homemade bath salts

http://thequeso.com/2009/12/last-minute-christmas-gifts-hooray.html

caramel box

fleur de sel caramel recipe.

pom pom wreath

tutorial

felt rosette wreath

ruffly felt rosette wreath.

tee shirts

re-fashioning tee shirts

advent calendar

from here

I took a break this weekend to work on a few projects. First I finished up our advent calendar for this year. I decided to keep it simple and something we could use each year.

I used items I already had on hand. The backing is a metal piece I received from one of Jenni Bowlin's monthly kits a while back which I had spray painted with chalkboard paint. The tins had been organizing a bunch of alphabet embellishments- which I ended up mixing altogether in a glass jar (which totally freaked Justin out- he said I would be regretting that move later). The ribbon I had on hand also (but only in two short pieces which I knotted together). The star is a nail I picked up at a local antique/flea market a few years ago.

To make this a little more interactive I plan on typing out a bunch of quotes and/or quick projects for each day and tuck it in with a small candy (of course).

Knitted Neck Scarf

Tools and Materials

• Yarn: 2 skeins (50 grams )sport-weight yarn in desired color, using about 150 yards
• Needles: 2 needles in size U.S. 4 (3 1/2 mm), 1 double-pointed needle in same size. Adjust needle size as necessary to obtain correct gauge (gauge: 5 stitches and 11 rows equal 1 inch in garter stitch)
• Stitch holder
• Tapestry needle
  

• 

  When instructed to rib in the pattern below, knit 1, purl 1 alternately across the row. To wear the scarf, slip one end through either of the loops at front.

  Finished Size: 4 by 26 inches
  

• 

  Step 1

  Cast on 3 stitches.

  Step 2

  Row 1: Knit 2, slip last stitch purlwise.

  Step 3

  Row 2: With yarn in back, knit 1, increase 1 (see how to increase), knit 1, and slip last stitch purlwise.

  Step 4

  Row 3: With yarn in back, knit 1, increase 1, knit to last stitch, slip last stitch purlwise.

  Step 5

  Repeat row 3 until you have 24 stitches. (Piece should now measure about 4 1/2 inches wide.)

  Step 6

  Continue to knit across every row, still slipping last stitch of each row purlwise, until piece measures 4 inches long.

• 

  Step 7

  Divide (see how to divide). When you're finished, half the stitches will be on double-pointed needle and the other half will be on your working needle.

  Step 8

  Rib across the stitches on your working needle (leave the stitches on double-pointed needle as is), still slipping the last stitch purlwise. Continue for 1 1/2 inches. Transfer these ribbed stitches onto stitch holder. Break yarn, leaving a tail long enough to weave in later.

  Step 9

  Rejoin yarn, and rib across the stitches on double-pointed needle for 1 1/2 inches.

  Step 10

  Transfer all stitches onto 1 needle as follows: Slip 1 stitch purlwise from double-pointed needle, then slip 1 purlwise from working needle. Repeat across row until all stitches are on 1 needle.

• 

  Step 11

  Knit every row, slipping last stitch purlwise, for 15 1/2 inches. (To adjust the size of the scarf, knit fewer inches for a child or more for a large adult.)

  Step 12

  Using same method as in step 7, divide the stitches between the 2 needles.

  Step 13

  Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10.

  Step 14

  Knit every row, slipping last stitch purlwise, for 2 1/2 inches.

• 

  Step 15

  To finish: Knit 1, decrease (see how to decrease), and knit to end of row, slipping last stitch purlwise. Repeat this sequence every row until only 3 stitches remain. Bind off. Using tapestry needle, weave in ends.

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