Products to Get Your Kids Involved in Crafting

Crafting with your children is not just about filling up time with something to do. Crafting activities are times when you engage your child creatively, letting their imaginations shine. It’s also about special bonding while doing something fun. Plus, making crafts involves many fine motor skills that are absolutely necessary in everyday living. With those reasons, who wouldn’t want to craft with their kids?

Holidays, special days and birthdays are great times for crafting because there are endless opportunities for cute things to make. But what to do when your child wants to craft and there’s no holiday or birthday coming up?

Often times, the most creative ideas come simply from the products you have on hand. Many parents will tell you that interests spark once they rummage through the craft drawers. Here are a few of our products we think are ideal for crafting with children.

1. Colorful threads like you’ll find in our cotton blendable collection. These threads are of high quality and are made from 100% Egyptian cotton. There are 84 unique colors to choose from. This type of thread is great for decorating an embroidery project. Headbands are in right now and one can be jazzed up with any of our blendable threads.

2. Our children’s kits are great for beginner lessons on sewing and knitting. With simple steps and patterns to follow, your child will have a beautiful first masterpiece as a quilt of their own or as a gift for someone special.

3. The right kind of fabric can make the perfect project a true success. Since we’re located in Alaska with blistery winter temperatures, a nice warm hat or scarf is a great project idea. For the spring time, you can make a cute skirt or for the summer, how about a custom made swim bag? In our flannel fabric collection you will find many adorable patterns and styles that your child will love.

When you choose Northern Threads as your go-to source for project products, we do our very best to accommodate you and to also give you tips on how to make your next crafting venture a success.

A Solution For Time-Restricted Quilters

For quilters, often times the hardest part about completing a quilt project is finding the time to do it. With busy lives, you might find that your unfinished quilts are left lying around.

While started-from-scratch quilts are challenging and fun, you just might not have the time to dedicate in order for the end result to be what you want. An easy solution to the problem? Purchasing an already made quilt from Northern Threads.

We sell beautiful, quality made quilts that are ready to be hung in your home or for cuddling up with on a cold night. All of the quilts we have for sale are pieced and quilted right in our shop.

There are various designs to choose from. Intricate designs and details have been incorporated into each quilt as well as colors to make it easy for decorating purposes. The quilts come in a variety of sizes as well.

To browse our handmade quilts, feel free to browse on our website. Our already made quilts will give you a chance to enjoy a beautiful quilt without the hassle of trying to find time to complete yours!

The Crocodile Crochet Stitch

The Crocodile Crochet Stitch: A Worthwhile Technique for Those Long Winter Days

Alaska is known for brutally cold temperatures and limited number of daylight hours during the winter months. Due to the extreme climate, you’ll find yourself indoors more and more. Wondering what to do with all of the extra time?

Well, your spare time is a great opportunity to enhance your crocheting skills. Trying your hand at the challenging crocodile stitch will definitely take up time and produce rewarding benefits. Patience and practice are needed to master the crocodile stitch, but when it is 10 degrees below freezing, what else can you do?

The crocodile stitch adds sophistication to any project. The aesthetic appeal is amazing; with a layered, bumpy affect, it resembles the crocodile’s skin. The stitch is variegated, which shows the different color shades and highlights the intricate crochet method of the crocodile stitch. 

For an easy-to-follow step by step guide, watch this YouTube video provided by The Crochet Crowd.

You might want to approach this stitch by trial and error. Don’t focus on a finished product until you’re confident enough that you can complete the stitch.

Once you’ve mastered the crocodile stitch, it’s time to plan your project! Pinterest has a variety of beautiful ideas. From baby booties, to scarfs, purses, hats and blankets, you’ll have no problem finding a project that suits your interests. 

Don’t forget, you can purchase your yarn from Northern Threads. Give us a call today and we’ll recommend quality brands of yarn for a challenging technique like the crocodile stitch.

Explore your creativity with Zentangle

Looking for a new way to steer your creative energy? We think trying your hand at the Zentangle method will be well worth it. Zentangle is a way of creating stunning images by drawing structured patterns.

Zentangle, requiring a series of steps, is quite easy to do and offers many relaxation benefits. Because Zentangle has an unusual and non-traditional approach, the artist doesn’t have to worry about meeting expectations, stressing over the technique or worrying the final result won’t look right.

Aside from drawing beautiful images, Zentangle “increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well-being.” Zentangle also promotes personal creativity without the use of programs or complicated tools. Everything you need can fit right in your pocket.

At first glance, Zentangle may appear to be complicated. Once you begin, you’ll see that it’s a series of pen strokes drawn over and over. Mistakes are common, but rather than starting over, The mistake just leads to a brand new pattern. The simplistic method promotes relaxation, which is why some people choose to work on their Zentangle in the morning or right before going to bed.

This artistic method is not just for experienced artists. Anyone can learn how to create a Zentangle. It’s fun, it’s calming and the finished product is rewarding.

Relaxation through Crafting

Here in Alaska, there are many days when the weather can be snowy, windy and cold. On days like those, we like to relax through crafting.

When you have some downtime away from the chores of work, crafting helps you escape into a peaceful world of your own, or into a group of like-minded crafters working together on projects. Crafting is a great hobby because it can be done solo or with friends and family, with casual conversation while “making something with your hands.”

Knitting, Quilting & Embroidery Classes at Northern Threads

Knitting has become quite popular again and with exciting new fabrics and styles on the market, many people are eager to learn how to apply these techniques to their own projects. Courses and classes at Northern Threads are designed to help both new and experienced knitters and sewers take the mystery out of fabric and offer skillsets and tools to sew with confidence.

Northern Threads’ classes give attendees the chance to experience different types of sewing classes from beginner and on, which are taught in well lit studios, taught by educated instructors. Some people are interested in learning about the art of sewing and knitting, while others can’t wait to master the skills so that they may create beautiful and lasting pieces to wear or give as gifts. At Northern Threads, class attendees will learn a variety of stitches and techniques that can be used for many different projects.

Classes available at Northern Threads include an embroidery class wherein participants learn about embroidery machines and software. The skills learned in this frequently offered class focuses on editing designs, using 5D embroidery and many different projects to create on an embroidery machine.

Does anything beat stitching a quilt by a cozy fireplace in Alaska? We can’t think of anything better! Quilting class attendees will partake in the comprehensive educational components of quilting for all experience levels. Participants will learn how to incorporate general curves, paper piecing and other unique designs through quilting classes. And with the Paper Piecing Club, exclusive to Northern Threads, participants can improve their skills while working toward creating quilts, bed runners and more.

Visit the Northern Threads website today to check out our available classes; we also offer an Unlimited Classroom Pass that gives you all of our classes for one amazing price!

Make Baby Products Yourself and Save Money!

For those looking to save a little money, make something personal and unique for your baby, up-cycle or re-use something old or outdated – consider crafting and creating your own goods. It can bring you, and the one you hold so dear so much joy. And you might gain some perspective on the effort, or ingredients that go into making things such as baby food, clothing, toys and furniture!

Anyone who has been baby shopping recently can see that the prices on many of the things our littlest members require are outrageously overpriced. Many people see things and say, “I could make that myself!” And in many cases, it’s true! So, what’s stopping you?

Begin by creating a list of products you might be interested in making for your baby. If you are a first time do-it-yourselfer, start simple. Consider homemade baby food, soap and laundry detergent. After you start checking labels on store-bought foods and products, you will notice ingredients that serve no purpose, are potentially harmful or are down right no good. When you make your own goods, you have a deeper appreciation for what your baby consumes, and how your baby reacts to more eco-friendly and body-friendly detergents and soaps.

You can also learn to make baby clothes. There are patterns and fabrics for all types of styles. From sweet summer rompers to winter mittens and hats and clothing for seasons between, making clothes can be fun and personal. You may also want to make cloth diapers for your baby. This is another eco-conscious practice that can make you can feel good about the fabrics touching your child as well keeping slow-to-degrade diapers out of landfills. Getting personal with baby bibs, carriers and wraps can also create a bond between you and your baby. You’re sure to keep goods out of the landfill this way because you will never want to part with them, even when your baby grows up! Of course, these goods can also be passed down for generations, which is a major incentive.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of goods you can make to save you money, bring you peace of mind, or just create lasting memories for you and your baby. And when you make it yourself, you’ll also have some great stories to tell your child as they get older. Have fun crafting!

Winner of our Tip and Photo contest

We asked for DIY, trick, tips and helpful hints for sewing and non sew products(last month was for quilters and embroiderers).  This was the winning photo and tip of the $50 dollar gift certificate to Northern Threads.

Keeping control of bits of thread Uploaded by Lona Boyarsky with this tip:

“Use a sheet from a sticky tape pet hair roller for a sticky place to put your snips of thread. The sticky surface keeps the threads in place, rather all over the table and the floor.”

This entry was exactly what we had hoped for.  Thank you for participating.  We look forward to other promotions in the coming months.

Snip of Superstition – Superstitions About Scissors

It is not surprising that modern cross-bladed scissors would have many superstitions surround them since most household items that have been in parts of our history as far back as early 100 AD hold some imagined ideas with them.  Here is a list of some of those beliefs:

Hope you didn’t use your scissors this past New Year as you might have “cut off” your fortune or wealth for the year.
Decrease the likelihood that your house will be struck by lightning in a storm by putting your scissors away.

Placing a pair of scissors under your pillow may help a variety of pains.  It is said that a woman in labor can “cut her pain in half” by doing so.  Likewise it would halve the discomfort of any others in bed ridden pain.  Some believe that putting an open pair of scissors is a way to sleep better even if you are cursed.

Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is being unfaithful.

Breaking one blade is an omen of quarrel, while breaking both blades is a sign of an impending disaster.

Do not give scissors as a gift or the friendship will be “cut in half”.  To subdue this superstition a little money should be exchanged for the scissors as buying them doesn’t count.

Ward off evil and witches with a pair of scissors nailed above a door in the ‘open’ position, so they somewhat resemble a cross.

The cross-bladed scissors origins point to Rome but have a widespread place in international cultural superstitions as well which can be specific to a region.

• To curse a bridegroom in North Africa wait until he is on horseback, then hold an open pair of scissors while calling his name.  If he answers you, snap the scissors closed and he will not be able to consummate the marriage.
• It is bad luck to idly open and close scissors without a purpose in Pakistan.
• It is held in some Eastern Europe countries that leaving scissors open causes disagreements and discord within a household.

Thank you for reading and good luck!

New DIY Photo Contest and a tip for thread color

Congratulations to Dana S. for winning the quilting and embroidery photo contest in December!  The tip she included with a photo of Floriani embroidery thread was “Generally, choosing a thread color that is a shade darker than the project’s fabric is a good idea. The darker shade of the thread helps it to seamlessly blend into the project. ”

Now through the month of January we are holding another photo contest and the winner will receive a $50 gift certificate from Northern Threads!  This contest is similar to last month’s Quilting and Embroidery 101 Photo Contest! In this contest you will upload an original photo and include a tip or trick that relates to Sewing and Non-sew products.  Enter this contest on our Facebook page.

The fans choose the winner so vote daily for your entry or a friends entry.  The entry with the most votes on 1/31/13 will win the gift certificate.  Keep up to date by following us on Twitter and remember to find more tutorials as well as tips and tricks from our pins on Pinterest.