Handicrafts - Articles & Videos

Learn How to Spin Your Own Yarn

June 27, 2019 May 29, 2020 / 7 Comments

Spinning is one of those skills that, once ubiquitous, has become something of a novelty. In the past, spinning your own yarn with a drop spindle or spinning wheel was as common as cooking dinner. Everybody used to spin. If you are alive on the earth today, you have ancestors who spun. The industrial revolution pretty much obliterated spinning as a cottage industry, and spinning dropped out of the public consciousness as a result. This is particularly evident in …

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The 12 Days of Christmas: Day 1, A New Craft for Your Kids

December 1, 2016 May 30, 2020 / 9 Comments

The Paranoid Dad and I have been brainstorming ideas for having a richer holiday experience with the kids without a huge emphasis on gifts and getting. My son, in particular, needs to learn more about the joy of giving and the joy of this beautiful season. We’ve come up with a list of twelve family activities to incorporate into the next three weeks or so. Not surprisingly, some of these have a “preparedness” theme, but others are just for fun. …

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Getting Back into Sewing As a Life Skill

September 3, 2016 June 12, 2020 / 10 Comments

Back to school is a good time to sew things. Not only are the kids out of the house, but it’s prime season to organize and take some time out for mom. You may have once learned how to sew, perhaps back in Home Ec classes, but the fall is a great season to pick up sewing, again. I’ve found it to be a creative outlet that focuses my attention on producing something highly useful, while learning a practical life …

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Survival Mom DIY: Homemade Sewing Patterns

March 18, 2016 May 30, 2020 / 7 Comments

Sewing is a great skill to know and some people are extremely skilled to the point of artistry. I’ll be honest, though, if you have a needle and some thread, you can eventually figure out how to sew. It may not be something you can sell on Etsy, but you could create simple things with enough time and patience, especially if you could make homemade sewing patterns. I’m a mostly self-taught seamstress (and I might be going a little far …

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Three Thrifty Ways To Increase Your Yarn Stash

March 26, 2015 May 30, 2020 / 1 Comment

Within the community of knitters and crocheters, “yarn stash,” or sometimes just “stash,” is an actual term. It refers to the amount of yarn one has hiding in the closet or under the bed, likely in an attempt to keep one’s significant other from knowing exactly how much yarn you have (or from knowing how much you spent on yarn that month). If you knit, crochet, or do anything that that requires the use of yarn, then you probably have …

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Learn to Crochet With Free, Online Resources

March 24, 2015 May 30, 2020 / Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant with my son more than 16 years ago, I wanted to learn to knit. He was my first baby and I figured all good moms should know how to make baby blankets and booties. I tried to teach myself… what a disaster! I prayed my lack of knitting skills didn’t predict my mothering ability. A few years later I asked my husband’s grandmother – likely one of the greatest knitters of all time – to teach …

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Quilting: Wrap Your Family in Love

March 19, 2015 May 30, 2020 / 14 Comments

When my 14 year-old was a newborn, I chose to resign my teaching position and become a stay-at-home mom. After three months I found myself in need of a hobby. My husband suggested I learn how to quilt. It has become a beloved and favorite pastime ever since. The process of quilting is basic and straightforward. Using a few basic rules, you’re only limited by your creativity and imagination. Quilts come in all sizes: baby, lap, twin, queen, king, or any …

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Helpful notions for knitting and crochet. www.TheSurvivalMom.com

6 Necessary Knitting and Crochet Notions That Won’t Break Your Budget

March 11, 2015 May 30, 2020 / 2 Comments

Over the years I have found that just a few, small items help me with my knitting projects. You can find these at stores like Jo-Ann, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and similar stores. I’ve included Amazon links here so you can see what I use and for price comparison. My favorite knitting and crochet notions Stitch Markers — I like brightly colored markers like these because they’re easier to spot on whatever I’m knitting. These are necessary when working on more …

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Learn a new handicraft

March 3, 2015 May 30, 2020 / 5 Comments

Now that we are in our third month of Skill of the Month, I probably shouldn’t be surprised that I get all giddy and excited with each new skill! Right now I can barely contain my excitement because this month we’re focusing on 4 popular handicrafts: knitting, crochet, sewing and quilting. A handicraft is, “An activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands.” I love that definition because, to me, it implies that those skilled hands …

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