We’ve done a learn to crochet school and an embroidery school.

Now who would like to do a learn to knit school?

I just want to make sure the interest is there before I put all the work into it. I think it will be slightly different in style than the learn to crochet school, but the basic idea (weekly lessons and projects) will be the same.

It wont start until after the holidays, but let me know if this is something you would be interested in by leaving a comment

I want to send one last shout out to everyone who participated in the swap! I’ve heard good feedback and bad feedback, and I’ll keep in all in mind for the next one!

If you haven’t received your bookmark yet, send me an email at babyblossomsonline at gmail dot com with the subject “Bookmark Swap Not Received” and I’ll do my best to get some info, but remember we here at Crafty Daisies are not responsible for swap packages not received.

Thanks again everyone!

A slideshow of the bookmark pictures I received (and please, if I didn’t add yours, it wasn’t personal, that was a lot of emails to sift through and I may have missed one or two, I tried not to though )

Just a reminder that today is the last day to get your bookmark in the mail! I’ve received emails both from people sending and receiving, and it seems like everything is running smoothly!

If you would like to send pictures of your finished bookmarks to babyblossomsonline @ gmail.com (no spaces of course!) then I will post a gallery of the different styles made. I’ve seen all sorts of wonderful ideas and such different bookmarks, I would love to see more!

I hope that everyone has enjoyed the swap, I know I have! Bookmarks are so quick and easy, but they let you express your creativity in so many different ways!

Thanks again to everyone that participated (all 65 of you!!), and for those who missed it be sure to watch out for other swaps in the future!

I thought I would gather up some ideas for our bookmark swap!

If you crochet, check out this page at Crochet Pattern Central.

A knitter? Then you’ll like this page at Knitting Pattern Central.

Martha Stewart has some beautiful ribbon bookmarks.

Michaels.com has some great ideas!

Have fun and please share any ideas or links you may have!

Thank you so much to everyone who signed up – the sign ups are now closed I will be working on matching everyone up this weekend and I’ll email you your swap partner’s information by the end of the weekend!

We’ve decided it is time for another swap! This time, its a bookmark swap

In this swap, you will make a bookmark, and send it to one of our other readers. The bookmarks can be knit or crochet, made of paper, quilted, embroidered…whatever you would like to do! Ideally, the bookmarks will be able to fit in a regular sized envelope, and be mailed off with a single stamp, so this will be an expensive swap! The sign ups will start today, October 25 and run until November 1. I will contact everyone with your sending address by November 5. Your bookmark needs to be sent by November 15. If you cannot send by this date, please contact the swap admin.

To sign up, send an email to babyblossomsonline@gmail.com to let us know if you will be participating in the swap. Please include your full name, web or blog address (if you have one), shipping information, and if you would ship internationally (remember, an international stamp is only a few pennies more than a domestic one )

If you sign up you must complete the swap or you will not be eligible for participation in future swaps. If you are unable to send your bookmark, for whatever reason, you must contact the swap admin (Heather) as soon as possible. Please be mindful that this needs to be reciprocal – if you sign up, please follow through. In the same regards, we will try and accommodate everyone, however we at Crafty Daisies will not be responsible for items not shipped.

And last but certainly not least – have fun!!!!

You asked what I do with the leftover part of my toggle clasps after I make stitch markers? Well, I make crochet row markers!!

I was getting frustrated because the only crochet row markers I could find were ones with clasps on them, and those always seemed to snag on my yarn. But not these ones! You simply slip the bar in between the stitches you are marking, the beads hang in the front marking your stitch

and the bar extends across the back of your project:

I have been so pleased with how these work, and you have no waste when you make stitch markers. I have a couple of sets in my store, Baby Blossoms, if you’d like to check out the different styles and looks that can be made

Beaded stitch markers are quick and easy, and they are great for marking your stitches while knitting! They can be easily modified to suit your style, and you can make a set in under an hour!

All you need are a toggle clasp, head pin (looks like a straight pin without a point), beads and pliers.

For the stitch markers, you will use the round part of the toggle clasp. This gives you a seamless circle that wont snag on your yarn. You can get the toggle clasps in a variety of sizes, most will fit up to a 10.5 US needle.

Thread your beads onto the head pin, making sure the bottom bead is small enough that they wont slip off.

I don’t have a picture for the next step, but you simply thread the head pin through the bottom of the toggle clasp part, and you will bend the head pin around to secure it. You then trim the head pin so that you don’t have a long piece of metal sticking out

Here are a set of finished ones that I made to show that:

I like to tuck the end of the head pin into the top of the bead, or as close as I can get it, then you don’t get any snagging on your yarn.

There you have it – beautiful and unique stitch markers in no time at all!

I was searching the internet looking for crochet grocery bags, and I stumbled onto Marlo’s Crochet Corner. Posted there is an excellent tutorial on how to reuse your plastic grocery bags to make a tote bag.

I love this idea! It would make a nice, thick and sturdy bag to carry your groceries in, while helping the environment.

So then I did more searching, and I found lots of ideas for using plastic bags in your projects:

A crochet hat

A water bottle holder (I really like this one!)

A Pot scrubber

And I also found collections of ideas!

MyRecycledBags.com

Needlepointers.com

I find this very inspirational, and I can see some recycled products in my future!! Has anyone tried this? Have you had success or any pointers to share?

I recently got a drop spindle kit so I could learn to hand spin my own wool. The kit came with a drop spindle, some wool roving, and instructions of how to put the spindle together.

After scouring the net for some hand spinning instructions I decided to give it a try. Well, it was definitely harder than they make it out to be It took me a long time to get the tension right, and the spin right, and my hands in the right place.

But I have success:

Hand spun yarn! Its not pretty, and I don’t now if I’ll be able to actually use it, but its a start!

Has anyone else hand spun yarn? Any tips to offer a newbie?