DIY: Pallet Christmas Tree/ How to Make Christmas Tree out of Wood Pallets

Happy Holidays to all!

With the help of my Honey-do Man, I've created new wall display this Christmas season. It is environmentally-, budget-, allergy-conscious; and pine needles free. But what I liked the most about this Pallet Christmas Tree is that I was able to display all my Christmas decorations - ornaments stood out.

As you may noticed, I have a green accent wall in my living room, becoming focal point of the space.  I've used two pallets - upper and lower - for this project (should I mention that most of the work in creating this tree was done by my Honey-Do Man?):

Before:

We messed up little bit and accidentally cut the tip of the "tree", but I've covered it with the star. Tree stump is simply a decoration: I should of piled up some presents in front of it to hide it, since it is not the prettiest stump 😀  And yes, we did use little bit of a green spray paint on pallets.

Tree is attached to the wall with screws in two spots (upper and lower pallet) like this:

Next step: in the spaces between planks, hammer in small tack nails. I hang my Christmas ornaments on them and - tack nails also helped to keep strings of lights in place. Something like this:

Conveniently I have a power outlet right behind the tree - starting from the bottom hang lights, hiding wires behind the tree.

Pallet Christmas trees can be different is sizes. I wanted our to be at least 5 feet tall - I have a spacious living room. If you have a smaller room, you may want to use only one pallet.

We really enjoyed and admired out Pallet Christmas Tree this year. There is something magical in homemade Christmas decorations, wouldn't you agree?

My name is Uli and I love pallets 😉

Tutorial: How to Knit Owl Mittens. Free Pattern

I'm big fan of cable patterns, I knit them often - scarfs, sweaters, hats, leg warmers - you name it. Since trying a lot of different types of cable patters to my surprise I've never noticed that one of them look like an owl. It's a very easy knit: just add buttons or beads for eyes and - voilà - owl appears.

Turquoise Owl Mittens/ Half Gloves
Yarn: Bernt Sheep(ish) Vickie Howell 70% Acrylic/30% Wool (used approximate half of 3oz/85g ball), Medium Weight (4)
5 Double-pointed needles size 7US/4.5mm + cable needle.

Cast on 36 stitches, working with double-pointed needles join sts into a circle, taking care not to twist sts, place marker after last st to indicate beginning of a round. Divide sts equally, with 9 on each needle. Knit 1, Purl 1 15 rows, same for both - left and right - mitten.

Body of RIGHT mitten 
Begin Owl Pattern:
Round 1-5: Purl

• I suggest dividing sts so owl pattern stays on one needle, it is much easier to work with cables once all the sts are on the same needle. For example: needle #1 - 7st, needle #2 - 7 sts, needle #3 - 8 sts (owl), needle #4 -  14 sts.

Round 6: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 7 (CABLES): Purl 14 sts, Back Cross Cable (C4B - Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit 2 sts from left-hand needle, knit 2 sts from cable needle), Front Cross Cable (C4F - Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit 2 sts from left-hand needle, knit 2 sts from cable needle), Purl 14 sts.
Round 8 (THUMB): Purl 14 sts, Knit 8, Purl 7sts, THUMB: Slip 5 sts to safety pin, Cast On 5 sts to left-hand needle, purl 5 sts,, Purl 2.
Round 9-11: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 12 (CABLES): Purl 14 sts, C4B, C4F, Purl 14 sts.
Round 13-16: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 17 (CABLES with purl sts): Purl 14 sts, C4B but! - slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, PURL 2 sts!, knit 2 sts from cable needle, C4F but! - slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, PURL 2 sts!, knit 2 sts from cable needle; Purl 14 sts.
Round 18-19: Purl 14 sts, Knit 2 sts, Purl 4 sts, Knit 2 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 20: Purl all stitches (at this point owl is finished).
Round 21-22: Purl.
Round 23: Knit all stitches.
Round 24: Bind off all stitches, cut yarn, weave all tails to wrong side.

Thumb:
Slip 5 sts from safety pin onto double-pointed needle. Join working yarn to inner part of thumb opening, pick up 9 sts, place marker (14 sts).
Next 6 Rounds: Purl.
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: Bind off all stitches, cut yarn, weave all tails to wrong side.

Attach buttons or beads for eyes:

Body of LEFT Mitten:

• Knit as Right Mitten, only difference in the placement of the thumb: reverse Round 8:
• Reverse Round 8 (THUMB): Purl 2 sts, THUMB: Slip 5 sts to safety pin, Cast On 5 sts to left-hand needle, purl 5 sts; Purl 7 sts, Knit 8, Purl 14 Sts.

DIY: How To Make a Chair Cover / Slip Cover Tutorial

Welcome!

Making chair covers/ slip covers  became popular in a recent year. It's an easy and relatively inexpensive way of changing decor. And it's not time consuming - it would probably take you about an hour to make one cover and cost $10 (one yard of fabric).  There are different ways to make slip cover, this one is pretty basic.

I would like to start my first tutorial with a little introduction. Like many of us, I dreamed of my own sewing studio. So this fall I started a big project of turning small room is our house into my studio (our daughter calls this room - attic...well, because it leads to an attic). My space needed chairs. And since I couldn't find exactly what I needed (on a budget), I've purchased basic dining room chairs and made covers for them. So let's begin.

After:

Before:

1. You are going to need one yard of fabric, I suggest investing in a good upholstery fabric.

2. Adding a cushion is optional. I suggest securing
cushion with ties:

3. Start with the backrest. Fold fabric over the backrest. On a wrong side of the fabric, pin backrest and back of the backrest together (it should be snug, but not to tight for you to take slip cover on and off).
On a back of the backrest measure a desired length (on a picture you can see it's kind of just hangs low, I did cut it shorter in a process), on a front - it should touch the seat but don't forget about seam allowance. Make seams on both sides. Iron.

4.  Have you ever made totes or bags? To make a beautiful corner on a top of the backrest, I did a simple "bottom of the bag"-like corner:

 Inside looking like this:

Outside looking like this:

5. Next - seat. Again, working with the wrong side of the fabric, pin a piece to form a seat. Don't forget seam allowance. Attach it to the back. Iron. ( I would like to stress the importance of ironing every seam as you go, one of my golden rules when I sew):

6. I consider this the most important and hardest part: attaching the piece that would go around the legs - the "skirt". Working on a wrong side of the fabric, pin "skirt" from one side of the backrest (remember, we left backrest length untouched) to another and all around the seat. Looking like this: 

7. Last step I consider the easiest: hem "skirt" and back. Double fold fabric all the way around and sew. If  "skirt" doesn't "hug" chair legs as snug as you would want, I suggest inserting elastic into the hem but very loosely, giving it just little stretch.

I hope my tutorial helped you in your project. I absolutely love my new chair, and made a second slip cover in a different fabric. 

My studio is still under construction...

Please, don't hesitate to ask any questions. 

Christmas Decor Vol.2 - Little Things

Little Things Make Huge Difference - I'm confident everyone agrees and can relate to. 

During Christmas time when all the big stuff is taking care of and you can find couple evenings wondering what other holiday decorations could bright up your space. This post is about small last minute  gems.

1. Snowflake Tree

During the house renovation we needed an accent wall in our living room. Somehow we agreed on Forest Green, without even thinking that during winter season this wall would be a great inspiration.

• Out of coffee filters I cut out different snowflakes, after all - no snowflakes are alike. I did iron them first before using clear scotch tape to attach it to the wall
• My daughter made the "star" - I cannot take credit for this centerpiece - it was a school craft project. (I'm planning on making post on how to make this paper piece) 
• Christmas stockings are beautiful addition to this Snowflake Tree

2. Candle Light Log 

Unique centerpiece will brighten up any dinner table:

By finding somewhat flat piece of log, I asked my Honey-Do-Husband to drill in using 1 1/2 Woodboring Spade Drill Bit openings for tea-candles and simply adorned with artificial Christmas decorations. 

3. Candle Holders Re-Imagined 

My neighbor was giving these candle holders away. Different thing about them - no bottom. Maybe you have similar candle holders laying around or you actually use it with candles. 

Simply add artificial Christmas decorations inside:

Great Christmas Decoration To All!

Christmas Decor Vol.1 - Christmas Planter

Merry Christmas! And Happy DIY projects to all!

Like all, I stress over holidays. Presents for husband and daughter, in-laws and teenage nieces and nephews, co-workers, teachers, bus-driver... the list just never end. But I also want my house to look festive and inviting, holiday inspired and cozy. So in this post I would like to share some DIY projects for this wonderful time of year.

Christmas Planter (I display it indoors, but photos are so much more beautiful in the outside light and... snow)

My Honey-Do husband made this box/planter for me in no time from a pallet. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is amazed by the re-use of pallets! If you are handy with the saw and nail-gun yourself (I'm not), this is quick project. I helped by rough sanding the edges and smoothing out corner. 

Once box/planter is ready, the rest is up for your imagination. 

Recommended materials:

• Dry Foam (to fill in the bottom of a planter)
• Pine Cones (me and my daughter collected it in the nearby forest; closed at first, they open up in the warm room)
• Variety of Artificial Christmas Decoration 
• Tea Candles
• Birch logs (big candles can be expensive and I'm always on a budget - I wondered if I could make tall "candle holders" out of birch logs. My husband came up with an idea of drilling "nest" for a tea candle inside the birch by using 1 1/2 Woodboring Spade Drill Bit)      

And here you go. Experiment with size and materials. I'm sure this planter box can be used all year long just by changing decorations according to the season. I cannot wait for the summer - I will be filling this pallet planter with flowers!

Tutorial: Knitting Pattern. Using double-pointed or circular knitting needles

Knitting Pattern
This particular pattern design is knitted using double-pointed needles or circular needles.

CHART 1:

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2\ - Ssk - slip, slip, knit these 2 stiches together - a decrease

 

CHART 2:

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*Knit 5 rows of chart 1, knit 2 rows knitwise, knit  rows of chart 2, knit 2 rows knitwise**. Repeat from * to ** untill desired length achieved. 

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine , color: Tiger Eye Mix (1292)
Double-pointed needles size 2US/2.75mm