Summer Craft Roundup

Happy Fourth of July! To celebrate, I've rounded up six of my favorite summertime crafts. They're all simple projects that you can cross-stitch, crochet, stitch, or craft. Click on the title of the project below to visit its original blog post. 

Crocheted Sea Glass Pendant

Use embroidery floss and crocheted chain stitch to transform a piece of colored sea glass into a unique pendant.

Star-Spangled Garland

This simple paper star garland can be a family project--grownups can do the tracing and cutting, the kids can glue the layers of stars together with glue stick.

Crocheted Paillette Necklace

Another easy crochet accessory. This one uses paillettes (oversize sequins) and embroidery floss to create a frothy necklace.

Summer Sun Watch

A little cross-stitch sun replaces the clock face on this wrist watch. Who cares what time it is when you're on vacation?

Flowery Fabric Pendant

To make this summer accessory, embellish a scrap of pretty fabric with embroidery and mount it in a pendant setting.

Felt Watermelon Basket

This fresh felt watermelon basket looks good enough to eat. You can use it to hold coasters or other tabletop trinkets.

Fourth of July Napkin Ties

You can never have too many stars and stripes on your Fourth of July table, right? These cute napkin ties are a great project for using up stash from your craft closet. They're easy to stitch from felt, ribbon, and buttons.

For each napkin ring, cut three different size stars from red, white, and blue felt. The stars I used are 4 inches, 3 inches, and 2 inches wide. (Cut out two of the large star so you have one for the backing.) Use two strands of matching embroidery floss and running stitch to sew the small star to the middle star. Sew a button to the center of the small star, and then sew the appliqued middle star to the large star. To make the tie, center a 24-inch piece of ribbon over the backing star. Pin the appliqued star to the backing star, sandwiching the ribbon between. Stitch the two large stars together with running stitch, being careful to secure the ribbon in place. 

Repeat the process until you have enough napkin ties for all of your Fourth of July guests.

See My Cross-Stitch Goldfish in "Craft Ideas" Magazine

The Summer 2016 issue of Craft Ideas magazine is out, and my cross-stitched goldfish is inside. It's a beanbag that can be used as a bookend. (My kind of pet--no feeding required.) The issue is filled with lots of cute summertime projects. Look for it on your newsstand . . . Happy crafting!

Cross-Stitch Lobster Ornament

June has finally arrived, which means beach season is here! Even though I'm landlocked here in Pennsylvania, I love beachy decor in summertime. This little lobster ornament is quick to cross-stitch, and it looks so cute hanging in the kitchen. You can make a bunch and use them to decorate your patio or picnic table.

This project uses just three colors of DMC 6-strand embroidery floss: 310 Black, 321 Christmas Red, and 498 Dark Christmas Red. My lobster is stitched on 14-count white Aida fabric, but you can use 11-count or 18-count. Follow the chart and key below and use two strands of floss to cross-stitch your lobster.

Little Lobster   ©2016 Kathleen Berlew

When the stitching is finished, cut the lobster from the Aida, leaving a border of six fabric squares on all sides. Cut two pieces of red felt to the size you want your ornament to be and sew the cross-stitched Aida to one of the felt pieces with white thread. Make your stitching line three squares beyond all sides of the cross-stitching. To finish the ornament, pin the to felt pieces together, wrong sides facing, and sew them together with red embroidery floss and running stitch. Sew a piece of red-and-white gingham ribbon in place at the top of the ornament. Leave an opening at the bottom, fill the ornament with fiberfill, and stitch it closed.