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You guys! Christmas is gonna be here soon!!!! Can you even believe it? As Christmas approaches, there is a fair chance your to-do list doubles, or even triples in size.  Today, I’m asking you to question your list. Every item on it, who is it for? How does it make you feel? Here’s the thing, there is a fair chance that there is something on your list that you don’t really want to do. Maybe you don’t want to send Christmas cards, or write a letter, or attend a certain party, or do a work Secret Santa.  Is it Worth It? So many people justRead More →

Finished Sammy the Snowman- Crochet pattern from Annies 2018 Christmas special-- My Workbasket

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Is it too early to talk about Christmas and snowmen? My cold fingers and the electric blanket on my bed say no. My heart says yeah, it’s too early. I know crafts take time to make though, so if I want to talk about it, it’ll be too late! SO before it’s too late to talk about it, my cold fingers are typing this for you to enjoy. (My fingers are cold because it is cold and we keep our house a bit chilly. Save money and wear a sweater!) Recently I requested a review copy of the Annies special Christmas craft issue and theyRead More →

Fun videos with a dose of yarny goodness! -- My Workbasket

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I made a Yarn Tube! Yarntube 2 is below. I show off the current Christmas Projects I have going, and more. Just a bit of goofy fun on this snowy day! Yes it’s snowing here again!!!   Some things I reference in this video: The Ann Shawl The Hot Mat Fail The Puff Stitch Hat The Tunisian CAL   I hope everyone is toasty and warm, and cozy, and just working on all your own projects and getting ready for the holidays! I love you guys, thanks for sticking around!Read More →

The Advent Calendar that wasn't, and how I was suckered by my 10 year old.

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Several weeks ago I got the idea of making an advent calendar. I wanted to make mini mittens and hang them on a line. I decided not to crochet them though because I wanted my son to help, so I opted to use felt. Cut to shape, sew, hang. I was going to share the pattern and directions here with you. I bought a stack of felt. I mentally prepped my idea. I asked my son about 20 times if he was ready to make it. I ordered a case of 20 Hot Wheels cars to put in it. (I was going to grab moreRead More →

An overview of a Pack-o-Fun Magazine from December 1968 -- My Workbasket

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I’ve mentioned my Pack-o-Fun stash here before. In fact, since I won an eBay auction in August for a decent stack I since got a great deal a thrift store for another stack just a few weeks ago. My collection is quickly growing! Even more exciting is two random stacks and not a single duplicate! Just for fun, I wanted to share a few highlights from this December  1968 issue. I’m hoping to even make a few of these crafts this month! I have to say, that nativity, that’s a lot of matches. The mobile is quite simple and cute. You could probably make oneRead More →

Have fun and make this adorable chocolate house!

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I’m going to go on the record and say that I pretty much eat my weight in gingerbread every December. It’s true. I have a family recipe that makes about 500 cookies (seriously, it uses almost 5 pounds of flour) and my family eats it day in and day out, constantly. Three cookies will constitute a breakfast or lunch. That said, I was over at The Chocolate Belles – cake decorating and candy making supplies website the other day, and saw a chocolate house mold and HAD to have it. I wrote them a quick note and they sent it right over. This chocolate cottage isRead More →

The cover and craft highlights from a December 1960 magazine issue-- My Workbasket

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December 1960! When this magazine cost 15 cents to pick up at a newsstand, and as the handwritten note says shows “knit cuffs!” Also in 1960, the US was the first to legalize the Birth Control Pill. Queen Elizabeth made it known her family would be known as the House of Windsor. The Beatles made their very first ever public performance. Perhaps you were reading Lady Catterly’s lover, this year it was unbanned in the England after 32 years, or maybe you were more of the To Kill a Mockingbird type.  If you could afford $219.95 for a 23″ tv then you could watch theRead More →

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I know I’ve told you how much I LOVE Granny Squares. I just discovered this book and immediately added it to my wishlist. I just spent the day photographing vintage magazines to feature more Christmas crafts or else I would be buying this book right now! How CUTE is this!!?!!?!?!?! Only $8.99 for the ebook, of 15 patterns. So Cute you guys! I may not be able to resist it, even though I know I shouldn’t order it my fingers are itching to. If you think it’s as cute as I do, it’s worth noting that Annie’s Currently has a coupon code for 25% offRead More →

Free crochet pattern for the Zen Mug Cozy! My Workbasket

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October! While I write this it is freshly October. It feels like October, it smells like October, there are pumpkins everywhere (and Christmas Decorations at the stores! BUT let’s not get me started on that.) By the time is post is live and you are reading it I bet it will be 80 degrees again, BUT let’s focus on FALL and the fact that it is here! Fall and Winter are a time to get cozy, to drink hot beverages and to relax. People can’t hibernate the way bears do but I personally get pretty close. To help enjoy this time in I designed thisRead More →

Highlights from the September 1967 Workbasket. I'll be making projects from this issue all month long!-- My Workbaskt

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September 1967, a time for Lonely Hearts Club (the Beatles released that famous album in June) but you won’t have  a lonely heart if you desire an interracial marriage. Thanks to Loving vs Virginia that was declared legal this year. 475,000 men were off in Vietnam, so you could have been lonely for them though. It was a year of protests and upheaval in many ways. Exciting things were happening and not just at war or protests against them. Evil Knievel jumped 16 cars on on his motorcycle. Elvis Presley married Priscilla. The musical “Hair” was showing off-Broadway. People were watching Doctor Who, The BeverlyRead More →

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As I write this it’s the Saturday before Halloween (the post is scheduled to show up in a few days, so it’ll be after Halloween when you read this.) My son sat at the table carving a pumpkin, and I sat on the couch knitting Christmas Ornaments, well, Christmas Ornament, single. I’ll probably make more, but probably not today.  Behold, the tiniest stocking I’ve made so far in my life: The pattern was super easy, no mistakes or errors, very easy to follow, and only took maybe an hour or so to complete. I chose not to sew on any extra ornamentation, but I didRead More →