This squeaky rat obviously needed laser eyes, and I was happy to oblige. I cut out his old eyes, and wired two LEDs in series to a 3.6v lithium battery. It's hard wired, but should last a good while. The tinyish battery even fit inside the face, making everything tidy looking.

Instructions for nylon net scrubbers

These scrubbers are safe for Teflon coated pans

Materials needed:

Nylon netting in your choice of colors

(I got 2 yds of green and purple for 67 cents per yd at Walmart)

Corresponding color thread or blanket thread (heavier)

(if you use regular thread – double thickness on needle)

A big eyed needle

Scissors

A black wide marker

Optional but Helpful: a cut piece of foam board about 6 inches wide for holding net while cutting and for measuring width of cut.

1. Arrange netting double-thick like it comes off the bolt, place cut 6” wide foam core board on top of netting and cut one section (double thick) the width of the fabric (about 36” long).

1. If you want to make a fluffier scrubber, cut 2 of these sections.

1. Fold the netting in half along its length and mark with a wide marker so you have a sewing guide.

1. Thread your needle with a double thread at least as long as the length of fabric.

1. Sewing by hand a tightly spaced over and under seam along the netting you have cut.

1. Gather the netting into a “pom” and stitch together firmly at the center.

1. Tricky part: From the center of your “pom” fold down each “leaf” of the pom and guide the needle from the center into this new fold, stitch several times at each fold.

1. Fluff the pom so that it appears reasonably even.

1. Ta-DA! I was more satisfied with the double-thickness scrubber.

1. A yard of fabric would cut into 6 – 6” wide strips. If you use 2 strips for each scrubber, that would yield 3 scrubbers per yd of fabric.

  The great thing is that the netting is so cheap. You can also try combining two or more colors per scrubber.

(download)

Click here to download:

Easy_to_make_gifts_Nylon_Scrub.zip (1002 KB)

Revisiting that darned onesie just one more time, post-pajama party.  Knit cuffs to make it easier to push the sleeves up and keep them out of a syrupy breakfast.  Actually pretty easy, now that I've gotten the hang of working with stretching the knit to match it to the woven material.  Cut a piece of knit twice as tall as you want it to be on the sleeve, making sure the ribbing runs perpendicular to the sleeve edge.  Sew it into a tube, fold it in half wrong sides together, and press.  Turn the cuff upside down and place around the outside of the sleeve (garment should be right side out).  Sew or serge along the seams, stretching the knit as you go, making sure to sew through both thicknesses of the knit cuff.  fold the cuff right side up and you're done!  It helps if you line up the seams of the cuff and the sleeve and sew that part first, or they will never come close to lining up.

There are 2 industrial sewing machines at my craft-space, both with lamps that didnt work.  Using some spare electrical cords, a soldering iron, wire strippers and a screw driver, I was able to replace the wiring in the lamps and make them work.  This is very good for when the sun goes down and I want to see just how close my fingers get to the serger blade. 

Tatting is an early 19th century method of making lace. This is just a teeny start using the shuttle method but without a shuttle (i.e. using about an 18" length of embroidery thread.)

All you have to do to post to the craftaweek blog is email! Attach your pictures, video, whathaveyou and your subject line becomes the title. It's super slick!

cheers!
clamoring

"Putting the eek in geek"
http://www.clamoring.com/