Knotted Headband with tshirt yarn I think tshirt yarn is perfect for a knotted headband! I even have a quick video on how to form the knot. I think we've all seen that fun Knotted Headband by You Seriously Made That - - here's a refresher: Cami did a great job and I followed her tutorial for the "knot" part of the headband. If you're wondering how to make t-shirt yarn, just cut strips from an old tshirt (mine were maybe 3/4 in wide) and then pull on them til they turn in on themselves. Want to see my video tutorial on how to make this knot?? Views from my 4 year old photographer: And a weird self-portrait-in-the-mirror, trying to show the headband: UPDATE: I finally got around to taking a semi-better picture. I think it turned out great and I enjoy the subtly of the gray. Super quick and easy. Knit T Shirt Headbands are so great to make and wear - I've made a bunch of other different styles, so head to that post if you're interested in other options:
The Finished Project. It's a..... Pillow! I started with one of my old t-shirts, cutting 1 1/2 in wide strips from it. Using the longest stitch, I sewed right down the middle of each strip. I ruffled each strip by pulling the bottom thread and easing the gathering along the thread. This takes a while so I sat and watched a couple of episodes of Veronica Mars while I did it. I laid out one of my husbands old dress shirts and started laying down the ruffled strips to see how wide my pillow would be and to make sure I had enough ruffles to go all the way across the shirt. Once I had all the ruffles down, I knew how wide to cut my pillow. Using the side seam of the shirt as a guide, I started sewing the ruffles on to the back of the shirt, going down the center of each strip, right over the original basting stitch. Here it is with all the ruffles attached. Turn the shirt over and button up what is now the back, then turn the shirt inside out and sew the top and bottom of the pillow. Unbutton the shirt and turn it right side out.
T-Shirt Crafts Have you caught the cleaning bug? If getting organized in the new year is on your to-do list, chances are you have – or are planning to – tackled your closet and dresser drawers, pulling out clothes that you no longer wear. If your “to donate” and “trash” piles include some old t-shirts, you might want to move them over the keeps instead! Related Reading: 24 Ways to Reuse Old Sweaters Old t-shirts are great for crafting, even ones that are beyond wearability. Image Credit above: Remixed Creative Commons photo by Dano Sewing with T-Shirt Fabric T-shirts are made from jersey fabric – a stretchy, knit material. Jersey’s stretch and knit give it some unique properties. That curl can work to your advantage, too! You also use different tools to sew jersey. The stretchiness of jersey is great in a final product, but while you’re sewing it can be tricky. Don’t Panic! Don’t let all of this scare you off! Ready to do some t-shirt crafts? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. photo by Becky Striepe 9. 10. 11. 12.
Build a Bat House Photos and story by Carla Brown, NWF Web Producer I love bats because mosquitoes LOVE to bite me. Pesticides mostly kill the mosquito's predators rather than mosquitoes. According to Bat Conservation International, a single bat can capture 500 to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single hour! Bats are also interesting because: In many ecosystems, they play a key role in pollinating plants. Before I share my bat house building experience, let me say that I am no carpenter. Why Build a Bat House? You might be surprised: bats don't always live in caves. Your goal is to make a bat house that mimics the space between bark and a tree trunk. You might wonder why you need to build a bat house. A bat house is also is a great way to provide cover for wildlife, as well as a place for wildlife to raise young--two components of becoming a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat site. How to Build a Bat House That was not how I had pictured a bat house. Supplies Needed to Build a Bat House
Recycled Wine Bottle SoyWax Candles and by NuancesOfAmor Natural Tonic: Richard Schulze The Master Tonic - A Natural Antibiotic by Richard Schulze, University of Natural Healing Based on a tonic by John Christopher Raw Unfiltered Unbleached Non-distilled Apple Cider Vinegar 1 part fresh chopped garlic cloves 1 part fresh chopped White Onion (or hottest onions) 1 part fresh grated Ginger Root 1 part fresh grated Horseradish Root 1 part fresh chopped Cayenne Peppers or the hottest peppers available, i.e. habanero, African Bird, or Scotch Bonnets, etc. Fill a glass jar 3/4 of the way full w/equal parts by volume (i.e. a cupful each) of the above fresh chopped and grated herbs. Shake at least once a day for two weeks, then filter the mixture through a clean piece of cotton (old T-shirt, etc.), bottle and label. This tonic is extremely powerful because all the ingredients are fresh. The dosage is 1/2 to 1 ounce, two or more times daily (1- 2 Tbs.). For ordinary infections, 1 dropper full taken 5-6 times a day will deal with most conditions. Ingredient properties: Dr.
DIY Beeswax Survival Candles I was surprised by the overwhelming reaction to our post on DIY Survival Candles back in February--it has become by far the most popular single post on T-Blog. I wanted to follow up with a how-to for using beeswax for candle making. A good, 100% natural, chemical-free beeswax is the highest quality wax you can get, burning brighter and hotter for longer than other waxes. Beeswax is more expensive than the soy wax that we used on the survival candles--around three to five times the cost, I've found. Because of its expense, beeswax is probably best when you really need to maximize your candle horsepower in a given size/weight package. Beeswax also has a high melting point of 144 to 147 degrees, so if you want to leave a candle in a vehicle, beeswax is your best bet. To make beeswax candles, the procedures are similar. Supplies Needed: BeeswaxWicks - square braid cotton wicks are traditionally used for beeswax candles. Again, beeswax is difficult to clean up.
The Bee Buzz Rendering Beeswax I've done a fair amount of research on rendering beeswax, and I think I've tried every method known to man. At the end of each of them, I ended up with several hours invested in figuring out how to refine the wax from the big mess I made during the process. Lucky for you, I am here to show you what I learned - minus all the mistakes I made along the way. Hopefully, you will find this useful and save yourself from the frustrations I experienced the first few times I attempted to render wax. I'm going to give you a list of items you'll need during this process, but first there is something you should know. large stainless steel pots (you want stainless steel so that nothing leaches out into your wax) Cool, clear water Empty, clean half gallon milk/juice carton with top cut off (the kind that's coated with wax inside) Knee high panty hose Wax Screen - or lots of cheesecloth Newspaper And now we're ready.
MODERN HOMESTEADING A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency Planning a garden in advance can help you enjoy local, homegrown food year-round! Estimate how much to grow or buy and learn how to achieve food security with these guidelines. Backyard Chicken Facts - 5 Things No One Told Us A few facts that might help you decide whether or not to get chickens for your backyard. Best Guard Dog for Your Homestead Read guard dog training tips and advice on guard dog breeds best suited for your needs. Build This Predator-Proof, Portable Chicken Coop Our newest low-cost portable chicken coop plan makes raising backyard chickens easier for just about anyone. Deep Litter Chicken Manure Management Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the deep litter system and how you can manage a small flock’s manure easily and efficiently. Home Cheesemaking: From Hobby to Business Artisan cheesemakers who aspire to make their passion a profession will face many challenges on the way to establishing a successful business. Live on Less!
Pectin - What it is, how it works, how to use it, the different types if pectin and where to get it! Pectin - What it is, how it works, how to use it, the different types if pectin and where to get it! This month's notes: April 2014: Spring is just around the corner. Strawberries are here in Florida, Texas and California, next in late March and April for much of the South, then in May for most of the country and June in cooler northern areas. See how easy it is to make strawberry jam or strawberry-rhubarb jam! Organic farms are identified in green! Subscribe to our: Email alerts; Follow us on Twitter Add this page to your favorites! Pectin is a naturally occurring substance (a polyscaccaride) found in berries, apples and other fruit. Your grandmother probably didn't use pectin. You can do that if you wish.. but I'll use the prepared pectin - it is completely natural and safe. Most pectin you buy at the supermarket is produced in Europe and imported to the U.S.. After the jam has been heated and starts to cool, a gel starts to form. Gelling problems Too stiff or lumpy jam Runny Jam
Sacred Earth - Uses of Plants: The colours of Nature - Vegetable Dyes Human beings are not born with a naturally beautiful dress, like some extravagant birds with their attire of exquisite feathers. Instead, we have to draw on our own ingenuity and creativity when it comes to designing our apparel. In a previous newsletter we talked about natural fibres. Flax, hemp and nettles are but a few sources from which we have learnt to spin fine yarns and weave into textiles. Alas, in their natural state, they are as plain as our skin. The search for natural dyes to give colour to our world in art, fashion and design is as ancient as it is universal. Even in societies were traditionally very little attention is paid to clothing, 'paints' usually derived from ochre, chalk and charcoal have long been used to decorate the birthday suites, at least for special occasions such as rituals, healing ceremonies or initiations. But colours convey more than just artful fancy. Colour is code. Some colours were exceedingly precious. The basic process: Some common dye plants:
Dye - Dyes From Plants - Pioneer Thinking Did you know that a great source for natural dyes can be found right in your own back yard! Roots, nuts and flowers are just a few common natural ways to get many colors. Yellow, orange, blue, red, green, brown and grey are available. Go ahead, experiment! Gathering plant material for dyeing: Blossoms should be in full bloom, berries ripe and nuts mature. To make the dye solution: Chop plant material into small pieces and place in a pot. Getting the fabric ready for the dye bath: You will have to soak the fabric in a color fixative before the dye process. Color Fixatives: Salt Fixative (for berry dyes) 1/2 cup salt to 8 cups cold water Plant Fixatives (for plant dyes) 4 parts cold water to 1 part vinegar Add fabric to the fixative and simmer for an hour. Dye Bath: Place wet fabric in dye bath. Muslin, silk, cotton and wool work best for natural dyes and the lighter the fabric in color, the better. NOTE: It’s best to use an old large pot as your dye vessel. Shades of ORANGE Shades of BROWN