gifts for baby lily image
Q. My kids want to make some gifts for all the mothers in the family for Mother's Day. We have a whole bunch of baby Aloe Vera plants so, I thought we could plant them in some creative pots.
What kind of paints should we be using that is long lasting and durable on terracotta? Should I put a final layer of enamel or something similar on it when we are finished?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer me!
What kind of paints should we be using that is long lasting and durable on terracotta? Should I put a final layer of enamel or something similar on it when we are finished?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer me!
Answer
Good morning,
I hope this is what you are looking for....DecoArt makes "patio paints"...especially good for terra-cotta pots, these can be purchased at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Here's how I did one last year. First scrub outside of pot with soap and water...then use vinegar to be sure all soap is removed...let dry at least overnight or in the very hot sun. I downloaded a picture of a frog on a lily pad and other objects such as bees, flowers, etc..(I am not a free hand artist by any means). I then used tracing paper to transfer objects to the pot...then used my patio paints to paint them. I let these dry for at least 2 days just to be sure and then I use a clear satin, indoor/outdoor spar urethane minwax spray by Helmsman. This pot I finished was to cover a well head outside and we live in Michigan which gets snow etc. and this pot still looks as good as the day I put it out there. I am going to be making some more for my patio so should you need more info...I would be glad to assist...you can email my yahoo addy.
Hope this helps...Elaine
Good morning,
I hope this is what you are looking for....DecoArt makes "patio paints"...especially good for terra-cotta pots, these can be purchased at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Here's how I did one last year. First scrub outside of pot with soap and water...then use vinegar to be sure all soap is removed...let dry at least overnight or in the very hot sun. I downloaded a picture of a frog on a lily pad and other objects such as bees, flowers, etc..(I am not a free hand artist by any means). I then used tracing paper to transfer objects to the pot...then used my patio paints to paint them. I let these dry for at least 2 days just to be sure and then I use a clear satin, indoor/outdoor spar urethane minwax spray by Helmsman. This pot I finished was to cover a well head outside and we live in Michigan which gets snow etc. and this pot still looks as good as the day I put it out there. I am going to be making some more for my patio so should you need more info...I would be glad to assist...you can email my yahoo addy.
Hope this helps...Elaine
What is a good brand of yarn to use for crocheting?
Tinker
What is a good soft yarn that is good for crocheting blankets and hats? I have been using the yarn from Wal Mart. But, it is coarse and itchy. Where could I find better suited yarn to use? And what is a good brand to use?
The yarn I have been using is Red Heart. I am fine when I use it to crochet, just when it comes to wearing it does it itch me like crazy. Which totally sucks because my aunt makes me all kinds of cute beanies that I can't wear if it touches my skin.
Answer
It isn't necessarily the brand of yarn I would be concerned with. It looks like you are sensitive to certain fibers. Look on the yarn label and try to avoid acrylic and wool. Some nylon can make you itch as well, but not as bad and it is very soft.
Both my sons and I are "yarn sensitive". This is why I usually stick to cotton only on items which will touch our skin, including garments and afghans.
There are lots of different cotton yarns in all different price ranges. Some less expensive types are Lily - Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches & Cream, and Kitchen Cotton by Lionbrand. All of these are worsted weight (same as the Red heart you have been using) and are usually available at Wal-Mart, Michaels Crafts Stores and Joann Fabrics. These yarns work up nicely.
If you would like a higher quality yarn for a finer hat or sweater, I really like Plymouth Fantasy Naturale Yarn. You can buy it online here:
http://www.herrschners.com/Product/Plymouth+Fantasy+Naturale+Yarn.aspx
It is a little more expensive, but it has more yards / ounces per skein than most cotton worsted yarns. I like it very much. It is cabled so it doesn't shred, pill and split as easily as your lower end worsteds. Also, it has a slight sheen which is lovely.
Tahki Stacy Charles makes a good yarn called Cotton Classic. It comes in two weights - worsted and DK "double knitting" weights. DK is between worsted and sport. It is quite a bit more expensive, but, for hats you wouldn't need a lot.
If you would like to try an even thinner choice, say a sportweight yarn, one I really recommend is Grace by Paton Yarns.
http://www.herrschners.com/Product/Patons+Grace+Yarn+1.aspx
Again, it is more expensive than your lower end cotton or acrylic yarns. But it is worth it if you want a garment which will turn out lovely with a fine hand. Cotton yarns which kind of shimmer are mercerized.
My very favorite cotton yarn is by Bernat and is called Cottontots. It is a larger worsted weight. The skeins are large in yardage as well. It is so soft, really nice to the touch. It is a baby yarn and comes in many pastels. But there are also some brighter colors as well, some varigateds, and some new country colors. I really like it and use it all the time.
http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=cottontots&SPP=999
Make sure you don't use too small of a hook when working with cotton. If you want garments to drape beautifully, use a slightly larger hook than called for on the label. Cotton shrinks a bit also. You might consider making it in one size larger to account for shrinkage.
Also, please allow me to give you another word of advice. Do NOT trust the knots that the manufacturer uses to join two ends in the skein. These knots are tiny and do NOT hold. If you are crocheting along and come upon a knot where two ends have been tied together, cut the yarn and join the new end just as if you are beginning a new skein of yarn. Leave at least an 8 inch tail and later weave it in with a darning needle, zigzagging back and forth on the back of the work. I took the easy way out a couple of times and learned my lesson the hard way! The baby afghan I had given as a gift had a big gaping hole in it after it was washed. How embarassing! I was able to fix it for her enough to use, but it never looked "perfect" after that.
Good luck!
It isn't necessarily the brand of yarn I would be concerned with. It looks like you are sensitive to certain fibers. Look on the yarn label and try to avoid acrylic and wool. Some nylon can make you itch as well, but not as bad and it is very soft.
Both my sons and I are "yarn sensitive". This is why I usually stick to cotton only on items which will touch our skin, including garments and afghans.
There are lots of different cotton yarns in all different price ranges. Some less expensive types are Lily - Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches & Cream, and Kitchen Cotton by Lionbrand. All of these are worsted weight (same as the Red heart you have been using) and are usually available at Wal-Mart, Michaels Crafts Stores and Joann Fabrics. These yarns work up nicely.
If you would like a higher quality yarn for a finer hat or sweater, I really like Plymouth Fantasy Naturale Yarn. You can buy it online here:
http://www.herrschners.com/Product/Plymouth+Fantasy+Naturale+Yarn.aspx
It is a little more expensive, but it has more yards / ounces per skein than most cotton worsted yarns. I like it very much. It is cabled so it doesn't shred, pill and split as easily as your lower end worsteds. Also, it has a slight sheen which is lovely.
Tahki Stacy Charles makes a good yarn called Cotton Classic. It comes in two weights - worsted and DK "double knitting" weights. DK is between worsted and sport. It is quite a bit more expensive, but, for hats you wouldn't need a lot.
If you would like to try an even thinner choice, say a sportweight yarn, one I really recommend is Grace by Paton Yarns.
http://www.herrschners.com/Product/Patons+Grace+Yarn+1.aspx
Again, it is more expensive than your lower end cotton or acrylic yarns. But it is worth it if you want a garment which will turn out lovely with a fine hand. Cotton yarns which kind of shimmer are mercerized.
My very favorite cotton yarn is by Bernat and is called Cottontots. It is a larger worsted weight. The skeins are large in yardage as well. It is so soft, really nice to the touch. It is a baby yarn and comes in many pastels. But there are also some brighter colors as well, some varigateds, and some new country colors. I really like it and use it all the time.
http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=cottontots&SPP=999
Make sure you don't use too small of a hook when working with cotton. If you want garments to drape beautifully, use a slightly larger hook than called for on the label. Cotton shrinks a bit also. You might consider making it in one size larger to account for shrinkage.
Also, please allow me to give you another word of advice. Do NOT trust the knots that the manufacturer uses to join two ends in the skein. These knots are tiny and do NOT hold. If you are crocheting along and come upon a knot where two ends have been tied together, cut the yarn and join the new end just as if you are beginning a new skein of yarn. Leave at least an 8 inch tail and later weave it in with a darning needle, zigzagging back and forth on the back of the work. I took the easy way out a couple of times and learned my lesson the hard way! The baby afghan I had given as a gift had a big gaping hole in it after it was washed. How embarassing! I was able to fix it for her enough to use, but it never looked "perfect" after that.
Good luck!
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