Gifted

Granny Bag

mekincannon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:57:59 GMT

Granny Squares have been in my life for as long as I can remember. They were probably the first thing I mastered as a fledging crafty-gal. I believe that a granny square throw is the ultimate gift, but a project of that size may be too much of a commitment. This bag condenses all the joy of a crazy patchwork throw into one compact, heartfelt package. When lining this type of bag, I like to add a little patch with a word of inspiration—“smile” in this case. This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Gilded Mesh Scarf

mekincannon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:55:58 GMT

The simple stitch used for this project combined with the crisp ribbon-like silk yarn will make even a newbie crocheter look like a pro. In just a few easy evenings, a luscious length of spun gold will magic-ally appear of of your hook. Add a scalloped edge of silver beads to take the opulence one step further. If your recipient is not a flashy gal, try a dry linen or a raw silk yarn and trim the ends with beads that have a subtle matte finish. This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Colorful Crochet Flowers

mekincannon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:48:42 GMT

If you’re like me, you have little scraps of luscious yarns far too pretty to throw away. These little gems of crochet whimsy use up yarn bits too small for anything useful, and they give you the added enjoyment of experi-menting with colorways as you go. Make up a bunch of each of the pieces and then mull all the color-mixing possibilities—you’ll be amazed by how wonderful some of the odd-est color combinations look! Use them for key fobs, bookmarks, and brooches. This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Crochet Flower Brooch

mekincannon — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:40:01 GMT

If you don’t quite have the time to make custom-fitted cozies from scratch (page 78), you can still brighten up the breakfast table with this quick cut-and-handstitched option. Dig through your odds and sods of felted scraps, create a template out of card stock, and start tracing away. For one, I chose a bit of needlefelting and stitching that mimics the Felted Trivets and Coasters (page 114). For the other, I was inspired by the leaf appliqué found on the Wrist Rest (page 96). Decorate in any manner that makes your heart sing. This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Felted Yule Bling

mekincannon — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:53:00 GMT

Unwrapping all the little bits and bobs that are brought out every year to adorn the tree is a tradition in many homes. Finding that some of the fragile treasures did not survive storage is never a happy discovery. A modern take on traditional Swedish cut-felt ornaments, these bits of bling will last from year to year. Crochet circles worked in the softest fingering-weight alpaca are felted, stitched, stacked, and held together in a neat package with a simple braided ribbon. This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Felted Trivet + Coasters

mekincannon — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:47:05 GMT

Crochet is the way to go if you want perfectly felted circles. These circles are great practice for a crochet and needlefelting newbie—any “imperfections” will disappear in the wash, and dots are easy to master with a felting needle. Add a loop, and the trivet can be hung near the stove and double as a quirky and convenient pot holder! This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.

Cheerful Earmuffs

mekincannon — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:16:09 GMT

Those who live in cold climates know that combating chilly ears in a stylish way can take a lot of imagination—especially when avoiding “hat head.” Ears will stay toasty and passersby will smile when these quirky muffs appear. I reclaimed the frame from fake fur muffs that had knocked around my closet for far too long. If you don’t have your own old frame, take a trip to a local rummage shop. Who knows what else you can find there that will inspire you for other projects? This pattern can be found in Mags Kandis's Gifted.