Yummy Japanese crafty goodness. It would be interesting to learn Japanese and actually read these books, but the diagrams on how to make things are so well done that if you’ve sewn or whatever before, you could probably figure it out.

Kinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore inside the Uwajimaya asian grocery store in Beaverton, OR. I was amazed at the number of bookshelves full of craft books. I could flip through the pictures all day!

Click the picture for more photos

Here's my favorite holiday crafts found on the web this year.

Paper Crafts

• 3-D Paper Snowflakes
  (one of these is going on top of my tree!)
• Paper Globes for ornaments
  and general decoration
• Paper Snowflakes, like when you were a kid, but fancier!
• Printable Boxes for goodies or small gifts

Sewing/Embroidery

• "http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2006/12/at-last-mitten-ornament-pattern.html">Mitten Ornaments
• "http://sunshinescreations.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-to-make-embroidered-felt-ornament.html">Embroidered Felt
  Ornaments
• "http://whipup.net/2006/12/08/christmas-stockings-for-grown-ups/">Christmas Stockings for Grownups
• It's a Hoot! Owl Ornament
• Flag Garland

Knitting/Crochet

• Crochet Snowflakes – These
  are not your Grandma's crochet! They look so light and elegant.

Painting

• "http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/2006/12/jingle_bell_bun.html">Jingle Bell Buns are just oozing
  cuteness.
• Freezer Paper Stencil a
  Shirt, some ideas on flickr

Gift Wrapping

• Furoshiki – wrapping packages in
  fabric

Crafty Gift Ideas

• Sew a Zipper Pouch, "http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1454">Wallet, "http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/corkboardwall-pocket-tutorial/">Corkboard/Wall Pocket, "http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=59563.0">Ribbon Purse, or a "http://musings-of-a-domestic-goddess.blogspot.com/2006/11/youll-never-look-at-it-same-way-again_20.html">Bag sewn
  from a Placemat
• Marble Magnets
• Bath Bombs to enliven the bathroom
• "http://kiddley.com/2006/09/13/make-a-toy-service-station-and-car-wash/">Toy Service Station or Car Wash for
  children
• Mouse Pad Cover

From Vogue pattern 7564 View B.

Outfit finished for my niece’s birthday, for her new pioneer American Girl doll. Dress and bonnet from cotton calico, pinafore from poly/cotton broadcloth. The lace on dress and bonnet was cheap lace on rolls, about 3 yards to a roll from Joanns.

It was really hard to find tiny, skinny lace. I messed up the bottom ruffle on the pinafore, and ended up cutting it off and making a hem, so it is probably about 2 inches shorter than it was supposed to be. Fortunately it is not noticeable.

The pattern:

;

Simplicity Doll Pattern from 1958, originally uploaded by akimbogoround.

From Memaw’s stash. The middle view has been cut out and probably made for my mother. My niece’s American Girl doll is 18″ but I’m pretty sure they’re a lot fatter than the ones in the pattern. I’m getting an American Girl doll dress form off ebay this week. I’m thinking about copy one of these patterns and drafting it up. They aren’t as curvy or fashion-y as the dolls pictured.

Spaceboy and Robot, originally uploaded by akimbogoround.

Arrived this week from the Wee Wonderfuls store.
http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/

I’m dreaming of robots!

The infamous jaywalkers.
Pattern by Grumperina from magknits magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm

The color is a bit bright in this photo. Lorna’s Laces Shepard sock yarn from knit-purl www.knit-purl.com in Downtown Portland. The colorway is possibly "Tahoe", but I’ve lost the label. Great yarn.

I lost the finished sock photo. Need to get a new picture and post my notes.

More proof of my craziness. I finally got my Elizabethan bodice fabric cut out. I was freaking out about cutting into such expensive fabric, looks like the pattern matches ok. I figured out real quick after cutting one side out I could lay it upside down and match the embroidery to get a matching opposite side.

Here’s the fabric. A wool embroidery on cotton fabric. From the Mill End Store in Beaverton, OR. Click to see more pictures.

The bodice will be piped in dark green cotton, the same color as the skirt will be. I should have enough fabric left for a hat of some nature. In depth review to follow the completion, which is for Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire in September. Pattern is from the Elizabethan Working Woman’s Wardobe by Margo Anderson. I’m not going for historical accuracy, so no harping! I just want to be pretty and cool (temperature wise).

Christmas 2005 gift for mom. 2.75 skeins of worsted weight Misti Alpaca from Knit-Purl. I don’t have the yarn wrapper in front of me, but I assume it is 4270 – Cornflower Blue. This stuff is amazingly drapey and soft.

Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf. A great way to learn and practice cables!

Proof I do actually finish a few things! These were finished in January, 2006. Rib and Cable socks from Interweave Knits Fall 2005.

Pattern: Easy Roll-Brim Knit Hat Recipe

Roll Brim Hat #1

Yarn: color charcoal, 100% Wool. I used about 2/3 to 3/4 of a skien.

Needles: 16 inch circular Addi Turbos size 3 US and size 3 US bambo dpns for the top.
Project Gauge: about 6.25 st/inch

Notes: For a 23.5 inch he ad. Cast on 132 stitches. Hat came out about 21 inches around. This was perfect as it allowed for stretch and wasn’t too tight.

akimbo action shots of #1:

Roll Brim Hat #2

Yarn: Noro Kureyon, color 52, 100% wool,

Needles: 16 inch circular Addi Turbos size 3 US and size 3 US bambo dpns for the top.
Project Gauge: about 5.5 st/inch (before blocking)

Notes: For a 22.5 inch head (mine!). Cast on 108 stitches. Hat came out about 21 inches around, this was more like 19.5 inches before blocking. The Noro wanted to loosen up on me.

Weight/Yardage: 108 yards/50 grams per skein. I used about 1.25 skeins.
Yarn
Gauge: 4.5-5 sts = 1″, #7 or #8 needle