Have You Tried Punch Needling?

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Have You Tried Punch Needling?

Have you tried punch needling? It is similar to rug hooking in it’s finished look but made with a different action (and tool). It’s fun, meditative, and surprisingly easy. The technique is forgiving and it’s easy to go back and fix mess-ups, like adding stitches.
I made this cute walrus last year for Bluprint. It’s an easy starter project, and winter is the perfect time for a cozy indoor craft! You can click over to their site to get the full how-to, including a video.

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Easy, Cozy, No-Knit Yarn Crafts

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Easy, Cozy, No-Knit Yarn Crafts

I just finished up a few finger puppet necklaces for a little friend who will be visiting this weekend. (Doesn't everyone need a finger puppet on their person?) These are a twist on some tube-knit and other no-knitting-needles-needed yarn crafts I made for Parents magazine a while ago. Instructions for the finger puppets are on the Parents website. To make these necklaces just start with some extra yarn hanging down the tube at the start and leave another length when you take it off the loom. (This will make sense once you start! Alternatively, you can simply thread a necklace length of yarn through the top of the finger puppet when you finish)

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Glowing Winter Village Made From Recycled Cartons

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Glowing Winter Village Made From Recycled Cartons

Several years ago, my boys and I made a village out of recycled cartons and we love unpacking it every year and setting it up on our mantle. I made the one pictured above, lit with battery-powered tea lights, for our book, Paper Good Projects. If you look closely you'll see some tiny conical trees and the how-to is in this post.

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