Okay... finally borrowed a digicam... here's my version of the Ipod holder. You can listen to it with the book closed, when you want to put it away you can curl up the headphones and put them in your compartment without unplugging them from the iPod. It's a Nano.














The foam holds it so securely that I can throw the book on the floor (cover's held closed with Velcro) with no fears for baby iPod. I don't want even a scratch on it (we're all allowed one neurosis and this is mine okay?)

I thought I had sized the pics and done everything correctly but please tell me if they look odd or wrong to you? I'm a techno-dumbass.

Sarah

I want to buy some flocking, but I can't find anywhere that sells it, including online. I'm wondering whether I have the wrong name for it? References to it on overseas pages seem to be describing solid fabrics.
What I'm looking for is kind of like felt or velvet crumbs. Say I have a box with bare wood or whatever, and I want to line it with felt.

The most even way to do this is to paint the inside thoroughly with glue, and put in a spoonful of these felt crumbs (tiny like dust). Put on the lid and shake real hard so the crumbs go all over the inside and stick to the glue. Open the box and tip out the excess. If this doesn't make sense to you, try visualizing it done with glitter to cover the inside with glitter. It gives a better result than actually putting on fabric.

Does anyone know of other names for this stuff? Maybe I'm searching under the wrong name and that's why I can't find it. I'm in NZ and would consider buying online from NZ or Australian shops if necessary. Have tried hardware shop, stationery shop, and craft shop.Thanks for any help.

Sarah

Hi all
I've found it difficult to get info on sliver online. I want to make thrummed mittens (here's a fairly short page with a good explanation: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/thrumfaq.html )
I've found some nice colours of sliver on Trademe (it's like ebay), but far less choice in roving. I'm having trouble figuring out the difference. I've seen the words used in such a way they look interchangeable: 'sliver/roving', a brief intro to spinning fibre nomenclature that says sliver is basically like roving, but thinner, and an e-mail from the seller says the difference is that sliver hasn't been combed to align all the fibres the way roving has.
Can anyone tell me whether you think this would be appropriate or unsuitable for thrumming? Here's what I'm thinking of buying, it certainly looks like roving to me:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Crafts/Spinning/auction-96671067.htm this has better colour range

but the seller said this would be a better bet for me to thrum with: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=95990076

Any ideas?
Also, apparently I need something with a staple length under 3 inches but not too far under, something 'medium'. Would you consider merino and corriedale fall into that range?

Thanks
Sarah

A collection of useful book-binding/stitching tutorials from other sites, please keep suggesting more to add to the list!:

cut out and keep - Cassette Case Notebook
Zum Gali Gali - Five-stitch Bookbinding
Indistructables - Make a 100 page Notebook
sff - Bind It Fast -
Make or repair books with this easy technique
Trumpetvine - How to Rebind a Moleskine Notebook : Make a Custom DIY Sketchbook!
Curiously Crafty - Journal Tutorial
keikoohnuma - Bookmaking Workshop
My Handbound Books - chopstick tutorial plus other tuts
Book Arts Web - Getting started
Jamie Butler - The Basic Binding of Books: A Tutorial
threadbanger - Book Printing Tutorial
threadbanger - Book Binding Tutorial
Daydreaming on Paper - Make Your Own Journal

How had I not seen this before? Here's a circular needle holder made from spools tied together. BTW I loved knitting the free Ropes and Ladders scarf also on the page:

http://www.pieknits.com/blog/2007/01/tutorial_new_sew_circular_need.html

Sarah

Hi all. I'm from the knitter's forum and thought this would be the best place to ask about Velcro. If not, please let me know!
I'm making one of these ipod-holding books (seriously worth checking out!):http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=131841.0 (scroll down to end of first post).

I'm closing it with velcro, I used a strip that was too long in an attempt to make it more secure (can't have ipod falling out!). It's about 2 cm x 9 - a strip ( almost 1 inch x 3.5 inches). It is too sticky. The book requires a lot of force to open the cover. Worst of all, exerting force by pulling on the right vertical edge of the cover is bending it!
Is there a way to make it less sticky? I don't want to cut the strip smaller, it is in a hole carved to size for it.
Here's what I'm considering - putting some bits of white fluff into the hook half of the Velcro (because the strips are white).

-shaving the fluffy loop part a bit? Will this work? Or very carefully cutting off a single hook here and there? I have scissors small enough to do this.

-making the hole for one strip deeper, so only the most protruding hooks and loops touch each other. Drastic last resort.

Has anyone ever had to do anything like this, or do you have a suggestion/advice?

Thanks
Sarah

Hi all

I have found these divine gorgeous socks from IK I WANT I WANT.

http://cmeknit.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_cmeknit_archive.html -
first picture

But I can't get the magazine here as far as I can tell, even if I had a credit card, and can't find a library with it. So I'm thinking I can maybe figure a pattern out for the socks myself AFTER I work out a pattern for the leaves part. That's the hard bit.

Does anyone have or know of a free pattern for something similar to the leaf part, maybe in a scarf or something? Or anything similar (even if not leafy) in construction? On the net or from a stitch dictionary?

I'm thinking I'll start off with the Touch of Whimsy leaves and Backyard Leaves if I can't find anything closer. Any other ideas?

Thanks

Sarah

Hi all

I just found out that I'll (probably) be going to Hong Kong tomorrow. Does anyone know about wool/yarn shopping there? I'm only really interested in buying yarn (maybe needles). Anything special, or any good sock yarn? I've only been able to find three colourways from one brand here in Auckland. So sock yarn or nice yarn or beautifully-coloured/extra-soft yarn tips from anyone familiar with the area would be drastically appreciated.
Thanks
Sarah

Hi guys
As a knitter who often saw great patterns on the net (especially knitty.com) and despaired of finding the famous Rowan/Noro etc. wools I read about, I was rapt to find a source and had to tell you about all of these designer wools available from Alterknitives, which is open Thursdays 10-4 or otherwise by appointment. Contact knitit@ihug.co.nz. I picked up some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that I had given up on seeing in New Zealand. Leave your credit cards and extra cash behind though or you'll spend much more than you intended! I was sorely tempted by the pure merino chunky on sale at $16.95 per ball down from $25.95! There is also an emporium in Kaitaia with some cheap craft stuff, turn at the Shackleton Amcal pharmacy and you should see it straight away on your left. I've occasionally found nice wool at the Warehouse too.