I am crocheting a summer top out of a cotton/soy blend, and I'm not sure how to finish it. I need to create straps and I was planning on lacing it up the back. I would rather not use a plain chain stitch because it is too thin and because it twists too much. I thought I read about some sort of double chain stitch, but I can't find it anywhere.

Does anyone have any ideas for a thicker chain stitch that doesn't twist so much?

My mother is opening a knitting/crochet/fiber arts/needlework shop in South Haven, Michigan!

Projected opening is July 1st. It will be in downtown South Haven on Center St. (Right where Whispers of Yesteryear used to be, across the street from Maria's and Foundry Hall.)

In a friendly atmosphere, there will be tables and chairs for projects and classes, chairs and couches around a fireplace for chatting, and a selection of refreshments and coffee for sustenance. The idea is that this will be the perfect place for friends to knit or crochet (or whatever!) together.

I will bump this post when the store is actually open- anyone living in or near South Haven will definately want to check it out!

Wasn't sure where to put this- I figured that it doesn't fit into "Polymer Clay"!

Anyway, I was helping my parents with some landscaping here in southwestern Michigan, and we found a TON of clay.

I would love to be able to use it to create pots (/whatever I want, haha), but I have no idea where to start. How do I refine it? How to I "cook" it? I do not have a kiln, though I'm sure I could gain access to one if necessary..

I am especially interested in how Native Americans may have done this, or how other primitive cultures still do it to this day. Wouldn't it be cool to re-create the clay wares that they really use(d)? Does anyone know where I can find information on Native American groups that live(d) in Michigan?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Here's some of the stuff I've made recently! I can't post pictures at this point because I haven't made 10 posts yet. Sorry. But you can always click the link

1-5 are my first resin experiments. 1 is just words from a magazine, and I put it in a bottle cap, and the rest are plants that I picked up, washed off, and stuck in there. I don't know if they'll be well preserved in there or if they will eventually turn brown or what. I think they look pretty cool for now, though!

6 are my version of the pill earrings. I think I might have to disassemble them and coat the pills with something, though. I didn't really think of that when I put them together.

7 are just very simple crystal earrings.

8 is a bottle cap pendant.

9 is a pendant I made out of computer parts. I still have to put a jump ring on it, though.

Hope you all like them!

Amanda

I crocheted a bikini top yesterday. I got the idea from this thread: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=59504.0. I didn't use a pattern at all, I just did what she said she did. "All I did was make the square for the top part of the triangle, then I went back and forth across 2 edges.  I measured myself from my nipple up to how far I wanted the top to go and that's how big I made the square, corner to opposite corner."

So anyway, here's what I came up with:



And here are some pictures of it on me:





You can see that it doesn't really fit very well. Not only is it way too small, but the nipples aren't in the right place, so the shape is off too.

Oh well, it's still pretty cool and I'm proud of it. lol

I just crocheted and fulled (felted) a basket! I was planning on using it to keep my current projects in, but I think it might turn into a cat bed..


Please excuse the lighting and slight fuzziness, I couldn't get the pictures to look as good as the basket does..

Before fulling:



And after:

I'm taking a Design class in college, and we're using india ink. My professor said to be reallly careful with it, because it stains clothes like crazy. And that got me thinking: could I use india ink to write on- stuff? Anything? Clothes? Only cotton? Myself?

I realize that's a really odd question, but I thought someone here just might know..

Thanks in advance