Monday, January 30, 2017

Cool Sewing for kids Book Review



Hi Crafters!

Sorry, it has been a long time since I posted. Hopefully. I can get a lot done today. Unfortunately, this is a lot to take care of in my personal life with my mother-in-law passing to help take care of getting done. She has lived in the some house for 57 years and things have to get done in the house, beside my brother-in-law lives out of state.

So here we go on this book titled “Cool Sewing for Kids” by Alex Kuskowski published by Abdo publishing in 2015. This is another book in the series that now is called “Cool fiber Art.

I like this book because they teach hand sewing and that is a great way to start learning how to sew in my opinion. I learn how to hand sew when I was 10 from my grandmother and then was sent to Singer Sewing School at 12 and learn how to machine sew. My grandmother is the person who taught me to hand sew; she used hand sew quilts up until she was 90. She did not learn to machine sew until 90.

This book has five projects they are “Grab-and-go tote” on page 16; “Zigzag pencil case” on page 18; “Catty Coin Purse” on page 20; “Save the Planet Pillow” on page 24; and “Songbird Gadget Pouch” on page 26.

They teach the following three stitches and they are demonstrated in the Chapter titled “starting up”; which, are the “running stitch”, “backstitch”, and ‘whip stitch”.   I really do not use the “whip stitch” much.  I use the other two stitches a lot when I do “cross stitch” or “embroidery”.

In Chapter titled “Tools of the Trade”, give good tools that a person would use in hand sewing and the first project is a tote which is great to carry or kept sewing stuff in. There are two other items I would include in this list one is a ruler and the other is a needle threader. The reason I say a needle threader is because beginner sewers and people who have neuropathy have a hard time threading a needle. In fact I just ordered needles that are called “Self-threading needles”. The needles are a little open and all you have to do is slip the thread in the needle head.

I was not impressed that under websites they just put the publisher site instead of other place to learn to hand sew or fiber art sites; since, they are pushing fiber art.

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at sandi_tipple@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Life in the New Year

Hi! Crafters!

Sorry the last blog was the 15th. I had set the blog up ahead of time; so, that is why there was blogs.
Hopefully, it will not be too long before I can start again. Why?

It started Monday, January 9th my mother-in-law had a major stroke. She passed away Sunday, January 15th. Burial will be Saturday.  Between all this my oldest son and his wife had our first grandchild early. Jacob was 38 weeks 6 lbs. and 2 oz. also that day my mom last sister died and my cousin's daughter had a baby girl.

Furthermore, after my husband Kevin visited his mom from the hospital and going to the house to get somethings that was need for his mom he was in a car accident. Thank goodness he and the other driver did not get hurt but the car is not. As he says the car has had its death. Unfortunately, even if we had the replacement plan like what is offered with some insurance companies that would not work because they stopped making that car. You can even find them at places like Carmax. They are a good car in our opinion, I have one that is a 2004. Love it!!

So, we all are stressed to the max. Scott started Grad school last week and he doesn't drive. We are still working on getting that situation taken care of. Financial aid doesn't give enough for car insurance and he has to pay for health insurance each semester. beside food and tuition.

My oldest son call yesterday Jacob is back in hospital with Jaundice common thing that happens with early babies. He is very upset.

All this is part of life one has to deal with.

After the good, bad, and ugly, I when to doctor Monday, January 16th and blood work and everything was excellent and tomorrow is my 57th birthday!!

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at sandi_tipple@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

“Get Hooked Again” book review



Hi! Crafters!

This is the second book by Kim Werker and this book has the pattern I have been looking for in it. Apparently, I check out this book before I know there was another book in the series until the updated the library listings.

“Get Hooked Again Simple Steps to Crochet MORE Cool Stuff” by Kim Werker published by Watson-Guptill Publishing in 2007 again in China then in the United States. 



There are five chapters in this book. Let the other book Chapter five has the patterns. Chapter one is titled “Stocking Up, chapter two titled “Getting Started, Chapter three titled “ Moving in Circles, Chapter four titled “Boil It Down”, and Chapter five titled “Patterns!”

There were 12 project discusses in chapter five from  pages 48 to 90. To talk about a few of the projects picot stitch on page 49, the pattern I need was “Gidget & Bucket Hat on page 60, page 64 Scarf and Juliet Vest from page 70 to 73, Page 77 has a section about how to creating a lining which if the individual does not know how to sew this will not help in my opinion. Special stitches are discussed on page 80 and on page 81 what is “chain 1 space”.

Page 94 has an update resource list which includes books, magazines, websites, and yarn companies.


Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at sandi_tipple@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Saturday, January 14, 2017

“Get Hooked” book review



Hi! Crafters!

There are two books in the series from this author.  This first book in my opinion is not as good as the second one. This will be more to middle school to high school age students.

“Get Hooked Simple Steps to Crochet Cool Stuff” is by Kim Werker published by Watson-Guptill Publications in China 2006 then later in the United States.


This book has five chapters starting with Chapter One titled “Gotta Get It!” which discusses hooks, yarns, notions, and how to read patterns. Chapter Two titled “ Step ny Step” which discusses What is crocheting?, stitches, attaching yarn, finishing off, gauge, and on page 37 crocheting for good. Chapter three titled “Around She Goes” which talks about how to increase and working in a round. Chapter four titled “Less Is More” which starts with decreasing, cool edges and fringe. The last chapter five titled “The Patterns!” which goes from pages 58 to 88.

There are eleven project in Chapter five just to name a few beaded book marker, Samantha Scarf, making a pillow form and Popcorn stitch,  page 88 talks about how to make a pleaded miniskirt. Page 90 discusses special stitches, special cluster and double treble crochet. Then on  page 93 using elastic rings.  In addition at the very end of the book, it also give some resource to learn more.


Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at sandi_tipple@yahoo.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!