Category: Cabin Crafts

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Holiday Pattern Roundup

Liz Chandler's Holiday Craft DIY Roundup with knitting patterns, crochet patterns, and easy DIY gifts and decorations at PurlsAndPixels.

Holiday DIY Craft Roundup: Knitting, Crochet, and Craft Patterns from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels

With the holidays fast approaching, I’ve gathered all my festive knitting, crochet, and craft patterns into one place to help you add some handmade charm to your season. Whether you’re decorating your home or creating heartfelt gifts for Christmas, these projects are perfect for crafters of all levels!

Explore Christmas DIY Projects

Below you’ll find the most exciting handmade holiday crafts:

🧤 Tiny Mitten Ornaments

🍬 Peppermint Twist Garland

🍭 Cherry Candy Cane Potholder

🎁 Learn to Knit Gift Set

🏷️ Santa’s Gift Tags

🍪 Cookies as Gifts – Shipping Tips

🎅 Santa Hat and Gloves

🎄 Mini Santa Hat Ornament

Tiny Knit Mitten Ornaments

These adorable mini mittens are perfect for trimming your tree or crafting a festive garland. They’re also a wonderful holiday DIY craft for using up leftover yarn. Quick to knit and irresistibly cute!
🎄 Get the pattern here

Learn to knit holiday ornament mini mittens with this free knitting pattern sample from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Peppermint Twist Garland

Create a fun candy-cane-inspired garland to decorate your tree, staircase, or mantle. This simple chain project is a great activity for kids and adds a handmade touch to your decor.
🎄 Find the pattern here

Learn to crochet a peppermint garland with this easy tutorial from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Cherry Candy Cane Potholder

This oversized potholder doubles as a festive decor accent. Its chunky yarn construction makes it both quick to knit and sturdy enough for holiday entertaining. Pair it with a candy cane centerpiece for extra holiday cheer!
🎄 Get the pattern here

Easy cherry candy cane pot holder knitting pattern a quick holiday knitting project from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Learn to Knit Gift Set

Delight the aspiring crafter in your life with a DIY knitting gift basket! Include essentials like yarn, needles, scissors, and a link to my online beginner’s guide. It’s a thoughtful gift that lasts a lifetime.
🎄 Find out how to make it here

Give the gift of handmade by creating this do-it-yourself (DIY) Learn to Knit Gift Set. Get the list of everything you'd need to start your knitting lessons without buying any supplies.

Santa’s Gift Tags

Add a magical touch to presents from Santa with these printable, customizable gift tags. With this quick holiday DIY craft, you can edit the design to personalize for your little ones. Use them year after year for a charming family tradition.
🎄 Download the tags here

Printable "From Santa" Gift Tags for Christmas, a Free DIY project from Liz Chandler

Cookies as Gifts – Shipping Tips

Send holiday cheer to faraway loved ones with homemade cookies! Learn my tried-and-true tips for packaging and shipping cookies so they arrive fresh and intact.
🎄 Check out my tips here

Homemade cookies baked fresh from the oven are my favorite holiday gift to give. When loved ones are far away, you can ship cookies to their homes. Find Liz Chandler's tips @PurlsAndPixels

Santa Hat and Gloves

Keep your family cozy and festive with matching Santa hats and gloves! This beginner-friendly knitting pattern ensures everyone looks adorable on Christmas morning.
🎄 Get the pattern here

Santa Hats and Gloves in all sizes knitting pattern from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels

Mini Santa Hat Ornament

Tiny Santa Hats make anything more festive! Knit them for tree ornaments, garlands, wreaths, and gift boxes.
🎄 Get the pattern here

Learn to knit Tiny Santa Hat mini ornaments with this free knitting pattern from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Looking for more inspiration? Browse my holiday articles filled with cozy crafts and clever gift ideas:
🎄 Liz’s Holiday Gift Guide

🎁 DIY Gift Ideas

💞 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas: Handcrafted with Love

🎃 Halloween DIY Pattern Roundup

🏡 Cozy Home Inspiration

🛍️ Shop Cozy Gifts on Amazon

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Crafting!

I hope this Holiday Pattern Roundup got you in the mood to create something amazing! I can’t wait to see what you create!

Cozy Lifestyle
Learn to Knit
Shop Books and Patterns

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

Love cozy knitting projects? Join me on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram! And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get more free patterns, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌

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How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.
How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Whether you have unraveled a project or just have some leftover yarn, by now you probably have some scraps that are in need of organization. Winding yarn into neat balls keeps your strings from becoming a hopeless tangled mess. While there are many ways to coil yarn for storage, center-pull yarn balls are the most versatile; they allow you to work directly from either end of the string.

(In the article below, I have linked to items on Amazon.com, so you can see examples of the equipment I reference. Please know all links to Amazon are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through them, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Now, on to the important information.)

Center-Pull Yarn

Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Each ball of yarn is made of one long strand with two ends. There are a number of ways to coil the yarn so that it does not tangle. Some yarn is pre-wound into center pull balls or skeins (tube-shaped balls) by the manufacturer. When you see a string coming from the center of the ball or skein, you can probably work directly from either end.

Working from the center of a ball is often more convenient. When you work with the end on the outside of the ball, the yarn will likely roll and flop around. Yarn bowls and containers can help keep your yarn from escaping. But center-pull balls can be even more effective at reducing the movement of your ball of yarn. Pulling from outside of the ball forces it to roll. But when you pull from the center, the yarn uncoils without turning the ball.

Many yarn-makers, however, wind their yarn into “hanks” instead of center-pull balls or skeins. To make a hank, the manufacturer makes one large circle of yarn then twists it together for storage and shipping. Hanks are incredibly difficult to work from directly, so to use yarn that comes in a hank, you will need to wind it into a ball.

Winding frogged yarn, scrap yarn, and hanks of yarn into center-pull balls keeps yarn neat, organized, and ready to use.

Machines like “yarn swifts” and “yarn winders” are available to assist you in turning yarn into a usable form. A yarn swift holds the yarn from a hank in place while you wind your ball. Then, you can use a yarn winder to turn that yarn into a “cake” which is much like a center pull ball. Or, instead of investing in fancy machines, you can use just your hands and wind hanks, leftovers, and frogged yarn into center-pull balls.

Video Guide: How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

Written Guide: How to Wind a Center-Pull Yarn Ball

Below I’ll show you how to wind a center pull yarn ball step-by-step. I am winding the ball from a larger center-pull skein so that I can knit two items at once from the same yarn. I also wind partially used skeins into new balls for tidier storage.

Step 1: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 1:

Drape the yarn end between your left pointer finger and thumb, laying it across your palm.

Step 2: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 2:

Clasp the end of the yarn with your left ring and pinkie fingers, then, with your right hand, pick up the other end of the yarn just above your left pointer finger. With the strand in your right hand, begin to wrap the yarn over the top of your left pointer finger.

Step 3: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 3:

Bring the yarn down between your pointer and middle fingers, then between your thumb and pointer finger, forming a loop around your left pointer finger.  

Step 4: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 4:

Wrap the yarn around your left thumb in a counterclockwise motion.  

Step 5: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 5:

Wind the yarn up between your left thumb and pointer finger to form a figure-eight (8) shape.

Step 6: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 6:

Continue wrapping the yarn around your pointer finger and thumb in figure eight shapes (as in steps two thru five).

Step 7: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 7:

When you have wrapped the yarn around your fingers in figure eights at least 20 times, you can stop and move to the next step. To make a larger ball of yarn, wrap more figure eights; when the yarn wraps reach your left thumb knuckle, move to step eight.  

Step 8: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 8:

With your right thumb and pointer finger, pinch all the strands at the center of the figure-eight shape (just between your left thumb and pointer finger).

Step 9: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 9:

While continuing to pinch the center of the yarn figure-eight with your right hand, gently remove your left hand from the yarn loops.

Step 10: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 10:

Continue to pinch the center of the figure-eight with your right hand.

Step 11: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 11:

With your left hand, fold the two loops of the figure eight up, toward each other, pinching them together over your right thumb.

Step 12: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 12:

While continuing to pinch the loops with your left hand, gently remove your right thumb. Pick up the yarn strand you have been winding with your right hand.  

Step 13: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 13:

Gently wind the strand in your right hand around the yarn you have pinched in your left hand. Be sure you do not wrap the tail end of the yarn into the ball, or you will lose your center-pull. Also, try not to wind too tightly; this can make yarn lose its stretch.

Step 14: Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Wind Yarn into a Ball, Step 14:

Continue winding your yarn around until you have formed a ball in your desired size. Always ensure you do not wrap the center-pull end into the ball. When you are finished wrapping, clip the yarn with scissors (if necessary). Carefully tuck the end that you held with your right hand into the ball to secure it in place.

Learn to wind a center-pull yarn ball with just your hands in this lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you’ve been following my lessons, you now have enough information to knit all of the washcloths and face scrubbies in my Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection. Happy knitting!

How to wind yarn into center-pull balls by hand - a lesson with Liz @PurlsAndPixels.

Up Next

Next up, a lesson about gauge. Learn what gauge means in knitting and you to check your gauge to make sure your knits end up the right size.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

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Shipping Cookie Gifts

Homemade cookies baked fresh from the oven are my favorite holiday gift to give. When loved ones are far away, you can ship cookies to their homes. Find Liz Chandler's tips @PurlsAndPixels
How to ship cookies for gifts and care packages, tutorial from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

How to ship cookies for gifts and care packages

This year the holiday budget was a little tight, so I decided to make everyone cookie baskets for Christmas.

Christmas cookie gifts. How to wrap cookies for gifts, tutorial from PurlsAndPixels.

For our nearby friends and family I picked up some round, decorative plastic boxes. I used cupcake papers and aluminum foil to separate the different types of cookies and arrange them nicely.

Packing up bundles of pretty cookies to give as a gift is not too difficult to do when your friends and family are local, but much of my family lives over 2000 miles away. It took a bit of creative packaging, but I was successful at shipping cookie gifts cross-country. Let me show you how I did it so you can ship your on cookie gifts for holidays and care packages.

Choosing the right cookies

Choose your favorite cookies for this project, because almost* any cookie will do. Give a big batch of your favorite kind of cookie, or make an assortment and let them try a variety of your homemade baked goods. I especially like to share Soft Gingerbread Cookies shaped like Hippos for Christmas (recipe here).

*If you plan to ship your cookies in the mail, choose cookies that are on the denser and thicker side. Treats that are especially thin or fragile can be tasty, but probably wont make it thru the mail. The cookies pictured held up well in shipping.

For my gift baskets this year, I made gingerbread cookies, snowball cookies, chocolate chip cookies, fudge, and peanut brittle. I’ve pinned all of the recipes for my favorite treats here, so check out and follow my cookie, candy, and crafty eats boards for ideas on home-cooked gifts.

Packaging materials

How to wrap cookies for gifts and care packages, tutorial from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you are mailing your cookies, you are going to need a few supplies. You’ll need:

Carefully wrap between 6 and 12 of each type of cookie in cellophane. Next, wrap that bundle of cookies again, this time loosely with in aluminum foil. Gently mold the foil around the cookies to make a block and keep the cookies from sliding around inside the bundle. Place this double-wrapped cookie bundle in a Ziploc bag. Repeat this process with the rest of the cookies that you want to ship. Place them in the shipping box, filling any empty spaces in the box with cellophane or other packing filler to make sure the cookie bundles don’t slide around in the box. I added a gift wrapped pair of handmade mittens to the box, as well. Tape up the box and you’re ready to get a shipping label and mail your cookies.

I used USPS three day priority shipping to save a few dollars, but it would probably be even better to use one day shipping.

After packing up all the cookies and treats in the box, I taped it shut and wrote FRAGILE in large capital letters with a big red marker on two sides of the box.

I shipped one package in a USPS flat rate box, and another in a standard brown shipping box. Both were successful, so use what you have available.

How they arrived

After shipping these cookies over 2000 miles from Virginia to Colorado, I expected to loose a few cookies to breakage along the way. Trucks and airplanes are bouncy, so I thought at least a few would be lost. Lucky for me, all of the cookies this year arrived in good shape. I know using the aluminum foil as a protective cushion for shipping the cookies really helped. But, I think a major part of the success of this gift project was because I was lucky with my postal carrier for USPS. The boxes had been treated very carefully. I hope your postal worker is as kind and careful as ours.

Cookies before being given as gifts by PurlsAndPixels

Did you try it? Let me know how your luck was with shipping cookie gifts. What kind of cookies did you send in your gift or care package? Did they get there in good shape? Let me know in the comments below.

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Love DIY Christmas and holiday projects? Find more handmade holiday craft ideas at my Holiday Pattern Roundup Post.

And, find my 10 Thoughtful DIY Gift Ideas here.

You can also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

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Printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas, a Free DIY project

Printable "From Santa" Gift Tags for Christmas, a Free DIY project from Liz Chandler

Printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas

A Free DIY project from Liz @PurlsAndPixels
Free printable "from Santa" gift tags from PurlsAndPixels

 It turns out that Santa doesn’t always remember to put tags on the presents he brings. I needed some gift tags for my presents this year, so I made up this sheet of printable “from Santa” gift tags for Christmas. If you need some gift tags for your little one’s presents, you are welcome to use mine. Below is a link to my Word document file of printable “from Santa” gift tags. Download it, add your child’s name, print, and cut out for a quick and free DIY project.

Download little “from Santa” gift tags, free from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels

Download little "from Santa" gift tags, free from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

How to add your child’s name

With the little “from Santa” gift tags file open in Microsoft Word, open the find and replace tool.

Type “Name” in the “Find what” field. Type your child’s name in the “Replace with” field.

Click “Replace all.”

How to use the replace tool in Microsoft Word to change names on gift tags

Print your From Santa Gift Tags

Free customizable printable gift tags from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Print on the best quality setting your printer allows. Try printing on different kinds of paper to mix up the look. If you use basic white printer paper, try cutting out a slightly larger square of colored paper or gift wrap and place it behind the label. These labels look so festive and bright.

Or, print on a natural brown colored craft paper made for printers, like I did, to get a more rustic on to your Santa Gift tags.

Cut Out your Christmas Gift Labels

These labels are smaller and will print so that you can cut them into 1.25 inch squares. Try using a paper cutter or a square paper punch to help make sure the labels come out perfectly square. Attach the labels to your gifts with a small bit of tape, and you are all done!

More Holiday Craft Ideas

Love DIY Christmas and holiday projects? Find more handmade holiday craft ideas at my Holiday Pattern Roundup Post.

Free printable "from Santa" gift tags for Christmas from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

If you like these printable “From Santa” Gift Tags for Christmas, I’d love hear about it. Comment below or share your photos with Liz @PurlsAndPixels on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

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Mickey’s Birthday Cake, Inspired by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

A Do-It-Yourself Guide from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake as seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

When my little one turned 2, he was completely obsessed with Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Club House. So, of course, I decided to throw him a Mickey themed birthday party. The most important part of the party was his mickey cake. Mickey Mouse has a birthday in one of the episodes, and his cake is a yellow and red Mickey head. I tried to mimic this cake, and here is how I did it.

How to Make Mickey’s Birthday Cake

Baking Pans

First things first, you will need three round cake pans to make Mickey’s Birthday Cake. One should be 8 inches and two should be 4 inches. I used two sets of these pans for my cake:

Wilton Perfect Performance Round Cake Pan Set

This will be a two layer cake. The 8 inch pan will make Mickey’s face, and the 4 inch pans will be his ears.

Cake Recipe

I used my all time favorite chocolate cake recipe for this cake. It comes from Hershey Kitchens and you can get the full recipe and see other people’s reviews of it here. I love this chocolate cake because it is extremely moist and fluffy. It has the consistency of a box mix cake, but the flavor of homemade. Love it!

If you already have a favorite cake recipe, use it. This Mickey cake is all about the cake’s shape, so as long as your recipe can be baked into round layer cake pans, you can use any flavor or recipe you desire.

You’ll need to make a double batch of cake. So, either double your cake recipe, or make the cake twice. I made the cake twice, since my mixer just won’t hold two batches worth of ingredients. And, since my oven isn’t enormous, I was worried all the cakes wouldn’t fit at the same time.

How to Make the Mickey Cake Shape
Mickey's Birthday Cake as seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, how to DIY guide by Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Make sure your grease your cake pans well before you start. I used Pam Olive Oil cooking spray.

For the first set of cakes, divide your batter between one 8-inch cake pan and two 4-inch cake pans. Put a little more than half of the cake batter into the 8-inch pan, and divide the rest between the two 4-inch pans. Don’t overfill the pans or you’ll have spillage during baking.

Bake as directed in the cake recipe you are following.

While these three cakes are cooling on wire racks, repeat this process. So, make another batch of cake and divide it among an 8-inch pan and two 4 inch pans. Bake and cool these cakes as well.

Once your cakes are cool, you can stack them and decorate.

Decorating Mickey’s Birthday Cake

Stack the cakes

First, frost one of the 8-inch cakes with a filling or frosting of your choice. I used chocolate frosting, but this is where you can get creative with flavor.

Carefully stack the second 8-inch cake on top of the first.

Place two of the 4 inch cakes so they make Mickey’s ears. Frost them with your filling frosting, then stack the other 4 inch cakes on top. You should now have a two layer cake that looks like mickey.

Frost your cake

You’ll need two batches of vanilla frosting – or two cans if you use store bought like I did. Dye one can of the frosting with a generous amount of yellow food coloring. I used Lemon Yellow from the Wilton icing color set.

Dye the other can of frosting red, and put it into a piping bag with an “open star” style tip.

Frost the cake yellow, as smoothly as you can. Then pipe red along the top outside of the Mickey shape, then around the bottom of the cake.

All done! Hip Hip Hooray!

How to make Mickey's Birthday Cake from Disney JuniorMickey Mouse Clubhouse, guide from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Did you try making a Mickey’s birthday cake for your little one? Let me know how it turned out. Comment below or share pictures with #PurlsAndPixels on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Explore More Cozy Ideas on PurlsAndPixels

🧶 DIY Learn to Knit Gift Set

🍼 Removing Labels and Upcycling Baby Food Jars

🌲 Homemade Cedar Sachet DIY

🔨 All Cozy DIY Projects

DIY Cabin Crafts
Garden
Animals
Rustic Living

Don’t Miss a Stitch! 🧶

Love cozy projects? Sign up for my newsletter to get more free DIY projects, helpful tips, and updates straight to your inbox. 💌

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DIY Learn to Knit Gift Set for Beginner Knitters

Give the gift of handmade by creating this do-it-yourself (DIY) Learn to Knit Gift Set. Get the list of everything you'd need to start your knitting lessons without buying any supplies.

Do-It-Yourself Knitting Gift Set from Liz @ PurlsAndPixels

Do you have a friend who always says, “I wish I knew how to knit”? Well, it’s time to make their yarn dreams come true with a DIY Learn to Knit Gift Set! This thoughtful and budget-friendly gift idea is perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just as a “thinking of you” surprise. Expectant and new moms love this too; it’s a cozy and creative baby shower gift that won’t end up in the ‘never used’ pile. Trust me; this kit has everything they need to knit their stress away.

Learn to knit gift set, DIY gift idea from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Let’s dive in! Here’s your shopping list (with handy Amazon links) and a sprinkle of crafty advice.

Or, skip the advice and Jump to the Shopping List.

What to Include in this Gift Set

What materials do I need to learn to knit or make a gift basket for a future knitter? Find out at PurlsAndPixels.

🧶 Yarn

Let’s start simple! My top choice for beginner projects is Lily Sugar ‘n Cream 100% Cotton Yarn. It’s sturdy, easy to work with, and perfect for learning basic stitches while making something useful like a washcloth. Plus, it’s 100% cotton, making it an eco-friendly option for those who prefer natural fibers. Grab one or two balls of washcloth yarn in their favorite colors so they can start off on the right foot.

Once your new knitter masters the basics, they will quickly want to level up to something more suitable for scarves and hats. Be sure to include two balls of a scarf yarn as well. My go-to is Caron Simply Soft Yarn. This yarn is fluffy, squishy, and machine washable: everything a newbie needs for creating their first cozy scarf. Feeling eco-conscious? Opt for Patons Classic Wool Worsted instead (it’s biodegradable, while acrylic yarn isn’t).

No matter what brand you choose, just make sure it’s labeled “worsted weight.” This yarn thickness is beginner-friendly and will allow them to make a variety of projects. Pick one or two colors you know your recipient will love—there’s no need to overcomplicate things!

🪡 Knitting Needles

If your giftee gets confused by all the needle options (spoiler: they will), save the day with these two staples:

1) Clover Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles (36 inches long, US Size 7) and

2) Clover Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles (16 inches long, US Size 8).

Circular needles don’t look like your grandma’s chopsticks: they’re even better. These versatile tools can knit almost anything, and they’re easy on the hands. Your new knitter will need both sizes to get off to a great start. Save the day, by giving them the perfect tools.

✂️ Sharp Scissors or Yarn Cutting Pendant

Yes, everyone has scissors. But sharp sewing scissors are a game-changer. They’re perfect for snipping yarn without fraying or splitting the fibers.

If this kit is for a little one or if you want a safer option, consider adding a yarn cutting pendant instead. It’s stylish, safer, and just plain cool. Check out this pendant that cuts yarn cleanly without the risk of sharp blades—ideal for on-the-go knitting projects!

🪡 Tapestry Needles

These big-eyed needles are what your new knitter will need to weave in yarn ends, essentially tidying up their masterpiece. A pack of six tapestry needles will do the trick. Bonus tip: If you’re making multiple gift sets, split the package up. Sharing is caring (and cost-effective).

📚 Add Liz Chandler’s Knitting Guide & Journal

Make your gift extra special by including a copy of Liz Chandler’s Knitting Guide: Learn to Knit with Practical Patterns. It’s the perfect companion for any knitting newbie and covers all the basics without overwhelming them.

Pair it with a Knitting Journal, where they can jot down notes, track projects, and doodle their creative ideas. Together, these knitting books make a killer combo for anyone just starting out.

Get Liz Chandler's Knitting Guide: Learn to Knit with Practical Patterns.
Shop the best knitting journals online designed by Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Include a cute gift card with a link to my Free Learn to Knit Tutorials. You can print the card on pretty paper (bonus points for brown cardstock – it’s got that rustic chic vibe) and write a personal message. With this guide, they’ll be casting on and purling in no time. It’s like giving them a one-way ticket to the wonderful world of knitting.

Knitting Gift Set DIY guide & printable gift card from Liz @PurlsAndPixels
Knitting Gift Set DIY guide & printable gift card from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

🎁 Gift Wrap: Storage Box Edition

Time to wrap it up! Skip the flimsy gift bags and go for a decorative photo storage box or a sturdy tote. Not only do these make for pretty packaging, but they’re also practical for storing yarn, needles, and other knitting treasures. I’ve linked a few of my favorites on Amazon, but you can also find cute options at your local craft store.

Top it all off with a fancy gift bow, and voilà! Your DIY Learn to Knit Gift Set is ready to impress. 🥳

📝 Checklist: Did You Get Everything?

Feeling extra-generous?

Find more of my suggestions for beginning knitters gathered together on my Amazon Recommendations List.

Oh, and P.S.

If you want to learn to knit, you can always gift yourself this kit! You deserve it!

Give the gift of handmade by creating this do-it-yourself (DIY) Learn to Knit Gift Set. Get the list of everything you'd need to start your knitting lessons without buying any supplies.

🎄 More Holiday Craft Ideas

Obsessed with DIY holiday projects? Check out my Holiday Pattern Roundup Post for more handmade gift inspiration. Happy knitting (and gifting)!

Read More

Learn to Knit
Shop Books and Patterns
Home & Garden DIY

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How to Remove Labels from Beechnut Baby Food Jars with No Chemicals

How to take off Beechnut baby food jar labels, guide by Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Beechnut Baby Food Jars

How to remove labels form Beechnut baby food jarsThe new baby food jars from Beechnut are my absolute favorite. The canning jars Beechnut chose are a unique pear shape that flares at the bottom. They were so adorable I could not resist collecting them and saving them up for some kind of craft project that I’d get to “one of these days.”

 

Remove Labels from Beechnut Baby Food JarsWhen I finally got around to making this baby food jar stash into a craft project, I ran into a problem. The clear plastic labels do peel off easily. Unfortunately, the glue used to adhere the label to the jar leaves behind a terrible sticky residue. I could not get the sticky residue off the baby food jars just by tossing the jars in the dishwasher, as I had hoped. And to just leave the glue on the jars on was not a good solution; it is incredibly sticky, so it collects dirt and hair like an icky magnet. Icky, sticky containers aren’t pretty or useful, so I was determined to find a way to be rid of the glue on all my little jars.

 

Solution: How to Remove Labels from Beechnut Baby Food Jars

I tried all sorts of ways to figure out how to remove labels from Beechnut baby food jars. And, after a few experiments, I think I have found the best solution! It is easy, normally around the house and chemical free. What is this miracle solution? Plain old vegetable oil.How to remove labels from Beechnut baby food jars

It does still take a bit of elbow grease to get the gooey label residue off, but here’s what I did. And there are no harsh chemicals involved, so I didn’t have to worry about doing my project around the kiddo.

I grabbed an old toothbrush, and a bottle of vegetable oil and got to scrubbing. Dip the toothbrush in the oil, scrub the residue loose, wipe with a paper towel or dry cloth, and voila, no more residue!

Run the oily jars thru the dishwasher to get rid of the remaining vegetable oil, and you are ready to craft.

What to Make with Beechnut Baby Food Jars

 

I needed a new storage system for my beads, since I make jewelry. I re-purposed the baby food jars to store my gems andbaby-food-jar-craft stones. To make them a little prettier, I got a bottle of teal spray paint (Rustoleum). A couple thin coats made the lids fresh and new, and I think this baby food jar craft project looks adorable siting on my shelf.

You could make lots of cute things from the uniquely shaped Beechnut jars, just be creative and use them to fill a need you have.

RE-PURPOSING Jars, Some ideas to try:
  • small item storage (like beads!)
  • office supply holders (for pens, paperclips, tacks, etc.)
  • pin cushions
  • candles

Check out and follow my Pinterest board, up-cycling baby food jars.

Enjoy and happy crafting!How to remove labels from Beechnut baby food jars with no chemichals, a tutorial from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

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Yard Sale Signs

Free printable yard sale sign. Download, edit, and print these yard sale signs for your next garage sale. From PurlsAndPixels

So, I held my very first yard sale today! Well, actually it was a garage sale, since it was inside the garage. Whatever you call it, selling your stuff can sometimes be necessary. Whether you’re trying to clean out old clutter from around the house or working to get a little extra cash, a yard sale or garage sale is a great way to go.

yard sale signs

For my yard sale, I had quite a lot of adult and baby clothing. Rather than tagging each outfit individually (since we had a lot), I made up some signs to help with the sale. I put all the baby clothes in bins by size and put the corresponding sign on the bin. For the adult clothes, I made yard-salea generic sign, which says all clothes are $2 unless otherwise marked. We also had a credit card reader so that I could take payments through Amazon, so I made up a couple of signs saying so as well. I’m sharing a free downloadable copy of my yard sale signs so that you can print your own signs for your garage sale. These are in Word format so you can edit the details yourself.

Click the links below do download the word documents. Good luck with your yard sale!

Baby boy clothes yard sale signs 

Adult clothes yard sale signs 

Yard sale signs: We can process credit cards 

P.S. If these look funny in Microsoft Word, click “enable editing” when asked. This should put the words back on the pictures. 🙂

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