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The Benefits of Crocheting

April 12th, 2011 11:12 pm

Crocheting has regained popularity in recent years as many people find it a great stress relief while also being practical. From crocheting great hats, sweaters, capes and scarves to crocheting afghans, throws and other items, crocheting is a great hobby that can also help you make great gifts or even make some extra money. If you are looking to crochet a cape pattern, you will want to see different styles and patterns and make the right one for your needs. Perhaps you want to crochet a cape to be worn by a small child or a baby on a special day, or perhaps it will be worn by an adult as part of a casual outfit, or perhaps for a special occasion. You will be surprised to see the vast selection of crochet cape patterns available.

Many crocheting enthusiasts have found that the Internet is a great resource for information on crocheting, supplies, products and patterns. Rather than hunting store after store, the Internet is a great resource for you to obtain the information and products you need for crocheting, including finding the right cape pattern, afghan pattern, scarf or sweater pattern, etc. Long gone are the days of trying to guess a pattern or spending more time ripping out what you crotched because the pattern was wrong. You can now get the right pattern and save yourself both time and money. It is also possible to buy great skeins of yarn online in an incredible selection which will make it possible to create some of the most beautiful capes, sweaters, hats, scarves and other items.

Everyone appreciates things that are handmade. Crocheting was almost a lost art that has recently regained popularity. There are many wonderful things that can be made by mastering a few stitches and practicing until you can create a stunning cape, blanket, layette, or just about anything else you put your mind to. From Martha Stewart’s famous cape to a beautiful set for a newborn baby to the perfect gift, crocheting is a wonderful hobby that produces great gifts and items for enjoyment or sale. Find what you need online and enjoy the wonderful world of crocheting.

Making An Applique Quilt With Your Own Design

February 28th, 2011 2:28 am

An applique is a simple figure of your design, cut, placed, and stitched onto a larger yardage surface which will be used as a chair throw, bed cover, or other household linen usage. Appliques can be made from any small pieces of fabric giving it a useful or decorative purpose. Anyone who loves fabrics finds it difficult to toss pieces of cloth into the trash container especially if it can be used in another manner. Appliques can be hand stitched or machine stitched. Traditional quilters prefer hand stitching. The reason being the quilt appears to be of better quality, measurements are more accurate, and there seems to be a better texture or tactile feel to the finished quilt.

Make an applique quilt with your own design. If you are a beginner choose a simple circular quilt design. If you prefer something more complicated you may wish to purchase an iron on applique or an applique kit. It fits the description of a beginner starting with a circular pattern. It is simple, but it gives you an opportunity to experiment with hand stitching or machine stitching. The leaves will offer other experiences. The orange is a fruit which will be simple to draw as it is a slightly irregular circle with a stem and leaves. You may use cotton fabric which appears to have a dimpled orange peel pattern or stuff the orange for a raised dimensional appearance, or apply a photo in the middle of the orange for an exclusive personal touch.

To add more interest you may wish to cut the orange into four quarters using four different fabric prints, patterns or solids and reconnect in a random order. It will still be an orange; however, there will be an interesting array of color variations within each orange. The leaves may be made from fabric, ribbon, cord, other trims or painted with textile paints. The advantage of starting with a round object is for its simplicity and for creating the overall quilt design for the final appearance of your quilting project. The advantages of making your own applique pattern design allows you the freedom to use a variety of materials or notions which will be suitable for the applique quilt design which you have created.