[ideas and inspiration]

I must be pretty lazy, because I HATE flipping over my knitting to do the purl side when I’m knitting flat! I’ve always wanted to learn to knit backwards so I can just keep the knit side facing me! Here’s a great tutorial on knitty.com that goes over how to do just that –...
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{image | Martha Stewart} OK – this isn’t the BEST tutorial in the world – there’s a lot of handstitching involved, but for a knitter, this would be a quick, cute knit and a fun way to use up little bits of yarn from other projects! I plan on making some little bags like...
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{image | go make something} OK. Did all y’all know about these? Surprise balls? This is less a tutorial and more a SUPER FREAKING CLEVER wrapping idea. Hide the prezzies in a giant ball of yarn? What could be more awesomballs in the entire universe of string-related awesomeness? And what a way to use...
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{Parksbird Patterns on Etsy} OK. Lucy the hound made a trip to the vet when she was 4 months old, so she doesn’t need doggie diapers, but these totally crack me up. If you have a purebred, never-been-spayed canine on your list, these are a fun gift. If you have a purebred, never-been-POTTYTRAINED canine...
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{image | madeby loulabelle} Got a knitter in on your list? A needle case would be an awesome gift, and a fun way to play with quilting cotton. I liked the look of this case, but check out this page for a whole BUNCH of free patterns! Tutorial found on Made by Loulabelle via...
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{image | design sponge} As a lover of mini-things, altoids AND kits of any type (as well as clean design) I thought this little Altoid-tin project was super charming. Sewing kits, anyone? Full tutorial via Design Sponge.
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{how about orange} I love the look of good bows, but I’m terrible at making them. This tutorial is geared towards making the bows from magazine pages (with some very handy cutting instructions based on the size of US magazines), but it could be very easily adapted to making from grosgrain ribbon with a...
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{Skip to my Lou} Not only is this totally cute, but it looks like it would be easily adaptable to make a roll to keep knitting needles in! Full instructions are on Skip to my Lou.
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{Pinterest via Lifehacker} Oooooo… I think this idea is SUPER clever! Friendship bracelet knots make headphones cute AND tangle free! The Pinterest post has enough guidance to figure it out, but the Lifehacker post where I saw the picture has links too! This could make a cute gift. Or clever. Cute AND clever…
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{instructables} OK. My 20 gifts of Christmas posts are in reality my Cliff Notes. I plan on making two of these this year! This duct-tape wallet post from instructables seems to be one of the best non-video tutorials out there.
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{image | Lisette} 20 more days… what a cute idea for a DIY gift (and the packaging is perfect too!!) I have a pair of engineer boots in dire of need of red polka dot laces. Doesn’t everyone? Head on over to the Lisette blog for the step-by-step!
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My next quilt!
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From Sewingadicta… a tutorial on embellishing your legwear!
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Holy cats! This is crocheted! And there’s a pattern! Check it out at Julie’s Blog (that’s the name of the blog, I’m not getting all first namey on all y’all…)
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Perfect fall maxi {Esme and the Laneway}
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