5 Handmade Gift-Packaging Ideas

Wrap bits of leftover yarn over kraft paper for a beautiful rainbow effect, from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

 

It's a gloomy, stormy day in New York, the perfect kind of day to put on a pot of tea and start on that mountain of presents that still need wrapping. If you're a fan of a good handmade gift right down to the packaging, here are five unique and crafty ways to take your gift-wrapping to the next level.

 

Create your own wrapping paper designs in Photoshop, with instructions from Heather Ross Prints by Heather Ross

 

Knit a delicate ruffled ribbon from Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick

 

Make your own paper boxes from Modern Paper Crafts by Margaret Van Sicklen

 

Whip up a few of these fabric pom poms, from Last-Minute Fabric Gifts by Cynthia Treen

6 Quick & Easy Gifts to Complete in an Evening

Kim's Hats from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

For me, the holiday season seems to follow the same trajectory every year: At first, I vow to create special handmade gifts for all of my loved ones. Then days go by, lost in the whirlwind of get-togethers and winter cheer, and suddenly I find myself a few days out and nary a project is started. If this sounds familiar to you, you're not out of luck yet. Put aside an evening, gather some craft supplies, and get ready to make one of these unique, yet quick and easy, gifts!

Big Lace Scarf from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

 

Sewing Box from The Repurposed Library by Lisa Occhipinti

 

Pieced Pillows from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

 

Rice Paper Lanterns from Heather Ross Prints by Heather Ross

 

Assorted terrariums from Tiny World Terrariums by Michelle Inciarrano and Katy Maslow

Holiday Gift Guide: 12 Books for Crafters

From Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson

We all know one—that person who makes the perfect gifts every year without fail. This year, why don't you return the favor! Whether you want to please a Jill-of-all-trades or the hardcore artist, these books are guaranteed to delight any DIY maven on your list.

For the dabbler:

Lena Corwin's Made By Hand; The BUST DIY Guide to Life; The Gentle Art of Domesticity


For the weekend crafter:

Tiny World Terrariums; Weekend Handmade; Modern Paper Crafts


For the décor-obsessed:

Past & Present; The Repurposed Library; Crafting a Meaningful Home



For the art-inclined:

Art Doodle Love; Printing by Hand; Heather Ross Prints

Holiday Gift Guide: 15 Books for Sewists & Quilters

Ermine Stitch from Alabama Studio Sewing + Design by Natalie Chanin

Still looking for the perfect gift for the crafter who can do it all? Don't despair! It's not too late to pick up a copy of any of these great titles for your resident sewist or quilter.

For the weekend stitcher:

Weekend Sewing; Last-Minute Fabric Gifts; Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts


For the color-obsessed quilter:

Kaffe Fassett Quilts Shots and Stripes; Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration; Material Obsession


For sewists who stitch outside the box:

Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing; Alabama Studio Sewing + Design; Stitch Magic

 

For the storyteller:

 

Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color; Alabama Stitch Book; Quilting for Peace


For the little ones:


Wee Wonderfuls; Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt; Oliver + S Little Things to Sew

Holiday Gift Guide: Books for Knitters

Crafters can be difficult to shop for. What do you get the person who can make anything? Craft books, of course! Here are our suggestions for all of the knitters in your life.

 

For the fashionista:

More Modern Top-Down Knitting; Knit to Flatter; Custom Knits


For the homebody:

The Knitted Slipper Book; Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans; Knitted Socks East and West

 

For the knitter who loves learning new techniques:

Shape of Knitting; Knitting From the Center Out; Reversible Knitting


For the weekend stitcher:

More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts; Weekend Knitting; One More Skein


For knitters who appreciate a good yarn:


Yarn Whisperer; Knitting for Peace; A Knitter's Home Companion

For the accessory maven:

Knitting New Mittens & Gloves; Custom Knits Accessories; Knitting New Scarves

 

For the new mom (grandma, auntie, or best friend):


Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers; Vintage Baby Knits; Knitting For Baby

5 Holiday Decor Projects To Make (And Finish!) This Weekend

Festive Stars from Modern Paper Crafts by Margaret Van Sicklen

We may be in the thick of December, but there's still plenty of time to deck the halls with handmade decorations. This weekend, plan to pour out some piping hot chocolate, put on your favorite winter album, and craft yourself some holiday cheer with our favorite end-of-year decor projects:

Egg Cozies by Kristin Nicholas for Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick


Bird Ornaments from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson


Willow Chandelier from Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson


Lettered Wreath from The Repurposed Library by Lisa Occhipinti

8 Quick and Easy Personalized Gifts To Make (And Finish!) This Weekend

There's no better way to make someone feel special than with a unique and personalized gift. But creating a one-of-a-kind handmade offering doesn't always have to be time-consuming! This weekend, pull out your craft supplies and channel your loved ones with one of our favorite quick and easily customizable projects:

Silhouettes on Canvas from Crafting a Meaningful Home by Meg Mateo Ilasco


Stationery Suite from Heather Ross Prints by Heather Ross


Empire-Inspired Plates by Julia Rothman for Past & Present by Amy Azzarito

Happy Birthday Pillow from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson


Biographical Bracelet from The Repurposed Library by Lisa Occhipinti


Customized Mugs from The BUST DIY Guide to Life by Laurie Henzel & Debbie Stoller


Printed Notebooks from Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin

 

Made-By Patch from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

Crafts to Keep Kids Busy This Season

As we gear up for the holidays, a lot of us find ourselves with long to-do list and limited time--and kids happy to be home from school but getting a little stir-crazy (or maybe just making us feel crazy). Here are a few ideas for keeping them busy so you can go about menu-prepping, wishlist-filling, and, hopefully, doing some crafting of your own.

Keep tweens and their friends busy with activities from The Doodle Circle by Dawn DeVries Sokol.

Specicially geared towards teaching younger learners, check out some projects from Kids Crochet by Kelli Ronci.

Bonus: Project Giveaway!

Here's a fun holiday snow globe you can make with young DIYers from The Bust DIY Guide to Life by Debbie Stoller and Laurie Henzel.

Do you have other fun tips and ideas for keeping kids busy (or fun projects you can make with them) this season? Share them in the comments!

5 Quick and Easy Gifts to Knit (And Finish!) This Weekend

With early snow flurries and shop windows awash in red-and-green lights, it's hard to deny that the holidays are upon us. It may be the busiest time of the year, but if you're anything like us, you're probably figuring out how to make time to craft a few meaningful gifts. So now's the time to start planning! Have your list handy? Here are five knitted gift ideas you can whip up in no time:

Pom-Pom Flats from The Knitted Slipper Book by Katie Startzman

 

Sleep Shades from The Shape of Knitting by Lynne Barr

 

Filigree Gloves from Knitting New Mittens and Gloves by Robin Melanson

 

Flower Washcloths from Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick

 

Seed-Stitch Bracelet from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson

 Have you started working on any handmade gifts yet? Let us know in the comments!

STC Craft at NY Sheep and Wool Festival

Beautiful Yarn Rainbow from Harrisville Designs. Photo courtesy of Laura Poulette.

Last Saturday, the STC Craft team spent a beautiful fall wekend in Rhinebeck at the 33rd annual New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (10/19 – 10/20). We were in good company among 40k+ attendees ranging from knitters, crocheters, and handspinners to lots of fiber-producing livestock!

We proudly hung our STC Craft banner above a wide selection of our craft and design titles on sale via the Hudson Valley-based Merritt Bookstore. The stars of the day were our fabulous authors, doing demos and signings from the morning opening to the afternoon close.

Highlights included: 

  • Steady crowds flocking to see The Yarn Whisperer, Clara Parkes, requesting autographs and providing some yarn tales of their own. 
  • A Knitted Slipper tree for displaying sample projects, made by hand just for the event by the twin sister of The Knitted Slipper Book author, Katie Startzman.

The Knitted Slipper Tree.

  • Multiple festival attendees greeting Amy Herzog and gushing about how her book has changed their whole knitting experience—we even sold out of Knit to Flatter!
  • Fans of Gretchen Hirsch (in the Shirtwaist Dress from her book!) coming to get their new copies of Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing signed (and to hear about Gretchen's second book, coming soon).

Project samples from STC Craft titles on display.

With other autumnal-themed treats like fresh cider and homemade jams, live llamas and alpacas, and tons of vendors of yarn and knitting gear, the festival is a great destination for everyone, young and old, who wants to spend a happy day in the country. Plus, the fall foliage makes the trip even more worthwhile! A big thank you to our STC Craft fans old and new who stopped by the booth to meet our authors and check out our books—hopefully everyone got some great ideas for new projects!

The source.

Lena Corwin's Made by Hand Premieres Today!

We're thrilled to announce that Lena Corwin's Made by Hand is officially on sale today! From knitting, embroidery, and weaving to screen printing, tie dye, and jewelry-making, this book is a treasure trove of beautiful, inspiring projects for both the beginner and the creatively adventurous.

 

And, of course, Lena's lovely book trailer is not to be missed. For a big dose of creative inspiration, watch the whole thing above or take a peek at the images in our photo gallery (seriously, does it get more beautiful than that cover?). But be forewarned—once you do, you won't be able to fight the urge to go out and make something!

Lena Corwin's Made by Hand is available now, wherever books are sold.

Sun Young Park Prints & A Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing Giveaway

The first time I saw super-talented illustrator Sun Young Park's work in Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing, I thought "I need to wallpaper my office in these illustrations." And now, I can—and so can you! Sun is now offering prints of some of her favorite illustrations from the book in her new Etsy shop, and STC Craft blog readers are in for a treat—a Gertie giveaway! To enter to win a copy of the book along with an 8 x 10" print of the illustration above, leave a comment below telling us about a vintage or vintage-inspired piece you love by November 1 at 1 PM EST. One winner will be chosen at random.

See more of Sun's beautiful work on her website, and make sure to take advantage of free shipping from her shop exclusively for our readers through the end of October with offer code "STCCRAFT."

Good luck!

Click here for official rules.

Knitted Slipper Book Releases Tomorrow with Extra Bonus: Online Technique Videos and Live Planet Purl Interview!

It's finally time—The Knitted Slipper Book is officially on sale tomorrow, October 8! To celebrate the release, author Katie Startzman will be a guest on Planet Purl's video chat at 12 pm EST. Tune in to hear her talk all about the book as well as her amazing book trailer, ask her questions, and even have a chance to win a copy for yourself! 

To add to this week's excitement, Katie has also created companion videos to walk readers through some of the finer points of slipper construction included in the book. Want more guidance on hand felting? Can't quite figure out how to attach your cozy shearling lining? Then keep checking in—Katie will be updating this page over the next few days with additional video tutorials for your fall slipper-knitting sessions.

And of course, make sure to check out The Knitted Slipper Book, available wherever books are sold!

The Yarn Whisperer Is Coming to a Town Near You!

Author and yarn expert Clara Parkes will be traveling from coast to coast to read from her new memoir, The Yarn Whisperer, beginning next week! In this captivating, poignant, laugh-out-loud funny collection of stories, Clara explores the role knitting has played throughout her life. At each stop she'll read a selection from the book and sign copies, conduct a light-hearted quiz show with her famous 'Claramels' as prizes, take questions from the audience, and stay until the last skein has been squeezed!

 

Hear what the critics are saying: 

"I see a lot of yarn books in this gig, and "Whisperer" is not only the best I've seen this year, it's one of my all-time faves. Seriously, it's that good." - The Oregonian

"I don't want to stop reading. Each chapter is a little jewel." - Knit Circus

Can't wait? Then listen to an excerpt from The Yarn Whisperer, read by Clara herself!

Don't miss Clara in your city! Tour dates & venues include*:

October 10 at 7pm - Seattle area, WA @ Third Place Books

October 11 at 6pm - San Francisco, CA @ Book Passage

October 12 at 4pm - Portland, OR @ Powell's Books

October 13 at 2pm - Pasadena, CA @ Vroman's Bookstore, featuring a special appearance of the Yarnover Truck!

October 14 at 7:30pm - Denver, CO @ Tattered Cover

October 15 at 7pm - Minneapolis area, MN @ The Bookcase

October 16 at 6pm - Chicago, IL @ Sulzer Library (with books provided by The Book Cellar)

October 17 at 6:30pm - Nashville, TN @ Parnassus Books (with support from beloved Nashville yarn shop Bliss Yarns)

October 19 & 20 at 11:30 am & 3pm - Rhinebeck, NY @ New York Sheep & Wool Festival (with books provided by Merritt Books)

October 24 at 7pm - Portland, ME @ Longfellow Books

 

*Copies will be available for purchase at all signings. Please be sure to support your local independent bookseller!

Knitted Slipper Book Sneak Peek Book Trailer

These last few crisp, fall evenings have really put us in the mood for warm beverages and cuddly knitwear. I know we're not the only ones ready to hole up with a few bundles of wool, which is why we're so thrilled to present this "knitted" trailer for The Knitted Slipper Book by Katie Startzman. We are sure that this short story of slipper-making and love will enchant you. (You've got to check out the sets, which Katie and her sister designed and built out of wool and cardboard--and then there's the amazing sound, including the click clack of needles, the chirp of a cuckoo clock, and the crackling of a fire).

This everything-you-need-to-know guide, which releases on October 8, is chock full of adorable slippers and house shoes for everyone you love. And stay tuned, because starting in October, author Katie Startzman will be releasing step-by-step videos to walk you through some of the techniques in the book! Take a peek at some of the sweet and cozy projects here, and make sure to pre-order your copy today!

The Yarn Whisperer

As anyone with a love of wool can attest, renowned knitter and author Clara Parkes is an unstoppable force in the fiber arts community, and her site Knitter's Review is an important resource for knitters everywhere. In her brand new book, The Yarn Whisperer, Clara shares personal, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny stories from her travels, framed by her lifelong love of knitting. To celebrate the release of this un-put-downable essay collection, we're offering a special treat: you can listen to Clara read one of her essays here! The Yarn Whisperer is available in stores now—make sure to grab a copy today.