I’ve been really focused on crochet lately. Last year, I started my first afghan, and I quickly got hooked (ha ha, get it?) on crocheting afghans! I just finished my 11th afghan last week, and I’m already halfway done with my 12th. Scroll down below to get a glimpse of my most recent afghan.

After I spent over $100 on my first afghan, I realized that I would not be able to keep making them if they cost that much. So, I started looking for cheaper sources of yarn, and I was thrilled when I found bags of yarn at my local Goodwill for about $7. I was able to get enough yarn to complete an afghan for about $30, which was much more reasonable! Of course, since I like to use neon yarn in my afghans, I still end up buying a few brand new skeins once in awhile.

Over at eBay*, I have come up with 9 Ways to Save Money on Knitting and Crochet. I use several of these methods, and I look forward to trying a few more of them! (*I wrote that article as part of a paid collaboration with eBay.)

So, ready to see my most recent afghan? Check it out (you can click on the right side of the photo to scroll through my album):

And here's my 11th #epicafghan – already started on the twelfth! #crochettherapy

A post shared by Heather Mann (@dollarcraft) on May 7, 2017 at 6:42pm PDT

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If you’ve ever done much knitting or crocheting, you’ve probably found yourself left with the limp, hollow shell of a center-pull skein, or bought yarn in a hank. In both of these cases, conventional wisdom says you should ball the yarn to make it easier to use for the next project, but buying a ball wonder can be an expensive proposition. However, Karen from I Always Pick the Thimble has a trick up her sleeve, using a pill bottle to wind her own center-pull balls! Oooooh, fancy! [how to make a center-pull yarn ball]

Project estimate:

• Yarn, on hand
• Pill bottle, on hand

Total: Free!

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Unless you live in Australia, the last thing anyone wants to wear in August is a knit hat. This, of course, shouldn’t stop you from making a quirky hat your shark week knitting project. Designed by Allison, The Knitting Ninja, this shark hat is perfect for men, women and children alike. [how to knit a shark hat]

Project estimate:

• Size 9 DPN knitting needles, on hand
• Size 8 DPN knitting needles, on hand
• 200 yards bulky weight grey yarn, on hand or $3 and up
• 50 yard bulky weight red yard, on hand or $3 and up
• White scrap yarn, on hand
• 2 Black Buttons, on hand or $1 and up
• Needle & thread

Total: Free and up!

More shark crafts:
Follow Mrs. Greene’s board Shark Week! on Pinterest.

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Do you know anyone who knits?  We’ve found the perfect gift to make for them!  How adorable is this knitter’s necklace?  Designed by Think Crafts contributor Stephanie, this quick and easy project will be treasured by the yarn lovers in your life.  (Heck, I can’t knit to save my life, and even I want one for myself!)  It’s also a great way to use up those tiny bits of yarn that are too small for many other applications.  [how to make a knitter’s necklace]

Project estimate:

• Large bead, on hand
• Head pin, on hand or $1 and up
• String or yarn, on hand
• Toothpick, on hand
• Small beads, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Chain, $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

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One of  the craft blogs I follow very closely is Craft Hope.  The site organizes various crafting-for-charity projects throughout the year, each time collecting a specific handmade item to donate to a different cause.  They have just announced their 15th project, creating sock monkeys to distribute to children in Texas.

It was a very, very hot summer in Texas, and the resulting dry conditions have paved the way for devastating wildfires.  Entire towns have burned to the ground, leaving whole communities with not a possession in the world.  Craft Hope founder Jade lives in Texas, and will be personally handing out the monkeys to children whose families were among the over 1,600 who lost their homes this summer.   The mailing deadline for the project is November 24, 2011.  [read more about making sock monkeys for Texas children]

I’ve already headed to Dollar Tree and bought a few pairs of socks.  If you want to help as well but have never made a sock monkey before, here is a list of tutorials (all pretty much the same) to get you going:

• Sock monkey tutorial at Craft Stylish (excerpted from the Craft Hope book)
• Sock monkey tutorial at Craftbits
• Sock monkey tutorial at Super Sock Monkey
• Sock monkey tutorial at Web Goddess

For something a little different, I also found sock monkey knitting and crochet patterns from Patons Yarn (scroll to the bottom of the page for pattern links).

The post Crafting for Charity: Sock Monkeys for Texas appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Want to knit but can’t get the hang of knitting needles? This is a neat trick: use an oversized comb as a knitting loom, which is a lot like finger knitting. Over at Cut Out + Keep, user Zydonia tells you how to do it. You can knit a scarf or other small project this way! [how to knit with a comb] [via]

Project Estimate:

• Large comb, $1
• Yarn, on hand or $1 and up

Total: $1 and up

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Every year I like to learn a little something new about knitting. Fair Isle knitting looked so beautiful and complex, but beyond the grasp of intermediate knitters like me. To my delight, I received a copy of Fearless Fair Isle Knitting by Kathleen Taylor. Not only does it have 30 original sweaters, socks, mittens and more, but there is a whole section of introduction, “Taking the Fear Out of Fair Isle” to help get the fearful started.

Fearless Fair Isle Knitting by Kathleen Taylor,
The Taunton Press, 2011
Retail: $24.95
Fearless Fair Isle Knitting at Amazon

Kathleen tells us that Fair Isle is working with two colors in any given row, actually knitting with only one color at a time. There is a chart to follow to make the pattern. With a little practice, it’s not that difficult to switch between the two colors. The results will make you smile!

I started with a hat pattern. It’s small and gave me a chance to get used to the double strands in my hand. After I got the hang of it, I adapted the pattern charts to make my own twist on the book’s designs.

The book is full of beautiful projects and patterns to choose from. It gives instruction for more advanced Fair Isle as well. It talks about “steeking” and gives steps for steek construction. I think I’ll save that part till next year. I hope the men in my family enjoy their Fair Isle hats for Christmas.
Kathy Varis is Heather’s mother, and a lifelong crafter.

Disclosure: review copy was provided, affiliate link

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What do you get for the knitter who has everything?  How about making them a blingy set of custom needles?  Craftster user ammasmamma came up with an easy way to make custom knitting needles, the centers of which contain glitter, yarn, or anything else you can fit inside.  She shows quite a few variations on these hand-cast beauties, showing a bunch  of different possibilities to get your imagination moving.  (If I make myself a pair, think they will be enough motivation for me to finally learn how to knit?)  [how to make custom resin knitting needles]

Project estimate:

• Drinking straws,  on  hand
• Polymer resin, on hand or about $8 and up
• Clay, on hand
• Glitter, yarn, or other embellishments, on hand
• Buttons or polymer clay, on hand
• Dremel or sander, on hand

Total: Free and up

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Recycled t-shirt crafts are so much fun, but I have found that I’m just not that into wearing recycled t-shirt necklaces. Maybe because I feel weird about wearing a t-shirt necklace with a, um, t-shirt, but those necklaces just don’t work for me. I’m LOVING these finger-knitted bracelets by Vanessa Christianson at V and Co., though! I love the color, love the texture, and I especially love that they are comfy and cozy. I hate wearing prickly or jangly bracelets, but I could definitely see wearing these (and feeling like I’m in my PJs, but being oh-so-accessorized). These bracelets are awesome because: they’re made from recycled t-shirts, finger knitting is easy, and this is a great project to stick on your summer crafting with tweens and teens to-do list! [how to make a recycled t-shirt finger knitted bracelet]

Project Estimate:

• Recycled t-shirt, on hand
• Your fingers, on hand (wocka wocka!)

Total: $FREEEEE

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A few months ago, a friend offered me a big bag of yarn she’d somehow acquired despite being entirely un-crafty.  Of course I accepted; I mean, really, who can turn down free supplies?  Included at the bottom of the bag was a collection of knitting needles.  This would be an awesome score if not for the glaring reality that I couldn’t knit my way out of a yarn basket.  I have them tucked away for safekeeping on the odd chance that I one day get around to learning, but I have a feeling they’re probably destined for an alternative use.  I’m loving the look of these knitting needle bangles by Jess of Epheriell Designs.  Now there’s a use for these darned things that I know I can handle!  [how to make knitting needle bangles]

Project estimate:

• Plastic knitting needles, on hand or $1 and up
• Boiling water, on hand
• Mandrel or other round object, on hand

Total:  Free and up

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