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Make A Seed Stitch Leather Button Neckwarmer

Katy Elliott — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:28:12 +0000

Inspired by a knit cowl designed by Knittles; I made a seed stitch version with five leather buttons. The neckwarmer is easy to knit and super cozy. Using the same seed stitch technique from my scarf project; I increased the width and shrunk the length. Five leather buttons ($0.79 each) I picked up at MJ Trim in New York secure the neckwarmer in place. The fitted style keeps my neck warm on bitter cold days without the bulkiness of a long scarf. Pull the neckwarmer up to cover your face or push down below your chin for a comfortable fit.

My Version
1 skein (100g/87yd) of Rowan Yarns Big Wool in Linen
US size 13 knitting needles (I could have used #15 but I have a loose purl stitch)

Cast on 21 stitches (odd numbers only)
Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise, *p1, k1; repeat till end. (you should end with a knit)
Repeat the pattern till you use up the skein.
Bind off and tuck in ends.

Secure five buttons on one side of the neckwarmer. I used leftover yarn and tied each button through onto the backside. I then positioned the button to poke through the overlapping top layer to the front side. I didn’t knit button holes but used the gaps between the purl and knit stitch. Below snapshots of the neckwarmer I made. Enjoy!

Handmade seed stitch (moss stitch) neckwarmer.

Front of neckwarmer.

Buttons attached to backside of neckwarmer.

Back of neckwarmer.

Handmade Cinnamom Heart Tied Gifts

Katy Elliott — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:02:17 +0000

Remember the cinnamon applesauce heart ornaments I made earlier this week? I used them to decorate my Christmas presents too! I wrapped each box in kraft paper, added a tag, tied two hearts onto each string, and tied the two strings together into a bow. Viola! So easy and festive. I love how simple and handmade each of the packages look. And they’re going to smell super amazing under the tree! A cute idea for Christmas and Valentine’s day gifts too!

Click here for full instructions to make Cinnamon Applesauce Hearts.

Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments

Katy Elliott — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:07:19 +0000

I’ve been brainstorming handmade crafts I could make with my nieces. When I was a kid we made these simple heart ornaments. Made of cinnamon and applesauce this craft is kid-friendly and fun for all ages.

I streamlined the recipe—omitted the glue—and stuck them in the oven to shorten the drying time.

What you’ll need:
1 cup of applesauce
1 1/2 cups cinnamon (look for a big containers at $1 stores, bulk stores or amazon.)
2 T cloves optional (grind with a spice grinder)
heart cookie cutters in different sizes
string for hanging (mine is from Studio Carta)

Mix 1 cup of applesauce with 1 cup of cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix, mix, mix. This is the kinda recipe you’ll need to use your hands to really incorporate the spices. Make sure you don’t miss any wet spots. Add the additional 1/2 cup of cinnamon, cloves and continue to incorporate. If it’s too wet add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. But be patient. It takes time to mix so don’t add cinnamon or applesauce till you’re absolutely sure it’s well mixed.

Scatter some cinnamon (like if you were rolling out cookies with flour) and roll out applesauce/cinnamon dough to 1/4″ thick. If the dough is too wet it will make a huge mess and stick to your rolling pin.

Use your cookie cutters to cut out the hearts. I noticed the first time around my dough was too wet and the edges were straggly. Once I add more cinnamon the edges were clean.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet with a silpat. The hearts can be really close together but not touching; they won’t rise in the oven. Using a skewer carefully make a hole through each heart. Stick the ornaments in the oven for an hour or more. The juice from the applesauce needs to evaporate. The range in cooking time depends on your house, humidity and climate. My house is cold so I had them in for 1.5 hours and then I turned the oven off and left them to set overnight. They should be rock hard. If they’re not, give them some more time in the oven.

The next day loop a string through each of the holes to hang on the tree, string together to make a garland or attach to a package. Enjoy!

p.s. the hearts are not edible.

Paperwhites Blooming

Katy Elliott — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:16:28 +0000

My paperwhites began to bloom on the first cold day of winter. The long white roots tangle between the dark gray rocks I gathered from the beach. The scent: heady and sweet.

Make A Seed Stitch Scarf

Katy Elliott — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:41:30 +0000

I learn to knit for seed stitch. It’s my favorite; a simple combination of knit and purl the stitch is gorgeous for hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters and even pillow covers. It took me a while to get the hang of purling then, it took me even longer to remember to switch back and forth between the two. Inspired by Jill Bent’s beautiful scarves I spotted back in 2009—this is mine finished on my 33rd birthday.

I’ve come to realize the only way seed stitch works is to be a confident knitter. If you second guess yourself the stitches won’t have an even tension. Or worse yet, you’re so careful making sure you’re on the correct stitch you’ll be too exhausted to finish the project. Is this scarf a metaphor? Yes.

I made my scarf using three skeins of Blue Sky Bulky; a 50/50 alpaca and wool blend in silver mink. I used this pattern found on the Purl Bee to get me started. The Purl Bee’s pattern doubles the yarn and uses size 36 needles for what they call, The Eleventh Hour Scarf. The technique can be adapted to fit any yarn or needle size.

My Version
3 skeins of Blue Sky Bulky in “silver mink” #1002.
US size 13 knitting needles (I could have used #15 but I have a loose purl stitch)

Cast on 15 stitches (odd numbers only) If you want the scarf to be longer, cast on fewer stitches.
Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise, *p1, k1; repeat till end. (you should end with a knit)
Repeat the pattern till you’ve used up all three skeins.
Bind off and tuck in ends.

Below snapshots of me at the beach showing off my scarf this morning.

Diy: Nautical Stripe Yarn Bracelets

Katy Elliott — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:19:41 +0000

I’ve had this yarn bracelet craft pinned to my bulletin board for years to make as Christmas gifts from Martha Stewart Living. With a lot of extra yarn on my hands from knitting projects gone wrong; I decided to make a few with a red, white, navy nautical feel. When I was working on the project I came across a version for sale on Chance’s website, great minds think a like!

I picked up cheap acrylic bangles at local church thrift stores for $1-$2 each. I had Cascade 220 wool yarn on hand which gives the bracelets a fuzzy look. Think about using cotton if you want the to wear the bracelets year around or want less fuzz. Be aware not to pick a yarn that gauge is too small (you’ll be wrapping forever) or too large—super bulky would just be too thick.

1. First, pick your first color and gather the yarn into a small ball. Tie a knot onto the bracelet and leave a long tail.

2. Wrap the yarn around the bracelet making sure to keep the strands even and tight; keep the first long tail exposed.

3. To change colors tie the two yarns together in a tight knot. The tighter the knot the smaller the bump. Trim the ends leaving two long tails.

4. Start wrapping with the second yarn to create tension. Drape the tails on the inside edge of the bracelet. Wrap the yarn over the tails. Hopefully the small knot will be the only evidence of a color change. Continue to wrap and change colors as you like.

5. When you reach the end secure the working yarn onto the long strand you have left dangling from when you first tied on. I clipped the ends and applied fabric glue on the knot and ends so they wouldn’t unravel. Don’t butt the two ends too close together. You want the knot to have some room to nest between the yarns and blend in.

I really like the larger bangles because the colors are so striking and you can wear just one. The color possibilities are endless, I’m thinking something with canary yellow next. Hope you enjoy making them!

p.s. Martha has a slightly different technique for making them. Click over to her website to view her instructions and a video.

How To Clean Antique Brass Andirons

Katy Elliott — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:24:40 +0000

Before and after.

I’ve been collecting andirons for our someday working fireplaces. Yup, we’re still in the process of restoring them. Andirons are used for holding logs in an open fireplace so that air can circulate and allow proper burning. Decorative guards and log stops block the wood from rolling out of the fireplace.

Antique andirons are relatively easy to find and can be affordable. On the higher end you’ll find brass andirons, highly polished, matching tools, and original log stops intact—the log stops are on the bar behind the decorative guard. They start at about $400 and go into the thousands depending on their age, uniqueness, and condition.

On the lower end you’ll come across brass andirons full of soot, no tools, log stops removed for about $75 and up. The three sets I’ve bought came from salvage shops for about $100 each. Brass knock-offs are available for under $50 but they don’t have the same patina as antique andirons.

When I was up in Wiscasset, Maine this fall I spotted an exquisite collection at Lilac Cottage Antiques. I asked the owner, “How do you keep them so shiny?” Turns out he was rather fanatical about polishing brass and was delighted to share with me some tips and how to’s. Yay!

First, scrub the andirons with 000 steel wool or finer. Steel wool is available in different grades from fine (0000) to course (3). If you use a course grit you’ll scratch the surface and ruin the brass.

After a 1/2 hour or so of polishing with the steel wool my andirons looked pretty good. I was able to get the majority of the soot off which gave them some shine. To make them extra shiny you’ll need to use a brass polish. Lilac Cottage recommended using Noxon. His former favorite was Brasso but complained they recently changed their formula.

Apply the polish to a rag and rub all over the surface of the andiron. I let it sit for about 10 minutes and then repolished with a soft, dry cloth. You’ll notice the black soot will come off on the rag.

My andirons look a heck of lot better then when I first bought them. It gives me hope to start scouting dirty brass candlesticks that I could give new life with a little polishing too.

On the left: andiron polished using just steel wool. Right: steel wool and Noxon polish. I don’t notice a huge difference. The andiron on the right is brighter and looks less gray.

My collection of andirons.

Noxon brass polish.

Polishing andirons with dry rag after applying Noxon.
Before and after shot.

Make A Holiday Wreath

Katy Elliott — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:19 +0000

The thing I like most about the holidays is making gifts and decorating. I’m not into fussy things and I try to keep it simple. I made a wreath for my front door at the Christmas Workshop at Snug Harbor Farm in Maine over the weekend.

To start we cut tree trimmings into smaller pieces. Tony showed us how to arrange the greens and tightly wrap the stems onto a round wire frame. The key to a good wreath is keeping the floral wire tight. He recommended holding the wreath in your left hand, keeping the wire spool short, wrapping the wire around the frame and then allowing the coil to drop to the table. Dropping the heavy wire spool locks the greens into place. Give the wire a little tug and then continue to layer greens as you move around the frame.

I’ve always had a problem with the sides flopping out like wings on my wreaths. Going tighter made a huge difference. I added winterberry, boxwood, and eucalyptus into my wreath. The winterberries are so happy and festive.

I hung the wreath on my front door Sunday afternoon and layered greens, winterberry and boxwood in the urn planter next to my front step. I don’t think I’ve ever had my holiday decorations up so early! Below snapshots from my day.

Barn at Snug Harbor Farm where where I took the wreath class.

Tony showing us how to create steps and negative space in a wreath.

Bundles of winter berry, boxwood and eucalyptus for our wreathes.

A snapshot my wreath in progress.

My wreath with touches of winterberry, boxwood, and eucalyptus.

Paperwhites with Periwinkle Shells

Katy Elliott — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:27:18 +0000

The tide was way out on Sunday morning and the periwinkle shells grouped together in a long curving band the length of the beach. I gathered a few in my hand inspecting all the different shapes and colors. I thought, “What could I make with these?” I dropped a few handfuls into my bag and kept walking. I spotted a group of perfectly round dark smooth rocks at the end of beach; dark grays rocks are a particular favorite. I have bowls with different collections scattered around the house.

When I got home I filled a large glass footed urn with gray rocks mixed with broken mussel shells. I nestled five paperwhite bulbs in a circle within the rocks and filled the container with fresh water; making sure I didn’t add too much because my bulbs could rot.

The tiny little periwinkle shells got a cold fresh water bath while I planted individual bulbs in dirt. I picked up the the terra cotta urns from a recent trip to Snug Harbor Farm in Maine. I scattered the periwinkle shells around the bulb just covering the dirt. I liked the contrasts of the rough bulb, tiny twisting shells, and smooth terra cotta. I added a few more and watered the bulbs. Hopefully by Christmas I’ll have paperwhites blooming in my windowsills and on my kitchen table.

An Antique Terrarium For My House

Katy Elliott — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:34:33 +0000

Do you remember the beautiful antique terrarium I picked up last fall? It’s been sitting in my bedroom collecting dust. The stand had been turned into Greg’s clothing rack, so sad.

Over the weekend I took a trip up to Snug Harbor Farm in Kennebunk to gather plants to finally fill it. I decided I’m tired of waiting for the “fun” house projects till the renovation is complete. A beautiful terrarium can live amongst paint cans and tools? Yes, a bit unconventional but really fun.

My terrarium has a removable glass pitched roof. I liked the idea of having a a tall, dramatic focal plant and then smaller plants and mosses in different textures and shades. When I was choosing plants I didn’t factor in enough room for planes of just moss. I would recommend bringing the actually terrarium with you; so you don’t buy too many. Just like in the composition of an abstract painting you need resting spots for the eye. Plus, you need room for plants to grow. I imagined my terrarium to be a fern patch found in the woods of New Hampshire.

Below how I made my terrarium plus, a list of plants I choose with the help of the wonderful staff at Snug Harbor Farm. All of the plants below prefer cooler conditions with low sunlight.

Mother fern
East Indian Holly Fern arachniodes simplicior
Birdnest fern
Jerrissa (tree like)
Button fern
Sellaginella “krassiara area’ yellow spikemoss
Baby tears
French staghorn (wish I could have used this but it didn’t fit; needs to stay a little dryer then the rest)
Myrtle
Cushion spikemoss
Variegated Creeping fig
Dwarf pilea
Variegated acorus gramineus (spiky grass)

All the plants I choose for my project.

Scatter rocks in the bottom of the terrarium.

Cut a screen to fit the base and place over the rocks.

Scatter a layer of soil in the bottom. As I added plants I added more soil creating higher and lower areas.

I made the composition with a center element and smaller plants around. Here I’m playing around with different center elements. I thought the Jerrissa would be really beautiful but it was too tall even after a little haircut.

I ended use a fern as my center element and smaller ferns and moss in different textures.

Give the terrarium a look from the side to make sure you have some nice height with some room for growth.

I didn’t use all the plants I purchased. I planted them in small terra cotta urns I picked up Snug Harbor Farm.

Every room has been a victim of the renovation. Why not have a beautiful terrarium?