The tiny hats are, as is traditional, multiplying. Because it's just more fun that way. it's looking like there will be six (two each of three different patterns) because that will make the best use of my bits and bobs of yarn (it's all by Ontheround, plush single for the colors, signature sock for the white). And then? Then of course I'll need rather a lot of tassels!

Alrighty then, who's ready for a bit of a distraction to get them through the next week?  Because I know I certainly am.  Distraction techniques vary, but if tiny cute things work for you, then maybe Chimney is what you're looking for. Now look, I am not under the mistaken impression that these will solve any of the world's problems.  They are adorable, and maybe just a tiny bit magical, but they're not quite that powerful.  But my goodness they are cute and sweet and fun and they tend to be met with squeals of joy when seen by other [...]

You've probably been here long enough to have heard the 'block all the things, yes even the tiny ones...very possibly especailly the tiny ones' lecture. Very likely more than once.  But for this one, I took an extra step and did a bit of sneaky prep before I blocked. I ran a bit of scrap yarn under the white dots.  The dots can have a tendency to sort of sink into the background fabric (you can see them doing that on the blue hat in the background), and I really wanted them to pop instead.  This makes that happen. It [...]

So the other day we made nice tidy tassels, but I haven't yet shown you what they were for.  And the answer is, as it has from time to time been in the past, tiny hats. Teeny tiny ornament sized hats. And I realize you have very little to use to judge the size of them with here, but think egg cozy sized (I blocked them on light bulbs if that helps).  They're intended to hang on a tree or use as package toppers. They're totally in that 'you can make one in an evening' school of projects (which really, [...]

You wanna see the behind the scenes side of things?⁠ If you zoom in close, you'll see my wee village there in the middle. It's carefully set up on an old oar I found on the beach. There are flat rocks tucked under and around the houses to level things out, a slither of seaweed draped over the edge of the oar, and an empty snail shell tucked in just so to lend it a bit of a sea monster vibe.⁠ If you take two steps back, you'll see my step stools (one for my butt or knee, because bending [...]

Alrighty, just to resolve any lingering questions about how the blocks thing works...⁠ Yes, I have filled my houses with blocks (cough, both these tiny knitted houses and my real actual house because blocks are kinda fun to have around).⁠ Yes, I think you should do the same if you can, because they make the houses Oh So Tidy and give them nice straight lines, nice sharp corners, and nice solid heft to them if you pick them up, all of which please me greatly.⁠ No, you don't have to use exactly the blocks I used (though you can check [...]

Yes. Yes it looks like a tampon.  Go ahead, I know at least some of you are thinking it.  It's fine. But while it might look a little absurd, this is actually the best way to trim the ends of a tassel.  Wrap them in a little strip of paper (if you're making a lot, you can tape the paper in place and use it over and over).  Slide the paper down until it's just level with the bottom of the shortest strands.  Trim everything flush with the paper. Then slide the paper off and revel in your very tidy [...]

I am selective about my traditions.  I don't put up a christmas tree. I don't do birthday presents. I don't do a thanksgiving turkey.  But you can be damn sure I do a thanksgiving pizza.  And when the sun starts setting so early that my brain gets fuzzy, I make paper stars.  And when we've had a few frosts and it's properly chilly in the evenings, I do herb salt. It feels like a lovely way to put the garden to bed and to get ready to hunker down for the winter.  And I've been doing it long enough that [...]

Look, I have bought some weird stuff for work over the years. I have a shelf of body parts (fine, I have a shelf of head forms and hand forms and foot forms for blocking and photographs, but saying I have a shelf of body parts sounds so much cooler). I have vintage dress forms. I have condiment cups and cupcake stands (those were for Dollop). I have curtain weights and straws and magnets (those were for Foraged). I have peg dolls (those were for Nestled). I have yogurt jars and electric tea lights (those were for Catchall). I have [...]