At the risk of causing more than a couple of rolling eyes and heavy sighs, we might as well say this: The holiday season is only a few school bells and autumn leaves away, not too early for crafters to start thinking about gifts for family and friends.
Even if you don’t indulge in the art of crafts yourself, you might want to make note of the books mentioned in this week’s Craft Corner column in case there’s a crafty person on your list.
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the definition of kitsch is “something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality.”
Ouch! As regular readers of our column can probably tell, we have a fondness for kitsch and prefer to think of it as quirky and charmingly out of the ordinary.
But whatever your opinion of kitsch may be, we recommend two books that are inspirational as sources of – shall we say – unusual crafts. They’re also fun, nostalgic reads.
“Kitschy Crafts: A Celebration of Overlooked 20th Century Crafts,” by Jo Packham and Matt Shay (Sterling Publishing Co., hardcover, $19.95), is a cornucopia of such kitsch classics as the crocheted poodle toilet-paper cover, the jeweled Christmas tree and the latch-hook mushroom wall hanging.
Sadly, our latch-hook wall hanging, circa 1970, was shipped off to Thrift Shop Heaven a few years back, so we couldn’t use it to help illustrate this column.
Also included in “Kitschy Crafts” are how-tos on cast-resin grapes, beaded faux fruit, sock monkeys and serving bowls made of melted LPs (also known as records), plus extensive sections on crochet and seashell crafts.
And for those who miss the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, there are plenty of ads and reminiscences from the good old days mixed in for your reading pleasure.
Another book we highly recommend is “The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties,” by Leah Kramer (Ten Speed Press, softcover, $17.95).
This book inspired two sample crafts: a necktie apron and a yarn monster (or octopus).
After thumbing through the book in search of a project, we decided on the necktie apron and rushed out to the Stillaguamish Thrift Shop at Smokey Point in Arlington.
We found plenty of neckties in excellent shape for $1 each, and you will likely find the same supplies at thrift shops in your neighborhood.
The instructions in the book called for 6 to 8 ties to make the apron, but – our 6-tie days (size-wise) being long gone – we selected 13 for our project.
You can use a sewing machine to make the apron, or you can hand-sew the garment. We decided to go with hand-sewing so that we could work on the deck and enjoy the nice weather, and we finished the project in about three hours.
The apron is a simple construction project that involves sewing the ties together and attaching a belt. We used 11 ties for the main part of the apron and two for the belt.
While the instructions called for a zigzag stitch, we used a simple hem stitch for construction and a blanket stitch for finishing and attaching the belt.
As we considered the second project, our memory was jogged by the “merry monsters” shown in the book – we remembered that several years back we had made a bunch of yarn octopuses as Christmas gifts. We also remembered that we had made a few too many of the eight-legged delights and that they were somewhere in our home craft stash.
To make a monster (or octopus), you’ll need a couple skeins of yarn, a Styrofoam ball, some heavy cardboard, scissors, felt (for faces) and ribbon.
The process, in a nutshell, involves covering the Styrofoam ball with yarn (to form the head) and leaving long lengths of yarn to be braided (forming the legs). Eyes and other facial features are made out of felt, and decorative ribbon is used to adorn the neck and ends of the legs. A topknot is formed by trimming the ends of the yarn on the opposite side of the head from the neck to the desired length.
Our monster is faceless at present, but once we decide which lucky friend will receive the critter this holiday season, we’ll add the appropriate features. While the friends who received monsters a few years ago have long since forgiven us, we can’t help but wonder how many new friends will be trembling with anticipation now that they know what may be lurking in their cheerfully-wrapped Christmas package.
In addition to the two projects featured as our samples, “The Craftster Guide” also contains instructions for such retro treasures as cigar-box purses, egg-carton lanterns, punch-card lampshades and flowery commode covers, as well as uses for plastic flowers, empty Clorox bleach bottles (think piggy bank) and molded aluminum foil animals.
And so, while it may be true that kitsch is a mark of questionable taste and lowbrow culture, we suggest that it’s also a way to have a little fun with life while satisfying your desire to craft.
Contact Jonetta Coffin at jrocoffin@aol.com.
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