements you are going to need.

The areas you will need to measure are:

Neck-size: _______ (measure snugly around the neck, or use an appropriate man’s collar size)
Raglan-length: _______ (measure raglan from collar to underarm, or measure a well-liked raglan sweater or sweatshirt)
Body-length: _______ (measure from underarm to desired length of sweater)
Sleeve-length: _______ (measure from underarm to desired length of sleeve)
Wrist-size: _______ (measure snugly around the wrist)

If you are working with a vintage pattern the sizing is a little different, but very doable.
Sizing: Sizing has changed considerably over the course of the twentieth century. To make matters more complicated, vintage sizing was not quite as standard as it is today.

•    Size 12 = 30" bust in 1930, 32" bust 1930s — 1960s, 34" bust post-1968
•    Size 14 = 32" bust in 1930, 34" bust 1930s — 1960s, 36" bust post-1968
•    Size 16 = 34" bust in 1930, 36" bust 1930s — 1960s, 38" bust post-1968
•    Size 18 = 36" bust in 1930, 38" bust 1930s — 1960s, 40" bust post-1968
•    Size 20 = 38" bust in 1930, 40" bust 1930s — 1960s, 42" bust post-1968
Go by the measurements of the garment rather than the pattern size. In cases where no measurement is specified, you can easily choose the correct size by dividing the number of stitches at the bust line by the number of stitches to the inch.

Now the fun parts, what kind of yarns are you going to use. Well you can make just about anything work. Any weight, color or fiber, you can even do several colors if you prefer. Either way, be sure to purchase good quality yarn. Knotting is very likely with lower quality threads. Why put so many hours into something that is made with cheap thread and will wear out quickly. Make this item to last a lifetime.

In our family, we have a baby suit that was knitted by Grandma for my husband. Now not only has my husband wore that knitted suit as a baby, but so has many of our children their first year in the cold and snow. This jumper suit has lasted 42 years so far. That is great knitting.

So now, you have the measurements, and know what kind of yarn you plan to get. The next thing knows how much to buy. You can use the chart above to go over the measurements and amounts. It is impossible to know the exact amount but you can get close.

Always buy more skeins that you think you will need. Be careful to remember to save your receipts.

The final step before stitching is to calculate the number of stitches you will need for the pattern.

Calculate the number of stitches around neck and divide the total stitches into portions for the front and back, and for each sleeve. In these calculations, you will need to round any fractional number to the nearest number of whole stitches.
The total number of stitches is the gauge times the neck size.
Total-neck-stitches:_______ = gauge:_______ × neck-size:_______ Now divide the total up into segments:
Back-stitches:_______ = total-neck-stitches:_______ × 0.33
Sleeve-stitches:_______ = back-stitches:_______ × 0.25
Increase-stitches: 8 (this is a fixed number)
The front then gets the remainder of the stitches, which is calculated as the total stitches minus the sum of the back, two sleeves, and the 8 increase stitches:
Front-stitches:_______ = total-neck-stitches:_______ –

(back-stitches:_______ + sleeve-stitches:_______ + sleeve-stitches:_______ + 8)

With these new measurements in mind, you can start your knitting. You can use these standards on about anything you knit. You can make the pattern your own and suit to fit your size and style.

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How to figure out your pattern size needs.

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

One of the most difficult things about creating your own clothes, after finding a pattern that you actually like, is figuring out your pattern size needs.  But the fit of the pattern is actually the number one component in how clothes look on you. 

Why does it seem so difficult to get the pattern sizing right?  The answer isn’t all that difficult, actually.  We are all accustomed to thinking about sizes in terms of the ready-to-wear clothes that you can buy at the mall.  The problem is that these sizes in no way correspond to the sizes and the fit that you find on the back of patterns.  So here’s step one when you are figuring out your pattern size needs:

1.  Think outside of the ready-wear sizing box.

Maybe when you go to the mall and pick out clothes, you’re a size 8.  Perhaps you know that you should head straight for size 10.  If you are really lucky, then maybe you stop at the size 4 rack.  Well, throw all of that out the window when it comes to patterns.  Before you get defensive, stop and think about it for a minute. 

How many times have you gone shopping, and even though you always pick out clothes that are the same size on the tag, some of them fit you well and some of them don’t?  Sizing standards are not standards, when it comes to ready-to-wear clothes.  Manufacturers basically decide what size of clothes they want to have whatever number.  This also makes shopping in other countries even more difficult.

So stop thinking about what size you pick out when you visit Old Navy, and turn over your pattern to the sizing guide on the back.

2.  Get out your tape measure.

There is a Standard Body Measurement chart printed on the patterns that you purchase.  But you don’t want to succumb to vanity here and simply guess at what your sizes are.  Besides, people change from year to year, both smaller and larger, in different areas of their bodies.

So pull out a tape measure, a piece of narrow elastic, a full length mirror, and someone who can help you out.

Put on some comfortable and well-fitting underclothes, along with a bra that fits you properly.

Start by tying the elastic around your waist and bend from side to side until it reaches your natural waist.  Now you’re ready to take the ten measurements that you need.

Start with your chest.  Measure under your arms, around your body, and above the fullest part of your bust.

Next, measure the bust.  Measure around the fullest part of the bust, keeping the tape straight across both the front and the back.

The waist is measured over the elastic that you have already tied around your waist.

Next, measure your hips by measuring around the fullest part of the hip.  If your thighs are wider than your hips, then measure around your thighs. Remember to check the type of pattern that you are using to see where they place the full hip on patterns.  For example, if you choose a Vogue or Butterick pattern, the distance between the waist and the full hip is 9” for Misses, and 7” for Misses’ Petite.

Now you are going to need help from a friend.  Measure your back waist length by lowering your head to find the bone at the base of your neck.  Measure from this point to the elastic.

Arm length is measured by going from the bone at the top of your arm (the hinge of your shoulder) to your elbow.  Add this to the distance from your elbow to your wrist.  Your arm length won’t affect your pattern size, unless you will need to make the arms longer or shorter than the pattern indicates.

To measure your height, you need to take off your shoes, and stand against a wall.  Use a ruler to mark the top of your head, and make a small mark on the wall.  Measure from this point to the floor.

Now you have your ten measurements that you need.  These are all the measurements that you will need to choose the right pattern size as indicated by the Standard Body Measurements sheet on the back of your pattern.  You should also know that most patterns use a B cup for the bust.  Make changes as needed.

 

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How to count your cross stitch

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

Counted cross stitch is a popular hobby for needlework enthusiasts all over the world. Using special cloth and embroidery floss, you can create a number of beautiful designs.

If you’re interested in counted cross stitch, the following are a few tips for counting your cross stitch:

Pick your fabric.
Before you can begin to cross stitch, you first need to have the fabric picked out. There are many fabrics to choose from, but the best to work with, especially if you’re just learning how to cross stitch, is called Aida 14, which allows for the stitched per inch. Aida cloth comes in a variety of other sizes, including 11, 16, 18, and 22. For beginners and most patterns, 14 works best. Your pattern will tell you how much fabric you should use. You will also need an embroidery hoop to hold the fabric taut.

Find the center of the fabric.

Counted cross stitch, as shown on your pattern, begins from the middle and works its way out. To find the middle of your pattern, fold it into fourths, and then open the fabric and find the two creases that indicate the center of the fabric.

Begin to stitch. You won’t need to use a knot when you begin or end, since they will show up on the back (the sign of “good” cross stitch is stitching that looks the same on the front and the back, but if you find it is easier to work with a knot in the beginning, go ahead.). Instead, leave about an inch of floss on the bottom of the fabric. Once you have stitched for awhile, you can clip off the excess thread and the pattern will still hold.
There are two main ways to stitch with counted cross stitch when stitching the X’s that make up the design. You can sew a row of half stitches (////), then work back (\\\\) to make the X design. This is the best way for most stitching. The second method is to complete each X as you go. If you are making vertical rows of stitches, this is the way to go.

Counting cross stitch
Counting your cross stitch is simply a matter of counting from the center of your fabric and matching it to the pattern you’re using.  The following tips will help you to count your cross stitch:

• Use a highlighter or pencil to mark off the symbols on the chart as you finish the stitches on the charts. You can do this in a number of ways, either in sections or each stitch or two if you’re just beginning.
• Laminate the chart and use a dry erase pen to cross off the pattern as you complete it. You can wipe the chart clean with a paper towel when you are through, but be careful not to get the ink against your project.
• Use Post-It notes to mark your spots. They are easy to move and will not leave marks on your fabric.
• Count twice. You can keep better track of your count by counting from two different locations and meeting in the center.

Doing counted cross stitch may seem a little daunting at first, but it’s actually quite easy once you learn to count your cross stitch. There are a wide variety of tips and tricks you can use to keep track of your stitches.

 

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Checking gauge in Crochet

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

One of the most important steps in crochet is checking gauge.  This is done to help ensure the design success of the desired item. In crochet, gauge means the number of stitches in a square inch. Your gauge depends on the yarn, the size of your hook, and how tightly you make your stitches. The gauge determines the finished size of a crocheted item.  Almost all crochet projects require this step though a few favorites like baby blankets may be able to be done without this.  It seems to take many years of crocheting before one can pick up a yarn and some needles and finish with a satisfactory project without at least one false start.  So the question must be asked why not learn how to check gauge right from the beginning?  The answer is because learning to check gauge is so simple there really is not reason not to.

    Even a slight deviation in gauge will cause some very dramatic results.  Being off by even one stitch or a fraction of stitch per inch may not seem like much if you are making a small project.  But if you are off on a larger project such as a sweater it may results in the gauge being wrong by 40-60 stitches!  Rather than being controlled by the whims of the yarn learning to check gauge can liberate you from the tyranny of the crochet pattern gone wrong!  There are many books devoted solely to this subject.  The avid crotchetier may find a particular volume that can be used as a reference in addition to learning the basics of checking gauge while crocheting.  Researching on-line or at any craft store can lead the crotchetier to the particular book they feel most comfortable with. 

    So the first thing to realize in checking gauge in crochet is that the pattern gauge that is given is for the overall item.  This may not apply on ruffled edges or anywhere specialized crochet is being done.  These specialized areas may not come out the same as the rest of the object overall.  It’s also normal for the first couple of stitches within a row to be a different tension than the rest of the row.  This tends to result from the turning that is being done.  The best gauge that can be measured should come from the middle of the item.  In addition, it is best to have a considerable few inches done to measure gauge should the stitches that are being done be especially fine or hard to see.  This allows the crotchetier to get a good overall look at how the stitches are measuring per inch.  These recommendations apply whether checking gauge in the width or height of the item being crocheted.  But the biggest question being posed here may be-How exactly do I check gauge while crocheting my item?  The following are step-by-step instructions that if followed carefully can result in the desired result of a perfectly crocheted item!

•    STEP 1: Following pattern directions, crochet 3 or 4 inches in the stitch you will be using.  This must be done to be able to make an overall impression of the work being done.  Two few inches may result in not being able to correctly check gauge and to many inches may result in working having to be redone if the gauge is wrong.

•    STEP 2: Measure using a ruler to see if your stitches match the gauge. The gauge indicates how many stitches should equal 1 inch. Measure the number of stitches across as well as the length of your work.  Do not assume if one way is correct the other way is correct as well.  This is not always the case!

•    STEP 3: If your work is too small, use a hook one size larger. If it is too big, use a hook one size smaller.

•    STEP 4: Experiment until you achieve the correct gauge.  This may be frustrating at first but with time and practice the avid crochetier can find the desired results quite easily.

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Scrapbooking page ideas for tots

Monday, May 28th, 2007

To create a great scrapbook that is truly unique for your toddler, you will want to have pages that are more than just the milestones and firsts, however those are also important.

The following are some ideas for pages for toddlers:

A typical day in the life of-

Your toddler is learning new things and changing each day, but most toddlers follow a sort of routine, and have similar things they do each day. Ten years down the road you will probably have difficulty recalling some of the mundane things your child did each day. So, create a layout or page dedicated to documenting typical days in the life of your child. Show them eating, napping, watching movie, playing with toys, and all the other things your toddler does on a typical day. Be sure to add in a lot of journaling as your thoughts and feelings about your toddlers typical day are just as important as the photos.

You can do a learning skills page-

This is a great page for typical everyday pictures that show growth and maturity entering your child. Photos such as when they look through books on their own, draw on paper, build with blocks, share with others, etc. You can snap photos of things they do regularly that will help them to get ready for working with the people they meet in school etc.

You can make a mimicry page-

Children love to do as they see. You are sure to catch your child with a razor to their face at some point if they see Dad doing it on a regular basis. The time will come when your child would like to try out the shower, because that is what they see. They will insist on drinking from a cup without a lid, using a fork, helping vacuum, etc. So, you will want to document this independence and mimicry.

You can do a routines page-

Every toddler has some sort of routine, whether that is a bed time, bath time, or meal time routine. These routines are a part of who they are. So, create pages for your toddler’s scrapbook using these routines. Document on paper how you get ready for bed. Show the diaper change, the PJ’s, teeth brushing, story, prayers, and song, kiss, and lights out. Show this in sequence, and you will love these pages for years to come. Think of any activities your child does via a routine, and document it.

You should certainly do a sleeping page-

Kids, especially toddlers fall asleep in the strangest places. They fall asleep in the car, mouth open, head tilted. They fall asleep in the highchair, covered in food. They fall asleep in your bed, on the floor, the couch, or in their bed. Their little faces look so peaceful and innocent in sleep, so don’t forget to take some photos.

You should do a page that features your child’s favorite books-

Reading and learning are a big part of your toddler’s life. So, why not show the books that your child loves now. The photos of your child reading will warm your heart, and the stories your toddler reads from birth will always remain dear to their hearts, so why not document them?

You should do an eating page-

Most toddlers love food of all kinds, and spend a good portion of their time eating. So, one scrapbook page idea for tots is a food page.

 

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