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February 10, 2022

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DIY/General Crafting, Home Management/Organization, Yarn Craft

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DIY Knitting/Crochet Journal

As a techie, I had my doubts about an old-school version of a project journal since we have a tool like Ravelry already. But once I got my hands on a really good one, I’ve since changed my mind! (Unfortunately, that particular one is no longer available.) There are definitely pros to a tangible reference you can keep nearby or even pass down to loved ones one day. Finding a great one can be a challenge but what if you can make your own for a fraction of the cost?

In this video: https://youtu.be/dJvpxES09Io I talk about some good ones that can be purchased BUT there are drawbacks that come all of them. There are also some FREE pre-made sets you can download as well… but again, there are drawbacks. And how do you know what you’d like to have included if you’ve never used one before?

Below are some ideas to include. Beside each, I put some links to free ones I’ve found online. There may certainly be others so be sure to search yourself and see what all it out there!

Ideas to Consider

Reference

Yarn Fibers and their attributes: https://content.primecp.com/master_images/files/Types-of-Yarn-Chart.pdf

Needle/Hook Inventory: https://www.dontbesuchasquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/My-needles-and-hooks_US-scaled.jpg

Yarn Weights: Included with my Hat Sizing Chart: https://sheepishlysharing.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/hat-sizing-charts1-21.pdf

Standard Body Measurement: https://www.goodknitkisses.com/women-sizes-chart/

Hat Sizing Chart: https://sheepishlysharing.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/hat-sizing-charts1-21.pdf

Standard Afghan Measurements: https://www.acrochetedsimplicity.com/standard-blanket-sizes/

Collection of Sizing Charts: https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/category/size-charts

Sock Knitting Information and Charts: https://jmncreativeendeavours.ca/knittingsewing-tips/knitting/

Knit Symbols and Abbreviations – Choose some good ones from Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/knittingunlimited/knitting-abbreviations-and-knitting-chart/

Crochet (US & UK) Symbols and Abbreviations: https://craftconnection.com.au/crochet-chart-usa-uk-terminology/

Sweater Ease Explained: http://www.mscleaver.com/chronicles/2015/8/5/what-is-ease-or-how-to-choose-a-size

Sweater Ease Chart from Tin Can Knits: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2018/10/12/how-to-choose-your-size/#jp-carousel-10006

Sweater Ease Explained by Tin Can Knits: https://blog.tincanknits.com/2018/10/12/how-to-choose-your-size/

Estimated Yarn Requirements: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f0/be/c5/f0bec5e86f0fd7fbd75787452aae70c1.png

Planning

Calendar for Birthdays and Holidays – either selling or gifting, plan projects to be finished on time! Idea links downloadable in different formats: https://www.template.net/business/calendars/birthday-calendar-template/

Google “Christmas Gift Planner Printable” for specific Christmas themed ideas. Here’s a whole set for all Christmas planning duties: https://www.yellowblissroad.com/christmas-planner-free-printable-planner/

Handmade Gift Givers Guide: https://www.craftylifemom.com/craft-project-planner-printable/

Record for Gift Recipients’ Sizes (also includes tips for proper sizing): https://ysolda.com/blogs/journal/choosing-a-size

Design

Knitting Design Paper: https://www.theknittingsite.com/knitting-graph-paper/

Intarsia Design Paper: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31456571@N08/5266500238/

Shadow/Illusion Design Paper: https://www.theknittingsite.com/knitting-graph-paper/

Free! Auto-generate a Knitting Pattern From a Picture: https://www.theknittingsite.com/knitpro/

Project Page with a place for a swatch: https://www.dontbesuchasquare.com/free-knitting-project-sheets-pdf-template/

See this idea for Project Page with a pocket: https://youtu.be/dOowfjM_jnU?t=388 

Basic Graph Paper for Design Notes: https://templatelab.com/graph-paper-templates/

Basic Dot Paper for Design Notes: https://incompetech.com/graphpaper/squaredots/

Miscellaneous

My Knit/Crochet History – Considering passing this down to a loved one? If so, be sure to include a paragraph or 2 explaining how you got started with your beloved hobby! When was it? Who taught you? Etc.

Include a needle gauge in a page protector or zipper pocket

Your Favorite Yarn Sources (stores/online/sale dates, etc.)

Your Favorite Knitting Books

Downloadable Free Sets

Note: Some of these sites require a free “subscription” to their sites (involving registering your email and possibly creating a password. Keep searching as there may be more out there and I imagine more are being created everyday!

Little Red Window offers 4 pretty, tastefully-designed pages: https://littleredwindow.com/free-printable-knitting-planner-and-crochet-planner-pages/

Kathryn Ivy presents 10 options as individual pdf files so that each page can be downloaded or printed as desired for both Knitting and Crochet. There is no need to subscribe to access these elegant pages. http://kathrynivy.com/patterns/extras/knitting-journal/

Crochet 365 Knit, Too offers a bright collection with cute owls for its theme. There are 9 useful pages and additional themed pages for notes and a “Crochet Journal” cover. https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/free-crochet-knit-journal/

Winding Road Crochet offers more pages but at a smaller A5 size (aka half pages). Content is rather general/broad. https://www.windingroadcrochet.com/practical-crochet-planner-you-will-love-free-download/

Consciously Crochet gives us a sparse but pretty planner for both Crochet and Knitting with project pages patterned after the content on Ravelry. https://consciouslycrochet.com/project-planner-free-printable-knitters-crocheters/

LoveCrafts offers a free downloadable journal but it’s lacking real content. It’s pretty and has some helpful pages for creativity inspiration, it’s not exactly what I’d call comprehensive. https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/my-making-journal-free-printable-knitting-crochet-pattern-by-lovecrafts

Printable/Digital/Editable Sheepishly Sharing Pages

Below are some printable journal pages I’ve designed for my own personal use that some you may like. You have two options so click the sentence that best suits your needs:

  1. Download and/or print and fill in by hand.
  2. Familiar with Google Drive? These links will allow you to save them to your Google account and edit them however you’d like! PLEASE NOTE:
    • You must have a Google Account in order to use them in Google Drive.
    • This is editable in the Google Drive program called “Google Drawings.”
    • While it’s free for personal use, please do not sell or claim it as your own work.
    • I’m sorry, but I can’t provide individual coaching on how to use Google products but I do off this overview video: https://youtu.be/5yO-C6Hb_94
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January 8, 2021

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Yarn Craft

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Crochet Hat Sizing: Tricks and Troubleshooting

 

Crochet a perfect fit every time while avoiding gauge swatches, mistakes and headaches! 

Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs
0:00 Intro:
0:35 Stitch Count:
1:51 Understanding the Join
2:40 Varying Yarn Weight
3:24 Gauge and Work-Arounds
5:35 Top-Down Construction Explained
10:31 The Hat Sizing Chart
13:03 Bulky Weight Exception
14:18 Wavy or Cupped Flat Circles
18:13 Uniquely Constructed Hats Caveat
19:03 Learn to Fudge

 

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December 28, 2020

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Yarn Craft

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The Simple Start

One Method for ALL Crochet Projects!

Forget Magic Circle! Forget Slip Knots! Here’s an easy, neat and practical way to begin ALL your crochet projects!

Click below for the YouTube Tutorial!

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December 5, 2020

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Food, Health

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Broccoli and Cheese Soup (Low Carb -Instant Pot)

This is a favorite at our house but I make a few adjustments to keep the carbs low.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 4 cups (I use 5-6 cups) vegetable broth (or chicken stock if not vegetarian)
  • 4 cups (I use 5-6 cups) bite-sized broccoli florets
  • 1 cup matchstick or grated carrots (High carb veg (11g) with little added taste and nutritional value.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste (Remember that cheese is high sodium so don’t add any more until after you taste the finished product.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup corn starch (Empty carbs (29g) and the added broccoli makes it thick enough.)
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 2 cups 1/4 cup cream or half-and-half (Added broth so there’s enough liquid; Half & Half has 21 g carbs)
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (Will sometimes add more after tasting.)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Select browning/sauté to preheat the pressure cooker. Add the butter and onion and sauté until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the chicken (or vegetable) stock, broccoli, carrots, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Lock the lid in place, make sure the vent is set to seal, and select high pressure and 1 TWO minute cook time.
  5. When the cooking time ends, use the quick pressure release. When the valve drops, remove the lid carefully.
  6. Use immersion blender to smooth out vegetables. In a small bowl whisk together the corn starch and cold water until smooth.
  7. Set the pressure cook to sauté/browning and slowly add the corn starch mixture to the pot. Stir constantly until the soup comes to a boil and thickens.
  8. Turn off the pressure cooker. Slowly stir in the cream or half-and-half.
  9. Add the cheese a handful at a time and stir until it melts.
  10. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve hot.

The original recipe came from here: https://www.blessthismessplease.com/best-instant-pot-broccoli-cheese-soup/

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October 8, 2020

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Uncategorized

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Help for Sister Margaret Mary 2021

Sister is a long time member of the Sheepishly Sharing Community and we’ve helped with her music program fundraisers for many years. However, 2020 will be a very different year for her. She has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Uterine Cancer and has left the convent to live in Louisville, KY where she will be receiving her treatments. She’s currently living on disability and is supplementing with craft sales.

UPDATE 2-27-2021: Sister is finished with her chemo and the results are not what we had hoped. She now has a mass in her stomach called carcinoid carcinoma BUT the good news is she’s waiting to see if she’s eligible for a clinical trial! See address below for sending well wishes and cards of encouragement!

She’s given me a “wish list” to share with our community in hopes of gathering supplies. (She uses my Santa Scarf and Snake Scarf patterns and also a teddy bear from eyelash yarn among other things!)

Sister’s Wish List

  • Red Heart Super Saver Cherry Red #319
  • Red Heart Super Saver White #311
  • Red Heart Super Saver Black #312
  • Red Heart Super Saver Variegated (not stripes) 5 ounce skeins in any fun colors for snake scarves
  • Eyelash Yarn 100 gram skeins (She needs 2 skeins to make 1 teddy bear brown, tan, or fun colors)
  • Hobby Lobby I Love this Yarn Light Peach #230
  • 25 mm sew-on wiggly eyes
  • Scrap quilting material for no-sew bows (She needs to make 20 x 9″ strips)
  • Fiber Fill
  • Any finished craft projects. It does not have to be all Christmas as she can sell throughout the year. Any type of craft is welcome!

Ship or mail your donations to:
Denise Mary Perez
7006 Harvest Gold Way, Apt 8
Louisville, KY 40291

Cards of encouragement would be very welcome!

Questions? Go directly to Sister: smmsjw@gmail.com (Note that the address above uses her legal name which is necessary for all the medical documentation.)

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July 23, 2020

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Food, Health

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Scary Food Dyes

Since I first mentioned this in a video, I’ve had several questions about the topic. Rather than send you into some heavy research, you’ll see my favorite infographic that gives you a quick overview of specific dyes and their “issues” at the bottom of this post.

Important: While many of these dyes (and preservatives, flavor enhancements and other food related chemicals) be labeled by the FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), it’s important to know that they are tested in small amounts WITH NO OTHER FACTORS INCLUDED. Now consider an abundance of GRAS chemicals we’re exposed to an a daily basis and that’s where the concern arises.

You can learn more about how this effects children by clicking the link below and I can vouch for it first hand! After cleaning up our diet, my youngest’s diagnosis of “significant to severe ADHD” was greatly improved!

The original post can be found here: https://www.special-education-degree.net/food-dyes/

Colors to Die For
Source: Special-Education-Degree.net

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February 26, 2020

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Yarn Craft

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Saturn Scrapbuster Hats!

Knit Baby Saturn HatsHere’s a fun “recipe” to knock out some of those wonderful worsted weight scraps we always seem to have on hand. No fancy decreases to worry about. They’re fast and fun! The hats pictured here are a 6 month size but adjust the number of cast on stitches and it works for any size!

Download the free guide here: Saturn Hat Scrapbuster

If you like these, then you may also like: Knit Baby Hats Scrapbuster!

Questions? See the “Recipe Walk-Thru” here:

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January 19, 2020

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Yarn Craft

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Modified Bead Stitch Beanie

My nickname for this fun hat is “The Free Fudge Beanie” and there are several good reasons why: You have the FREEDOM to choose whatever size you want using whatever yarn and hook you want AND you can easily correct any mistakes you make with a simple FUDGE fix here and there! (Fudge is term for tweaking or modifying!) So… FREE FUDGE!

The Bead Stitch is traditionally done with a double crochet post but I modified it by using a half double crochet. This makes the stitch appear fuller with less chance of the stitch’s “feet” peeping out below the wrap.

Download the written pattern here: Modified Bead Stitch Beanie Pattern

And find the video tutorial here:

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November 21, 2019

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Yarn Craft

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Candy Swirl Hat Tutorial

Long requested crochet tutorial is finally up!

If you want a printed pattern, I’d suggest Sarah Arnold’s Divine Hat however, there are no instructions for the 2-color version. Be aware that there are MANY versions of this design out there under various names like “crochet spiral beanie” or “easy seashell hat” and more. I have no idea who to give original credit to so I’m recommending Sarah’s pattern because that’s the one I used.

In the video, I reference 2 files that can be found here: my usual Hat Sizing Charts and one where I made Candy Swirl Hat Notes suggesting yarn and hook sizes. (Please remember these are only suggestions to help you find a starting point for sizing this difficult-to-size hat!)

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October 8, 2019

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18 Inch Doll DIY, DIY/General Crafting, Sewing

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Faux Button Front Top for 18 inch Dolls

Today I’m sharing a top I designed for 18 inch dolls like American Girl! I think it turned out great and with it’s Velcro closure but it’s worth noting that we have the flexibility of adding REAL button holes if we’d rather. It’s fully lined, too, which not only looks nice on the inside but eliminates those tedious tiny hems!

A fat quarter will give you enough fabric for the outside and the ruffle but you’ll need some scraps for the lining. (Note that the ruffle is 24″ long so when using a fat quarter, you’ll have to sew pieces together to achieve that. A simple fix AND it eliminates wasted fabric! I show this, btw, in the video tutorial linked below.)

In my continuing quest to use up my stash AND refashion/recycle/reuse fabric as much as possible, the polka dot top was sewn from a crib dust ruffle I bought on closeout for 90% off! (Gotta love those overstock-buy-up stores!)

Download the pattern and written instructions here and be sure to print actual size. And a video tutorial can be found here!

I’ve also provided options for attaching the ruffle:

Hand stitch (or glue) lining over the raw edges.

Option 1 encases the raw edges and is best if you don’t have a serger/overlocker. (I think this looks so nice, too!) I think the “proper” way is to hand stitch the lining to the ruffle but if you like to take shortcuts like I do, you can use fusible webbing, fabric glue or even hot glue works great!

 

 

 

Serge/overlock or zig zag over the raw edges.

 

 

But Option 2 is faster and easier! While it’s great if you have a serger/overlocker, it CAN be done with a zig zag or overlock stitch on a regular sewing machine!

Have fun with this free pattern! Feel free to share by linking back to this page!