Make Your Own Halloween Skeleton Fairies

Here’s a tutorial for creating a Halloween decoration that’s really different and unique! Better yet, the materials are super cheap. The skeleton is from the Dollar Tree (and comes in a pack of 4!), and the butterfly wings are from a craft store. The only other materials you need are things you probably already have: some black paint (for aging the bones a little and darkening the eye sockets), scissors, and a hot glue gun. I’m thinking I might need an army of these little guys . . . .

Make Your Own Felt Sugar Skull Sachets

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love the colorful and ornate look of sugar skulls. So when I saw this fun tutorial and pattern by Rachel on the blog Adventures in Making, I knew I needed to share it. The tutorial has a downloadable template and step-by-step instructions, complete with plenty of pictures, so you can make your own lovely sugar skull sachet. There are even instructions on making your own sachet mix to go inside the felt sugar skull. Wouldn’t this make a fun gift?

Geek Out With Free Hand Embroidery Patterns and Tutorials

This year, don’t just let your geek flag fly. Hand embroider that geek flag with your favorite quote or character.

If you enjoy the Dresden Files, you’ll love this free hand embroidery pattern designed by Jennifer from Sew Hooked. Check out her blog and Craftsy store for more original pattern designs.

I’m totally Sher-locked myself, so this next free hand embroidery pattern by Jordan F (username: dozmuffinxc), as found on FandomStiches.com is something I’m definitely going to try.

The only thing is, I look at these fun patterns and can’t help but wonder, how do you make a quote or line drawing into an embroidery pattern. I did a little digging and found this awesome tutorial on making your own hand embroidery design from Angel and Amy on their blog Tada! Creations.

And then I found another tutorial on color tinting your embroidery using crayons and an iron. The technique is so easy, but the impact of the final product packs a real wallop. I found this tutorial on Urban Threads, and it’s got great step-by-step instructions with pictures.

Links of Interest

Find the Sherlock embroidery designs here http://www.fandominstitches.com/2011/05/fiction-and-literature.html, along with tons of other free patterns spanning a huge breadth of fantoms.
Download the Dresden Files hand embroidery pattern here http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/embroidery/hand-embroidery/paranoid-quote-embroidery-dresden-files/102451, and don’t forget to check out Sew Hooked’s Craftsy store and blog for more great ideas and patterns
TaDa! Creations has got the really good tutorial on making your own hand embroidery designs here: http://tadacreations.blogspot.com/2010/02/hand-embroidery-tutorial.html
Urban Threads has got another really good tutorial on color tinting your hand embroidery with crayons here: http://www.urbanthreads.com/tutorials.aspx?t=PRH1071
More Sherlock on Geek Crafts!
More Dresden Files on Geek Crafts!
More embroidery projects and ideas on Geek Crafts!

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December 5

Gift a Geek: Keeping Warm – Mittens

There is still time to craft a gift or two for the holidays. I will have to say scarf making season has passed, but one could knock out a pair of mitts, before Christmas. So here are quite a few options for the geeks in your life.

Or maybe you don’t have time to knit, over at Nerdifacts on Etsy you still have time to order some crochet geeky Mitts.

Or maybe you know a fellow geeky crafter who always pays their debts and would love to knit their own pair of mitts.

The kit from the Yarn comes with the yarn and pattern to make your very own pair of mitts. And there is also the e-book available of the ten house designs if you want to go that route instead.

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October 31

Pattern: Hocus Pocus Cowl

I hope everyone has been having a Happy Halloween. Anyone running afoul of the Sanderson Sisters, well, you are on your own! But back to the Hocus Pocus cowl. Wonderfallz on Raverly the designer behind Thea Eschliman Designs has another great pattern. The Hocus Pocus cowl. A very fitting design for the season. And the drop in temperature.

The pattern is available for purchase on Raverly, and intrepid knitters have converted the pattern into hats, gloves, and bags.

Category: Craft, Geek, Horror & Gore, Myths & Urban Legends | Comments Off

March 14

Wraped Up In A Tentacle or Eight

It’s been quite cold these past few months. Who wouldn’t want something warm to wrap themselves up in? Designer Kraftling has got you covered with their Double Knit Kraken Cowl.

Who wouldn’t want that wrapped around them during the next Polar Vortex, Blizzard, -30 wind chill day? For those that don’t know double knitting is a simple process by which you create a two sided fabric, reversible fabric as you knit. An easy process that gives you a double thick fabric in the colors of your choice.