To be an editor of craft books requires (at least) two traits: attention to detail and a love of crafts. I recently came across a photo of my 12-year-old self that suggests I’ve been on this path for some time. My mom taught me to … Read More

I learned to crochet when I was seven, but the craft didn’t really capture my interest until years later. When I decided I was ready to try my hand at designing crochet patterns, it was an arduous process with lots of trial and error (so … Read More

In mid-September, after the rush of summer visitors was over, my husband and I visited the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska. We walked the grounds, finding green pastures that reminded us of home, except for the shaggy musk oxen we came … Read More

It’s true that our kids’ fiber-craft book Stitch Camp is chock-full of boredom-busters and gifts kids can make, and those are great reasons to — sales pitch alert! — buy it for your children. But there’s also a bigger, deeper case for kids … Read More

Border #23: Wide, Undulating, Layered, Textured   Stitch Diagrams (Repeated sections highlighted in yellow) Stitches & Notes BLsc (back loop single crochet): Single crochet into the back loop only. Fsc Arch (foundation single crochet arch): Insert hook into same st, yarnover and pull up a … Read More

Making mineral makeup means that, most often, your formulations will be stored and applied in loose powdered form, straight from a cosmetic jar. But for cosmetics like eye shadow, working from a compact may be preferable for easy and controlled application. Fortunately, pressing loose powder into a compact … Read More

Makeup is not a modern novelty. People have been decorating their bodies with clays, paints, and dyes for centuries. Mineral makeup as we know it today, however, is a more recent innovation. In the early 1970s, kindergarten teacher Diane Richardson Ranger was inspired to start … Read More

First, a confession: I was once an avid journaler. I still have them all — books from sixth grade through my late twenties, spiral-bound and stitched, lined pages and blank (my preferences varied over the years). But my journals were always only one thing — … Read More

Working into the back bump (sometimes called the “third loop”) of a single crochet forces the top two loops of the single crochet forward. This creates a series of horizontal Vs along the top surface of the border. It adds a nice dimension to the … Read More

The design of a crochet border is important, but the execution of that border is equally important. Although it’s tempting to start crocheting your fancy border directly onto your main fabric, it’s a good idea to set a foundation by working a base … Read More