How to make Pajama Shorts!! :D

Hey guys! I went to the store today and saw this cute fluffy fabric, and it made me think of pajamas. We bought the fabric and I put together a tutorial for you, about how to make PJ shorts! :D **Editors note: I said in one of the videos that you don't have to make the shorts two layers... I take it back!! Make the shorts have two layers!

Materials:
-Fluffy, soft, or cute fabric of your choice
-Fabric Chalk
-Scissors
-Shorts or shorts pattern (You can get shorts cheap at a thrift store)
-Ribbon (optional)
-Sewing machine (recommended) or Needle and thread

Step One:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/i7aaf261882b240f895ba8c1424cc544f

Written instructions: Get a pair of shorts and cut ONE of the sides of the shorts. Then cut the part of the shorts that goes in between your legs. Iron the shorts, so they are flat and easier to work with.


Step Two:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/iece9c0c3042449f190de7846f55c92f2

Written instructions: Place the shorts on the fabric you're going to use and trace the shorts with fabric chalk, or bar soap. Cut along the line.


Step Three:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/ie3aaaf53c0824a9b9eb69bde41dc7ec2

Written instructions: Flip over both pieces of fabric, so that you see the underside of your fabric. Stack both pieces of fabric on top of each other, and then sew both pieces together on every side except the two sides if you lay the fabric horizontally.

Step Four:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/i97dbdc75d6d943c492974b60b9e2b85c

Written instructions: Flip the fabric right side out... That's all you really have to do for this step so watching the video is completely pointless.. :I (and find ribbon that you like ;) )

Step Five:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/if917f695472941faaf0349324b7cb42f

Written instructions: Measure how long your shorts are with a tape measure or ruler. Then take that length and measure X amount of inches on your ribbon. Add an extra 2 feet or so. Once you cut your ribbon, fold the ends over about a centimeter and sew a seam, so the ends don't fray. Next measure how tall your ribbon is and put that measurement on the top of the shorts sew a line that is as tall as your ribbon down the top of the shorts. Then sew the two sides together and sew the part that goes in between the legs to the rest of the shorts. (PS its easier to understand if you watch the video)

Step Six:
Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/i090734fe8bc54a87b73236b456ced077

Written instructions: Cut two slits about in inch apart on the front of the shorts. Then where the seam was, cut a slit in front, and on the other side of it to make it so you can thread the ribbon through.

Step Seven:

Video: http://mailvu.com/msg/ie9dfcb07d6084b96aab78ef1b1dd5a67

Written instructions: Attach a safety in to one of the sides of the ribbon, and put it through on of the slit in the front. Then when you get to the seam, make it go out the first slit and back in through the other. To move the ribbon through bunch up some fabric in one hand and with the same hand grab the safety pin through the fabric and with the other hand pull the fabric so it un-bunches. As it un-bunches it will also have pulled the ribbon through. When you get back to one of the other slits, pull it through the slit, then take the safety pin off. Make the ribbon even and you have successfully made a pair of PJ shorts!! They also make wonderful gifts!

Keep it Nurby! ~RK

(P.S. Here is a picture of the outcome: http://www.picanom.com/from_a_friend/163801d0d3eb8a9e71759a6849aa06b4.htm)

Searching for the Art Drawer II TRAILER

The Art Drawer Studios and CB Productions present. . .

The movie will be filmed BY December of this year. 

How to Make a Heating Pad/Microwavable Beanie Bag

Hey guys! Its RK again.. I still haven't uploaded any pictures to my photo blog... Because I'm a procrastinator... :D But, I have a video for you! It's about how to make a microwavable heating pad/beanie bag. You can put it on cold feet, cramps, sore necks or backs etc, under your knees, or any where that you are cold. You can put them under your bed covers to warm up your bed before you go to sleep as well! I can't directly upload the video 'cause don't know how to on the computer I'm using. So I gave you a link instead.

How to make the beanie/heating pad: http://mailvu.com/msg/ic6e8526632234481ac188a1d5260cb8d

Materials:
-Iron
-Fabric/old T-shirt
-Scissors
-Sewing machine and thread
-Buck wheat/Rice (Buckwheat is recommended)

Written instructions:
1) Iron out two pieces of fabric. If you don't have fabric use an old T-shirt. Put a book on top of the fabric and trace around it with fabric chalk, or if you don't have fabric chalk you can use an alternative: bar soap.
2) Cut around the outline of the book. Make sure that your two pieces of fabric are the same size.
3) Sew only 3 sides of the beanie with a sewing machine. You should now have a pouch. Flip the pouch right side out and fill 1/3 of the way with buck wheat.
4) Making sure that all the buck wheat is at the bottom of your pouch, sew the open side of your pouch closed with the sewing machine. Then trim any excess fabric off.

How to make the Beanie Case: http://mailvu.com/msg/i2dd21b2c0b26441498eafaefdec955cc

Materials:
-Iron
-Scissors
-Fabric/ old T-shirt
-Sewing Machine and thread
-Your beanie

Written Instructions:
1) Iron out some fabric. Cut out a piece 2 times as LONG as the beanie plus an extra inch. Make it the same WIDTH of the beanie plus an extra inch.
2) Flip the fabric to the side you WON'T see when you make the case. Then fold the fabric over about a centimeter on both sides of the fabric. When you fold it, iron it so it stays.
3) Sew along the folded parts of the fabric to make a seam.
4) Flip the Fabric over to the side you WILL see in your end result.
5) Fold the fabric over a little less then half way. Iron down so that the fabric stays in place. Fold other side of fabric so that it over laps the first fold.(It should be folded so that you can't see the side of fabric in your end result).
6) Put your beanie OVER the almost done case to see if the beanie will fit inside. If the beanie will fit, then sew the sides together.
7) Flip your case right side out.

How to put the beanie in the case, How long to microwave it, and other important things: http://mailvu.com/msg/i4cdb43273f7643db840f325e729e3308

Written instructions:
Microwave for about one minute, depending on how hot you want it. To put the beanie in the case, Stick the bottom of the beanie in one of the flaps. Then pull other flap over beanie. You can buy Buckwheat in the produce section of a grocery store. If you can't find it ask someone who works there. If they don't have it you can use rice instead, but buckwheat just works better.

If you have any questions, or need clarification, please feel free to ask! I really hope you like this creation!! It comes in handy at winter time too!

Keep it Nurby! ~RK

CB's Strange Art

I have just created a blog for my crafts and such! See it at www.strangeartcb.blogspot.com! Thank you! I will post craft tutorials and more on CB's Strange Art! You guys are awesome!! :D

Loom-Knit a Cell Phone Pouch

I was inspired* by something I saw on Pinterest, but I went back to try and find it to give credit for inspiring me, but I sadly could not remember where I found it. So if you have seen a pattern or tutorial for these little striped monster cell phone pouches similar to this pattern, please tell me so I can credit them. :) Thanks!!

*(Though I did create this pattern myself)

What You Will Need:

• Two balls of yarn, any colors (you will knit with these as one)
• Straight knitting loom (I used about half of the pegs on the red Knifty Knitter)
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

How To Make Them:

To make the case itself:

1. Cast on 8 pegs (counting both sides, 16 pegs in all).
2. Knit 28-29 rows and bind off, leaving a long tail of both colors.
3. Using the yarn needle and tail, sew the farthest left stitch on the bound-off end to the farthest left stitch on the first row. Do the same on the other side: Sew the farthest right on the bound-off end to the farthest right stitch on the first row.
4. From the bound off end, count out (going down) 8 rows and sew the farthest left eighth stitch to the bound-off end. Do the same on the other side: Count eight rows and sew the farthest right eighth stitch to the bound off end. Now there should be a short flap. Sew the rest of the open sides closed (NOT THE SLIT THE BOUND-OFF END AND THE BEGINNING END CREATE!!). Now it should look somewhat like the picture.
5. Turn it inside out.

To make the hand strap: 

1. On your loom, cast on two pegs (counting both sides, 4 pegs in all).
2. Knit 10-12 rows and bind off, leaving a long tail of both colors.
3. Knot the tail from the other side of the strap so that it will not unravel.
4. Using the yarn needle and tail, sew all sides of the end of the strap to the back of the pouch. You will sew it to the middle of the 2nd and 3rd stitches from the seam. Cut the yarn. Knot the end of the yarn still on the needle to the other end of the strap. Do the same on the other side: Sew the end to the middle between the 2nd and 3rd stitches from the seam. Make sure both sides are securely on.
5. Cut off any long strings that are left.

(Tested) OPTIONAL: A loop and button:

1. In the middle of the two center stitches on the top of the largest pocket (the bottom one), sew a large button.
2. This will feel very strange to do: Using both colors as one, cast on 1 peg. There will be one peg on each side. So, in all, two pegs are used. Bring your working yarn outside the first peg, and wrap it bak around to the peg across from it, creating like an S. Repeat this process until there are two loops on each peg. Knit regularly, and re-wrap the pegs the same way to make there be two loops on each peg again. Knit 8-12 rows, depending on HOW big your button is. Bind off by picking up the loop NOT connected to the working yarn. THEN pick up the other loop. Bring the first loop over the second loop and drop it. Cut the working yarn, leaving a good size tail. 
3. Once satisfied, tie a small knot on the loop where you want the top to be. After you tie this knot, there are two strands coming out of it.
4. Directly up from it, on the smallest pocket (top), use the strands coming out of the knot to tie the loop to the case.

Now you are done! If you added the loop, you can keep more than your phone in your pouch! You might keep your wallet, change, etc.

Feel free to put my tutorials on your blog or website, but please give the Art Drawer credit! :) I would love for you to send us a link if you do! :D (If you already have put our tutorials on your website before I told you that you could, that is okay, too!)

Random + Writing,
CB

P.S. If you like this idea, but want something a little different, maybe more secure, check out my post "Loom-Knit a Button Pouch." This version has the large pocket the same, but the top is a lid that folds down over the bottom and fastens with two buttons.

[UNTESTED!!!] CB's Hot-To's: How To Make a Bird Puppet (Sock loom)

Make a cute little UNSTUFFED, knitted bird puppet!

What you will need:

Adjustable sock loom (adjusted to any size)

2-5 different colors of yarn (body, beak, mouth, white[eye], black[eye])

Yarn hook

Scissors

Yarn needle

BODY - Begin just like a sock. 

BEAK - When you get to the heel, switch to another color (probably orange or yellow) do it exactly as you would, but decreasing to ONE peg, then back out. [OPTIONAL: Right after you get down to one peg, you can switch to another color for the inside of its mouth. Probably pink.] Knit a few rows around. Do another heel in the exact place of the first and in the exact same way. [OPTIONAL cont'd: Do the pink when decreasing, and switch to the yellow or orange when increasing.] 

HEAD - Switch to the first color of yarn. Continue knitting and finish like you would a sock (and DO tie off). 

EYES - Using a yarn needle, for the white of the eyes, sew an asterisk shape, or a star-like shape. Do this on both eyes. Then sew a much smaller asterisk of black in the middles of the white for the pupils. 

WINGS - Adjust the loom so that it is 2 (technically 4) pegs closer to the stationary short edge. Do (only) a heel out of the body color. Again, decrease to one peg, then increase. Tie off. Do another of these. With a yarn needle, sew them closed (separately) and then sew them to the body of the puppet in their appropriate place.

I admit, I have not tried this, I only thought of it because the heel on my sock that I am making turned out like a beak. I have no idea if all of this would work right. If you know that it would not work right, please tell me in the comments. Or even if you have a concern, please tell me. Or especially if you have tried this! Unless someone confirms that this method would work, and unless you have lots of yarn, I suggest not trying it because it probably wouldn't work... Sorry! I feel kinda guilty, like I am giving you wrong info... I am not! It is just an idea!!! ;D

Sock Loom!

I got a sock loom today! It is a rectangle of metal pegs that are closer together. It has a sliding short side of pegs to help vary in sizes. It is pretty much a tighter, and adjustable round knitting loom. It is very easy to make socks on this type of loom.

Please check out some video tutorials on how to knit socks like this. I doubt instructions I write will do you much good. ;)

More updates to this post soon, so check back in a bit! :)

Forth of July and Photography

Happy Fourth guys!!... Oops.. I'm late... Awkward... Okay not really, but I have made the page for my photography! It's really cool actually! I honestly havent uploaded any pictures YET but I will very soon! I just have to get somebody to help me figure out how to upload pictures onto the computer first. And I have to find a USB cable. :3 Don't worry I'll get the pictures up soon! You can subscribe to the page before I post the pictures so that when I do post the picture an email will be sent! I'm sure you'll love them! I'm actually not that bad! http://rkesphotos.blogspot.com/

Keep it Nurby! ~RK

Loom Knit a Ball (Round and Straight Looms)

Check out these in instructions from http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/loomed-ball.html. These instructions are not mine, they are copyright Becky Hardy, 2006. NONE OF THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE MINE. I did not create these directions or change them in any way.

Using a Knifty Knitter Newborn Loom (blue loom)

• Using 2 strands of worsted weight, 4 ply yarn held together, e-wrap the loom 3 times around. Leave a 6" tail at the beginning. 
• Double Knit  (2 wraps lifted over 1 wrap) around and around until a ball is formed.
• Remove with the gathering off method. (Like you would for a hat top).
• Gather it tightly.  Stuff with fiberfil.  Then thread the initial 6" yarn tail into a yarn needle, and weave it in and out of each stitch on your initial round.
• Gather tightly and weave ends under several times.  

(The copyrighted stuff ends at this point)

Now you know! This could be used to create a stuffed animal or anything else that takes a sphere. In the picture on the linked page where these directions originally came from, the ball looks to have about 15 rows, 7 or 8 stitches across. If you can count them more accurately, please do comment to us and tell us YOUR number!


You should also be able do this on a straight loom. Same stitch as the above directions.

Knit a rectangle, 8 stitches wide, 5 rows. Tie off regularly. Cut a long string from the ball of yarn and tie on end to on of the top corners. Use a yarn needle (not a knitting needle) and draw the string through the top row of stitches, away from your knot. Gather it and tie it so the top row has become like a corner. Do the same with the bottom (different string). Turn the points towards the inside and sew some of the open side closed. Stuff it with stuffing. Tada!


I tried to do it on a straight loom exactly as the round loom instructions say and I made a cucumber. SO I gave it to my dog as a new toy! :)


If you find it is easier another way, or have better instructions please do comment or email them! Thank you very much!

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