Just in time for Thanksgiving!

NEEDLE FELTED PUMPKIN WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 6TH 

12:30

THE SHEARED SHEEP

2675 IRVINE AVE #E

COSTA MESA, CA 92627

(949) 722-7977

COME TO THE SHEARED SHEEP ON NOV. 6TH AT 12:30 AND LEARN TO MAKE YOUR OWN LITTLE FELTED PUMPKIN JUST IN TIME FOR THANKSGIVING.  

FOR 25$ YOU WILL RECEIVE ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND TOOLS NEEDLED TO MAKE 2 SOFT LITTLE PUMPKINS!

Peppermint Headband Tutorial

The peppermint headbands we used in Willy Wonka this summer at The Music Room School of Performing Arts were a total hit. With Halloween and Christmas quickly approaching, I thought you might want to make one of your own.  Here's a little tutorial to help.

MATERIALS 

(These can be found at your local craft store, or at the links I've provided)

Glitter Foam Sheets 1 Red and 1 White 

Styrofoam Disk (this link is for a 1"/3" disc... but a larger disc can be used for a louder look)

Fabric Covered Headband 

Scissors

And a good old Glue Gun

Cut 2 circles (one red and one white) about 1.5 inches larger than your styrofoam circle.  Specific measurements are not needed here, you will trim edges at end.

Fold red circle in half and then in half again.

Take two folded corners and fold them back toward main folded edge.

These folds will give you a cutting guide without measuring. Yay!

Cut along each fold without cutting all the way through the circle. Leave about 1 inch across between each slice. Triangles will be slightly uneven. This is good. It gives each peppermint it's own personality.

Cut off every other triangle with a flat edge. Triangles will not come to a point. Glue red piece to white circle.

Make a small cut (about 1.5 inches) into the white circle along the side of each red piece.

Fold and glue the white edges down. They will overlap.

Fold and glue red triangles own and trim edges along bottom of styrofoam.

Glue Peppermint to the side of fabric covered headband.

Place on your own head, or on the head of a real cute kid.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

FPSC - A TUTORIAL ON FRONT POST SINGLE CROCHET STITCHES

 I've been working on a pattern for my Dahlia-lightful design for quite sometime now.  It uses a type of stitch that I haven't seen explained anywhere. As I mulled it over, I redesigned the flower a bit, and came up with this sweet little headband/lariat and this vintage inspired fascinator.   I am now ready to publish patterns for both designs. Yahoo! (find the pattern here!)

    In both patterns I use a stitch I would call a Front Post Single Crochet (fpsc) stitch.  It is similar to the more commonly used Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc) stitch.  As I explored this stitch, I was amazed by how infrequently it seems to be used. While fpdc was one of the first "different" stitches I learned (I was quite obsessed with giant fpdc afghans about 10 years ago), I'm currently excited about the possibilities of the fpsc.   

    It creates another level of crochetable stitches that are sturdy and lie flush up against the horizontal fabric with out the space created by a fpdc.  So... here's a little tutorial I put together on a stitch I've been using for quite sometime, that I think can open new possibilities for a new direction in crochet. 


    So get out your hook at try adding a fpsc into your day! : )  


Here's my definition of a FPSC - 


Front post single crochet (fpsc) – Keep hook in front of piece, insert hook from right to left around post of indicated stitch (figure 1), YO (figure 2) and draw up a loop(figures 3 and 4), YO (figure 5) and draw through both loops on hook (figure 6).

   

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

TA DA!!!

Here's a few other pictures that might be helpful as you complete a row of fpsc stitches.

Starting the second stitch in the row.

5 completed fpsc stitches

Starting the last stitch in the row.

This is a dc being worked into the previous fpsc.  Because fpsc's are shorter than fpdc it could be tempting to go into the st from 2 rows before (where my thumbnail is).  Make sure you go into the stitch that looks like it is in the back.  

See how the fpsc rows add a flat vertical playing field. You can now start crocheting a whole new piece of fabric right to these fpsc stitches. 

 These stitches were worked into the previous row of dc stitches.

In the middle, I alternated a row of fpsc with a row of dc. 

Again the fpsc rows add a flat vertical playing field. 

 These stitches were worked into the previous row of sc stitches. 

This swatch is made with 3 rows of sc, 6 rows of alternating sc and fpsc followed by 3 rows of sc. 

***This is my first tutorial and it is dedicated to Ash who didn't know how to do a fpsc. I think there are a lot of people out there who don't know how to make a fpsc. I hope this helps.