From the category archives:

yarn crafts

10 minute DIY no-sew scarves tutorial {yarn crafts}

by @according2kelly on December 20, 2011

these quick & easy, 10-minute DIY no-sew scarves are totally fun, & completely fabulous.

& honestly, you could probably make this DIY scarf in just 5 minutes. it’s the perfect yarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit scarf tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).

you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.

so i’m terribly excited to announce that i’ve partnered with lion brand yarn, and some of my crafty bloggers (like this mama makes stuff & little birdie secrets), to create easy, non-knitting, non-crochet yarn crafts featuring the fabulous & fun lion brand yarn products…

10-minute DIY no-sew scarves tutorial {yarn crafts}

once i laid eyes on lion brand’s amazing yarn (& it’s rainbow of tweedy stripe patterns, truly are amazing), i just knew i had to create something.

it’s soft & cuddly, the colors are absolutely amazing (21 colors to choose from?! i guarantee you’ll have a hard decision on your hands) – it’s perfect for a scarf.

10 minute DIY no-sew scarves tutorial supplies:

* one skein of lion brand amazing yarn (for this project i used aurora)
* scotch tape
* scissors
* 2 chairs

10 minute DIY no-sew scarves tutorial instructions:

tape the end of your yarn to a chair, leaving a 2″ yarn tail.

place the two chairs next to each & wrap. if you want a shorter scarf, i’ve also “wrapped” a piece of cardboard, a picture frame & several household items, while making scarves.

although, i’ve found that two kitchen chairs make a perfect double (& possibly triple wrapped) infinity scarf (or circle scarf).

i just love how pretty the yarn looks… it’s a rainbow of beautiful perfection – i could stare at it all day.

but don’t stare too long, after all i did promise you could make this scarf in just 10 minutes.

after you’ve wrapped your chair to a thickness of your liking (i wrapped my chairs approximately 52 times – i wanted to see the entire rainbow), carefully remove your scarf from your chairs, and lay it down on a flat surface.

make sure your two loose ends are in the same place (or cut one end, so that they match up).

using a piece of yarn approximately 4″ long, tie a double-knot around the entire scarf, (securing your two loose ends) & then trim the yarn tails to approximately 1″ each.

using a double knot, secure the remainder of the lion brand skein approximately 1″ from the knot you just tied (to secure the scarf), & wrap.

wrap all of your loose ends, wrap the knot you used to secure the scarf, & continue wrapping approximately 1″ past the securing knot.

once you’ve wrapped the scarf approximately 2″ (making sure to secure all of the loose ends), finish your “wrap” by tying a double knot around the scarf.

cut a tail approximately 3-4″ long, & finger weave the yarn “tail,” hiding it among the other strands of the scarf.

ta da! you’re done. i promised it would be quick & easy, and i delivered.

the 10 minute DIY no-sew scarves are the perfect accessory. & the lion brand amazing yarn provides a definite pop of color that will instantly brighten up your day.

i like to twist the scarf (one hand holding the “wrapped” securing knot & one hand on the middle, and twist, twist, twist), then wrap the scarf around my neck two or three times (depending on my mood & how sassy i’m feeling), with the “wrapped” knot in front…

i’m definitely making another scarf (or two) in some of the other amazing yarn colorways. although, the lion brand homespun yarn in ambrosia is also calling my name. i just love how quick & easy this works up – yet, it looks just like scarves i’ve been seeing in the stores lately!

disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.

ps. hope you have fun making your very own 10 minute DIY no-sew scarves.

{ 10 comments }

yarn pom pom tutorial {yarn crafts}

by @according2kelly on December 16, 2011

i’m loving this yarn pom pom tutorial from mandy of little birdie secrets it’s a perfect yarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).

you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.

so i’m terribly excited to announce that i’ve partnered with lion brand yarn, and some of my crafty bloggers (like mandy), to create easy, non-knitting, non-crochet yarn crafts featuring the fabulous & fun lion brand yarn products.

by the way, if you haven’t met mandy, check her out… she is one half of the duo behind little birdie secrets which is a place where two friends share their ideas, knowledge, and finished projects with fellow crafters. their mission is to share fun and creative crafting projects, tips, and tutorials to make crafting easier and more fun. “like” her on facebook, or follow her on pinterest.

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Hello! It’s so great to be back guest posting for Kelly! I’m Mandy from Little Birdie Secrets, and I have a confession to make. I am a yarn addict. I go to the yarn aisle every time I’m at a craft store, even if I don’t have a project in mind. I love the colors, the textures, and the possibilities of something soft and handmade. Mostly I crochet, so when Kelly challenged me to make something non-crochet or knit using some of Lion Brand’s newest yarns, of course I jumped at the chance to stretch myself!

I love yarn pom poms, so I decided to try stringing a few together to make a holiday garland. I loved it so much, but with my Christmas Advent calendar already hanging on my mantel, I decided to let it rest on the mantel as a non-hanging garland, and I love how it turned out! Here’s a simple tutorial showing how to make a pom-pom garland with a pom pom maker (or you can do it without!).

Yarn Pom Pom Garland Tutorial {yarn crafts}

Supplies:
*Yarn in different colors–here are the Lion Brand yarns I used:
Silky Twist Yarn: Olive
Silky Twist Yarn: Cherry Red
Silky Twist Yarn: Linen
Silky Twist Yarn: Cactus
Martha Stewart Crafts Lofty Wool Blend: Red Dahlia
Martha Stewart Crafts Lofty Wool Blend: Snowdrift
Nature’s Choice Organic® Cotton: Dusty Sage
Homespun® Yarn: Candy Apple
*Pom Pom Maker (or use rectangular pieces of cardboard or chipboard, cut into different widths from 1″ to 5″)
*Scissors
*Yarn needle

1. I used Lion Brand’s tree pom pom maker and it was such a breeze! There are holes at 1″ intervals, so you can easily move the markers to make pom poms from 1″ to 7″. If you don’t have a pom pom maker, cut different rectangles of cardboard or chipboard about 5″ long and varying in width from 1″ to 5″.

Wrap the yarn around the tree or cardboard between 25 and 125 times, depending on the size of the pom pom and bulkiness of the yarn. Experiment to see what works best for your yarn and size. For smaller pom poms (1″) I only wrapped it 25 times, for medium (2″ – 3″) I wrapped it 50-75 times (depending on the weight of the yarn) and for the larger sizes (4″ – 5″) I ended up wrapping 125 times for added fluff.

2. Using the tree: while the yarn is still wrapped, take a piece of the same yarn and tie it around the middle of the entire wrapped portion and tie a knot (once only). Using cardboard: carefully slide the cardboard out from the center of the yarn, carefully keeping the roll intact. Then tie a knot around the center.

3. Slide the pom pom off the tree if you’re using it. For both methods, now you want to really cinch that knot and tie it as tightly as possible.

4. Next you’re going to release the pom pom! Cut through all layers of loops, being careful not to cut the tie that holds them all together (not that I’ve ever done that or anything).

5. Your pom pom is not quite done. Time for a haircut! Trim pom pom so most the yarn is uniform, making it rounder and cleaner looking. I like to turn the pom pom as I cut so I’m not making new angles that need to be trimmed. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but take a few minutes to clean it up a little.

6. When your pom poms are all done, line them up in the order you want them in.

Using the yarn needle threaded with another piece of coordinating yarn, push it through the center of each pom pom and slide it along your yarn length. You can space them out or keep them close together, it’s up to you.

When they’re all strung, make sure you leave a little on the ends for hanging. Here’s an example of a hanging pom pom garland:

Or lay them flat along your mantel like you would a greenery garland. I love the splash of color all those gorgeous yarns give! These would be darling for birthday parties, too!

I’m so glad Kelly and Lion Brand challenged me to use yarn in a new way! I especially loved the way the new Silky Twist and the Homespun yarn from Lion Brand–they created a really different texture than most regular yarns would. I’m going to keep crocheting, but I think my hats are going to sporting pom poms from now on!

yarn pom pom tutorial giveaway

want to make your very own yarn pom pom garland? even better, want to WIN all the supplies needed to make your very own garland? mandy is hosting a giveaway featuring EVERYTHING you need to make your very own yarn pom poms (including the lion brand yarn & pom pom maker). all you have to do is visit her blog HERE, & leave a comment.

disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.

ps. hope you have fun with this yarn pom pom garland tutorial!

{ 11 comments }

semi-homemade mohawk beanie tutorial {yarn crafts}

by @according2kelly on December 15, 2011

i’m loving this semi-homemade mohawk beanie tutorial from carrie of this mama makes stuff. it’s a perfect yarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).

you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.

so i’m terribly excited to announce that i’ve partnered with lion brand yarn, and some of my crafty bloggers (like carrie), to create easy, non-knitting, non-crochet yarn crafts featuring the fabulous & fun lion brand yarn products.

by the way, if you haven’t met carrie, check her out… she is the woman behind, This Mama Makes Stuff, where she blogs about refashioning & running, raising comapssionate kids & crocheting, thrifting and triathlons. connect with her on twitter, “like” her on facebook, or follow her on pinterest.

{Yarn Crafts} Semi-Homemade Mohawk Beanie

I love all the knitted mohawk beanie caps I’ve been seeing around town (and by “around town,” I mean “around the internets” since my town isn’t very cold).

Not all of us have the time or skills to knit one up from scratch, so I came up with a “cheater version” you can make in an hour with a $1 beanie cap and one skein of Martha Stewart Craft brand Roving wool. No knitting or crocheting required!

This semi-homemade mohawk beanie cap is guaranteed to be a hit with all the crazy-cool kids in your life.

The Martha Stewart Crafts Roving Wool is lightweight and lofty, making it the perfect yarn for the project. Inexpensive beanie caps can be found all over the place. I picked up mine at Target for $1 a piece.

The hardest part might be choosing the color combo you want to make.

Semi-Homemade Mohawk Beanie Tutorial

Semi-Homemade Mohwak Beanie Supplies:

1 beanie cap
1 skein of Martha Stewart Crafts Roving Wool (will make two caps)
1 yarn needle
Chalk pencil or my favorite soap marker
Ruler
Scissors
Brush with fine, stiff bristles (not pictured)

Semi-Homemade Mohawk Beanie Instructions:

Mark the center line down front and back of cap (using the seam as a guide if it has one). Make another mark 3″ up from edge of cap at center front and center back (this will be the starting and stopping point of the yarn mohawk).

Thread the yarn needle with a manageable length of yarn. Using a double thickness of yarn, stitch through (always only on top layer) center back of beanie cap at 3″ mark on cap about 3/8″ away from center line. Stitch back through same hole, keeping a 1″ long loop at center of cap.

Stitch through the beanie cap 1/2″ away from first stitch, leaving a 2″ long loop. Stitch back through same hole, once again keeping a 1″ long look at the center of cap.

Continue the same stitch pattern (each stitch about 1/2″ apart & about 3/8″ away from center line) leaving 1″ loops at the center and 2″ loops at the edge.

Once you’ve used up your first piece of threaded yarn, go back and cut all the 2″ long outside loops.

Now it’s time to tie! I’m no Boy Scout, but I think this type of knot is called a cow hitch. All you have to do is pull the cut ends through the loop, lightly tugging to tighten (there will be 4 cut ends per each double strand loop).

It’s a good idea to tie the first short row of loops before doing all the stitching to make sure you don’t want to make any adjustments.

Now continue to stitch loops until you get to the center front 3″ mark. Make one stitch where your center mark and your 3″ mark intersect. Then, turn the corner by making another stitch at the 3″ mark, 3/8″ away from the center line. Your two lines of stitches should be about 3/4″ apart.

Once you get back to where you started, make one more stitch where the center back line and 3″ line intersect. If you haven’t cut and tied along the way, go back and cut and tie all your pieces. If you want to try to get two hats out of your skein of yarn, you can be done stitching. If you are making just one hat and want a fuller mohawk. you can do a third row of stitching up the center line.

Using a brush with fine, stiff bristles, brush out your mohawk. A good amount of the roving wool will pull out onto your brush, but that’s okay! You want to separate the strands of yarn and interconnect them with the other strands to help the mohawk have fullness and strength.

Trim your mohawk to the desired length and you’re done. Now it’s time to find a little head to wear it!

**Be careful when washing your beanie cap as roving wool yarn can felt when washed and dried.

semi-homemade mohawk beanie giveaway

want to make your very own semi-homemade mohawk beanie? even better, want to WIN all the supplies needed to make your very own beanie? carrie is hosting a giveaway featuring EVERYTHING you need to make a semi-homemade mohawk beanie (including the lion brand yarn, beanie & yarn needle). all you have to do is visit her blog HERE, & leave a comment.

disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.

{ 27 comments }