Craftgrrl - Where Crafters Unite!

I'm looking for a pattern on how to make a skirt with what I think is called 'coffin' ruching, this was the best picture I could find to illustrate what I mean:

Click on the picture to see it bigger:


But I was hoping to find a pattern for a more pleated look instead of the gathers in the picture. I'm hoping one of you helpful people on here knows what I'm taking about and has some advice and/or knows where a pattern for such a thing can be obtained. Thanks in advance!

My friends and I just got back from seeing John Barrowman in La Cage Aux Folles in London. We decided the scrapbook should be kind of vintage French Postcard on the front but vibrant on the inside. This is what we came up with:

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Have any of you guys done DIY basketball jersey lettering and have it come out looking clean? Someone wants me to make a dress out of that nylon or polyester athletic mesh and have some jersey-style lettering. I'm going to guess paint/ink is probably not the best option, and all the pre-made letters I've seen are either not the right color combination, size, style, etc. Think I can get away with using a different color mesh, fusing it to the dress, and doing a quasi satin-stitch around the edges? I have no idea how fusing would react with two layers of synthetic that have those tiny holes. Any input?

No Wire Hangers wreath idea.

I got two boxes of 48 ornaments and used probably 1.5 boxes, so maybe 60-70 ornaments? It took me an hour while watching Dexter :), plus an extra half hour of trying to tie the ribbon nicely and just failing. The ornaments I got this year from Lowe's on black friday, and they were super nice. The ornament wire part "snapped" onto the ornament ball part, so no glueing was required. The few times ornaments popped off, I was able to snapp them back onto the wreath with little effort. There were three different sized ornaments in four colors and I used them all.

Ornament Wreath


( closeup of the pretty ornaments )

When you can't leave the sofa for a week (ugh, flu!), you start coming up with clever ideas to keep you busy. Here's one of them...A holiday wreath ornament:





So, so easy to make and I just used some scraps I had laying around. I've still got plenty of yarn left so I'm thinking about stockpiling some and hiding them away for next winter...

Though it was frigid outside with snow on the ground, I got my tree eyes project completed today! I made three sets: straight, right, and left looking eyes. I mounted these with small nails and then colored the nail heads black with a sharpie. Did I mention that there is snow on the ground! My hands are still cold!

Sorry for the text only post, but I have a quick question that I'm sure someone here could give me insight on. I accidentally got bleach on one of my work shirts; not a whole lot (I likely just brushed up against a surface I'd recently sanitized, so there's a big pinkish area across the front), but it's noticeable, so I figured I'd try dyeing it so I can still wear it. It's black, so I'm not worried about color matching or anything, but there is an embroidered logo on it. I'm wondering how I can avoid dyeing that part. I was thinking about putting some tape over the logo (and on the reverse side as well), maybe some packing tape that couldn't be penetrated by the dye, but I'm not sure if that would work. I don't have any experience using dye (except for hair dye!) Will this work, or does anyone have a better suggestion? I don't mind if there's a little difference in pigment around the logo, as long as the bleach marks are covered and the logo is untouched. I'd really hate to have to retire this shirt since it's fairly new and in otherwise good condition. Thanks in advance!

Edit: I tried using a Sharpie and it worked quite well. I realized while I was doing so that my shirt was kind of pilly, and some of the bleach only got on the fuzzy outer layer (I don't know how to describe it so I hope you get the drift, lol), so I went over it with a disposable razor as well. It looks a lot better and it's not noticeable at all. Much easier than dyeing it. Thanks to all for the suggestions!

my bestie loves the ocean. i made her this for christmas.


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Well, it's no secret by now that I LOVE this symbol. Here are my three most recent creations with it. One or two might have been shown already, but one I just uploaded tonight.

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I just varnished a wood box using Krylon Kamar Varnish BEFORE I painted it...( @$#&$*@ )...can I still paint on it with acrylic paint without bad things happening?

I have been looking for citric acid to use to make bath fizzies for christmas presents but I am not having any luck. I would rather get it close to home before thinking about ordering online and waiting even longer etc. Any ideas? I check Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Wal Mart. I think I remember my mom using it to make lollipops when I was little which is why I tried the baking aisles as well as the salts/soaps aisles. Any info is great!

Oh and Witch Hazel too? I have NO clue where to even begin looking for that! I appreciate it!

Mods: please delete if this is inappropriate

Does anyone, by any chance, have some Homespun Baby yarn lying around in Soft Violet that they'd be willing to part with? Long story short, I'm about 3/4 of the way through a blanket and was using the Homespun Baby that someone gifted me. Needed more and come to find out that it's discontinued! If anyone can help, I'd be thrilled! Thanks!

xposted to crochetcrochet

I made this for a friend for Christmas this year.

I wanted it to have a very crude, children's drawing look to it. It makes me think of a 3D blueprint.
I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out.

It's made from a cardboard gift box covered in fleece with both machine-sewn and hand-sewn details.

Side:



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What are you ladies making the men in your life for the holidays?

I would like to make something for my boyfriend, but I am stumped this year! :(



EDIT: If there are any males or transgendered or genderqueer folk, etc. please feel free to answer. Also "men in your life" does NOT necessarily mean your boyfriend or husband. It means ANY male in your life - fathers, brother, grandfathers, friends, etc.

about 2 years ago, I found a crochet pattern for a hat. my computer died so I no longer have it bookmarked. the hat looked kinda like a bucket hat, it was lime sherbet green with a black ribbon through it. It was worked with fpdc to make a spiral pattern. it wasn't a beret. anyone know the pattern I am taking about? thanks

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Thanks for looking!

I'm a lazy person. When I lived in an apartment, my curtains were always flat sheets - I mean, they come in a million colors and patterns and already have a built-in rod pocket. How simple is that?

Fast-forward several years, and I'm looking for a way to make really fast bags to store my coin belts for belly dancing. I have a gorgeous one I crocheted, but I really don't want to spend that much time for each one (it's amazing how fast you pile up costumes...)

Someone gave me a pile of t-shirts, and suddenly a light bulb went off over my head... I doubt I'm the only one to ever think of it, but since my searching didn't come up with anything like it (or I would have made tons already...):

( Click here to see! )