The Old Homeplace

Pictures of the frugal (not) lamps!

Here are the lamps before:

Here are the lamps with the new shade covers:

And here is a close up of the edge detail:

They were not too difficult to make if you do not mind doing some careful measuring and making a zillion accordion pleats!!!

I got the instructions here:

Martha Stewart's Lampshade Covers

I just used  Martha's Doily Lace Edge Punch to do the edges before I folded the pleats.

I pretty much followed the instructions in the link except for the decorative bottom edge and I used a table (butter?) knife instead of a bone scorer to score the pleats. I also punched the holes before I glued the edges to make a cylinder.

I know, I still cannot hold the camera still! Sorry for the fuzzy shots!

Knitting Instruction Page Holder

I don't like to mark up my pattern when I am knitting so I came up with a way to keep track of where I am on the pattern without marking on the page.

I use this holder for instructions printed on an 8.5 X 11in. sheet of paper. It could be adapted to any size with some creative stapling though!

1. Get 1 gallon size freezer bag (10-9/16 X 11 in.)
2. Slip pattern page into bag, lining up the right side of the pattern page with the right side of the bag and the bottom of the page with the bottom of the bag.
3. Carefully staple along the left side of the page, right next to the pattern page, being careful not to actually catch the page.
4. Close the top of the bag.
5. Use a Sharpie marker to cross out the rows as you do them. The marks will come off by rubbing with a paper towel in case you need to re-do a row.

Now you can slide your patterns in and out of the bag. You can use the extra space to store your marker, needles or notions while the work is in progress. The bag can be reused several times.

This is my original idea and drawing. Please do not copy. You may, of course, make some for your own use.

Circular Needle Holder

Here is how I am storing my circular needles:

1. Get a small envelope (3-5/8in. X 6-1/2in.)
2. Seal the back flap. Use tape to reinforce the seal.
3. Flip envelope to the front side.
4. Cut off one of the short ends.
5. Label the sleeve with needle size and length.
6. Roll up the cable and insert the needle into the envelope, the way it was in it's original sleeve.
7. Make as many as you need, making sure to cut the same end off each one.
8. Arrange them in order of needle size and length and store the envelopes in a shoe box.

Double Point Knitting Needle Holder

How to Make your own cheap DPN holder:

1. Get a 10-9/16in. X 11in. zip top freezer bag.
2. Using a marker, draw lines about 1 to 1.5 in. apart from the zip top to the bottom of the bag.
3. Staple along those lines, starting a few inches below the zip top closure.
4. Using a permanent marker, label each slot with the needle size.
5. Put needles in appropriate slot and close top.

10-Hour Knitting Project...NOT

This afghan is from the Knit In 10 Hours Afghans and Throws book by George Shaheen. It is called Embossed Diamonds. I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in (0336) Warm Brown. I must be the world's slowest knitter because it has taken me A LOT longer than that and I'm not quite finished yet!

I tried the Russian Join technique for joining the last skein of yarn on this project and I really like it. There are no pesky ends sticking out as there were with my other joins.

I found the instructions at KnittingHelp.com. It's a great site with lots of video how-to's.